BETA-R HO BULLETIN Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity
California State University, Northridge
Volume 44 , Issue 3 Summer/Fall 2016
Alumni Alumni Softball Softball Streak Streak Continues Continues
Alan Saavedra
The fourth Housing Corporation’s Annual Meeting at the Lindley House. Front row (from left): Mark Widawer, Howard Brightman, Rick Childs, Eric Choi and James Mizuki. Second row: Scott Press, Frankie Castanon, Francisco Silva, Darren Arrieta, Mahdiar Karamooz, Alex Casiano,, Andrés Dominguez, David Burgos, Bryan Cardona, Edward Lopez, Robert Kacik, Dennis Crain and Angelo Samson. Third row: Spencer Schmerling, Tim Pena, Jeffrey Perez de Leon, Christopher Aston and Chris Martinez.
Features
On the cover: Rich Oldfield gets ready to launch one of his left field bombs that enabled the alumni to win the softball game on Oct. 16 with a score of 16-15. (Cover photo: Rick Childs)
The Lindley House meetings leading up to the Annual Meeting... page 5
Housing Corporation Annual Meeting 2016 A slimmed down corp. board streamlines its mission ... page 2
Corp. Board Meeting Summaries: Spring–Fall Alumni-Active Softball Game: The Alumni Streak Stays Alive New park, new associate members, cooler weather, and another close game ... page 6
Fall 2016 Chapter Chronicles Chapter highlights, with photos borrowed from the CSUN Lambda Chi Instagram account... page 10
Fall 2016 Initiates Eighteen brothers are added to the chapter’s bond ... page 11
General Assembly 56 in Miami Jason Fefer and Chris Martinez visit the Sunshine State for an unforgettable experience... page 12
Alumni News Weddings, baptism and birth announcements, plus some career news for Jorge Reyes ... Page 14
2016 Alumni Loyalty Fund, Undergrads & Directory Sponsors Donors, Annual Meeting undergrad supporters, 2017 directory advertisers & sponsors... page 15
Editor’s Journal: Engagement ... back cover 2
SUMMER / FALL 2016
Corp. Board’s Annual Meeting Redefines Mission In his report Brother Schmerling reviewed the changes that had been made to the chapter’s bylaws after General Counsel Lynn Chipperfield had made recommendations about 18 months earlier. To continue to qualify for Headquarters’ liability insurance for directors and officers, the housing corporation needed to be operated separately from all other activities of the chapter. Or in Brother Schmerling’s parlance, to “build a moat around it.” Furthermore, “In the event the chapter were to get sued for something, the [housing corporation] would be insulated,” he said. The corp. board had divested itself from allowing undergraduate members to serve as voting members during its September meeting. As of this evening, officer membership would necessitate “a minimum of three people and a maximum of 15” [and the ideal number would be closer to the low end of that figure]. Also, the corp. board had ceased to function as an ad hoc alumni association. Nevertheless, other alumni, the chapter adviser, undergraduate officers and other brothers and invited guests were still welcome to attend meetings. Under the advisement of Brother Pena, who specializes in insurance claims matters for the Automobile Club of Southern California, the corp. board changed companies for its liability insurance coverage. Faber, the same outfit that Headquarters uses, now underwrites the housing corporation’s new D&O insurance policy. He also wanted to recognize and thank High Pi Kevin Mojaradi, who was in Florida this evening, for taking steps to implement the restructuring changes. Beginning in November, the corp. board began using conference calls for its meetings on a regular basis instead of gatherings at the Lindley House. Call lines became a necessity after Brother Schmerling relocated to the Las Vegas suburbs in late September for his business. With emphasis narrowed to its core mission, Brother Schmerling said that the board’s focus had been streamlined to serve “as a business entity to manage the house.” With that in mind, he told the audience that he had renegotiated the Lindley House’s bank loan. The Bank of California bought the bank that held the note around two years earlier. Then the note was sold to an investment firm that was more comfortable working with a mortgage held with the fraternity chapter’s housing corporation. The investment firm’s reps offered a “sweetheart deal” for the housing corporation to be provided with refinancing that needed to be completed by March of 2017 to reduce the principal owed by $100,000. They were also willing to forgive approximately $80,000 of mortgage interest. On top of that the new firm’s reps said that they would assist in working with the chapter to undertake the property’s work that would be needed to facilitate an eventual lot split. Over the summer Brother Schmerling had contacted an engineering firm to see what steps needed to be taken to accomplish the lot split. These ideas were shared with the Northridge city councilman and an alumnus who’s familiar with the civic leader: Gary Thomas. During discussion, Darren Arrieta said that he was interested in involving his employer, LC Engineering Group, in the negotiations. Corp. Board Treasurer Scott Press said that he had reached out to the note holders earlier in the year. They were
Rick Childs (5)
Alumni who attended the housing corporation’s Annual Meeting on Dec. 6 at the Lindley House that had been wishing for shorter speeches and election proceedings were in luck. With a year under its belt following the corp. board’s efforts to align itself with Headquarters’ new operational guidelines, a leaner officer roster and refined mission emerged. Upon their arrival, the corp. board’s Vice President of Activities, Tim Pena, enticed participants with hors d’oeuvres and refreshments after reading the menu as they mingled and pored over scrapbooks and chapter publications. Housing Corporation President Spencer Schmerling called the meeting to order at 7:40 p.m. For the recitation of the creed, he called on Alumni Advisory Board member Christopher Aston. A total of 27 brothers were in attendance. Among the attendees were 11 alumni, 15 undergraduates and one affiliate: Howard Brightman, the corp. board’s original president. Brother Brightman commented about his unbroken attendance at Beta-Rho’s Annual Meetings. “It’s always nice to be here,” he said. “I know I’m the only person who’s made it to every corp. board Annual Meeting since we started.” His attendance dates back to when he undertook the incorporation of BetaRho’s housing authority in 1969 during its original colonization. Brother Schmerling commended Brother Brightman for his accomplishments as the founding organizer. “Let me just add that if you like living in this house or having this house, we have this house because of Howard,” he said. After Brother Brightman had been singled out as a distinguished guest, Brother Schmerling appeared surprised at the dearth of former High Alphas in the audience. “Only one?” he asked when Dennis Crain stood up after Vice President of Communications Rick Childs called for all prior chapter presidents to be recognized.
