THE • PI • KAPPA • PHI • FRATERNITY
O M E GA
80 FOUNDED 1 9 2 2
Omegalite SEPTEMBER 2002
Omega of Pi Kappa Phi, Inc. Housing Corporation P.O. Box 2700 West Lafayette, IN 47996-2700 Chapter web address: www.expert.cc. purdue.edu/~pikapps (includes alumni info) Corporation Officers JAY SEEGER PRESIDENT 3817 Old Farm Road Lafayette, IN 47905 765/742-4529, work 765/474-1986, home jay@seeger-forbes.com
BRANDT HERSHMAN VICE PRESIDENT 7429 North 200 East Wheatfield, IN 46392 219/843-2000, home 219/583-9819, work 801/791-5779, fax bhersh2000@aol.com STEVE BOHNER TREASURER 194 Twin Springs Ct. Carmel, IN 46234 317/846-3008, home 317/844-2250, work 317/844-2296, fax steve@langdonan company.com PAT KUHNLE SECRETARY 720 Chelsea Road W. Lafayette, IN 47906 765/743-1111 ext. 205, work 765/743-6087, fax 765/743-1256, home pkuhnle@purdue exponent.org
PURDUE UNIVERSITY
Last call for 80th! Your last chance to celebrate Omega’s 80th birthday is fast approaching! Enthusiasm is building for a fun-filled Sept. 28 as the Purdue football team will be facing Minnesota at 5 p.m. in the newly renovated Ross-Ade Stadium. The keystone event – a luncheon banquet – for Omega alumni will start at noon at a reception at University Inn, 3001 Northwestern Ave., West Lafayette. It will be followed by the food and an 80th anniversary program at 1 p.m. The luncheon reservation deadline is Sept. 15. The cost is $18 per person. Make checks payable to “Omega of Pi Kappa Phi” P.O. Box 2700, West Lafayette, IN 47996. The football ticket ordering deadline has
Omega alumni sing “The Rose” at the 75th anniversary banquet in 1997.
passed, but we have a limited number of extras. Contact Pat Kuhnle at pkuhnle@purdueexponent.org or at 765/743-1111 ext. 205 for availability. We also have a limited number of hotel rooms available at the University Inn as part of our banquet reservation. Contact the hotel directly at 765/4635511 and tell them you are with Pi Kappa Phi alumni. For other hotel information and availability contact the Lafayette Convention and Visitor’s Bureau at 800/609-0098 (availability updated regularly). The Pi Kappa Phi schedule on the Sept. 28 homecoming day will be as follows: 10 TO11:30 A.M. • Open house at the chapter house, 330 N. Grant St. NOON TO 1 P.M. • Cash bar and alumni reception at University Inn, 3001 Northwestern Ave. 1 TO 3 P.M. • Luncheon banquet at University Inn (in the same room as the reception/cash bar. 5 P.M. • Purdue vs. Minnesota in Ross-Ade Stadium. DEADLINE • Sept. 15 is the deadline for the luncheon banquet reservations. The cost
is $18 per person and payment can be made to Omega of Pi Kappa Phi, P.O. Box 2700, West Lafayette, IN 47996. Omega alumni who have already made Sept. 28 reservations (as of 8/27): 429 Ken Wark 438 Donald McFee 449 Jack Powers 479 W. Ramsay Brown 490 David Peggs 520 Al Kirchner 584 Robert Roth 603 Walter Golden 613 Donald Katter 622 David Everts 630 Ronald Eyer 707 James Crudge 720 Warren Cline 722 Jack Berlien 723 Bob Sills 724 Mike Ohaver 814 Dennis Dayton 819 Jim Berlien 852 Kim Tubergen 863 Rikard Hill 897 Jay Seeger 947 Mark DeFabis 948 Douglas Kunnemann 970 David Sterenfeld 1077 Steve Bohner 1197 Pat Kuhnle 1262 Mark Nigh 1354 Scott Patton 1419 Craig Bohbrink 1423 John Reidelbach 1443 Dustin Zufall 1494 Gary Fischer
OMEGALITE
SEPTEMBER 2002
PURDUE UNIVERSITY
Lane challenges chapters, alumni at inaugural speech On the cusp of Pi Kappa Phi’s 100th anniversary in 2004, new national president David Lane used his inaugural speech to paint two completely different scenarios. Lane (Omega Initiate 835) took the oath of office as national president during the Aug. 2-7 Supreme Chapter in Washington, D.C. He will lead the national council of the fraternity into its second century in 2004 in the second year of a twoyear term. Lane’s speech, which addressed the 48th Supreme Chapter, was given to nearly 600 initiated brothers, some spouses and his blood brother (an initiate in the Iowa State chapter). He outlined two visions for the national organization. “There is one I savor which is a bright, spectacular future,” Lane said. “Any way you look at it, it’s quite an honor (to be national president.” Part of that bright future would be “to use this as a catalyst to get alumni involved in many ways. We have admittedly not focused on alumni like we should have.” There has been a move within the national fraternity to get 2,004 alumni volunteers by our centennial year in 2004. Each chapter will have a Board of Alumni Advisors that includes at least a chapter, financial and academic advisor. Ideally, all chapter officers would have an alumnus mentor. On a regional basis there would be city event coordinators, regional governors (who would supervise other volunteers) and district counselors (who would work with chapter advisors). Other alumni may be involved in chapter strategic planning, city or regional alumni gatherings. Lane called the other alternative “dark and foreboding.” “We are in effect one risk management event from non-existence,” he said. He said undergraduate risk
