The Auburn Phi, Fall 2022 by Phi Delta Theta

FALL 2022

THE

AUBURN PHI

Official Newsletter of the Alabama Beta Chapter of Phi Delta Theta at Auburn University

HOUSE CORPORATION UPDATE

any thanks to outgoing President Zane Springer 2441 and the executive committee for a great year! We trust incoming President Will Banks 2482 and the new executives will continue making Alabama Beta the best it can be. The house is in great shape, and the chapter is making good use of the basketball court that was recently installed on the resurfaced lower parking lot. The HC held its annual meeting on October 28; our financials are in good shape and cash flow has been improved by use of our $50K Line of Credit from the Palmer Foundation. We intend to limit use of the LOC and we

will continue to budget for repairs and improvements from rental revenue and alumni donations. Our priorities for 2023 include the addition of plantation shutters to the windows on the front façade and replacement of interior recessed can lights with LED fixtures. The original shutters were lost to termites years ago and many of the existing can lights are in poor shape. Priorities beyond these include the addition of a second hutch in the alumni room to house a proper library, a trophy case, better interior furnishings, and some targeted art installations. Our next significant improvement will be to remove the old bocce court (located downhill from the rear patio)

and replace it with a putting green and two separate seating areas with in-ground steel picnic tables covered with sailcloth sunshades. The job is out for bid. To finance this, we will approach the parents club about donations that our three alumni clubs will match. As soon as the project is funded, we will commence construction. The HC remains ambitious in support of our great chapter; please continue to donate to your alumni club of choice or join a club today! Yours in the Bond, Malcolm Marsh 1519 House Corporation President

PRESIDENT’S LETTER

hroughout the past year, spirits have been higher than ever at Alabama Beta. The chapter has seen growth as it has never seen before. From freshmen to seniors, every brother has taken pride in being an Auburn Phi and worked together to strengthen this great brotherhood. On that note, our chapter’s improvements have not gone unnoticed. This past August, at the Kleberg Emerging Leaders Institute in Oxford, Ohio, the chapter was awarded the General Headquarters Award and recognized for its excellence in recruitment and new member retention. While every chapter member has worked hard for growth at Auburn, none of it would be possible without the unwavering support from the chapter advisory board, house corporation, and parents club members. Our Chapter

Adviser Dwight Bassett 1644 has been an exceptional resource for the executive committee and the Alabama Beta Chapter. This past fall, Brother Ryan Patel 2478 worked diligently to recruit thirty-eight Phikeias. In addition, Brother Tyler Noles 2439 rose to the occasion during the Phikeia education process this fall. While the education process was primarily focused on Phi Delta Theta itself, our Phikeias also learned what it means to be respectable college men as they made the difficult transition to life on their own at Auburn. Our new members knew what it means to step out of the Auburn community and serve people whose life is not as easy as ours. In November, they continued our work with a family affected by ALS in Dothan, Alabama. During their day of

service, they worked hard on various projects to make this family’s life a little bit better than they found it. We cannot wait to initiate them as brothers on January 15, 2023. While we have fostered lots of internal growth, our brothers have also made great strides in increasing their involvement on campus. We have brothers involved not only as student recruiters and workers but also in organizations such as Freshman Forum, IFC Cabinet, SGA Cabinet, Omicron Delta Kappa, Cardinal Key, and many more. Brother Jake Darling 2436 is nearing the end of this term as Continued on page 4

BUCK MARSH DIGITAL HISTORY MUSEUM

or several years there has been an interest in preserving our chapter history and especially our composites in a digital format. Toward this goal, we found a company called History IT that specializes in collegiate Greek history preservation. They offer several levels of conservation, the first being a basic digital museum. Earlier this year, Alabama Beta signed an agreement with History IT to help us construct a basic digital museum for the chapter. With the passing of our beloved brother Buck Marsh, ’48, a faithful member of the ‘greatest generation’ who dedicated so much of his life to the chapter, it only made sense

that the new digital history museum should be dedicated and named in his honor— the Buck Marsh Digital History Museum. Working with General Headquarters, a memorial donation web page was created to provide funding for both a digital museum and a chapter leadership fund. The initial goal of the donation effort is $100,000, and we are now over halfway there. A five-member history committee consisting of Booth Malone 1392, Marvin Thomas, Emory ’67, John Hornsby 1434, J. R. Wright 1560, and David Kennedy was formed and met twice in October to prepare for the digital museum. Over the past

year, a timeline of chapter history was created, and an inventory was made of our historical artifacts and photographs. The museum will also use portions of a 2021 video interview with Buck. This digital preservation and the composites will eventually be displayed in the house with a wall-mounted large-screen digital display to showcase our chapter’s great history. We hope to have the basic digital museum ready for the fall of next year. To support the fund, please visit https:// phide.lt/BuckMarshFund.

