Theta Chi

Theta Chi Fraternity and The Norwich Housing Corporation are teaming up with the Center for Campus Fire Safety (CCFS) to recognize September as Fire Safety Month at universities and colleges across North America.
Regardless of a person’s age, fire kills. And with August and September typically being the worst months for fatal campus-related fires, now is the best time for everyone to get reacquainted with living fire safe. Fire safety skills are not just important undergraduate skills- they are life skills that will reduce the chance of death or injury. Unfortunately, most college students do not realize how quickly a fire can grow, or even worse, how to respond when a fire does occur. Therefore, spreading the fire safety message and imparting vital life preserving skills requires a team approach.
During Fire Safety Month, Theta Chi will do its part to support Fire Safety Month by providing facts, figures, and fire safety tips on the Theta Chi Facebook fan page and through Twitter. Articles and fire safety tips will also be posted on Theta Chi’s housing blog Within These Walls (www.thetachihousing.org). Finally, Theta Chi will be provide ideas for chapters to implement at their respective schools on www.thetachi.org. Theta Chi encourages its chapters to conduct fire drills, meet with their local fire marshals, and practice other important fire safety procedures during the month of September to recognize this month as Fire Safety Month.
Campus Fire Safety Month was first proclaimed by CCFS in 2005, and was formalized nationally in 2007 by resolutions from the United States House of Representatives and Senate.
The Norwich Housing Corporation is a non-profit corporation that provides loans for the purchase and renovation of Theta Chi chapter houses. Norwich is one of the first Greek organizations to provide low interest loans specifically for Theta Chi house corporations for the purpose of addressing life safety issues within the chapter house. Theta Chi house corporations wanting to learn more about the life safety loan program should contact the Norwich Administrative Officer at Norwich_Loans@thetachi.org or at 317-824-1881.
The Center for Campus Fire Safety is a national non-profit organization dedicated to protecting life and property from fire at our nation’s institutions of higher learning. Based in Newburyport, MA, the Center provides public education and support to the professionals who spend their life’s work making our campuses and communities safer. For more information about fire and life safety on and off campus, visit www.campusfiresafety.org.

[Editor's note: Brother Devin Gannon (Zeta Lambda/Westminster 2011) was recently recognized as a local hero for his quick thinking after saving the life of a woman who collapsed at the Crawford Swimming Pool in Shaler Township, PA. The below story is reprinted with permission from the Titan Sports Blog. You can read the original story here, or check out WTAE Pittsburgh Channel 4's coverage (with video) here.]
Posted by Titan Sports Blogger
Followers of sports often lose sight of who we recognize as true heroes. Gene Collier wrote in his column "The ex-sportswriter" for the Columbia Journalism Review that "an actual living hero is ten times as likely to walk down your street, sit next to you on a bus, or hold the door for you at the library than to appear on your television between the never varying pre-game yammer and the postgame lament about who 'stepped up' and who just 'didn't want it bad enough.'"
Last week a Westminster College varsity athlete was looked upon as a hero -- not a sports hero, but an actual living hero -- for helping save the life of a woman at the Kiwanis Park pool in Shaler Township. Devin Gannon (Glenshaw, Pa./Shaler), a senior-to-be on the Westminster swim team, helped save the life of a woman that collapsed on Tuesday and she was subsequently in a coma for two days before she recovered. However, the efforts of Gannon and two other workers at the pool helped sustain the woman's life until paramedics arrived.
Gannon used an AED defibrillator to shock her heart to keep her alive. Gannon and the two other workers were honored Friday night at the pool in a special ceremony.

