New Active Leaders Prepare for Fall Semester

This past Saturday, August 30th, the incoming Executive Committee Officers held a leadership retreat at the residence of Alumni Advisor Marshal Crenshaw in Walburg, Texas.

Joining the actives were representatives of the Alumni including Alumni Scribe Jonathan Goodman and Alumni Board member Chris Mathers. Brothers Love and Bulter also contributed to the planning sessions.

A complete update will be coming the Iota Alumni eNewsletter in the coming days. If you’re not already receiving the Alumni eNewsletter, please use the sign-up form to the right join our mailing list.

Our next Iota Alumni Alumni Association membership meeting will take place during the weekend of Homecoming, November 7-8. Save the date and we hope to see you at the House this Fall.

Alumni & Active Retreat Scheduled for August 30

For all active and alumni leadership and any brother who’d like to attend (it’s an open meeting):

Before the start of the Fall Semester, the active and alumni will meet to coordinate fraternal strategies and tactics.

Date: August 30
Time: 11am – whenever
Place: Marshal’s house in Walburg

Agenda items:

  • Fall rush
  • House
  • Homecoming
  • Other new business

Please save the date and plan to attend.

Roy T’s Old Salado Bakery

Thanks goes to Brother David Wilson for pointing us to this article in the Austin American Statesmen.

Writes Wilson, “It’s an article about the Bush wedding, but tells a little about Roy T’s Bakery, owned and operated by our own Roy Knox Tyson [class of 1964]. Neat article and really neat bakery.”

In a feature on the town of Salado, Texas, writer Candace Birkelbach (any relation to you, David?) writes:

My first stop was Roy T’s Old Salado Bakery to get my caffeine fix. This place has a locals-only vibe, but don’t worry about looking clueless when you walk into the shop. Owner Roy “Knox” Tyson quickly pegged me as an “I-35er,” someone who just pulled in from the highway that runs directly in front of the shop, and helped me sort through the menu. If the homemade doughnuts and beignets don’t make you a lifetime patron of this New-Orleans style bakery, the coffee is sure to win you over. What’s with the New Orleans theme? Tyson went to Tulane University and fell in love with the Big Easy.

The Salado College T-shirts adorning the walls are a nod to the first co-ed college in Texas, which burned down in the 1920s. (Ask about getting an honorary degree!)

There are also daily blue plate specials and the family’s own unique recipe for Manhattan-style pizza. And you can wash it down with a classic Dublin Dr Pepper.

You can find the full article here: http://www.statesman.com/life/content/life/stories/travel/06/08/0608smiles.html

Iota Chapter eNewsletter: Spring 2008

Feature stories

Article highlights Rev. Chuck Merrill’s Legacy
According to Trish Merrill, anyone who knew her late husband Chuck knows that he cared most about peace and justice. In the months following the death of Reverend J. Charles “Chuck” Merrill ’59, Trish and long-time friend and fraternity brother Bruce Barrick ’71 conceived of a way both to honor Chuck’s legacy and to further the social justice issues for which he cared deeply. [Read more]

Crandell Addington ’61 of San Antonio featured in local business press
According to the San Antonio Business Journal, “Local entrepreneur and former professional poker player Crandell Addington says the stuffed rattlesnake on his office coffee table helps to keep people honest during business meetings.” [Read the full article here]
More of Brother Addington on the Web:
On Wikipedia
Lecturing at Harvard Law

News & Notes

  • Alumni Treasurer, Brother Alan Haworth visited the 1960’s Kappa Sigma Reunion in Salado and filed this report. [Read the post on Iotachapter.org]
  • Southwestern recently ended the 2007/2008 academic year. With graduation and the end of the academic term, the Alumni Association gained six new members, and the Active Chapter initiated 10 brothers.
  • Kappa Sigma alumnus David Craig Stanford, Class of ’82, and wife Tava Miyata Stanford announced the birth of their twins, Lucille Louise Stanford (LuLu) and Canter Kazunori Stanford (Kaz), born November 11, 2007.  Craig now ranks the third oldest father of newborns in the United States, behind David Letterman (2nd) and the now deceased Tony Randall (1st).

