Zeta Alpha February 2015 Newsletter

ZA News Of the Zeta Alpha Chapter Featured in this Issue Zeta Alpha is Back!

Pi Kappa Phi; A Lifetime Experience

The Men of the Zeta Alpha Chapter

Zeta Alpha is Back!

In the spring of 2014 the Zeta Alpha Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi was privileged to have two consultants Trae Hestness and Keenan Dollar make their way down to Clemson, South Carolina and attempt to restart one of the greatest fraternities in the nation, Pi Kappa Phi. They worked tirelessly finding individuals on campus that would continue to uphold the title ‘Men of Class’ that has been established by the alumni before us on Clemson’s campus and around the Nation.

From the spring of 2013 to today 80 men have accepted an invitation to help refound the Zeta Alpha chapter. These men have been working tirelessly so that the associate chapter can be ready for the rechartering date of March 6, 2015. In addition to the steps the chapter has to take for rechartering, another large task these men are handed is the rush process. In the spring of 2015, 4 new associate members were accepted to join one of the greatest fraternities to come through Clemson University. The current total of associate members is 84 strong, and these men are ready to do everything in their power to uphold the standards of Pi Kappa Phi.

Pi Kappa Phi; A Lifetime Experience

Scott Gasparini and other Pi Kappa Phi Zeta Alpha Founding Fathers at 2014 Homecoming Float

February 12, 2015 /Issue 1 A Pi Kappa Phi Newsletter Published by the Zeta Alpha Chapter Of Pi Kappa Phi Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein. The Zeta Alpha Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi, nor Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity is liable for errors or omissions. © 2013

It is August 14, 1985, my first day at Clemson University as a student. I think to myself this New York kid is so far from home and I do not know a soul on campus. I walk into Bradley Hall(the original home of Pi Kappa Phi) and meet my roommate Papu Tafao. We become fast friends and decide we want a Greek experience to enhance our college career. Papu and I quickly realize the current Greek scene is not for us and thank goodness happen upon Steve Harris (Pi Kapp brother from Lander College) and the rest of the local Fraternity group Phi Alpha Psi. They shared with us they have petitioned Pi Kappa Phi National Fraternity to be accepted as an Associate Chapter of our Great Fraternity. We have the opportunity to become Founding Fathers of Zeta Alpha Chapter at Clemson University. The rest is truly history. I am blessed to say I am a brother of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity and an active volunteer. I contribute my business success to the many experiences I encountered during my 4 year undergraduate education at Clemson, my 2 years on staff, and the last 25 years of volunteerism. When I became Archon of our chapter I felt if I ran this chapter effectively, practiced financial responsibility, made good decisions, and delegated properly I would help make our chapter successful, but always give me the confidence needed to run my own company one day. When I graduated Clemson in 1989 I went to work for our National staff for almost 2 years and learned meeting planning, recruitment, coaching and counseling, and many, many more skill sets. As a restaurateur I already possessed many of the skills needed to efficiently run a restaurant from my fraternal experiences. When I finished my restaurant days I moved into Management Recruiting and all the skills I had learned with Pi Kappa Phi served me well in this endeavor.

Chapter Addre

ZA News | A newsletter from the Zeta Alpha Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi | Page 2

Pi Kappa Phi; A Lifetime Experience (Cont.)

I moved into Human Resources where my problem solving skills, coaching and counseling that I learned from the Fraternity came into play. Now as a Senior Vice President with my current company I still look back and apply the experiences I learned from our chapter and our Great Fraternity. I owe a lot to Pi Kappa Phi. I will leave you with this. It is said that if you have a great fraternal experience in college that at every great moment of our lives a fraternity brother will be present. Thus far this statement holds true. I have had Fraternity brothers present at my College Graduation, my first professional job, my marriage to my beloved wife Gina, the birth of my child Andrew, endless birthdays and anniversaries, and one day when I join the chapter eternal.

PI KAPPA PHI has given me a life time of experiences that I am truly grateful for.

Yours in Pi Kappa Phi, Scott Gasparini

“The only disability in life is a bad attitude” -Scott Hamilton

Brothers of the Zeta Alpha Chapter at the Bike-A-Thon

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604 University Union Clemson, SC 29634 (803)-629-5677 Cupikapp@gmail.com | http://www.cupikappaphi.com/

Archon-Matthew Forster Vice Archon-Tom Hoefel Secretary-Alex Martin Treasurer-Neal Patel Warden-Tom Curry Historian-Taylor Giel Chaplain-Baxter Morgan Risk Manager-Garrett Dickinson Social Chair-Stephen Linnell Standards Chair-Alex Shuler Philanthropy Chair - Drayton Reeley & Max Conant

The Ability Experience The Ability Experience (formerly Push America) is Pi Kappa Phi’s leading philanthropy. What makes the Ability Experience different from the philanthropy of other fraternities is that it is owned and operated by the national organization of Pi Kappa Phi. Our members take great pride in being part of the only fraternity that directly owns a non-profit organization. The mission of the Ability Experience is to “use shared experiences to support people with disabilities and develop the men of Pi Kappa Phi into servant leaders.” This goes hand-in-hand with developing the vision of our fraternity: a future where every Pi Kappa Phi embraces his role as a leader, puts service before self and improves the world around him. The Ability Experience is comprised of three main components: Build America, Journey of Hope, and Gear Up Florida. In Journey Of Hope 35 Pi Kappa Phi’s cycle over 12,000 miles across the country to raise awareness and spread the theme of equality and antidiscrimination for those with disabilities. Much like Journey Of Hope, Gear Up Florida serves the same purpose while cycling a route through the state of Florida. Build America utilizes Pi Kappa Phi members to create accessible camps and environments in a six week program that spans the nation. In addition the Ability Experience Challenges program allows those who are not members of Pi Kappa Phi to participate in events that support understanding and philanthropy. Since coming back onto campus last year, Pi Kappa Phi’s Zeta Alpha chapter (Clemson University) has already been involved with The Ability Experience. On the weekend of February 6, 2015, the brothers of the Zeta Alpha Chapter participated in a Bike-AThon. The purpose of the Bike-A-Thon was to raise money towards The Ability Experience Nationally and locally here at Clemson University for the ClemsonLIFE Program, a postsecondary education program at Clemson University where students with disabilities can earn a degree, and the Clemson Outdoor Lab. Brothers would be sponsored by family, friends, or other organizations to ride a bike for an hour.

Through donations from family, friends, and various organizations on campus as well as a fundraising dinner at a restaurant in downtown Clemson the men of Zeta Alpha were able to raise over $6,000 towards this cause and are looking forward to another event to continue their fundraising efforts in the fall.