Epsilon-Eta Wins President’s Award and 5 Star Status

Marc Nudel, EH 1209 – High Alpha

Another semester has come and gone, and we are finally free to sit back to enjoy all of our hard work. This past semester has been an extremely productive for Epsilon-Eta. We initiated 10 brothers this spring, on top of the 14 brothers and 1 honorary initiate in the fall, bringing our total to 83 active brothers.

This year at the awards of excellence ceremony, Epsilon-Eta was honored with several awards, including the top award: The President’s Award,

We received both the Membership Recruitment and Development Award and the Campus Involvement Award.  We also held Honorable Mention in Chapter Standards and Membership Accountability. Additionally, Raymond Pinto, EH 1198 won Greek Man of the Year, and James Turk, EH 1170 won Order of Omega Man of the Year.

In March we completed construction on our chapter’s House Archive and Charter Room.  Old scrap books, rush shirts, pedagogues and awards are all available for public viewing. Additionally, the chapter’s archives are available electronically on the website for all brothers to enjoy.

Our house has been busy in the community as well. Almost weekly, brothers have taken trips to Barker Park, in downtown Troy, to rake and clean the park. This year’s third annual Rock-a-thon raised the highest amount of money in the event’s history for the Troy Unity House along with the AGD Juvenile Diabetes fund. Additionally, Epsilon-Eta ranked in the top 5 for funds raised at this year’s Relay for Life. We also participated in Habitat for Humanity builds in upstate New York.

This year’s Founder’s Day Alumni Weekend had a great turn out with over 50 alumni visiting. At the Alumni Formal, David Wallack was honored as the Most Active Alumnus, Alex Benjamin was awarded the Musso-Robertson scholarship and Gregory Burt received the Kalepa-Ta-Kala award.

Sadly, Epsilon-Eta said farewell to 13 graduating seniors. In honor of their dedication to the house, the chapter performed its first Graduating Senior Ritual. However, this is not goodbye, as we plan on seeing them, along with the rest of our alumni at all future Rho events.

Special programming planned EHZ Alumni from 1980 – 2000

If you are a brother of LXA from 1980 – 2000, we are looking for you.  Our communications with alumni from this era are minimal.  We hope to grow the relationship back.  This year we will honor many of you at Reunion & Homecoming Weekend, but we hope you can return to campus, become involved through our social networking sites, provide career related advice, or simply send us an e-mail.  This year we plan to call and survey alumni from these years to hear what we can do to make our connection stronger.

Thank You!

This edition of The Lamplighter was paid for by donations made by the following alumni.

Gold Level: Michael Doyle, John Faricelli, Mike Morganti, Bruce Peachey, Peter Reale, Pete Rudak,  Anthony Squillante

Green Level: Daniel Bodenstein, Doug Hancher, Stephen Pawlak

Purple Level: Jin Cheung, Ryan Clapp, Miguel Martin, Nick Richardson, Dan Socaciu, Robert Wechsler

A new focus on Alumni Relations of Epsilon-Eta Zeta of LXA

As our brotherhood continues to grow, we know our connection with the alumni are increasingly important.  We have set out a new plan and mission to involve our alumni of Lambda Chi Alpha.  We know the connection to LXA is different for every brother, and we want to make that connection available to you as alumni.

Alumni Communications Board
In an effort to continue to build our alumni relations with all of our past brothers of Lambda Chi Alpha, we are resurrecting the Alumni Communications Board.  The purpose of the board is for alumni volunteers from certain eras of LXA to communicate and promote chapter activities, provide chapter updates and to be the voice for the alumni in and around your era of LXA.  The goal is to continue to enhance the connection of alumni from all eras to the chapter.

The board will meet once per year, at Reunion & Homecoming Weekend.  Time commitment to the communication board will be minimal.  If you are interested in being part of the new Alumni Communication Board please e-mail either of the co-chairs of the board, David Drew, EH 1172 – ddrew@uchc.edu or Jim Turk, EH 1170 – jrturk3@gmail.com.  To see a list of those already a part of the board for your era, visit http://ehzlxa.com.

Events & Activities
We are enhancing and expanding our events that connect alumni to the chapter.  This year will include a new format for Summer Bash, a continuation of Reunion & Homecoming tradition, and a revamped Founders Day Alumni Weekend that will include alumni awards and the honoring active alumni.  You will receive e-mail invitations for all events, but we encourage you to visit the Web site for the most up to date information.

Communications
In 2010 we will increase communications to the alumni.  These communications will be mostly e-mail, but will be designed to keep you up to date and in communication with our chapter.  If interested, be sure to visit our new Web site and subscribe to our RSS feed so you know right away what is happening at the house.