BETA-RHO ZETA OF LAMBDA CHI ALPHA INTERNATIONAL FRATERNITY
3
Rick Childs (5) Jeffrey Perez de Leon
Corp. Board Annual Meeting informed of the restructured mortgage and the aforementioned engineering consulting firm that was making recommendations on the lot split. A deadline for the lot split work was set for two-and-a-half years. Money raised from the sale of the two adjacent parcels resulting from the lot split would enable the note holders to be compensated, and the Lindley House mortgage could be lowered substantially. In response to a question from Brother Brightman, Brother Schmerling summarized the actions and accomplishments the corp. board undertook during the year. With funds provided by the corporation’s operations account, the chapter repainted the house interior. Membership and voting structure for the corp. board had been modified. The alumni-active softball game event became a chapter planned and funded activity. Chapter parlor fees for the new AMs were waived to enhance recruitment efforts. Many of the Lindley House’s interior lights were replaced. A corporation account formerly used to pay for alumni events was closed so that it would divest itself from activities undertaken by a separate alumni group or association. For the elections, Brother Schmerling recommended that the corp. board’s roster revert to an odd number of members to make it easier for corp. board meetings to obtain a quorum. [It had maintained eight alumni voting members for many years.] All corp. board members, whether their terms were up or still had one year left, were brought up for nominations. The five nominees were approved by a unanimous acclamation. Brothers Schmerling, Childs, Pena and Press were re-elected. Brother Arrieta also became a board member. Before the meeting adjourned at 8:08, Brother Pena wished to acknowledge the chapter for once again providing the labor to run the event. “I just wanted to thank everybody for coming, since my old job was [coordinating the] softball [game] and food—and now it’s just [Annual Meeting] food,” Brother Pena said. “Hopefully, next year’s meeting will be bigger and better. Thank you to Jeffrey [Perez de Leon} and the guys who helped serve.” Additional alumni in attendance were Andrés Dominguez, Robert Kacik, Mahdiar Karamooz and Mark Widawer. Aside from Brother Perez de Leon, the outgoing High Alpha; the actives at the event were David Burgos, Bryan Cardona, Alex Casiano, Frankie Castanon, Eric Choi, Alex Dinsmore, Adresh Ghotra, Edward Lopez, Chris Martinez, James Mizuki, Alan Saavedra, Angelo Samson, Francisco Silva and Rodrigó Valenzuela.
Annual Meeting attendees. Clockwise from left: Dinner is about to be served by Dre Ghotra, Edward Lopez and Alex Casiano; High Alphas Jeffrey Perez de Leon and Dennis Crain; Christopher Aston; Tim Pena; Howard Brightman and Rick Childs; Housing Corporation President Spencer Schmerling (far right) discusses the changes to the chapter’s bylaws as a result of the corp. board’s voting membership revisions.
4
SUMMER / FALL 2016
House Corporation Spring/ Summer/Fall Meeting Executive Summaries Rick Childs
The Beta-Rho Housing Corporation (aka the corp. board) usually met each month on second Wednesdays at the Lindley House. In November a teleconference meeting was set up to accommodate the president’s relocation out of state. This would become the norm for meetings rather than the exception after the Annual Meeting. Between the spring and fall, meetings were not conducted in April, August and October. Although Kyle Shaver was the secretary, Rob Press recorded the May meeting minutes while Rick Childs took over that function for the remaining meetings.
days for the past few years. Headquarters’ webinar on April 5 hosted by General Counsel Lynn Chipperfield: Per Brother Chipperfield’s presentation, Brother Schmerling asked to expedite plans to divest alumni association and discontinue having undergrads as voting members. July 13 President’s Report: The Lindley House tenant situation needs to improve immediately, or we will consider filling it with other (student) renters using Airbnb. Chapter membership had dropped after the spring semester and five broke their leases to move in to an apartment. A couple of the former live-ins approached the corp. board and requested their deposits back due to various situations. High Pi Kevin Mojaradi told both of them that there needed to be a certain minimum number of live-ins at the house for a deal arranged to lower the parlor fees to be honored. VP of Communications: Wishes he could’ve printed copies of the Winter 2016 Beta-Rho Bulletins for undergrads and alumni; they are displayed on chapter Facebook group pages and were sent out via emails. He doesn’t think the directory’s costs can be fully covered by sponsors. This year they will only be mailed to alumni (aside from advertisers and sponsors) who pay for them. Annual Meeting invitations are reverting to emails and an Evite campaign.
