Newsletter spring fall

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Newsletter Issue 1, Vol. 1, September 20th 2014

PI KAPPA PHI Theta Iota Chapter

Chapter: Theta Iota

Size: 97 Members

36 associates

Location: 565 NE Colorado St. Pullman WA, 99163

Website:

Welcome Alumni, families and Friends to the first issue of Pi Kappa Phi’s, Theta Iota chapter, spring and summer newsletter! Take a look inside and see what we have been up to!

Spring/Summer Newsletter

September 2014

A look inside

Spring Events p. 3

Summer Events p. 4-5

Letter from Archon p. 2

Up Coming Events Oct. 24th-26th Dad’s weekend Nov. 30th Apple Cup April 11th-13th Mom’s Weekend Sept. 9th 2015 Ten-year Event

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Letter From the Archon

(left to right) Connor and Kyle Reichenbach, brothers by blood and Fraternity

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By: Connor Reichenbach

It has been such an honor and a privilege to be able to serve as Archon for the Theta Iota chapter over the past semester. I would have never imagined myself leading almost 100 men over the course of a year when I first enrolled at Washington State University. Over the past semester, the Brothers of the Theta Iota chapter have been hard at work in exceeding goals set philanthropically, academically, and in growth in the fraternity by building leaders of tomorrow. In late March, we had a successful War of The Roses event, which consisted over 4 days of events including a volleyball tournament, skits and serenades, clothing drive, and partnering with multiple companies including local businesses to raise money for Push America, our national philanthropy. 5 sororities competed in these events, raising money and awareness for people with disabilities. The week after, we were partnered up with Alpha Omicron Pi, and Sigma Chi during Greek Week, in which the entire Greek Community raised over $3,000 dollars in the course of 3 hours. It is truly incredible how much the Greek Community can do as a whole when brought together. I am proud to announce that we will have two brothers going on Push America events over the summer. Cameron Stone will be riding the Trans America route, and has raised over $7,000 dollars for Push America. Alexander Baier will be participating in Build America, and has raised over $4,000 dollars.

I am very excited to continue to serve as Archon next semester, and I believe that it will be one of the most successful semesters we

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have had in recent memory. From Push America, to academics, we look forward into surpassing our expectations that we set ourselves over the summer.

Yours Archon in Pi Kappa Phi,

Connor Reichenbach

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Spring Events

2014

War of the Roses

Philanthropy. What every member of the Pi Kappa Phi, Theta Iota chapter loves. Last spring, all members participated in our national philanthropy War of the Roses. The week was filled with numerous events that raised money for the organization we as a fraternal organization support; Push America. Throughout the week, our chapter along with many different sororities participated in a plethora of different events ranging from cupcake decorating contests to comedic performances. Not only did every member have a great time, we had a great time doing what we all love and why we chose to become members of Pi Kappa Phi. Giving back to the community! And what better way to help the community than supporting people with disabilities! Overall, this was a great week and we are looking forward to War of the Roses in the upcoming spring!

Greek Week

What else do Pi Kapps love beside fraternity life? School spirit! Every Pi Kapp here at WSU loves school spirit. There is no better way of showing ones pride for Greek life and school spirit than participating in Greek week. Greek week is an all-Greek wide event that lasts a week and involves every chapter on campus! It is a week filled with different competitions against other Greek houses that raises money for different organizations around Pullman. When the week was said and done, our chapter of Theta Iota finished in the top 10 houses on campus! GET EXCITED. Overall, this week was a great experience and we are looking forward to finishing higher this year than we did last year! Go Cougs!

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Summer Events

Journey of Hope

Build America Build America is a six week team event traveling the country promoting accessible recreation for people with disabilities. From the construction of accessible amenities at camps to wilderness adventures with athletes with disabilities, the Build America team is dedicated to proving true human ability.

Journey of Hope is a cross-country bicycle trek beginning in San Francisco (North), Los Angeles (South) and Seattle (TransAmerica) and ending together with all teams in Washington, D.C. The event raises funds and awareness for people with disabilities. Simply put, the Journey of Hope is a ride with a purpose.

