Auburn Delta Chi Chapter Fall 2018 Red and Buff

FALL2018

AUBURN DELTA CHI RED & BUFF REACHING NEW HIGHTS

AUBURN BROTHERS & ALUMNI & FAMILY AT CONVENTION IN DENVER, COLORADO Brothers, As a kid, I remember my Sunday school teacher saying, “a church is not a building but a body of believers.” I believe a fraternity is not a house but a group of dedicated men.

Last Spring, the Auburn Delta Chi Chapter hosted Casino Night. Over one hundred and twenty five people attended the event. The chapter raised over $1,200. This money has helped renovate the dorm bathrooms over the Summer and helped with Summer rush efforts. The dorm bathrooms have not been renovated since the house was built in 1981.

As many of you know, the Auburn Delta Chi Chapter has a roller-coaster history. There have been many high points through the years. One high point came in 1994 when the chapter was awarded its only Presidents Cup. Receiving a Presidents Cup is the highest award a Delta Chi Chapter can obtain.

The successful times have not come without tough times.

Last year the undergraduate members found themselves in a precarious position due to unfortunate circumstances.

This was not the first time Auburn has found itself dealing with difficulties, however, through all the tough times the Auburn Delta Chi Chapter remains standing!

In October of 2017, I was appointed conservator for the Auburn Delta Chi Chapter. I can honestly say that the chapter

has made great strides in the past twelve months and continues to make progress in areas like scholarship, community service, and on campus participation. This year more than ever, the chapter needs your involvement and help.

If we think back to our undergraduate years, many of us can remember instances when alumni or parents stepped in to help improve our undergraduate experience. One instance that comes to mind is when Mike Carroll booked hotels for several brothers to attend convention in New Orleans.

Without Mike’s help the brothers would have been in much different predicament upon arriving in New Orleans.

This year the undergraduate brothers have expressed a great desire to have more alumni and parent involvement. If you are interested in giving your time or help in any way, please contact me and I would be more than happy to let you know how you can help!

PS: If you have not updated your contact information in the last two years, please let me know.

ITB, ‘14 Timothy (TJ) Helms tjh0009@auburn.edu

Mom’s Corner

Mom, Thank you for years of dedication to our insanity, for being a source of fun, optimism, wisdom, and joy, and for always remembering to bring a glass of Mom’s water to every tailgate. I miss afternoons sitting on the porch chatting, the sound of you screaming from across the house “I HEARD THAT” whenever anyone cussed, and the loving nature with which you cared for us all. The men of Delta Chi owe you a great debt of gratitude for helping shape us into gentlemen.

Love, Jimmy PS. I won’t say I speak for him, but I’m sure Joe has a big ol’ smile on his face thinking about your hugs.

‘10 James P. Ciocia

CHARLOTTE’S FIRST COMPOSIT

2011 EASTER AT MOM’S HOUSE

A LETTER FROM THE “A”

The past year has by no means been easy for the Chapter. We have faced many obstacles, ones which have challenged our resolve and our bond. However, I am happy to say that the Auburn Chapter has faced these tests and has overcome them. Despite the negative times we have had this year, there are also a lot of positives.

Going into last fall, the Chapter held the title of one of the top five highest GPAs on campus. We worked hard and revamped our Recruitment and Associate Member program, which resulted in one of the largest Spring Associate Member classes on campus, as well as a 100% retention and initiation of the class. We have high hopes to continue this success and find outstanding men to join the Gamma Zeta class this fall.

There are also several changes coming to 530 Biggio Drive. As basic expectation seven says, “I will acknowledge that a clean and attractive environment is essential to both physical and mental health”. With this in mind, we decided to update several key aspects of the house. With the help of the alumni board, the dorm bathrooms have been renovated. The formal room is also being changed. The carpet has been replaced and the walls are being repainted, to give a fresher appearence when first entering the house.

The Greek community is at a crossroads. Not everyone realizes the benefits of fraternities outside of the social aspects. At this time, it is more important than ever for all generations of Delta Chi to stand together, work together, and strive for the benefit of our chapter. There is still work to be done to ensure

the Auburn Chapter becomes a model of a what a fraternity should be. Together, we can ensure that for years to come, this house will stand and give young men a place to find family, learn responsibility, and make great memories. Through standing together, undergrad and alum alike, we can ensure the Auburn Chapter will remain a home for all those who join. Change is difficult, and the things the keep us on top cannot be achieved without hard work. Grades are not high without studying, teams are not skilled without practice, and Brotherhood is not strong without effort to cultivate it. However, these things can still be kept constant. He who says he can, and he who says he can’t, are both usually right. Success is only achieved and maintained through the determination and hard work of everyone.

In closing, I want to inform all of our Brothers that the Auburn Chapter continues to be a great one. Our members continue to prove their ability in both the classrooms and on the intramural fields, the house is being updated for the benefit of everyone here, and we continue to act as models to how Greek Life can benefit young men. We continued this success with our Gamma Zeta class this fall, and we hope to keep this trend going once again in the spring.

