NEWSLETTERS Troy TEKE Vol 97/1 A Publication of the Beta Sigma Alumni Association Spring 1997 Marching to 100 Beta Sigma is on track to reach the 100 member mark in Fall 1997. The rush numbers have been good for the past three years. TKE has retained over 90% of its pledges. Members are staying active well into their fourth and fifth years at USC. All of these elements are coming together to create what would be the largest active chapter membership in the history of TKE - USC. Currently Beta Sigma is the second or third largest fraternity at USC with 86 members. There will be a graduating class of around 15 seniors, which means TKE will come back in the Fall with about 70 active members. If the house repeats their outstanding rush results from this academic year an additional thirty pledges will propel us into three digit territory and quite possibly position TKE to be the largest fraternity on campus. "This scenario could not have happened at a better time", commented new Alumni Association President Erik Brannon. "By the time our 50 anniversary celebration occurs on October 31, 1998 we should have a monster active membership to show off to our alumni. I think a lot of people will be very proud." TKE 2000 Launched by Board of Trustees The Board of Trustees for Beta Sigma approved a program entitled TKE 2000 at their Spring 1997 Board Retreat held at the lavish Hollywood Hills home of Board Member Tom Rule. TKE 2000 is a blue print of Board spending and saving over the next 10 years with the goal of replacing the TKE East house in the near future. Also included with the plan was the approval of a total kitchen remodel to take place this Summer. "TKE is in a very favorable position on the row considering we own two properties outright with no outstanding loans or debts", remarked Chapter Advisor David Bohline. "Every penny we collect in rent goes directly to the improvement of the TKE houses and towards savings intended to replace TKE East." Many alumni will remember past plans to replace both TKE houses with help from the University. Although the Board has not shut the door on this possibility, it has chosen to take a more proactive approach to facility improvement. Rush Results Academic year '96-'97 was a bang up membership recruitment year for what is soon to become the largest fraternity at USC. The trend toward local Southern California membership continued as TKE made inroads into several Orange County high schools once reserved for Sigma Chi and Beta. Here is a breakdown of the Fall and Spring pledge classes. Fall 1996 Matt Allen Riverside, CA Robert Angarita Temple City, CA Roman Bruno Phoenix, AZ Bobby Chanpong Pasadena, CA Ryan Clary Irvine, CA J.B. Clevland Huntington Beach, CA Brad Douglass Philadelphia, PA Vic Fernandez RPV, CA Mike Geller Philadelphia, PA Ryan Hallett Atascadero, CA Mike Harris La Canada, CA Brian Kittredge Los Angeles, CA Steve Latin Hartford, CT Jeremy Moore Huntington Beach, CA Erhan Oktay Huntington Beach, CA Jeff Olson San Marcos, CA Zack Peacock Bolinas, CA Joey Porrazo Los Angeles, CA Nick Radtke Portland, OR Eric Swanger Sacramento, CA Gabe Uribe Torrance, CA Mark Van Hoose Carlsbad, CA Spring 1997 Brian Himot Ryan Lash Alex Markovic Jon Walkowitz Erik Brannon Elected New Association President Erik Brannon (808) was unanimously elected President of the Beta Sigma Alumni Association at a recent meeting. He replaces outgoing president JP LoMonaco. Erik will serve as president during the exciting Beta Sigma 50th Anniversary celebration and plans to continue the strong Football season programming while at the same time expanding events during the off-season. If you have ideas please call Erik at (818) 886-3126. The Alumni Speak For some reason the news seemed to trickle in this past semester. We want to hear from you and will print any news or information we receive. George Strella (21) enjoyed viewing the picture of the Scorpion Club. He was a member who joined just after that photo was taken, but still made it as a charter member. Jerry Murphy (376) wrote that he couldn't find us at the football games??? Alright, now be honest , how many of you believe Jerry. We have a large tent with a huge banner and about 100 people every home football game in the grassy area in front of the museum at the Northwest corner of the Coliseum. We hope to see even more people at the tent in the fall. Robert Meyer (6), who is a charter member of the chapter, wrote that he hopes we have plans