How You Do Things Is More Important Than What You Do

Posted on January 13, 2012 by phidelt

By Nick Prihoda

During the last four years, I can’t recall the number of times I’ve heard that phrase.  For my most recent boss, the phrase is not only her personal mantra, but also a mantra for how she manages her job, her team and the department of the agency she oversees.  When adopted, it has a noticeable, direct impact on the quality of work we provide our clients.

While I thought I understood what she was talking about the first few times I heard her say it, it wasn’t until much later that I fully realized what it meant, or that my fraternal experience had laid the groundwork for ‘how you do things.’

At the heart of the statement is the idea that no matter how intelligent, smart, correct or otherwise amazing what you are doing is, if you don’t do it in a manner that solves a problem, meets a need or in a manner not consistent with your values, that idea/deed cannot reach its full potential.

Our fraternal experience provides a great foundation for developing the ‘how.’  It teaches us how to be men with a high standard of morality and how to live lives with integrity and accountability. Our fraternal experience also gives us the opportunity to get ahead of our job competition with some very concrete job skills.  From basic skills like how to run a meeting, prepare a budget, and work with a diverse team to more advanced skills like how to be a self-starter, exceeding when no one is holding you accountable and not settling for being average.

While all of these skills and opportunities can be a part of our fraternal experience, they are not given to anyone.  Just being in a fraternity doesn’t automatically mean that you’ll develop these skills.  Full, active participation in your fraternity experience puts you on the path to learning the ‘how’ and puts you at an advantage over your colleagues who didn’t have these same opportunities in college.

When correctly utilized, this experience can be a four-year head start on the competition to not only get the job you are dreaming of, but to also take that job and make it a successful and rewarding experience.

Nick Prihoda is a member of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity and a 1999 graduate of Wabash College.  Nick works as an Account Director on the Nintendo account for Leo Burnett USA, a worldwide advertising agency in Chicago, IL.  Prior to Leo Burnett, Nick spent six years as the Director of Expansion and Recruitment for Delta Tau Delta International Fraternity where he led the colonization of more than 15 new chapters and developed fraternity-wide programming which has led to double digital overall growth for the entire organization.

Filed under: Career Advice, Interfraternalism | Tagged: , , , | Leave a Comment »

Personal and Professional Advancement Through Community Good

Posted on January 12, 2012 by phidelt

By Jordan Pallitto

Many young professionals find themselves struggling to balance new demands amidst pressure to excel quickly in a fresh career.  Responsibility to pay student loans.  Desire to make the most of a social life suddenly buoyed by the presence of disposable income.  Finding new personal and professional networks in an unfamiliar city or industry.

How can a young professional, just out of school and wet behind the ears, deal with this?  Many ways, of course.  One effective strategy is to get involved in the local community.  In college, this meant participating in Make a Difference Day or volunteering at the community center.  In professional life, this can and should mean serving on an organization’s Board of Directors – a great benefit to you and your community.

Whether you believe it or not, you learned valuable skills in college that set you apart from your peers and can serve as a springboard for meaningful participation in your new community.  If you are entering a new career directly from undergraduate studies, you are part of only one-third of the United States with a bachelor’s degree.  If you completed graduate studies, you are among less than eight percent of the population.  If you have a doctoral degree, you are part of an exclusive club measuring less than three percent of the over-25 population (according to the U.S. Census Bureau, 2011).

You can leverage these special skills to benefit you and your locale.  You may be thinking, “Why would an organization want me?”  The answer is “Why wouldn’t they?”  According to the National Center for Charitable Statistics, there are nearly 1 million registered nonprofit organizations in the United States, all of which are legally required to maintain a Board of Directors, many of which choose to frequently rotate or turnover board positions to attract new and fresh ideas – like those you can bring to the table.  In Allegheny County (Pittsburgh), Pennsylvania, for example, there are more than 4,000 registered nonprofit organizations.  In Butler County (Oxford), Ohio, there are more than 1,700.  Even in Loving County, Texas – the least populated county in America – there is a registered nonprofit organization.  Every one of them faces an uphill battle for new donors, greater impact, and greater relevance – all challenges which you, as a young professional, are equipped to help address.

