Kappa Sigma – Iota Chapter

Here’s a report filed under the category of alumni doing good things for good causes.

Joel Stone raised a bag full of money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Lone Star Chapter and completed the MS150 ride. Well, the part that wasn’t flooded out anyway… From Joel:

As most of you already know, heavy rain and flooding canceled the Saturday leg of our ride from Houston to La Grange, but we didn’t let that dampen our spirits for long! Come Sunday, we were ready to ride from La Grange to Austin, a distance of almost 80 miles!

But for the really important part:

Thanks to your overwhelming support, I was able to exceed my fundraising goal and raise over $1400 for MS!

Very cool. Great job Joel!

Links:

Click on the link below if you would like to view some photos of the ride:
http://www.brightroom.com/estf.asp?EVENTID=47163&PWD=&BIB=2150
Click here to visit Joel’s personal page.

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4/26/09: Update: Martin did not win the race but we congratulate him on a great campaign. You can read about the results courtesy of the Megaphone Online.

Our active brother Martin Fergus is running for Student Congress President. For those of us who can’t vote, we wish you the best of luck on election day, April 8, 2009!

Martin’s running on a robust platform…

• Martin will enforce transparency in Student Congress activities, policies, and resolutions. There is no reason why information about our initiatives as Student Congress should be difficult or a challenge to find. Student Congress has an obligation to represent its constituents in a clear and professional manner.
• Martin plans to develop more effective and efficient organizational practices for Student Congress. As President, Martin will move our Congress in to the 21st century of student government by using centralized information with electronic and internet tools like Wiggio, Twitter, blogging, and websites in order to create a stronger Congress that responds quickly to problems and allow the voice of the campus to be heard.
• Martin will facilitate public exposure for Southwestern’s Congress. Our student Government is a body that is supposed to work for the students. He will work to make Congress well recognized and promoted on campus so that students are energized about the issues that matter.
• Martin will revitalize partnerships between Student Congress and Student organizations. There are a lot of strong organizations around campus that make up the life and energy of Southwestern and Student Congress should be there to help work alongside these organizations. Martin will promote policies that will help give all student organizations the resources they need to fulfill the initiatives they are striving for.
• Martin will strengthen communications between representatives and the Executive Council.
• Martin will work with the administration of Southwestern University to allow for greater autonomy and freedom among the student body.
• Martin will launch strategies to help alleviate the financial burden on students in this time of economic struggle.

About Martin:
Martin hails from Abilene, Texas, and he graduated from Abilene High School in 2006. Throughout his high school career, Martin was active as an Eagle Scout, a lifeguard, he served as Captain of the AHS swim team, and he worked as a summer camp counselor at Camp Rio Vista in Hunt, Texas.

Martin is a Political Science major with a Sociology minor, and he is active at Southwestern as President of the SU Student Peace Alliance, and he also serves as the National State Organizer for SPA. Martin is a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity, and he currently serves as Philanthropic Chair. Martin has served as Senatorial district 24 democratic Chair. Martin spent his summer working as a campaign field organizer fort he Dwight Fullingim Political Campaign for Congress, and he also has experience in the legal field having worked as a Legal Assistant for a law firm in Abliene.

Martin is a Dean’s List student with a passion for serving the Southwestern community. He strives to listen to all student concerns, has strong relationships with members of the Southwestern administration, and Martin wants to be YOUR Student Congress President for the 2009-2010 school year.

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Volume 2: Issue 1 – Spring 2009

Feature stories

Alumni Weekend 2009, March 27-29
Taking place over the weekend of March 27-29, the advanced planning for Alumni Weekend 2009 is in full effect. Come join us at 1 PM on Saturday for the Alumni/Active meeting and learn the latest news on active chapter achievements, alumni and active philanthropic activities, and much more. Lunch and Softball will take place immediately following. Saturday night live music plans are in the works as well…[Read more]

Chuck Merrill Peace Scholarship inches toward $100,000 in donations 
Since being officially launched in 2007 with the support of Trish Merrill and Brother Bruce Barrick, the Southwestern endowed scholarship in the name of Chuck Merrill as captured the imaginations and support of the many friends and brothers of late Brother Chuck Merrill. The campaign continues to solicit contributions to Southwestern in the name of the “J. Charles Merrill Endowed Scholarship.” [Read more]