for a 50th Anniversary Celebration. Do we ever! Look for a formal mailing to arrive at your house sometime this summer and save the date - October 31, 1998. From the can you believe it files. Shawn Talbott (823) is teaching 5th grade in Hawthorne at Eucalyptus Elementary. He is also an umpire for South Bay College Baseball and High School Water Polo. It is reported that Shawn is single-handedly bringing discipline and intimidation back to the classroom. Frank Hoffman (36) wants us to have an alumni dinner at a central restaurant location. This is a great idea and it has been passed along to both the chapter and the new alumni president Erik Brannon. Eric Miller (832) is starting a new job with Creative Productions located in Torrance. If you have advertising or promotional needs feel free to give him a call. JB Nast (829) has been commissioned into the Air Force Reserve as a Captain and will married Elizabeth Durkin on December 14, 1996 in Philadelphia. We have to note that JB sent his alumni dues in a recycled envelope with the phrase "save the eagles" on it. Isn't that special. JB's brother and former Beta Sigma President Jeff Nast (879) has been accepted to Villanova University Law School. Just what we need! Scott Johnson (633) is working on a MBA at UofA after being out of school for 16 years. At the same time he is still working at Hughes Missile Systems and reports that they need Engineers in a big way. Resumes are encouraged. Send them to 11235 E. Old Spanish Trail, Tucson, AZ 85748. An a final and sad note frater Tony Pace (347) died this past October. He was responsible for the establishment of the night time version of the Daily Trojan called the Night Owl. We will miss him. Our 50th Anniversary Save the date October 31, 1998 ! Yes, the Beta Sigma Alumni Association is planning a 50th Anniversary event for all USC TKE alumni on October 31, 1998. The event will occur 50 years to the day from our local founders date of October 31, 1948. Not only is this Beta Sigma's 50th Anniversary, it is also USC Homecoming weekend (and of course Halloween). Look for a detailed promotional mailing that will be sent out to all alumni this summer. The Tent will be Back The incredible alumni tent will be back this Fall for all home football games. All pre-game food and drink festivities will begin three hours before kickoff on the lawn located at the Northwest corner of the Coliseum. Last years events raised over $1500 for the Fall pledge class. Spotlight on Mark Easterday The highly recruited rushee, Beta-Sigma President and recent graduate reflects on TKE in the 1990's. BST : How did you first find out about Teke? Easterday: I think it was the Triangle Achievement Award that first introduced me to the house. It was one of many applications I was filling out and since my Mom had been in a sorority I knew it was a fraternity. BST: Wasn't that the now famous riot year we had to cancel the Triangle Achievement banquet? Easterday: Yes it was the riot year. I was supposed to visit the house for the May 2nd banquet and instead I received a phone call telling me the event was canceled due to "civil unrest". My first contact was when Rush Chairman Shawn Talbott came to my house for a Rush "home visit". BST: What did you think? Easterday: I thought it was very cool. I knew he would be judging me so I was a little nervous. He met both my parents and they really thought he was great. I remember the last thing he did was ask to see my room - I thought it was such an interesting idea that I implemented it when I became Rush Chair a couple years later. BST: So how did you make your decision to join TKE? Easterday: Can you believe I never actually went through Rush? The decision was really between TKE and the USC Varsity Golf Team. I never visited another house. I never met another greek. I think part of it was they put me in Parkside. Parkside is notoriously bad for greek recruitment. BST: If I remember correctly - you didn't exactly join right away. Easterday: You're right. I was trying to find out what would happen with the scholarship. Matt Beshear finally pulled me aside and had a heart to heart discussion with me. He said I had great potential and even told me I would be president some day. He made me feel really good. From that point on, not only did I join, I expected myself to achieve that goal of being president and I expected to help make the house better. BST: What was the house like back in 1991? Easterday: TKE was