THE NEWSLETTER FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS OF BETA GAMMA CHAPTER OF SIGMA PI AT EASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY - WINTER 2014

Alumni From Six Decades Attend Homecoming 2014 Sigma Pi takes 1st place in homecoming float competition

Beta Gamma Recruits Largest Pledge Class at Eastern Illinois 32 New Members this fall Brother Jason Zientarski '04 returns for homecoming with This fall, Beta Gamma welcomed 32 new members! This his children Dylan and June who are eagerly awaiting number is a 100% increase from 2013 and 63% higher than the parade on The Rock. any other fraternity on campus. Fall recruitment began in mid-July when brothers worked with Dean Harwood, the Director of Fraternities and Sororities at EIU, to create a personal recruitment plan. Dean provided brothers with a list of all incoming freshmen men. With the help of Beta Gamma's two recruitment chairs, they were able to locate the incoming freshman on social media sites. Brothers reached out to a number of incoming freshmen Brother Larry Bell '68 looking at composites and introduced them to Sigma Pi and all the brotherhood and reminiscing in the chapter house. could offer them for their next four years of college. These efforts resulted in the largest freshman crowd on move in day.

A special thank you to all Beta Brothers worked together to judge character, ability to Gamma Alumni who made build relationships and maintain Sigma Pi's high standards. the trip back for homecoming. Brother Corey Duzan '98, recipient of last year's EIU A bi-weekly rush event was held for the first month of school Alumni involvement and support Distinguished Educator Award, returns to watch the including multiple cook outs, open houses and sporting is greatly encouraged and homecoming parade and introduce the newest member events. The events were planned and executed leaving all of of his family, Avery, to former fraternity advisor, Brother appreciated! the other fraternities behind. Beta Gamma plans to use this Eli Sidwell '55. Eli Sidwell ‘55 Bryan Krisky ‘09 recruitment plan as a foundation to build on every semester Roger Van Dyke ‘59 Danny Zahos ‘09 moving forward. John Lowe ‘61 Evan Moeller ‘09 Ron Pennell ‘61 James Alvarado ‘09 Beta Gamma Larry Bell ‘68 Kyle Wilson ‘09 Ron Tredennick ‘74 Mark Ouska ‘09 Welcomes Tami Camp as New House Mom Greg Muncer ‘89 Sean McCoy ‘09 Beta Gamma welcomes a new full time live-in house mom this year, Tami Camp. Tami first became Andy Henning ‘10 Lance Kunz ‘89 acquainted with Sigma Pi four years ago when she was hired over the summer to help prepare properties for Jeff Hebenstreit ‘96 Cam Meyer ‘10 fall occupancy. She was subsequently hired to clean the Sigma Pi house once a week during the school year. Wes Graves ‘97 Clayton Seno ‘10 Corey Duzan ‘98 Kendal Spurgin ‘10 This past summer, Tami and her daughter, Sadie, were instrumental in cleaning both houses and painting the Jason Zientarski ‘04 Mario Casamajor ‘10 second floor as well as the entire basement. They also removed old carpet prior to new carpet installation. Kyle Ulastcyk ‘07 Pat Peck ‘10 Thanks to Tami's help, the house looked great when school began! John Bakun ‘08 Ryan Seipp ‘10 Mike Tredennick ‘08 Jimmey Bakun ‘12 Tami plans to focus her attention on encouraging academic excellence, teaching responsibility for one's Will Starkey ‘08 Matt Brichetto ‘13 actions and encouraging respect for the fraternity properties. Tami is dedicated to keeping the standards of Jack O’Connor ‘13 Sigma Pi intact for many years to come and Beta Gamma is proud to have her on board full time. Welcome, Tami!