May 11 President’s Report (Spencer Schmerling): Looked over 8-9 years of records to see if the amendments were current to facilitate the Lindley lot to be split. Once the property could be split into thirds, it will be bonded for loan approval for street improvements, then the adjacent two-thirds could be sold to raise money to compensate the alumni note holders. Looking at March of 2017 to finish preparations for the road construction loan. VP of Communications Report (Rick Childs): The Winter 2016 Beta-Rho Bulletin was published online in April in time to be submitted with others for alumni publication award consideration. Also went over dues drive issues, plus a crowdfunding campaign to help pay for his general assembly registration costs (which was ultimately scrapped). Also, he completed a chart tracking all the previous Pumpkin and Watermelon Bust Volume 44, Issue 3 Version 1.7 dates and locations. Editor, reporter, designer & photographer: VP of Activities (Tim Pena): Rick Childs Already getting the softball game The Beta-Rho Bulletin is the official publication of Betafield arrangements worked out Rho Zeta of Lambda Chi Alpha International Fraternity for late summer. at California State University, Northridge. Article ideas, House Manager (Jesse directory revisions, weddings, anniversaries, births and Martinez): Bug situation and front career info should be snail mailed, e-mailed or sent via Facebook to the editor. His mailing address is 44044 door handle taken care of. New Engle Way Apt. 65, Lancaster, CA; 93536-. Email: “used” dryer installed. Still trying eaglerick@twc.com. Made on a 2010 Mac Mini with to get walls and ceilings fixed. iWork Pages ’09 v. 4.1. Originally published on April Fall 2016 House Corporation Board of Directors (as of September): President VP, Communications VP, Activities Secretary Treasurer Alumni Director Alumni Director Chapter Advisor
Spencer Schmerling Rick Childs Tim Pena Kyle Shaver Scott Press Rob Press Gilbert Lopez Kevin Mojaradi
Fall 2016 High Zeta: High High High High High High High High High High High High
Alpha Beta Gamma Delta Epsilon Iota Kappa Phi Rho Sigma Tau Theta
Jeffrey Perez de Leon Nick Dinsmore Joseph Montez-Lampert Chris Martinez Francisco Silva Eric Choi Rodrigó Valenzuela Osvaldo Robledo Adresh Ghotra Skyler Lee Jason Fefer Wes Cole
On the Web: Headquarters & the Cross & Crescent Back Issues Facebook Instagram Twitter
Lambdachi.org Issuu.com/beta-rho_83 CSUN Lambda Chi Alpha Lambda Chi Alpha, BP Alumni CSUNLambdaChiAlpha #CSUNLambdaChi
June 8 President’s Report: Neighbors continue to have zero tolerance for any trash problems in front of the house. City inspection fines reviewed again. Money saved with the new mortgage “will be put towards paying to have the lot split, which was started five or six years ago.” He is working with Gary Thomas to locate an engineer who can draw up the lot split plans. VP of Communications Report: Emails were sent to around 400 alumni to kick off the alumni loyalty fund drive. Tina Barnett at Headquarters received the alumni publication award application. The spring Beta-Rho Bulletin’s progress has been slowed due to time constraints. Due to popular demand, a digital version of the directory will be available for alumni and undergrads for a fee. VP of Activities: Wants to start the softball game later since they have fallen on hot
BETA-RHO ZETA OF LAMBDA CHI ALPHA INTERNATIONAL FRATERNITY
November 3 President’s Report: The Bank of California mortgage loan has been bought out by a group of real estate investors. A new washer was purchased for the house. Annual Meeting: The Dec. 6 date will not conflict with finals or Dead Week. Evites, Facebook event and emails are being pursued instead of a mailed invitation. Stonefire Grill is being asked to do the catering again. Alumni Association (unofficial): The 2017 directory’s artwork was completed around Halloween; some advertisers are still being chased to get renewals. They are aware that this year copies will not be mailed to all alumni as in past years. A new section of professional listings has been added. Chris Martinez
1, 2017. Last revised on March 31, 2017. Editor’s phone number/texts: (661) 313-5319
September 7 President’s Report: House condition looks good; a ladder used for ceiling work had been stolen; the air conditioning filters need replacements. He is moving to Las Vegas in 17 days. Old Business: A Headquarters template Brother Schmerling had modified spelled out the bylaw changes to comply with new liability avoidance rules for the house corporation, which was ratified. No more official ties to an alumni association, no more vice presidents of communications or activities. New Business: A motion to remove the undergraduate members of the corp. board was approved. Another motion in the discussion stages involved switching the corporation’s property, liability and D&O insurance coverage to James R. Favor & Company, the one Headquarters uses. A committee comprised of Brothers Schmerling, Pena and Childs was created to look over the policy proposal.
5
Sept. 7 meeting. Housing Corp. President Spencer Schmerling, Tim Pena and Rick Childs (from left). The corp. board at the July 13 meeting (top): Kevin Mojaradi, Jason Fefer, Scott Press, Rob Press, Chris Martinez and Jeffrey Perez de Leon.
The RBIs have it. Rich Oldfield (second from left) is congratulated after batting in Cesar Ayllon and Steve Shapiro. With him are, from left, Mark Widawer, Rick Trevino, Myke Davis and Spencer Shmerling.