Events: Past & Future

Alumni Weekend 2008
In pictures
By the numbers

Homecoming 2008, Calling all Homecoming Queens!
Brother William McCall ‘88 has issued a challenge. He urges Iota Chapter Alumni and the Active Chapter to participate in the 100th Year of Southwestern Homecoming with a float in the Saturday morning parade down the Academic Mall. [Read more]

Alumni Business

The percentage now participating in “Alumni Dues” annual giving continues to grow
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 in the range of $10-20 dollars. Contact Alan Haworth, Treasurer, by phone (214) 536-6268 or email to set-up a regular donation.
Of course, 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

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.
Here are a few examples of blogs I’ve been reading:

Send me your own content or those of your brothers to share.

 

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

Dispatch from the ’60’s Kappa Sigma Reunion in Salado

Brother Alan Haworth (Alumni Treasurer) traveled to the Stagecoach Inn at Salado, TX, for an evening over the weekend of May 16-18 as a inter-generational emissary to the Iota Brothers from the decade of the 1960s. Here are a few thoughts from Alan:

30-40 guys from the 1960s gathered at Salado’s Stagecoach Inn for the weekend. I attended the dinner/happy hour on Friday only

Brother John Roark was great at introducing me around the happy hour. The conversations were constructive and I learned a lot. They encouraged more people our age to come to their weekends in May/June. They have been doing them in Sulpher Springs for four years. They also mentioned that they would like to know the dates of Homecoming and Alum Weekend earlier.

After dinner, John Roark introduced me again and I gave an update on the house, scholastics, new initiates [numbering] 10, and everything that went on last summer with renovations. They all seemed very excited to hear the good news and wanted to come around more. I also talked up the 125th anniversary that is coming soon [in 2011].

I think I met every person and got good feedback from David Wilson, Jack Irons, John Roark, Hank Smith, and others.

Overall, I felt like they WANTED to know more people our age. I felt like they were impressed that so many guys from the 90s are lawyers/doctors and successful professionals. I think they were even SURPRISED.

AEKDB,

Alan

Thanks Alan, for your report and for representing those from 90s so well.

So, everyone, mark your calendars now for either the last weekend in March or the first weekend in April 2009 for Alumni Weekend (dates to be confirmed, watch this space).

Homecoming 2008 will take place November 7-9, 2008.

To the Brothers of the 1960s, we’d love an invitation to visit your reunion weekend next year. We promise not to crash the party. In the spirit of fraternity and brotherhood, we’d love to get to know you all.

Calling all Homecoming Queens!

Brother William McCall ’88 has issued a challenge. He urges Iota Chapter Alumni and the Active Chapter to participate in the 100th Year of Southwestern Homecoming with a float in the Saturday morning parade down the Academic Mall.

In particular, William seeks out past Iota “Homecoming Queens” to dust off their tiaras and make it back for this centennial event. While this particular Iota tradition may be a bit opaque and unfamiliar to those deprived of the parade tradition, I’m told all of you queens know who you are and that you’re wanted back for another hurrah.

In any case, even if you swore off women’s clothes the day you stepped off campus after graduation, we’d love to have you identify yourself for posterity and make it back for Homecoming 2008, November 7-9. Drop a comment on this blog post or sent a note to William.

For those who were courtiers and not queens, we can use your help too (remind us who the queens were) and of course we want to see you back on campus this Fall just as much!

Alumni weekend 2008: Schedule Update

Friday, April 4:
Open House, come on over this evening if you’re in town.

Saturday, April 5:
11:00 AM – Active Chapter/Alumni Association joint meeting
Noon – lunch, grilled fajitas, donations accepted
2:00 PM – Softball, directions to field to be provided
5:00 PM/Sunset – Dinner options include Booties with Erik and gang, Walburg with Alan and crew, or your choice of local fare. (**Alert Erik or Alan if you plan to join either group by phone, email, or by comment to this post.)
Evening – hanging out at the House
10:30 + Live music, featuring “The Bus Stop Stallions.”

Walburg Restaurant, destination for visiting alumni

Alan Haworth, Dallas alumnus and alumni association treasurer, has reserved space at the Walburg Restaurant for a post Softball Game dinner. Everyone is welcome to join the group. Contact Alan this week or on Saturday at the House.

