Thanks for the entry Simon. Remember I will put up any entry an Alumni or Brother wants to write.
Active brothers, lately there has been a rekindling of brotherhood amongst the alumni of our chapter. I don't think I have ever sent so many emails in my life!!! Though they are daunting to wade through they give me a renewed sense of brotherhood and how much this chapter means to so many generations! A few actives have expressed some concerns regarding the Alumni Association and I wanted to address some of those here in this blog.
For years and years Lambda Upsilon Zeta has suffered from a non existent alumni program, it is one of the great failings of our chapter. Brothers that shared so much and had such a tight bond seemingly disappear from view upon graduation. Leaving not only their lives a little emptier but letting down the generations of brothers yet to come. The only experience most of you have is through your limited exposure to either Housing Corp or the alumni control board. The alumni brothers that have participated in these two entities have done a thankless job. Needless to say the relationship between these two organizations and the chapter is usually contentious at best. Leaving actives with a skewed perception of the role alumni play in their lives. On the other hand Alumni involved in either organization generally don't see eye to eye with the actives. It is an unfortunate by product of having no alumni association.
What Dave Pickering, Mike Greer, Nick Kilduff and myself, among others to long to list here represent is a new approach to the alumni/active relationship. An association that has a more "positive" and active role with the chapter. The principle members of this group represent a changing of the guard so to speak! Our fundamental philosophy is to continue the brotherhood we shared as actives. Through that continuation of our brotherhood we can lend support to the active chapter not control. The alumni of the chapter should be a resource for the actives not a parent. We should be available to all members of the chapter for advice and support, not an organization to be viewed with distrust.
As I look back on my active years, I would have loved to have some alumni to talk to and get advice about chapter operations or school or life in general. The only alumni input we got was when something wasn't being done right in their eyes. That is wrong and needs to change and will. Brotherhood shouldn't end when you cross the stage for graduation! The great thing about an organization of our nature is the wealth of knowledge it provides us with. Brothers have gone on to do amazing things in all different career fields, that is something we can all benefit from especially in today's economy! Bottom line is brotherhood is for life. Your life as an active should be filled with memories of the greatest times of your life. But why let that end? Lambda Chi Alpha and Lambda Upsilon in specific is a special thing that never dies in your heart. Speaking from experience it is amazing when I see bro's I haven't seen in years. We pick up right where we left off 10 years ago, like no time has passed at all. That is the magic of our bond! Over the past two weeks I have had amazing conversations with brother I never even knew prior to that. I am meeting people I would have never met if it weren't for our brotherhood. I have also reconnected with brothers I haven't spoken to in years. My goal for you guys is that you never have to go through that heartache of not speaking to brothers you were active with for years!
Once again, I have gotten long winded!!! Anyway, I am looking forward to meeting all of you soon. Then I can tell you the crazy stories from "Back in the Day"!!! Till then keep up the good work and if ever you need someone to chat with, call me up! I am more than happy to chat with bro's either on the phone or email or Facebook! Till then Zeta Alpha Chi Brothers!!!
Simon Durocher
Owner
Bella Terra Landscaping, Inc
(612)720-3080
www.bellaterrainc.com
Friday, March 26, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
Happy 22nd Birthday Chris Grigas
Today is the birthday of Brother Chris Grigas. He's a Criminal Justice major and will be attending graduate school at Michigan State University in the fall.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Hockey Game: Choppers vs The Mighty Ducks
Some pictures from the intermural game tonight (Sunday, March 22).
Brother Nick Layo
Brother Alex Ratliff
Bring it in
Game
Game
The Bench
Brother Ryan Bell
Bench
And that's the score we ended with. Tie game (We were the guests)
Some Videos
Brother Nick Layo
Brother Alex Ratliff
Bring it in
Game
Game
The Bench
Brother Ryan Bell
Bench
And that's the score we ended with. Tie game (We were the guests)
Some Videos
Around the House
I snapped a couple of pictures on Saturday around the house because of the visit from the Compliance Manager from Nationals, Thomas "TR" Roberts.
The Chapter Room: Brothers Jameson Redden and Patrick Covey
The Chapter Room: Paddles and the Charter
The Chapter Room: Paddles
For those who haven't seen the paddle, Rest in Peace Dr. Z
The Chapter Room: The Mantle
Brothers Ryan Williams and Moe Hammoud chillin in the Chapter Room
The Kitchen: Brothers Jordayn Fisher, Nick Layo, Mark Updegraff, and Zach Fairchild
The Kitchen: The African and Polish race conflicts are finally over with
Saturday, March 20, 2010
White Rose
I just obtained a copy of the White Rose invitation from Ryan. Anyone who wants to come please do! We're very excited to welcome back any alumni who wants to attend and we would definitely like to reestablish connections.
Ice Station Zebra
Here's the latest Ice Station Zebra courtesy of our High Rho, Ryan Williams. Send me an email if you'd like to get in touch with him about attending White Rose this year.
