2008 Spring Newsletter
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IN THE BONDS a publication of the alpha Mu chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha spring 2008 New Pike House Becoming a Reality M DAWG Inc., Alpha Mu’s legal housing corpo- given to the acquisition of Alpha Mu’s new house (see ration, agreed to the University terms regarding spotlight on page 2). For the last two years, Andy has Athe relocation to a new fraternity house on River coordinated and led Alpha Mu through negotiations Road and signed all necessary legal documents with the with the University. Despite undesirable circumstances University on December 10. Construction on the new and relatively minimal financial resources, Andy for- house is expected to be completed by late 2010 or early mulated a plan that has enabled Pike at the University 2011. Alpha Mu will not have to vacate the Pike house of Georgia to thrive. With his financial and real estate INSIDE: until the new house is move-in ready. experience, Andy has led the Housing Corporation through its toughest challenge yet. Alumni For many, this is a painful transition and the end of an era. For specific questions about the deal and the plans for the Spotlights However, it gives the Chapter and alumni a new fraternity house, equipped with modern-day amenities and innovations, new Pike house, please e-mail Andy at [email protected] 2-3 in which to embark upon its second century of existence. or me at the address below. Alumni Many people have contributed their time and talents to Fraternally, UPdate this effort. However, the Housing Corporation would James B. Gates ’97 3 like to recognize its treasurer, Andy Day ’94, for the Housing Corporation Board Secretary extraordinary amount of time and dedication he has [email protected] thank you generous brothers 4 PIKES PROSPER AT UGA ast semester proved to be another rewarding one as PARENT’S WEEKEND A HIT ΠΚΑ still ranks among the top of Greek commu- Parent’s Weekend was a huge success as we welcomed Lnity. Alpha Mu’s performance in the classroom and The Beatles cover band The Return to the Pike mansion. on the intramural field, as well as our participation in var- The parents came back the following day to witness the ious philanthropies, has given us the momentum to make Bulldogs’ 45-16 win over Western Carolina. It was a great our centennial year the best. weekend, and we look forward to having our parents back next fall. CHAPTER G.P.A. STILL AT ITS BEST (Continued on page 2) Once again Pike ranks among the top in fraternity G.P.A. with a cumulative average above a 3.0. Former SMC Jeff Academic Advisor Brandon Frye, Appalachian State ’97, Alpha Mu Costolnick ’04 and has done a great job providing Brothers with the best SMC Jack Albanese ’06 possible academic support. Celebrates 100 Years tailgate before a Bulldogs game. STRONG SHOWING AT KAPPA DELTA n January 25 Alpha Mu celebrated its 100th Pi Kappa Alpha Brothers partici- birthday. Pike is one of the oldest chapters pated in many fall philanthropies, Oon the UGA campus and this milestone is a including UGA HERO, Alpha great achievement. It speaks volumes about Pike and Omicron Pi Italian Night, Alpha its ability to sustain itself for a century. The next cen- Chi Omega Barefoot on the Lawn, tury will surely present more challenges but the Sigma Kappa Mystic Pizza, and Housing Corporation feels the new Chapter House Dance Marathon. This semester, will be a springboard to propel the Chapter to future Evan Meyers ’07 was a runner-up successes. in the Kappa Delta Big Man on Campus. This is the third year in a row Pike had a strong showing, Happy Birthday, Alpha Mu! winning the previous two years. IN THE BONDS PAGE 2 ALUMNUS SPOTLIGHT Andy Day ’94 Encourages Undergraduates to be Active in Organizations thought joining the fraternity would be a and president as a senior. I was also president am the chief great way to meet new friends and of the Real Estate Society my senior year. As operating officer Ibecome more involved in the University. an alumnus, I am the treasurer of the Housing for Williams It proved to be an amazing experience. I met Corporation. Asset Management, an apartment acquisition several people who will be lifelong friends. firm that specializes in buying value-added As an undergraduate, I was social chairman I earned a bachelor’s degree in business with apartment complexes across the country. my sophomore year, treasurer my junior year, a double major in real estate and finance. I Leadership is essential to seeing goals through to accomplishment. Good leadership is the most admirable quality a person can PIKES PROSPER AT UGA possess. I