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Expanding Our Mission
CHARTERINGS
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DELTA KAPPA CHAPTER University of Tennessee-Knoxville
CURRENT EXPANSIONS MUHLENBERG COLLEGE
EXISTING COLONIES OMICRON COLONY* Pennsylvania State University
PI COLONY University of Southern California
TAU COLONY University of Michigan
OMEGA COLONY University of Wisconsin-Madison
ALPHA GAMMA University of Delaware
ALPHA RHO COLONY* Georgia Institute of Technology
BETA THETA COLONY University of Kansas
DELTA RHO COLONY Eastern Kentucky University
DELTA UPSILON University of Tennessee-Martin
If you know a young man attending one of the institutions, recommend him to Phi Kappa Tau by visiting phikappatau.org/join.
If you would like to volunteer with one of Phi Kappa Tau’s colonies, visit phikappatau.org/expansion.
*Approved to charter Spring 2020
CLOSINGS
Beta Iota Chapter, Florida State University
Phi Kappa Tau is committed to offering all of its members a healthy and productive environment to become exemplary members of society and provide and outstanding presence on their campus communities. If a chapter falls below the values and standards of the organization, it is our responsibility to take action. The above chapter was found in violation of our risk management policies.
Mu Chapter, Lawrence University
Due to a decline in recruitment and retention, the
Mu chapter has closed its doors. The Fraternity and the chapter’s Graduate Council are in communication with college administration to determine the best timeline for our return.
Travis Gebert, Texas State ’20, became the 100,000th brother of Phi Kappa Tau at the Gamma Psi initiation in January. Travis, a sophomore marketing major, is from a small-town southeast of Austin. He was drawn to Phi Tau by the chapter’s brotherly environment, along with its determination to represent a good fraternity.
“The idea that 99,999 men came before me in this process is mind blowing and the pride I feel is beyond measure,” he said. “Coming from a smaller chapter in Texas, it’s pretty special to carry this distinction. I’m looking forward to holding other positions within my chapter and experiencing its growth.”
Phi Tau began tracking “milestone” initiations in 1953 with the 20,000th member. Six years later in 1959 was the 25,000th, then the 50,000th in 1979, and finally the 75,000th in 1996. Between 1996-2020, this Fraternity has initiated more members than in our first 47 years. More than half our members have been initiated since 1979 – just 41 years out of nearly a century of history. This reminds us that in many ways, we are still a young organization, and the best is yet to come. Welcome to Phi Tau, Travis!
HUNTER WHITFIELD, GEORGIA ’13 AND SWAIN WHITFIELD, GEORGIA ’85 ATHENS, GEORGIA
Hunter Whitfield, Georgia ’13, is the most recent of the Whitfield men to attend University of Georgia. His father, Swain Whitfield, Georgia ’85, also attended, as did his grandfather. “I grew up going to Georgia football games with my dad, so far back I can’t remember,” Hunter says. Tailgates are a tradition for Beta Xi chapter and this early exposure to Phi Tau is a big part of his connection to the chapter. “For as long as I can remember we would always stop by there and it would be all of my dad’s friends from the Fraternity.”
When Hunter went off to Georgia, he knew he wanted to join a fraternity but wasn’t sure about joining Phi Tau until he ran into two alumni leaving a housing corporation meeting who were a part of the tailgate group. Hunter felt instantly at home. “It’s so impressive that after 30-35 years, these guys still come back to Athens for games, Fraternity events and trips. That’s really what brought me to the Fraternity is seeing that aspect of it. Like they say it’s not just four years, it’s a lifetime.”
Today he has his own group of chapter brothers that tailgate, right next to his dad’s group. “It’s really cool to have two generations of guys tailgating together; guys in their 50s and guys in their 20s.” Phi Tau has been a part of Hunter’s life for many years and he wouldn’t have it any other way.
The 1995 edition of The Laurel “Dads
Who Diaper” focused similarly on Phi Tau dads. It highlighted ten fathers and concentrated on the changing landscape of parenthood through the new opportunities presented by the accessibility of the internet and how the increase of women in the workforce was shifting traditional family dynamics. Dads in this feature discuss taking on more parenting responsibility, working from home, and how fatherhood changes with age. Read this excerpt on Don Maston, Ohio ’84, and his experience as a primary caregiver to the right:
Jake Elling, Illinois ’18, with his dad at the game.