Alumni Hold on for Twelfth Straight Softball Title The 2016 edition of the Mike Ehrlich Memorial Alumni-Active were Darren Arrieta, Cesar Ayllon, Rick Childs, Antony Gluck and Alex Softball Game’s date wound up getting pushed back to Oct. 16. With a Samowitz. Among the other alumni in attendance were High Pi Kevin string of prior outings held on unseasonably hot days, the House Mojaradi, Adrian Morales and Devin De Leon. Corporation’s Vice President of Activities, Tim Pena, worked with the chapter The undergrads, captained by AM Alex Dinsmore, scored early and to set up the event to trail Fall Rush Week. often. They hit in four runs to lead off the first inning while the alumni Temperature-wise, Mother Nature kept the proceedings in the upper responded with one. Had the game ended after seven innings in typical sixties with partly cloudy skies. Although the previous summer’s Shadow years, the undergrads would’ve smoked the alumni by a score of 11 to 4. Hills Ranch location had been under consideration, the event ended up at But with the cooler temperatures and later start time, nobody seemed to the Granada Hills Recreation Center’s east field. mind going the full nine innings. A total of 29 brothers and 6 associate members Latecomer Nick Dinsmore voiced his optimism showed up along with a half dozen guests. as the undergrads looked poised to pull away Sixteen alumni and 19 undergrads either played with a win. or relaxed in the bleachers. “It’s going great,” he enthused. “The alumni The charity fundraiser for the City of Hope definitely came to play. I think this is going to be Hospital that had been held in remembrance of the year though that the actives pull it out…. But the chapter’s cancer victims the previous year was the umpire is garbage.” discontinued. Nevertheless, the game kept its title However, the alumni mounted an offensive in honor of the late Mike Ehrlich (BP 1). drive in the eighth with six runs and another four in Expectations for an undergrad upset were the ninth. That tied the game at 14 apiece. high, as usual. The last time they had won the Before heading into the dugout, Brother Sapper, tournament was in 2004 when Mike Press was the alumni’s main pitcher, squeezed in a short the High Alpha. Among the usual alumni power pep talk for the next batters. hitters on hiatus were all three of the Press family “Guys… let’s end it here, 1-2-3,” he told his brothers, Scott and sons Rob and the teammates. aforementioned Mike. The elder Press’s were The actives would have none of that. They away on a cruise to Mazatlan while Mike and scored a run in the top of the tenth inning. It was Rob had work commitments that afternoon. the first game to run past nine innings since the Corp. Board President Spencer Schmerling series began in the late Seventies. So the actives flew in from Las Vegas while Brother Pena, Rich were about to put the game in the bag again. Oldfield, Rick Trevino, Howard Sapper, Steve “The alumni had a couple of innings that blew Shapiro, Mark Widawer and Myke Davis everyone away,” Wes Cole said. “There were a Not just another home run derby. Wes Cole provided supplied most of the alumni team’s firepower. some of the firepower that kept the actives within striking couple of bad calls. We’re still out here and we’ll Among the other alumni on the batting roster distance throughout the game. see where this goes.” 6
SUMMER / FALL 2016
a Little League game, noted that there were two game wins to celebrate. Coincidentally, it turned out that his son won the game for his team as well. “He hit his team’s only runs,” he said. “I was inspired by him.” Other undergrads in attendance were Josh Bascou, David Burgos, Bryan Cardona, Alex Casiano, Eric Choi, Jason Fefer, Adresh Lubana, Jesse Martinez, Jeffrey Perez de Leon, Justin Punzalan, Ozzy Robledo, Angelo Samson, Angel Torres, Alejandro Valdivia and Rodrigó Valenzuela.
All photos by Rick Childs
The alumni responded with a single from Brother Ayllon. Next up was Brother Shapiro whose base hit put two alumni in scoring position. The following batter was Brother Oldfield. Nick Dinsmore, who was at the mound instead of Vincent Pimentel, looked like he might pick up a strikeout when one of his low pitches ended up sailing into center-left field for a double that clinched the game. The final score was 16-15. Brother Ohlberg, who had also arrived late after taking his son David to
Actives almost run away with it. David Burgos (clockwise from upper left) rounds third base. Alex Dinsmore passes home plate before pitcher Howard Sapper can tag him. Third baseman Spencer Schmerling and Howard Sapper pick off Angelo Samson. Hangin’ out with Adresh Ghotra, Justin Punzalan, Alex Casiano and Jesse Martinez. Eric Choi at bat while David Burgos watches. Wes Cole taps first base before first baseman Tim Pena can field the throw from second.
BETA-RHO ZETA OF LAMBDA CHI ALPHA INTERNATIONAL FRATERNITY
7
Rick Childs (5)
Keeping the pressure up until the last out. Tim Pena (clockwise from upper left) clocks another base hit. Kevin Mojaradi and Jeffrey Perez de Leon relax near the grandstand. Cesar Ayllon takes another swing. Rick Trevino throws out Wes Cole at second base in front of shortstop Spencer Schmerling. Alex Dinsmore waitsfor his chance to make a run for home plate as third baseman Steve Shapiro waits to see the play.
