NEWSLETTERS Troy TKE Vol 2006/1 A Publication of the Beta Sigma Alumni Association September 2006 The Tent Enjoys Biggest Year Ever More of the Same for 2006 -Mark Easterday #888 Last year was undeniably, the biggest year "the Tent" has had in its 15 years of existence. We, too, have Pete Carroll to thank for that. The Beta Sigma Alumni Association (BSAA) hosted 6 pre-game tailgate parties with an average attendance of 250 people. We tried a few new things in 2005. The BSAA Board of Directors installed a new "One Size Fits All" dues model. This allowed all tent attendees access to the previously exclusive Cherry & Grey Bar. The board felt this move would eliminate the need to police that bar as well as raise a few extra dollars for things like lighting for our night games - which proved vital. Our partnership with Mike Caccavalla of Downtown Subs & More in San Pedro has been a real win-win. Mike coordinates with board member, Eric Brannon #808 on the details for the coming tent (i.e. beer, potty rental, tables chairs, catered food, etc.) This relationship takes much of the burden off of the board members. Don't get us wrong, we love the Tent, but it's a lot of work. By the way, we encourage our members to contact Mike for their catering needs at 310-856-7827. Let him know you're a TKE! The participation of the active chapter at the tent also gives the tent a boost. The actives are able to utilize the tent as a social event which is real plus for them. No other fraternity can boast such an active alumni association as organized as we are. Certainly, no other alumni association has anything close to the Tent. Here's a quick breakdown of the 2005 Tent: 86 Paid members ($275) 11 Friends and Family ($275) 41 General Members - non tent attendees ($25) 30 walk up guests of members per game 4 Games where the active chapter paid to participate. After all this, we ended up almost exactly breakeven. We brought in about $35K and spend about $35K. For you numbers guys, that's a bit worrisome. We truly had the biggest year ever for the tent, with more people and thus, more revenue. However, our expenses were the most ever as well. What happens if we have a bad football team - heaven forbid! What happens if the active chapter struggles and can't afford the tent? Therefore, the current model of the tent doesn't really work. By the way, you'd think that the cost is in the booze and food, not really. The real cost is the tent itself, the fence, the potties, space rental, insurance, etc. Those fixed costs make up over half of the costs of the tent - and theoretically, those costs are locked in no matter who shows up. So where do we go from here? Thanks to Treasurer Matt Beshear's #859 great controls in 2004, we still have about $8000 in the bank. With attendance likely to be strong again this year, we're not making any changes. We hope to get through this year at breakeven or a little better. We are going to use this year to plan for the future. Expect major changes in 2007. We need a tent / membership model that is self-sufficient. The tent needs to be fun, contained, safe and in the black. We look forward to your feedback on how to make the Tent live on for generations of TKEs to come. As for this year, the cost is still the same - $275 if you plan to attend the Tent. It's only $25 if you don't plan to attend, but you want to support what we're doing. Also, we will not be accepting credit cards this year. Unfortunately, with the risk of identity theft so high, we could not continue taking credit card information via mail or over the internet. We also wanted to avoid raising dues to offset credit card processing fees. Please send checks made payable to Beta Sigma Alumni Association to 531 Main St. #902, El Segundo, CA 90245. Your membership in the BSAA will not go toward construction of the new TKE House. David Bohline is handling those efforts on a separate front. Be sure to see the updates on this website about the new house or call David directly at 310-836-9777. The Tent is in the same great location, tapping the kegs 3 hours before kickoff. See you at the Tent! The Troy TKE Newsletter Gets with the Times Move to On-line-only Newsletter Format Timely, Smart -Mark Easterday #888 What took us so long? The Troy TKE Newsletter has been tireless published by David Bohline #777, Eric Brannon #808, Mark Easterday #888, and Mike Ranshaw #940, for 15 years. Its summertime delivery has been as reliable as hand pump on a keg of Bud Light. It only seemed right that we would finally go to an on-line-only version starting with this issue. We have in-house web design for free for Pete's sake at Apollo Interactive. Start looking here for regular updates on the active chapter, the BSAA events, the Tent, and the new fraternity house under construction. You can also click over to the posting board to post your messages. The most important part of this is that we have an UPDATED EMAIL ADDRESS from you. You can update your email address as it changes by looking yourself up on the "alumni database" tab, find yourself, then click "edit." Your changes will be forwarded for approval to the webmaster (aka