Actives Brothers of Lambda Chi Alpha at Relay For Life on Friday, April 26, 2013 with Brother Bill Gardiner, EH 333, wife Nancy and Muffy Gambino, wife of the late Joe Gambino, EH 335.

The Brothers of Epsilon-Eta want to thank all of the alumni, current actives, families and friends of Epsilon-Eta on the very successful participation and  fundraising campaign for the RPI’s Relay For Life program that took place on Friday, April 26, 2013. Epsilon-Eta raised the 2nd most money of all teams, bringing in a total of $5,119.58.  This amount reflects $1,619.58 beyond our team goal of $3,500.

Epsilon-Eta alumni were a big part of this success, raising over $1,600 towards the goal. Specifically, we want to thank all of the Brothers that contributed in memory of Joseph Gambino, EH 335 as we memorialized his life and his strong fight against cancer during this very special night. Brother Karl Chung, EH 1264 raised $1,000 and was the highest raised of the active brother in donations. There were also many Brothers that raised over the $100 mark towards the cause.

The evening and event was very special to all of us because Brother Bill Gardiner, EH 333 and his wife Nancy made a special trip from Maine to be with the Brothers to walk with them and share some stories of Joe. We can’t thank him enough for making the trip and helping to communicate the dedication of Joe to Brothers around their era. More importantly we want to thank Muffy Gambino, wife of Joseph Gambino for taking the time out of her weekend to make a special trip to the Rensselaer campus, walking a lap with the active Brothers and for taking a few minutes to talk about Joe. It was a very special evening and made great meaning to the Relay For Life cause, but also reminded us of the ever lasting connection of our fraternity. We can’t thank you enough Muffy allow us to walk in Joe’s honor and for making the trip!

A very special thank you to Thomas Thayer, EH 1275, who was our Relay For Life captain for the second year in a row. He was excellent at communicating to all of the Brothers, being creative in the fundraising efforts and for motivating Brothers to get contributions and staying up all night long as part of the program. Thomas’s mother, Sheri Thayer, also played a big part in helping to provide our Brotherhood with a very special evening. Driving from Vermont, Mrs. Thayer, brought us goodies and treats to sell, created tee shirts (which she has done for our Brotherhood for the past 3 years) , and to just hang with the Brothers and be a part of our team.  Mrs. Thayer is always excellent to us! A special kudos to Gaetano Licata, EH 1244 who also was a big part of our preparation for the Relay For Life event, but played an important part on the Relay For Life Committee, putting in many man hours planning and executing the event.

Finally, thank you again to all of those participated by honoring someone close to them who are or have battled cancer, for those walking all night long, for raising money and/or contributing to our team. We could not have done it without all of you and your support!

Brother William Schmitt, EH 1257 being tapped in to Phalanx Honor Society.  Pictured behind Will is  Brother JP Trasatti, EH 1225, Phalanx President

On Saturday, April 6, 2013 the Phalanx Honor Society held its annual tapping ceremony of student leaders. Brother William Schmitt, EH 1257 (Schmitty) was tapped in to Phalanx for his strong leadership on campus, dedication to the organizations he is involved with and his overall devotion to the alma mater and beyond. Phalanx, started in 1912, is the honor society to recognize Rensselaer students who have distinguished themselves among their peers in the areas of leadership, service, and devotion to the alma mater. (Phalanx website.)

Schmitty is a remarkable leader and role model in both our brotherhood and on campus. His involvement in our Chapter, as well as to the Rensselaer and extended community are impactful and will have effect on the future of the alma mater. Initiated in 2009, Schmitty is involved in our Chapter through several roles. Having held the position of High Theta, where he was responsible for our external, community relations and philanthropy of the Chapter that helped us to continue our great tradition of being involved in the community. Schmitty, a certified EMT, has volunteered his time to teach brothers CPR as part of our risk prevention program. He is always willing to step up and help, but most of all he’s such a valuable resource to the Chapter. Schmitty’s campus involvement is extensive and impactful, he is fully involved with RPI Ambulance where he once held the position of President. In this role, he changed how the organization was managed and upgraded their processes to become more efficient and effective. Schmitty still volunteers weekly as the on call EMT, spending several nights at the ambulance office waiting for the next call to help save a life. In addition, he currently holds the position of GM Week Chairperson, overseeing this great and historical tradition on campus.

However, Schmitty’s true passion is very apparent with his continued involvement in the Boy Scouts of America, both locally and in his hometown. An Eagle Scout, Schmitty attends weekly meetings in the Capital District, but also returns to his hometown to participate in overnight adventures and educational sessions for young scouts. His dedication to the Boy Scouts is inspiring, as he continues to work to help young men and women, as well as underprivileged children, to become great people with true values. Schmitty was recognized as a Boy Scouts of America National Hall of Leadership Inductee, where he was one of only 300 inductees in the United States, for his service, honor and integrity to the organization. His tremendous work to redevelop the First Year Camper Program at his local Scout Camp, founding Scouting values and skills in new scouts and paving their paths for Eagle are what helped him to earn this great honor. He was the only member from his council to win the award and was recognized because of his dedication to helping others and to being a part of an organization that ultimately has given his great roots.

From Oxford Connecticut, Schmitty studies electrical engineering and is scheduled to graduate this May. Schmitty will be moving on to his already secured full time job at General Electric (GE) working for the Energy Consulting group, focusing on efficient use of energy in commercial and industrial applications, a position he was able to acquire after completing a solar power systems engineering co-op with GE in the spring and summer of 2011 and the summer of 2012.

