BETA-R HO BULLETIN Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity
California State University, Northridge
Volume 45, Issue 2
Honoring Jerre & Mary Joy Stead
Summer/Fall 2017
Kevin Mojaradi
Fall semester associate members line up for their first official photo on Oct. 1 at the southeast entrance of Sierra Hall. Front row (from left): Terry Sheets, J.C. Martinez, Tosh Sharma, Reabal Refaei, Akar Sharma, Robert Aceves, Brandon Serna, Luis Alvarez, Rocael Cardona, Augustin Martinez. Second row: Irving Merino, Giovanni Castaneda, Jesus Villa, Fernando Ortiz, Wade Hawthorne, Tino Diaz. Not pictured: Randy Liera-Martinez. On the cover: President & CEO of the Educational Foundation Josh Lodolo presented Jerre and Mary Stead an award in honor of their decades of stewardship to Lambda Chi Alpha at the Purple, Green & Gold Banquet of Stead West at UCLA on Aug. 12. Back cover: Lambda Chi Alpha CEO Bill Farkas provided the closing remarks during the PG&G Banquet. (Photo: Rick Childs)
Features Associate Member Installation: Fall, 2017
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Alumni Chronicles: Late Spring Through Fall
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Fall 2017 Initiates
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Chapter Chronicles: Summer & Fall
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One Night with the Chapter: Oct. 15
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Stead West Leadership Seminar Debuts at UCLA
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Special thanks. Some of the content for this edition of the Beta-Rho Bulletin would not have been possible without the assistance and cooperation of the following brothers: Andrew Willins, Wade Hawthorne, Angel Torres, Chris Martinez, Eric Choi, Josh Bascou, Kevin Catalan, Collin Chan, Jesse Espinoza, J.C. Martinez, Alex Dinsmore, the chapter’s initiation class of Fall, 2017; Mike Cooperman, Darren Arrieta, Terry Lucero, Myke Davis, Adam Salgado, Mahdiar Karamooz, Dan Lichtenstein, Kevin Mojaradi and especially Josh Lodolo.
Dedicated to the memory of Brian Garfield (1954–2018) Rick Childs
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SUMMER / FALL 2017
Alumni Chronicles: Summer & Fall
Photo credits & courtesies: Adam Salgado, Darren Arrieta, Daniel Ramos, Can Ergen, Myke & Luz Davis, Mahdiar Karamooz and Dan Lichtenstein. Solar eclipse and Oregon photos are from Google.
Clockwise from right. Daniel Ramos popped the question to his fiancé Ariana Cortez on July14. Can and Aylin Ergen were married in Istanbul, Turkey on May 13. Among Myke Davis’ wedding guests were John Leynes, Daniel Bermudez, Keshon Robinson, Eric Planas, Zareh Baboomian, Eric Roberts, Corey Davis, Eric Valentin, Stevie Robledo, Vince Vergara, Justyn De Leon, Adrian Morales, Brian Carcerano and Nick Volkov. Brother Davis married Luz Ramos on May 26 at Crescent Bay Park in Santa Monica. A reception followed at Bellaj Banquet Hall in Burbank. They honeymooned in Costa Rica. Terry Lucero flew with his daughter Emily (not shown) to Portland, Ore. and camped out for two nights near Madras to witness the total solar eclipse on Aug. 21. Mother and father Mahdiar Karamooz welcomed Ella Robyn on June 22. Carmela Addison was welcomed by parents Dan and Tamara Lichtenstein on Oct. 13 at 2:28 p.m. She was born 7 lbs. 2 oz. and 20 inches long. Darren Arrieta’s son Logan James checked in to the world at 6:06 p.m. on July 27 at Los Robles Hospital in Thousand Oaks. He was born 6 lbs. 8 oz. Noah Blake Salgado is Adam Salgado’s family’s second baby who debuted on May 24.
Volume 45, Issue 2
Version 2.1
Editor, reporter, designer & photographer: Rick Childs The Beta-Rho Bulletin is the official publication of BetaRho Zeta of Lambda Chi Alpha International Fraternity at California State University, Northridge. This alumni publication is not funded by the housing corporation. It is published electronically and hard copy printing expenses are supported by alumni donations. Article ideas, directory revisions, weddings, anniversaries, births and career info should be snail mailed, e-mailed or sent via Facebook or texts to the editor. His mailing address is 38665 11th Street East, Apt. 26, Palmdale, CA; 93550-. Email: eaglerick55@gmail.com. Made on a 2010 Mac Mini with iWork Pages ’09 v. 4.1. Originally published on May 8, 2018. Production dates: March 20 - May 8, 2018.. Editor’s phone number/ texts: (661) 313-5319
Fall 2017 House Corporation Board of Directors: President Director Director Director Director
Spencer Schmerling Rick Childs Scott Press Tim Pena Darren Arrieta
Fall 2017 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
Chris Martinez Eric Choi Collin Chan James Mizuki Angelo Samson Jacob Barron Angel Torres Jesse Espinoza Andrew Willins Justin Punzalan Jason Fefer Jesse Martinez
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
BETA-RHO ZETA OF LAMBDA CHI ALPHA INTERNATIONAL FRATERNITY
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The Class of Fall, 2017
Rush Chairman/High Delta: James Mizuki Fraternity Educator/High Kappa: Angel Torres Ritualist/High Phi: Jesse Espinoza
Post-initiation Nov. 17. Front row (from left): Terry Sheets, Augustin “Tino” Diaz-Ordaz. Second row: Agustin Martinez, Jesus Villa, Reabal Refaei, Akar Sharma, Rocael Cardona. Third row: Brandon Serna, Robert Aceves, Fernando Ortiz, Wade Hawthorne, Tosh Sharma. Fourth row: Luis Alvarez, Irving Merino, Skye Lee, Collin Chan, Alex Dinsmore, Rodrigó Valenzuela, Randy Liera Martinez. Fifth row: Vincent Pimentel, Justin Punzalan, Francisco Silva, Frankie Castanon, Eddy Moya, Steve Arias. Sixth row: Kevin Catalan, Jesse Espinoza, JC Martinez, Eric Choi, Jesse Martinez, Angel Torres, Edward Lopez, Andrew Willins, Adrian Martinez, James Mizuki, Angelo Samson, Bryan Cardona. Seventh row: Alex Casiano, David Burgos, Bryan Rios, Jacob Barron. Eighth row: Dre Ghotra, Abel Martinez, Tyler Struck, Chris Martinez. (Photos by Rick Childs except where noted on page 5.)
Angel Torres stands with his little brothers Irving Merino and Rocael Cardona.
Angelo Samson chats with Jesus “Jay” Villa with his big Collin Chan who is admiring brother Cisco Silva. a paddle that was given to him by Brandon Serna.