Dave). Also, be sure the fraters you are close to have their info updated online. This is the only way we can communicate with all alumni. As mentioned in the previous article, the BSAA is highly cost conscious. This move will save us about $800/yr in production and postage costs. Every bit counts. State of the Fraternity TKE Wins 12th Consecutive IRONMAN Championship -Prytanis Blake Dillion #1167 Esteemed Alumni, The Beta Sigma chapter Had a very fruitful year. We once again excelled on the playing field, in the classroom, and in the social community. A decrease in our live-in population due to the much anticipated new East house did not dampen our spirits one bit. On the playing field we tackled every sport with everything we had. During the fall semester, our fraters took first place in flag football, volleyball, and soccer, making it a sweep of the majors in the fall. During the spring semester Beta Sigma made it deep into the playoffs in basketball, placed 2nd in indoor soccer, and won fraternity dodgeball. Throughout the year we placed well in all the minor sports, ranging from a 5k run to machine pitch baseball. When all the points were added up at the end of the year, once again it was Tau Kappa Epsilon standing at the top of the podium taking its 12th consecutive IRONMAN Championship. Our accomplishments in athletics do not stop with IRONMAN, though. Beta Sigma carried its talent and drive over into the sorority philanthropies as well. Throughout the year the active chapter won itself a bar tab with the lovely ladies of Gamma Phi Beta by winning their dodgeball tournament, a kegerator by winning Alpha Chi Omega's flag football tournament, a portable basketball hoop from their second place finish in Alpha Phi's 3-on-3 basketball tournament, and last but certainly not least, a new foosball table by winning Alpha Delta Pi's soccer tournament. Academically, you can find the active chapter in the top 5 fraternities as ranked by their GPA, which continually is above the University all men's average. A number of fraters made the Dean's list, as well as two fraters being recognized for their 4.0 GPA's. We graduated 22 outstanding gentlemen this last year with majors ranging from engineering to business to history. The active chapter kept itself very busy over the past year with exchanges, parties, and brotherhood events. The fall semester saw exchanges with Alpha Phi, Kappa Alpha Theta, and Delta Delta Delta, along with a very well attended Halloween party. We continued the good times in the spring with an exchange with Gamma Phi Beta, a blow out for Mardi Gras, and a great RCB down in Rosarito, Mexico. Throughout the year we held numerous brotherhood events ranging from Animal House movie nights to Beer Pong Tournaments between Big Bro/Little Bro pairs. Both new initiates and pledges were encouraged to attend every event, this helped mold our new members into 28 outstanding fraters that will help take Beta Sigma into a new year Morale is very high heading into summer, and having attended a few summer events with the gentlemen of TKE, I am looking forward to a very eventful year. We return a number of very athletic fraters that will help in holding our title of IRONMAN Champions, and we are poised to have another great social calendar. The entire house looks forward to another great year on the row, starting off with great fall rush and football season. See you at the Tent! Heard From the Bond... Ron Holbrook #413 and wife Connie sailed their C&C sailboat from Seattle to San Diego and spent last winter in Mexico. Pat Rowland #275 is enjoying retirement in beautiful Virginia but wishes he could be on the West Coast for football games. It's a heckuva good time, Pat! George Strella #21 is a retired civil engineer. He is glad to see some of the Beta sig charter members as participating alums and is very proud of all the active fraters and alums of Beta Sig. "I remember the days we were ‘scratching and clawing' our way for campus recognition. I am proud that Beta Sig has earned top recognition without becoming snobbish." Thanks for the kind works George. Justin "JB" Nast #829 is still active duty Air Force serving in West Germany near Luxemburg. Shelley Linderman #477 passed into the chapter eternal on October 9, 2004 after a 4-year fight with melanoma. He retired in 2003 from a 30 year career with the federal government to have more time with his family (wife, Joan, son Michael, daughter Lauren), travel, volunteer activities, and his treatments. We thank his wife, Joan, for this submission. Harvey M. Palash #186 moved to Desert Horizons Country Club in Indian Wells in June 2005. His wife Penny and he are retired and spend their time in travel to Canada when they are not out golfing. What a tough life, Harv! Enjoy! Conrad Solum #171 is retired from the actrive practice of law as of April 2005 after 45 years specializing in patents trademarks and copywrites, both in obtaining and enforcing those intellectual property rights. He is now enjoying his 4 children, all of whom went to SC, 6 grandchildren, and wife Alli (also SC Alpha Chi) of 45 years. We love you Connie! See you