Plans call to sit inside for the German buffet and perhaps to visit the biergarten outside upon the conclusion of the meal. All of this revelry will leave plenty of time to return to Georgetown and freshen-up before the evening’s festivities.

CORRECTION: Alumni Weekend actually April 4 & 5

Post cards mailed this week reminding brothers of the upcoming Alumni Weekend mistakenly reference April 3 & 4 as the dates for the 2008 gathering.

This matter was brought to my attention, most appropriately by my pledge brother Bryan. Appropriate, because as Bryan points out (though this fact has not been verified), the last time that April 3 occurred on a Friday was in 1998 – which also happened to be the year Bryan and I graduated from Southwestern.

Bryan writes, “Either you are nostalgic or you have a time machine (or both…). “

Neither, my dear PB. Just a bit bone headed.

To all, please accept my sincere apologies. I will strive to ensure all future alumni communications are free of such errors.

Sincerely,

Jonathan
Alumni Scribe

Save the date for Alumni Weekend 2008: April 4-6

Attention all alumni:

Mark your calendars now for the annual Alumni Weekend – to take place over the weekend of April 4-6th.

Compared to our other annual gathering during the Southwestern Homecoming Weekend, you’ll recall Alumni Weekend as much less formal affair. Friendly Friday night card playing gives way to a nice Saturday gathering on the lawn with a group lunch for the whole family. Then Active vs. Alumni softball with the Spring Pledge Class (rumored to be numbered in the double digits) officiating with the utmost impartiality and fairness, followed up by an evening of live music and fellowship.

Bring yourself, your family if you like, your softball glove, and a big appetite!

We look forward to seeing you in April!

AEKDB.

Iota Alumni Newsletter: Winter 2008

Upcoming Events

Active & Alumni EC & Leadership Retreat
Dates: January 12-13
Venue: Marshal Crenshaw’s House in Walburg
Start time: Noon, Saturday, January 12
Agenda: Active and alumni business, 2008 planning
Who should attend?

  • Active and alumni officers
  • All active and alumni brothers in good standing are welcome

Lunch provided, so please RSVP to either Marshal or Jonathan

Alumni Weekend 2008

A final announcement will be made after the EC Retreat in January, but tentatively plan for April 4-6 for the annual Spring Semester Alumni Weekend.
Note: the Brown Symposium XXX will take place April 3-4, so it may be a great time to take an extended weekend trip to Georgetown.


News & Notes

Texas man of letters, Nate Blakeslee ’92, acclaimed book being made into a movie
Nate Blakeslee, senior editor at Texas Monthly Magazine, and author of the widely acclaimed book, Tulia: Race, Cocaine, and Corruption in a Small Texas Town, will soon add movie credits to his body of work. “Tulia” is a movie adaptation currently in production and due out in 2008. John Singleton is directing, and Variety reports that Billy Bob Thorton and Halle Berry will star in the film.

Other links by and about Nate:
Google Books -Tulia: Race, Cocaine, and Corruption in a Small Texas Town
“Everyone’s Poop” by Nate Blakeslee, TexasMonthly.com
Southwestern Who’s Who From SU?
Top 10 Books on Investigative Journalism

Association negotiates insurance claim after summer rain water damage
Many of you across the state of Texas experienced the massive rainfall of spring and summer 2007. Central Texas experienced some of the worst flooding and water-related property damage and our House was no exception. The House Corporation/Alumni Association has concluded a claim with our insurance provider HRH Kirklin & Co., LLC for water damage as a result of the heavy summer rains. Damage was done to the wood flooring and sub-flooring, the cosmetic elements of which were fixed during the summer repairs by actives and alumni. Important structural work remains to be done by professionals and this settlement will help toward that end. Financial details of the claim will be reported during our upcoming leadership retreat and via the Treasurer’s report in advance of Alumni Weekend in April. We wish to thank several brothers who offered ideas and suggestions to facilitate this process, including Tanner Garth, Dan Middlebrooks, Joe Abel, Russell Ramsey, and Pat Sparks. Outgoing Treasure Charles Bedard led the effort and all dealings with our insurance provider which led to this favorable outcome.