ITB and War Eagle!

19’ James Breslin “A”

jjb0052@auburn.edu

Brothers, The life of the chapter is similar to an Auburn football Season; there will be ups and downs. As Foster Hackney describes in his article, this past year was not one of the chapter’s better years.

Like football, we learn from our mistakes and move forward. It is no secret that the fraternal world is besieged with problems and tragic events. We are under a microscope and there is no tolerance on the part of administrators or society to allow a culture of self-destruction to continue. Fortunately, we have not experienced tragedy, and our members have seized the opportunity to correct their culture and strive to become a reformed chapter for the future.

This is a societal problem, where too much comes too easy and too much is taken for granted. Cell phones, text, email and social media make everything instant. Peer pressure to do everything that everyone else is doing is enormous. We live at a hectic pace, and too often things are done without consideration for the consequences.

What hasn’t changed is our need to belong and to be part of a community with which to identify. Fraternity is where close association and friendship keep men on track by doing the right thing, and to be part of a positive peer group that supports academic, athletic and social development.

Fraternity is a place where men benefit from an environment of accepting responsibility and opportunities to lead.

It is a social experiment continually evolving where consensus rule and by working together goals of a group can exceed goals of an individual.

Today our young brothers and future brothers need the same mentoring and encouragement. Last year was a tough learning experience, but these guys have learned and are coming back. They are worthy of our involvement and support, just as we were. Today I appreciate the involvement of Claude Layfield, Claude McNorton, Gary Monk, Dennis Stephens, Alan Stanfield, other alumni and Mom more than I did as an undergraduate. Without these men and others Delta Chi might not have been there for us.

Our “A”, “B” and “D” attend sessions at Convention in Denver this past August. They participated in educational seminars and exchanged ideas and experiences with other chapters. They learned the importance of following Risk Management regulations and the consequences of not doing so. They returned with a will and determination to grow our chapter and maintain a safe and positive experience for our brothers.

Brothers, we call on each of you to help preserve the fraternal experience, get involved, it doesn’t have to be Delta Chi, perhaps you have son, grandson, or relative in another fraternity near you. The youth today need to understand

what you gained from your Delta Chi experience and how it impacted your life. We need alumni mentoring undergraduates and stopping by to show you care. We must take the first step, as it seems awkward for youth today to interact with their elders. They also find it is awkward to initiate conversation with their own age group, but fraternity is all about overcoming our weakness and capitalizing on our strengths.

If you do not have an opportunity to become involved at the chapter level then a contribution to the $100 club will be greatly appreciated. The Alumni Control Board has renovated the dorm baths and replaced the HVAC for the dining room, a $45,000 investment for the future of the house.

An Alumni Advisory Board has also been created to separate responsibility from chapter operations and the Alumni Control Board, Inc. which is the legal entity that owns the house and holds the lease on the property. This move will distance the assets from chapter operations. We owe a debt of gratitude to the men who serve each entity. These are prudent steps given the liability associated with undergraduate chapters and limitations of liability insurance.

Please join me in expressing sincere appreciation to Aaron Colley ’92 for his service as President of the ACB, Michael Hobensack ‘15, President of the Alumni Advisory Board and T.J. Helms serving as Chapter Conservator. Hopefully, the conservatorship will end soon. We also appreciate other brothers serving these boards.

We also share a debt of gratitude to Mom, Charlotte Danielson, who has served the chapter faithfully and tirelessly since August 2004. Fourteen years is a long time to endure an ever changing group of 18 to 22 year old men. Mom is the longest serving housemother in the chapter’s history.

Mom has weathered the ups and downs of the chapter and also served as a member of the Alumni Control Board from 2011 to 2018. She oversaw the kitchen and has been the ultimate hostess for the chapter and confidant of many members and parents too.

There is a special place in the hearts of many for Charlotte’s enduring love for her boys. Many have benefited from “Manners with Mom” on Wednesday evenings. Fortunately Charlotte lives in Auburn, and we hope will continue to visit the house. We could always count on Mom to greet parents and alumni and remember who came by. Mom started the Parent’s Club in 2008 to raise funds to re-open the kitchen.

We will all miss the continuity that Mom provided a constantly changing membership. For those brothers from up North they now have an understanding of what is meant by the term “a true Southern lady.”

Long live Delta Chi and our Auburn Chapter.

Mike Carroll

ALUMNI CORNER ORANGE BEACH ALUMNI GATHERING

Thanks to all who were able to gather at the 10th annual gathering at Orange Beach to celebrate our bond. For those who could not make, start planing now for October 26th, 2019, the LSU game will be our away game reunion. Special appreciation to Eddie and Jean for hosting, Eddie and Sherri for planning and arranging great catering from Moe’s, Joe and Jackie for planning and communication, Chilly and Judy for arranging the Friday night reception and dinner at GT’s. A great time was had by all.