ZETA CHAPTER UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
Every fall “Dad's Weekend” is an event sponsored by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It’s an opportunity for dads to come to campus, get a tour, attend a football game, and hang out with their kids in their new phase of life. The university has great events like a tailgate and brunch, but it’s up to individuals and groups to make the weekend special. The Zeta chapter at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign teamed up with Alpha Omicron Pi and Alpha Epsilon Phi sororities last November to host a memorable weekend for the dads.
On Friday night most students go out to eat with their dads, but the Zeta house organized a dinner for those who do not.
They had bonfires, smores, and a cookout while the dads settled in and caught up. Saturday morning, they woke up to serve breakfast before heading to the game. The 2019 Dad’s Weekend was held the same weekend as the Illinois vs. Rutgers game, which ended in a home team victory. Those who did not have tickets to the game stayed at the house and cooked again, toured campus, or attended other university-sponsored events. Saturday evening, they returned to the chapter house to play games and hang out before saying farewell Sunday morning. Well done to Zeta chapter for making your dads feel so welcome on campus.
PHI TAU LEGACY CAMPING TRIP
DELTA TAU’S ANNUAL FATHER-CHILD TRIP
Brian Smith, Cal Poly Pomona ’91, has always loved camping, so when his sons were born, he knew it was an experience he wanted to share with them.
The idea for an alumni camping trip came in 2017. Smith had taken both his sons camping before, his older son twice and his younger son once, and thought that if it was such a valuable experience for them, surely it would be for other members as well. A few alumni had chatted about the idea before, and since 2017 was the 60th anniversary of Delta Tau’s founding, the timing was perfect.
Planning began in February and the first weekend in August was selected as a date. From mountains, to deserts, to beaches, Southern California has no shortage of beautiful camping spots, but the planning committee quickly learned that state beaches booked up too fast, and the desert was ruled out for a summer trip. One brother suggested Malibu Beach RV Park, a privately-owned location with campsites overlooking the Pacific Ocean. They booked it for the first year, and the location has proven to be so great they will be returning for the fourth time this August.
The name, “The Annual Phi Tau Legacy Camping Trip,” was chosen so it was clear this is an experience to share with legacies, but daughters would always be included. The trip is dads-only, but Smith shares that this has become a popular “weekend off” for the moms and wives, many of whom take it as an opportunity to go on their own girls-trip.
Once the camping spots are booked, Smith sends an email to the chapter to promote the trip and list who has already committed to attending. The first trip had eight dads and 14 kids; last year they were up to 13 dads and 23 kids. This year they hope for an even bigger turnout. For some, this is their only opportunity to reconnect with chapter brothers. Many alumni live too far away or are too busy to attend Founders Day or Brotherhood Night (another Delta Tau tradition, held around Christmas), but they can plan on attending the summer trip. They have members from the 1991 initiate class attend all the way through the mid-2000s. They ask dads to only bring their kids once they are old enough, so some dads of 1 and 2-year-olds are chomping at the bit until they can attend.
The kids play while Delta Tau dads set up camp.
Guests arrive Friday afternoon and dads set up camp while their kids play. There’s lots to do – cornhole, frisbee, and pushing each other around in wheelbarrows. For dinner Friday, they plan a huge, family-style meal, where everyone sits down and enjoys being present with each other. The rest of the time they cook hot dogs, burgers, barbeque, and sandwiches.
Saturday is beach day. Kids build sandcastles, play in the water, boogie board, and play frisbee and football. When the kids are exhausted and hit the tents, the dads reminisce about their chapter days and talk about their kids interests. “It’s a great time to catch up and have fun,” Smith says. “When we’re there, at some point we talk to our kids about why this group is together, so they’ll start to understand what the Fraternity is, what it means to have ‘brothers’ for life, and why it’s important to have those people in your life. My two sons really look forward to the trip each year.”