very diverse. BST: Oh come on - everybody says that. Easterday: Ok - it had a lot of different types of people in it. The house was a lot smaller then it is now at around 45 members. There really was no definition of what TKE was. We knew what we wanted to be and we knew we were going places, but our identity had really not been established yet. BST: What ever happened to the golf team? Easterday: When I was on the golf team my freshman year Schad Brannon got me a job at the Hard Rock Cafˇ corporate office. It was during this time that I really had to decide whether to do TKE all the way or continue to do golf. I think Schad's generosity, his insight into the house and my living in over the summer combined to make me totally commit and ultimately drop the golf team. BST: Did you ever regret your decision? Easterday: I have never regretted it. There have been some disappointments, but never regrets. BST: What was one of the disappointments? Easterday: The fall rush class of 1993 was one. We worked so hard and Justin Woo implemented so many good ideas and yet we only got 12 guys. I couldn't believe it. I think the whole experience inspired me to become rush chair. BST: What was it like when you were Rush Chair? Easterday: Being rush chair taught me a lot about sales. It taught me how blind freshman are when they first come to school and it taught me the value of our Triangle Achievement Program. I really believe it has been the quintessential tool for our success BST: What were some of your best times? Easterday: I have to say the first year we won Songfest in 1994 with Pi Phi was pretty incredible. That event put us on a three year winning streak. Winning Ironman for the first time ever also ranks way up there. I will never forget when we finally defeated Lambda Chi in the basketball finals to earn the overall trophy. I am also really proud of the fact that we were able to win both the President's Award and Ironman when I was a senior. The university never thought we could do it and we did. BST: Is there any advice you want to pass on to the guys in the house now? Easterday: The one thing we were able to do when I was in the house was combine very close friendships with a drive to be the very best on the row. I just hope that our newfound success doesn't erode either of those two values. We are on the cusp of long term greatness and these next few years leading up to the 50th Anniversary are going to be really crucial. I don't want us to be another flash in the pan success story like some of our former rivals. I want people 20 years from now from my era to say TKE is a great house at USC. Paid Alumni Membership is on Record Pace Our goal for 100 paid members has almost been reached. We currently have 91 paid members. Take a moment to review the following alphabetical list. If you haven't joined this year please take the time to send in your dues. The membership term expires at the end of the summer. A new membership term starts every football season. $100 Beta Sigma Boosters $50 Alumni Association Member $25 Out of State Member Boosters James Black Rob Boesel David Bohline Rick Cipra Charles Cobb Gordon Cox James Craig Dave Ferris Ken Froelich Chris Gray Peter Gutzwiller Dean Haney Fred Leland David Mayeda Greg McAndrews Craig Moyer Harvey Palash John Plumb Joe Ramirez Ted Reynolds Jeff Ruggels Scott Sellers Ken Smeton Conrad Solum Ken Sweeney John Thompson Mike Westfall Justin Woo George Woolery Members Herbert Anderson John Arend Mark Barnes Matt Beshear Schad Brannon Erik Brannon Gerald Carr Jay Chozen Jim Cox Robert De Vries Leon Driss Mark Easterday Jeff Fiedorowicz Larry Finkel Martin Fong Ron Gagliano RJ Galati Lloyd Grinslade James Hatch Gilbert Herschberger Frank Hoffman Ron Holbrook Tom Jenkins Scott Johnston Robert Kettell Chris Kocaya Brett Koren George Loomis Ken Lund Peter Lund John Martin Richard Martin Robert McMurry Pat McNally Robert Meyer Eric Miller Everet Miller Tom Miller Jerry Murphy Jeff Nast JB Nast John Nelson Joseph Nida Craigin Orr Richard Pozzo Bill Ridgeway Andrew Robertson Mike Rosenberg David Roth Tom Rule Mike Salas Will Simpson Mike Sobolev Edmund Sutro Shawn Talbott Earl Thielen Tom Thorkelson Amos Travis Garrison Tucker Paul Warme Wilbur Willis Michael Yagjian Summer Event Calendar Alumni Softball BBQ (families and friends) Mid July - South Bay details to follow Alumni House Party Early August - Hollywood or Long Beach Night at Dodger Stadium Late August - Dodger Stadium Back