Theta Chi Fraternity is pleased to welcome Joel Wendland (Zeta Beta/Adrian 1996) to the International Headquarters staff. Joel will be serving as Director of Member Services and will be responsible for managing the new member registration, awards, and all other membership-related processes.
Brother Wendland brings a world of experience with him to the International Headquarters. Most recently, he was the Foundation Relations Manager for the Indiana Repertory Theatre in Indianapolis, where he managed grant programming by securing private and public funding for education programs and general operations. Previously, Brother Wendland worked at the Indiana University School of Medicine as a development specialist, managing the foundation database to build donor portfolios for the IU Simon Cancer Center. He had also previously worked in Venice, CA as a project director for L.A. Theatre Works, where he managed promotional marketing and fundraising projects and launched the organization’s first national touring program.
As an undergraduate, Brother Wendland served the Zeta Beta chapter as President, Vice President, Secretary and House Manager. He is a volunteer on Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity’s National Awards Committee and is also involved with the Indiana Youth Group as a grant writer.
“We are very excited to welcome Joel to the International Headquarters Staff,” Executive Director Michael Mayer said. “His experience in the nonprofit sector will serve Theta Chi very well.”
Brother Wendland began work at the International Headquarters on Monday, Aug. 16. He can be reached by e-mail at jwendland@thetachi.org or by calling the International Headquarters at 317-824-1881. Congratulations, brother!

Brother Dan Resin (Alpha Iota/Indiana 1953), best known for his role in the 1980 film "Caddyshack," has died. He was 79.

Born in South Bend, IN, Brother Resin had a long and distinguished acting career that spanned back to 1950s Broadway, where he had roles in productions including "My Fair Lady" and "Once Upon a Mattress." He later held roles in other TV shows and films such as "Wise Guys," "The Sunshine Boys," and "The Private Files of J. Edgar Hoover."

Some of Brother Resin's more famous acting credits include his roles as the Ty-D-Bol Man in the 1970s toilet cleaner commercials and Dr. Beeper in the iconic 1980s classic "Caddyshack" alongside Chevy Chase and Bill Murray.

Resin died on July 31, 2010 in Oakland, N.J. after suffering complications from Parkinson's Disease. For funeral information, click here.

You’re invited to play in the 2010 Craig Blass Memorial Golf Tournament at South Riding Golfer’s Club on Sept. 18, 2010.

The Craig Blass Memorial Scholarship was founded in November 2001 to remember Brother Craig Blass (Eta Kappa/James Madison 1996), one of the many people who lost their lives at the World Trade Center on September 11th. Through this annual tournament and other activities, the Blass Memorial has raised over $175,000 to date. The event itinerary includes a long list of contests, performances and raffles.

Event Details:

DATE: Saturday, Sept. 18, 2010

TIME: Check-in starts at 11 a.m.

LOCATION: South Riding Golf Club, South Riding, VA

Golf Ticket: $125 per player, includes: Green fees, golf cart, range balls, lunch, goody bag, hole-in-one contest and awards dinner/drinks. Cheater packages available for purchase during registration.

Event Day Schedule:

11 a.m. – Check-In | $1M shot and putting contest entry | Warm-up

11:15 a.m. – Collegiate Sealer’s Putting Contest begins for $10,000

Noon – Box lunches delivered

12:45 p.m. – Putting contest preliminary round ends and Instructions at golf carts

1 p.m. – Shotgun Start

Immediately Following Golf:

AutoScandia’s 1 Million Dollar Shot on 9th hole

Collegiate Sealer’s putting contest finale

Awards reception (food, drinks, awards, prizes and recognition)

The Blass Memorial would also like to recognize the following sponsors for supporting this event:

2010 Sponsors - http://blassmemorial.org/2010Sponsors.aspx

United AirTemp

Acumen Poker

AutoScandia

Collegiate Sealers

Mark Pollak of Ameriprise Financial

Important Links:

Event website - http://blassmemorial.org/golf.aspx

Registration page - http://blassmemorial.org/register.aspx

Blass Fact Sheet - http://blassmemorial.org/Documents/Blass%20Fact%20Sheet%202010.pdf

Blass Memorial Facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/craigblass

To register, or for more information, please visit http://blassmemorial.org/golf.aspx.

