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73rd
Grand Arch Council: Phi Psi in the Big Easy
The 73rd Grand Arch Council, held in New Orleans,
La., blended Fraternity business, local customs
and the Great Joy of Serving Others. From Aug. 9-13,
2006, over 700 brothers helped set the course for
the new biennium by attending general sessions,
amending the Constitution and serving on committees.
Even before the first general session on Aug. 10,
Phi
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Psis
were out in force assisting Habitat for Humanity with
the rebuilding of the Ninth Ward, devastated by Hurricane
Katrina. The Musicians' Village will be a center for New
Orleans' eclectic musical heritage, and will help to convince
many of the area's musicians to return to their home city.
Plenty of Fraternity business was conducted, as well.
Dedicated brothers spent many hours in committees ranging
from the State of the Fraternity to Communications, and
put forth recommendations for the Executive Council and
Headquarters staff to follow for the next two years. Some
of the highlights include a revamping of the new member
education program and the incorporation of our recent
marketing research.
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The
GAC is not all business, however. The Fraternity
held a soiree at the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas,
New Orleans' premier aquarium, attended by hundreds
of brothers and guests. On Thursday, Aug. 10, brothers
went to a local watering hole to watch two very
popular local bands play just for members. Brothers
even had local entertainment during the final banquet.
Phi Kappa Psi prides itself on the excellence of
its members, and honored those who have gone above
and beyond the requirements of membership at the
awards luncheon and final banquet. This year, many
awards were given out to deserving chapters and
individuals, including House Director of the Year,
Esther Wolfe, from the Kansas Alpha Chapter, and
Undergraduate of the Year, Scott Shorten, Kansas
Alpha ‘03. |
"Mom Wolfe," as she likes to be called, has
lived throughout the Midwest, settling in Lawrence, Kan.,
in the 1980s after traveling the world with her daughter
and one of her sons. She earned her Master’s Degree in
Communications from the University of Kansas in 1989,
opened a still-thriving bed and breakfast in Lawrence,
and, looking for a new challenge, took on the role of
House Director for the Kansas Alpha Chapter. She has seen
nearly 400 men initiate, while coordinating the day-to-day
operations of the 35,000 square-foot chapter house housing
almost 100 men. She serves as a friend, confidante, nurse
and even relationship counselor, but if you ask her why
she does it, she will always smile and reply, "Because
it comes with basketball tickets!"
Scott
has done enough during his undergraduate years to
rival the resumes of some of our most accomplished
alumni. He has served in many chapter positions,
and was president of his Interfraternal Council
for two years. In addition to a sterling 3.8 GPA,
he helped to bring up new and active members’ GPAs
as scholarship chairman. He also posed for a calendar
produced by a sorority as a charity fundraiser.
Scott plans to attend medical school after graduation.
Phi Psi would not be able to continue to make a
difference in the lives of its members without people
like Mom Wolfe and Scott Shorten contributing at
the chapter level. We congratulate them, and all
of the 73rd GAC’s award winners. |
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| All Award
Recipients: |
Thomas Cochran Campbell
Award for Ritual Exemplification
Kansas
Alpha |
Founders Award for
Code of Conduct
Illinois Delta |
Membership Excellence
Award
Kansas Alpha |
Outstanding Recruitment
Publication
California Beta |
Senior Involvement
Kansas Alpha |
Griffing-Tate Award
for Fraternity Education
New York Theta |
Phi Psi Big Brother
Missouri Alpha for assisting Alabama Beta |
Amici Award
Louisiana
Gamma |
Man-Mile Award
California Beta |
Edgar Fahs Smith Award
for Fraternity Publication Contributions
Joseph
Natale,
Rhode Island Beta ‘81 |
Ralph R. Haney Award
for Organization of Treasury
Kansas Alpha |
Alumni Relations
Iowa Alpha |
Outstanding Chapter
Newsletter
Washington Alpha |
Chapter Public Relations
Ohio Delta |
Risk Management
Kansas Alpha & Iowa Alpha |
Outstanding Alumni
Association
North Texas Alumni Association |
Outstanding Alumni
Association Newsletter
Rochester Area Alumni
Association |
Alumni Corporation
Award for Continued Excellence
Alabama
Alpha House Corporation |
Outstanding Alumni
Corporation Officer
Mickey Rogers for Indiana
Zeta House Corporation |
Outstanding Chapter
Advisor
Michael Hauck for Ohio Mu |
Advisor to Fraternities
Jennifer Jones-Hall of Valparaiso University |
Hyatt "Pat"
Eby Community Service Award
California
Delta |
Intramural Excellence
Ohio Delta |
Dr. Gordon S. Letterman
Men’s Health Award
Arizona Beta |
Ralph D. Daniel Award
for Excellence in Chapter Management
Ohio
Mu |
Most Improved Chapter
Ohio Eta |
Edward H. Knight Award
for GAC Attendance
Ralph D. Daniel, Arizona
Alpha ‘47 |
Edward H. Knight
Award of Merit
John J. Ziegelmeyer, Jr.,
Kansas Alpha ‘70 |
Ralph "Dud"
Daniel Award for Interfraternal Excellence
David L. Westol,
Executive Director, Theta Chi Fraternity |
Phi Kappa Psi Medal
of Honor
Sgt. Robert W. Betterton, Tennessee
Epsilon ‘80 |
Grand Chapter
New York Theta |
For a full GAC wrap-up, see the fall 2006 issue of The
Shield, arriving in mailboxes in October 2006.
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