www.SigmaPiBetaGamma.com Winter • 2014 Beta Gamma Cellar Dwellers Told by Eli Sidwell, Jr. '55 I often reminisce about the years that I spent in college and my participation in Beta-Gamma Chapter as it developed into a strong chapter and the participation in the Sigma Pi National Fraternity as it advanced to International status. With this beginning I am attempting to recall some of the happenings as I remember them and put them on paper for all the members that came behind me as well to create some kind of record my grandkids can read. I was elected to the position of sage as a sophomore which designated me to be the Pictured (L to R): Former Sage, Tim Addante '03, current past Sage and Recruitment Chair Danny Redmore, current Sage chapters' delegate to the Sigma Pi National Biennial TJ Hahn (4.0 Student), Hector Tamayo, Jr. '03 Chapter Director, Ross Kasnewski, 3rd Counselor (Treasurer) and Christian Kabbes, 2nd Counselor (VP) Convocation that was held in Pasadena, California. in the summer of 1956. This is just a preface of an Brother Tim Addante and his wife Jenny welcomed their son Luke into the world in October 2014 Austin, Texas. Tim also article that will come down the road about that recently launched his own successful business called Custom Sweat. Custom Sweat makes customized embroidered experience. sweatbands for any event, school, race, company, promotions and is centered around giving back to local charities. It was after serving my year as sage and having had the experience of travelling to the farthest state West in the U. S. when I had never been farther Chapter Officers from home than the City of Chicago that I was ready Handshakes & Applause to try something new. I had a strong feeling (and still do) that the pledge trainer was and is one of the most Congratulations to the A huge congratulations to Beta Gamma for an important positions in the local chapter. So I asked following Executive Council incredible year of accomplishments! and was granted the permission to be the pledge members who took office on trainer for the December Pledge Class of 1957-58. • Sent two representatives to National Convocation in December 1, 2014. Alumni are As was the custom at that time for Beta-Gamma each Orlando, FL encouraged to contact these pledge class was expected to design, develop and members and offer words of advice. • 2014 Repeat Intramural Champions complete a project that would be an improvement to the fraternity house. The house was purchased in Many thanks to the previous • Greek Week Little Man Tugs Champions 1954 and while improvements had been made to Executive Council members for their make the house habitable for 25 people there were hard work and success over the • Greek Week Pyramids Champions still many improvements to be made. past year. • 1000 point efficiency score (1 of 8 hapters in the nation) This class took on a very ambitious project Sage (President) of transforming the double garage into a chapter Corey Thiesse, Fall 2012 • Increased efficiency score from 650 points to a meeting room. The plans for the project would close Countryside, IL perfect 1000 points one large door, install a gas line to the building [email protected] • Increased gold standard score for heat, put new wiring in the building, insulate 708-299-0579 and drywall and paint the interior. To pay for • Sigma Kappa Kick in the Grass Philanthropy these improvements 10 new pledges agreed to Champions Second Counselor (VP) sign a lease and live in the garage for the spring Ari Adrahtas, Fall 2012 • Alpha Phi Phiesta Bowl Philanthropy Champions quarter. Work was contracted for, 10 bunks were Lincolnwood, IL purchased, leases signed and plans began to • DZ Turtle Tugs Philanthropy Champions materialize - then we got the bomb shell news. Since [email protected] the building was not attached to the main house it 847-529-4399 • Homecoming 2014 1st Place Float would be necessary to have bathing facilities in the • 32 Man Fall Pledge Class – 100% increase from improvements to conform to city health codes. We Third Counselor 2013/Biggest recruitment class of all fraternities and were between a rock and a hard place. (Treasurer) sororities at EIU Erik Benhart, Fall 2012 We had spent too much money to turn back Itasca, IL Continued on Page 3 [email protected] 630-303-4495 Fantasy Draft to Promote Scholarship Fourth Counselor Sigma Pi requires a 2.7 GPA to stay active nationally. they will be marked as 0.0 towards their average (value in (Secretary) This is above and beyond Eastern Illinois University's pledge retention) Ryan Bonarek, Fall 2013 requirement of 2.59. If GPA averages are not met, Beta 3. Teams must finish with all original members Coal City, IL Gamma faces suspension for the upcoming semester 4. Teams must exceed a 2.7 GPA [email protected] for recruitment, intramurals, events and functions. With 5. New member class must be 30 total men. 815-931-4665 new GPA requirements placed on brothers, it is essential 6. Losing team will plan an alcohol free brotherhood event Beta Gamma implement a plan to prevent any academic and perform extra community service hours First Counselor shortcomings. (Alumni Liason) "It was so fun to connect and talk with these guys on Ryan Frazier, Fall 2013 Instead of setting rigorous policies for brothers to a personal level. I think I earned so much more respect as Braidwood, IL follow, with the help of Hector Tamayo '03, Chapter Director opposed to coming into meeting and setting policies. I plan [email protected] and Housing Director, Beta Gamma was tasked with doing on doing this every semester to keep things competitive, 815-409-3220 a fantasy academic draft at a recent active meeting. The fresh and promote scholarship. I am already hearing teams chapter was split into six teams. Brothers with the highest meeting for study tables and actives supporting pledges," GPA were appointed captains. Each team drafted members stated Tamayo. Herald (Ritual) of the fraternity and pledges to their team. Jake Benson, Fall 2013 With this new approach, Beta Gamma may have a Braidwood, IL Rules: winning formula to a Grand Sage victory. Alumni interested [email protected] 1. Each team drafts in snake order until all members are on in helping with recruitment or scholarship are encouraged 815-482-7160 a team to contact Hector Tamayo at [email protected] to get 2. At the end of the semester, teams will take a GPA involved! average of original members drafted. If a pledge drops,