8
SUMMER / FALL 2016
Rick Childs Luz Ramos
Game over at the bottom of the tenth inning. With Rich Oldfield’s game-winning double, alumni celebrants from left are Cesar Ayllon, Tim Pena, Rick Trevino, Myke Davis, Spencer Schmerling, Steve Shapiro and Howard Sapper. The 2016 Mike Ehrlich Memorial Alumni-Active Softball Team Photo. Front row: Cesar Ayllon, Howard Sappeer, Alejandro Valdivia, Tim Pena, Nick Dinsmore, Josh Bascou, Rick Childs. Second row: Adrian Morales, Rick Trevino, Mychal Davis, Kevin Mojaradi, David Burgos, Steve Shapiro, Rodrigo Valenzuela, Eric Choi, Mark Widawer, Alex Casiano, Alex Dinsmore, Dre Ghotra, Vincent Pimentel, Justin Punzalan, Wes Cole, Jeffrey Perez de Leon, Rich Oldfield, Osvaldo Robledo, Bryan Cardona, Angelo Samson, Alan Saavedra, Jason Fefer, Spencer Schmerling. BETA-RHO ZETA OF LAMBDA CHI ALPHA INTERNATIONAL FRATERNITY
9
CSUNLambdaChi/Instagram (photographers unknown)
Chapter Chronicles: Summer & Fall
From the Kappa Splash to Camp Matador. The Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority hosted its Kappa Splash on Oct. 9 (clockwise from right). Also on Oct. 15, members supported Delta Zeta’s Starkey Hearing Foundation charity. Andrew Willins was recognized by Alpha Omicron Pi as Mr. CSUN on Nov. 9. Also on Nov. 12, brothers enjoyed an evening of bowling with the sisters of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Pi. Phi Mu hosted the Sir Fidel’s Cup charity on Oct. 23. Chapter New Student Orientation leaders welcomed new associate members in midSeptember. Chris Martinez takes a break from counseling new students during Camp Matador at Camp Hondo near Big Bear on or about Aug. 13.
10
SUMMER / FALL 2016
Adrian Morales, Jr.
Fall 2016 Initiation Class Initiation Date: Nov. 29, 2016 Rush Chairman/High Delta: Chris Martinez Fraternity Educator/High Kappa: Rodrigό Valenzuela Ritualist/High Phi: Osvaldo Robledo
Post-initiation. Front row (from left): Angelo Samson, Chris Martinez, Christian Fernandez, Andrew Willins, Josh Bascou (below Brother Willins), Tommy Noer, James Mizuki, Jason Fefer, Justin Punzalan. Second row: Vincent Pimentel, David Burgos, Alan Saavedra, Alex Casiano, Rodrigo Valenzuela, William Arana, Kevin Catalan, Francisco Silva, Bryan Cardona, Wes Cole, Frankie Castanon, Skyler Lee, Jacob Barron, Tyler Struck, Bryan Martinez, Jesse Espinoza, Brandon Ceja, Jesse Martinez, Enrique Sanchez, Dre Ghotra. Third row: Adrian Martinez, Devin De Leon, Joseph Montez-Lampert, Ozzy Robledo, Angel Torres and Marc Ninapaytan.
James Mizuki, BP 709 William Arana, BP 710 Jacob A. Barron, BP 711 Bryan Cardona, BP 712 Alexander “Alex” Casiano, BP 713 Kevin J. Catalan, BP 714 Brandon Ceja, BP 715 Alexander W. “Alex” Dinsmore, BP 716 Christian P. Fernandez, BP 717 Adresh “Dre” Ghotra, BP 718 Edward Lopez, BP 719 Tommy K. Noer, BP 720 Justin Punzalan, BP 721 Alan Saavedra, BP 722 Angelo Samson, BP 723 Enrique Sanchez, Jr., BP 724 Tyler Struck, BP 725 Andrew Willins, BP 726 Beta-Rho’s Associate Member PostInstallation, Sept. 25, southeast entrance of Sierra Hall.
BETA-RHO ZETA OF LAMBDA CHI ALPHA INTERNATIONAL FRATERNITY
11
TripAdvisor.com
General Assembly 56
committee as well. I was trying to look at it from both perspectives. The biggest ticket for getting rid of it was the decrease in insurance costs, meaning that brothers wouldn’t have to pay such a high premium in their risk management assessment. So I saw it from that perspective and I was arguing for it because I don’t really drink that much anyway. I think we benefit from [banning] it across the board. It went to the assembly with the committee in disagreement. So it got tabled. It’s going to be brought up again at the next General Assembly, I’m sure.” Recruitment preparations were on the mind of Brother Martinez. “Honestly, I had no idea what my recruitment plan was going to be because I became the recruitment chair midway through the summer while I was in Mexico at the time,” he said. “This General Assembly was falling right after that trip. So I really had no time to prepare a rush schedule. But going to General Assembly gave me all the tools and woke me up to realize how the old style of recruitment was and how to implement this new recruitment that Nationals is marketing and enforcing. Which is fired up with interpersonal recruitment with lists and getting to know someone before rushing them instead of just depending on… Rush Week and big events that don’t really have big results at the end.” When he wasn’t enhancing his High Delta skill sets, Brother Martinez took advantage of some of the other workshops. “There were breakout sessions that you chose to go to,” he recalled. “I think I went to Risk Management, and then I went to Brotherhood Involvement or Event Planning.” Thanks to the Special Assistant to the CEO and former chapter ELC Brandon Bonds, the chapter’s entourage wound up receiving some VIP treatment at the Purple, Green and Gold Banquet. “We had been sitting with a couple of brothers that we had met earlier in the day,” Brother Martinez recalled. Walt Moser / Courtesy of Lambda Chi Alpha International Fraternity
Jason Fefer and Chris Martinez had no idea what lay in store for them at the 56th General Assembly and Stead Leadership Seminar in Miami, Fla. on Aug. 4-7. Based on separate phone interviews on March 22, 2017, they flew in from L.A. International a day early to relax and try to beat the jet lag. Neither of them had set foot in Florida. Brothers Fefer and Martinez were the chapter’s treasurer and recruitment chair, respectively. After four consecutive bi-annual General Assemblies at the Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix, Ariz., Lambda Chi Alpha chose the Trump National Doral Hotel and Golf Resort. While it had been originally reserved for the 2014 GA, the hotel’s renovations were still underway since it had been purchased by the Trump organization in 2012. “Because I went to Conclave I [thought I] had a pretty good idea of what I was getting into,” Brother Fefer recalled. “Never been there before. I rarely travel. “I knew that there was going to be a lot of brothers there. And I knew there would be a whole lot of business and nice presentations. The one thing that I had no idea going into it was the hotel. I looked at pictures online and I thought, ‘well, this is a nice hotel.’ And then I got there and I thought to myself, ‘wow, this is a … NICE HOTEL!’” [laughs]. “…That resort was beyond beautiful,” Brother Martinez said. “But also to be at that resort with 700 members from chapters all across the U.S. and Canada. People say you are part of something bigger than yourself and it was in a different state in a great place.” As Beta-Rho’s official delegate, Brother Fefer spent most of his time in legislative committee sessions. He deliberated with fellow undergrads on the issue of whether chapters should be allowed to continue serving alcohol at chapter residences. “I was on the committee that was working on seeing if banning alcohol at all chapter houses [would be feasible],” he said. “In regards to the actual students in Lambda Chi Alpha I think that would’ve had the biggest impact. There Chris Martinez was a lot of defense for it and a lot of logical people on the 12