always try to lead in a team-ori- ented environment. I never try to pass off (Continued from page 1) responsibilities. I have always thought it is BASKETBALL TEAM MORE QUALITY GROWTH FOR ALPHA MU better to think and act as a group. Simply put, BOASTS WINNING SEASON One of the main tenets of this year’s Pike I just like to surround myself with people Alpha Mu’s intramural teams have once National Convention was quality growth who have the same interests, ethics, and again boasted winning records in all sports within chapters. Without sacrificing our high morals as me. with our most recent being basketball. The standards and the character we expect from basketball team, led by Intramural Chairman our Brothers, and with the leadership of J.D. Hughes ’05, lost only one regular sea- Recruitment Chairman Chris DiFiore ’06, Leadership is essential son game before falling short of the champi- spring recruitment yielded four quality men. onship. Alpha Mu is eagerly awaiting the With the recent campus-wide decline in men to seeing goals through upcoming softball and golf seasons to once going through recruitment we believe we again prove our dominance. have obtained the best possible group of men to accomplishment. and hope to reach our goal of 30 in the fall. UPCOMING EVENTS Undergraduates should become active in The Brothers of Alpha Mu are eagerly await- University organizations. This is where you ing this year’s Spike for Life Volleyball will meet people who will one day shape and Tournament in April. Over $6,000 was raised lead our state. One of my biggest regrets for the American Red Cross last year and we from college was not trying to become more hope to surpass that mark this year. We par- involved early in my time at UGA. It will ticipated in the annual Pike National Work also allow you to become a more rounded Day on March 2. With help from Brothers, and balanced person. our families, and Pike alumni, we are improving our house and surroundings for I will always have very fond memories of Richard Hill ’05, Dan Connor ’05, and Jon our short time left on Lumpkin Street. At the pledgeship. Though it may have been hard, I Costolnick ’06 at the Gamma Alpha Chapter end of April, we will participate in Relay for forged several friendships in those three House after the Georgia vs. Alabama game. Life with our new partners, Kappa Delta. months that will last forever. Senior year may Pike is proud to be a part of the relay’s suc- have been the most fun of my college experi- cess and to help the fight against cancer. ence. We had a great executive board and lived that year to its fullest. Alpha Mu Chapter’s strong character and per- formance on campus has ensured that we will I have an amazing wife, the former Rianna prosper at the University of Georgia for Heard. Going against traditional UGA stan- another hundred years. I’m excited to have the dards, I married a Gator. We do not have any opportunity to lead these men and look forward kids yet. to another great semester with Pi Kappa Alpha. I always enjoy traveling with Rianna. We just got back from a vacation to Chile. My spring Phi Phi Kappa Alpha, is filled with coaching the White Sox in the Jack Albanese ’06 majors division at Buckhead Baseball. This Recruitment Chairman Chris DiFiore ’06 SMC is my eighth year of coaching. In my free and Pike Dream Girl Elizabeth Fries enjoy [email protected] time I love to play softball, golf, exercise, or the game at the Thrasher’s Datenight. (404) 394-5940 just lounge around, read or watch TV. PAGE 3 PI KAPPA ALPHA ALUMNUS SPOTLIGHT Jere Wood ’69 Cherishes His Relationship with Pi Kappa Alpha unior college transfer and wrestler Jere Wood ’69 felt he had process toward a goal.” As a leader himself, Jere feels he can handle common interests with the many athletes in Alpha Mu’s mem- the responsibilities and enjoys working with people who have posi- Jbership. Jere says he learned and matured a lot during tive attitudes. his undergraduate years. He earned a degree in economics then entered law school, maintaining a strong connection Jere feels that undergraduates should enjoy their time in with Alpha Mu. college because “life doesn’t get any easier.” He advises alumni who are early in their careers to find a career they He says life as an undergraduate was never dull. Living in enjoy. “Life is too short to be working at something you the Chapter House taught him how to work with people, don’t have a passion for.” and he values the lifelong friendships of his Alpha Mu Brothers, who have become his second family. He cher- Jere grew up in Roswell, Georgia, and still lives there with ishes the relationship he has with Pi Kappa Alpha.