Schmitty joins the 53 other Brothers of Lambda Chi Alpha that have been tapped in to the society, going as far back as Jay Hawthorne, EH 1. Schmitty is an inspiration to all that come in to contact with him. We are very excited to celebrate this great achievement with him, but most of all we are proud to call him a Brother. If you would like to send a note of congratulations to Schmitty, you may do so by emailing him at williamj@schmittnet.com

Left – Akshay Mata, AM; Christopher Volk, EH 1276; Oliver Schultz, EH 1271; Damian Mastylo, AM;  Volunteers at the Bethany Center.

Epsilon-Eta has always had a strong connection to the local community, either collecting food for the North American Food Drive, being one of the lead organizations to raise money for cancer research through the traditional Relay for Life program on the RPI campus, to helping organize and run blood drives. We have even used our strength as an organization to partner with other fraternities and sororities to raise money for certain causes. However, our outreach to volunteer our time in the community, at least in recent years has been an area we have wanted to improve upon.

The High Theta, Brother Oliver Schultz, EH 1271 has worked this semester to try to develop our community service within our Chapter. Recently, two brothers and two AMs visited the Bethany Center located on State Street in Troy to volunteer their time to help serve homeless and less fortunate families in Troy. The Bethany Center is an organization that is run by the Troy Unity House, an overarching community organization that is committed to serving and empowering people in need. Each day, the Bethany Center provides a hot breakfast and lunch (365 days a year) to those in need and does so solely off of donations and volunteers. In fact, the Troy Unity House loses money on this venture daily because they do not have the funding or appropriate budget available. However, through great support and volunteerism and because they realize the importance of this service to the community, they choose to keep it open. According to the Troy Unity House, the Bethany Center serves over 140 people every week day and approximately 70 people on the weekends.

On Saturday April 6, 2013, for the very first time, brothers stepped up to start to build a long term relationship with the Troy Unity House, and specifically at the Bethany Center to volunteer our time to serve food, help prepare food or work with the organization with any of their needs. During this day, the Brothers and AMs served pea soup, mixed greens and sausage, scallop potatoes, and cookies for dessert to about 45 individuals for 2 and a half hours. Following the lunch service, they helped to clean up the food, sweep, mop, and wipe down tables. “This was a really great day for the four of us who volunteered. For the first time in a while we felt like our brotherhood was having truly helping someone with such need. We know philanthropy is important, but when we took the time to volunteer and see how impactful we can be as an organization, that was very special” says, Oliver.

We will continue to work with the Troy Unity House to build this relationship and to find a sustainable and useful medium in which to help the local community.

In a very exciting and inspirational Kappa program, the High Kappa, Abraham Can, EH 1285 secured and organized a visit from the RPI Men’s Hockey Coach, Seth Appert, as a unique way to relate our brotherhood and core values to those of a team, specifically the men’s hockey team. The Kappa program is a semester long educational process for our new Associate Members, but also a way to build and reflect upon our values as a brotherhood.

Coach Appert was gracious to speak to the brothers for ninety minutes, throughout relating our core values of Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Service and Stewardship, Honor, Integrity and Personal Courage, to the team’s values. Coach Appert started his presentation by taking a minute to recognize the brothers of Lambda Chi Alpha for their continued and passionate support of the Hockey program year after year. He mentioned how proud he was that Lambda Chi Alpha had the same season tickets since 1976. Coach did his homework, knowing the tradition and history of Rensselaer and the Men’s Hockey program runs deep, even in to Lambda Chi Alpha’s History. Lambda Chi Alpha has 22 brothers that were members of the Men’s Hockey team over the seventy-six year history. Two of which were a part of the 1954 National Hockey Championship. Hockey is a passion of many brothers, from spectator to intramural teams, everyone appreciates the strong connection.

Coach Appert went on to talk about the values of the Men’s Hockey Team which include – First, Unquestioned work ethic – Do you try to be your best every day. Coach says, “To be at your best, you need to practice it every day… every day, you can never take a day off from it.” Second Unquestioned buy in to the value of our program, which includes five areas – 1. Team first mentality; 2. Back Check Relentlessness 3. Puck Pride (willingness to protect the puck); 4. Finish Checks – Be a physical team and wear down the other team.

Next, Coach talked about the final value and one of the most important when relating to the team and brotherhood and that is – Do you care and love your teammates and your program. He mentioned, earning respect, becoming and leader and having pride all takes time. It takes proving to each other your value. Just like any team, our brotherhood related to this value. Who are our true leaders? Who are the brothers you always turn to? Who are the brothers that go above and beyond? Who are those brothers that you respect the most?

Finally, just like the hockey program, he mentioned that no one individual is bigger than the program. The program will always be here, but as individuals we help to make it great. We may not all go about it the same way, but as a team you must have those same values to work together as an entire team.

Coach Appert was simply inspiring, and as the brothers listened to all that he said, it was truly a powerful and impactful Kappa session. Our brotherhood is very much like the Men’s Hockey Team – living its history and tradition, working to be the best there can be, and most of all sharing the same values with each other.
Coach concluded with an open floor questions and answers session for the brothers, taking the time to answer questions related to the team and his personal development that eventually landed him as the Men’s Hockey Coach at RPI.

We can’t thank Coach Appert enough for taking the time out of his schedule to visit our house and talk with our brothers.