Friday, March 19, 2010
A Letter from an Alumni
I am excited to say that I have already received a response to this blog from an alumni. It's always fascinating to see the perspective of a brother who has been out of the "system" for a while as this is what each undergraduate brother eventually faces. Simon brings up some excellent points in the following letter, some of which are a bit unsettling at this point in my college career. Looking around it's hard to imagine that I might drift away from the people I surround myself with right now but I certainly can foresee it once the real world really kicks in. Thanks again for your letter Simon, I do hope to read and publish some of the stories you mentioned in the future.
Hi Sean, Though we have never met we share the common bond of brotherhood and experience! It is refreshing to hear stories(and see pictures) of recent memories being made by active brothers. I have heard very little of the troubles that have plagued the chapter over the past several years. I understand how hard it is to have those kind of restriction placed upon you by a university board that would rather see you disappear than acknowledge the good you bring to the campus and community! It has been almost 10 years since I graduated, in some ways a lot has changed and in others nothing really has at all. Every generation of actives faces adversity, for my generation we had to cope with the embezzlement of our funds by a brother and check fraud! It just about ended the chapter, I was alpha at the time and it was discovered the week before school began. Worst of all I had to expel by best friend and classmate from the chapter and Lambda Chi Alpha. It was what needed to be done because the chapter and traditions were more important than personal feelings and relationships. That is part of the commitment to the brotherhood. The brothers refused to let the flame of brotherhood be extinguished on our watch. We pulled together and dedicated ourselves to that task and with a lot of hard work and sacrifice we restored our name in the community. The other part was that we made sure our brother got the help he needed, which he did and him and I are great friends to this day!
Turmoil and challenge are part of being a brother of Lambda Chi Alpha, that is why we take the oath that we do. It would be easy to go through college and not be an active. There are plenty of parties to go to, Friends to make and other organizations to join! We set ourselves a part from the average college student, we strive for challenge and endure hardships because of our commitment to a greater purpose. Each generation wonders and agonizes over how to preserve the brotherhood and traditions that have been handed down to them, I know we certainly did. Subsequently each alumni wonders if his legacy will endure. Some how it always does, sure there are rough spots along the way and some traditions come and go. But the fundamentals remain the same, a group of brothers dedicated to the teachings of Lambda Chi Alpha and the brotherhood those teachings provide.
When I joined Lambda Chi in the fall of 1997 there where 10 of use in my class( Beta Rho). I did not know very many of the guys because I had not gone through the rush that semester like the others, nor did I want to get to know them. I viewed "help Week" as a competition that not all would make it through, I saw the other 8 guys in the green room as the enemy! By the end of that week I had been transformed...it was inexplicable. How could these guys I didn't know or like just 5 days before hold a place inside my heart forever. I knew right then and there that this was more than just partying, having fun and going to meetings!
As you graduate you can't wait for the transition to "the real world", you say to yourself "I'm coming back every year to hang out with my Bros" and for a few years you do. Sooner or later the daily rigors of family and work take over and the brother of Lambda Chi Alpha fade from view. You will talk to a couple of bro's here and there but its not the same. You will think back fondly on your days as an active and smile when you remember stupid exploits done usually while extremely intoxicated! Although the lamp burns faint it never extinguishes. It will start to burn a little brighter when you hear from old Bros or you get a newsletter. Right now with the interest in the Alumni Association my flame is growing as bright as it was when I was an active! I don't want that flame to dim again. The chapter meant to much to me not just for the great times I had there but what it did for me as a person. I want others to experience that brotherhood that me and those other 9 guys experienced.
As I read your blog I was struck by a sense of pride! Every alumni fears that those who come after will drop the lamp and the chapter will vanish! A two year probation is a long time to keep you nose clean, it is easy for guys to give up and say "screw it lets have a party tonight!!". But you didn't, you understood that the consequence had a greater overall impact on people you have never even met! That is impressive and to that I personally thank all of you guys. I know that Alumni probably don't have that great of a presence in your lives. They certainly didn't when I was an active, other than show up, drink our beer and tells us how we don't do it like they did "back in the day"! Just because we don't show up on a regular basis doesn't mean we don't care, that is something we need to do a better job of and will. Thank you once again for having the dedication to open these line of communication. Next time I post I'll tell some fun stories I promise!!!!
