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July 24, 2007 The 2007 Beta Omega dues fundraising campaign season ended on June 30th with 158 Brothers and 21 Little Sisters contributing to the campaign. While we are still shy of our planned goal of 200 dues paying brothers this year, we thank all who donated to this campaign and are very appreciative that so many of you contributed. With that said, it is never too late to pay your dues. Maybe time slipped you by or maybe you just didn’t get the word (even with my weekly emails). We’d still love to get to 200 dues paying brothers and your payment will still count for the 2007 season. We have planned many exciting alumni events, active educational support programs and house improvement projects for our fraternity, and it’s all based on the goal of getting 200 dues paying members. Every addition to our funds helps to make these programs a reality for our active chapter and for alumni such as you. Again, thanks to those that paid dues this year and if you haven’t, please consider sending your payment in to me at: Beta Omega Alumni Association Or pay online with your credit card at: http://vt.thetaxi.org/Alumni/Shoppingcart.htm Proudly add your name to the following list: BROTHERS LITTLE SISTERS: Alan Eisenberg
FINANCE COMMITTEE SELECTS NEW MEMBER Steve Schmid, ΒΩ 48, has agreed to serve on the Finance Committee and David Compton, ΒΩ 134, has been re-elected to serve for another 5 years. Thanks to both brothers for agreeing to support the Beta Omega Alumni Association in this capacity. The other members of the Finance Committee include: Ron Bartelt, ΒΩ 26 The mission of the Finance Committee is to assist the Treasurer in development of a budget for the Association, and to monitor the financial state of the Association. It shall provide guidance to the Treasurer and the Board of Directors on matters relating to the finances, assets, and investments of the Association, and shall be consulted on all proposals that may have significant impact on the finances of the Association. The Finance Committee shall provide a written recommendation on any budget proposed to the Board of Directors by the Treasurer.
We are looking for volunteers to serve on various committees. If you are interested in serving on the newly formed BOAA Community Development Committee, please get in touch with Andy Johnson via email at a-ljohnson@cox.net. If you are interested in serving on the newly formed House Renovation Committee, please get in touch with Andy Johnson via email at a-ljohnson@cox.net. We also need volunteers to serve on the already established Chapter Support Committee under John Glackin. If you are interested in serving on this committee, please email John Glackin at jglackin@bev.net.
AUGUST 18TH MEETING IN RICHMOND, VA As a follow-up to the community concept interest meeting that was held in Northern VA on July 8th, another meeting is being scheduled for August 18th in Richmond, VA. Members of the BOAA board, Upland Partners, and Reynolds Partners will be in attendance. The meeting will run from 10 am - 4 pm. The location is still TBD, and will be announced on TXNews when finalized. Andy Johnson
We are trying to get tickets to the Homecoming game with University of Ohio, scheduled for the weekend of September 15th. Although we have no assurances that we will be able to obtain tickets for the game, please tell me if you are interested and I'll see what we can do. Maybe, just maybe, if we do not get tickets, we'll just set up a big widescreen at the tailgate and make the best of it. The roar will still be there. No kidding. Widescreens and satellite dishes are seen more and more at the tailgates these days. So if there's someone out there who can help us do this, raise your hand! Tickets or no, I can tell you this much.we will have a tailgate, fraternity meeting, post game party (ies), and all around socializing! And we've got rooms! 2 locations - as some suggested from prior years - in both Blacksburg and Roanoke. Choose your location but do not miss the deadlines: Ramada Limited Blacksburg 6 Non Smoking - 2 Double beds - 2 people Rate is $160 + 12% tax = $179.20 x 2 night minimum = $358.40 September 14 & 15, 2007 Reservation in name of: Theta Xi Fraternity; reserve with your credit card Cancellation date is 8-11-07, after which all rooms will be released that have not been guaranteed by credit card. The location in Roanoke is: Comfort Inn Airport in Roanoke, Virginia. Reservation Name: Theta Xi Fraternity Alumni ARRIVAL: September 14, 2007