Brandon L. Serna
Roberto Aceves
Class Level: Sophomore Major: Bus. Admin.: Mgmt. Big Brother: Collin Chan
Class Level: Junior Major: Psychology Big Brother: Kevin Catalan
Birthday: Nov. 18
Initiates: 17 (BP 732-748)
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BP 732 Birthday: May 10
BP 733
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Luis F. Alvarez
Rocael A. Cardona Giovanni Castaneda Augustin Diaz-Ordaz Wade Hawthorne
Class Level: Sophomore Major: Bus. Admin.: Marketing Big Brother: Kevin Catalan Birthday: Dec. 11 BP 734
Class Level: Freshman Major: Political Science Big Brother: Angel Torres
Class Level: Senior Major: Graphic Design Big Brother: Jesse Espinoza
Birthday: March 16 BP 735 Birthday: April 17
Class Level: Junior Major: Bus. Admin.: Management Big Brother: Angelo Samson BP 736 Birthday: Jan. 11 BP 737
Class Level: Sophomore Major: Deaf Studies Big Brother: Bryan Cardona Birthday: June 1
BP 738
Juan C. Martinez
Irving C. Merino
Fernando Ortiz
Class Level: Senior Class Level: Senior Major: Bus. Admin.: Finance Major: Mechanical Big Brother: Vincent Pimentel Engineering Big Brother: Eric Choi Birthday: May 25 BP 739 Birthday: Aug. 24 BP 740
Class Level: Freshman Major: Art Education & Ethnic Studies Big Brother: Justin Punzalan Birthday: Nov. 19 BP 741
Class Level: Freshman Major: Bus. Admin.: Systems & Operations Management Big Brother: Angel Torres Birthday: Nov. 10 BP 742
Class Level: Freshman Major: Bus. Admin.: Marketing Big Brother: Jesse Martinez Birthday: May 31 BP 743
Reabal Refaei
Akar Sharma
Paritosh Sharma
Terry Sheets
Jesus Villa
Class Level: Freshman Major: Undeclared Big Brother: Andrew Willins
Class Level: Freshman Major: Undeclared Big Brother: Steve Arias
Class Level: Junior Major: Political Science Big Brother: Steve Arias
Wade Hawthorne
Randy Liera-Martinez Agustin Martinez
Birthday: Jan. 25
BP 744 Birthday: March 30 BP 745 Birthday: Sept. 28
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Class Level: Junior Class Level: Junior Major: Bus. Admin.: Marketing Major: Journalism: Public Big Brother: Kevin Catalan Relations & Chicano Studies Big Brother: Francisco Silva BP 746 Birthday: Sept. 26 BP 747 Birthday: Nov. 1 BP 748
Chapter Chronicles: Summer & Fall
As seen (mostly) on Instagram. Coaches and sisters from Phi Mu Sorority strike a pose after the Sir Fidel philanthropy event on Oct. 15. Jesse Espinoza and Frankie Castaneda, the president of CSUN’s RTDNA Club and chapter social media chair, respectively (clockwise starting below), relax near the main entrance of the VPAC on Sept. 21. Brother of the Month for November Collin Chan. Andrew Willins modeled the Fall 2017 rush t-shirt. Eric Choi’s dog Zax struck a pose for the t-shirt artwork. Volunteers Brandon Serna, Fernando Ortiz, Jesse Martinez and Chris Martinez take a break in front of the Big Show ’17 stage on Oct. 7. Angel Torres escaped to Big Bear for some R&R before the onset of the fall semester on Aug. 16. Brothers snagged a threepeat for Mr. CSUN with Alpha Omicron Pi Sorority’s charity event on Nov. 9. Alex Casiano, Collin Chan and Bryan Cardona jetted to Yucatán, Mexico to scale a pyramid or two. Pre--initiation prep on Oct. 15.
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Chapter Meeting: Oct. 15 Call to Order: 7:05 p.m., Sierra Hall 184, attendance: 40. Informal.
those brothers who [took part] in [Phi Mu Sorority’s philanthropy] Sir Fidel– congratulations. You beat the Sig-Eps…. Nominations [for officers] are next month… There’s a lot of officers that are graduating or going alumni.” He encouraged the chapter to consider bringing back the “low” positions [i.e., Low Tau, Low Beta, etc.]: officers’ trainees or assistants who gain an advantage in transitioning to the High Zeta officer’s position before the next election cycle.
Roll Call: High Gamma Collin Chan called the roll and took minutes. Present, alumni and LCAOne roster order: Francisco Castanan, Rick Childs, James Mizuki, Tyler Struck, Rodrigó Valenzuela, Jacob Barron, Jesse Martinez, Alex Dinsmore, Vincent Pimentel, Jesse Espinoza, Andrew Willins, Angel Torres, Bryan Cardona, Josh Bascou, David Burgos, Justin Punzalan, Chris Martinez, Angelo Samson, Eric Choi, Francisco Silva, Bryan Rios, Wade Hawthorne, Robert Aceves, Luis Alvarez, Tosh Sharma, Akar Sharma, Reabal Refaei, Terry Sheets, Randy Liera, Agustin Martinez, Tino Diaz-Ordaz, Rocael Cardona, Fernando Ortiz, Jesus Villa, Giovanni Castaneda, Irving Merino, Brandon Serna, Joe Padua, Adresh Ghotra.
Guest Appearance #1: Delta Delta Delta Sorority. Two of their reps [Haley and Cassidy], pitched their Casino Night event on Nov. 18 [for their philanthropy, childhood cancer research]. High Beta Report (Eric Choi): A Brotherhood Retreat is scheduled for the week after Finals Week, Dec. 22-23. Participation at various events earns ‘Zeta points’ starting in November. “Whoever’s involved on campus please message me right now because I have to send our ELC our campus involvement [report].”
High Alpha Report (Chris Martinez): Attendance needs to be stressed; some of the actives and one AM missed this meeting. Upcoming Orange County [Alumni] Reception [in Newport Beach] “which was mentioned by our High Pi, Kevin Mojaradi. It’s a meeting of the Western chapters. Last year it was USC, UCLA and us. This time they’re adding two more: Cal State L.A. (alumni) and I think Fullerton…. It’s a great way to meet brothers from other chapters… [Educational Foundation President & CEO] Josh Lodolo will be there. He identified two of the three major issues facing the chapter mentioned by the ELC [Taylor Krivas]. “You guys got lucky because this ELC was the coolest, most chill one that we’ve ever seen (along with Brandon Bonds)…. Effort… for participating in Intramurals, coming out and supporting one another, for cleaning the house, for participating in philanthropies, it’s just a core group that always steps up. And I don’t think it’s okay. I think every single one of you is capable of being president, of being an officer, being someone that can represent Lambda Chi Alpha…. Give 100 percent to everything. … Set the example for yourself. The second thing is accountability… be a brother’s brother… keep them accountable and keep yourself accountable. The last one’s more for actives and I will talk to you later about that… Regardless, it’s been a great week. I’m proud of
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High Kappa Report (Angel Torres): ELC report. “One thing he brought up was having mock interviews for those who are going alum or are going to graduate so that when they go out into the real world they know how to talk in a professional way…. I’m also meeting with Drew to [enhance] alumni relations…. For you AMs a reminder: you need to wear your pin, especially on Sundays.” Another pre-initiation ceremony follows the meeting, so dress warmly. “Make sure you all know the creed already… as well as the [Greek] alphabet.” High Phi Report (Jesse Espinosa): ELC report. “He gave me a lot of good advice regarding things to do for the ZAX sessions, the debrief after rituals. I want to thank the AMs for coming out to all the [pre-initiation] rituals.” High Sigma Report (Justin Punzalan): ELC report. “He asked me what could he help me with. Part of the Sigma’s job is to find you guys internships and scholarships, and I was showing him the document
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Most of the Fall ’17 chapter officers and chairmen (1-13). Eric Choi, Angel Torres, Chris Martinez, Jesse Espinoza, Justin Punzalan, Jesse Martinez, James Mizuki, Angelo Samson, Andrew Willins, Collin Chan, Jacob Barron, Alex Dinsmore and Josh Bascou. 8 SUMMER / FALL 2017
Oct. 15 Chapter Meeting: High Sigma Report, continued
fees or had set up a payment plan to do it now “before we start getting into the holidays and buying gifts. Follow your payment plan so that you can budget yourself.... He should be back this week and give you more information on that.”
I was making for all the resources... He gave me an example document [for different chapters]. I’m hoping to have it for you next week. It’ll have important dates and registration.” After consulting with the High Tau, he wants to introduce an incentive to get more brothers to rack up study hours. “The person with the most [study] hours for every month will get a $20 Mad Money card. Kevin’s in the lead with 810 minutes and Irving has 600 minutes.”
