CALENDAR OF EVENTS
DKE International Annual Golf Tournament August 10 - 12, 2007 Stonebridge Golf and Country Club, Ann Arbor, Michigan
A great time was had by all in Ann Arbor, thanks largely to the event sponsors. During our behind-the-scenes tour of the Gerald Ford Presidential Library, the archivist showed us the President's DKE scroll, composites from his active chapter days at Omicron, and a letter to his mother, on Mother's Day, written on DKE letterhead. That evening, we enjoyed dinner at what was reported to be an old haunt of Henry Ford's.
Saturday was ideal for the golf tournament. Two foursomes tied for first place at six under par. We left the course for the Big House, where we got a behind-the-scenes tour of Michigan's football stadium from the assistant athletic director -- a Sigma Chi. The Lion Trophy Banquet saw Psi/Alabama leave with top honors. Nick Primrose '08, Kappa Omega/Lake Forest, received the Rough Rider Award. Paul Kuzdrall '66, Omicron/Michigan, deservedly took home the Henry H. Michaels, Jr. Alumni Service Award. And John McNeil '79, Psi/Alabama, received the Henderson Cup. Many chapters earned honors among the four sections of the Lion Trophy. The first, second and third place winners of the four sections are posted here.
Sunday morning featured an open DKE International Board meeting in the Shant. The four-hour meeting included a briefing on the status of each chapter and a thorough review of the strategic plan outline, among many agenda items. The strategic plan outline was amended slightly. It was approved, and details will be posted here soon. Committee chairs and members are needed, and you are urged to get involved in what will become the vehicle that determines and prioritizes DKE's future.
The Rampant Lion Foundation, Delta Kappa Epsilon’s 501(c)(3) Educational Foundation, sponsored this annual event which this year commemorated the life of the Rampant Lion Foundation's Honorary Chairman for 25 years, Brother Gerald R. Ford '35, Omicron/Michigan.
PSI CHAPTER HOUSE DEDICATION / HOMECOMING Friday - Sunday, October 5-7, 2007
What a weekend! What a house! Psi earned this year's Lion Trophy, and there's little wonder why. The alumni support, the relationship with the university, and the actives and chapter operation all come together in one solid organization of gentlemen, scholars and jolly good fellows; but maybe it's the moms, wives, housemother and her staff that handle the details and make Psi the winner it is -- right down to the red and white M&Ms with "Roll Tide" on one side and "DKE" on the other (photo at left).
It was a three-fer weekend for Psi. It was Homecoming, it was dedicating its new $6.5 million chapter house, and it was receiving the Lion Trophy...again. During the weekend, the chapter hosted its annual Psi Day Tea on the Friday before Homecoming. More than 100 people attended the afternoon event that saw the Lion Trophy front and center in the foyer, on a pedestal made just for it. Friday night, the chapter hosted a band and a party in its "swamp," the basement level room with the fraternity's letters painted largely on the floor in front of a permanent stage used by this band and clearly many others to come. The large room, with large-screen TV and comfortable furniture is anything but a swamp.
Saturday morning, the ribbon that was later to be cut was tied across the front porch, and alumni and parents arrived to watch the Homecoming parade that marched down the street that runs between the DKE House and Bryant-Denny Stadium, the home of University of Alabama football since 1929 -- a mere pup compared to the chapter, which was chartered in 1847, just three years after DKE was founded at Yale. The parade was followed by a breakfast at the house, and more then 250 people enjoyed wonderful southern cooking prepared by the housemother's staff. The brothers then headed to the chapter room for a chapter meeting. Alex Fleming '08, Brother Beta, gave a state of the chapter update, the progress of the fundraising campaign to pay off the house was outlined and several brothers made contributions then and later to help that effort, the Lion Trophy was officially presented to Psi -- for the eighth time in the Trophy's 52-year history of being presented. Psi has earned the Trophy more than any other chapter of DKE. Beta / North Carolina has earned the Trophy five times, and Beta Phi / Rochester has earned it three times. No other chapter has earned it more than twice.
A reception followed on the main level of the house and on its extensive back patio, where a tent and cash bar were set up. University President Robert Witt visited the chapter house to take part in the ribbon cutting, as did Senior Associate Vice President for Student Affairs Kathleen Cramer and Dean of Students Tim Hebson. The Lion Trophy, per DKE tradition, was filled and passed around. Many in the crowd, including the Brother Beta's grandmother, enjoyed a drink from the loving cup that was originally a gift from the Fraternity to Edward G. Bartlett '46, Phi / Yale, the last living founder of DKE. It was presented to him in 1894, upon the 50th anniversary of the founding of DKE; and upon his passing his family gave it to the Fraternity. Since 1955, it has been presented as the top award to the Fraternity's best chapter as defined by the qualifications for the honor.
After the ribbon cutting and the passing around of the Trophy, it was off to the game, just across the street, where the Crimson Tide savored a 30-24 win over Houston. Another party was hosted at the house Saturday night, closing a memorable weekend at Psi. For a photo gallery of the weekend, go here.
The competition for the 2008 Lion Trophy is now on. Details are here.