Announcing the new Epsilon-Eta Zeta of Lambda Chi Alpha Contribution Plan

You were once an active brother in Lambda Chi Alpha so you certainly understand the need for alumni to be active in volunteering, coming back to the house and contributing. We encourage you to remember Lambda Chi Alpha in your yearly philanthropic options. Even the smallest amount will help the house create a closer connection with the alumni and the brothers. The new EHZ of LXA Contribution Plan allows alumni to specify a location to designate your gift to LXA so you can support your special connection to the chapter.  Yearly contributions will run from July 1 – June 30.  Below is a list of all of the designated locations that you are able to contribute towards.  Thank you in advance for any yearly gift you are able to contribute!

EHZ Educational Foundation Scholarship
All contributions to the EHZ Educational Foundation Scholarship will go directly towards helping active brothers of Lambda Chi Alpha with college tuition and expenses.  This fund will also allow current brothers to attend yearly national conferences and local Conclaves.   Gift is tax deductable.  Corporate Gift Matching opportunities available – see the Web site for more details.

Epsilon-Eta Zeta Chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha General Fund (House Improvements)
The EHZ of LXA General Fund allows LXA to be competitive in recruiting future brothers, maintaining the physical house and for us to continue to create a strong brotherhood to Lambda Chi Alpha.  Gift to this fund is not tax deductible.

High Phi Ritual Fund
The High Phi Ritual Fund will go directly towards supplies and needs for all ritual activities at Lambda Chi Alpha.  Gift is not tax deductible.

The Lamplighter
Voluntary Alumni Dues help to support the creation, printing and mailing of The Lamplighter, the chapter’s oldest communication to alumni of Epsilon-Eta Zeta of Lambda Chi Alpha.  Gift is not tax deductible.

Contribution Levels
To see a list of yearly monetary contribution levels and stewardship program information, visit our Web site at http://ehzlxa.com.  For your convenience your contribution may be broken up to support the different designations.

How to contribute to one of these funds
Visit our Web site at http://ehzlxa.com and click on Alumni to contribute online.  If you would like to contribute via mail, please send check made payable to Lambda Chi Alpha, please designate your gift location in the memo section of the check and mail it to High Tau – 200 Sunset Terrace, Troy NY 12180.

Order of Merit Award Bestowed by International Fraternity

Michael Morganti, EH – 781, Board of Directors Secretary receives award
John Faricelli, EH712 –  BOD Vice President

The Epsilon-Eta chapter is proud to announce that Dr. Michael Morganti EH-781, has been awarded the Order of Merit from the International Fraternity. Established in 1935, the Order of Merit is granted to brothers who have demonstrated their devotion to the fraternity by their long and dedicated service, particularly at the local level. This rare honor has been bestowed on only one other Epsilon-Eta member: Jay W. Hawthorne, EH-1. Michael was nominated for his service as the House Corporation/Board of Directors (BOD) Secretary from 1986 to the present. In that capacity, he has provided calm and thoughtful guidance to the board, as well as serving as its institutional “memory”. He was also instrumental in the construction of the new chapter house at 200 Sunset Terrace, serving on the New House Committee from 1991 until construction was completed in 1995. Michael will be presented with the Order of Merit at the 2010 General Assembly in  Phoenix, AZ this July.

As testament to Michael’s devotion to the fraternity, we present the following excerpts from Michael’s nomination package, which was prepared by Nick Richardson, EH-1133, BOD Member at Large.

“I have served on Active Duty in the Navy for more than 22 years and I have had the opportunity to judge the performance of others and make many award nominations. This one is special to me in that we are recognizing the superior performance of an individual who is contributing his time and skills in a purely volunteer and largely unseen venue. I can think of no other brother that I know personally that is more deserving.” Doug Hancher, EH-739, Commander US Navy (ret), BOD President.

“When you think of the office of secretary, you may be inclined to think of someone who is a record keeper and correspondent. Mike performs these duties, of course, and he performs them well. But Mike does so much more than that – he is our corporate memory, one who quietly and efficiently provides answers to our questions about corporate, legal and financial matters… Mike goes above and beyond what could be expected as an alumnus and of a house corporation officer. And he does all that he does with grace, good cheer, and a strong sense of brotherhood and fellowship.” Prof. Roger Grice , ThU-426, High Pi at Rensselaer, Order of Merit recipient in 2000.