High Pi Report (Kevin Mojaradi, Chris Martinez reporting): He reminded the chapter about the alumni reception in Orange County. High Iota Report (Jacob Barron): “I’ve got some [Harm Reduction] pamphlets for everybody and I’m going to be handing them out. Make sure everyone gets one. ELC report. “He gave me a lot of good resources through the LCAOne.” More harm reduction activities are planned along the lines of the ones the ELC conducted…. “Besides that, I’m gonna start organizing my Harm Reduction Task Force. For those of you who don’t know what that is, it’s a group of guys who work toward reducing harm throughout the chapter so that it’s not just my duty. I know I have a couple of guys who are always up to be sober stewards and who want to help what I’m striving to do as Iota. And if anyone else wants to join it, let me know….” There will be two more Harm Reduction presentations in late October and another in mid-November from outside organizations. One is a Project Mend workshop on Oct. 22 and the other one on Nov. 19 is on alcohol awareness/drunk driving. “We need 90 percent chapter attendance to make it count as a Harm Reduction seminar. I need to do two every semester; otherwise, we get fined [by Headquarters for liability insurance reasons].”
High Theta Report (Jesse Martinez): ELC report. “My meeting with the ELC went pretty well as well. He gave me a couple of ideas on as to how to develop our philanthropy.” He wants to teach a Low Theta what he has learned. “If done well, a Theta can vastly improve the fraternity in terms of outreach and community relations.” However, he is becoming an alumnus at the end of the semester. “I have already posted it in GroupMe to see who’s interested in joining my committee.” He wants to prepare a guide for his successor that expands on what the officer’s manual provides. Guest Appearance #2: Alpha Phi Sorority. An 8-member delegation headed by their chapter’s president Jocelyn along with executive board members and officers were welcomed. They promoted pre-sales and a variety of fundraisers during a weeklong competition among the fraternities from Oct. 30-Nov. 3 which culminates with their annual Red Dress Gala to support the Alpha Phi Foundation’s philanthropy, the American Heart Association.
House Manager (Chris Martinez): He is not too happy with the way non-live-ins are leaving their trash around the house, and he called out the live-ins to keep up with washing their dishes. “Common courtesy goes a long way, and I’m getting tired of picking up after you guys. Clean up after yourselves. I am not your maid, and no one else is going to pick it up.” If he sees people trashing the house, he’s going to double their cleaning hours or fine them. The front entrance door was recently repaired. He is also in contact with the housing corp. president to get the A/C fixed.
High Delta Report (James Mizuki): ELC report. Good meeting with him. “He gave me some resources for the next High Delta… like workshops on recruitment.” A new High Delta needs to be elected since he is graduating in December. High Epsilon Report (Angelo Samson): ELC report. “He gave me a lot of good tips. He told me I need to work closer with the High Iota.” Mixers and exchanges should be done with other organizations besides sororities…. Date party: we are aiming for Nov. 3 now.” There is also an SAEPi exchange on Nov. 10 with board games from 3-5.
Intramurals Chair/IMs Captain (Alex Dinsmore): “Volleyball… It’s fun going to games. You don’t even have go play. Just go and support; you don’t have to know what’s goin’ on. Just be loud and make noise. We have a playoff game tomorrow at 9 o’clock [p.m.]. Football, I will let you guys know tomorrow when the playoff [schedule] comes out. Likely we’re playing BGN or Sig-Ep. Tuesday we have DZ’s Frisbee event. Last thing I want to propose is Wednesday. We’re all from L.A. The Dodgers are in the playoffs.... We have a study room, we have a projector, we have couches and a speaker. Let’s have a watch party for the playoffs on Wednesday night. It could count as a brotherhood event.”
High Rho Report (Andrew Willins): ELC report. He suggested we have an alumni luncheon before initiations. Talks are underway to schedule the alumni-active softball game on Nov. 5. One of his projects involves having alumni discuss their careers at chapter meetings, something the ELC referred to as ‘Adulting 101’. “Have our alumni teach us how it is, how life is going to be after you graduate, how to look for a job.” Everyone was encouraged to brush up on mock interviews and polish their résumés before graduation and take advantage of the assistance offered by the Career Center.
Standards Chair (Josh Bascou): ELC report. “We talked about making sure that we get all the officers continuing to do what they say they’re going to do. So I am trying to contact all the officers and trying to help them with their stuff. Also we spoke about transitioning. I’m creating an event after elections where we’re spending an hour and a half at the house with some pizza and get everything [planned] out that day so that I know everyone got transitioned properly.” He also wants to develop an instructional document so that new officers can learn from the experiences of the previous ones.
High Gamma Report (Collin Chan): ELC report. “My ELC meeting went really well… we talked about having a chapter historian. This is someone who keeps hold of chapter records, but more in the sense of photographs and social media. Generally, it’s someone who likes photography, so if anyone likes to go take pictures at events, please talk to me.” He brought up the idea of being a messenger for the chapter. “As the High Gamma, I don’t feel that I have much of a roll in the general fraternity.” He suggested that he could be proactive in assisting with publicizing chapter charity events and activities. He also stressed the need to keep him informed about late arrivals and planned or even last minute absences. “Even if it’s just an hour before the meeting, let me know if you’re going to be late, late me know if you’re going to be absent. That way I don’t have to fine you.”
Brother of the Week: Edward Lopez Announcements/Open Discussion: Brothers reviewed the hashtag #MeToo on social media and its effects on CSUN student discourse regarding sexual harassment. Every brother and associate members were asked to avoid conduct that would reflect badly on the chapter.
High Tau Report (Jason Fefer, Chris Martinez reporting): “Our High Tau is in Canada. Today is the last day to get that $50 off to pay your dues in full.” He encouraged everyone who hadn’t already paid their parlor BETA-RHO ZETA OF LAMBDA CHI ALPHA INTERNATIONAL FRATERNITY
Adjourn: 8:53 p.m. 9
Stead Heads West Except where noted, all photos by Rick Childs
Director of Alumni Engagement Jayme Little invited alumni to attend a special event scheduled for the third and final day of the 2017 Jerre & Mary Joy Stead Leadership Seminar at the University of California – Los Angeles on Aug. 12. Billed as LCA in a Day, attendees convened at the Carnasale Commons on the north central side of the campus. At the conclusion of the packed afternoon schedule, which culminated in a reception hosted by the fraternity’s Educational Foundation, brothers could attend the Purple, Green & Gold Banquet along with the undergraduates. 2017 marked the first year Lambda Chi Alpha split its biennial standalone Stead Leadership Seminar into three separate conferences at colleges in the East, Midwest and West Coast. Stead Central kicked off the series at Vanderbilt University in Nashville on July 27-30. Stead East followed at University of Maryland College Park. The series culminated with Stead West at UCLA on Aug. 10-13. [In lieu of the three Stead Leadership Seminars, regional Conclaves were not held this spring.] According to Associate Director of Communications and Cross & Crescent Editor Taylor Grayson, Stead West offered “workshops, presentations, and other educational sessions covering the full range of chapter programming and personal leadership development.” Stead West also featured “brotherhood activities [and] chapter awareness presentations. Rick Childs (BP 83) and former ELC and SAC rep. Mike Cooperman (BP 386) were among the nearly 20 alumni who took part in LCA For A Day. UCLA alumnus, affiliate, Order of Merit recipient and former Beta-Rho Housing Corporation President Howard Brightman attended all three days of the sessions as well. About 175 undergraduates attended Stead West, according to Educational Foundation President & CEO Josh Lodolo (BP 459). Brothers traveled to Stead West from as far away as the University of Toronto chapter, Epsilon-Epsilon. If Executive Vice President Emeritus and G former CEO George Spasyk had attended this
to the attendees along the lines of part of his keynote address at Beta-Rho’s 35th anniversary banquet in 2007. G “…May you not regret that you didn’t take all the opportunities and all the advantages that were presented to you, for this opportunity may never, ever come again. Rather, may you continue to search and search, to find the opportunity for growth, and leadership, and service. For you are part of a great fraternity, forged in the fire of comradeship at the turn of the last century, molded by the proud achievement of more than 250,000 brothers. This is truly a glorious ideal, with the spirit of youth, and the lesson of maturity.” This is exactly how the promise of Stead West unfolded as brothers and a number of prospective members experienced the seminars and special activities. Alumni who arrived before the General Session hosted by CEO Bill Farkas mingled with undergrads at Covel Commons for a buffet-style lunch. As with the PG&G Banquet, Brother Farkas and the ensuing panel discussion along with members of the Grand High Zeta convened in the Carnasale Commons Palisades meeting hall. Brother Farkas provided alumni with a State of the Fraternity overview and touched on some of the issues facing college campuses where chapters are currently operating.