Phil Leslie is presented the 2001-02 “Archon of the Year” award from new national president David Lane at the August Supreme Chapter in Washington, D.C. Leslie graduated in May after serving three terms as archon. Lane started his term as national president at the conclusion of the Supreme Chapter. management cases may have civil or criminal consequences that could include enormous monetary liability. “That is a vision that no one can find acceptable,” Lane said. “If we do not have local alumni support, every chapter runs the risk – and it almost becomes inevitable – to have a chapter closed down. “The legal environment as it exists now, if you don’t want to pay attention to risk management, then we will be history.” He said that the national organi-
zation has to work with local alumni to increase involvement for the long-term good of both. Lane’s experience with the national council started decades ago as national chancellor (attorney). He served in that capacity for 10 years before leaving the council. He came back in 2000 as vice president and president-elect. Lane is a Washington, DC-area, attorney and lives in McLean, Va. with his wife, Mary Beth.
OMEGALITE
SEPTEMBER 2002
PURDUE UNIVERSITY
New national president longs for payback calls During his first speech as national president at the 2002 Supreme Chapter, David Lane fondly recalled his Omega undergraduate days. Lane said he was a pledge from 1967 to 1968 – a fact that his pledge brothers would never let him forget. Lane was an engineering coop student. At that time, the Pi Kappa Phi chapter at Purdue was one of the longest pledge programs. Because pledgeship crossed semesters, Lane kept coming back to campus before completing his induction. His pledge class was initiated long before Lane. “All my pledge brothers came to me and said they would take care of me (during his extended pledgeship),” he said. “They must have forgotten what they told me because later they told me that I didn’t ‘have the attitude consistent with pledgeship.’ ” Lane (Omega No. 835) recalled an instance with pledge brother turned initiate Nick Anjanos (Omega No. 822) in the cold dorm at 330 N. Grant St. During one those interactions, Lane said Anjanos taunted him. “Pledge Lane, who do you think you are?” Lane recalled Anjanos asking. “Supreme Archon?” “I have a few phone calls to make now,” Lane said upon his induction as national president. At a Supreme Chapter luncheon the next day, Lane reported that Anjanos – a Chicago-area attorney – called and left a message in Lane’s hotel room congratulating him. Anjanos, who was not at the Supreme Chapter, heard of Lane’s referral the previous day from fellow pledge brother Terry Zaccarino (Omega No. 824). Zaccarino was at Lane’s speech. “I told him congratulations, it’s quite an accomplishment, in the message,” Anjanos said. “And I told him don’t forget I’ve got pin number on him.” Since Supreme Chapter Anjanos
has not talked directly to Lane, but he hopes to catch up with the new Supreme Archon at the Sept. 28 Omega’s 80th anniversary celebration. “In his voice mail he told me he has supreme power and that Anjanos he could pull rank if he had to,” Anjanos said. “I was very, very surprised that he remembered what happened in 1968. Maybe that conversation motivated him and he owes all that to us” pledge brothers who challenged Lane. During his inaugural speech, Lane also praised his predecessor as archon at Omega, Mike Tyrrell (Omega No. 853). “My Omega brothers were wonderful,” Lane said. “They are still the best friends I have today. “The reality is when coming through college, those are the folks you really grow up with.” Lane said his selection of a fraternity at Purdue came down to Pi Kapps or Phi Kappa Tau. His older brother was a member of the Alpha Omicron chapter at Iowa State University. “He told me, ‘I’ll never speak to you again if you pick Phi Kappa Tau.’ ” Thus Lane became an Omega initiate on April 21, 1968. Much to the surprise of his 1967 pledge brother Anjanos, he became Supreme Archon on Aug. 6, 2002. For his part, Anjanos is quite proud of Lane’s ascension to national president. “Quite seriously, it is an honor to the Omega chapter and Purdue University and it does mean a lot,” he said. “Perhaps the active members can use this as an example to aspire to. “We (Lane’s pledge class) are
really gratified about this. There is nobody more qualified and dedicated to Pi Kappa Phi. And, yes, don’t forget I still have pin number on him.”
