Winter 2013

PRESIDENT’S NOTE BY MARTIN ST. JOHN

I'm proud to report another successful year at the Beta Theta chapter. The undergraduates have once again distinguished themselves in academics, campus leadership, and community service. Their leadership has guided the chapter in successfully collecting back and present debt, recruiting pledge classes that I believe will further burnish the White Cross, and sending one of their number to the presidency of IFC and a finalist in Homecoming King. While doing all this they had time to be the fun-loving brotherhood that we all remember so fondly. We had two successful alumni events, a winter homecoming for a Pitt basketball game and our annual golf outing at the Pitt homecoming. We managed to get Brothers Alan Biehler (my college roommate) and Dick Bedger back for golf. We haven't seen them in a while and are glad they are back having fun with us. Of course, many of the old regulars attended, a partial list being Jim Gruber (the Grand Rapids real estate mogul famous for his keg stand), George Marinelli, Greg Davis (a former Consul), Al Friedberg, Tom Hayes, Harry and Chris Kunselman, Ken Silay (yes, the same one who led us astray last year in Ft. Myers), and almost all the members of the Sigma Chi Club of Pittsburgh board, Brother Ernie Simon being the exception. I wonder if he knows that GPS devices are now made. We think he is still trying to find the course. We had a great showing of young alums and undergrads there also; they really are the ones who made this the most successful golf outing ever. Thanks to all for attending and making this a fabulously successful event. Special thanks should be given to Chapter Adviser Guido Gurrera, Treasurer Jonathan Dane (the best ever, by the way), and Dan Hahn for the planning and operation of terrific events.

We are planning another winter Homecoming for a Pitt basketball game and another golf outing. Consult this and subsequent newsletters for all the particulars of these events. Additionally, I encourage all of you to become a dues paying member of the Sigma Chi Club of Pittsburgh. Your dues are the lifeblood of our organization. Brother Bob Iervolino sent us $1500 in the past year, for which we thank him profusely. However, our normal dues are $50 dollars for the basic membership with $100 and $200 dues levels earning special goodies from the board. Please pay your dues. It allows us to improve the house and send young brothers to various leadership activities. In closing, I and the members of the board wish you and your families a Happy Holiday season. Be safe and well and may the spirit of Sigma Chi be strong in your heart. Martin (Marty) St. John 1968 President Sigma Chi Club of Pittsburgh

Please join us for our next Brother’s event on February 15th at 1PM at Peter’s Pub in Oakland as we get together to watch our Pitt Panther’s take on the North

Carolina Tar Heels. See inside for more details.

HOMECOMING KING CONTESTANT MAKES HEADLINES

Each year for Homecoming the undergraduates nominate one Senior to represent the Fraternity and run for the coveted title of “Homecoming King”. This year the chapter nominated Zachary Patton, who unlike other

candidates, is openly gay. However, the real story is regarding Zach’s decision to come out and reveal his sexual orientation, which he says was largely influenced by the support and acceptance of his Brothers at Sigma Chi. As Zach put it, Sigma Chi is “a real brotherhood”, and a place where he “feels accepted”. It was because of this bond that Zach knew he would have the backing of his Brothers, and be able to withstand whatever backlash he faced. And so with the support of the Fraternity, in September Zach embarked on a campaign to run as Pitt’s first openly gay Homecoming King, promoting gender quality, and also hoping to dispel stereotypes about fraternities. Zach picked up a couple headlines along the way (The Post-Gazette featured an article about him), but ultimately his candidacy ended after making it to Court. That said, Zach has come a long way since high school, and a lot of it is because of his Brothers at Sigma Chi.

JOIN THE UNDERGRADUATE MENTORSHIP PROGRAM January welcomes our 4th year of the Beta Theta Mentor Program. We have a diverse group of eager undergraduate brothers who hope to gain perspective and wisdom from their alumni mentors who have already successfully walked the life paths they aspire to walk. This program was developed to carefully pair our alumni brothers with undergraduates based on desired career path, and to create and perpetuate professional and educational support for the benefit of the undergraduate members of the Beta Theta Chapter.

“Be inspired. Be inspiring. Share what you know with others. Take your place among the mentors of yesterday, today and tomorrow.

We’re confident you’ll be satisfied.” - The Magazine of Sigma Chi,

Spring 2003

We have all had one, or many, individuals in our lives whom have made an impact on us in one way or another, and now through the Beta Theta Chapter Mentor Program, we have the chance to help do the same. Mentors play an important role in the development on their mentees, helping their mentees to succeed by sharing academic knowledge and skills, and getting them ready for the outside world. You don’t need to live or work in Pittsburgh to become a mentor, all you need is a

passion for Sigma Chi and a willingness dedicate time over the next 12 months to developing a relationship with a student.