SUMMER / FALL 2016
Walt Moser / Courtesy of Lambda Chi Alpha International Fraternity
Chris Martinez and Jason Fefer
According to Brother Fefer, “Brandon Bonds saw me and Chris… and he pulled us to a table with all the executives. He made us sit with them to make us look good, which was kinda cool. So we chatted it up with those guys. [Brandon] was doing it because [none of the other undergrads] wanted to sit with them. Everyone was scared to sit with them. He just pulled us knowing that we wouldn’t mind.” “But it was interesting just hearing them,” Brother Martinez continued. “We were able to talk with them a little bit. But mostly it was the award ceremonies, so we were just clapping for them and seeing them go up and get awards. It was the final closing dinner with [keynote speaker] Woody Page.” One of the pleasant surprises both brothers experienced was the announcement of the Alumni Publication Award during a chapter awards presentation [shown above] on Aug. 4. This was the second consecutive year that Beta-Rho had won the award. At first Brother Martinez felt overwhelmed by being singled out to sit with members of the Grand High Zeta. “But then we picked up the award for publications, and that sort of made us look better,” he said. Brother Fefer didn’t realize at first that he was in the presence of the Grand High Alpha, Fletcher McElreath. “I didn’t realize whom I was speaking to until they told me,” he said. Unlike the standalone Stead Leadership Seminars in odd years, there were no recreational breakout sessions. But this was Trump Doral, so the attendees were offered some luxurious alternatives to banquet room meals. “We did have a lunch out on the golf course,” Brother Martinez said. “That was really great. It was a bright, sunny day. I think we had lunch with brothers from Cornell University [Omicron Zeta].” Beta-Rho’s reps didn’t always find the Florida weather accommodating. “It was like 90 degrees and pouring rain,” Brother Fefer said. “We wanted to go to the pool and we did one night, but… it was way too uncomfortable to get out of [the hotel].” Another thing both brothers agreed on was their impressions of the ritual BETA-RHO ZETA OF LAMBDA CHI ALPHA INTERNATIONAL FRATERNITY
exemplification during one of the mornings. “I think it was interesting to see how it was done by Nationals,” Brother Martinez commented. “It was really cool,” Brother Fefer said. “I mean, it’s different. We’re doing it in such a personalized way. But theirs, I guess I would call it the gold standard. Beta-Rho has got their own little spin on it, I’ll say that much.” Each rep had a different perspective on meeting and interacting with brothers from other chapters and local members of the community. According to Brother Martinez, “We went to go explore a bit. We used Uber a lot, and Jason wouldn’t have survived if I didn’t know Spanish… all our Uber [drivers] were Spanish speaking.” “I think one of the best skills, in regards to life, is being open-minded to cultures that aren’t geographically pertinent to yours,” Brother Fefer said. “Even just in America, I think there’s so many different types of cultures. I met people from all around the world. I’m talking not just in America, I’m also talking [about] Canada. Being open to it. I wish I had gotten that right when I got there. I was trying to speak like I would to a Los Angeles person, to give them a title. I think being more open-minded is something that I took from it. I should’ve just gone in there with a clean slate instead of thinking that everyone was going to be the same kind of person.” Both of them enjoyed getting to meet brothers from other chapters. Aside from California chapter brothers like ones from Chico State, Brother Martinez said, “I met some from Tampa Bay University. I think Wichita too. There are a couple of others I have on Snapchat.” After the Purple, Green and Gold Banquet, Brother Fefer had the pleasure of spending time getting to know Beta-Rho’s affiliate and first housing corporation president, Howard Brightman (pictured on pages 2–4). “I was the last person to leave that room because I was talking to our alum, Howard. I had the longest conversation I ever had with anyone. He’s the man. He was telling me story after story. Very interesting life. I was talking to him until maybe 12:30.” 13
Michael Anthony Studios / Courtesy of Rob Press
Courtesy of Kyle Shaver
Jo
Kyle and Samantha Shaver
Rob and Kimberly Press
Sarah and Darren Arrieta
A Quartet of Weddings
Courtesy of Darren Arrieta
Kyle and Samantha Shaver Wedding Date: Sept. 30. Kyle J. Shaver (BP 648) married Samantha “Sam” Reagan at Eden Gardens in Moorpark. They were wedded seven years to the day from their first date. Alumni at the wedding were Christopher Aston, Kevin Mojaradi and Jorge Reyes. They honeymooned in Maui at the Westin in Lahaina where they took up parasailing. Robert and Kimberly Press Wedding Date: Aug. 13. Robert J. “Rob” Press (BP 495) and Kimberly Melanson said their wedding vows at the Westlake Village Inn. Fellow alumni and dad Scott Press along with older brother Mike celebrated along with Pat Duffy, Anthony Pinkett, Jessie Arciniega, Neil Sanchez and Chris Dyer among family and friends. They honeymooned at Dreams Los Cabos Suites Golf Resort and Spa in San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur. Darren and Sarah Arrieta Wedding Date: Sept. 10. Darren M. Arrieta (BP 533) and Sarah Battcock were wedded at the Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks and the reception followed at Heritage Square in Oxnard. Alumni in attendance were Christopher Aston (wedding coordinator), Douglas Centeno (groomsman), Thomas Gallegos (pianist), Rob Press and Neil Sanchez. They honeymooned in Dublin, Ireland at the Trinity City Hotel and in Galway. Mark and Alessandra Green Wedding Date: Nov. 25. Mark Green (BP 166) and Alessandra Cavalcanti were married in a Hollywood Hills home they found on AirBnb. A weekend getaway followed in the Santa Ynez Valley.
