FALL 2023
THE
AUBURN PHI
Official Newsletter of the Alabama Beta Chapter of Phi Delta Theta at Auburn University
PRESIDENT’S LETTER
F
riendship, Sound Learning, and Rectitude. These three things may not mean much to many people, but they mean everything to the brothers of Alabama Beta. These three principles were brought to this campus by our Fraternity in 1879, and they still stand firm 145 years later. Being an Auburn Phi is nothing short of an honor for all of us, and carrying on the legacy and principles of The Bond for all these years is what makes this chapter so unique. To say Alabama Beta is thriving would be an understatement. This past summer, our chapter was recognized by Phi Delta General Headquarters and the Live Like Lou Foundation for our chapter’s excellence over the past year. At the General Convention and the
Kleberg Emerging Leaders Institute, our chapter was recognized for the following: Excellence in Recruitment, Excellence in New Member Retention, Excellence in Philanthropy, Biggers Excellence in Ritual, a Gold Star Chapter Award, Triple Crown Award, Iron Phi Chapter, and runner up for the prestigious Oxford Trophy, which recognizes Phi Delta Theta’s best chapter at a large institution. Although this recognition for success is awarded to the brothers, our support system, including the chapter advisory board, house corporation, and parents club, makes this all possible. Over the summer, I realized that we are blessed to have such an excellent support system willing to help us in any capacity they can, which you do not
see in many other chapters across the country. This is something unique to Auburn Phis, and while the faces in our chapter may change, the principles on which it was founded are eternally the same. Through recruitment chairman Davis Ashcraft’s 2521 leadership this summer, we recruited forty-seven new Phikeias into the chapter, who will turn into great brothers soon. During the fall, Caleb Trull 2474 spent countless hours with the Phikeias during their education period to help mold them into Auburn men and instill the three Cardinal Principles that will serve as a compass for the rest of their lives. The last part of their Phikeia education process was completed in November when they participated in a service project outside
of Dothan, Alabama, for a family affected by ALS. We cannot wait to see what the future holds for these young men and know they will be great leaders in the chapter, on campus, and in their future communities beyond Auburn. We look forward to welcoming them into the brotherhood when they are initiated on January 14, 2024, at the Auburn University Chapel. All initiated brothers of Phi Delta Theta are invited to attend. While our chapter is excelling internally, many brothers have represented Continued on page 4
HOUSE CORPORATION UPDATE
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he house corporation is currently focusing on interior improvements. Over the summer, the dining and living room wood floors were sanded and stained. The black and white tiles in the foyer and back halls were stripped and resurfaced. We had significant expenses for maintenance and repairs of HVAC
units, the ice machine, and the kitchen vent hood. We had to rebuild the soda dispenser cabinet in the dining room, and we added two wall cabinets in that area. We are repairing electrical issues at our exterior lights that illuminate the masonry sign and adding LED energy-saving fixtures to the two light posts illuminating the lower parking lot and basketball court.
We completed the picnic table installation at the old bocce court; it has been put to good use at gameday tailgates. At our annual board meeting on October 28, we approved several projects to be added as soon as possible. These include the addition of a second hutch in the alumni room and a Continued on page 2
BUCK MARSH DIGITAL HISTORY MUSEUM UPDATE
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or over three years, the alumni history committee has done work to build a digital history museum of Alabama Beta. The seven-member committee, Frank Feagin 1255, John Hornsby 1434, Booth Malone 1392, Marvin Thomas, Emory ’67, Nick Aiesi 2563, JR Wright 1560, and David Kennedy 1566, has finally seen the first iteration of this museum, which is now in the final editing stage in preparation for all to see. The museum is dedicated to the memory of Buck Marsh 884, who dedicated so much of his time and talent to Alabama Beta over the years. With the help of the Phi Delta Theta Foundation, a donation fund was created and now has over $74,000, which is to be used for the historical preservation of the chapter and leadership scholarships for the young men of Alabama Beta. After phase one of the Buck Marsh Digital History Museum, the committee