Additionally, doing so will enable you to (1) grow your personal and professional networks with people who share the same passion for a particular organization or issue, (2) hone your financial literacy skills as you provide fiduciary oversight of an organization’s budget, (3) refine your supervisory skills as you work with an agency’s senior staff to fulfill a nonprofit mission, (4) develop your meeting facilitation skills while you attend, participate in, and potentially preside over board and committee meetings, (5) showcase your particular life experience and expertise as you work on important organizational issues, (6) demonstrate commitment and follow-through to others, (7) learn how to motivate others toward a mission without compensation, and so much more.

Here are a few tips to get started:

  1. Double check with your employer to see if any company policy prohibits participation on nonprofit boards of directors.  This is not common, but it can happen.
  2. Develop a monthly schedule to understand the time you have available for board service.  Be mindful that many boards meet in evenings or on weekends at least once per quarter.
  3. Read up on general nonprofit fiduciary responsibility and organization management principles, rules, and regulations.  Your state’s association of nonprofit organizations is a good place to start.  Many online resources such as BoardSource, GuideStar, and others can provide great information for a budding civic leader.
  4. Investigate your local nonprofit community using online resources like GuideStar or the National Center for Charitable Statistics.
  5. Create a list of issues, ideas, or organizations for which you have passion, and match those to organizations in your region by using nonprofit NTEE codes (classification codes for nonprofit organizations by focus area such as arts and culture, environment, animals, and many more.
  6. Visit websites, review publicly-available tax filings, and do other homework on local organizations that match your interest, and create a short-list of those that you like best.
  7. Reach out to the Executive Director or a board member at each organization to learn more about the process of board recruitment and selection.  Have a resume ready, and be prepared to discuss how your skills can help them achieve their mission.
  8. Recognize that many boards only recruit and select new members once per year.  You may have to wait.

Increasing your civic leadership and community engagement while you are struggling to balance new demands associated with post-college life might seem counterintuitive, but it can be an effective strategy for personal and professional growth.  You have fresh ideas, up-to-date academic knowledge, and a young person’s drive and ambition to offer.  In return, you get a sense of accomplishment from active participation in improving your community while building a strong base of friends and colleagues in an environment that offers learning and development that can’t be matched in an entry-level occupation.  In short, you get personal and professional advancement by doing good in your community.

Jordan Pallitto, a consultant with The Hill Group, specializes in strategic planning and organizational capacity assessment.  He is a Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations (PANO) Standards for Excellence Trained and Approved Consultant. Prior to joining The Hill Group, Jordan worked extensively with Pittsburgh Public Schools to help develop a comprehensive plan for the new Pittsburgh 6-12 Science and Technology Academy.  He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County (now part of the Pittsburgh Foundation), as Vice President of the Pittsburgh Urban Magnet Project, and is an active volunteer with the Phi Delta Theta fraternity.  He is a graduate of Leadership Development Initiative XV, a program of Leadership Pittsburgh, Inc.  Jordan earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Allegheny College and a Master of Science degree from the Heinz College at Carnegie Mellon University.

Filed under: Career Advice, Phi Delt Volunteers | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Building Your Career Through Our Values

Posted on January 11, 2012 by phidelt

By Chris Brussalis – General Council Member-at-Large

My years in college were some of the most enjoyable of my life.  It was where I gained my independence by living on my own, developed lifelong bonds of friendship and brotherhood through the Fraternity, developed leadership skills through intercollegiate athletics and involvement in campus life, and gained a love and appreciation for learning.  In college, I laid the foundation for my career by working my tail off, but also by playing just as hard.