# OF ROOMS: CUT OFF DATE: GUARANTEED METHOD: COMPLIMENTARY: BILLING: CANCELLATION POLICY: FOR RESERVATIONS CALL: Please stay tuned to TXNews for more updates on Homecoming and the status of tickets for the game! Wally Newton
NEW VA TECH DIRECTOR OF FRATERNITY & SORORITY LIFE As Chapter Advisor I want to notify you of something I believe is a very favorable development for all of Beta Omega, and especially for the actives. The Greek life-IFC Coordinator position at VT has been open since the winter. That position has now been filled and the new IFC coordinator will be Ronald Shidemantle, who currently is Director of Greek Life at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. Most significantly, he is also a Theta Xi, having been an undergraduate member and President of the Theta Xi chapter at Slippery Rock University. He also currently serves Theta Xi national as its Regional Director for the Allegheny District. Over the years the Slippery Rock Theta Xi's and the VT Theta Xi's have had a good relationship, and Ron already knows a number of Beta Omega Alumni. During the last month or so as the recruitment and interview process occurred at VT, Ron talked to Jim Vredenburgh (ΒΩ 11), Dan Burdi (ΒΩ 431), and me about Greek life at VT, and maybe others as well. A number of nationwide candidates were interviewed, and Ron was selected. He is in his upper 30's, and prior to Duquesne was at Penn State where he was also involved in Greek life. Ron and I met for dinner a few weeks ago and he got my version of the campus tour, visit to 210 Upland, drive by's of other fraternities, and countless Beta Omega stories and history of our last 40 years. And I heard worthy stories of his fraternity experiences as well. According to Ron, VT has the 4th largest Greek organization in the country. From a career standpoint, this is a major move upward for Ron, as the Greek organizations (both fraternities and sororities) at VT are 2 - 3 times the size of those at Duquesne. I believe this is a wonderful opportunity for our actives, and I'm sold already on the depth of knowledge of Greek life that Ron brings to VT, and to Beta Omega. You will like this guy, he is one of us, and he will lead the Greek structure at VT starting this fall. And he wants to meet you too! Wally Newton
******************* From a Ron Shidemantle email sent to all Fraternity & Sorority Advisors on July 16th: Greetings everyone! I am very pleased to report that I am now on staff at Virginia Tech & have access to my new email account as of today. For those of you who have yet to find out about me, please allow me to share with you a little about myself. My name is Ron Shidemantle. I am the new Director of the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life at Virginia Tech. This is my second week on staff at the university. I have come from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I served as the Director of the Office of Greek Life for the last seven (7) years. I worked with about 1000 students in over twenty (20) collegiate fraternal organizations. I am a member of Theta Xi National Fraternity where I serve as a national and chapter advisor in my volunteer time. I recognize first hand how extremely important the role of Chapter Alumni Advisory Councils and individual advisors are to the success of collegiate fraternal organizations. I very much look forward to working with each of you to ensure that the Fraternity & Sorority Community is the best it can be at Virginia Tech. I am certain that we can advance the principles of the American Fraternity Movement on campus if we work together to meet the needs of our student population & our values based fraternal organizations. I want to meet each of you in person if at all possible over the next few months to discuss your thoughts on the future of your chapters and how I and the staff can possibly be of service to advance the principles of our American Fraternity Movement at Virginia Tech. I would very much appreciate the opportunity to meet with you over lunch, or at a meeting at your convenience in the near future. If you are able and interested, please email me & I will work to meet you in person to discuss any issues you feel appropriate for the new Director of the Office. Thanks so much & again I look forward to working with each of you & our students on campus! Go Hokies!! Interfraternally, Ron Ronald Shidemantle Our Motto: Ut Prosim (That I May Serve)
Via our recent membership campaign, we found out that some months ago the "Handsome One," Al Mandelstamm (ΒΩ 288), suffered a stroke. We received the news enclosed with his dues renewal payment. I am pleased now to report that Handsome Al is improving by the day. I went by the rehab center and spent about 45 minutes with Al and Marie, saw him take some medicine camouflaged in apple sauce, and eat a pretty decent portion of chicken and accompaniments. In between, we had a nice