Iota Chapter joins Fisher House project in support of military families
The Fisher House program is a private-public partnership that supports America’s military in their time of need. The Fisher House Foundation has given Kappa Sigma the unique opportunity of naming rights to one these “comfort homes” for a minimum donation of $100,000. The active chapter of Iota Chapter has set a goal to raise between $1,000-2,000 toward this national fraternity goal. [Read more]

Assistant Alumni Advisors announced
Working in conjunction with Alumni Advisor Marshal Crenshaw and the national fraternity, three Assistant Alumni Advisors (AAA) were recently appointed: Stephen W. Butler, AAA/gp, William C. Mathers, AAA/gt, and Jonathan B. Goodman, AAA/gs. The role of the AAA is to work collaboratively with the active chapter leadership and individual office holders to support their leadership development and execution of their roles. The AAA will also help to provide additional continuity of knowledge through active leadership transitions. [See all alumni leaders here]

Alumni Association Business

Join the “Alumni Dues” effort in 2009 and these generous donors from 2008:

Thomas Hambleton
Roger Davidson
Scott Clearman
Brian Walsh
Bruce Barrick
Mark Rangle
Chet Lofgren
Charles Bedard
Matt Lawrence
Mohammed Raheem
Matt Browning
Steve Butler
Robert E Lee
Joe Abel
Paul Bakouris
Russell Ramsey
Danny Middlebrooks
Tanner Garth
Erik Harpst
Perry Zigbly
Chris Mathers
Ben Orgain
Mike Orsak
William McCall
John Schmidt
Lee Boyle
George Morrison
Dylan Wood
Mitch Brownlee
Pat Sparks
Tim McGarity
Matt Barnes
Jeremiah Jarrell
Blake Stanford
Alan Haworth
Marshal Crenshaw
J.L. Love

Thanks to all of our alumni who have donated time, money, and their expertise these past years!

(Please send us a note if we wrongly left your name off this list.)

Membership dues to the Iota Chapter Alumni Association are a suggested minimum contribution of $60 per year. Many brothers, especially younger alums, have opted for a monthly credit card donation. Contact Alan Haworth, Treasurer, by phone (214) 536-6268 or email to set-up a regular donation.

You may also send a check, payable to Iota Chapter Alumni Association to the address listed below:
Alan Haworth
9135 Drumcliffe Ln
Dallas, TX 75231

News & Notes

Brother Brad Francis and his wife Kerri announced the birth of their baby son [note: editorial correction made 5/2/09] Kepler on Novermber 17, 2008.

The parents of our late Brother Rob Atkinson visited Southwestern campus in January for the memorial service honoring their son, tragically killed on December 4, 2009 while walking from campus across University avenue where he was struck by an oncoming car. [See the video celebrating Rob's life here]

Brother James Grace completed another marathon to raise support and awareness for autism research. He finished the Chevron Houston Marathon and raised $7,985 for the Organization for Autism Research (OAR). [Read more]

Brother Bret Starr was featured in the online edition of Business Week in an article titled How SaaS Helps Cut Small Business Costs. [Read the full article here]

Actives Andrew Ivy, Martin Fergus, and Jack Frazee joined alumni Jonathan Goodman at the Lone Star Conclave in Richardson, Texas. [Read more]

The Grand Conclave of Kappa Sigma will take place in San Antonio, Texas, July 22-26. All actives and alumni in good standing are encouraged to attend. Iota Chapter will be sending a delegation. Contact any active or alumni leader if you’re interested in joining. [Read more]

Alumni on the Web: On the Iotachapter.org Web site, check out the “Links” section to Alumni on the Web. Many Iota brothers are active online, personally, professional, academically, and charitably and we’ll take advantage of the Iota Chapter Web site to serve as a hub for this rich collection of online content.

Next Issue of Iota Alumni News:
To submit news, notes, or ideas for Iota Alumni News, please contact Jonathan Goodman at 817.923.1997 or jbgoodman (at) alumni (dot) southwestern [dot] edu

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As reported in The Caduceus of Kappa Sigma (Special Edition 2009), “In the spring of 2008, the Supreme Executive Committee of Kappa Sigma Fraternity unanimously approved the Kappa Sigma named, Fisher House project.”