DELTA PHI CHAPTER 75th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION Friday and Saturday, October 12-13, 2007
The Delta Phi chapter's 75th Anniversary included two special events -- a Gentlemen’s Warm Up Evening on Friday at the chapter house, and an elegant Diamond Anniversary Ball at the Westin Hotel in downtown Edmonton on Saturday.
Have you ever seen a Lion March with more than 100 Dekes, led by a bagpiper (photo at left)? It happened in Edmonton.
Friday events included a tour of campus, lunch at La Pasta, and an afternoon at Room at the Top. Friday night's event at the house, however, was untoppable. More than 100 alumni came to the house for a catered event that focused on nothing but fun and fellowship. An open bar, foosball, cigars, music, and a line of alumni that never seemed to end coming in the door all evening made it a night to remember. An 11 p.m. chapter meeting became a 12 a.m. chapter meeting, then a 12:30 a.m. chapter meeting because it was difficult to bring a close to the night. After pledges, hostesses and guests departed, the brothers filled the lower level of the chapter house for songs, ritual and great night of brotherhood. Around 2 a.m., with dozens of alumni from all decades still ready to go, the group moved back upstairs for cards, and the night continued into morning.
While Friday's event was unsurpassable in terms of attendance and alumni support, Saturday's black tie ball saw more than 350 people, including wives and dates, fill two side-by-side Westin ballrooms. A cocktail reception was followed by a Lion March that circled the entire hotel's second floor. A bagpiper led the March, and hotel employees came out to see the spectacle that led all the brothers into the ballrooms where wives and dates were waiting. During the meal an alumni choir sang songs including "The March of DKE" and "We Hail Thee Holy Goddess." Speeches and toasts followed. Kim Mackenzie '63 gave the toast to the Queen; Brother Beta Ehren Cox '05 (Delta Phi uses the initiation year, instead of the graduation year) offered greetings from the chapter; Eric Freeman '84, Psi Phi / DePauw, offered greetings from DKE International; John Agrios '52 gave a toast to the early years; and a toast to brothers departed was given by Bob Rennebohm '73. Syd Wood II '53, whose father was one of Delta Phi's 28 founders, gave the toast to Delta Phi. Brother Gord Wilson '71 gave the toast to the ladies, and Brother Mike Nickel '84 presented a Proclamation from the City of Edmonton. Master of Ceremonies Mike Simons '87 kept the evening moving and the brothers and guests laughing. Every lady present received a red rose, and a printed program at every plate let everyone follow along during the jam-packed evening.
A 20-minute video chronicling the history of Delta Phi was shown, and closing remarks by Brother Simons and event organizer Jorj Sayde '02 led to a group photo and a break before the band, The Urbanites, began playing around 11:15 p.m. The event, like Friday's, went well into the following morning, with a birthday cake presented after the band's first set. As guests departed, each was invited to take a commemorative DKE mug, with a small bottle of Crown Royal inside.
Jorj Sayde and his 10-man organizing team are to be congratulated on an amazing weekend of brotherhood and top-notch events. Nearly 40 brothers served as "class captains" who encouraged men in and around their pledge class to attend, and each did a superb job. To see how a DKE event is done in style, visit Delta Phi when it hosts its next anniversary. To see video clips of the Friday and Saturday gatherings, go here.
DKE CLUB FALL DINNER DANCE Friday, October 19, 2007; 6:00 p.m. The Yale Club, 50 Vanderbilt Avenue, New York City
The DKE Club hosted its members and friends for another memorable evening of dancing and dining in the Grand Ballroom of the Yale Club at 50 Vanderbilt Avenue NYC. This year's event featured the sounds of Joe Battaglia and the NY Big Band. Cocktails began at 6pm and dinner (with wine service) was at 7pm. Details of the evening are coming soon.
Annual Susan B. Easlick/Henry H. Michaels/Gerald R. Ford Golf Tournament Monday, May 5, 2008 Arnold Palmer Course at Bay Creek Cape Charles, Virginia
This year's primary fundraising event of the Rampant Lion Foundation will be the 7th Annual DKE Memorial Golf Tournament, hosted at the Bay Creek Club in Cape Charles, Virginia, on May 5.
Regardless of whether your contribution is a sponsorship of the tournament, please
send
your fully tax -deductible contribution today. For the event to be a true success, we need your help. And we need your presence. Please plan to attend by
signing up
here.
HIGHLIGHTS
Join Dekes from around North America for this annual event. The Arnold Palmer Signature Course at Bay Creek may be the most spectacular golf course on the East Coast! With four holes on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay, eight holes on Old Plantation Creek and several holes framed by sand dunes and large beach bunkers, the Palmer Course is a nature lover's delight. The 7,204 yard championship course pampers its golfers with smooth A-4 greens and perfectly manicured Tifway Bermuda fairways. Five strategically placed sets of tees are guaranteed to make golf fun and challenging for players of all skill levels.
ZETA ZETA CHAPTER 150th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION May 16 - 18, 2008 Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Your invitation is here. The weekend agenda is here, and updates to the weekend plans are here. Online registration is here. The Zeta Zeta 24-hour hotline can be reached toll-free at (877) 412-3353; this number is answered 24/7 and your call will be returned within 24 hours. If you have questions or an offer of assistance, contact Rusty Barkerding, ZZ '63, here.
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