You don’t need to live or work in Pittsburgh to become a mentor, all

you need is a passion for Sigma Chi.

We are currently starting to pair undergraduates for the next round of the program and are looking for alumni willing to participate in the program. Past alumni mentors have ranged from experienced CEO’s, entrepreneurs, and doctors, to recently graduated brothers just starting their careers. For more information, or to add your name as an available mentor, please contact Jon Allen at 724-454-5903 or via email at Jon.Allen@hoplitecapital.com.

THE BETA THETA ENDOWMENT BY GUIDO GURRERA

Did you know that Beta Theta has an Endowment Fund? Well we do... and it is providing the undergrads with great resources! Several years ago an idea was hatched to establish a fund from which Beta Theta could have a secure stream of money for scholarships, leadership development, programming, and other chapter needs. A group of dedicated alumni convened and established a Board to oversee the fund. These Brothers included Michael Bryson, Wes Pickard, Keith Schaefer, J. Roger Glunt, and Frank Ruscetti. The Grand Praetor (Fred Boutros), the Chapter Advisor (myself), and the undergraduate brother serving as the scholarship chairman (previously Jake Burns, Sean DelSerro, and currently John McGuire) round out the remaining board members. After several years of fundraising, I’m pleased to say that the Beta Theta Endowment has raised almost $200,000 of our $250,000 goal. The endowment, which resides at and is managed by the Sigma Chi Foundation, provides the Chapter with several annual benefits (Note: all contributions flow through the Sigma Chi Foundation and are therefore tax deductible to the donor). This money is separate from the funds that the Housing Corporation raises to maintain the Chapter House. Each year, we will have 5 brothers paid for and attending the Balfour Leadership Training Workshop. We also have the option of sending up to 3 more - also guaranteed and paid - should we choose. The Workshop has come to be known as BLTW and is the largest gathering of brothers in the Greek-letter world. Last year more than 2,500 brothers congregated at Purdue University in Indiana. BLTW provides specialized training for the in-coming Consul, Pro Consul, Quaestor, Magister, and Rush Chairman, as well as an emerging leaders” section. As a past facilitator and attendee of BLTW, I can attest as to how special this experience is for our young brothers. Not only does it prepare the Chapter’s officers with training, but the experience is often the first time that they realize that Sigma Chi is much, much larger than just Pittsburgh. Additionally, the Endowment guarantees that Beta Theta will have one guaranteed spot for our brothers at Horizons each year. Horizons is a weeklong leadership development workshop that is held in Snowbird, Utah. This program is beyond comparison in the collegiate world. Again, there will be no cost to the undergraduates who are lucky enough to attend. The Endowment also provides several annual scholarships. This year we will award 4 separate $1,000 grants to brothers at the Chapter. The recipients will be the brother with the greatest overall academic performance for the year, the brother with the greatest involvement on campus outside of Sigma Chi, and the new initiate/pledge with the highest grade point average. As of right now the Board is undecided as to the criteria for the fourth scholarship. At the end of each semester the University provides me, as the Chapter Advisor, with

a listing of the grades of each of our brothers, as well as metrics that allow me to compare our Chapter’s overall grade point average with other Greek organizations, as well as campus wide statistics. Over the past few years I have watched the Chapter’s grades continue to climb in comparison to the other fraternities. After the Spring 2013 semester our overall GPA was 3.1. That ranked well above most fraternities, and is higher than the University’s all-male GPA. I really believe that these scholarships have provided our brothers with some incentive to better their grades. I also believe that these scholarships have become very attractive to new recruits. As more money is raised by the Endowment we will be able to provide additional benefits to the Chapter. In the future, the undergraduates can expect to receive a totally funded Chapter-wide annual retreat, more scholarships, more trips to Horizon and BLTW, travel stipends, and more scholarships. If you are interested in donating, please contact Brother Michael Bryson at michaelbryson1@mac.com. Remember, any donation will be tax deductible.

Thanks to the generous support of our alumni the Beta Theta

Chapter was designated as a Thomas Cowan Bell Chapter

for the 2013 – 2014 school year. As a Bell Chapter, Beta

Theta receives enhanced scholarship and leadership

benefits. Thank you to all of those that contributed!

2013 – 2014 DUES PAYING MEMBERS

Below is a list of the Brothers who have paid their alumni dues so far this year. Please note that we follow an academic fiscal year to coincide with the undergraduates. As a result, our fiscal year runs from September 1 – August 30. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact Jonathan Dane by sending an email to alumni@pittsig.org.