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Where do we want to be in 25 years? We have to be very nimble when it comes to that.I – Bill Farkas 10
CEO Bill Farkas: General Session First Brother Farkas outlined the four philosophical pillars that Lambda Chi Alpha wants to instill in its membership: growth, partnerships, alumni and member development. SUMMER / FALL 2017
CEO Bill Farkas addressed the attendees at the PG&G Banquet. BETA-RHO ZETA OF LAMBDA CHI ALPHA INTERNATIONAL FRATERNITY
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Then he concentrated on how the fraternity has developed and enhanced its mission. “Three years ago, the Grand High Zeta worked to put together a strategic plan: …where do we want to be in 25 years? The reality is nonprofits and particularly dealing with 18 to 22year-olds change so quickly that we have to be very nimble when it comes to that. So we have been putting together four-year rotating plans…. And we look at it using technology on a daily basis. On my annual review is what we bring forward and say, ‘What have we done well, what do we need to work on, and what do we need to change?’ In addition the Grand High Zeta has been very generous in allowing us to make changes when necessary so we know what those overarching philosophical thoughts are, but when we get to the strategic plan, what those goals are. “So, there are five goals that the Grand High Zeta, the staff and the general fraternity are working on. In no particular order except the last one, I will share those with you. “The first one is, again, living our values. Putting the ritual at the forefront of the undergraduate experience. Pete’s presentation this morning and what the undergraduates have worked on: how do we get today’s undergraduates to see the value in that? One of the things that I am asked when I talk to people outside of the Greek community: is fraternity still relevant? Almost to a person that’s what I get when they find out what I do. And first and foremost, I can tell you that the experience that most of our undergraduates are having is so impactful, it hits what we want Lambda Chi to be, and we’re proud of those young men. But more importantly for society, fraternities are more important now than ever because of some of the home factors and some
LCA in a Day: early afternoon sessions. The General Session with CEO Bill Farkas (above, below right) gets underway. Grand High Tau Gregg Behrens listens as Educational Foundation Board Director Gary Matus introduces himself. Opposite page: Staff greet alumni registrants on the second floor of UCLA’s Carnasale Commons. Special Assistant to the CEO and former Beta-Rho ELC Brandon Bonds and Student Advisory Committee rep Nic Salvini from the Denver chapter (Alpha-Pi) were among the brothers in the reception area. Associate Director of Development Allen Horton (standing) moderated a panel discussion with members of the Grand High Zeta, Educational Foundation and Student Advisory Committee. From left: Brother Behrens, Grand High Gamma Pete Smithhisler, Grand High Iota Dave Leathers, SAC Rep and Grand High Psi Joey Ortega (Florida Southern), Educational Foundation Executive Committee Member John Brechin, Grand High Delta Lenny Bendo and Educational Foundation Board Director Alan Anderson.
of the baggage that these men are bringing to college. The decline in some guideline of coming into the university, and what I mean by that is when we’ve seen a dip in what faith may be, or what those values may be, they didn’t grow up in the church, they didn’t go to temple. They don’t have that guiding line, that star… and that’s where we can fit in. Because the last time I looked, we have a lot of those things. And we have a lot of accountability and expectations of what it means to join our organization. In addition to the social component and the fun component, once you join us there’s a higher standard that you’re held accountable to. As Pete and I were talking this morning, that ‘we’ factor, that ‘we’ that we find in our creed. So, how do we develop that and implement it, and allow our undergraduates to live the values, live our ritual? “Two is the overall undergraduate experience. What are we providing? What are the tools that we are giving them? What are the resources that we are giving the undergraduates to be successful? And what does success look like? Success looks like several of the things that I just mentioned. Having that accountability. Having that experience. Having that camaraderie, that 12
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esprit de corps. Having that fun. Having that social. Having that leadership. That’s what that undergraduate experience looks like. “Number three is the partnership that we have with external constituents. Our co-curricular experience with the host institution is paramount, and developing relationships that we have with decision makers at the university. Most of us went to school at a time when the dean of students was the advisor to Greek life. And the dean of students had a masters degree and he or she had been there a while, and we developed relationships with them. Well, that’s changed. And a lot more, we see grad assistants working with Greek life who are there to get their masters degree. And this is a stepping stone, and they aren’t here and they don’t know Greek life. Once we develop a relationship with them, they move on—and they’re not a decision maker. It’s the VPs for student life. It’s the university presidents. It’s the trustees. “One of our shortcomings, and when I say ‘we’ I mean the fraternity
BETA-RHO ZETA OF LAMBDA CHI ALPHA INTERNATIONAL FRATERNITY
system in Bill’s humble opinion, is we’ve got Lambda Chi brothers— about 200 men—serve as various trustees across the country, and we don’t have a relationship with them. But they’re the decision makers. They’re the ones that impact, hire and fire the president or the chancellor. We need to do a better job of cultivating them the way that their alma mater did. “We have about 20 university presidents that are Lambda Chis. And we have done a better job at continuing to outreach with them and share. And the other thing that we need to understand is in a university setting, the president and the trustees usually only think about Greeks when it’s bad. Otherwise, they’re more concerned about the complaints that they are getting from parents about what’s being served in the cafeteria, what athletics is doing, what their deans and what the faculty are doing—positive and negative—and fundraising. Greek life is a very small component of what they’re concerned about, except when they get the phone call at 2 o’clock in the
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morning. And it’s something awful. But how do we work with and get and partner with and become co-conspirators in having that positive [outcome]? We know we provide retention. We know we provide leadership. We know we provide donors ready to go who understand philanthropy. But often times they don’t correlate those two things together, and we need to be stronger advocates for that with those partnerships. “Also our partnership with Feeding America. It has been a tremendous win-win for both. Feeding America wanted to enter into our partnership because they wanted access to younger people on their Rolodex, in their social media. That was the win for them. The win for us was credibility in this program that we’ve been doing for 30 years. Support that we get from them: validation Feeding America. Everybody knows Feeding America. And the fact that they’re willing to partner with us is fantastic. And continuing to develop those kinds of relationships that help us. “The Masons have come to us and said what might a partnership look like. Well, the win for the Masons is access to a younger constituency as they are graying. We haven’t figured out what the win is for Lambda Chi. So we’re still working on what a partnership like that might look like. “So, living the values, the undergraduate experience, our partnerships: …those three things then lead to the fourth thing, which is growth. Growth has multiple components. Growth of the individual brother, and their experience of going through Lambda Chi. Growth of our chapters and again, that’s intellectual growth, behavioral growth as well as chapter size. Growth of Lambda Chi Alpha as a whole, and growth for the communities that benefit from when the Alumni breakout workshop sessions. Rob Shook (upper right, plus one of his slides) conducted a workshop on Maintaining & Improving Credit Score in Carnasale Commons’ Malibu Room. Grand High Gamma Pete Smithhisler presided over a workshop in the Venice Room called How Do Social Issues Affect LCA? Other sessions offered to alumni were Leveraging Tax Dollars to Leave a Legacy and What Does Diversity Mean for LCA?
