January 8, 2007

To: Alumni, Phi Kappa Psi, PA Alpha
Re: Update on December 26, 2006 email

Brothers,

The response to the December email has been exceptional in terms of percentage of replies and, equally, in terms of willingness to provide support to our efforts. Thank you!

In late December, Brother Art Gilkes met with Gerry Stebbins, Associate Dean of Student Life, at W&J. The purpose of the meeting was to review the format of the papers to be filed to request a new fraternity house and the timing of the filing. Art reports a cordial meeting and that Gerry wants to work with us to keep a Phi Psi House on the campus. Nevertheless, Art concludes that the situation is indeed critical and that time is growing short. Art’s full report on this meeting is on our new website: www.phikappapsialpha.com.

Also in December, Brother Albert Cuneo discovered a dormant Phi Psi House Corporation filed as a non-profit corporation with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. We believe this corporation was created three or four years ago when the College first started moving Greek organizations to the new housing. Apparently nothing has been done with this vehicle. It may serve as our organization for the creation of a PA Alpha Alumni Association. I have asked Brother Gilkes to look into this to make sure it is a clean corporation from a legal and liability point of view.

We have scheduled a meeting for 3:00 on January 17 at the College. The attendees will be:

W&J

·         Gerry Stebbins, Associate Dean of Student Life

·         A member of the College financial staff

 

Phi Psi National

·         Will Haskett, Director of Alumni Affairs

·         Mark Lipka, Consultant

 

PA Alpha Undergrads

·         The chapter Executive Committee has been invited

 

PA Alpha Alumni

·         The Steering Committee

 

We are now in the process of assembling the Steering Committee. It is our intention to have representatives from various industries so we can address any problems with expertise. To date, the members of the Steering Committee are:

 

Pittsburgh Alumni Association, Jim Denny

Insurance, Bob Murray

Legal, Art Gilkes

Public Relations, Tom Benic

Accounting,

Banking,

Human Resources Training,

 

As you can see, we have three vacancies. I ask that brothers from these three areas volunteer to fill the positions. Most of our communication is through email and telephone. You need to be able to attend the January 17 meeting.

 

Brother Pat Benic has created our website. If you haven’t visited yet, go to

www.phikappapsialpha.com. It contains background information on the present housing crisis, photographs and e-mail addresses of about 130 fellow PA Alpha brothers. Feel free to add addresses of brothers who aren’t on our list.

 

Also, Pat is interested in putting some pictures of Phi Psi life on the website. If you have some you think would be interesting and would bring back memories, please reply to this email with the details. Pat will contact you.

 

Finally, I extend thanks on behalf of the Steering Committee and other involved brothers to all of you that have sent emails supporting our efforts in this project. If you haven’t replied yet, please do so. Also, please keep forwarding these communications to your email list or send us your list to be included in this email group.

 

Hi, Hi, Hi

 

James C. Denny

W&J, Class of 1971

President, Pittsburgh Alumni Association, Phi Kappa Psi