DELTA PHI CHAPTER 75th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

10/12/2007 - 10/13/2007

Delta Phi Lion March

The Delta Phi chapter's 75th Anniversary included two special events -- a Gentlemenís 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.

Four of a couple hundred well-dressed alumni share some wine prior to Delta Phi's Anniversary Ball at the downtown Westin Hotel in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

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.