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fraternity has done well. seniors who were wise and had experience and could lead us lowly “We have a goal out there to have 220 chapters by 2020. freshmen and sophomores. You’re all picturing that person. But We’re not going to ever achieve that. And part of that is because between Study Abroad and between internships and between lack we’re holding some of our existing chapters accountable for their of something of value for the upper classmen, we have seen less behavior. So we’ve seen almost a zero gain of chapters that we’ve involvement of juniors and particularly seniors. had to hold accountable and close by our growth. Now we’re “So what might keep them engaged? What if we provided a speeding up on that growth. platform for them through the alumni of bridging that experience. We “I got word yesterday… Flagler College is a small college in St. talk about the Lambda Chi Alpha network. We say, oh, we’ve got Augustine [Fla.]. They’ve never had Greeks. They approached us 170,000 alumni. But we never ask a call to arms, if you will, of and said, ‘We want Lambda Chi to start our Greek system. We getting that bridge between ‘I’m a senior and I’m not quite sure what have an interest group of 25 that we believe could be 60 before I want to do’ and ‘I don’t know how I get to because I’m so great, you charter.’ That’s pretty cool. It’s cool to be singled out…. It’s a everybody’s going to want to hire me. Until I start throwing out small private [institution]. It’s very well subsidized by the Flagler resumes and seeking jobs and I don’t get any response to my family: Henry Flagler who’s with Standard Oil that a lot of you may LinkedIn page.’ What if we provided that service? What if we recall and built, basically, Florida, because of the trains. provided that leadership, that mentoring of alumni raising their hand “And then the fifth… and I’m not putting it last because of the and saying, ‘Yeah, I’m willing to do that. That’s something I’m excited audience, but is probably our most important about.’ So we went out and hired this gentleman component moving forward, and that is our who’s been doing this for the last ten years. He’s alumni. And the alumni’s involvement in the lives a former staff [member], some of you know him— of our undergraduates. Jayme Little [who was also a Beta-Rho High Pi]. “Most of us can recall that we had a High Pi, And Jayme was been working at Indiana and he came around occasionally, and he University, Purdue University [near] Indianapolis. signed off on the documents that he needed to [He noted that the locals call it Ooey Pooey.] I sign off on. And that was his role. Today’s had a board member of another smaller undergraduates need so much more support. So fraternity who found out what we were doing much so that we want to see and envision a with Jayme and why we were doing it. He said, world where every one of our chapters has an ‘Once again, Lambda Chi is leading the way alumni advisory board made up of ten to 12 because every fraternity should be doing what alumni. So just think about that number. You’re you’re doing.’ probably looking at close to 2,500 brothers “For our success moving forward, it’s involved. They don’t necessarily have to be there. imperative, it’s crucial and the crux of everything I’m not sure that we have 12 alumni that are is going to be the alumni. I believe that and I living in Laramie, Wyo. There may be, but I’m not believe that’s the commitment the fraternity is sure. But that doesn’t mean, given technology, making. I envision an alumni staff that continues that the alumnus advising the High Tau isn’t living to grow. Because, when you have more in New York City. Our de facto High Pi for our volunteers, it doesn’t make life easier, but we can UNH chapter – University of New Hampshire in do so much more. Durham, N.H., there are no alumni in Durham, “That’s my story of where we’re at.” N.H. They go to school and then they go to Boston, they go to New York. They do not stay in Alumni Workshops: LCA In A Day Durham, N.H. But our de facto High Pi who talks – Jerry Stead Brother Cooperman reflected on what drew to the High Alpha once a week lives in Pittsburg, him to LCA In A Day. Pa., and has an hour-long phone call with him “For me the goal, it was two things. One of the every week. It’s Wally Jenkins for those of you things was very personal. I just wanted to be that know him. But those are the kinds of creative supportive. The regional conferences are a great things that we can do. opportunity to hear what’s going on. You see “But we need that involvement of the alumni, what’s going on on Facebook. But it’s a good and the commitment. So much so that in January opportunity to hear the state of the fraternity… the Foundation and the Grand High Zeta and where are we relative to everybody else. partnered on talking about how do we do things Just being there and getting to hear it from the better as it relates to alumni engagement, alumni executive leadership is important. So goal #1 training, and alumni empowerment. was I just wanted to hear about what’s going on. “One of the things that we’re committed to is Goal #2 was very selfish. It was me just starting we have been woefully understaffed in that to realize that my oldest daughter is not that far regard. We had a wonderful gentleman named away from going to college, and so I just wanted George Taylor who came in and structure and to understand what’s changed, what’s really get High Pis in over 90 percent of our chapters: going on on campus. Step 1. Recruit a lot of alumni advisory boards: “Aside from all the headlines you read on CNN, Step 2. But we are still missing some components what’s it like to be a college student in the social as it relates to alumni engagement and alumni media era? I mean, [we] avoided all of that, involvement. right? But now you’re having to go to school in “One of the things that we know and we’re an era where everything’s recorded. So I just just witnessing—and those of you who are wanted to understand what’s new, what’s involved in your chapters understand—the majority changed, understanding that college is still of our leadership in our chapters are coming from Director of Alumni Engagement Jayme Little at the college and 19-year-olds are still 19-year-olds. And Housing Corporation’s Annual Meeting sophomores. Sophomores! Now think about that. Beta-Rho on Dec. 7, 2006. He served as Beta-Rho’s chapter the last thing was connecting with folks that I hadn’t Most of us, our High Alphas were juniors or advisor that year. seen in a while, like [Rick], or like Howard or Bill
Accept gifts of wisdom
from strangers. Do what you can do, and never slow it down. There’s nothing that can’t be accomplished if you stand up to be counted. Demand truth, which is one that we work on and I work on forever from yourself and those around you.
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or Josh. Folks that I hadn’t seen. Folks that were either supportive of “The irony is, Jerre and I work in the same industry,” Brother me or I’ve been supportive of.” Cooperman said. “So he is the CEO of IHS, which is a data Once the Q&A with members of the Grand High Zeta and [information and analytics] company that does a lot of automotive Educational Foundation members wound down, four workshops data. So he and I actually talked shop quite a bit as a guy who’s were scheduled over the next ninety minutes. The first two choices been in the automotive industry in different facets from market were Maintaining and Improving Credit Score with Rob Shook and research to marketing to communications. We didn’t talk as much Leveraging Tax Dollars to Leave a Legacy. They were followed by about fraternity as we talked about the industry. Which was kind of What Does Diversity Mean for LCA? and How Do Social Issues fun. We were there for fraternity stuff; we caught up a little on that, Affect LCA? with moderator and Grand High Gamma Pete Smithhisler. talked about my time traveling [as an ELC]…. But he’s such a sharp The latter workshop on social issues attracted Brothers Brightman, guy. It was great to catch up with him.” Cooperman and Childs. Brother Cooperman spoke for many Beta-Rho alumni about his “That was the one I was most interested in,” Brother Cooperman admiration for Brother Lodolo’s leadership as the current CEO of the recalled. “When I was in school in the early to mid-Nineties, we Educational Foundation. were in the dawn of the “The one thing I took computer era. In my last year away: it was so cool to see in school we got email Josh in that role. I’ve known addresses. That was a really Josh since he was an big deal. And now I don’t know undergrad.” how I lived without an email Attending LCA In A Day address. I never had a job that reminded him of how much didn’t involve me having an impact the fraternity has had email address. The speed of with his personal life. technology: it’s amazing to “If there is one thing I watch. So imagine: you’re a would change, I wish I could college student now having to encourage the guys in my deal with all these issues that era to go and just spend a nobody’s had to deal with. It’s little bit of time, like that one so far accelerated. day a year, and talking to “I thought for me that was a some of the undergrads and really compelling session in just reminding them it’s worth the understanding what’s changed. I time you spend. I mean, I was in the chapter in an era work with alumni and socialize where fraternity involvement, with them… we go out to LCA In A Day alumni. Rick Childs with Mike Cooperman and UCLA alumnus Howard Brightman. not just at Northridge, but dinner and talk about family across the country had really stuff. They’re the groomsmen bottomed out. There was a lot of backlash against fraternities, or there at your wedding, the pallbearers at your funeral. And it’s true if you’ve wasn’t a lot of interest in membership. And that has significantly done Fraternity the right way.” rebounded. I don’t know if, culturally, kids are in their rooms spending time on their computers and their phones and feel like they Stead Leadership Seminar: Beta-Rho’s Undergrad Delegation need a social outlet. There’s been a benefit [from social media] to Current and former High Zeta officers Josh Bascou (BP 682), the Greek system with membership and involvement in general that Kevin Catalan (BP 714) and Collin Chan (BP 729), its Tau, Delta and we didn’t see in the Nineties.” Gamma, respectively, represented the chapter’s undergrad On the flip side, social media can turn local instances of poor representatives. Brother Chan replaced Alex Dinsmore who had judgment into national news. contracted pneumonia in the days leading up to the conference. “When you talk about social media, you have something that “As I remember correctly, the three designated people that were happens locally and it goes national,” he said. “That’s a dynamic supposed to go were the Alpha, the Delta and the Theta,” Brother that didn’t exist twenty years ago. We have a different sensibility Chan said. today. It wasn’t acceptable then, but it’s even less acceptable now.” Stead West coincided with the weekend when the national news reported the deadly protests that took place in Charlottesville, N.C. Educational Foundation Reception “So I was watching the live videos of the person ramming the car Immediately following the LCA In A Day workshops, Brother into the crowd of protestors,” Brother Bascou said. “The [‘Unite the Lodolo and members of the Educational Foundation hosted an Right’ white nationalist and neo-Nazi] rallies. It happened the first day alumni reception in the Hermosa Room. of Stead and blew up the second day. It was all over the news stations.” Former Grand High Tau and Delta Bob Koch, an alumnus who The only disappointment the delegates mentioned was that they gave the keynote address at Beta-Rho’s 40th anniversary chartering weren’t able to schedule a visit to the UCLA chapter house. banquet in 2012, made a surprise introduction. He and the current Nevertheless, all three of the delegates were extremely impressed Grand High Tau, Gregg Behrens, walked up and asked if this writer with acquainting themselves with brothers from all the chapters. would like to meet Jerre Stead. They chatted with him for a few Brother Chan said, “I think really one of the biggest things I got minutes after an impromptu photo request, and then Mary Jo Stead [out of Stead West was] meeting all of the brothers from other walked by and struck up a conversation. She seemed intrigued with chapters, getting to know them and hearing their stories about what’s the Spring 2017 Beta-Rho Bulletin he displayed on his iPhone. Her going on in their chapters. And then in turn to also ask for advice inquisitiveness about communications reflected her familiarity with the from other chapters that are successful. For example, me, Kevin and fraternity on a chapter level. Josh, we met these guys from Oregon State whose chapter is doing When Brother Cooperman caught up with Brother Stead at the really well. They were giving us advice on what we can do to improve, reception, his first impression matched this writer’s. [That smile!] As a what they were doing differently. And on top of that, I got closer with director of public relations for Saatchi & Saatchi, their careers the brothers that I went with. I got incredibly close with Kevin and Josh intersected in a lot of ways. after that, more so than I ever would have if I had not gone to this.” 16
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Gregg Behrens, Jerre Stead and Bob Koch
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Taylor Grayson / Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity (both pages). Used by permission. Inset: Rick Childs
Assembling care packages. Evan Brown of the Loyola Marymount chapter walks along one of the assembly lines at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank during the Feeding America field trip on Aug. 11. Josh Bascou is on the far right. UCLA alumnus Howard Brightman (lower right) works behind one of the undergraduates along one of the assembly lines.
“The people I spoke to the most were Oregon,” Brother Bascou noted. “The guys said that their rush class was like 80 members and their total chapter count was about 160. It was insane. They all had these $80 Lambda Chi custom-made jerseys with their names on them [and] their rush class number. It was all free, paid for by chapter funds. Also, one of the things they said was every single member has dues 100 percent paid for before the first day of the semester. In my head I’m thinking, ‘How can we get that way?’ We need to bring that here. Obviously, it’s going to take a while to get that going. But that would allow us to do so much more. Because they said that being able to have the money in the bank account prior to the semester starting allowed them to hold more events, have more fundraisers, to be more open on campus to get their name out to allow them to get those big rush classes. I also know from UNLV they were going through some very similar struggles like us. They have a lot of members that don’t pay their dues on time....” “I was able to talk to a lot of great people late nights,” Brother Catalan added. “I met a couple of brothers from Las Vegas [UNLV]. Another one from Oregon. From UCSD I met Jake Boss. And if I’m not mistaken Penn State as well. They were extremely helpful. Every person I talked to was pretty much a president at their chapter. I would ask these big, successful chapters at the moment how to properly recruit, what they would do, what type of events. The biggest thing that I ended up finding out is we don’t have money (laughs). Because of that we [use little money for promoting ourselves]. The way we’re recruiting as well is completely different. We should be doing yearround recruitment, and that’s something at the time we weren’t doing.
Feeding America Philanthropy Food Bank Excursion One of the centerpieces of Stead West involved a field trip to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank on Aug. 11. All of the undergrads and a few alumni were bused to South Los Angeles to an industrial warehouse where staff supervised assembly lines to box groceries for the needy. With the addition of 175 or more volunteers, the Food Bank got a jump on their backlog of care package preparations. “Everyone who was at Stead went,” Brother Chan said. “If I remember correctly the numbers were upwards of 40 times what they normally bagged with just their baseline crew.” “When we got there, they broke us down into sections so we had about four different stations, and at every station they had a couple of tables that were pretty long,” Brother Catalan recalled. “You had 18
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people who were across from each other. What we were doing was we were stocking up the boxes. In the boxes we had to fill up two bags. We would throw in apple juice, milk and cereal. We would box that up and give it to the next people. So, it was a really nice experience. I think I vaguely remember bumping into Howard [Brightman]... And I bumped into Josh [Lodolo] about four times. “Before we had access to the bus, they gave us a flyer with some statistics about Feeding America. The people there were telling us about how they did this every day. They showed us a video of families in need that are saying thank you to the people who helped out. It definitely made me want to do stuff like this more. I wish we could do more events like this at the chapter. The warehouse is just amazing.” According to Brother Bascou, “I thought it was very cool because we were able to give back a little bit. They said we were able to do enough work that their workers could do in a week. And we were there for two hours. We boxed somewhere like 6,000 boxes of food for people. To me that just hit home.”
“I found [the Snapchat session] useful for people that didn’t know about it,” Brother Catalan said, but on the downside he added, “The chapter doesn’t have the money [for geotags or geofilters] for rush.” The True Colors of My Chapter session had a big impact on Brother Bascou. “That’s the one that hit the most. What we did was [a group activity] called Cross the Line. Kind of an icebreaker activity. We said different things like, “Were you hazed in your chapter during your associate member process?” And if you were, you would cross the line. If you had a memorable associate member process you would cross the line. If you felt like your big bro and little bro relationship was very memorable, you crossed the line. If you were allowed to wear your letters during your AM process, you crossed the line. If you weren’t allowed to wear letters, you would stay there. That was one of the things that for me hit the hardest. Out of every other chapter in the room with me, they were all allowed to wear their letters and represent Lambda Chi Alpha during their associate member process. I was the only one there on the side that wasn’t allowed to. That icebreaker opened up a lot of dialog and conversation between the different brothers and the chapters and the people leading the group. It was cool to see how what I experienced differed from what other chapters [experienced]. Wearing letters made them feel more like brothers during their AM process. But I can see the reasoning behind not being able to wear the letters.” Brother Catalan took great satisfaction in attending a seminar called Initiation Ritual Mechanics and Performance. “Being such a young person in Lambda Chi Alpha—this is only my second year—yet I’ve taken on two positions. I didn’t recognize this, that outside of Beta-Rho, people were doing things differently. And even though I can’t say specific things about how we do rituals or initiation, it was just great to see how other chapters are doing [them]. It changed my whole mindset. Because when I was going through my initiation process, I didn’t really understand it. I went to my second one [since he was initiated] after this seminar, and then I completely saw initiation, even though it was on the other side, for a completely different thing. Lambda Chi Alpha initiation is something very special.” “The ones where it was a lot of one on one staff talking to brothers from other chapters,” Brother Bascou added. “Being able to learn different things about their experiences. Those were, in my opinion, some of the more productive workshops, about rush, about ritual….” Aside from the workshops, Brother Bascou mentioned a piece of legislation that was brought up on the first night during the Diversity and Inclusion Discussion by one of the speakers, Suzette Walden Cole. “They were speaking about the legislation that was coming in to allow people who are transgender to rush Lambda Chi Alpha.”