chat. He had just finished a walk around the halls when I arrived, and the three of us did some catching up. I rattled off a bunch of 90's names, and he remembered most of them, as these were guys who were in the active chapter during the time he was Chapter Advisor. Mostly 90's guys.and he remembered a few of the older ones as well. Al's not exactly ready to give a detailed class of microeconomic theory, but he was able to understand all my comments, and I believe his only frustration was in not being able to respond as much as he would like. I even saw a twinkle in his eye a few times, the real Al is still there. He said several had called by phone. I KNOW he would like to talk to more of you, especially those he would know best. You know who you are. He is definitely mending slowly and I think hearing from us will help him a great deal. BTW, Marie is a physician who ran the health care center at Radford University for a number of years, and also worked in ER in Blacksburg. I told her she might be getting some medical info in the mail, so by all means, whatever you find about Al's condition, send it along in the mail. She is interested in articles related to the speech therapy recovery process after Aphasic Deep Seated Bleed Stroke. A few weeks ago, the BOAA Board sent a Get Well card and some flowers, which were very well received. So please call Marie and she will give the phone to Al. Marie's cell phone number is 540-230-7828. Or send articles and Get Well cards to: Marie and Al Mandelstamm Wally Newton
As I am sure you are aware, in just a few short days, Jon Luning ΒΩ 241 will be installed as the next National President of Theta Xi! Elections will be held this weekend (July 27 – 30) at the 143rd National Convention in Louisville, Kentucky. David Compton ΒΩ 134, Dan Burdi ΒΩ 431 (Active Chapter President), Tyler Wimer ΒΩ 434 (Active Chapter Treasurer), and Andrew Johnson ΒΩ 317 are registered to attended. If you are within close driving distance, we encourage you to attend and help us celebrate at convention Below are some words that I extracted from the Nomination Committee's report...words that I think accurately reflect much of the great work Jon has done for both Beta Omega and the National Chapter. "The Committee on Nominations first considered the candidate for the two-year term of National President. The Committee quickly agreed that Brother Jon Luning, Beta Omega 241, is its choice for the next President of the Fraternity. Jon has excelled on the Grand Lodge in a variety of roles and capacities since his election in 1999 and is currently the Fraternity's Vice President for Administration. The Committee believes that Jon will do an outstanding job as the next President of the Fraternity." The committee's report also contained an excellent bio on brother Luning. "Brother Luning, Beta Omega 241, was initiated into Theta Xi in 1986 at Virginia Tech, where he served his chapter as Scholarship Chair, Membership Education Chair, and President. After receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in computer engineering, Brother Luning managed Operations and R&D for technology companies in the Northeast. In May 1996, he founded Planet Earth Projects, Inc., a software consulting firm, which he leads as President today. Jon, his wife Pam, and their son Leo live in New York State." "Brother Luning was first elected a Director on the Grand Lodge in 1999, was re-elected in 2003, and was elected National Vice-President for Administration in 2005. Jon has served as chair of the Committee on Expansion, the Committee on Financial Policy, and the Committee on Recruitment. He has been a member of the Committee on Constitution and the Committee on Information Technology, and has served as Parliamentarian for the National Convention. Jon has volunteered as a faculty member for the Presidents Academy and the Rising Star Academy. Andrew Johnson
The Finance Committee met via Conference Call twice last week, and will be meeting again on 7/24/07. We are discussing the Budget for FYE June 30, 2008, which will be ready soon for publication to BOAA members. The discussions have been vigorous and fruitful. New committee member Steve Schmid, ΒΩ # 48, is getting an education in the finances of our million dollar organization (including the BOAA Community). It takes a considerable amount of effort to manage an organization of such a size. Good thing y'all elected a fine Board of Directors, lead my our hard-working President, Andy Johnson, ΒΩ # 317, and supported by a large group of members on various committees covering our many on-going programs. If you have any questions, please feel free to call me, 315-677-9442 Ron Bartelt |
© 2007 Beta Omega Chapter of Theta Xi |
