News Archive
Theta Chi 150th Anniversary
Sunday, March 5, 2006
Todd and JJ in Vermont for Theta Chi’s 150th
Anniversary
L - R: Todd Shortlidge, Todd’s son Allan, and “JJ” Moylan.
I am piggy-backing our Gamma Lambda Chapter Alumni Corporation Election Results and using my own Gamma Lambda Listservs to broadcast this very important message to as many members of Gamma Lambda Chapter as possible. Please feel free to continue to circulate it, as the message is that important.
The 150th Anniversary (Sesquicentennial) of the founding of Theta Chi Fraternity will be celebrated at Norwich University in Northfield, Vt. June 6-11, 2006. The national Fraternity is making a concerted effort to get as many Brothers, including undergraduate Brothers to attend this historic event. Three Initiatives have been undertaken to raise funds to defray the expenses of the 2006 Anniversary Celebration Convention. Two of these initiatives pertain to, first, raising funds to offset the costs of the Convention and second to assist our undergraduate Brothers to attend the event, and accordingly they pertain to us.
First is the "Chapter Challenge." The idea of the Chapter Challenge is that we collectively contribute $1.00 for each initiated member of Gamma Lambda, to help defray the costs of the Convention. IHQ's records indicate that as of the chapter census cut-off date, there are 540 initiated members of Gamma Lambda Chapter, (that is what happens when the Chapter is dormant for almost 2 decades, and suffered from low membership from time to time in our formative years). Obviously, to try to collect $1.00 from each member of Gamma Lambda Chapter member will be impossible and not worth the effort it would take to even attempt that project. What I propose is that those of you receiving one or more copies of this e-mail consider joining me in contributing at least $10.00, hopefully $25.00, or as your means allow, to the Chapter Challenge, by making out a check payable to: "Theta Chi Convention 2006" and in the memo section of your check make the notation: "Chapter Challenge." (Note, this is not a tax deductible contribution, see below.)
I have already committed to making up any shortfall so that Gamma Lambda will be recognized as a having a 100% participation in the Chapter Challenge at the 2006 Sesquicentennial. I made that commitment at the 2004 National Convention made in Phoenix, AZ. last July, with the full confidence that my Gamma Lambda Brothers will not cause me to dip into my own pocket, other than for the amount I am now seeking. Indeed, I suspect we will far surpass $540.00. In that connection, Brothers, I am proposing that, by your contribution, you also consent to our "adopting" a closed chapter, whose members may not even know of this initiative. As you all should know, in its 150 years of existence, Theta Chi has installed 214 chapters and there are approximately 135 active chapters today. Thus, absent some very dedicated alumni, some inactive chapters will probably not even be participating in the Chapter Challenge. Since it is the symbolic goal to raise $1.00 from every Theta Chi ever initiated to help fund the 2006 Sesquicentennial, any amount over the $540.00 received will go to "adopt" an inactive chapter for purposes of the Chapter Challenge. I think it is the "Brotherly" thing to do Brothers, and I trust that you will agree.
The second initiative is the "Big Brother Challenge." The funds raised here will be restricted to assisting our undergraduate brothers attend the Sesquicentennial at Norwich University in 2006. The "entry fee" here is $300.00, and again, it is not tax deductible. I have agreed to be a "Big Brother" to some undergraduate in 2006. The Sesquicentennial Committee has some special things planned for the Big and Little Brothers who are matched. One idea I have heard is that the Little Brother will place a pledge in the time capsule to be buried at Norwich to be a Big Brother to an undergraduate in 2056! ( I understand it is possible for alumni of one chapter to designate their contribution to an undergraduate in that chapter, however, such restrictions are discouraged, as the $300.00 is to be based on need, with the idea of getting as many undergraduates to experience the 2006 Sesquicentennial as possible).
Those of you so inclined who wish to join me as a Big Brother and who I hope will consider coming to the Sesquicentennial in June 2006, I thank you. These checks should be made out the same way: "Theta Chi Convention 2006" and in the memo section note: "Big Brother Challenge."
If you could get your checks to me by December 31, 2004, at the below address, I will collect them and forward them to the IHQ. The funds will be invested until needed, increasing the value of your gift at this time.
I noted above that neither donation is tax deductible. Your contributions are going to defray the costs of the 2006 Sesquicentennial Celebration and travel costs, neither of which are tax deductible items under the IRS Code. However, the Foundation Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity, Inc., our IRS Code 501(c)(3) organization, of which I proudly serve as President, will be having a tax deductible fund raiser next year to help defray the costs of the educational programming activities at the 2006 Sesquicentennial. You will hear more about this from me next year. I will be appealing to you as Foundation Chapter president and as a proud member of Gamma Lambda Chapter at the University of Denver, and that appeal will again be Fraternity wide.
Thank you Brothers for reading through this and for your anticipated wildly enthusiastic response to these fund-raising initiatives.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families, and, please consider writing in June 8-11, 2006, Norwich University, Northfield, Vermont in your calendars. It will be an historic event for Theta Chi Fraternity and I think you will enjoy it immensely.
Fraternally,
Jim ("JJ") Moylan
Gamma Lambda Chapter/1969
Chapter Challenge Results
Sunday, May 7, 2006
I am very proud to announce that Gamma Lambda Chapter,
with 25 Brothers participating, raised $1,000 for the Chapter Challenge
in connection with our Sesquicentennial Convention. I am mailing the
balance of the checks to the IHQ later today.
Our challenge was to raise $540.00, the number of men initiated into
Gamma Lambda Chapter at the University of Denver as of April 10, 2005.