Undergraduate Workshops More often than not the trio opted to attend separate workshops to broaden their collective experience of the sessions. Brother Catalan said, “Josh, Collin and I, we kinda played it smart and each day we sent someone early in the morning; the others would sleep in. I attended multiple seminars. At the time I was the recruitment chair. Going to the seminar I knew exactly what I wanted to get out of it. Josh, Collin and I decided to split up to bring multiple [perspectives from the seminars] when we got back. I went to one on recruitment on rush events. I learned a lot about how to get people to rush, how to advertise, how to market [to the right target audience]. “I went to another one that was like a harm reduction seminar.” [It concentrated on, among other things, methods to minimize brothers getting into physical altercations.] In recent semesters the chapter has redirected its outreach on social media from Facebook to Snapchat and Instagram. One of the workshops that piqued Beta-Rho’s entourage was called Effective Use of Snapchat During Recruitment. As Brother Chan described it, “We went over the processes on how to get your chapter a functional Snapchat [link] where it draws the attention of potential new members. You make a community or select group of people to attend to it so that it’s not just one person. We also talked about doing graphic design, what kinds were effective, making stickers and geotags. A geotag is basically a border or filter you can add on to a Snapchat [picture] that you create yourself. For example, for a rush event, we could request and then pay to make a geotag.”
Josh Lodolo BETA-RHO ZETA OF LAMBDA CHI ALPHA INTERNATIONAL FRATERNITY
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Purple, Green & Gold Banquet After the workshops and Foundation Reception wound down, brothers and associate members filled the Palisades Hall for the Purple, Green & Gold Banquet. Beta-Rho’s attendees sat at a side table where, unbeknownst to the rest of the guests, Brother Catalan needed to rush back to his room due to a medical emergency after the main course was served. According to Brother Bascou, “He didn’t even realize. We got the steak, right? It had the sauce on top; it was a mushroom sauce. He didn’t know it was a mushroom sauce. And I looked at him and he distinctly said, ‘I am allergic to mushrooms.’ His throat was getting all swollen.” Brother Catalan continued, “So I had to leave the banquet for most of it. I had to go take care of myself at the dorm. Luckily, I had an EpiPen and I EpiPenned myself.” While Brother Catalan recuperated in his dorm room, Grand High Delta and master of ceremonies Lenny Bendo stepped up to the dais and chimed in with a couple of rousing “good evening brothers and guests.” Then he asked everyone to stand for the U.S. and Canadian national anthems. After some brief remarks, he introduced Brother Lodolo. Brother Lodolo said, “Thank you Lenny, and I can’t believe I’m about to go off-script and say what I’m about to say, which is: undergrads, I encourage you to take your cellphones out for a minute and go to Lambda Chi’s Facebook page. Because Jerre Stead, our speaker, has agreed, and we’re going to actually post this [video feed] out live on our Facebook page. And I’d love all the help we can to get that out Lenny Bendo to the rest of the world. Don’t actually videotape it, but just go to our Facebook page and you can share that. “It really is my honor to introduce tonight’s speaker, Jerre Stead. Jerre was initiated as a brother at Coe College in January of 1962. He transferred to the University of Iowa and graduated from there in 1965. Jerre has served on the board of directors of Lambda Chi’s Educational Foundation since 1998, serving in every office role we have, including chair. Jerre’s career success and leading business enterprises has made him a member of Lambda Chi Alpha’s Order
of Achievement. “Professionally, here are just a few of his many achievements. In March of 2016 Jerre led the merger as CEO of IHS with Markit to create IHSMarkit, a $24 billion research provider, the largest of its kind in the industry. Today Jerre serves as chairman and CEO of the board of IHSMarkit. The company serves more than 50,000 key customers in 140 countries, including 85 percent of the Fortune 500. Jerre began his career in 1965 at Honeywell where he spent 21 years and held a number of executive management positions in the U.S. and Europe. In ’87 he was named president and chief operating officer of Square D Company, a leading manufacturer of electrical distribution and factory automation products. He was later promoted to the company’s chairman, president and CEO. Jerre also has served as a CEO of AT&T Global Business Communications Systems. These are just a few of the eight public companies that Jerre Stead has been chairman and CEO of. “Personally, Jerre’s an Iowa native. He and his amazing wife and partner Mary Joy, who is with us tonight, Mary Joy thank you for being here… Lambda Chi Alpha recognizes Jerre and Mary Joy Stead every summer with this conference, the Stead Leadership Seminar. In fact, this summer, three Stead Leadership Seminars. “…The Stead’s philanthropic impact for their church’s seminaries, university, Center on Ethics, Alzheimer’s research, and tons of other non-profit institutions. This morning, Pete Smithhisler asked us to think about somebody who was the best brother we know. The one I was thinking about was Jerre Stead. Why? Because he is the truest form of servant leader that exists in my 35 years on this planet that I’ve ever met. He serves everyone that he’s a part of and I hope that you will enjoy the remarks that he shares with us tonight. I know I’m looking forward to that. So Jerre, come on up here and impress this group.” Keynote. Jerre Stead shares his information technology expertise during the Purple, Green & Gold Banquet. Opposite page: Beta-Rho attendees Collin Chan, Josh Bascou and Kevin Catalan. Howard Brightman (standing) introduces seven of his fellow UCLA chapter members.
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Jerre Stead’s Keynote Address “It’s great to be here. I want to use an example of what Mary Joy and I do together all over the world. This is our 60th year together, 56 years married. “Small world, that’s what makes Lambda Chi so wonderful. I did a keynote series of speeches in ’93-’94-’95, CEO program at the University of Colorado. I did it with a guy named John Hess…. “The first time I brought Mary Joy out there with me we were walking along the street in Boulder to go to dinner. Mary Joy said, ‘What’s that funny smell?’ I said, ‘That’s Boulder. Actually, that’s marijuana, Mary Joy.’ [Looking at her.] It was the first time I think you ever realized that Boulder might have something like that. It’s now legalized, as you may know. The condo I lived in, which I walked to work from if I’m in town, had to be fumigated three weeks ago because some of my neighbors chose to overdo the marijuana. So I was telling Mary Joy about that. She made me clean all of my suits. I had to take everything to the laundry because she wouldn’t let me bring any of my clothes home to our main home in Scottsdale. So she still doesn’t understand the fragrance or the benefit of things like marijuana. She’s helping me; she coaches me a lot. “What I want to talk about for only ten or fifteen minutes tonight— then I told Josh I’d be happy to open up to questions because that’s where I can try to help you all the most. “I’m so proud to be a Lambda Chi Alpha brother. Very proud of what we’ve been able to do together over the years. What I want to talk about tonight is what I believe Mary Joy and I have been trying to do. We got married right after our freshman year at the University of Iowa. Went through the university together, and moved 23 times around the world. Led eight public companies and done everything we possibly can to help others, including a lot of really good programs where we’ve invested in leadership. We’ve invested in leadership in research; I’ll talk about that in a minute. We’ve invested in leadership in worship and pastors. I’ve been chairman of the Garrett Evangelical Seminary for 14 years. We’ve invested in business research and leadership, and we’ve invested in you all. Because you are what I believe will be the future leaders. You’re the benefit of in my view is the single best group of people that we could possibly be together as Lambda Chi Alpha brothers. And you’re getting an education for what really counts in the future. And we’ve lived with that all the way, Mary Joy and I, from the beginning. “We had no money. We lived on $2,900 a year, and we did great. We were very happy. “It was interesting. At one of the breakout sessions today about preparing yourself after you’re done with education, one of the things we talked about was what should you do to prepare. I’ll tell you
BETA-RHO ZETA OF LAMBDA CHI ALPHA INTERNATIONAL FRATERNITY
what I did: I went through the University of Iowa, got married, worked 40 hours a week, got straight ‘A’s’ and [spent time] at the fraternity. And much of what I enjoy in success is because of the fraternity, and because of what I learned. And what I learned about becoming a leader. And what I learned about what we could do together. “We also set a goal. Mary Joy and I set a goal that if we were ever in a position that we could help others, we’d do it as much as we possibly could. We always tithed the church for ten percent. Today we give away and we’re blessed millions of dollars every year to invest in the future of people, to invest in the way we can make the world better. We invest because we expect to see progress. “So what I want to talk about is what we’ve tried to do. I think about it this way: today I think about us having a dream, all of you. Turning that dream into a vision, and turning that vision into reality. And every one of you can do that. I’ll just give you two examples tonight about what we’ve enjoyed. Remember these words: impossible is an opinion, and possible is only an opinion. So I’m going to give you two, one in business and one in non-profit. “When I led Ingram Micro, went there in 1996, we were an $8 billion company. And I said we were going to be a $30 billion company in four years. Well, we were. Actually we were a $32 billion company. We laid it out, and we worked backwards from the future and said we could do this. We turned that vision into a reality. And we did it because we had fun together. We went from 18,000 people to 80,000 people in four-and-a-half years and created a really great environment and culture in 160 countries.... That was the fastest growing Fortune 50 company in history, probably still is. And it’s because I surrounded myself with great people and spent a hundred percent of my time… helping them be successful. And if there’s one thing I know that works it’s that. “So now I’ll give you a non-profit one that we’re very proud of. My mother had Alzheimer’s. How many of you have been tested with Alzheimer’s? Today most places I speak it’s at least 50 percent or 60 percent. I was a member of the National Alzheimer’s Association. Didn’t feel like they were moving as quick. I wanted to make a big change. So 12 years ago Mary Joy and I started the Alzheimer’s Research Institute, headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. Last year I was blessed to speak in front of the 5,500 researchers around the world that are focused on Alzheimer’s today. I told them how critical it was that they didn’t compete with each other, how critical it was that they could change the world more than anybody else… if they cooperated and worked together…. Today we’re doing a $500 million study that has a 30 to 35 percent probability of success of a vaccine that would put Alzheimer’s behind us. That’s what I believe about a dream, a vision and turning it into reality.