A healthy balance of hard work and play was important to my success.  Those years of extraordinary personal growth and development of my mind, soul, and friendships prepared me for the next phase of my life.  Phi Delta Theta’s values of friendship, sound learning, and rectitude were the building blocks to my success.

Friendship
You need others to develop and grow your career.  You can’t pull this off alone.  The ability to develop and grow your network of friends will provide you with multitudes of people who might help or add value to your career development.  The mastery of the Fraternity’s value of friendship has the ability to make you wildly successful in the development and growth of your career.

There is one thing that successful people have more than the average—they have greater networks.  The secret to success in any contact-dependent profession (i.e., any career where you have to deal with people – almost every career) is the ability to initiate contacts with prospective buyers on a consistent basis.  This simply means that if you are developing your career, looking for a job, applying to graduate programs, the more contacts that you initiate with prospective buyers of your talents (employers), the more opportunities that you will have before you.  This also applies to making contacts or making yourself visible to others who have networks of friends who could help you.  For example, let your chapter brothers know that you are looking for a job or an opportunity.  You never know, one of them may have a father, mother, aunt, uncle, or a family friend who might be looking for your talents or willing to help you grow your career.

Being a member of a fraternity, especially Phi Delta Theta, provides an incredible advantage.  Building friendships, both in quantity and quality, will expand your networks and opportunities as you develop and grow your career.  Whether you are cultivating friendships within the chapter or learning how to recruit prospective members, you are initiating contacts with others and building your personal network.  While the Fraternity provides a strong foundation for your professional network, it is very important to expand your contacts beyond Phi Delta Theta.  This not only helps your chapter in recruitment and enhancing the chapter’s visibility on campus, but it expands your friendship base and personal network to realms that may become valuable to you in the future as you grow and develop your career.

Many of the best employment opportunities are identified and pursued through relationships.  The more people you know, the more opportunities tend to come your way.  Relationships are at the core of business in any sector (for profit, nonprofit, or government).  People hire or do business with people.  Your first step in any job hunt is to make contact with prospective employers.  Your network can help open those doors.

Sound Learning
Learning is the primary reason that you and your family are investing time, money, and resources into four or more years of higher education.  As you transition into a career in a global marketplace, the competition is fierce.  If you aren’t technically prepared with a good foundation of knowledge in your discipline, you are already at a disadvantage.  You certainly don’t have to be a 4.00 student to be a successful in your transition to a career, but you do have to be competent.

Employers and better graduate school programs look for candidates who are technically competent; however, there is a differentiator that will significantly enhance your chances of landing that pivotal first job or getting into a top graduate school.  That differentiator is the ability to communicate, in writing and verbally, and the ability to convey a sincere love of learning.

Poor writing skills are the easiest way to eliminate a candidate in a competitive marketplace.  Most employers will assess writing skills in your resume or through writing samples.  One of the most important courses that you can take as you prepare for your career is a technical writing course.  The ability to write in a cogent, concise manner will serve you well to not only land a good job, but to propel you through a successful career.

Employers invest in people in order to develop their talent and to hopefully yield a return on investment.  This means that employers, as well as graduate and professional schools, look for candidates who have a love of learning and who will be self-motivated to continually improve and reinvent themselves.  My business is very different today than it was five, fifteen, and twenty years ago.  My employees and I have had to learn new techniques, technologies, and processes to remain relevant in the market.  As an employer, I love to invest in people who have the ability and desire to learn and grow because their innovation “innovates” our business, allowing our firm to succeed and thrive in a competitive market.  The easiest way to develop this desire and love of learning is to find a career path or profession that you love.  If you become passionate about something, you will love to learn about it.

Rectitude
Once you have made contact with prospective employers or individuals who can help progress your career, you must have something of value to offer.  Sound learning should take care of this requirement.  However, one more critical element will make or break your career growth and development – that is your integrity.  People hire and invest in individuals that they like and trust.  Simply put: you are only as valuable as your reputation.