The purpose of The Buck Marsh Scholarship is to promote Leadership within the
Alabama Beta chapter and to help create a Digital History Museum highlighting Alabama Beta’s wonderful heritage and legacy. Ways to give:
• Buck Marsh Memorial Scholarship Website, https://bit.ly/BuckMarshFund • Send a check to the Phi Delta Theta Foundation, 2 South Campus Avenue, Oxford, OH 45056, be sure to indicate in the memo “Buck Marsh Memorial.” • Contribute stocks or other appreciated securities:
HOUSE CORPORATION UPDATE: Cont. from page 1 large entertainment-style hutch in the dining room with LED fixtures. foyer that will house the Buck Marsh Barring any major repair expenses Digital History Museum; this hutch will during the summer of 2024, we intend also serve as a trophy case. to replace the black and white tile We are adding exterior cabinets to floors in-kind and add an illuminated house trash cans at the outdoor patio sword and shield and Greek letters and the upper parking lot entrance. to the east-facing exterior wall at We will add a 60″ ceiling fan under the the patio. We will also complete the outdoor kitchen pavilion. We continue installation of midnight green shutters to replace the original interior can for all exterior windows. lights in the living room/alumni room/ The house corporation remains 2
Auburn Phi » Fall 2023
$100K
plans to enter into the museum’s next step: preserve the many composites in a high-resolution digital format that will eventually be displayed in the house on a large screen monitor. The house corporation approved the purchase of this monitor in their October meeting, and we expect that by sometime next year, we will have a display of the Digital Museum with our digitally preserved composites in the house. Many thanks to everyone who has worked hard to make this project a reality. Special thanks to Phi Delta Theta Advancement Officer Landon Killion, Tim Hunt 1570, and Robert Miller 1921 for their assistance, the history committee members of Alabama Beta, and the many donors who have made this possible. Tax-exempt donations to the Buck Marsh Memorial Fund can be made at https://bit.ly/BuckMarshFund.
BUCK MARSH SCHOLARSHIP MATCHING OPPORTUNITY Brother Jimmy Webb, 1509, has graciously offered to match all donations to The Buck Marsh Scholarship, dollar for dollar, up to $ 5,000. This is an excellent opportunity to move closer to our fundraising goal of $ 100,000. We have received donations from 68 donors, totaling nearly $75,000. Once we reach out goal an endowed scholarship will be created and our young leaders will benefit tremendously from your support.
GOAL $90,000 $80,000 $75,000 $70,000 $60,000 $50,000 $40,000 $30,000 $20,000 $10,000 $0
visit this website to learn more: https://phideltatheta.org/foundation/ how-to-give/ or contact Landon Killion, LKillion@phideltatheta.org. • Employer match: Once you’ve donated, don’t forget to look into your employer’s matching gift policy. • Qualified charitable distributions are also encouraged. Please watch a short video from Buck Marsh https://bit.ly/3RxGJXS.
ambitious in support of our great chapter; please continue to donate to your alumni club of choice or join a club today! YITB and WDE, Malcolm Marsh 1519 House Corporation President
Alabama Beta
FALL INITIATES Andrew Dennis, Mountain Brook, AL Brayden Wiliiams, Auburn, AL Brooks Booth, Raleigh, NC* Carter Hartman, Atlanta, GA Chase Gibney, Mobile, AL Chase Rose, Vestavia Hills, AL Colin Farley, Atlanta, GA Cunningham Copeland, Mobile, AL* David Taylor, Daphne, AL Dominic Considine, Houston, TX Drew Powell, Atlanta, GA Elijah Hayslip, Auburn, AL Graham Cooper, Mountain Brook, AL* Grayson Zoghby, Mobile, AL Hampton House, Charlotte, NC Jacob Grant, Auburn, AL
Jacob Avery, Peachtree City, GA Johnny Kerns, Hoover, AL Kane Harris, Spainish Fort, AL* Luke Milam, Atlanta, GA Matthew Hedge, Mobile, AL Oliver Largue, Mobile, AL Oliver Salter, Mountain Brook, AL Paul Mayson, Mobile, AL* Steven Beatty, Mobile, AL* T.J. Riezinger, Boca Raton, FL Thomas Robinson, Atlanta, GA* Aiden Weller, Charlotte, NC Charlie Wilson, Auburn, AL Chris Welther, Basking Ridge, NJ Drew Guy, Auburn, AL Jack Pitt, Auburn, AL
Jacob Larkin, Auburn, AL Mason DiBon, Pittsburgh, PA Max Jensen, Atlanta, GA Preson Daily, Jackson, MS* Thomas Joyce, Boston, MA Aryan Patel, Mobile, AL* Andrew Schell, Memphis, TN Ben Coggins, Wilmington, NC Blaine Metzger, Fairhope, AL Dillon Kelly, Ramsey, NJ* Garin Stiefel, Haddonfield, NJ Gavin Cramer, Alexandria, VA George Pelekis, Mountain Brook, AL Hank Crye, Seaside, FL Josh Holston, Mobile, AL *Legacy
