The Ohio Gamma Gazette, Fall 2023

OHIO GAMMA GAZETTE THE

INTRODUCING THE TOM SHOEMAKER MEMORIAL HOUSE IMPROVEMENT FUND

As evidenced by Roland Winzer’s 1193 heartfelt tribute, Tom Shoemaker 1192 had a giving heart for many worthwhile causes during his amazing life. One of those projects was our housing initiative for Ohio Gamma. Over the past four years, Tom became the lead donor in securing the permanent financing for the chapter house.

In my many interactions with Tom, he was steadfast in wanting to ensure that we had a chapter house and that it be cared for, well-maintained, and improved so that it was a home that our members could proudly display. In addition to his final donation that put us over the top in our financing project, Tom also seeded a maintenance, repair, and improvement fund for $5,000.

Upon learning of this, Bruce Dacre 1201, a fellow era brother of Tom’s,

TOM SHOEMAKER IN COELO QUEIS EST

suggested we honor Tom permanently by naming this fund in his honor and memory. Bruce also made the first donation, with several other brothers following.

Therefore, we are now announcing the full rollout of the Tom Shoemaker Memorial House Improvement Fund to our alumni. We wish for this to be the primary purpose of all alumni donations so that we can all realize Tom’s vision. It is our intention, unless otherwise directed by the donating brother, to use our alumni donations exclusively for this purpose. At the same time, the tenant rents and chapter parlor fees fund the monthly operating needs of the house. We have many multiple ways to give. Donating brothers are also encouraged, if they desire, to earmark specific projects that Scott Long outlines in his update in this issue. We also plan to

use the recurrent donations we receive from the monthly donation program that twenty-two current brothers participate in. We administer this program through Square®, and it only requires a $10.00 per month minimum commitment. We only need your name, email address, amount, and preferred billing date per month, and we will push a donation invoice to you.

Thank you all for your generous donations thus far. We hope to honor Tom’s legacy through this program.

Yours in the Bond,

Brian Bastock 1657 House Corporation Treasurer Bbastock33@gmail.com 440.212.3153

Brother Tom Shoemaker, ’61, entered the Chapter Grand on February 1, 2023. Tom’s pledge brother, Roland Winzer, ’62, wrote the following tribute.

Tom Shoemaker was one of my pledge brothers in the Ohio Gamma 1960 pledge class. He had already served in the military, so he joined our pledge class as an older, more experienced, and mature pledge than the other eight. Although Tom seldom spoke about his abilities, he was always supportive and ‘hands-on’ regarding our chapter’s projects, and Tom worked hard on those projects that he felt would enhance and elevate the status of our chapter.

Tom was an extremely successful businessman who owned a series of Holiday Inns in Central and Southern Ohio. Once, when I overnighted in one of his hotels and had breakfast that Sunday morning, I discovered that Tom Shoemaker had a weekly Sunday morning ‘heavily discounted’ breakfast for the local senior citizens. As wealthy and successful as he was, Tom Shoemaker walked around to every table with a coffee pot in his hand and spent time at each table

Continued on page 4

PRESIDENT’S LETTER READY TO MEET THE CHALLENGES AHEAD BY SETTING AGGRESSIVE GOALS

As we begin the 2023 academic year, the chapter faces its fair share of challenges, including boosting our membership engagement, navigating a lower point in Greek life popularity, and building an improved financial budgeting and control process. I am here to say we are up to the challenges.

Continued on page 4

Official Newsletter of the Ohio Gamma Chapter of Phi Delta Theta at Ohio University

ALUMNI PROFILE

DAN SEMSEL 1690

Tell us what brought you to Ohio University and how you came to join Phi Delta Theta.

OU was an easy call for me. I was a townie. My father was on the faculty, so it made OU a fiscal decision. Most of my friends from high school also went to OU.