Theta Chi is proud of the 62 brothers representing 35 chapters who were recently initiated into the Order of Omega and Gamma Sigma Alpha, two prestigious Greek-letter honorary societies.
Since its founding at the University of Miami (FL) in 1959, the Order of Omega has grown to more than 500 chapters throughout the United States and Canada, inducted more than 200,000 members and awarded over $800,000 in scholarships to deserving undergraduate and graduate students. For more information about the Order of Omega, visit their website at www.orderofomega.org.
Gamma Sigma Alpha was founded in 1989 at the University of Southern California and currently has 212 chapters in North America. For more information about Gamma Sigma Alpha, visit their website at www.gammasigmaalpha.org.
For a complete list of Theta Chi inductees, please visit www.thetachi.org.
Congratulations, brothers!

Theta Chi Fraternity congratulated four outstanding chapters for their superb achievements and accomplishments this past academic year by presenting them with the Howard R. Alter, Jr. Award for Chapter Excellence at this year’s 154th Anniversary Convention in Orlando, Florida. The 2009/10 recipients are:

Phi/North Dakota State

Zeta Beta/Adrian

Iota Beta/Missouri State

Iota Theta/Central Florida

Howard R. Alter, Jr. has been honored with every award in Theta Chi Fraternity. He was the first of two men in the history of Theta Chi Fraternity to serve as Executive Director, National President, and President of the National Board of Trustees (now The Norwich Housing Corporation). He served as Executive Director from 1968-1984, during one of the most turbulent periods in the history of American college fraternities. Brother Alter formally served Theta Chi for 54 years before his death in 2009, earning many accolades along the way. His lifelong and selfless work on behalf of Theta Chi Fraternity and the interfraternity world serves now, and will continue to serve, as an example for all to follow.

The Howard R. Alter, Jr. Award for Chapter Excellence was created in 1984 upon the occasion of Howard’s retirement as Executive Director by a group of former Field Representatives who served under Howard. The Alter Award was first presented in 1986 to chapters that met or exceeded the standard of excellence.

The Alter Award is the highest honor that the Fraternity can bestow upon a chapter. Consideration for the Alter Award is by application only. A committee of current and former Field Staff members reviews each application and selects winners. The Alter Award is presented annually and may only be given to active chapters.
Congratulations on a job well done, brothers!

During the 154th Anniversary Convention in Orlando, Florida, undergraduate and alumnus delegates of Theta Chi Fraternity met to elect the 2010-12 Grand Chapter. The 2010-12 Grand Chapter officers are:

National President Douglas M. Allen (Delta Beta/Georgia 1990)

National Vice President Joseph R. D’Amore, Jr. (Eta Pi/East Stroudsburg 1977)

National Secretary Richard I.L. Partridge (Theta/Massachusetts 1991)

National Treasurer Terry A. Johnson (Gamma Pi/Buffalo 1971)

National Marshal James D. Hardwick (Phi/North Dakota State 1987)

National Counselor Thomas G. Tinnin (Epsilon Phi/Central Missouri 1984)

National Chaplain Joseph S. Couch (Chi/Auburn 1996)

National Historian William W. Palmer (Beta Alpha/UCLA 1985)

Brothers Allen and D’Amore were both re-elected for second terms. Brother Allen was also re-elected as National President. Brother D’Amore previously served as National Secretary from 2008-2010 before being elected current National Vice President. Brothers Couch and Palmer are newly elected to the Board.

Theta Chi Fraternity also recognized and thanked brothers Brian K. Hall (Theta Eta/Sam Houston State 1988) and Ronald J. Ramos (Gamma Theta/San Diego State 1968), who recently completed their terms of office, for their service on the Grand Chapter.

The Grand Chapter is the administrative, executive and judicial head of the Fraternity, and is charged with interpreting and enforcing The Constitution and Bylaws of Theta Chi Fraternity, developing the Fraternity’s strategic plan and working with the International Headquarters staff.

Congratulations, brothers!

