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PRESIDENT'S LETTER
Brothers,
We continue to make great strides in truly becoming a model fraternity at Lehigh University. Your continued financial support and time invested has made this all possible. We should be proud as Brotherhood that we are able to make such great steps in showing the world what being part of a fraternity is really about.
Matt Scheller, David Long, Chip Schwarzbach, Professor Sinclair, and I were able to stop by the house for dinner on September 8th. The house looks great and the morale of the actives is very exciting and high on what the semester has to bring. Over the summer, the actives were able to work on their member education program, and before the semester started they had a three day brotherhood retreat to get them prepared for this year. The retreat allowed the officers to go over their goals, have some learning modules, and build stronger bonds at the Lehigh ropes course. All of the feedback from the retreat was excellent.
Before I tell you about what the alumni have been doing over the summer, I would like to share with you all the important dates coming up and the information that ties in with them. Monday, September 26th the actives will be having a bid dinner at the house. I encourage anyone who is local to attend this dinner. The number of men that we need to have by the 15th day of spring semester is 35. This means that we need 7 more members in order to be in good standing with University. We have advised the actives that it is imperative that we work hard to achieve this goal, but not to compromise our standards. We have come this far and we are not about to open the door to someone who is not qualified to be a Chi Phi Brother in order to make occupancy.
Starting on Friday October 14th, we will be having our next new member education weekend (NME). Friday night is the night the new members go through the pledge ceremony. We will start the evening with a dinner at 6 pm that invites alumni and their spouses, Lehigh guests, and family or friends of new members that care to witness the oath that they will be taking. Saturday morning at 8 am we will have breakfast followed by our Briarfield meeting which should start around 8:29 am. Sunday will be initiation which will start around 1 pm and end around 6 or 7 pm. I encourage you to come to any part of this weekend that works in your schedule. I can give further details of each day upon request.
November 19th is Lehigh/Lafayette. THIS YEAR IT IS GOING TO BE DONE RIGHT! We will have an alumni tailgate spot with a tent, hot food, drinks, and tailgate games. I want this to be something alumni know that they can always come back to and have a good time, because it is set up and done properly. It is not mandatory that you tell me that you will be coming, but it would be so very helpful if I had an idea of how many people will be able to stop by and hang out so we don't over spend too much.
Our 140th Anniversary is upon us. We will be celebrating it at the Hotel Bethlehem February 25th with cocktail hour starting at 6 pm. The hotel will have discounted room rates available. Alice Gast, the President of Lehigh will be invited along with about 15-20 other people from Lehigh and the National office. Invitations will be sent out within a month. Due to the amount of money the Briarfield has spent with the repopulation and renovations, we will be charging a ticket of $125 a person to attend the event. This will include an open bar, butlered hors d'oeuvres, and dinner. When you get the invitation please RSVP as soon as possible to make it easier for us to put this together.
So now that you have those important four dates, let me tell you what the alumni has accomplished over the summer. In order to really keep an active role with the brotherhood, we have set up five alumni mentor positions. These roles are there to guide the key active brothers in executing their officer position to the best of their ability. We are not there to tell them what to do, but to help them figure out the best answers to the struggles they face. We are the experienced sounding board to let them come up with the solutions. The five mentor positions are President Mentor, led by myself, Rush Chair Mentor, led by Matt Scheller, Member Education Mentor, led by David Long, New Member Education Mentor, led by Mike Bearmore, and Alumni Relations Mentor, led by Barry Kraver. These mentors will check in with the active brothers at a minimum of once a month. I set up conference calls with these mentors once a month so that we can all talk
about any issues at hand and what things we need to focus on. I schedule these calls after I have spoken with the national office and Lehigh Greek affairs, which is also once a month. This ensures that Chi Phi is actively connected with up to date information to the national office, the university and our alumni.
Barry Kraver has taken the opportunity to set up some happy hours in the NYC area which have been quite successful. We would also like to try and have some more of these in other areas where there is a concentration of Chi Phi's. Philadelphia, Boston, and Baltimore maybe good places to start having scheduled cocktail hours. If there is anyone looking to host a cocktail hour somewhere, please let us know.
I am really proud to see our hard work start to really develop into greatness. I am looking forward to the next couple big events to get together and enjoy with you all. You can contact me via telephone or e-mail at 610-217-9773 or crosbyjay88@gmail.com.
Jay Crosby 00'
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I believe in the Chi Phi Fraternity. From its triple origin, Chi Phi sets forth and maintains values that others in society have dared to compromise. Truth, honesty, and personal integrity are foundations upon which Chi Phi is built. A man's word is his bond. Chivalrous behavior crosses the ages to touch the heart of Chi Phi.
I believe in the friendship of Chi Phi. Whether on the road or in the chapter house, the hand of Brotherhood is always extended. The strength obtained from the union of congenial minds is the backbone of the Fraternity. Our founders sought for nothing else.
Finally, I believe in the future of the Chi Phi Fraternity because I believe in myself. When I put forth my best effort and combine that with the strength of my brothers, we can achieve the victory of continual existence.
As long as the Almighty permits, I will strive to better myself through teachings of my Fraternity. Being a more aware citizen, a more able person, and a stronger Chi Phi shall be my reward.
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