FL DELTA UPDATE
January
14, 2002
FL Delta Alumni;
The FL Delta Chapter has continued to take significant strides in the last several months in our goal to return to prominence at the University of Florida. Three years ago when the FL Delta Alumni Advisory Board decided to suspend our chapters operations, the International Fraternity designed a plan to re-establish the FL Delta Chapter. The plan included gathering the alumni of FL Delta to raise the funds necessary to renovate the chapter house; to recruit a group of young men in Gainesville that could bring FL Delta back to the University of Florida; to provide the guidance necessary to grow the chapter; and develop an involved Alumni Board that could help guarantee FL Delta will again be the best Fraternity at the University of Florida.
As you all know, the alumni of FL Delta have stepped forward and provided the commitments to renovate the chapter house. Nearly $1 million in pledges over 5 years has allowed Phase I of the renovations to be completed. Phase II is in the planning stages but will most likely be held up until the 2001 commitments have been received. If you have not forwarded last years pledge to the FL Delta Campaign, please do so now or we risk falling behind schedule.
FL Delta currently has 30 initiated brothers at the University of Florida with 15 brothers living in the fraternity house at 15 Fraternity Row. The University of Florida Office of Student Affairs requires a full time live-in advisor for any Fraternal facility with more than 15 residents. We capped our 2001-2002 live in brothers at 15. We are on track to fill the house for the fall of 2002.
Spring Recruitment is underway this week. The chapter is anticipating a Spring New Member Class of between 20 and 25. Our plan when we recruited the initial re-founding class was to start small and grow each semester. From previous experience on other expansion efforts, the International Fraternity has had more success training and educating a smaller, more committed group that larger initial classes. Our 30 guys are now prepared to train the next group in how to be a Pi Lam. Therefore, we will come close to doubling our numbers this spring.
Rumors of Delta Chi’s pledge class joining Pi Lam are not entirely true. Delta Chi is closing at the University of Florida due to continued risk management violations. Their fall pledge class discussed joining our chapter a few months ago. I have met with most of the previous Delta Chi pledges and our chapter on this matter. FL Delta has decided that we will not be extending a bid to their entire class, but that individuals of that class will be recruited and extended bids.
Rumors of FL Delta violating the Fraternity and University policies on hazing are not true. I met with each brother and new members the day after a concern of potential hazing activities with our new group were mentioned. The results were that our group discussed some events that may have violated our policy but decided not to execute them. It was a valuable learning experience for our young Chapter as we shared our investigation with the University and they confirmed that no further investigating from their end was needed.
New Officers have been elected for the 2002 calendar year. Jason Fein, from Miami, is the new Rex and is doing an outstanding job. He welcomes your thoughts, questions and stories and can be reached at Finslover@aol.com.
NOSEBOWL will return to Pi Lam and the University of Florida in 2002. Nosebowl Sunday will be the day after the Auburn game in October. We will combine Alumni Weekend, Parents Weekend and Nosebowl into one weekend. Nick Norden has been elected Nosebowl coach and is already preparing for next October. Nick will be coaching the spring new member class in a mock Nosebowl game against the Brothers team on February 24th. The coach and his staff will get valuable experience this spring in how to teach, coach and prepare for Nosebowl. If you are interested in serving on a Nosebowl committee to help re-establish the traditions, meaning and importance of the Nosebowl experience please let me know.
The Chapter is involved and participating in the Interfraternity Council, all fraternity and sorority philanthropies, Greek Week and Homecoming. There are ten more Fraternities than Sororities at the University of Florida; therefore ten Fraternities were without a Sorority during a week of homecoming last fall. We were not one of them. All 30 of our Brothers enjoyed a full social schedule with an entire Sorority for the week.
The Chapter will be participating in the Spring Regional Conclave on January 18-20 in Tampa. The Conclave, sponsored by the Pi Lambda Phi Educational Foundation, will focus on leadership training for our officers to take back to the chapter. In addition, the Pi Lambda Phi International Convention will be in Cocoa Beach from June 26-30. More information will follow about a FL Delta alumni gathering during Convention.
Hundreds of FL Delta’s have put in so much time and money for us to be where we are today. The Chapter will continue to make strides as they establish the strong foundation that is necessary to build a fraternity. A Fraternity that you can be proud of today and for future generations of Pi Lams to enjoy.
Thank you to all who have given, and continue to give, their time, effort and resources to our great Chapter. I am more honored than ever before to be a member of the FL Delta Chapter and your Brother.
Fraternally,
Jeff Buhler