14
Alessandra and Mark Green Courtesy of Mark Green
SUMMER / FALL 2016
Courtesy of Thomas Nirmark
Alumni Milestones Armando Duran’s daughter’s baptism Armando and Jennifer Duran’s daughter Mia was born on March 25. On Nov. 28 they had her baptized. Thomas Nirmark’s son Our alumnus who went by the nickname ‘Sweden’ when he was an exchange student at CSUN during the 2008-09 school year had a son on July 24 at 4:27 a.m. Born at BB, Norrlands Universitetssjukhus in Sveå, Sweden. His mother is Evelina Thiger, but we are still working on figuring out their son’s name. Eric Gonzalez’ son Eric and Guiliana Gonzalez welcomed Matteo Cruz, born on July 1 at 2:31 p.m. at Kaiser Panorama City Medical Center, 9 lbs., 12 oz., 21.5” long.
Mia Duran’s Baptism Courtesy of Armando Duran
Thomas Nirmark’s Son
Jorge Reyes appointed as CSU Trustee by the governor Calif. Gov. Jerry Brown appointed Jorge Reyes as a student trustee for the California State University Board of Trustees on July 21. He is also the vice president of university affairs for the California State Student Association.
Eric Gonzalez’ Son
Jorge Reyes
Courtesy of Eric Gonzalez
Courtesy of Jorge Reyes
An Appreciation for Our Alumni Supporters Beta-Rho’s Alumni Loyalty Fund and sponsors helped to defray the costs of the producing the 2017 membership directory and some of its various activities expenses. Since the housing corporation has separated alumni association responsibilities like communications and activities planning from itself, individual alumni have continued to provide those functions on a volunteer basis. However, those efforts will remain modest until a viable alumni association is established with its own articles of incorporation and a separate directors & officers insurance policy. To date, loyalty fund collections have fallen short of developing an official Beta-Rho Alumni Association. As a cost saving measure, the housing corporation’s Annual Meeting was publicized without paper invitation mailings for the first time in decades. Its promotions relied on emails sent out to nearly 400 alumni and Facebook event pages. Also, mini-bulletins and paper dues solicitation letters were discontinued this year. 2016 Alumni Loyalty Fund Supporters
2016 Directory Advertisers, Sponsors & Copy Purchasers
Howard Brightman Joseph Coyne, PhD Dennis Crain Andrés Dominguez Doc Ellis Jay Friedman Col. Dave Gill (ret.) Richard Greenberg Bob Koch Roger Marte Tim Pena Scott Press Patrick Schaefer Desmond Shaw (Ortega)
David Adelman Darren Arrieta Howard Brightman Steven Cohen Joseph Coyne, PhD Mike Diamant Andrés Dominguez Doc Ellis Jim Emmerson Mark Eskander Jeff Flocken Jay Friedman Jeff Friedman Jon Gardner Richard Greenberg Mike Gregory
BETA-RHO ZETA OF LAMBDA CHI ALPHA INTERNATIONAL FRATERNITY
For the first time in its history, the directory was offered as a digital pdf version online via email for $5 donations. The file was revised in February and at least one more refresh is planned before another directory is undertaken. Due to the continued rise in printing and mailing expenses, the directory was not given a mass mailing for our alumni and affiliates as in years past. Copies were mailed or given out to all Loyalty Fund donors, directory advertisers and sponsors. Others were asked to donate $15 to have theirs mailed, or $10 if they wanted one at the Annual Meeting. A few copies are still left. Orders can be taken with checks or PayPal. If you would like to order one, contact the editor. Revenues for 2016 Alumni Loyalty Fund & Publications were as follows: Alumni Loyalty Fund/Dues Drive: $649; Housing Corporation Annual Meeting: $370; Annual Meeting Undergrad Sponsorships: $125; 2017 Membership Directory Ads: $850; Additional Directory Sponsorships, Single & Digital Copies: $514. 2016 Annual Meeting Undergrad Sponsors John Hart Gary Henderson Bob Kensic Tom Lawrence Bob Meadows Dave Nelson Jim O’Connell Dave Ohlberg David Primes Brian Quint Patrick Schaefer Spencer Schmerling Mark Swedelson Gary Thomas
15
Christopher Aston Howard Brightman Dennis Crain Tim Pena Scott Press
Editor’s Journal How can our Lambda Chi Alpha chapter keep us involved long after we have transitioned from active to alumni status? For many of us, once we have finished our eight semesters or graduated, transferred to another college, or dropped out for work-related or other reasons, engagement with our brothers typically becomes more infrequent as we age. Many of us have our core group of brothers that we associate with, but beyond them our little glacier of brotherly connectivity floats into an ocean of humanity and slowly melts as it drifts along. In recent years alumni involvement has been an Achilles heel for BetaRho. I cannot understate this despite the fact that the housing corporation and alumni advisory board are in good shape. Let’s start with an upcoming milestone. 