April 2010 Delta Nu e-Review

It looks as if the cliché will hold true and April showers will bring some May flowers. If you were in Ogallala, Nebraska on April 20^th (okay, that was only me), then it looked like winter when it hailed so much everything was covered and gutters were clogged up. Weird. Summer is almost upon us as baseball has started and the NBA starts its two-month (or is it three?) playoff run, but I digress. Thanks again for reading this month’s edition of the Delta Nu e-Review. If you haven’t yet joined the Delta Nu Alumni Association, read on, but contact Brad Shelton at brad.shelton@nwtke.com when you’re done. We need your help to continue the programs and events that you’re reading about today.

The active chapter will be closing out a successful 2009-2010 school year with successes in Homecoming, Greek Week, recruitment, Philanthropy and grades. The chapter is 73-men strong and will finish up with a 2.7 GPA. Congratulations to all of the upcoming graduates and welcome again to all new members. It also appears that the house will be full for the 2010-2011 school year.

Northwest Missouri State students will be neck-deep in their studies (we hope!) the week of April 26^th. Good luck guys! Graduation is May 1^st. A list of TKE graduates will be posted when available.

Camping for Cans: Over 100 cans were collected the week of April 12^th and were donated to the Maryville Food Pantry.

Big Brothers Big Sisters / Philanthropy: The chapter raised $125 for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Nodaway County through Actives raising funds and participating in a bowling tournament.

Mustache March Philanthropy: The chapter logged over 1,000 man hours and solicited over $1,000 in donations for the Humane Society of Nodaway County. Another $350 may still come in.

“TKE Stock” Social Event & Fundraiser: Although it was a little rainy and the event was held on Easter weekend, the chapter claimed success, earning over $1,100 from the event.

The active chapter, with help from parents, held a work weekend on April 17^th. All active members were required to stay in town to work on the house. Almost all tasks on the list were completed ranging from power washing, painting, yard work, and repainting the TKE sign in front of the entrance. Photos of the house following the event can be viewed at http://gallery.me.com/lupine1647/100074

Congratulations to Gunner Sumy! Frater Gunner Sumy, 1564, the current Epiprytanis, was a recipient of Blue Key Honor Society's Outstanding Freshman Leadership Award. He was also named IFC Student of the Month, and was also recipient of the IFC outstanding scholar award for achieving a 4.0 his first semester. Way to go Frater!

 

The Board has done a great deal of really fine work this year. Our volunteer team has moved our communications efforts forward in a big way by improving our website, electronic newsletters and extensive use of e-mail. We have never sent out more communications that we do today.

Our Philanthropic efforts are also doing very well with numerous donations to the Pete Greve Scholarship fund as well as improved overall coordination between what is being donated to Nationals, Northwest or selected funds. We encourage everyone to think of Delta Nu first so we can make our dollars go further and make sure that they go to deserving Tekes or friends of Delta Nu.

Our alumni association membership continues to grow at a steady pace but we need more people to get involved and contribute!  Now is your chance to get involved, hook up with some old friends and reconnect.  We need everyone to give $50 a year so we can really make this thing work and work well. If you think about it, what a small donation that will really help some young men as well as help us hook up more Delta Nu alumni!  Rest assured that your donations will be put to good use!

 We have also made great strides with the house in terms of improvements as well as undergraduates filling the house and paying their bills. Are things perfect? Not when you deal with young men. Are we making progress? You bet.  All we need is you.  Yours in the Bond, Mark Witthar

The TKE House will finish the year in April in a solvent position. All bills accrued in the fall and spring semester were paid by fall and spring rent collections. While this may not sound like noteworthy news, it is a significant improvement over the spring deficits of the not-so-distant past. The house will be closed over the summer as it has been the last two summers, as renting rooms over the summer does not justify utility costs.

Study-abroad programs and the rigors of academia reduced our numbers at the semester break by a few so we did not end with the cash surplus that we would have liked. Some of the maintenance projects that we looked forward to doing this summer will be delayed until next fall, when we will look forward to working with next year’s surplus. Over the summer, we plan to do a few special improvement projects that will be funded by the capital improvement fund. Steve Moss, as head of that committee, will lead that effort and will discuss in more detail in his report.

Although there was not an Alumni volunteer to lead our spring Work Weekend, we would like to continue this tradition next Sprint. If your skills are bent toward leading an effort like this, please contact me and we can start early planning next year’s event.

We look forward to starting the fall 2010 semester with a full house of 32 men. The new House Manager, Brian Ascheman, says 26 men have signed leases as of now with five or six others yet to commit. Filling and retaining a full house will provide plenty of surplus income for significant house improvements. Vacancies are our only enemy and Brian and his fellow officers are making every effort to avoid them.

Stephen Driever, 662, 3-year membership, Stephen.driever@gmail.com

Stephen Freel, 663, -year membership, sfsquared@comporium.net

Dick Westbrook, 675, 3-year membership, westbrookrichard@msn.com

Roger Tullberg, 856, 3-year membership, rogertullberg@msn.com

To see a list of the members of the Alumni Association, please go to http://www.nwtke.com/content/delta-nu-alumni-association-roster.

In the battle to see how many members of a pledge class can join the Delta Nu Alumni Association, Fall 1974 leads the way with 67% of its members joined. To see the full rankings for this month, please visit http://www.nwtke.com/content/delta-nu-alumni-association-roster.

