Sooner Delt Delta Alpha Chapter I Delta Tau Delta Fraternity I University of Oklahoma I Fall 2016
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The Sooner Delt Delta Alpha Chapter I Delta Tau Delta Fraternity I University of Oklahoma I Fall 2016 House Corporation Looks to Future as Delta Alpha and Greek Community Grows NEW BOARD MEMBERS ENSURE SUCCESS AT 1320 COLLEGE AVENUE ur Delta Shelter on 1320 College Avenue Justin Manning, Delta Omicron ’04, will serve ence the values of our fraternity. I am very pleased Oopened in the fall of 1969. It is hard to be- as treasurer. Justin’s accounting and business to be able to join the board and help in a new way. lieve that our Shelter has been welcoming young background, and his experience as a dedicated The House Corporation is an integral part of Delta Delts through its doors for over 47 years! The fact chapter advisor for Delta Alpha, make him par- Alpha’s leadership, and joining Mike, Justin, and that the Shelter remains the iconic home for our ticularly well-suited to handle the finances of the Fred is both a privilege and a pleasure.” 2016 pledge class is clear evidence that over two corporation. generations of Delts have worked very hard to Secondly, the House Corporation has retained the build a vibrant and successful fraternity, and have Dan Vann ’71 has graciously agreed to serve as services of a national consulting company and a devoted countless hours to maintaining the Shelter. secretary. Dan is a proud graduate of Northwest prominent architect with significant Greek hous- Classen High School in Oklahoma City, and he ing experience to develop a plan for completely Once the shining star of the South Greek cam- was part of the 1966 Delta Alpha pledge class. transforming the Shelter. Preliminary architectur- pus, our Shelter, like any house that is almost 50 Dan was a very active member who had the privi- al analysis reveals our Shelter is quite structurally years old, is now showing its age. Our neighbor- lege of living in both the old Shelter on 630 Elm sound. However, we know completely transform- ing fraternities have outpaced us in remodeling and the Shelter on 1320 College Avenue. Dan held ing and updating the Shelter is necessary and, quite their houses or building impressive new ones. The several offices, including recruitment chairman frankly, unavoidable. Our board will be working Delta Alpha House Corporation is very mindful of and chapter president. After graduating from OU hard to develop the proper plan for a clean, safe, this situation, and we are working on two fronts to with a business degree, Dan began a 30-year ca- comfortable, and technologically advanced home plan for the future of Delta Alpha. reer in medical device/equipment sales and mar- for OU Delts for another 50 years, and we will be keting. After serving as the national sales director sharing it will all of our proud Delta Alpha broth- First, we have expanded the board of directors of of three major companies, Dan became the co- ers in the coming months. Of course, the board the House Corporation and assigned new leader- owner of a successful executive search company. will not be able to move forward alone with this ship positions. I joined the board last year, and Dan and his wife, Marsha, live in Edmond, Okla- ambitious task. We are urging you to get involved was elected to serve as House Corporation presi- homa, and are extremely active in the lives of their and offer your support. Please contact me or any dent. I am eager bring new energy and ideas to children and grandchildren. Dan joined the House of our board members and get involved. our board. Corporation because he wanted to stay involved in his fraternity and with his brothers. According Fraternally, Fred Gist ’73, former House Corporation presi- to Dan, “Delta Tau Delta had a tremendous im- Mike Johnston ’88 dent, has retired from practicing law and moved to pact on my life and I’ve always tried to give back House Corporation President Florida, but he will serve as vice president and will whenever I could so that other young men could [email protected] remain an active and engaged member of the board. receive the great blessing it is to share and experi- Delta Alpha welcomes 50 new brothers this fall. DELTA TAU DELTA It’s Not Rocket Science—Just Brain Surgery! Retired Neurological Surgeon Stephen Cagle ’71 Sees Delta Alpha as a Foundation in His Fulfilling Life r. Stephen “Steve” Cagle ’71 joined Delta Alpha tions in so many areas were not good, but it was beneficial DChapter as a double legacy with two older brothers, knowing I could help people.” Steve said his last mission Gene Cagle ’68 and Edward “Fielding” Cagle Jr. ’69, was a little over two years ago. paving the