Your judgment and actions shape your character and reputation.  Decisions that you make now will stick with you for some time.  The Internet and social media often memorialize and make very public both good and bad decisions.  Make good decisions; do the right thing; always treat everyone with respect; and guard your reputation.  Unimpeachable rectitude will make you an attractive candidate for future employers or business associates.

Chris W. Brussalis is Member-at-Large of the General Council.  Chris is President & CEO of The Hill Group, Inc., a national management consulting firm and Adjunct Professor of Management and Policy at the Heinz College of Carnegie Mellon University.

Filed under: Career Advice, Phi Delt General Council, Uncategorized, Values/Principles | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Everything I Wish I Knew Before I Started Working

Posted on January 9, 2012 by phidelt

By Brad Karsh, President of JB Training Solutions and JobBound

“If I knew then what I knew now…”

Particularly at major milestones in our lives, this phrase rings all too well. As a college senior, you probably learned a thing or two (or fifty) since your first day on campus as a freshman. The same will be true as you become acclimated in your career. Just like college, your career will be a continuous learning experience.

In my opinion, making the transition from college to the working world is the single biggest transition that you will ever make…in your life! It is bigger than going from high school to college, it is bigger than getting married, and it is about the same as having children. The fact is that in many ways, the way you act, thrive, and survive in college is completely opposite from how you succeed in the workplace. But don’t freak out. I have ten workplace tips to help you make a smooth and successful transition.

1. Embrace the unknown as a challenge. 95% of your job will be on the job learning. See your new projects and responsibilities as learning opportunities. Don’t be afraid to figure it out. With topics and duties that are new to you, research, explore, and have fun with it.

2. Always have an opinion. Have an answer to “What do you think?” This will make you part of the conversation, and it will help you hone your decision-making skills.

3. Failing is learning. You won’t always have the “right” answer; see it as a learning opportunity. Never turn down a new project because you are intimidated or afraid to fail. Think outside the box and try new things.

4. Under promise, over deliver. It is always better to exceed expectations than not to be able to meet them. Be who you say you are, and do what you say you will do – and then some.

5. Focus on quality versus quantity. More is not necessarily better. Flawless execution is imperative to instill trust in your company and brand. Attention to detail is everything, so triple check all of your work. Treat every assignment as though the CEO will be evaluating it.

6. Have solutions for problems. Always brainstorm answers and solutions for problems. Ask for guidance or input, not the answer.

7. Own your position and duties. See your duties through, from start to finish. Don’t be afraid to take complete ownership in all that you do. Consider yourself CEO of your position.

8. Join a professional organization. Obviously you are right on track having joined Phi Delta Theta and surely you’ve seen the benefits of membership. Stay involved in an organization after college. You know by now that organizations like Phi Delta Theta allow you to gain new skills and meet new people.

9. Find life balance. Your career schedule will be very different than your college schedule. As you become acclimated to your new hours and environment, make sure you do something for you every day. Whether it is reading your favorite newspaper, getting a good workout, or catching up with a friend – do something you love to do every day.

10. Keep a great attitude. For a manager, there is nothing worse than an employee with a bad attitude. A positive attitude is contagious and will make people want to work with you. Avoid negativity and find the positive in every situation. Attitude is everything!

At JB Training Solutions/JobBound, we recognize that this is a difficult transition, and we want to help. To this aim, we’ve launched “Millennials Mean Business.” (If you are currently in college, you are a millennial.) Through this initiative, we are offering amazing career and workplace advice all geared toward your generation about how to thrive at work.

You can follow us on Twitter @JBTSMillennials and check out our site.

Best of luck!

Brad Karsh is President of JB Training Solutions and JobBound, companies dedicated to helping individuals succeed in the workplace. An industry expert in his field and an accomplished public speaker and author, Brad Karsh has been featured on CNN, CNBC, and Dr. Phil, and has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, New York Times, USA Today, and many others. Brad is author of Confessions of a Recruiting Director (Prentice Hall Press, 2006).