J.R. Wright receives Booth Malone Brother of the Year Award

Reunion attendees

Yours in the Bond, David Kennedy 1566

CHAPTER ADVISORY BOARD UPDATE

he Alabama Beta fall semester at Auburn has been eventful. I am pleased to report that the chapter is in good condition. The house corporation has done a great job with the house. The chapter is financially stable, the actives are doing well academically, and they are involved on campus and in philanthropy. Including the Phikeias, we have about 125 dues-paying members. The chapter had another fine pledge class. Ryan Patel and the recruitment committee did a great job. The strategy was quality over quantity. The chapter pledged forty Phikeias, and thirty-eight finished the five-week pledge period. Most of the young men are from Mobile, Birmingham, Atlanta, and a smattering from Florida. Some of them are involved in SGA, Onward, Sporting Clubs, etc. We have a total of four 2

Auburn Phi » Fall 2022

legacies in the pledge class. They are Ford Turnipseed, Thomas Foster, Brooks Roberts, and Jackson Achimon. The Phikeias will be initiated in January after grades have been reviewed. The date is January 15. I’m sure that the ‘five-week pledge period’ got your attention. Phi Delta Theta General Headquarters has mandated a reduced Phikeia education period. Auburn University also supports a condensed timeline. The idea is to minimize risk. Phi Delta Theta and Auburn University have zero tolerance for hazing, and I am proud that Phikeia Educator Tyler Noles and his staff did not allow any form of hazing. The parents club has rescheduled the next Parents Weekend for April 14, 2023. A golf outing and cocktail party are planned. Meredith Hatfield and Annabelle Robinette are running the

parents club. I am proud to announce that new officers have been elected. It’s bittersweet to see the executive group turnover. The new executive group is Will Banks, president; Ryan Patel, vice president; Payne Thrift 2461, secretary; Michael Hawkins 2505, treasurer; Blake Adams 2538, warden; Caleb Trull 2474, Phikeia educator; Davis Ashcraft 2521, recruitment chairman; Aubrey Wall 2490, social chairman; and Colledge Elliot 2516, house manager. The house corporation has been busy. The parking lot has been repaved, and a full-court basketball Continued on page 4 Alabama Beta

JOE TONSMEIRE LEADERSHIP AWARD

t the November 16 chapter meeting, William (Will) W. Banks 2482 of Atlanta, was recognized as the 2022 recipient of The Joe Tonsmeire Leadership Award. Will has proven himself a leader while serving on the executive committee as house manager, but more importantly has proven himself a caring and reliable brother. These qualities could be partially due to his father and grandfather being Phis. The award included a scholarship in the amount of $3,000. The Joe Tonsmeire Leadership Award was created in memory of Joe Tonsmeire 1434, a tireless leader of the Auburn University Chapter of Phi Delta Theta during the challenging times of the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights era. Joe was a success in the many roles he played in life, including being a rancher, backcountry outfitter, adventurer, businessman, and developer, as well as the more

critical roles of husband, father, son, brother, and friend in the best sense of the word. The other finalists for the award included Zane Springer (Pike Road, Alabama); Payne Thrift (Charlotte, North Carolina); Sam Stokley 2475 (Fairhope, Alabama); Edward Robinette 2489 (Atlanta, Georgia); Max Jackson 2495 (Sylacauga, Alabama); Alex Peck 2496 (Braselton, Georgia); and Harrison Hitson 2476, Michael Hawkins, and Graham Matthews 2525, all of Birmingham, Alabama. The Nominating Committee included John Hornsby 1434 (Birmingham, Alabama) serving as chairman and Dr. Greg Harris 1558 (Auburn, Alabama), Ken Stephens 1521 (Tampa, Florida), and Frank ‘Bud’ Powada 1547 (Seguin, Texas). The honoree is ultimately chosen each year by the Trustees of The Phi Delta Theta Foundation (Oxford, Ohio), which

exists to strengthen men for life by building on the tradition of Phi Delta Theta’s core values of Friendship, Sound Learning, and Rectitude.

MEET OUR NEWEST MEMBERS 2022 FALL PHIKEIA CLASS Andrew Thomason, Mountain Brook, AL Brooks Roberts, Mobile, AL Caleb Harwell, Vestavia Hills, AL Cameron MacRae, Mobile, AL Carson Rowe, Fairhope, AL Conner Johnston, Winter Park, FL Ford Turnipseed, Mobile, AL Garrison Gilmore, Fairhope, AL Grant Grigaitis, Rochester, NY HW Briggs, Atlanta, GA Jack Fry, Atlanta, GA Jack Sims, Mobile, AL

ABOUT US

The Auburn Phi is published two times per year by the Alabama Beta Chapter of Phi Delta Theta at Auburn University for alumni and parents. ©Copyright 2022 Alabama Beta. All rights reserved. Send news, address updates and photos to: Alabama Beta Chapter of Phi Delta Theta, 2 South Campus Avenue, Oxford, Ohio 45056. STAY UP-TO-DATE /phideltauburn @PhiDeltAuburn phideltauburn.com