www.SigmaPiBetaGamma.com Winter • 2014 pledge brothers chipped in and paid for it themselves. leaves. There were all night poker sessions, and Tales of The Rock Brother Eli Sidwell '55 was their pledge trainer at the Rick remembers staking Brother Ray Brummett '56 time and was against the project. Eli thought that the twenty bucks. They won $40 which was a lot of by Denny Stewart '66 rock looked like a tombstone and that the brothers money at the time. Other names mentioned were were saying that the Sigma Pi fraternity at EIU was Brother Bill Brown '56, a Korean War veteran just about dead! Rick and Eli remember when the rock and Brother Ken Barry '56. Rick was friends with was delivered, a large hole was dug in the front yard Brother Jim Hill who built the large crest that still and the rock was attached to a significant amount adorns our living room wall. This was no small of concrete. They figured with a big concrete footing task since Brother Hill only had one arm. Rick also plus the natural slope of the front yard, the rock would remembers hearing about Brother Art Fox '52 be hard for rival fraternities to steal. almost getting kicked out of school for not getting his date to the Orchid Ball back to the girl's dorm Right away the rock proved to be a big irritant before it closed and subsequently having to keep to other fraternities, and it wasn't long before they her out all night! The grand old house at 956 Sixth Street would drive by and paint it. Word then spread that and the rock in the front yard stir many great the Phi Sig's were going to attempt to steal it. Eli Rick was chosen Pledge of the Year in memories. Certainly, the house and rock are remembers that there was a great deal of commotion. 1957. I personally owe Brother Marsh a lot. He iconic symbols of the brotherhood that we shared. All the brothers were quickly rounded up and went to along with Brother Jerry Gilbert '64 rushed me In a casual conversation with lifelong friend and the house to guard the rock. Rick remembers when the and got me interested in Sigma Pi. Years later Brother Rick Marsh '57 of Tuscola, I learned that Phi Sig's showed up in a car with a big log chain, he Rick recommended me for the law enforcement Brother Marsh's pledge class came up with the fired two shotgun blasts, fortunately blanks, in their position that I held for 39 years, and he also idea of putting some type of monument in the direction and that was the end of the threat! introduced me to another lifelong friend retired front yard of the Sigma Pi house as a pledge EIU History professor Bob Sterling, who oddly In talking with Rick and Eli for this article, it is project. I decided to follow up that conversation enough is a Phi Sig! and learn more about the rock's history so I called interesting to note that while it has been fifty-seven him for further details. Rick believes that the rock years since they shared their brotherhood at Beta If you have any great stories about the house was installed in 1957. He remembers he voted Gamma, they still remember the great times they had. or the rock, take a moment to share for a pyramid with the crest on it, but was voted Great stories emerge about pledging when Eli made with your fellow brothers by visiting down in favor of a natural looking stone with a the pledges address him as Eli Roscoe Sidwell, Jr. Sir! www.sigmapibetagamma.com You can leave a crest. Brother Marsh doesn't remember where they In retaliation, Rick remembers putting the house dog brother to brother note by clicking the 'alumni tab' got the rock but believes that he and several of his name Vickie in Eli's bed and also filling his bed with then 'brother to brother.'