Prior to starting JB Training Solutions, Brad spent 15 years at advertising giant Leo Burnett in Chicago. He began his career in Account Management, working on clients including McDonald’s, Procter & Gamble, and Pillsbury. He then moved into HR where he was responsible for hiring and training hundreds of employees.

Brad has conducted training programs all across the country for companies including ConocoPhillips, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Abbott Laboratories, Discover, The Chicago Blackhawks, Quaker, and dozens of others. Brad regularly delivers keynotes and workshops at Fraternity and Sorority conventions and conferences.

Follow Brad on Twitter @BradKarsh and follow “Millennials Mean Business” on Twitter @JBTSMillennials.

Filed under: Career Advice | Tagged: , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Back to the Basics: Living Our Values

Posted on December 13, 2011 by phidelt

By Antonio-Phillip Lytle

Many times in our fraternal experience “living our values” can appear theoretical or intangible.   During the Association of Fraternity and Sorority Advisors Annual Meeting, held in St. Louis, Missouri, our brothers exhibited the exact opposite. Friendship, Sound Learning and Rectitude were all exhibited from fellow alumni Phis from chapters across the United States.

On the first official night of the conference, Phi Delta Theta’s Director of Expansion, Brother DeMarkco Butler (Illinois Gamma) took the initiative of inviting all of the Phi Delts attending the annual meet to dinner. In a local St. Louis establishment we, as brothers, broke bread. With lots of laughs, great conversations, and of course, trips down memory lane, we united in a true representation of Friendship. For some of us, this was our very first encounter, but for others, this was a reunion after a few years separated by distance.  For all of us, this was an opportunity to live up to the values set by our Founders.

Throughout the four-day conference, various professionals, both campus-based and national office staffs, present their research, thoughts and findings on the fraternal community. With more than 100 options of presentations to attend on topic areas ranging from “Increasing Male Participation, One Motivation at a Time” to “The Impact of Public Policy Issues on Fraternities and Sororities,” the week provided attendees with an opportunity to connect theoretical frameworks to our day-to-day responsibilities.

The men of Phi Delta Theta were not just attendees to the various educational sessions. Within our delegation there were several presenters that covered various topics.  Among the Phi presenters were: Dustin Struble (California Xi) “Appreciative Advising: A Positive Approach to Developing Fraternity and Sorority Community Action Plans,” Mark Koepsell (Illinois Iota) “Accelerate The Learning in Your Leadership Development Programs,” Thomas Whitcher (California Xi) “Can We Talk? Creating Intentional Social Justice Dialogue in Fraternity and Sorority Communities,” and Antonio-Phillip Lytle (Connecticut Beta) “Tips and Tools for Assessment.” Whether brothers were attending sessions or presenting, Sound Learning was clearly demonstrated during this experience. The ability to gain and share resources from some of the top practitioner and researchers in the field offered the opportunity to re-think and evaluate our current fraternal experience.

A true blue highlight of the annual meeting was celebrating one of our very own Phis, Mark Koepsell (Illinois Iota) as he received the Jack L. Anson Award. The Anson Award is described by the Association for Fraternity and Sorority Advisors as: “presented to a well-respected individual not in the field of higher education, who has demonstrated a long-term commitment to the fraternity/sorority community beyond just his/her respective organization. The individual should have assisted in developing partnerships with higher education and the interfraternal community, fostered positive change to advance the fraternal movement, and served as a role model for students.”.

Koepsell, a true visionary leader, captured the audience with an acceptance speech challenging us all to “live in the land of “What If!” This multimedia speech was captured through Twitter and made the audience think deeper about our fraternal community with prompts such as: “#WHATIF we spent our undergraduate years preparing for a lifetime of membership in the organization and didn’t get initiated until we graduated?”, #WHATIF new member education truly prepared men and women for a life of values based action?”, and “WHATIF Fraternities/Sororities could PROVE their worth to higher education at a level where they were begging for more?” just to share a few.