Long live Auburn Delta Chi, good thing we didn’t have social media in our day!

We cherish those days and the positive impact they have had on our lives. I am going to work with the chapter to setup a website link or FaceBook page for our group from the 60’s. I will be sharing more photo’s.

In the bond, Mike

$100 CLUB DONORS Marcus Monk

Jack Muntz James Storey Ralph Sproull Timothy Fitzsimmons John Webster Scott Johnson James Fowler Christopher Newell Robert Jackson John Kirkpatrick Bryant Crutchfield Bayne Bridges Craig Trapani Mike Carroll Richard Cannon Jere Lillich Richard Childress Dennis Faust Daniel Cannon

Brian McClean Scott Johnson Willam Rollins Drew Dunkin Trent Newell Richard Serviss Clyde Stanley Sam Ginn Horace Brady Eugene Townley Charles Thompson Larry Cowan Joseph Busta David Wilms Dolph Nelson Thomas Springfield Jeffery Gilmer Alan Drinkard Olin Brooks Eric Willms

John Reichley Lance Hearn If your name has been overlooked, please contact the chapter “E”.

SCHOLARSHIP IS KEY Academics continue to be a strong point for the chapter. I am able to spend a fair amount of time with the brothers and associate members, and it is apparent that grades are a priority and also a source of pride.

I am confident this trend will continue and want to specifically thank Cody Bonds and Spencer Frost for their work as scholarship chair during the past academic year. For Fall 2017 we had an overall GPA of 3.07. We are striving to make our Fall 2019 report even higher. At our 2018 Casino Night, academic accomplishments among members were recognized, including the three brothers who earned a 4.0 GPA for the semester. These individuals are also recognized by the Delta Chi Educational Foundation and will receive a monetary award.

Congratulations!

ITB,

88’ Greg Weaver Faculty Advisor

SUCCESS IN TEAMWORK In the Spring and Fall semesters, the chapter raised more money for the Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer Research than in the past four years. The chapter plans to put a bigger focus on philanthropy this Fall, continuing events such as benefit nights with local restaurants, and planning a much larger event that will gain recognition with the University. The newest philanthropy chair is preparing for events next Spring.

19’ Tyler Wilson

BROTHERS OF ARMS Private First Class Franklin Chandler Jackson, a proud member of Delta Chi and a member of the Gamma Beta pledge class, has been serving in the Army Engineering Core since this past February. His time in Afghanistan has done nothing but prove his bravery, strength and dedication to our country. He has given up part of his college experience in order to serve his country, and we are excited that he has returned home safely and will now be serving our chapter as the next “A”.

19’ Tyler Wilson

ALUMNI GATHERING Every year Auburn Delta Chi Alumni gather all over the United States and enjoy the company of their fellow brothers. There is an annual golf outing in Atlanta, a gathering at Orange Beach for an away game, a reunion at Big Daddy’s on Lake Martin for Homecoming, and many more. If you would like to have your gathering publicized or pictures put in the next Red and Buff, please let us know by emailing our “E” at audxec@gmail.com.

ALUMNI GATHER AT LAKE MARTIN BEFORE ARKANSAS

SAVE THE DATE REGION VII REGIONAL CONFERANCE - AUGUSTA GEORGIA - MARCH 30-31 A-DAY & CASINO NIGHT - April 13 WE HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON!

FALL 2018 ASSOCIATE MEMBER CLASS The Auburn Chapter of the Delta Chi Fraternity is currently at a crossroads. Questionable decisions resulted in poor financial management, and an overall sense of complacency. Over the past two years, the Chapters downward spiral has led to several members being dismissed, more leaving in dismay, and the chapter ending up on Level 4 corrective action. The current EC has been able to implement several changes to benefit the chapter.

These changes include a new Associate Member Program, which is part of EC’s goal to improve, and to change the culture of the chapter across the board. The chapter is continuing its participation with Braveheart, a community service organization in Auburn, and we have plans to continue our involvement with the Big Event, an Auburn community service day. In an effort to improve alumni relations, we are planning for more Alumni and Parent events in Auburn and other surounding cities. Along that same note, the fraternity has chosen Family, Scholarship, and Rewarding to be the words that describe us and our Delta Chi experience. Our chapter decided on these three words because

“E” Alan Hancher 530 Biggio Drive Auburn, Alabama 36832

SPRING 2018 ASSOCIATE MEMBER CLASS to us, our chapter, alumni, and all those involved in making the chapter better are family. We value an education, and we strive to succeed in and out of the classroom. We believe our Delta Chi experiences to be rewarding, building relationships that will last a lifetime. We believe that all Delta Chi men embody these values and will recruit such men in the years to come. I hope that you will find the time to visit the house or email us this year and let the chapter know about your undergraduate experience and how it has benifited you.

ITB, ‘20 Foster Hackney“B” cfh0012@auburn.edu