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Past issues:

November 2005
October 2005

Parents Day 2006

Reestablishing good traditions continues at Alpha Iota with Parents Day. Parents came from all over Indiana, and from as far away as Connecticut. The undergraduates started the day with a meeting in the dining room that included an update of their activities so far this year and recognition certificates for the parents who worked at several summer work parties...

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Theta Chi back in Little 500 for 2006

The Theta Chi team arrived at Armstrong Stadium more than an hour before their scheduled time to take the track. They set up their warm up bikes and began final preparations. Max Phillips, John Harrel, Jake Fowler, and Tyler Droste loosened up their muscles, discussed strategy and tempered their nerves in the minutes leading up to their first run. After going through registration, getting their team picture taken, picking up their bikes, and getting their final instructions...

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CHAPTER REINSTALLATION

On March 4, 2006, 56 men were initiated and relit the flame of Alpha Iota Chapter at Indiana University.

For the 1,844 Brothers who lost their Chapter in 2001, it was a happy day. The rebirth started in the summer of 2004 when representatives of Alpha Iota’s alumni, Theta Chi’s IHQ staff, and the University’s Student Affairs office gathered to put a plan in motion to bring the Chapter back. In the fall of 2004, the Colony Advisory Board (CAB) was formed, led by Chairman Kevin McIntosh AI ’80, to establish a base of support for the much-anticipated group of new undergraduates.

The Alumni Corporation also committed to ensuring housing for the new group when it got large enough to support a house. Additionally, Theta Chi’s IHQ expansion team, led by Joe Wachs Delta Kappa ‘99, sent representatives to the campus in the fall to set the stage for recruiting top quality undergraduate men that would step up to the challenge of reestablishing the Chapter... Read the Full Story.

ALPHA IOTA HAS A COLONY

Alpha Iota Colonists (L to R) Wes Drew, Jason Barker, John Schneider, Matt Tetrick, Ray Vanlanot, Mike Sechuga, Pat Giese, David Whitehead, Trey Sellers, Evan Hensley, Blake Pickett, John Hess, Derek Grimm, Mike Weber, Dan Goldstein, Bobby Hoffman, Steve Skowronski, Eric Strickler, Drew Hurt, Nathan Pitt, Eric Beckley, Jake Fowler, Nick Johnson

On April 30, 2005, 29 men were recognized by the National Fraternity as the Alpha Iota Colony of Theta Chi Fraternity. This is another big step towards reestablishing our Chapter at Indiana University.

The ceremony was attended by several Alpha Iota Alumni, representatives from the Fraternity’s national headquarters, campus officials, parents, and special guests. The event was held at the University Club in the Indiana University Union and was followed by a reception.

Another highlight of the event was the presentation of five $500.00 Scott Scholarships to the new men. The Scott family in 1986 generously created an endowed scholarship fund with the Foundation Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity (founded by Sherwood Blue, AI ’26) for the purpose of recognizing our undergraduates for substantial contributions to Alpha Iota and strong academic achievements. John Scott AI ’89, was on hand to make the presentations.

As a Colony, the men will continue to work towards establishing their operations, traditions, organization, and membership until such time as they are ready to petition the Fraternity for Chapter status.

Vice Chancellor and Dean of Students Dick McKaig addresses the gathering.

Brothers from the Theta Chi Headquarters staff: Kyle Weaver, LEC , Zeta Sigma, Wisconsin River Falls, '04; Josh Wilson, LEC, Delta Kappa Ball State, '03; Nate Hibben, LEC, Alpha Mu, Iowa State '04; Joe Wachs Delta Kappa, Ball State '99; Brent Liner, LEC, Iota Alpha, UNC Wilmington, '04; Chris Wegener, Dir. of Chapter Dev., Alpha Upsilon, U of Nebraska Lincoln '99; Jereme Grinslade, Dir. of Alumni Resources & Housing, Delta Kappa, Ball State, '99; Mike Mayer, LEC, Epsilon Phi, Central Missouri '04; Ben Hill, LEC, Eta Kappa, James Madison ‘02.

Scott Scholarship recipients Matt Tetrick, Steve Skowronski, Ray Vanlanot, & Wes Drew along with John Scott AI ’89 and Bill Mullenholz AI ’73. Missing form the picture is recipient Denial Hall.

In their petition for Colony status the group listed their goals to be Brotherhood, Scholarship, Friendship, Philanthropy, Intramurals, Enthusiasm, Networking, Involvement, Pride, and Expansion. The group has a GPA in excess of a 3.0 and has set minimum individual GPA standards for their members of 2.6. They are also requiring Officers of the group to have a GPA above the all men’s average, which is currently a 2.9.