Koepsell’s actions and dedication to the fraternal movement is Rectitude at its finest. The ability to take words and place them into action and challenge a community to stand up with you and do the same is nothing short of amazing.

These are three small examples within a four-day experience where fellow Phis were able to live out our values of Friendship, Sound Learning and Rectitude. Each and every day, as active chapter members and alumni, we have the ability to change the world. Do not miss your chance to live our values and make our Founders proud!

Filed under: Values/Principles | Tagged: , , | Leave a Comment »

Two Men Who Believe In The Power Of Sound Learning Are Helping Me Succeed

Posted on December 9, 2011 by phidelt

This week our blog series will feature a variety of Phi Delta Theta Foundation Donors, highlighting various categories and opportunities Phi Delta Theta has for members and alumni to give back.

Today, we feature Wisconsin Beta (Lawrence) Phi, Jeff Ramsey, a graduate fellowship recipient. Each fellowship is awarded in order to further the education of a deserving graduate student.

“I am a doctoral candidate in history at Marquette University and I would not be here without Phi Delta Theta. I have had the great privilege to receive two graduate fellowships from the Phi Delta Theta Foundation: The Rusty R. Richardson award in 2007 and most recently, the Marvin J. Perry fellowship. Both awards have provided me with necessary financial support to pursue my studies. These fellowships remind me about how amazing Phi Delta Theta really is. I am benefiting from the generosity of two of the great men in our organization who believe in the power of Sound Learning and set up these fellowship endowments to help others pursue their educational goals. It makes me want to work that much harder to prove that I am worthy of these awards. I then want to use my knowledge and resources to donate to the Foundation so I can help someone else achieve their dreams as well.”

“Beyond this financial contribution, Phi Delta Theta lead me to this career. I had the great honor to work as a Leadership Consultant for the Fraternity from 2000 to 2003. This position helped me discover my passion for working with college students. Spending three years on the road, meeting with students, planning and participating in conferences, getting to know our outstanding alumni, and learning more about the fraternity’s commitment to its Three Cardinal Principles, helped me become the man I am today and helped guide me towards my life’s work. As an undergraduate member, I got a glimpse of what it meant to be a Phi. Now, as an alumnus, I am often reminded of how deep and special being a Phi really is. I am proud to say that I am a lifelong Phi, and I strive in all areas of my life to live up to that title by adhering to the Three Cardinal Principles. I relish the opportunity to spend the rest of my life teaching college students and setting good examples of the kind of people they should be. Regardless of whether my students are Phis or not, I know they will see what it means to be a member of Phi Delta Theta. My ability to positively influence my students is directly connected with Phi Delta Theta, and I can’t thank the Fraternity or the Foundation enough for not only putting me on my path, but for continuing to support me. I can only hope that throughout my life, I live up to the examples set by the six founders and men like Rusty Richardson and Marvin Perry.

Learn more about the graduate fellowships Phi Delta Theta has to offer.  The applications for these fellowships will be live soon.

Filed under: Phi Delta Theta Foundation, Philanthropy | Tagged: , , | 1 Comment »

A Positive Experience Led To Involvement As A Foundation Trustee

Posted on December 8, 2011 by phidelt

This week our blog series will feature a variety of Phi Delta Theta Foundation Donors, highlighting various categories and opportunities Phi Delta Theta has for members and alumni to give back.

Today, a Phi Delta Theta Foundation Trustee will share his story. Foundation Trustees are individuals who have shown their dedication to Phi Delta Theta throughout the years and are invited to sit on the Board of Trustees. They provide the vision for the Phi Delta Theta Foundation and bring their shared expertise and knowledge to the table. Brother Mike Fimiani, South Florida ’89, became a Phi Delta Theta Foundation Trustee in July of 2006.