“While I served on the Board of Directors of the House Corporation, I always thought of Dr. Morganti as the quiet voice of wisdom. He remained silent until such time as he could make a well-informed point, which often became the prevailing thought of the Board. The late Jay W. Hawthorne, EH-1, once told me that he admired Dr. Morganti’s dedication and long-standing commitment to our chapter.” Ray Lutzky, EH-1022, Alumni Advisor, Rensselaer, Master Steward, Rensselaer Admissions.

“In 1991 Dr. Morganti joined the New House Committee as Secretary and remained in that role for the duration of the project. I can say with certainty that Dr. Morganti’s efforts were vital in securing the Institute (RPI) approvals, alumni donations, and ongoing motivation of the entire brotherhood…As I’m sure you can imagine, there were many times when the new house project met with frustration and disappointment…Through all of this, Dr. Morganti was a champion of the New House Project. Working alongside Jay Hawthorne, EH-1, they made countless fundraising calls, prepared mailing lists, reviewed drawings, estimated costs and budgets and never gave up hope or belief that we would succeed. Our new house ultimately was built through the sheer will and commitment of brothers like Dr. Morganti.” Bill Worthen, EH-879, architect of the chapter house at 200 Sunset Terrace.

“Being a member of the board since the 1980’s, Mike has been a consistent source of knowledge and advice about the history of and the continuing operations of the board. He has shown nothing but true dedication for our brotherhood even through the active chapter’s difficult times… He truly exemplifies a spirit of service and passion for our brotherhood.” Nathaniel Bobeck (EH-1059), High Alpha 2004.

“While I continue to serve the Fraternity as a young alumnus, I look to older brothers of Michael Morganti’s stature to remember the importance of alumni involvement to the success of the Fraternity as a whole.”  Nick Richardson (EH-1133), EH BOD Member at Large.

Biographical sketch: Michael was born on March 29, 1962 in Hartford, CT and has two sisters and a fraternal twin brother.  He was initiated into EH of Lambda Chi Alpha in 1981, and held the offices of High Sigma, High Kappa and High Alpha. He graduated from RPI in 1984 with a BS in Biology (cum laude). Mike continued his studies at the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine, and received his DMD in 1988. He resides in Newington, CT with his wife Gloria and his two children Clarissa and Brian. He is a life-long parishioner of St. James RC Church, and has organized a group that feeds the clients at the Immaculate Conception Homeless Shelter in Hartford since 1992. In his free time, his passion is organizing and playing on an adult ice hockey team.

Save the Date – Upcoming EHZ Events

Plan you year – Dates at a Glance
Summer Bash – Friday, July 30 – Saturday, July 31, 2010
Reunion & Homecoming Weekend – Friday, October 15 – Saturday, October 16, 2010
New York City LXA Alumni/Actives Event – Friday, January 21, 2011 (tentative)
Founders Day Alumni Weekend  – Friday, April 1 – Sunday, April 3, 2011

Summer Bash 2010 – Friday, July 30 – Saturday, July 31
Keeping the tradition of our summer gathering, we are making some changes to the event this summer.  The weekend will consist of several activities that are great for alumni and their families.  On Friday, July 30 we will host our annual Actives vs. Alumni Softball game under the lights on one of the new athletics fields.  On Saturday morning we will go to the popular Saratoga Race Track in Saratoga for a day of horse racing and just hanging around.  This event is great for alumni and their families as the racetrack provides activities for all ages.  Following the day in Saratoga, we will head to dinner and then back the house for an evening of entertaining.  There is even a chance to play some golf on Sunday if you are interested.  Online registration and a full events schedule with details is available online at http://ehzlxa.com/alumni.  There is no cost to the weekend, just let us know you are coming so other brothers can see that you will be here!

Reunion & Homecoming LXA Celebration – Friday, October 15 – Saturday, October 16
In 2010 we will celebrate alumni who have helped to shape our most recent history of LXA join us!  As full weekend schedule with details is available on our Web site.

Preliminary Schedule of Events
Friday, October 15, 2010
2:30 p.m. – Campus tours lead by brothers of LXA
6:30 p.m. – Rensselaer’s Greek ChowderFest!
9 p.m. – EHZ Alumni Open House & Gathering

Saturday, October 16, 2010
All Day – EHZ alumni are welcome to stop in anytime during the weekend of Reunion & Homecoming.  As a special privilege, alumni are welcome to park the house parking lot, right near many of the Saturday RPI activities.
4:30 p.m. – Cross, Crescent & Clams – Join us at the house for our newest tradition.  Families are welcome!  This year we will celebrate alumni from EH 850 – EH 950!

Online Registration will be available in August!