The Norwich Housing Corporation is happy to announce that Brother Wesley Wicker will join the Board of Directors for Norwich starting Sept. 1, 2010. He will serve in the role of Counselor.

Brother Wicker will be replacing Brother Douglas Schemenauer, who has served voluntarily for 10 years on the Norwich Housing Corporation.

Brother Wicker earned a doctorate in higher education administration from the Institute of Higher Education at the University of Georgia in 1990, a master’s degree in history from Georgia Southwestern State University in 1985, and a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Alabama in 1981.

At the University of Alabama, Brother Wicker joined the Alpha Phi chapter in January 1976 and was later elected Chapter President. After graduation, he joined the Executive Office of Theta Chi Fraternity and worked as a Field Representative, now Leadership and Education Consultant, from 1979–1981.

While working on his doctorate at the University of Georgia from 1998–2000, Brother Wicker served as the chapter adviser for the Delta Beta chapter, and was also a Regional Counselor. He again served the Delta Beta chapter from 1998–2000 as House Corporation president.

From 1990–1995, Brother Wicker was the Director of Development for Theta Chi Fraternity’s Funds for Leadership and Education, Inc. followed by two years with the United Way of Central Indiana from 1995–1997. Wicker spent the next five years as the Vice President of Major Gifts for United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta (1997–2002). During this time period, Brother Wicker served on the Foundation Chapter from 1992–1995 and as President of the Foundation from 1996–2002.

Since September 2002, Brother Wicker has served as Vice President of Advancement for Kennesaw State University and was selected in January 2005 as the Executive Director of the KSU Foundation.

The Norwich Housing Corporation is headed by five Theta Chi alumnus volunteers who provide mortgage loans to assist Theta Chi house corporations with renovating old or building new fraternity houses. The Corporation’s headquarters is in Indianapolis, Indiana.

For their outstanding national and local service, their personal efforts taken for the betterment of Theta Chi, and their continual unselfish interest, Theta Chi Fraternity is happy to announce the 2010 recipients of the Earl D. Rhodes Theta Chi for Life Award:

Carlton F. Bennett
Zeta Pi/Old Dominion University 1972

Allen F. Carter
Eta Omicron/Northwestern State University 1976

Michael Davidson
Tau/University of Florida 1969

Patrick T. O’Connor
Chi/Auburn University 1978

Ronald J. Ramos
Gamma Theta/San Diego State University 1968

Douglas Schemenauer
Epsilon Phi/University of Central Missouri 1989

The Theta Chi for Life Award was established and authorized by the Grand Chapter in 1975 and was first presented at the Fraternity’s 120th Anniversary Convention. This prestigious award is considered the second-highest honor for service to Theta Chi Fraternity.

Nominations for the Theta Chi for Life Award are evaluated by the National Advisory Committee, which is composed of all past National Presidents of Theta Chi Fraternity.

Recipients of the Theta Chi for Life Award will be recognized during a special awards presentation on July 2 at the 154th Anniversary Convention Alumni Awards Luncheon at the Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando, Florida.

The Theta Chi for Life Award is named in honor of Past National President Earl "Dusty" Rhodes, Delta/RPI 1921, (photo above) who was known as "Mr. Theta Chi." Rhodes was the first recipient of this award in 1976.

Congratulations, brothers!