Interview with Cameron Stone (Journey of Hope)

Why did you decide to do it? I decided to do JOH because I have spent my life around people with disabilities and I have wanted to do something to help them. I also wanted to get the most out of my active membership in Pi Kappa Phi. What was your favorite part? My favorite part of the summer was a friendship visit that we had in Sandpoint Idaho. We met

a couple great people and one in particular, Bobby. Bobby experienced a Traumatic Brain Injury while playing high school football and his story really hit home with me. This was also my most inspiring part. What was the hardest part? The hardest part was definitely day two when we rode over 120 miles and over two mountain passes. We gained over 10,000 feet of elevation during the day and all of the riders were on the saddle for over 12 hours. The best part of the day was that all of the riders finished the day. Money raised: I raised $10,225 (#3 out of all JOH participants this year.) Anything else you would like to add: It was the greatest summer of my life.

(left to right)Haley Walkins and Cameron Stone in Washington after JOH 2014

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Alex Baier doing work during Build America 2014

Why did you decide to do it? I chose to sign up for Build America because of my previous experiences with people with different abilities and how impactful they had been on my life. A young man named Ike Ditzenberger, who I played football with throughout high school, made the biggest impact. He showed me every day that there really is no such thing as a disability. What was your favorite part? With an event like Build America every day is the most incredible day you have ever experienced so it is tough to say my favorite specific part because the entire summer was amazing. I guess if I had to choose it would either be the lifetime connections whom I made with my brothers that I spent the entire summer with or the way that we were able to put a smile on a campers face just by sitting with them every day at mealtime, being their friend. What was your most inspiring part? There were so many incredible things I witnessed this summer, I could go on and on about it all day but probably the most inspiring thing that I witnessed was when Caroline from Camp Easter Seals UCP in New Castle, Virginia came to the front of the room on our last day in camp. It wasn’t just our last day though, it was hers to. She told everyone how much she loved this place and that we were her family but the most inspiring part is what she said next. She told us that Camp was the one place in the world where she felt like she didn’t have a disability. I’m never going to forget the beautiful young girl who sat in her wheel chair with eyes full of tears because she knew she had to leave because I know that the BAM 2014 team helped make that possible.

Interview with Alex Bair (Build America)

What was the hardest part? I think if you ask anyone who has done Build what the hardest part of the whole experience was they wouldn’t say that it was the endless hours of manual labor but saying goodbye to that one special camper who truly changed our lives. For me, that happened at Camp Merry Heart in Hackettstown, Jersey. Michael is a 26 year old young man living in New York who also has down syndrome. He also has the biggest heart of anyone that I have ever met; by the end of our week at camp he had told me that I was like a brother to him and I would be lying if I said the feeling wasn’t mutual. I would do just about anything for one more day at camp with him Money raised: For this year’s Build America event I raised $5,565 and am proud to say that I was the number one fundraiser for Build 2014 Anything else you would like to add: I would not have been able to participate in this life changing event if it wasn’t for my Brothers and Pi Kappa Phi. So thank you to all that came before me who helped form this chapter and this Fraternity that I love so much.


More Photos from This Year

Special thanks to: Connor Reichenbach, Raymond Lindsay, Alex Baier, and Cameron Stone

Hi, My name is Andre Gomez and I am the historian for the 2014 Executive council. The past semester was so packed with events that it was hard to narrow it down for this newsletter. I hope that this next semester will bring just as many exciting stories and adventures with the brothers of Pi Kappa Phi.

What I think this brotherhood stands for is making a home away from home with life long friends that will do anything you ask of them; together we stand strong and proud as the MEN of Pi Kappa Phi.

I hope everyone who is reading this enjoyed Theta Iota’s first issue of the newsletter and has a great fall semester.

Sincerely from the Historian,

Andre Gomez

Letter From Historian

Brothers of Pi Kappa Phi Looking Sharp before a pinning

Brothers with T.J. Sullivan after a programing

Winners of volleyball tournament during War of the Roses

Cupcakes from final day of War of the Roses Nicolas Swaab and Austin Morford during

date a Pi Kapp AOPi’s House after decorating competition during Greek Week

Newsletter spring fall

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