Omega News from The Rattle, Fall 1962
As appeared in The Rattle - Vol. LI No. 1 - Fall 1962
Chapter News
Omega Chapter, Penn State. adopted an unusual, but attractive format for its recent issue of The Omegaphone, a printed 12-page booklet, just the size to slip into a commercial envelope. It was dedicated to Richard W. Jones, °60, past president of the chapter, one of the 77 army recruits who lost their lives in an airliner crash, November 8, 1961, at Richmond, Va. Under house improvements are reported a complete repainting job of the house, a new porch and roof on the south side, and an enlarged, modernized kitchen, which made “Giff the happiest cook on the campus.”
Alter Elected
The “accent on youth" was emphasized by the election of 43-year-old Howard R. Alter, Jr., Penn State ’41, of New Kensington, Penn, as national president.. A former counselor in Region II, he was elected to the Grand Chapter in 1960.
National President’s Message
The 106th Anniversary Convention is now a thing of the past. It was, l think. a most successful convention. thanks to the yeoman job by the men of the great Northwest, the director of the School of Fraternity Practices and the executive director of the fraternity and his staff. It was an experience I wish all actives and alumni could have shared.
It is with humility, and not a few misgivings. that your new national president assumes his duties. The excellence of Joseph D. Ross‘ administration is formidable to those of us who follow it. Four new men have been elected to the Grand Chapter, bringing wide fraternity experience of from many to relatively few years, and with a wide geographic distribution, making this a very representative Grand Chapter, if perhaps a neophite one for only two members have served longer than the past two years.
At the convention I was asked to comment on Theta Chi in the next two years, and as I looked at the calibre of young manhood in our delegates, it was clear that we could only go forward: the question is how far? This is not a matter for decision by your national officers, but a matter for each chapter to choose as chapter policy is determined. I would commend to you the discussions of two of the newly elected national officers at convention: one concerning pledge training, and the other scholarship. Take them to heart, and see how far forward we can go in the next two years.
I pray that we who lead the fraternity at the national level may in some small way be worthy of the trust that you have given us. Since 1856, it has always been. and it must always be "Alma mater first, and Theta Chi for alma mater."
Fraternally yours,
Howard R. Alter Jr.