“The Fraternity has been a major part of my life since the day I pledged in the Fall of 1985.  I was active in my chapter and served in several roles including president.  Upon graduation, I volunteered as a chapter adviser, province president and eventually now as a Foundation Trustee.  Most of my extremely close friends are from my days at Florida Epsilon.  In addition, as a volunteer I now have many more close friends that serve the Fraternity as General Council members, volunteers and headquarters staff.  The Fraternity shaped my college experience in the most positive way possible through the friends I made and the leadership and management skills I developed while running the chapter.  To this day I stay in touch with dozens of chapter brothers and at most events back on campus my pledge class usually has the most in attendance.  It was and still is a very tight group of guys.”

“Because I had such and positive experience in school and now as an alumni volunteer it causes me to want to give back both with my time and donations to the Fraternity.  Phi Delta Theta ranks as the highest priority in my philanthropic giving.  I see how hard the headquarters staff works to put together great programs for the undergraduates to attend and benefit from.  When I was an undergraduate, we had no idea the amount of time and effort the headquarters staff put into the Fraternity.  Now that I have seen it firsthand, it makes me even more enthusiastic about supporting our great Fraternity.  I encourage all Brothers to give what they can to support the Fraternity.”

Filed under: Phi Delt Volunteers, Phi Delta Theta Foundation, Philanthropy, Uncategorized | Tagged: , , | Leave a Comment »

Undergraduates Assisting Undergraduates Through The Knights Of Pallas

Posted on December 7, 2011 by phidelt

This week our blog series will feature a variety of Phi Delta Theta Foundation Donors, highlighting various categories and opportunities Phi Delta Theta has for members and alumni to give back.

The Knights of Pallas is Phi Delta Theta Foundation’s dynamic undergraduate giving alliance allowing members a chance to give back – a gesture that provides valuable resources for the Annual Fund which supports undergraduate programs, scholarships and fellowships. Benjamin Reilly, President of Kansas Epsilon Chapter at Emporia State University has inspired and educated his fellow brothers about the importance of giving back. This year, the Knights of Pallas has taken on a competitive nature driving the undergrad members to donate. The Kansas Epsilon Chapter is in the running to win a noble knight statue for their chapter house as a reminder of their charitable contributions.

“I first donated to the Knights of Pallas at the Orlando, Florida Convention, and I have made sure to donate at every Phi Delt conference since then.  Before I went to these conferences, the only thing I knew about the Knights of Pallas was that it was something I could pay for and get a cool pin with a sword.  At Convention, I was able to talk to the people at the Knights of Pallas table and realized that the money was actually going toward Phi Delta Theta Foundation scholarships. As a college student who loves scholarships, I decided I could help out my brothers and donate.”

“Many members from Kansas Epsilon have felt the same way and have donated when they attended Phi Delt conferences.  When the Knights of Pallas competition was announced, I was pretty excited, especially when the suit of armor was announced to be the prize.  So naturally, every guy in the chapter wanted to try and get the suit of armor.  The chapter made sure to talk about Knights of Pallas in our next meeting and the competition that had been unveiled.  We also brought this up in the Phikeia meeting and got all the Phikeias on board to donate to the Foundation.”

“It’s great to know that our brothers can come together and help current and future Phi Delts by providing donations for scholarships.  The best part of Knights of Pallas is that it is really easy to donate.  If you attend any of the Phi Delt conferences, just stop by the table and donate $18.48. If you haven’t been able to attend any of those, you can just send a donation to the Knights of Pallas to GHQ or donate online.”

View more information about the Knights of Pallas. Learn more about the competition that ends on December 31.

Filed under: Phi Delta Theta Foundation, Philanthropy, Student Bloggers, Uncategorized | Tagged: , , | Leave a Comment »

36 Years Since Graduation, 36 Gifts Made To Help Others

Posted on December 6, 2011 by phidelt

This week our blog series will feature a variety of Phi Delta Theta Foundation Donors, highlighting various categories and opportunities Phi Delta Theta has for members and alumni to give back.