Joining Phi Delta Theta was a longer journey. My big brother, Shawn Caldwell 1665, was also in Air Force ROTC and had been trying to get me to pledge for two years. I finally decided to attend Spring Rush in 1986, hoping he would stop bugging me. The funny part was that I surprised myself and enjoyed meeting the active members. Phi Delta Theta was much more laid back than I expected from a fraternity. I felt very comfortable and accepted the bid. I was initiated in the fall of 1986.

What were some of your fondest memories of Phi Delta Theta, and what role did it play in your future?

I have a lot of great memories, but I think being the goalie for the Phi Delta Theta Ice Buffoons Broomball Team had to be up there. There’s nothing like going to Bird Arena at 0100 to play an intramural sport on the ice while wearing athletic shoes.

The most critical role that Phi Delta Theta played for me was helping me realize you can connect with people from all walks of life to accomplish a mission. At Phi Delt, we were usually among the best at philanthropic efforts and were recognized for that. We also faced challenges, such as losing our leased house. That could have doomed our brotherhood but we persevered.

What motivated you to make a vocation in the US Air Force? What were some of your most exciting assignments over your career?

I joined the Air Force to honor my four-year commitment to being an AFROTC cadet. My original intent was to do my four years and get out to pursue a career in the private sector. But things have a way of changing, and I found that I had a knack for military service and leadership. After my deployment to Operation Desert Storm, I knew I wanted

to make the Air Force my profession. I retired as a colonel after twenty-five years of service in 2013.

Over that time, I had twelve assignments and five deployments: four to the Middle East and one to Central and South America, so it’s hard to single anything out. I had a nonstandard career, so I spent a lot of time working with the other services and deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom with the Army’s 1st Cavalry doing combat convoy operations. I was a recovery team lead at the Pentagon on 9/11 during my assignment to Andrews Air Force Base, and that horrific day shaped everything that came afterward for me. Camp Smith, Hawaii, was the most pleasant location, and my final squadron command at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, was my favorite assignment.

Tell us how you got into marathon running, ultramarathons, and Iron Man competitions. What was the motivation, and what have you accomplished in this area?

I was diagnosed with cancer in 2001 and underwent surgery and radiation. When the cancer returned in 2002, I had a second major surgery on my neck. My co-worker challenged me to run the Honolulu Marathon with him a year after I came out of the ICU. I have finished seventy-four marathons and thirty-three ultramarathons, including eight 100-mile races.

I am dealing with physical challenges from my military service, so I cannot run like I used to, but I can swim and bike, so I have decided to shift into triathlons to keep my competitive fire burning. My mantra is “Stronger than cancer, faster than fear!”

Following a remarkable military career, what are you doing today, and why did you get into that field?

I spent the first decade after retiring from the military finding ways to support my fellow veterans. I developed a program within Goodwill to get veterans off the streets and back to work. I developed workforce training programs for employers who want to recruit and retain veteran employee talent, focusing on

translating military skills into civilian terminology. In my last role, I helped veterans navigate the VA disability claims process and provided emergency financial assistance to veterans in need. September 2023 marks my retirement in this role.

In October, I start a new role in strategic planning for Destination Marathons, providing VIP travel experiences for runners at some of the more desired races in the world, such as Boston, Tokyo, London, and Berlin.

Tell us about your family and any other hobbies and interests besides your training.

I am married and have two daughters. My oldest teaches fifth through twelfth-grade band and my youngest works in marketing for Syracuse University.

My other main hobby is high-stakes fantasy baseball. I won the 2013 National Fantasy Baseball Championship and remain addicted to baseball (go Cubs!). I am a season ticket holder with the Dayton Dragons, so I can see a lot of the young talent in the Reds’ system before they make it to the major leagues.

What has Phi Delta Theta meant to you, and what advice do you have for our current undergraduates?

Phi Delta Theta means brotherhood, hands down. The bonds we make follow us later in life. I’m still in touch with many brothers from my time at OU and enjoy catching up at every opportunity.