way for him. “I had friends in other fraterni- ties, but always saw the Delts as the best in academics and Even in retirement, Steve serves as chairman of the board sports. As a member of Delta Alpha, I was inspired to get of the Oklahoma City County Health Department. He involved in my chapter and on campus.” works actively with the Tulsa Health Department and the Oklahoma State Health Department to improve health Sports played a huge role in Steve’s undergraduate expe- and wellness throughout the state. He is also is part of the rience. “My brother, Gene, played football for OU and I Mitchell in the Morning radio show on News Talk KOKC- loved playing intramural sports and attending OU sport- AM 1520. You can listen to Steve’s health news from 6 to ing events with my chapter brothers.” The responsibility 7 a.m. on Thursdays or listen to podcasts online anytime at and leadership Steve gained as pledge class president and kokcradio.com/mitchell-in-the-morning-podcast. intramural chairman led to his election as chapter president in 1971. “I was always interested in service and very organized, but felt Delta Alpha gave Steve a place to learn, grow, and develop as a man. He honored to be chosen to lead the fraternity.” says, “The fraternity was truly a safe house; brothers always had my back and changed my life for the better. The quality of friendships has been Steve’s success continued into a 30-year career in Oklahoma City as unmatched.” Steve keeps in touch with many of his brothers. “Keeping in a neurological surgeon. “I joined a large medical group where I could touch with my college friends has added so much to my life.” both operate and teach those in their medical residency. It was so ful- filling to be able to save lives performing pediatric surgery, acoustic Steve and his wife, Ruthanna, live just outside of Oklahoma City, where he neuromas removals, cervical spine/lumbar spine surgery, and I even spends his free time raising cattle, hunting, and playing basketball. “Fam- participated in a lobotomy.” ily has always been the number one priority—my wife and two sons are very special to me. I had a tremendous career in medicine and even basket- During his medical career, Steve participated in several month-long medi- ball; I’ve lived a very fulfilling and rewarding life.” Steve can be reached cal mission trips to Central Africa. “The trips were stressful and the condi- via e-mail at [email protected]. Chapter Advisory Board Guides Delta Alpha here may not be a more difficult organiza- tening road to manhood that lay before them, the role can be a challenging and long-term vol- Ttion to manage than a fraternity. A chapter is rather than over their shoulders to the brothers unteer position. When I reach out to someone to essentially a small business with 100 or so em- stepping into their vacated shoes. It usually add to the team, they are often hesitant, as I was ployees, none of whom are paid, who are under takes the new officers nearly half their term at first. In conversations with alumni, I noticed 23 years of age, and have less than four years of to really find their stride on leading and man- that it would be much easier to recruit them for work experience in industry. Priorities and moti- aging the chapter and its members. They gov- a smaller time commitment, where they are in vation vary drastically throughout the organiza- ern better the second semester, then their term charge of very small, individual projects where tion, and your C-suite turns over each year. ends and the cycle continues. the chapter needs help rather than being the fi- nancial advisor, for example, who oversees all of The chapter relies on the previous executive Any business leader would assume this cycle is the treasurer’s duties and then some. committee to pass the baton smoothly to those very unstable, if not unsustainable. The chapter newly elected on things from managing receiv- advisors are intended to provide a foundation to In response to these dilemmas, Delta Alpha has ables, accounts payable, revenue, expenses, risk ensure that everything is properly managed and formed a Chapter Advisory Board (CAB). The management, food, maintenance, social events, that new leaders are adequately trained. Ideally, CAB consists of alumni who want to give back university relations, community service, philan- advisors turn over much less frequently than to the chapter by ensuring that it is run better thropy, alumni networks, academics, campus ac- chapter officers, so processes are executed prop- each year and has four main areas of focus: fi- tivities, recruitment, and more. erly and risks—like house occupancy, insurance, nance and parent relations, risk management, and safety —are properly managed.