Phil Yang
New Founder Profile: Phil Yang When the Founders were creating Delta Chi in upstate New York, they did so with the belief that “great advantages are to be derived from a brotherhood of college and university men.” A century later, Phil Yang, Abracadabra ’80, is proof of the Founders’ vision played out over the course of a lifetime. Yang has been generous with both his time, even while living in Asia, and his financial resources. He became the Fraternity’s fifth New Founder less than twenty years after graduating from the University of California, Berkeley, a distinction given to brothers with donations totaling at least $100,000. “As I have not been able to give more time, being on another continent, I have chosen to provide a measure of financial support to the Education Foundation. This is far less noble than those who have given hours upon hours so my decision was probably more driven by guilt than anything else. Also, I wanted to follow the footstep of Gene Johnson, Oklahoma State ’58, a great friend of Region II, of my chapter, as he lived in near-by Stockton, and of mine.” Yang said. “Trite as it may sound, I have received much from my Delta Chi experience, it only seems fitting to say thanks in this way. I am humbled by those who balance family and career demands as well as that of the Fraternity.”
In looking at his life in Delta Chi, Yang views his journey in three stages, analogous with banking. In the first stage – making deposits – time invested as chapter officer and alumni advisor are like deposits. The second stage – interest accrual – brotherhood continues to expand and deepen. The third stage – annuity payments – friendships forged over the past 35 years are continuously being enjoyed. “In retirement now, I am reconnecting with those from my chapter over ten years of membership and alumni involvement to 1990, the year I moved to Asia,” Phil said. The short period as alumni advisor
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The lengthy association also gave Yang the opportunity to extend beyond his own chapter, attending regional conferences and international conventions, which he has notched more than a dozen. Through job assignments away from Berkeley, he fondly recalls those in the Minnesota Chapter, the short-lived San Francisco Colony and the Connecticut Chapter. “As those groups welcomed me, I want to tip my hat to brothers from others chapters who spent time advising my own chapter, namely Paul Picciani, Connecticut ’89 and Rod Batongbacal, Hayward ’00. I am glad they also found advisory work fulfilling, though sometimes frustrating.”
Phil Yang
Many might wonder the origin of Abracadabra, as it is the first one off the list of chapters and only one not bearing a college name. During the early 1960s the Abracadabra Fraternity local, whose alumni included Robert Gordon Sproul of Berkeley’s famed Sproul Plaza and Sproul Hall, merged with the California Chapter of Delta Chi; hence, two proud traditions became one.
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was particularly rewarding as Phil remembers that they had excellent undergraduate members in the 1980’s. In a recent trip to California, Phil reconnected with Walt Brown, Cal Walters, Chris Hornbeck, Herb Venegas, and renewed email contact with Rob Main, Bob, Nevin, Steve Westberg, Matt Wertheim, and Dave Roberts. “Of course, I am in touch with many in my era, the ‘founding fathers’ of 1978, not to mention others through Facebook and LinkedIn.”
Recalling a rich and rewarding Delta Chi experience, Yang’s only regret was not having had the Leadership Consultant experience. “Ray Galbreth asked me to apply in 1980 but I opted to go directly to graduate school, knowing that if I had too much fun, flunking grad school afterwards was a real possibility. The Leadership Consultant role would have provided many life-enriching experiences and character building opportunities.”
Yang further commented, “Corporations place a premium on leadership development and reward those who later serve as mentors to young managers. The fraternity model, by design or not, has an inbuilt mechanism to do just that. The inclination to be an advisor may come at any stage. In some ways, it is like a religious experience, some have it and others do not. But, if it feels right, just ‘answer the calling’. For many, once the work and life balance is achieved and career is near auto-pilot, taking your skill set to the undergraduates is a win-win. I personally believe brothers in their mid 30s and beyond are most able to lend a helping hand. While many have involved themselves much earlier, I would just caution against burn out, so pace yourself and let your Delta Chi experience Written by: Aaron Otto “DD”, Kansas State ’98 be a sustained one!” Publications Committee