The Bridge Builder, Winter 2011

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The Bridge Builder

Vol. II, Issue 3

In this issue…

Meet the Exec Board

A Word From Our President John Jackson ’13, President It is hard to believe that the spring semester is already half over. It seems like just last week we were moving back into the dorms from winter break. But, if you take a minute and think back to everything that has occurred since we returned to school these past eight weeks or so we have accomplished a lot.

To begin the semester the executive team attended the Keystone Leadership Conference. A special thanks goes to Counselor Ric Eickhoff, Exec team advisor Kathleen Dean, Ritual Advisor Peter Poznako, District Chief and Treasury Advisor Joe Chinnici and our assigned chapter mentor Michael Hay, from Eastern Kentucky, for helping the team in strategizing and goal setting. I was very impressed with how well everyone worked together and was able to constructively analyze the chapter atmosphere to make sure

we are doing everything right in this spring semester.

Also all Eta Epsilon alums will be proud to know that two other alumni attended Keystone.

It was great to have our very own Joel Mullner facilitating the member education track. This shows how we truly have the best brothers helping us learn about the history and lore of this fraternity.

Kyle Sobh ’10 also attended as Case Western Reserve University’s recruitment advisor.

Upon our return from Keystone we had a social organized by Spencer German ‘13. He organized one of the best ways to watch the Superbowl, with fraternity brothers on a big screen T.V. with the ladies from KKG. Looking forward the chapter is

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Betas Abroad

Privileges of becoming a chapter 4 5

Ask a Beta

Alumni of the Quarter 6 “Developing Men of Principle…”

working on Greek Week activities, as well as fundraising for the chapter. Also, the annual Spring Formal is on the minds of many brothers, coming up April 2. Before all of that we are excited to invite our mothers for the annual Mothers’ Tea on March 27.

To close, I cannot express enough how honored I am to be the President of Beta at JCU. In my first weeks in office the support I received from my exec team, fellow brothers, and advisors has been amazing. I am excited to see what the rest of the semester brings.

American Cancer Society: Relay For Life This spring John Carroll will host its fifth annual American Cancer Society event, Relay For Life. The event takes place from 1pm Saturday, April 30th to 7am on Sunday.

Information on this year’s event, including day of event activities, can be found at www.relayforlife.org/jcu. Orders for Luminaria to honor or remember a loved one and donations to the Beta team can also be placed via that website.

Beta is again one of the many campus organizations participating in this event. This year’s team, led by Risk Manager Benedek Toth, has set a fundraising goal of $1,000.00.

All local survivors are also welcomed to attend the event and participate in the celebratory Survivors Lap.

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Meet our new Executive Board On Wednesday, December 1st of last semester the membership of Eta Epsilon elected a new Executive Board.

The newly elected Eta Epsilon Executive Board at Keystone Leadership Conference.

John Jackson ’13 was appointed President over the nine-man board. Jackson led his first chapter meeting on December 5th and also became the official representative of the JCU Betas to the General Convention, the Chapter Presidents Leadership Academy and our Chapter advisory team.

Daniel Imfeld ’13 was elected Vice President and charged with overseeing those members appointed to the 11 positions that make up the Cabinet Committee, currently the Alumni Relations Chair, Brotherhood Chair, Chorister, Greek Week Representatives, Housing Chair, Leadership Development Chair, Public Relations Chair, Service/Philanthropy Chair, Social Chair and the Fundraising Chair.

Christopher Saniuk ’12 was elected Treasurer and placed in charge of planning and executing Beta’s budget. Joel Baker ’14 was named Eta Epsilon’s Secretary and subsequently became responsible with the very important task of coordinating the submission of applications for the various awards that the General Fraternity bestows on chapters each year.

The award winning Risk Management Policy of Eta Epsilon was placed in the capable hands of Benedek Toth ’14. Kenneth Clar ’14 assumed the position of Recruitment Chair and henceforth was charged with executing Beta’s 365-day recruitment system and overseeing each semester’s formal and informal recruitment periods. Assisting the Recruitment Chair is freshman Troy Murphy.

Gregory Sloat ’12, Member Educator, now conducts the new member education program. Christopher Shaheen ’12 will assist Sloat in teaching the history and principles of Beta. Brian Pestotnik ’12, Ritual Chair, shadowed by Michael Moccia ‘14, leads and protects all rituals of the fraternity including our most recent ritual ceremony, The Big Brother Ceremony. Finally, Benjamin Rossi ’13, was elected Scholarship Chair, a position requiring the maintenance of an Academic Assistance Plan and the dissemination of the annual Men of Principle Scholarships.