I would advise the current members to remember that it’s worth seizing every moment. Sometimes, the smallest of actions can trigger an amazing fountain of potential.

CHAPTER HOUSE MAINTENANCE, REPAIR, AND FUTURE NEEDS

We are pleased to report that we have improved the house’s physical structure again this year. That is our goal every year, but last year’s bat remediation and air conditioning projects ($20,000 total cost) left our coffers reeling.

Our newly formed Shoemaker Maintenance Fund and the Square monthly donation program have enabled us to undertake multiple projects. These donation programs have been essential in our efforts to improve and maintain our home. Some of the completed projects include:

• Freshened proctor suite with new lighting, paint, and wood laminate flooring

• New chandelier light in the foyer

• Fresh paint on the inside front stairwell

• Addition of a safety fence along the property to prevent accidental falls

Gutter cleaning and water runoff remediation

• New bathroom vanity

• Installation of a security wall near the basement triple room to section off the supply room from the bedroom

• Three new commodes and one new shower Front door replacement

• Necessary maintenance and repair projects completed included:

• Bathroom water leak remediation

• New exit signs and improved lighting on each floor

• Replacement of two sets of decaying porch steps, front and side

• Two areas of ceiling drywall were replaced due to the aforementioned bathroom leaks

We organized a large summer work party which proved to be successful. We cleared out the accumulated clutter and junk furniture by filling a dumpster with the trash and donated

HOMECOMING 2023 SCHEDULE

Friday, October 6, 6:00 p.m. 14 Hocking/59 N. Congress (House TBD)

Saturday, October 7, 2023

PhiHop at 8:00 a.m., 28 N. College St.

Cooking breakfast food on the front porch. Proceeds go to Live Like Lou.

usable items to Goodwill. Thanks to the hard work of the housing corporation and several undergraduates, we now have a much cleaner living space. We intend to hold these one or more work parties each summer. We are pleased to announce that we successfully passed three required inspections from insurance, Athens Code Enforcement, and Ohio University.

We are always forward-looking for improvements we’d like to make. The Shoemaker Fund and the monthly donor program will be used exclusively for repairs and improvements.

Here are ten of the most pressing projects on our list, not listed in any specific order. We will proceed on each item once we raise the amount necessary. Named donations will go to that project, and unspecified contributions will go to the general fund, where the house corporation and chapter will jointly decide priority.

1. Front Porch Rehab: The porch requires a complete overhaul despite its serviceability and unsightliness. Due to estimated cost, fundraising should start immediately—$50,000.

2. Exterior Security Camera Installation: This has been a chapter request for many years—$3,000.

3. Siding: Cosmetic issues always improve respect for the house and may even improve recruitment—$2,500.

4. Parking Lot: Remove the tree stump and add stone to level up to the driveway. The stump is a nuisance for smaller cars and the water runoff from the shared driveway has caused a mini trench on our side—estimated cost: $4,000.

5. Living Room Furniture: This End Up has sturdy and solid classic wood furniture that can withstand Phi Delt’s use. We plan to

purchase three to four couches, which cost about $1,000 each, and a few captain’s chairs, which are about $800 apiece. The best feature is that they can be quickly recovered at a fraction of the original cost, eliminating the need for new furniture every few years.

6. Breakfast Bar. We’d like to mount a breakfast bar outside against the kitchen wall—cost: $600.

7. Basement Security Doors: The current doors need replacement soon. We plan to replace two with crash bars for safety and security—$1,500 each.

8. Replace Basement Triple Bedroom

Flooring: Based on the results of the renovated proctor’s suite, we want to do the same for the large basement bedroom. The new flooring would eliminates the need to clean or replace the carpet—$2,200.

9. First Floor Shower Replacement: The stand-up shower surround is now stained and unsightly beyond cleaning. It’s lower on the priority list because it’s still functional, but we’d like to start considering replacing it—$2,000.