CATHEDRAL LEVEL ($200 OR MORE)

Jonathan Dane Michael DeMarco Robert Giunta Denis Glunt Guido GurreraDavid C. Hammers Bob Iervolino Patrick T. McCulloch Joel McNeil Tom PasternakWesley C. Pickard Christian T. Quimby Gregory Rodgers Ken Silay Ernie Simon

GOLD LEVEL ($100)

Ronald Bellohusen John R. Bender Michael A. Bryson Joseph Cavanaugh J. Alan EnglishJ. Roger Glunt Joseph M. James Thomas M. Meisner Carlos Reisen, Jr. Martin St. John

BLUE LEVEL ($50)

Bill Chrisner Joseph Marasco, Jr. William C. Miller Greg Musi Philip Rabinowitz

Brothers, thank you for your generosity. Your donations keep the Beta Theta chapter secure

J. ROGER GLUNT RECOGNIZED

AT CHANCELLOR’S RECEPTION

On November 16th, 2013, Brother J. Roger Glunt was recognized at the Chancellor’s Reception prior to the Pitt v. North Carolina football game. Brother Glunt and his wife Lee are pictured above.

BRIAN GENERALOVICH

RECOGNIZED AT PETERSON

This past November Brother Brian Generalovich was honored at the Peterson Events Center for his Athletic Achievement. Above, undergraduate Brothers meet with Brother Generalovich and his daughter, who is a Sigma Chi Sweetheart.  

ALUMNI NEWS, EVENTS, AND HAPPENINGS

CARLOS REISEN, JR. RECEIVES AWARD OF DISTINCTION

On September 26th, 2013, Brother Carlos Reisen, Jr. (third from left) was honored by the Pitt Varsity Letter Club as a 2013 “Awardee of Distinction”. The award is presented to alumni who earned a varsity letter in intercollegiate athletics at Pitt 25 or more years ago, and have distinguished themselves in their professions and communities.

THANKS TO EVERYONE THAT MADE IT TO BROTHER’S WEEKEND!

We look forward to seeing everyone again next year for Brother’s Weekend! More photos can be seen on our website, http://www.pittsig.org.

 

 

ALUMNI NEWS, EVENTS, AND HAPPENINGS

BETA THETA ALUMNI GATHER

FOR PITT V. NOTRE DAME GAME

This past November Beta Theta alumni from all over the country came back to Pittsburgh to watch Pitt take on Notre Dame.

RECENT ENGAGEMENTS

Brother Brian Schopfer recently became engaged to his sweetheart, Jennifer Davis.

Brother Larry Nicolais recently became engaged to his sweetheart, Caitlin Capon.

 

 

JOIN US FEBRUARY 15TH AT PETER’S PUB AS WE WATCH PITT

TAKE ON NORTH CAROLINA

The Pitt men’s basketball team is off to a strong start this year and is set to take on the North Carolina Tar Heels in the regular season finale on February 15th at 1PM. The Sigma Chi Beta Theta alumni will be hosting a game watch in the upstairs portion of Peter’s Pub in Oakland in for the game. We’ll have pizza, sandwiches, wings, drinks, and plenty of good company! The cost of the event will be $25 per person, which will cover food and beer. We will also be having a 50/50 raffle for a pair of tickets to the NC State (3/3) and Florida State (2/23) games and other prizes. Please RSVP to Brother Brad Borghetti by calling 813-751-4044 or sending an email to: alumni@pittsig.org.

IN MEMORIAM

It is with a sad heart we announce the following Brothers have recently enter the Chapter Eternal: Brother Bob Trethaway (pledge class of ’65) passed away on Sept 20, 2013. He was a retired pharmacist living in St. Simon Island, GA. Brother Robert E. Carlson (pledge class of ’43) passed away on May 16, 2013. He was a retired professor (University of Pittsburgh from 1947-1961) living in West Chester, PA, who also authored books on Chester and Delaware County.

BROTHERS, WE NEED YOUR STORIES AND NEWS

Have any news you’d like to share? Please send an email to alumni@pittsig.org and we’ll include it in the next newsletter.

 

 

PLEAES PAY YOUR ALUMNI DUES

PLEASE SELECT YOUR DUES LEVEL

Cathedral level: $200.00

Gold level: $100.00

Blue level: $50.00 (or “other amount”)

Detach this insert and mail it with your dues payments to:

P.O. Box 23173

Pittsburgh, PA 15222

PLEASE SEND US YOUR UPDATED CONTACT INFORMATION

 

Name: ___________________ Address: ___________________

Phone: ___________________ ___________________

Email: ___________________ ___________________

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BE SURE TO JOIN OUR GROUP ON LINKEDIN: SIGMA CHI – BETA THETA ALUMNI

AND VISIT OUR WEBSITE:

WWW.PITTSIG.COM