Yours in Zax,
Lambda Upsilon 461
Simon Durocher
Owner
Bella Terra Landscaping, Inc
(612)720-3080
www.bellaterrainc.com
Hi Sean, Though we have never met we share the common bond of brotherhood and experience! It is refreshing to hear stories(and see pictures) of recent memories being made by active brothers. I have heard very little of the troubles that have plagued the chapter over the past several years. I understand how hard it is to have those kind of restriction placed upon you by a university board that would rather see you disappear than acknowledge the good you bring to the campus and community! It has been almost 10 years since I graduated, in some ways a lot has changed and in others nothing really has at all. Every generation of actives faces adversity, for my generation we had to cope with the embezzlement of our funds by a brother and check fraud! It just about ended the chapter, I was alpha at the time and it was discovered the week before school began. Worst of all I had to expel by best friend and classmate from the chapter and Lambda Chi Alpha. It was what needed to be done because the chapter and traditions were more important than personal feelings and relationships. That is part of the commitment to the brotherhood. The brothers refused to let the flame of brotherhood be extinguished on our watch. We pulled together and dedicated ourselves to that task and with a lot of hard work and sacrifice we restored our name in the community. The other part was that we made sure our brother got the help he needed, which he did and him and I are great friends to this day!
Turmoil and challenge are part of being a brother of Lambda Chi Alpha, that is why we take the oath that we do. It would be easy to go through college and not be an active. There are plenty of parties to go to, Friends to make and other organizations to join! We set ourselves a part from the average college student, we strive for challenge and endure hardships because of our commitment to a greater purpose. Each generation wonders and agonizes over how to preserve the brotherhood and traditions that have been handed down to them, I know we certainly did. Subsequently each alumni wonders if his legacy will endure. Some how it always does, sure there are rough spots along the way and some traditions come and go. But the fundamentals remain the same, a group of brothers dedicated to the teachings of Lambda Chi Alpha and the brotherhood those teachings provide.
When I joined Lambda Chi in the fall of 1997 there where 10 of use in my class( Beta Rho). I did not know very many of the guys because I had not gone through the rush that semester like the others, nor did I want to get to know them. I viewed "help Week" as a competition that not all would make it through, I saw the other 8 guys in the green room as the enemy! By the end of that week I had been transformed...it was inexplicable. How could these guys I didn't know or like just 5 days before hold a place inside my heart forever. I knew right then and there that this was more than just partying, having fun and going to meetings!
As you graduate you can't wait for the transition to "the real world", you say to yourself "I'm coming back every year to hang out with my Bros" and for a few years you do. Sooner or later the daily rigors of family and work take over and the brother of Lambda Chi Alpha fade from view. You will talk to a couple of bro's here and there but its not the same. You will think back fondly on your days as an active and smile when you remember stupid exploits done usually while extremely intoxicated! Although the lamp burns faint it never extinguishes. It will start to burn a little brighter when you hear from old Bros or you get a newsletter. Right now with the interest in the Alumni Association my flame is growing as bright as it was when I was an active! I don't want that flame to dim again. The chapter meant to much to me not just for the great times I had there but what it did for me as a person. I want others to experience that brotherhood that me and those other 9 guys experienced.
As I read your blog I was struck by a sense of pride! Every alumni fears that those who come after will drop the lamp and the chapter will vanish! A two year probation is a long time to keep you nose clean, it is easy for guys to give up and say "screw it lets have a party tonight!!". But you didn't, you understood that the consequence had a greater overall impact on people you have never even met! That is impressive and to that I personally thank all of you guys. I know that Alumni probably don't have that great of a presence in your lives. They certainly didn't when I was an active, other than show up, drink our beer and tells us how we don't do it like they did "back in the day"! Just because we don't show up on a regular basis doesn't mean we don't care, that is something we need to do a better job of and will. Thank you once again for having the dedication to open these line of communication. Next time I post I'll tell some fun stories I promise!!!!
Yours in Zax,
Lambda Upsilon 461
Simon Durocher
Owner
Bella Terra Landscaping, Inc
(612)720-3080
www.bellaterrainc.com
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
A beginning to a blog and a (slight) end to tyranny
This chapter’s been through a lot in recent years but thankfully things are getting more towards normal. We’ve recently come off of probation with the university after a long and arduous period where no alcohol was allowed in the fraternity house (and therefore no fraternal partying minus the always epic White Rose) and already spirits are being lifted (in more ways than one). We’re finally starting to relax and enjoy our brotherhood again and, to be perfectly honest, thank god. We’ve needed that stress gone since that whole mess started and it did nothing but eat away at our patience and our tolerance for the frat and each other. Much thanks is owed to the Alpha’s that carried us through it all (Andy, Jesse, and Jeff) and really the entire chapter. How hard was it to not have a drink with your best friends at the focal point for all of our work, dues, and brotherhood? Let me be the first to say it tested the limits of my self control and there was many a time I heard a brother say “I just want to drink a damn beer” with a frustrated look on his face.
Of course drinking isn’t the focus of the fraternity and it’s not near to being the most important aspect of our brotherhood. It’s the restrictions placed upon us that I feel made us more antsy and uptight rather than the ban on alcohol. The fact that this was our house, our time, our money and our brotherhood and someone else was placing the restrictions on us is what I feel really caused us to work harder at just being who we are. In the end we endured and came through and now here we are so enough of that.
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