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Betas Abroad Bill Worms ‘12

Andy Lane • • • •

Bill Worms

Pittsburgh, PA Junior Accounting Internship o Cleveland

Andy is currently doing an internship with Deloitte and Touche, LLP, which is one of the “Big Four” public accounting firms in the world, in Cleveland. He is the former President of Beta, and led the colony in receiving our charter. He is actively involved in various campus activities, and when attending school works in the Admissions Office as a tour guide.

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Bill is currently doing an internship with Deloitte and Touche, LLP in New York City. He is the former Assistant Recruitment Chair and Scholarship Chair of Beta. He is actively involved in various campus activities including the Interfraternity Council, Order of Omega, and Spring Concert Committee. He is an accounting major with big plans.

Dom Iacozili • • • •

Warren, OH Junior Economics Study Abroad o Rome, Italy

Dom is currently studying abroad in Rome, Italy at American University. He joined as a transfer student from OSU in the spring of 2010. He is pursuing a major in economics and is looking to graduate in May 2012. He works at Nordstrom while attending John Carroll, and wants to pursue real estate after school.

Pittsburgh, PA Junior Accounting Internship o New York City

Rich Mazzola • • • •

Parma Hts., OH Sophomore Accounting Study Abroad o London, UK

Rich is currently studying abroad with the Boler School of Business’s program in London. He is pursuing a major in accounting. He is a member of the Epsilon pledge class, and lives off campus while attending Carroll. He is actively involved in Student Union, serving as senator, and plans to graduate in May 2013.

JCU Betas pride themselves in being well-rounded individuals, not solely focused on the fraternity, but demonstrating care for their campus and community. In addition to the many services Betas provide by completing 15 hours of service per member per semester, and the dedication they show to their studies, the above are just a few of the ways Eta Epsilon is helping to spread the Beta name and reputation worldwide.

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The Bridge Builder

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Through the Eyes of a Child Through the Eyes of a Child, this year held on Saturday, December 4, 2010, is an annual Christmas themed event that Beta cosponsors with fellow campus organization Circle K International.

child’s favorite part, a visit to Santa and Mrs. Claus. Each

child received a gift they had previously requested.

Circle K works to develop the university’s students “into responsible citizens and leaders with a lifelong commitment to serving the children of the world.”

Under the leadership of Greg Sloat ’12, the chair of the Beta committee that oversaw the event, over 100 students were paired with an area child.

Together they spent the day making crafts, Christmas cards, ornaments and snowflakes.

The event culminated in each

(Counter-clockwise from top right) Brother ‘elves’ around Santa & Mrs. Claus after distributing gifts; Marco Frabotta at one of the decorating stations; more of Santa’s helpers pictured with Sloat & Clar; students looking on as a girl opens her gift.

The privileges of becoming a chapter John Carroll University (JCU) recognizes chapters differently than colonies. Now that the JCU Colony of Beta has become the Eta Epsilon Chapter, we have extended to us an additional privilege by the university.

Activities by Spencer German ’13, John Jackson ’13, Andy Lane ’12, Trenton Oczypok ’13, and Andrew Vogel ’11, Eta Epsilon will join the other Greek organizations on campus that have a private wing.

JCU does not allow Greek organizations to have houses off campus, so they give to those chapters that apply for it, a private wing of one of the residence halls.

The Beta floor, which will go into existence in fall 2011, will be on the third floor of Hamlin Hall. Hamlin, named after Richard Hamlin, JCU Class of 1949, is one of the newer housing facilities JCU offers – built in 1988. Housing Chair Oczypok reports that the floor will have “a side lounge where

Thanks to a proposal pushed through the Office of Residence Life and the Office of Student

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brothers can hold chapter meetings, study sessions, and of course relax!”

All rising Beta sophomores will live on the floor; effective fall 2012, all nine executive officers will also be required to reside on the floor.

Oczypok is excited Beta is finally able to have their own floor. He hopes, “the floor will be a place where brotherhood can continue to flourish, memories can be made and the Greek life at John Carroll will grow together.”

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Ask a Beta Q: What is the Beta Leadership Fund? How can I make a donation to it?

joined 1,033 undergraduates nationwide in supporting this crucial fund.

