Category: Fisher House

Iota Alumni News: Spring 2009

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

Iota Chapter joins Fisher House project

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 Houseâ„¢ 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