Magazine Article - "Chapter Installations" (Spring 2010): Installation. It is a word that colonies throughout the Fraternity set as their end goal, as one of their mightiest conquest whilst an undergraduate. The word literally means to be installed or set in position, like an outpost of Beta Theta Pi. However, it is so much more than an event, but a milestone in a chapter’s history. The beauty behind an installation is that it truly takes the entire chapter to accomplish. No one man or group of seniors can carry the group into the installation phase, it has to be the entire colony to achieve the status that is known as Chapter. Some are awarded this date sooner rather than later. Others have their hopes or dreams dashed for whatever reason, and must wait till next year to challenge the right to become a Chapter of Beta Theta Pi. Either way, a colony’s installation will be one of the most special and rewarding nights of a young man’s life.
Kettering B
The first year as a colony was focused on basic necessities. The colony focused on member recruitment and pledge education. In fall 2007, we successfully recruited a seven man pledge class and then initiated 100 percent of the men who formally pledged in spring 2008.
The second year was “if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” The colony renewed its commitment to recruitment and pledge education. Improvements were made in increasing involvement in the recruitment process, and the pledge education content shifted from a solely lecture based experience to a more interactive one. In fall 2008, the colony recruited a second seven man pledge class and subsequently initiated them in spring 2009.
While the primary chapter focus was on sustainability for the first two years, this did not prevent us from excelling in other arenas. Since colonization we maintained the highest GPA out of all fraternities and sororities at Kettering. The colony also averaged more than 12 hours of community service per man per semester.
As a Chapter, we are involved in more than 40 organizations at Kettering and hold leadership roles in 26. That is more than any other fraternity on campus. Furthermore, we have sent 85 percent of active brothers to Beta leadership opportunities over the past two years.
The Chapter’s petition to charter was approved by the 170th General Convention in Phoenix on July 31, 2009. On November 7, 2009 the B-Section re-installation celebration and 45th Anniversary of the Delta Eta Chapter took place. – Ryan Gee ’10, Delta Eta chapter president
Florida international
The General Fraternity committed to an expansion at Florida International University after an invitation from the school itself. A band of three brothers headed to the south to fulfill the desire consisting of Director of Expansion J.B. Scherpelz, Leadership Consultant Jason Waggoner and Colony Educator Dustin Anderson. After a semester long recruitment effort plagued by countless hurricanes and tropical storms, 27 pledges were inducted, 18 of which became founding fathers on January 26, 2006.
The FIU colony of Beta Theta Pi continued at Florida International University for the next three and a half years, continuously working on recruiting new men of principle and expanding their presence on campus. The colony would come to sweep the 2007, 2008 and 2009 IFC Greek awards. The FIU Colony continued to excel in the IFC by having a brother serve as IFC President while still being a colony.
Finally in summer of 2009, the 170th General Convention of Beta Theta Pi granted the colony its charter as the new Eta Gamma Chapter of Beta Theta Pi. The Chapter had its installation dinner on January 23rd, 2010 in Coral Gables, FL at the Westin-Colonnade Hotel where it was installed as an official chapter by our General Fraternity President, Dr. Tom Purinton, Kansas State ’63. The Chapter is planning to apply for the Sisson and Knox awards, the highest awards given by the General Fraternity, this year. – Javier Nahmias ’11, Eta Gamma chapter president
Dayton
On November 21, 2009, the University of Dayton colony was installed as the Eta Delta Chapter of Beta Theta Pi. The colony was established following a 2007 expansion project where 32 young men were initiated into this Great and Good Fraternity. The members of the Dayton colony found a strong unity in devoting themselves to combating the ‘frat’ stereotype, which has remained an integral component of the identity of the now proud Eta Delta Chapter.
President Andrew Fist, Dayton ’09, served as Dayton’s delegate to the 170th General Convention in Phoenix, AZ, where the colony petitioned for its charter based upon meeting the requirements of the General Fraternity. The charter petition was approved and the Chapter celebrated its installation with a banquet and ritual on November 21, 2009, at the Patterson Homestead located adjacent to the University’s campus. A member of the Patterson family who owned this property is a Beta, John H. Patterson, Miami 1867, co-founder of National Cash Register Company.
Some might say it was providence that the Eta Delta Chapter should have been installed on the former property of a Beta from the Alpha Chapter. The Installation Ritual and Officer Transition Ritual were performed by General Fraternity President, Dr. Tom Purinton, Kansas State ’63. The banquet was attended by current undergraduate brothers, Eta Delta alumni and advisors, Beta alumni who live in the Dayton area, as well as other General Fraternity officers and the Greek advisor of the University of Dayton. Along with the charter, the Eta Delta Chapter was honored to receive a gift of a sculpted dragon from Dayton area resident Jack Longstreth, Purdue ’51, which will be used to give recognition to outstanding contributions to the Eta Delta Chapter by brothers and alumni.
The Eta Delta Chapter is enthusiastic about implementing the philosophy of the General Fraternity’s Sons of the Dragon Club undergraduate giving program into its own leadership development strategy. Brothers at UD are expressing their commitment to mutual aid and assistance very tangibly through volunteering to co-sponsor the registration fees of other brothers to leadership development opportunities such as the Wooden Institute and UIFI. The Chapter hopes to send at least eight brothers to leadership development programs this summer. – Phillip Erford ’11, Eta Delta chapter president
|