A: The Beta Leadership Fund (BLF) was designed to finance some very important components of Beta. For example, the Men of Principle Scholarship Grants, which are awarded by chapters nationwide, are funded through the BLF.

The fundraising goal of the BLF for 2011 is $925,000. At the time of publication $575,869 had been raised.

The BLF also funds the awardwinning leadership programs of the fraternity. The Keystone Leadership Conference, recently attended by our executive board, and the Wooden Institute, named after the late basketball coach John Wooden, are some examples.

Funding provided by the BLF is also used to train volunteers and send leadership consultants to chapters across the nation and Canada.

Alumni Luncheon

Eta Epsilon is again stepping up to the plate and working hard to get every member to donate and help the general fraternity meet their goal of having 1,500 undergraduate supporters this year.

Donations from parents, Friends of Beta, and other supporters are being accepted via the fraternity’s website: www.betathetapi.org.

To have your question answered in the next newsletter, send your enquiry to: news@jcubetas.org.

In 2010, by joining the Sons of the Dragon Club with their donation of $18.39, some members of Eta Epsilon

Brothers Jon McCandless and Chris Saniuk represented Eta Epsilon at the 90th annual Northeastern Ohio Beta Alumni Luncheon.

Saniuk, pictured above giving Eta Epsilon’s chapter report, said he “enjoyed talking to the alumni and hearing what Beta was like for them. It was great to see how interested they were in us (John Carroll) and Case.”

Keystone Leadership Conference The Keystone Leadership Conference is designed to develop the executive officers of a chapter through principled leadership training and operational lessons. Attendees learned how to lead their chapter and worked on goal setting with their executive team. The members of Eta Epsilon’s Executive Board attended their region’s conference this year in Lisle, Illinois on the weekend of February 4th.

Member educator Greg Sloat felt that “the weekend was really focused on Beta’s Vision, Mission, and Values.” Sloat described a meeting that briefed those in attendance on the future of the fraternity. This he said “gives me confidence that our exec board is on board with AO [the Beta Administrative Office] and is ready to take on the challenges of achieving our Vision, Mission and Values head on.”

Ritual Chair Brian Pestotnik, returning to the executive board after serving a term as Treasurer in 2009, believes The Keystone Regional Conference was a very beneficial and enlightening experience. Pestotnik “thoroughly enjoyed the ritual track and gained a deeper understanding and great appreciation of the ritual.”

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an energizing & developmental experience - Greg Sloat

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Vol. II, Issue 3

Alumni of the Quarter: Richard Griffin, Ohio University ‘65 Steve Fedyk ’12, Alumni Relations Chair

Richard Griffin, Ohio University ’65 is currently a Senior Vice President at Fintegra, a financial firm providing investment and insurance services in Mayfield Heights, Ohio.

Immediately when Jon McCandless and I walked into his office, we could see that he had an interesting story to tell. On his wall he had photos of many famous sports celebrities; the most interesting one being Arnold Palmer. He met him through the connections he made during his career.

Griffin even shared a story of meeting Bill Gates before he founded Microsoft at a Las Vegas business convention.

who exemplifies all the qualities of a model Beta. His time as an undergrad at Ohio University taught him the golden rule in which he has lived his life by: ‘do unto others as you would have them do to you.’

In the past, Griffin has served as the District Chief for our coveted Fraternity, the Regional Director and even President of the 153rd General Convention.

He said he tries to live by these words daily and that being part of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity has reaffirmed the value this rule carries in his life. Griffin said that he “couldn’t have chosen a better fraternity.”

He is also a Convention veteran, having attended 17 General Conventions. Such lifelong dedication to a fraternal organization speaks for the character of its members and the ideals that we, the undergraduates, have to live up to.

Today Griffin’s best friends are Betas. His two sons who are Beta Alumni graduated from Auburn University and Syracuse University.

Editor’s Note: We are thankful to Richard “Dick” Griffin for giving of his time and wisdom by coming to speak at one of our chapter meetings in November 2010.

Griffin is truly a Man of Principle Mutual Assistance

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Intellectual Growth

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Trust

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Responsible Conduct

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Integrity

John Jackson ‘13 President Daniel Imfeld ‘13 Vice President Joel Baker ‘14 Secretary Christopher Saniuk ‘12 Treasurer Benjamin Szweda ‘12 Public Relations Chair Want to GO BETA? Know someone who does? Visit www.jcubetas.org/recruitment for information on joining our ranks as part of the Theta Class!