Cellar Dwellers Continued from Page 2 Alumni but did not have enough money to make an improvement so problems of long distance calls going unclaimed so it was Officers expensive as plumbing and a bath. As we agonized over our decided to put in a pay phone. It went mostly unused because dilemma ingenuity walked through the door as the chapter cash was always an item for everyone in those days. Alumni President agreed to let the pledges clean the basement and move their No one had a lot of clothes, (more borrowing was Jason Zientarski '04 bunks and belongings into the crevices of the four cut up common) there were very few electronics, one T.V. in the house, [email protected] rooms in the basement. As pledge trainer and instigator I felt fewer cars, credit cards were not common, most local student obliged to move into the basement. What a way to bond with hangouts were family and locally owned. The enrollment at Alumni Vice pledges. Some of the pledges of that pledge class have been Eastern at that time was around 2,000 to 3,000 students. President lifelong friends. Justin Seno '06 It was just a short time until the basement occupants were The annual budget of the house at that time was for 25 [email protected] nicknamed the Cellar-Dwellers. I still hear that term from time men living in the house. When 10 members of the new pledge to time as I hear that story revisited in the annals of tales of the class moved in, there were 35 members living in the house. At Chapter Director / lives and experiences that live on about 956 Sixth Street. that time, students did not own a lot of material goods or have Housing Director a lot of stuff. One other point to make at this time is the fall of We do not have records as to the names of the persons Hector Tamayo '03 1957 was the first year of food service in the house. The extra that lived in the cellar but the Sigma Pi alumni directory [email protected] persons living in the house put an extra burden on the cook records the following members as the persons (pledges) for she had to cook for 35 men that spring. Never has there inducted into membership in 1958. Alumni Organization been more than 35 members living in the house at 956 Sixth Treasurer Pledge Class of 1957 Street than in that year. Ada Sly, the new cook, was such a Joe Kaczmarek '98 [email protected] caring, dedicated person that she opened her arms to them Dick Armstrong Paul Carnes Matherly and like a mother hen with her brook she loved them all. I Alan Adamson John Crum John Montgomery Alumni Advisor / cannot remember that there was ever any serious dissention in Jerry Bennett Elmore James Poneta the house about space, showers or any other matters. The one Property Manager Bill Buckles Larry Freeman Jim Shipley telephone in the house was always busy so there was always Denny Stewart '66 Tom Campbell Billy Goodman Joseph Vits a waiting line for use of it. The chapter was experiencing some [email protected]

Update: 2014 Campaign for 2014 Campaign for Beta Gamma | $11,743 pledged as of November 20, 2014

Beta Gamma The Holley Society Gary Lee Bachman '64 Charles William Tencate '66 $1,000 - $5,000 Gary L. Brewer Herman Wampler '66 Thanks to the 70 generous brothers listed to the right, Roger Charles Claar '65 Sigma Pi at Eastern Illinois University has raised $11,743 in Keith William Eickenberg '85 Ron Steven Watkins '93 2014. Donations to the campaign go to fund communication Erik Paul Enstad '90 items, alumni events and upgrades to the chapter houses. The Legends of 956 Gerald Wayne Huot '62 Chi Rho Society $500 - $999 Joseph Michael Kaczmarek '98 $100 - $249 Alumni who have not yet supported the 2014 Campaign Jerry Lynn Gilbert '64 John Leonard McMahon '88 Everett Leon Baldwin '62 for Beta Gamma are encouraged to do so today. All pledges Matthew Joseph Smyth '93 Richard Dawson Morris '67 Joseph R. Bartkus '98 may be paid monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or as a one- Edgar Kent St. Pierre '68 Michael H. David Michael Beube '64 time gift. In order to make the payment process as easy as Robert Julian Wood '92 possible, you can even set your pledge to be automatically Noland'66 Robert Broadbear '74 drafted from your checking account or posted to a credit James Thomas Russell '88 Jeremy Lee Chaney '98 card on a recurring basis. Please make your pledge today by Guardians of the Rock Eli Roscoe Sidwell '55 William Roy Foe '75 visiting www.sigmapibetagamma.com and clicking "Support $250 - $499 Ryan Robert Spatz '00 Mark George Gies '82 Stuart Mark Andrews '90 the Campaign." Dennis Everett Stewart '66 Continued on Page 4

