Phi Delta Theta's proud 150 year history on the University of Michigan (U of M) campus is certainly worthy of a celebration, and the Michigan Alpha Alumni Association board of directors and active chapter leaders have planned two special events to commemorate this impressive milestone.

The 150th Anniversary Dinner will be held at the Michigan Union on Friday, October 31, 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (cash bar cocktail reception from 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.), and the 2014 Homecoming Open House will be held on Saturday, November 1, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

To date, the Alumni Association has received 67 RSVPs -- 41 alums  and 26 guests of alums -- for the Anniversary Dinner and 57 RSVPs -- 33 alums and 24 guest of alums -- for the Homecoming Open House.  

Given that active chapter attendance at both events is expected to be at least 80 men, the combined attendance of alums and actives is projected to be more than 140 at both events -- the largest alumni-active events since the 1990s.

Wagner was very actively involved in PDT GHQ's efforts to promote the refounding of Michigan Alpha in 2004, so he will have an opportunity to learn first-hand how much progress the chapter has made during the last decade.  We encourage alums and active chapter members to thank Wagner for his support and trust.

Please keep in mind that parking at the chapter house is going to be crowded on both Friday and Saturday.  The Alumni Association suggests that attendees of the Anniversary Dinner park at the Thompson structure located one block from the Michigan Union at the intersection of Thompson and Jefferson/Madison streets.  This structure is open to the public for free parking starting at 6 p.m. (it is U of M permit-only parking before 6 p.m.). 

During the Homecoming Open House, after the front lawn of the chapter house is filled (which is highly likely), please consider the Ann Arbor parking structure open to the public at the intersection of South Forest and Willard that is two blocks away.

Another option worth remembering is that taking a taxi can eliminate the need to deal with Ann Arbor's parking hassles!

All Michigan Alpha alums who graduated during the 1960s are invited to dinner Saturday night after the Homecoming football game. The dinner will be held at Isalita, a Mexican themed restaurant, located at 341 E. Liberty Street. 

A private room capable of serving 34 guests has been reserved beginning at 8 p.m. For more information, or to reserve your space, contact Jim Waterston '63 at jrwaterston@gmail.com.

The Homecoming Open House at 1437 Washtenaw will feature plenty of outstanding BBQ and old tailgate food favorites, but our beverage options must comply with the PDT GHQ's rules prohibiting alcohol on a Phi Delt-owned residential property.

The Kelly tailgate is not hard to find if you look for the only PDT flag flying proudly in the Blue Lot or likely anywhere near the stadium.  If you want to be extra certain not to miss the festivities, view the web link to a location map.

This tailgate is not sponsored by the Alumni Association, but we are providing this information to alums as a courtesy.

Michigan Alpha was founded on November 28, 1864, but the chapter was rechartered on November 11, 1887 after its activities ceased at some point during 1869. The 1887 Charter is the operational foundation of the chapter to this day.

 
For decades the Charter was displayed at the chapter house, and its present condition reflects a hard life which included surviving two major fires.  According to one senior PDT GHQ official, this Charter is one of the oldest of such founding documents for an individual chapter in existence throughout the entire fraternity.

After being displayed at the refounding of Michigan Alpha in December of 2004, the Charter was kept in a "secure undisclosed location" for safekeeping by long-time Michigan Alpha leaders Larry Schramm '74 and Rex Vaughn '74.

In preparation for celebrating the 150th Anniversary of Michigan Alpha's founding, the Alumni Association board of directors decided to have the Charter added to the fraternity's archives in the Bentley Library for long-term preservation.  

On October 15, Schamm and Vaughn safely delivered the Charter to the Bentley Library thereby successfully ending their duty as the "protectors of the Charter." They met with senior Bentley Library staff members who examined the Charter and prepared it for scanning reproduction and eventual "encapsulation." 

The Alumni Association is grateful for their decade of service in keeping this highly unique fraternity relic safe and sound.

A high quality reproduction of the Charter will be displayed at the 150th Anniversary Dinner and Homecoming Open House.  Afterwards, the reproduction will be permanently displayed in the Trophy Room of the chapter house.