Today, we feature Andy Harper, Indiana State ’73, and a 1972 Phi Delta Theta Foundation scholarship recipient. The scholarship awarded was created to reward those who displayed great amounts of leadership and encouraged good citizenship. Since receiving  the scholarship, Brother Harper has made consecutive annual donations in an effort to strengthen ties with the organization and inspire future giving.

Andy Harper shares his story:

“Being selected for membership in Phi Delta Theta was the first highlight of my college experience.  Then, two years later to be awarded the Foundation Scholarship from The Fraternity strengthened my bond and pride.  The scholarship was a real confidence booster for someone more involved in campus activities than scholarly practices and gave me encouragement to balance both.  This, combined with a strong brotherhood of best friends, helped produce memories that are still very much alive today.”

“After graduating, I never hesitated to contribute when requests came from the PDT Foundation.  I knew what that one-time scholarship did for me and would do for others.  It’s been 36 years now since graduating from Indiana State; I don’t think I’ve missed the opportunity to give back in any year since.”

Learn more about the various Phi Delta Theta scholarship opportunities.  The online application form opens soon!

Filed under: Phi Delta Theta Foundation, Philanthropy, Uncategorized | Tagged: , , | Leave a Comment »

My Iron Phi Experience – $8,000 Raised & 100 Holes of Golf in One Day

Posted on December 5, 2011 by phidelt

This week our blog series will feature a variety of Phi Delta Theta Foundation Donors, highlighting various categories and opportunities Phi Delta Theta has for members and alumni to give back.

Today, an Iron Phi will share his story. The Iron Phi program was developed to strengthen the Phi Delta Theta International Fraternity and the impact on the fight against Lou Gehrig’s disease through fundraising and athletic efforts. Those members who chose to participate must accomplish an athletic endeavor of their choice (i.e. triathlons, cycling events, golf) and raise $1,000 through the Iron Phi website.

Tyler Kreutzer of Tennessee Zeta (Belmont) shares his experience of becoming an Iron Phi. This summer, Tyler raised more than $8,000 and completed 100 holes of golf in one day.

“I became aware of the Iron Phi program when I became a member of the Tennessee Zeta Chapter two years ago and read about some of the accomplishments of other Phi Delts.”

“My own personal journey began when our family physician and dear friend, Dr. Richard Borman, was diagnosed with ALS.  The news was devastating to my family.   Having been a competitive golfer in high school with a continued enjoyment of the sport, I chose to incorporate golf into my quest to become an Iron Phi.  I chose to play 100 holes of golf in a day, and my goal was to raise a minimum of $5,000 for ALS and the Phi Delta Theta Foundation.”

“I was overwhelmed by the generosity of friends and family and had over seventy donors.  One donor even gave $1,000!  The donations were not only a testimonial to Dr. Borman, but also a testament to my passion and commitment to raise money for two very worthy causes.   I also believe that my high level of success (I raised over $8,000) can be partially attributed to putting a face to the event.”

“I started my golf marathon at dawn and spent the next ten hours on the golf course, through heat, rain and wind.  I had four friends with me for the entire day including Dr. Borman.  They kept me motivated with encouragement and advice, searched for stray balls and made food and water runs.  The emotional highlight of the day was when Dr. Borman and I played the 100th hole together.”

“How do I feel now?  I feel that no one can take this away from me.  My hands, feet and back were sore.  I was hot from the sun and wet from the rain, but I would not trade a second of that day for anything.”

“To future potential Iron Phis, I would say….go for it. It was a truly amazing experience and will continue to be one of the proudest moments of my life.”

To learn more or become an Iron Phi, visit www.ironphi.org for more information and to register.

Filed under: Iron Phi, Phi Delta Theta Foundation, Philanthropy | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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