10. Miscellaneous Amenities: TV/movie projector for living room with mounted shelf and screen: $500. Sofa table for foyer: $300. Personal bathroom cabinets: $800.

Thank you for your consideration. With everyone’s involvement, we can truly make a Castle on College!

Yours in the Bond, Scott Long 1742 House Corporation President

REFER A PHI!

Cookout at noon, 28 N. College St.

Food on grill at 12:30 p.m.

Football game at 3:30 p.m. Peden Stadium

Ohio vs. Kent State

Know any young men who would be great Phis? Refer them here: phideltatheta.org/join/refer-someone/. Then, send them to our Greatest U recruitment campaign: futurephidelt.org.

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chatting with each senior, often on a very personal basis. And each person seemed to know Tom well and spoke to him as if he were their son. The warmth in that room that those senior citizens exuded toward their server that morning was both touching and memorable.

Tom donated a considerable amount of money to the Ohio University School of Business for the express purpose of helping financially challenged students earn a degree at Ohio University. He donated vast sums to Ohio University and the Phi Delta Theta Foundation. Most of us would learn of his generosity from other sources but not Tom himself.

When my younger sister died of cancer, I received a letter from Tom Shoemaker sometime later, indicating that he had donated money to a children’s treatment program in North Carolina in my sister’s name. Such was the nature of Tom Shoemaker; he was a true force of nature, and he always seemed to keep his persona somewhere hidden in the background. I am so glad that I was a lifelong friend of Tom’s. His passing will continue to be felt by all who knew him.

PRESIDENT’S LETTER: continued from page 1

Address Service Requested

We made great strides in the spring of 2023 as we collectively raised $2,000 for the Live Like Lou Foundation via our outstanding philanthropy chairman, Brother Evan Lenox. We also saw a boost in recruiting numbers, as nine members joined the chapter. Five came from official IFC recruitment, and the other four came from an informal second rush. Also, the chapter earned the Silver Star Award for Outstanding Chapter Excellence from General Headquarters, which is a wonderful compliment to the great work the chapter accomplished last semester.

Looking towards this semester, I believe the chapter will rise to the occasion and blow all expectations out of the water. Vice President Jake Ratliff 2122, Treasurer Will Sandifer 2135, and I laid out some goals for the chapter. We are targeting a Phikeia class of thirty men or more for the fall term; we currently have a list of over forty potential new members (PNMs) before IFC recruitment week officially starts.

Another thing that we are challenging the chapter is to raise $4,000 for the Live Like Lou Foundation this semester, and we have new inspiration to do so. The Iron Phi Foundation recently announced the start of a new program called Iron Phi Rivalries. Our Iron Phi Rival is Ohio Mu at Ashland University, and we will be competing for a traveling trophy to see which chapter can raise more money for Live Like Lou, serving as motivation to raise more and more philanthropy dollars than we have been in the past.

The last goal we have set for the chapter is our GPA. Last semester, we ranked third in the IFC with a chapter GPA of 3.06,

and this coming semester, we are challenging the chapter to achieve a 3.20 GPA and possibly even lead the IFC, hopefully ranking first overall with our GPA.

If you ever have any questions about the state of the chapter or wish to visit at any time, feel free to contact me (330-979-7932, ), Jake Ratliff (513-804-8910, phideltouvp@gmail.com), or Secretary Josh Senefeld (513-592-9095, phideltoucorrespondingsecretary@gmail.com).

Yours in the Bond,

Seth Totten 2124 Chapter President totten.seth@gmail.com, phideltoupresident@gmail.com

Ohio Gamma Chapter of Phi Delta Theta 2 South Campus Avenue Oxford, Ohio 45056

Seth Totten 2124, Josh Senefeld 2156, Charlie Resch 2156, and Judson Jones 2159 at the 2023 Kleberg Emerging Leaders Institute in Oxford, Ohio