CHAPTER ADVISORY BOARD UPDATE 2023 CHAPTER
I
t has been an outstanding fall semester at Alabama Beta. The social calendar has been full. I have seen many parents and alumni at our pre-game tailgates. The back patio has been at capacity for most of our tailgates. Alabama Beta has a great group of Phikeia. Pledge education is over. The chapter started with forty-seven and ended with the same. Initiation will take place on January 14, 2024, at Auburn University Chapel. Alumni are invited to attend. Under previous leadership, the chapter won the following awards: from the university, Auburn IFC Grant C. Davis Outstanding Advisor Award, and from General Headquarters, Iron Phi Chapter (raising nearly $14k for the
phideltauburn.com
Live Like Lou Foundation, first time in Alabama Beta history), inaugural Live Like Lou Foundation Triple Crown Chapter, Best House Improvement Award, Samuel V. Stone Outstanding Adviser of the Year, Excellence in Philanthropy Award, Hayward S. Biggers Excellence in Ritual Award, Excellence in New Member Retention Award, Oxford Trophy runner-up (first time in Alabama Beta history), and Gold Star Chapter Excellence Award. I will truly miss working with this outstanding executive group. Dwight Bassett 1644 Chapter Advisory Board Chairman
AWARDS Auburn University
Auburn IFC Grant C. Davis Outstanding Advisor Award: Dwight Bassett
Phi Delta Theta Fraternity General Headquarters Iron Phi Chapter Inaugural Live Like Lou Foundation Triple Crown Chapter Best House Improvement Award Samuel V. Stone Outstanding Adviser of the Year: Dwight Bassett Oxford Trophy (runner-up) Gold Star Chapter Excellence Award Excellence in Philanthropy Award Hayward S. Biggers Excellence in Ritual Award Excellence in New Member Retention Award
Auburn Phi » Fall 2023
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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
PRESIDENT’S LETTER: Cont. from page 1 us on campus in their respective organizations. Brothers have been involved on-campus in the Financial Management Association, Student Government Association, Beta Alpha Psi, Omicron Delta Kappa, Freshman Forum, UPC, and IFC Cabinet this semester. Several brothers have also been involved as peer tutors, supplemental instructors, and learning assistants in their respective schools. Brothers Wilson Thrift 2554 and Sam Stokley 2475 are finalizing their terms as director of philanthropy and director of spiritual life in the IFC Cabinet, respectively. As we move into the new year, over twenty brothers have applied to participate in next year’s IFC Cabinet. As we progress as a chapter, one of our biggest goals is to increase our representation on campus, and we are excited to keep building in this area. This fall, our chapter held the first-ever combined Alumni–Parents Weekend. We believe this was
beneficial, as many of our parents could meet the group of brothers who support us on every front. We would like to thank everyone who attended this great event, and we look forward to having it again next year. We would also like to thank Chapter Adviser Dwight Bassett 1644 for all his continued support and dedication to our chapter. He has been there every step of the way over the past year, and we cherish his leadership. We would also like to thank House Corporation Members Malcolm Marsh 1519, Bud Powada 1547, Tim Hunt 1570, Russell Cunningham 1938, and Robert Miller 1921 for their dedication to the chapter through their respective roles. The new executive committee is set to meet with the chapter advisory board and house corporation in February for our annual strategic planning meeting. The chapter would also like to thank our previous executive committee for their service to the chapter over the past year. We worked very well together as a group, allowing us to be
efficient and effective with our daily operations. I would like to thank Past President Will Banks 2482, who made many sacrifices to be the best leader he could be for our chapter and campus. Will exemplified the qualities of a natural leader and led us through obstacles we did not think we could overcome. We will miss Will as he graduates and look forward to cheering him on in future endeavors. To close, I could not be more excited to serve this next year as president of this great Fraternity. This chapter has given me more than I could have ever imagined, which would not be possible without the 150 brothers standing beside me. Serving this chapter is one of the greatest honors of my life, and I will give it my all to make Alabama Beta one of the best chapters of Auburn University and Phi Delta Theta. War Eagle! Proud to be Phi! Blake Adams 2538 Chapter President