We almost doubled our challenge!
It is so heartening to me when every time I put out a call for financial
assistance, the Gamma Lambda Brothers generously respond.
I have suggested to Jim Powell, CFO at the IHQ, that the excess be
applied, at least theoretically, to Alpha Chapter initiates, not
otherwise covered in the Challenge, or to a closed Chapter or two, with
a total initiate population of approximately 460 Brothers in Theta Chi.
I expressed this as Gamma Lambda Chapters expression of extending a
financial "Helping Hand" to our other Brothers in Theta Chi Fraternity.
I understand some of you plan to be at Convention, June 8-11, 2006 at
Norwich University in Northfield, VT., and I will look forward to seeing
you then.
Thank you so much again, Brothers.
Fraternally,
Jim Moylan
Obituaries
Older Archive Articles
JJ’s Letter about Gamma Lambda Chapter at DU
May 5, 2008
Brothers,
Sorry I did not get back to you last week with a report on the visit to the Gamma Lambda Chapter at the University of Denver on Wednesday 4/23/08, as I had hoped I would.
"The best laid plans of mice and men..."
In any event, the undergraduate members of the Chapter assembled on Wednesday in one of the classroom buildings at the appointed time. Unfortunately, I was running late from my prior meeting that day and notified the Chapter President, Tim Brecton, via cell phone that I would be running a little late. Happily, Bob Wolper and Tim Schroeder were there on time. By the time I got there, they were assembled on the lawn, as their time for the use of the classroom had expired.
Bob and Tim had them engaged as I walked up to join the meeting. There was a good dialogue going on, and I was content to observe. Eventually, I began to participate as well.
Bob and Tim had them engaged as I walked up to join the meeting. There was a good dialogue going on, and I was content to observe. Eventually, I began to participate as well.
Let me say first, this is a good bunch of young men. They understand they are the stewards of Theta Chi Fraternity on the DU campus and hold it in a sacred trust for those who have preceded them, (viz. us) and those who will follow. They have a cumulative 3.5 GPA and each of them is involved in at least one other campus activity or organization, often in a leadership role. You would be proud to call them Brothers.
The problem, as Bob, Tim and I later analyzed it over beer and pizza, is that they do not know what to do or how to do it, vis-à-vis rush/recruitment, and just being a fraternity. They keep on saying that they are not a "traditional fraternity." I pointed out that they are, if you look at fraternity on the 4 legged stool model: Leadership, Academics, Community Service and Lifelong Friendships. They do that in spades. I think when they say that, what they are saying is that they are not a large chapter with a house and throwing big parties. I pointed out that after we came back on the DU campus in 1996-1997, we did have a large Chapter, a house and there was social activity. (By the way, it was the parties and the party types who later joined the Chapter that eventually lead to its demise, because that is all they wanted to do and not work for the Chapter.)
I think that they want to be back the way the Chapter was in the early 2000's, over 50 members, a Chapter house, leaders on campus, involved in the campus and community, a 3.5 cumulative GPA and a social calendar. But the excuses are that they all study hard, are involved with other campus organizations, prioritizing time for fraternity is difficult, etc. The long and short response to those laments is that Theta Chi has to be the priority, next to studies. I think some of them got it, but not all, or perhaps their other activities are to remain their priorities.
Nevertheless, we spent a lot of time talking about Rush/Recruitment and that they make it seem like "rocket-science" when it is so simple. All of them said they know someone from a class or another campus organization who would be a great Theta Chi. The just did not know the basics about getting the guy to come over to a meeting, event or activity. "Hey! You invite him." "What if he says 'No'?" Find out why, maybe he has another engagement, ask him again, keep asking until he tells you that absolutely under no circumstances would he ever join a fraternity, let alone Theta Chi. Then smile and ask him to come to an event the following week.
We talked about what they have to sell. Correct, it is a small Chapter, no house, restricted in what they can do financially, etc. But, what an opportunity to give young men leadership opportunities in this small Chapter and you want to recruit men who want the challenge of leadership opportunities. We also talked about lots of Brotherhood things they could do that do not cost much, if any, money. You want guys to join the Chapter for the guys that are in the Chapter or thinking of joining. You do not want the guys who only are interested in going to the parties. I think that was an eye-opening statement for some of them.
I could go on, but I think you are getting the picture.
We just need to work with the under grads to get them focused on Theta Chi as a priority, the leadership opportunities present, the pride and Brotherhood they will experience in building the Chapter together, making lifelong friendships.
I am committed to getting involved with them in the fall and I am sure Bob and Tim will put in time as well. Jim Murphy was out of town, but we know he was the architect of the Rush program that took us from 7 initiated Brothers in the fall of 1965 to 85 brothers in June of 1969.
Bottom line - These are good young men. They are worthy of our support: be it mentoring, participating or extending the financial Helping Hand. I will be encouraging the Chapter officers and the Gamma Lambda Alumni Corporation Alumni Brothers to work on a plan over the summer for Rush/Recruitment, getting a budget put together, etc. I hope you will support this effort in any way you can. And again, these young men are worth it - period.
On another note, I do not know if you have all seen the current edition of The Rattle, (Spring 2008), but Gamma Lambda Chapter shined in terms of our financial commitment to the National Fraternity:
Chapters by Percentage of Participation
1st -
9.73%
Chapters by Number of Contributors
2nd - 50
Chapters by Amount of Contributions
10th - $5,020
Thank you, Brothers!
Fraternally,
Jim