The Fisher House program is a private-public partnership that supports America’s military in their time of need… The Fisher House Foundation has given Kappa Sigma the unique opportunity of naming rights to one these “comfort homes” for a minimum donation of $100,000.

The active chapter of Iota Chapter has set a goal to raise between $1,000-2,000 toward this national fraternity goal.

Martin Fergus, Iota Chapter philanthropic chair, has engaged local Georgetown area organizations to co-sponsor a fundraising event this Spring. The Iota Alumni Association has joined with Martin to encourage all alumni to make a donation to support the Fisher House program and help Iota Chapter contribute to this fraternity-wide effort.

To Donate:

Making an online contribution is the most efficient donation method, but checks are accepted. Please be sure to make the payment to “Fisher House Foundation” and write the name of the chapter you are sponsoring in the “memo” section of the check. Checks can be mailed to:

Fisher House Foundation
Attn: Kappa Sigma
PO Box 2346
Rockville, MD 20847

The chapter you are sponsoring will only get credit for your donation if you include the chapter name on the check

The Fisher House™ Program

The Fisher House program is a unique private-public partnership that supports America’s military in their time of need. A long-term stay in a military hospital, sometimes thousands of miles from home, could mean expensive lodging and long separations from loved ones. But in recognition of the special sacrifices of severely wounded or ill service members and their families, the Fisher House Foundation donates “comfort homes” so that America’s military families can be together during extended treatment for serious injury or lengthy physical and/or occupation therapy…

Today, 38 Fisher Houses operate at 18 military bases and nine Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers throughout the nation and overseas in Germany. Since our nation has been at war, the requirements for Fisher House have changed. Many of our returning service members need intensive physical and occupational rehabilitation. Their Fisher House stays have become longer, and, as a result, more guest suites are needed. Also, because of the nature of their injuries, all new Fisher Houses are being designed to be completely handicapped accessible.

The Fisher House Foundation, Inc., a not-for-profit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code, builds new houses, assists in coordination private support, and encourages public support for the homes. Donations to the Fisher House Foundation and individual Fisher Houses are tax-deductible to the maximum extent allowed by law.

The Foundation has received the highest possible ratings from the “watch dog” organizations that evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of nonprofit organizations: For every dollar donated to Fisher House Foundation, 97.5 cents goes directly into the Fisher House program. “Overhead,” the combination of management and fundraising expenses, is only 2.5 cents.

Making an online contribution is the most efficient donation method, but checks are accepted. Please be sure to make the payment to “Fisher House Foundation” and write the name of the chapter you are sponsoring in the “memo” section of the check. Checks can be mailed to:

Fisher House Foundation
Attn: Kappa Sigma
PO Box 2346
Rockville, MD 20847

The chapter you are sponsoring will only get credit for your donation if you include the chapter name on the check

Who can stay in the Fisher House?

• Patients’ family members, relatives and significant others
• Active duty, retirees, and veterans and their family members

For what other reasons can individuals stay in the Fisher House?

• Scheduled for early-morning testing or treatment and live more than an hour from the hospital
• Scheduled for same-day surgery
• Scheduled for tests before surgery
• Scheduled for a procedure or testing
• Released from the hospital but not officially released from a doctor’s care
• Nursing mother whose baby is still hospitalized
• Parents living off-post with a seriously ill child in the hospital

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The Lone Star Multi-District Conclave 2009 took place this weekend, February 20-21, on the campus of the University of Texas at Dallas located in Richardson, Texas.

Representing the active chapter were Andrew Ivy (GP), Martin Fergus (Philanthropy/Fundraising Chair), and Jack Frazee (House Manager). Jonathan Goodman (Assoc. Scribe & Assit. Alumni Advisor) represented the volunteer alumni leadership.

The Conclave program included general sessions and multiple breakout sessions. Area DGMs and the Area Development Manger delivered reports on the state of the fraternity, presentations on fraternity initiatives such as “Kappa Sigma University” – a leadership development program, and an educational session on fraternity history.

The breakout sessions provided a format for attending actives and alumni to interact and share ideas on topics such as recruitment, risk management, fundraising, awards/recognition, and financial management.

Finally, Texas will host the next Grand Conclave this summer. Please consider joining our active and alumni delegates at the 67th Biennial Grand Conclave, July 22-26, 2009, in San Antonio, Texas.

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