Alumni will be pleased to know that their current plans include doubling in size by December 1, 2005 and moving into the Chapter house at 1440 North Jordan in the fall of 2006.

Between now and the fall of 2006, there is much work to be done. If you have some time to commit and are interested in helping these men achieve their goals, please email thetachi@alumni.indiana.edu and we will get you connected.

Special recognition awards were presented to several men for their active involvement with the group. Myles Smith received a Theta Chi 100 th anniversary medallion from the 1956 Theta Chi National Convention for his organization of the February alumni lunch, assisting the new men with their pledge program and producing the Colonization Ceremony. Kevin McIntosh received an official Theta Chi tie for his role as the Chairman of the Colony Advisory Board (CAB) in coordinating the activities of the CAB, attending all the undergraduate meetings, and worrying.

Finally, Brothers Mike Mayer, Central Missouri ‘04 and Nate Hibben, Iowa State ‘04, from the national headquarters staff, received Black’s Law Dictionary for spending extended weeks on campus this semester recruiting men and working with them to understand the value of membership in Theta Chi Fraternity. Both Nate and Mike have put off their law school plans and taken time since their graduation to work for Theta Chi. We will always be indebted to them for their excellent work in restarting Alpha Iota’s undergraduate group.

Palmer Mart AI ’49 gives our new men an idea of what Theta Chi has meant in his life.

Brother Hoffman AI ’76, presents appreciation awards to Mike Mayer and Nate Hibben

FOUNDERS DAY RECOGNIZES THETA CHI 150th YEAR

Our new Alpha Iota group celebrated Theta Chi’s Founders Day April 10, 2005 with a reenactment of the Founding Ceremony and a review of the history of Alpha Iota and Theta Chi Fraternity.

As Theta Chi enters its 150 th year, we are very blessed to have such a group of high quality undergraduates focused on returning our undergraduate chapter to Indiana University. Here are the members of the pictured that evening.

NEW GROUP ESTABLISHED

On Saturday, February 26, 2005, at the Indiana Memorial Union, a group of twenty Alpha Iota Alumni endorsed a new group of 16 undergraduate men who have made the commitment to reestablish Alpha Iota Chapter at Indiana University in Bloomington.

Theta Chi IHQ staff members Mike Mayer, Epsilon Phi '04 and Nate Hibbon, Alpha Mu '04 worked on our campus throughout January and February to recruit this group of men. They not only followed-up on alumni referrals and legacies, they met with campus faculty, administrators, and leaders of student organization, including sororities. They were also able to recruit from Theta Chi transfer referrals from other campuses. We are deeply indebted to both Matt and Nate for their excellent work.

While this is an excellent start, it is just the beginning. The recruiting challenge for the new group is for each member to replace himself in the next month, which will get them just above 30 members. When they accomplish this, they will be ready for their Colonization ceremony, which is their first official step on their way to reestablishing the chapter. If all goes according to plan, the Colony ceremony will be April 30, 2005 in Bloomington and all Alpha Iota Alumni are invited to attend. Contact Kevin McIntosh AI '80 for details, mcintosh@painenterprises.com. Kevin is the Alumni Advisory Committee Chairman and his committee will be working directly with the group moving forward to provide guidance and support on a weekly basis.

Alumni attending the February 26th luncheon were Warren Hoffman #931, Jim Sandifer #552, Tom Knox #917, Dick Davisson #503, Dan Davisson #584, Bill Hardacre #576, Dick Tetrick #922, Bruce Pennamped #756, Kevin McIntosh #994, Jeffre LeFevre #1570, Bill Mullenholz #817, Bill Mullenholz #817, Myles Smith #1240, Mike Smith #930, Jeff Townsend #953, Rich Francisco #928, Tom Boone #514, Jim Miller #964, Palmer Mart #435, and J.R. Drew Delta Pi, Indiana State '81.

Each undergraduate was presented with a Theta Chi golf shirt and a word of support from each alumnus attending. The alumni also raised over $100 from a raffle whose proceeds will go towards members of the group attending a Theta Chi Leadership School at the University of Dayton this summer.

The President of the new group is Nick Johnson '06. Nick was initiated at Alpha Delta last year and transferred to IU this past fall. Feel free to contact Nick and the group at nicsjohn@indiana.edu with encouragement, questions, and congratulations. Here are some pictures from the event.