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That’s not a very long period of time. And things can happen like that. Every one of you can do that. I absolutely believe everybody in this room is capable of having a dream, turning that dream into a vision and turning it into great reality of what will turn out to be far greater success than you ever expected. And you’ll have fun doing it. “I tell my people at work: work is play with a purpose. It’s gotta be that way. If it isn’t, find another place. When you’re doing interviews, by the way, make sure the first thing you ask is what are the values of your corporation. And they’ll say, ‘Well, we have them.’ And say, ‘Okay, what are they?’ If they can’t answer that, tell them good, I’m looking for another job. Because values drive great performance. “That’s what Lambda Chi Alpha’s all about. That’s what we’re all about. They really create the very foundation that we live in. “I’ll give you four quick things we do at IHS to make it that way and then I’ll open it up to questions. “One, we treat every person with equal dignity and respect. That’s the best way I can use the golden rule and let it apply to every religion in the world. I’ll tell you how we do that. For example, I’ve never had a contract in the 38 years I’ve been a CEO. I don’t believe in them. CEOs have a contract in case they get fired. I’ve never planned to get fired so I’ve never had a contract. Because that’s a good way of sending a value of treating every person with equal dignity and respect. We have no perks at IHSMarkit. I don’t believe in those. That creates a we/ they structure. So when I think about treating every person with equal dignity and respect, I really mean that. “Number two, operate with a hundred percent trust of every person. I think that’s so critical and we’ve done that forever and ever. I do believe that you need to trust and check in today’s world to make it work. People have said I’ve had 400,000 people over the years Jerre Stead that I have been fortunate enough to lead. People say how many of those have created a problem for you? I could count them, I could name them for you. Because operating in total trust works well. “Number three, facts are friends. Very difficult to get today. I get up early every day, about 3:15. By the way, I have it down to an art. Mary Joy never knows when I get up, including this morning in the hotel, right? [Looks over at her.] Right? [Laughter.] Oh, okay. I was worried; I thought maybe I woke you up! So I get up at 3:15 every morning and do about 20 minutes of exercise first. Then you know what I do? If I’m in the states I turn on CNN for seven minutes, I turn on Fox for seven minutes, and MSNBC for seven minutes. Are any of them right? No. But can I put the three together if I listen to them and get my own opinion? Yes. That’s when I think facts are friends. Because we live in this crazy world today, that it’s hard to sort out reality. Yet it’s so important to do that for yourself. Get good views but you make that decision. “Then fourth, and critical for me, if I had a dollar left or a pound or a yen, I’d spend it on training and development for my team. And I always have and I always will. And that’s the other thing: as you graduate and go on to be great successes, think about 1) the place you go, make sure they’re really serious about providing training and development; and 2) make sure when you become a great success— and I know you all will be—make sure you spend the time 1) constant education for yourself, and 2) constant education for your team. Because that’s what makes the difference. “So those are the four things that we use to drive the behavior to make sure work is play with a purpose. And I think laughter’s an
instant vacation. If you laugh a lot every day, that’s the only way to work…. [He took some questions.] “I’m going to close with just one thing I want to share with you. Here is what I suggest you all do. Say yes to the idea of the impossible. Remember what I said: impossible is an opinion. That’s all it is. There’s nothing impossible if we set out to do it. So say yes to the idea of the impossible. Give up the things you’re comfortable with. We’ve done that forever. Because that’ll help you do things you never thought you could do. Accept gifts of wisdom from strangers. Maybe one of the five most important things you can do, as you’re doing here this week, is learn from strangers. It’s a great way to learn. “Just one example: Mary Joy and I were in church with a very dear friend of ours who runs a lot of the private businesses we have. We were in a Methodist Church in Prescott about a year ago. And a homeless person came in and sat down with us…. Clearly had not bathed in weeks. The collection plate came, and he took his billfold out. Had two dollars in it, gave one to the collection plate. Cheryl, our friend, turned and gave him a $50 bill. That’s about learning from strangers. I mean, he gave half of what he had. We tried to help him take a step forward with it. And it worked by the way because I’ve stayed to watch what’s happened since then. “So, accept gifts of wisdom from strangers. Stand up to be counted. Do what you can do, and never slow it down. There’s nothing that can’t be accomplished if you stand up to be counted. Demand truth, which is one that we work on and I work on forever from yourself and those around you. And then honor those who put their gifts of love, however small, beside yours. And I know you’re all gonna do that. Thank you very much.” Distinguished Service Award Ceremony Brother Lodolo returned to the podium after Jerre Stead concluded and segued to a formal award presentation. “I mentioned that Jerre Stead has served on the board since 1998. He actually has formally rolled off the board as of June 30th. Though I am excited that he has decided to accept a new role, which the Foundation Board created called emeritus director. So next year he’s going to be one of our emeritus directors. There’s something I’d like to do for rolling off of our board. So I’ve got a little gift for you.” As Brother Stead stepped back up to the stage for the ceremony and was recognized for his service, Brother Lodolo continued. “I’m going to give you something, but we need Mary Joy to come up here too,” he said. “The Distinguished Service Award is given to volunteers who do amazing work at the General Fraternity level. To our knowledge, it’s only gone to members. But for the first time, the Grand High Zeta has decided to award Jerre and Mary Joy Stead with the Distinguished Service Award, and I’ll read it. ‘The Lambda Chi Alpha 2017 Award for Distinguished Service: whereas Jerre and Mary Joy Stead have rendered distinguished service to our beloved Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, we recognize their significant contributions of leadership and devotion in advancing our objectives and strengthening our position in the inter-fraternal world. Attested by the authority of the Grand High Zeta and on behalf of the fraternity, Grand High Alpha Fletcher McElreath and Grand High Gamma Pete Smithhisler. So to those members, the Grand High Zeta at this time thank you, Jerre and Mary Joy.” 22
SUMMER / FALL 2017
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