Originally submitted by Richard RogersEckerd Youth Alternatives, Inc. Area Director
On Tuesday, April 13 at the Brevard County [Florida] Schools Area IV Awards of Excellence Ceremony, Brother Michael King (Zeta Theta/Troy State 1977) was honored with an Award of Excellence for going above and beyond in his support to Riverview Elementary School and their students.
Mike King is the Hi-Five Early Intervention & Prevention Coordinator at Riverview Elementary School. The Hi-Five Program is a program of Eckerd Youth Alternatives, a private, non-profit organization serving youth and families since 1968. Eckerd has served over 100,000 youth and provide a full continuum of behavioral health and child welfare services. You can find more information about Eckerd and the programs it provides by clicking here.
His program responsibilities are to facilitate classroom presentations, Super Kid Clubs (Small Group Interventions), and Family Trainings. However, Mike has gone above and beyond his job requirements with several special projects in which he gathered support of his Super Kids, school staff, and community volunteers.
Mike and his Super Kids collected pop tops for the Ronald McDonald house, started a food drive for needy families, collected donations to put together care packages for troops in Afghanistan, and collected food and basic needs supplies for the people of Haiti. Mike also started an after-school Gardening Club at Riverview Elementary.
He applied for many small grants and got donations from local businesses to get the materials and supplies to start a large garden at Riverview Elementary. Students, teachers and community volunteers have all chipped in to volunteer after-school and on weekends to build the garden, complete with a sprinkler system which they put together themselves. Plant seeds and fertilizer were donated through local businesses. The gardening club also redid the landscaping in the front of the school. They received donations for mulch and plants and spent a weekend beautifying the front of the school.
The Super Kids are really enjoying the gardening club. They are spending their after-school and weekend time volunteering and helping their school. Mike is utilizing this extra time with the kids to teach them responsibility and citizenship. The youth are taking pride in their garden and their school and Mike and school administration have notice improvement in students’ behavior since participating in the club.
Congratulations, brother!

The following poem was published shortly after World War II. At least 342 of our Brothers made the ultimate sacrifice and became "Golden Stars" during that war. Theta Chi's have served and given the last full measure of their devotion in all of our Nation's conflicts since the Civil War, including the current Global War on Terrorism. Today, let us remember not only those Brothers, but all who have laid down their lives for their fellow man.

We Shall Remember

Golden Stars are blazing

High in the peaceful sky—

By them we’ll remember

The men who went to die,

The brave we knew as brothers

Of dear old Theta Chi

Their deeds shall be remembered,

Their virtues shall not fade.

They left quite ivied halls

And went forth unafraid

To earn eternal oaken wreaths

And Time’s bright accolade.

So on some quite evening,

Look upward to the sky

And see the gold stars shining

For those who went to die—

For Right, and Truth, and Freedom,

Brothers of Theta Chi.

--Roger Pecke Cleveland, Beta Mu/Middlebury

(Brother Cleveland published several books of poetry after WWII)

Norwich University has made a limited number of prints of Brother Edward Bancroft Williston available to Theta Chi members. (Shown at left.) Brother Williston, the first initiate after the Founders, received the Congressional Medal of Honor for “distinguished gallantry” during the Civil War.

Norwich University commissioned noted military artist Dale Gallon produce the print. The university is offering Theta Chi’s a number of the limited “Norwich University” prints that include the N.U. logo.

A very limited number of prints are available at the special price of $120 (includes shipping.) Brother Dan Fleetham Jr., a Norwich grad and member of the Theta Chi Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity has worked out the arrangements with N.U. If you would like a copy of the print, please contact Brother Fleetham directly at dfleethamjr@netzero.com.

Proceeds from the sale of the pint support the Sullivan Museum and History Center at Norwich University. You can also view the print at the artist's website here.

Norwich University has made a limited number of prints of Brother Edward Bancroft Williston available to Theta Chi members. (Shown at left.) Brother Williston, the first initiate after the Founders, received the Congressional Medal of Honor for “distinguished gallantry” during the Civil War.

Norwich University commissioned noted military artist Dale Gallon produce he print. The university is offering Theta Chi’s a number of the limited “Norwich University” prints that include the N.U. logo.

A very limited number of prints are available at the special price of $120 (includes shipping.) Brother Dan Fleetham Jr., a Norwich grad and member of the Theta Chi Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity has worked out the arrangements with N.U. If you would like a copy of the print, please contact Brother Fleetham directly at dfleethamjr@netzero.com.

Proceeds from the sale of the pint support the Sullivan Museum and History Center at Norwich University.

You can also view the print at the artist's website here.