 

For more information about the Alumni Association go to http://www.nwtke.com/content/alumni-association and look for the JOIN button or contact Brad Shelton at brad.shelton@nwtke.com. Non-tax deductible donation dues can be paid on line or you can mail a check to:

Pete Greve Scholarship – At the one-year-anniversary of Pete Greve's death (March 21^st), a mailing was sent out to help build the scholarship that bears his name. The mailer was welcomed with a good response and additional funds were received. The application deadline for the Pete Greve scholarship was April 1^st. Sixteen high school seniors/future Bearcats, all sponsored by a Delta Nu alumni, submitted applications and very soon, at least one and maybe two worthy recipients will win a scholarship for the 2010-2011 school year. If you are interested in contributing to the Peter J. Greve scholarship, please visit www.nwtke.com. All donations to this scholarship are tax deductible. For more information, please contact Bruce Barlow at bbarlow88@comcast.net

TKE House Capital Improvements – the Capital Improvements committee continues to consider potential projects for the House. These projects are intended to increase the value and usability of the House, as well as improve the living environment for the active chapter. The committee will be visiting the House soon to evaluate and discuss a few of the projects on the list. A few projects include a new study room, kitchen renovation, storage facility as well as an activity building. If you are interested in the potential project list, please contact Steve Moss at semoss@mchsi.com. If you are interested in contributing to this fund, please visit www.nwtke.com.

The TKE Delta Nu alumni social events calendar is kicking into high gear for 2010. Already this year alumni have reconnected in Kansas City at The Quaff Winter Gathering, bowling and the occasional boys-night-out at a nearby watering hole. The first annual ESPN NCAA basketball bracket challenge was launched and won by Todd Sexton “1518” barely edging out a victory over Mike “Columbo” Christensen “861”. Numerous other events are still in store for 2010 highlighted by the golf tournament June 4^th in Maryville--which sold out faster than a Girls Gone Wild video shoot at spring break--and homecoming the end of October. The current events calendar is listed in chronological order. You can also find the 2010 Social Events Calendar and committee member contact info on the web at www.bit.ly/TKEsocial_calender.

Need a tune up before the 15^th Annual Delta Nu Memorial Scramble golf tournament? Sign up for the Spring Golf Outing in Kansas City, tentatively scheduled for Sunday, May 16^th. Contact Jason Washam, 1320, Kansas City Social Director, at 816-898-4415 or jwash1320@hotmail.com for more details.

This year’s Summer Gathering in Kansas City will be held at the home of Scott and Susie Keilbey. All Delta Nu Tekes, young and old, are welcome and encouraged to attend. RSVPs are due to Joe Kempf at joe.kempf@marsh.com. The Keilbey’s address is 6114 N Elmwood Ct., Kansas City, MO, 64119. We will update information on the TKE Delta Nu Facebook group page and the website in regards to the start time, what attendees will need to bring, if anything, and any other details we can remember you would need.

Jason Washam and the social committee are planning a TKE Royals Family Night for Friday, July 16^th. In addition to seeing the Boys in Blue perform at a World Series-level versus the Oakland As, Friday night is fireworks and $1 night at “The K” (Kauffman Stadium). If you and your family is interested in attending, please contact Jason as soon as you can, as an estimated head-count and deposit is due to the Royals ticket office by June 14^th. Jason’s contact information is 816-898-4415 or jwash1320@hotmail.com

Homecoming will be here before you know it. If you have any thoughts of attending, please contact Tad Trecker at trekwith@yahoo.com today! Hotels will be filling up fast and Tad can help you with anything you need. For more information on Homecoming and related activities at the TKE House, please visit the Homecoming webpage. Here is the initial schedule for Friday and Saturday of Homecoming week.

Friday, October 29, 2010

·         Open House: 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Saturday, October 30, 2010

·         Bearcat Tailgate:9:00 a.m. to noon

·         Richard “Dick” Wiles Commemorative Bell Ceremony: noon to 12:30 p.m.

·         Fraters signing of the official Scroll

·         Bearcat Football – NWMSU vs. Fort Hays State (Bearcat Stadium): 1:30 p.m.

·         Post game reception following the football game

All TKE events held at the Delta Nu Chapter House, 555 West 9th St., Maryville, MO

More details to come when available

Please welcome Jason Washam, 1302, as our new Social Director for Kansas City. If you would like to assist Jason with any local events please contact him at at 816-898-4415 or jwash1320@hotmail.com.

Please welcome Jerrad Popp, 1144, as our new Social Director for Des Moines. If you would like to assist Jerrad with any local events please contact him at 515-360-8111 or jerradpopp@yahoo.com.

We still haven’t found a social director for the Omaha/Eastern NE/SW Iowa area, so if you are interested please contact Ron Beaver as soon as possible. One Omaha event already tentatively planned is the NWMSU at UNO football game on Saturday, September 18^th. You can reach Ron at rb64089@gmail.com.

Should you have any ideas for a future event or wish to help please contact anyone on the social committee. The 2010 social events calendar and committee member contact info are located at www.bit.ly/TKEsocial_calender.

 

Fairly soon, two new features will be available to you on the www.nwtke.com website – a Frater Locator map as well as a Frater Search. With the Frater locator, you can enter in a zip code and a radius of miles, and we’ll show you where any other Delta Nu Tekes are in that area. With the Frater Search, you can enter in a Name or City or State or Pledge Class, and we’ll give you a list of the Delta Nu Tekes that meet your criteria.

Once the search feature is completed, we will begin a redesign of the website, updating content and the look and feel, but we need your feedback to know what you need as well as how you think the website would be easier to use. If you have questions or want to submit your ideas, please email alumni@nwtke.com.

We have received a few items, but are still looking for more Delta Nu history to image and put on the website. What do we want to get – anything and everything! Composites, party flyers, news clippings, all-chapter pictures, homecoming pictures, pictures of t-shirts, etc. If you have anything, please contact Dan Canchola at dcanchola@kc.rr.com or Michael Reiff at Michael.Reiff@nwtke.com.