Alumni respond to the end of year call for donations, alumni dues
Matthew Browning ’97, Matthew Barnes ’06, Dr. Harvel Loveless ’69, Mike Ooi ’98, and Thomas Hambleton ’76 each responded with a donation/membership dues to the Alumni Association since Homecoming. If you have also donated but have not been recognized here, please send me a note to the alumni Scribe, and thank you for your contribution!

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 in the range of $10-20 dollars. Contact Alan Haworth, Treasurer, by phone ((214) 536-6268) or email to set-up a regular donation.

Of course, 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

Alumni on the Web:
As part of future updates to the Iotachapter.org Web site, we’ll be adding an “Alumni on the Web” section. 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.

Here are a few examples of blogs I’ve been reading:
Crosscountry Adventures, by Isaac Smith ’02
Unsquare Dance, by Jeff James ’04 (also our IotaChapter.org Web master)
grog blog, a caveman designer blog, by Chet Lofgren ’00
Starr Tincup, by Bret Starr ’95
Team Goodman, by Jonathan Goodman ’98

Photography:
Jeremy Cottrell ’98 on Flickr

Submit your own content or those of your brothers to share.

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 by email.

EC Retreat Location & Details

Alumni Advisor, Marshal Crenshaw has graciously offered his house in Walburg as the venue for this weekend’s EC Retreat.

Directions and details will be sent via email.

We’ll begin the day at Noon Central, Saturday, January 12 and go until we get too hungry to continue. Some basic accommodations are available for those who wish to stay the night.

Again, all are welcome. Active and Alumni leadership are expected.

AEKDB

Sign up for alumni news

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So help us out and add your information. We’re missing 100+ email addresses from brothers of every generation. So if you’re speaking with a bro whose not getting the news, send him here, or sign him up yourself.

Disclaimer: You will receive timely and relevant chapter news. You will also certainly get a fundraising email! Sign up today!

New Grand Treasurer calls for donations

[excerpt from a message from newly elected Alumni GT, Alan Haworth]

Brothers,

I have been elected as the new Treasurer for Kappa Sigma Iota.

I know that this has been a busy year for donations of money and time; and YOU are the ones who gave. I’m asking for a favor as we head into the holiday season. As you speak with old PB’s and alums from your era, please push them to make an end of the year contribution. Please pass this message along to everyone at KE that you can think of. If everyone sent me a check for $15, we can make all of our end of year commitments: paying for the deck loan, house taxes, and fire alarm system.

Please send all donations to::

Alan Haworth
9135 Drumcliffe Ln
Dallas TX 75231

My plan for the future is pretty simple. I have a list of Iota alumni. I am going to call them all and sign them up for a monthly contribution.

End of the year is very busy for me, but January is slow and I will have plenty of time to call. So send me a check, and I won’t have to call you!

AEKDB,
Alan

The Rev James Grace runs for autism, son

[this letter is reprinted with permission by Brother Jimmy Grace – please consider extending your support]

Dear friends and family,

I am running in the RUN FOR AUTISM on January 13, 2008 in conjunction with the Chevron Houston Marathon.   Aside from training over the past few months and the next two months to come, I have decided to turn my sweat and blisters into something really meaningful.  I am contacting you to help me raise money for autism research.  To learn more, please visit my Web page http://www.firstgiving.com/jamesgrace .  My fundraising goal is $3,000.00.

I am dedicating this run to my oldest son, James, who was diagnosed with a form of Autism earlier this year.  I am running in the hopes to raise money for the Organization for Autism Research, a national non-profit organization that funds research and resources for individuals diagnosed with autism and their families.  Your pledge of support will help individuals whose struggles often exist outside the spotlight of society. 

Please consider sponsoring me in the RUN FOR AUTISM.  Every donation really does make a difference.  To find out more about the Organization for Autism Research, please visit their Web site  www.researchautism.org

Please forward this message to friends and family who might be interested in helping.

Thank you in advance for your support!

Peace,

Jimmy

The Rev. James M.L. Grace
Episcopal Church of the Epiphany
9600 South Gessner
Houston, Texas 77071