Jackson Achimon, Gulf Shores, AL James Hamblen , Memphis, TN Jeremiah Varner, Sylacauga, AL Kase McElwee, Cartersville, GA Landon Reichert, Boca Raton, FL Mark Soper, Peachtree City, GA Mason Sloan, Orlando, FL Matthew Jones, Mobile, AL Matthew Sabatini, Trussville, AL Max Fly, Augusta, GA Max Johnston, Mobile, AL Michael Arruebarrena, New Orleans, LA phideltauburn.com CHAPTER ADVISORY BOARD Dwight Bassett, Chairman Ray Briscuso, Secretary Gregory Harris John Hornsby Donald Jackson Charles Maynard Annette Robinette Ken Stephens ALUMNI COUNCIL Jimmy Webb, Chairman

Miller Waid, Boca Raton, FL Mit Patel, Gulf Shores, AL Nick Aiesi, Greenville, SC Nick Newton, Atlanta, GA Parker Cameron, Jupiter, FL Porter Sanders, Mobile, AL Thomas Foster, Mountain Brook, AL Toby Norman, Spanish Fort, AL Tyler Walker, Fairhope, AL Walker Boswell, Atlanta, GA Walker Greene, Atlanta, GA William Lavender, Atlanta, GA Wilson Thrift, Charlotte, NC

Zachary Lightfoot, Vestavia Hills, AL

William Boyt William Busbin Robert Corrigan Jr. David Kennedy Andrew Kwanteng Michael Ramsey Mike Rogers J. R. Wright

Blake Adams, Warden Caleb Trull, Phikeia Educator Davis Ashcraft, Recruitment Chairman Aubrey Wall, Social Chairman Colledge Elliott, Steward

CHAPTER OFFICERS Will Banks, President Ryan Patel Vice President Payne Thrift, Secretary Michael Hawkins, Treasurer

Initiation is scheduled for January 15, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at the Auburn University Chapel. There will be a reception to follow tentatively at the Legacy at Cary Creek Clubhouse until 6:00 p.m. There will be a catered lunch and all parents and alumni are welcome to attend.

HOUSE CORPORATION Malcolm Marsh III, President Frank ‘Bud’ Powada, Secretary Robert Miller, Treasurer Russell Cunningham Tim Hunt

Auburn Phi » Fall 2022

CAB UPDATE: Continued from page 2 court was constructed. It looks outstanding, and it gets much use. The chapter is planning a campus basketball tournament this spring. The Annual Planning Meeting will take place on January 14, 2023. The chapter advisory board, house corporation, alumni board, and chapter executive group will meet to discuss strategic issues. The theme of this year’s meeting is ‘Building Leaders.’ Several alumni and university officials have told us we need more involvement on campus. There are several scholarships available to send brothers to leadership conferences and education. Buck Marsh emphasized the importance of leadership. The Alabama Beta Alumni Council is raising money for an Alabama Beta digital history archive and a scholarship for leadership education. Both are named for Buck Marsh. Please consider a gift to honor Buck’s legacy at Alabama Beta. The donation page is https://phide. lt/BuckMarshFund.

PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #248 DAYTON, OH Alabama Beta Chapter of Phi Delta Theta 2 South Campus Avenue Oxford, Ohio 45056 Address Service Requested

Dwight Bassett 1644 CAB Chairman PRESIDENT’S LETTER: Continued from page 1 SGA treasurer. The chapter has also increased its efforts in philanthropy over the past year. Brother Reilly Gilbert and his committee worked tirelessly over the past two semesters in many creative ways to raise donations for ALS and the Live Like Lou Foundation. One of our most successful philanthropy events was our spring crawfish boil, where we raised over $1000 for Live Like Lou. Reilly has continued raffling inspired items during chapter meetings, such as Yeti coolers and gift cards, to grow donations for ALS. As things start to wind down after football here in Auburn, the chapter plans a philanthropy basketball tournament and cook-off this spring. The chapter has also made headway on breaking the stigma around men’s mental health in Greek life over the past year. As an executive committee and chapter, we are making it a priority over the next year to come up with creative ideas to use university

resources to get our brothers talking about these issues. The main goal will be to provide education on these issues and allow every brother to have their voice heard during these tough conversations. Throughout the past term, the executive committee worked together to solve problems and improve the chapter proactively. I was honored to serve as house manager this past year, and honestly, it changed my perspective on the Fraternity. When I began my term, I did not see myself serving outside the house manager’s capacity. Still, I quickly realized that being on the executive committee is about providing leadership. I am very thankful for Zane Springer, past president, who showed me how to carry my weight as a role model, ultimately motivating me to run for president. One of the main themes Zane stressed to us this past year was perseverance. When we had some challenging and confusing weeks full

of debate, we had to learn to pick our heads up and keep going instead of giving up. This is the central theme I want the executive committee and the chapter to carry into this year. Perseverance is one of the strongest words we can live by as we continue to grow our brotherhood and chapter to those around us. In closing, I cannot express how blessed I am to be serving as president for this coming year. Every member of Alabama Beta has changed my life over the past three years, so it is my personal goal to do what I can to change the lives of those who may follow me. As I become immersed in my new role, I will continue to stress the importance of working together in the spirit of this great fraternity so that we can continue our journey to becoming one of Phi Delta Theta’s best chapters. Will Banks 2482 Chapter President