2017 is the chapter’s 45th anniversary of its original charter installation ceremony. I chaired the banquet in 2007 and 2012 with a huge assist from Scott Press’ wife Sue. She took care of all the banquet room arrangements and catering while I worked on the invitations and promotional efforts. Without her connections with the CBS Radford Studios’ banquet management staff and years of banquet planning experience, I cannot imagine pulling off two such successful alumni events. Neither of us desires to make that a threepeat, however. I don’t mind delivering the emcee’s speech or bringing a pile of scrapbooks to display. That’s the easy part for me. But another alumnus (or two), preferably someone who served as a High Epsilon and planned a White Rose Formal, would be an ideal successor for a banquet chairman. The last charter banquet happened in November of 2012. Let me know if you would like to take the reigns. As you may have read elsewhere in this issue, the corp. board officially divested itself from alumni association matters. Our normal base of operations needed to jettison the alumni association functions to establish its separation from the chapter as an independent business entity charged with operating and maintaining the Lindley House. Back in 2015 we were advised by General Counsel Lynn Chipperfield to limit the housing corporation’s liability insurance policy to its core mission: property management. As mentioned in the Annual Meeting article, that became official in September when the chapter’s bylaws were amended based on the efforts of our corp. board’s president, Spencer Schmerling. Since I rejoined the corp. board in 2005 I have embraced the communications side of alumni outreach as its vice president of communications. Now I am back to being one of its directors, although I seem to have become its perennial secretary. Tim Pena (shown with me at right) still does an amazing job helming the corp. board’s Annual Meetings, although like me he is no longer a vice president. What I would like to see are a few alumni who can oversee the creation (and eventually the incorporation) of a new alumni association with its own liability and D&O insurance policy. Right now I feel like an outlier composing and publishing these news magazines and directories. Until we have a viable core of volunteers to run an alumni association, almost everything we are doing either takes the form of ad hoc committees or becomes solo efforts. My
volunteer efforts as editor of both the directory and Beta-Rho Bulletin continues in this manner. Ditto all the contact information and job revisions on the membership’s spreadsheet. When I printed and distributed the 2017 directory, I ran it all out of pocket and collected the advertisers’ and sponsors’ donations to reimburse the project’s printing and mailing expenses. I will need to rethink the directory plans next year because only a small number of alumni were willing to pay for individual copies or digital files. It was recommended that I stop making printed copies altogether, but there were still enough supporters to make a printed version worthwhile. In an ideal alumni association setup, I or eventually someone else would go back to mailing everyone copies. I can’t always see my spreadsheet on my computer, and many of us with older eyes prefer seeing them in print form. Case in point: a lot of alumni complemented me when I passed one of our directories around during the Winter 2015 Neville Advisors College in Carmel, Ind. Running an Alumni Loyalty Fund drive has become awkward in this period too, and solicitations are not being pursued in the near future. (However, we do have a scholarship fund that’s maintained with the university that could use support, and that’s tax deductible.) The corp. board’s activities account for alumni affairs was closed in November. This is the first Beta-Rho Bulletin in decades to omit the housing corporation’s mailing address on either the back page or masthead on page 5. This is yet another subtle hint that this publication is no longer a housing corporation project. My address, email and telephone number have appeared on the masthead for years. So if you have something to say about it or want to help, you know where to find me. Many chapters have gone completely online with their outreach, news and directories. We tried the online directory route several years ago, and Mark Widawer graciously kept that going until it became obvious that the website wasn’t all that popular or easy to maintain. Chris Dyer put together a chapter website when he was the High Pi not too long ago, but like the digital directory it collapsed when it became apparent that the actives weren’t all that motivated to do the upkeep. I still wish that the chapter would produce an attractive and timely website or at least post more content on their Facebook group pages. I do my bit for those pages with photos after I attend chapter events. Nevertheless, they do most of their social media outreach with Snapchat and Instagram. Of all the things I do to maintain a level of engagement with the chapter, I still enjoy attending Sunday meetings, associate member installation ceremonies, initiations and Watermelon Busts. And don’t get me started on those trash pickup parties at Dockweiler Beach. They’re a guilty pleasure. Just knowing that I can address most of the actives each year on a first name basis is gratifying. Social media is a great thing, but attending chapter events in person is still a bigger thrill. Annual Meetings are nice for the alumni that, like those meetings, are seen annually. I guess that becoming the historian starting all those years ago gave me an itch I can never fully scratch insofar as my volunteerism goes. Engagement with our brothers is what Lambda Chi Alpha is all about. SUMMER / FALL 2016