Omega members play significant role in Washington Omega had a significant presence at the August Supreme Chapter in Washington, D.C. Certainly one of the high points was the inauguration of David Lane (Omega 835) as national president. As part of the nominations committee, undergraduate archon Matt Clark (Omega 1583) endorsed Lane in front of the entire Supreme Chapter. • Jack Berlien (Omega 722) was appointed warden for the 48th Supreme Chapter and escorted the national council to its places in the opening session. • Phil Leslie (Omega 1506) won the 2001-02 Archon of the Year award. Leslie and Jake Fehrman (Omega 1491) were part of the 2002 Journey of Hope team that cycled to the U.S. Capitol lawn during Supreme Chapter. • Greg Linder (Omega 951) is vice president of the Pi Kapp Properties board and he attended meetings at Supreme Chapter. • Pat Kuhnle (Omega 1197) served as chairman of the Alumni Relations Committee at the convention. • The Omegalite was named the Outstanding Newsletter of the Year. • The chapter won the Silver Star for $5,000 fundraising for Push America.
OMEGALITE
SEPTEMBER 2002
PURDUE UNIVERSITY
Omega’s Leslie wins Archon of Year award One of the highlights of the 48th Pi Kappa Phi Supreme Chapter was the naming of Omega’s Phil Leslie as Archon of the Year for 2001-02. Leslie, a May graduate in computer science, was a member of the 2002 Journey of Hope team that cycled from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. Leslie and Jake Fehrman were the latest Omega chapter members to make the trip. They ended their 62-day journey on Aug. 4 on the U.S. Capitol lawn. Leslie served in two offices during his four-year Omega tenure. First he was as archon in Fall 1999. Then he was elected rush chairman for Fall 2000. He was responsible for a 22-man class. While on co-op with Microsoft in Seattle, Wash., he was elected for his second term as archon for Fall 2001. He was re-elected for his third term for Spring 2002. During his tenure with the chapter he coordinated a variety of programs and accomplishments. They include: • As part of a unique Founder’s Day celebration in December 1999, he recruited then University of Toledo president Vik Kapoor to become an alumnus initiate. Dr. Kapoor was the father of an Omega undergraduate chapter member at the time. The chapter also hosted
guests from the Toledo Pi Kapp chapter for the initiation and banquet that followed. • He was special assistant to the president of the Interfraternity Council in Spring 2000. • In Fall 2001, he coordinated new Purdue president Martin Jischke’s speech at a combination rush and sorority function at the chapter house. More than 100 people attended. • In the 2001-02 school year, he organized various Omega alumni as guest speakers at the chapter. They included: State Sen. Brandt Hershman (Omega 1196), Lafarge vice president Chuck Smith (1241), Indiana State University interim vice president for student services Dr. Robert Elsey (627), housing corporation president and attorney Jay Seeger (897) and Journey of Hope alumnus and chemist Andy Parker (1450). • He organized a “Pi Kapp Pride Weekend” that had 24 hours of chapter programming in a 48-hour period and had 80 percent undergraduate member attendance. The weekend included a new pledge retreat, an old pledge subritual, a Strategic Planning Retreat, initiation and Life 401 with corporate consultant John Spence. • In Spring 2002, he coordinated
Omega of Pi Kappa Phi P.O. Box 2700 West Lafayette, IN 47996
the chapter’s hosting of Stephen Covey’s "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" seminar for chapter members and a limited number of sorority representatives. • During the fourth annual “Pi Kapp 100” (a 100-kilometer bike trip from Zionsville to West Lafayette to benefit Push America), he combined our annual Mom’s Day celebration and auction. The event was recognized by the City of West Lafayette as “Pi Kapp 100 Day” and raised nearly $3,900 for Push America and $2,053 for the chapter. Recently retired Motorola President Robert Growney spoke at the event about the benefit of outreach programming. • Leslie recruited two Omega alumni “Pi Kapp 100” riders (Journey of Hope alumni Gary Fischer and Andy Parker) and three alumni sponsorships. “Phil is the type of leader who led the Omega chapter as a positive role model and coordinator, much of which was done behind the scenes,” Fall 2002 archon Matt Clark wrote in a nomination letter. “I didn’t recognize Phil’s effectiveness until I became archon-elect for the fall.” Leslie started his professional career with Microsoft Corp. in Seattle shortly after finishing his Journey of Hope ride in August.