Sunday, they pack up and clean the camp site before saying goodbye. Planning an annual event with so many moving parts is no easy feat, but Smith and the Delta Tau’s have got a good grip on it. They’re already looking forward to next year’s camping trip and this wonderful tradition of brotherhood and family.
Content submitted by Brian Smith, Cal Poly-Pomona ‘91
1. Plan early and get the word out early and often.
2. If it’s an annual event, pick a weekend and stick to it so everyone knows when it will be (ex: first week of August).
3. Find three-to-five key guys you know will commit and get it booked. Then send out announcements about who has already committed. This shows people that it’s more than just an idea – it’s actually going to happen.
4. Message your group at least once a month leading up to the event to keep generating interest.
5. Use a Google Drive Spreadsheet for listing attendees, kids’ ages, and other planning info. Share this link with your attendees in follow-up emails so they have access to the details.
6. As it gets closer, figure out with those who have already committed if you’re planning meals individually or as a group, and who needs to bring what.
7. Make sure the kids get to know each other by bringing games or toys they can enjoy as a group. Cornhole is a great option because you can play it with the other dads too.
8. Take lots of pictures.
9. Bring sunscreen.
10. Talk to your kids about why you’re all together, what a Fraternity is, and what it means to have friends or “brothers” for life. Answer any questions they may have.
11. During your trip, start to chat about next year’s trip. Get input on locations and firm up the date, even if that means keeping everything the same.
12. Honor any curfews the campsite has and clean up when you leave.
13. After the trip send a recap email or message to all members, not just those who attended. This helps people feel connected and generate excitement for future trips. If you know the date of the next trip, announce it then.
LES FUGATE
Les Fugate, Centre ’99, has started a new role as Vice President and Director, State and Local Government Relations at Brown-Forman, one of the largest American-owned spirits and wine companies. Fugate comes to this role after years in public relations and shares with us his background, as well as how his relationship with his daughter, Kensington, has changed his life.
• Tell us about your career: I started my career as the Director of Alumni and Annual Giving for the Kentucky Governor’s Scholars Program. In that position I met Trey Grayson. A year and a half later Trey was elected Secretary of State for Kentucky and asked if I would be his communications director. Following my time there, I took a position as the Executive Vice President and COO of the Center for Rural Development in Somerset, KY. After that, I created Fugate Strategic Affairs, a consulting firm. My latest opportunity came about when my old mentor called me to ask if I would be interested in the position at Brown-Forman. After an extensive process, I was lucky enough to be chosen.
• What are you most excited about in your new role? This company is family controlled and you can feel it in the way they behave. For instance, the company has an employee resource group for individuals who do not drink. It’s incredible a wine and spirits company would make non-consumers of their product feel so welcome. It speaks volumes about them and makes me excited to go out and represent this company.
• How has your time with Phi Tau influenced your life professionally and personally? Phi Tau was incredibly meaningful for me as an undergraduate, many important leadership experiences were taught within the Delta chapter. My big brother used to say the chapter was a “microcosm of the real world” – he couldn’t have been more correct. Navigating issues within the chapter made me a much stronger leader today. To this day, my best friends are Phi Taus. The example of how I expect men to behave both personally and professionally are set by Phi Taus, that is important to me now with an 8-year old daughter.
• How has fatherhood changed your life? My work life is designed around being a part of her life. I schedule myself so that we can ride to school together and I go into the office early. Everyone knows that I will shut things down so that I can pick her up, eat with her, and work on homework. Of course, I get back on the phone and computer after all of that, but I have more balance thanks to her. Role modeling is much more important to me now. That is why Phi Tau is so important, Phi Tau developed some incredible men who I believe are worthy to be in my child’s life. That is not something I take lightly.
• What aspects of fatherhood were surprising or unexpected? I’m surprised how much I want to be in her life all of the time. I am smitten with her. She is my best buddy and she has given me great perspective. Kensington has made me a better person to be around because I am not working constantly.
• Has fatherhood had a role or impact on your professional life? I approach things different as a father. I look at social responsibility in such a different way. Additionally, I pay much more attention to the challenges that women face in the workplace thanks to my daughter. I want her to be judged on her intellect and ability and nothing else. I see the world from her eyes more than just my own.
Thank you, Les, for sharing with us!