at the Tent! We'll have your Bombay Sapphire poured! Thomas L Thorkelson #118 offered the following: "I wanted to inform you that my brother, Larry Arthur Thorkelson #184, who was initiated into Beta Sigma, but graduated from Berkeley passed away on Sept. 2, 2005 in Clarksville, GA at age 71. I conducted his funeral on Sept. 10th. He was married to Ruth Ann for 35 years. My wife of 49 years (USC Kappa Delta, 1954) passed away three years ago and left behind 13 children and 51 grandchildren. I remarried to Sheila O'Leary just two years ago and we are now living in Newport Beach where I am in my 46th year as a Certified Financial Planner with MassMutual Financial and still active. I have recently climbed to base camp at Everest with Erik Weihenmayer, the blind climber who summitted with me holding down some minor support assignments. We also did the Inca Trail from Cuzco to Machu Picchu and Mt. Kilimanjaro together, alng with Mt. Fuji and Mauna Loa in Hawaii. Shawn Talbott #823 and his wife, Lauri, gave birth to their first child, a girl in Fall of 2005 - on the day of a home game, no less. Mark Easterday #888 and his wife Maggie added one more boy to the family, Aaron, in the Spring of 2006. That's it. USC in 2024 is gonna be pricey. Matt Beshear #859 and his wife Elizabeth had their first child, a girl, Kendall in July 2006. Jason Angelos #926 and his wife Stephanie (USC DG) are expecting their first, a girl, in Fall 2006 Mike Ranshaw #940 and his wife Ashley (USC ADPi) are expecting their second child, another boy, also in October 2006. Jason Rzutkiewicz #929 and his wife Brigitta gave birth their first child, a boy, Will. Matthew Weinberger #844 and his wife Andrea recently had their second child. Eric Hall #902 and his wife Ella had their first child, a girl, Vivian in late 2005. Eric moved to the Bay Area recently to pursue a new career after a long run with McKinsey which included a stint in South Africa. Erik Brannon #808 and his wife Heather gave birth to their second child, a girl, in September 2006 Bryan Weinstein #948 and his wife Gina are expecting their second child in Spring 2007 Tony Castaneda #935 and his wife Shawna had their second child, a girl, Teegan. To submit your news for the next Troy TKE Newsletter - email Mark at mark_easterday@ml.com 2005-2006 Beta Sigma Alumni Association Membership Thank You to these Fraters for their ongoing support of Beta Sigma, the Tent, and the Alumni Association CHERRY AND GREY Alexander Allper #1100 Todd Anderson #1099 Jason Angelos #926 Richard Balue #925 Derek Barbour #1071 Mark Barnes #754 Troy Benson #838 Matthew J Beshear #859 John Bibeau #936 James Black #236 Robert Boesel #791 David Bohline #777 Matt Bohm #977 Dean Bosche #971 Erik Brannon #808 Trevor Burk Christopher Cappello #1112 Charles Cobb #42 Anthony Corallo #828 Dan Corbett #937 Gordon Cox #871 James Cox #785 Michael Daoussis #576 Dr. Leon Driss #622 Mark Easterday #888 Bradley Eastham #1039 Chris Eber #770 Jason Embick #975 Coleman Engellenner #963 David Ferris #650 Greg Flowers #964 Adam Geeb #1092 Jonathan Greer #1123 Gary Hafen #541 Ryan Hallett #996 Dean Haney #779 Kenneth Harris #1004 Gilbert Hershberger #10 Sean Heyne #1111 Neale Hickerson #561 Thayer Holbrook #352 James Ishii #562 Brian Kittredge #991 Brett Koren #860 Bill Lafayette #897 Mike Laity #962 Fred Leland #781 John Lemkey #1066 Art Lewis #1037 Erik Licea #1113 J.P. LoMonaco #789 Matthew Lyons #1048 JJ Mahli #921 Henry Marvin #812 Dr. David Mayeda #578 Gregory McAndrews #418 Everet Miller #454 Craig Moyer #604 Jerry Murphy #376 John Nelson #392 Doug Nixon #982 Brian Orosco #1132 Cragin Orr #873 Zack Peacock #1007 John Plumb #522 Nick Radtke #1001 Joseph Ramirez #796 Michael Ranshaw #940 Jeff Richards #1076 Jeff Ruggels #806 Thomas Rule #805 Thomas Ruygrok #560 David Ryan #1075 JD Schramm #1096 Scott Sellers #911 Brendan Sole #914 Conrad Solum #171 Chris Sorley #1089 Ken Sweeney #822 Shawn Talbott #823 Timothy Tarango #1127 Rory Tarbox #1117 Dr. William Teaford #217 John Thompson #742 Thomas Thorkelson #118 Alistair Tober #1062 Bryan Weinstein #948 Justin Woo #857 Gregory Woodson #533 Michael Yagjian #469 James Yundt #966 General Members Edward Apffel #52 Roger Carmody #492 Charles Channell #680 John Chavers #80 Michael Collins #373 William Cullinane #517 Theodore Duncan #340 Larry Finkel #486 Daniel Garcia #465 John Green #397 Lloyd Grinslade #39 Dr. James Hatch #264 Frank Hoffman #36 Ronald Holbrook #413 Charles Horn #332 Charles Johnson #368 Steve Johnson #939 Robert Kettell #412 Duke Lokka #636 George Loomis #122 Christopher Mansfeld #1027 Patrick McDermott #241 Robert Meyer #6 Charles Milam #435 Thomas Miller #643 Robert Morgan #33 Justin Nast #829 Eric Olson #918 Alan Orsborn #309 Harvey Palash #186 Robert Pinder #139 Andrew "Jim" Robertson #421 Patrick Rowland #275 Michael Salas #792 Steven Schultz #527 George Strella #21 James Teshima #601 Glen Thompson #685 Chris Wulff #927 Friends and Family Jim and Ruth Corbett Paul & Sharon Laity Tyler Newby Juan Samartin David and Orva Schramm August 2002 July 2001 August 2000 July 1999 August 1998 Spring 1997 Fall 1996 Spring 1996 Fall 1995