www.SigmaPiBetaGamma.com Winter • 2014 PRESORTED Sigma Pi Fraternity FIRST CLASS MAIL Eastern Illinois University #1094 US POSTAGE PAID PO Box 2187 GREENVILLE SC Columbus, GA 31902-2187 PER MIT #113

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• Submit your alumni reunion stories • Find out about upcoming events and photos for the next Gab newsletter • Post noteworthy accomplishments (a new baby, • Search for alumni a recent marriage, a recent promotion, etc.) Brother Robert Wolff '04 married Shannon in Charleston, IL this fall. Pledge brothers Ed Theres '04, Brennan Caputo '04, Robert Lewis '04, • Update your address, phone number • Support the 2014/2015 Campaign for Beta Jason Zientarski '04 and Ryan Gillis '04 as well as Brother Mike Sheets '06 showed up to help him celebrate the occasion. and e-mail address Gamma Save the Date Update: 2014 Campaign for Beta Gamma Brother John Lowe '61 wishes to remind all brothers with Continued from Page 3 graduation years between 1958 and 1966 that there will be a Sigma Pi reunion at Brother Phil Wheeler '62 and his wife Wesley Richard Graves '97 Eric J. Nelson '02 Matthew Christopher Bryant '93 Sandy's house May 16, 2015. Brother Wheeler's address is Thomas Gordon Grubb '66 Daniel Scott O'Hara '01 Thomas Allen Campbell '58 2314 Augusta Drive, Springfield, Illinois. Bob Stine '62 and Stephen Ray Hofferkamp '69 Richard Raymond Plath '61 H. Michael Finkle '59 his wife Carolyn and John and Sherry Lowe are helping host the event. Spouses/partners are invited too. The good times Ted Ethan Hoffman '83 Scott Christopher Reed '84 Donald Bedelle Fuller '66 begin at 5:00 p.m. and last until late! Patrick W. Hood '06 Rodarte '04 Joe Franklin Goodner '61 James Nelson Hutchison '63 Thomas Joseph Rymarz '74 James L. Jessen '84 Please RSVP to John Lowe at [email protected] if Bruce Gregory Kirchhofer '74 Justin Teal Seno '06 Gordon A. Taylor '93 you plan to attend. William Joseph Knapp '83 John Robert Valentine '79 Thomas Harlan Ulmer '52 Richard Vaughn Livengood '53 In Memory of Conrad Kirby Charles Edward Wagoner '65 Brother John Lowe '61 and his wife Sherry visited with Brother Al Timothy Loftus '75 F. Leo Welch '59 Timothy Allen Wheeler '01 Adamson '58 and his wife Lu in John Lowe III '61 In Memory of Ed Hussemann '65 Manasota Key near Englewood, Dennis Wayne Lown '65 In Memory of Tom Littrell '65 Donor Florida. The two couples spent Edward Keith Marlow '64 $1 - $49 the evening sharing stories about their Sigma Pi days and also Donald Claude McKinney '49 1949 Society Frank Louis Cattaneo '54 reminiscing about growing up H. David Nall '80 $50 - $99 Dane Cole Henderson '53 in the central Illinois coal mining Clark M. Nelson '57 Brent Aden Babbs '95 David Dale Winters '52 towns of Moweaqua and Witt.

www.SigmaPiBetaGamma.com Winter • 2014