February 2010 Omegaphone
Chapter Report
As the sun faded on 2009, the strength and perseverance of the undergraduate chapter has really shown as we are now taking the university “by the horns.” Fall 2009 began with the typical Labor Day barbeques and Penn State football home games, as well as what we thought would be another routine sweep of both intramural volleyball and Homecoming. We found that despite a majority of what composed the three-time champion intramural volleyball team and Homecoming veterans, our recruitment and determination stood fast to deliver a 2nd place overall in Homecoming and the end of the young volleyball dynasty at the hands of the only team to defeat us in the regular season. We posted a record setting 13 new members, 11 of which became fully initiated. These brothers are excited to take our positions within the chapter.
ust for fun! (L to R): Jason Chottiner, David Hartwich, Tom Heffner, Jared Metzger, Zach Binder, Jasen Marshall and LeShawn Haynes at the Tachi Fake Mustachio Bar Tour ’09.
Brothers Involved in Much More than Just Theta Chi
With a new youthful executive board for the 2010 year, we have found that our older and more experienced gentlemen have decided to join the ranks of Interfraternity Council (IFC) Executive Board, Homecoming Overall Committee, THON Captain and hopefully Overall Committee, MLK Commemoration Overall Committee, and UPAC. These helping hands are spreading our wisdom and ideals across the Penn State campus in the ways that reflect Theta Chi’s true meaning.
Chapter Strives to Achieve Great Things this Spring
This spring semester, we hope to once again break the recruitment record by attaining at least 15 worthy gentlemen, stay atop the academic levels in the community, earn over $25,000 for THON, and take the newest philanthropy, FLICKS, to a brand new level of success. The current undergraduate brotherhood sits at a lofty point in our history, where we control our destiny among the Penn State community. Our goals are high and we expect the very best efforts from all of our brothers both internal and external.
That being said, we would love to see a great amount of our Alumni brothers at the annual Alumni Work Weekend this upcoming March. We want our Alumni to reconnect with our chapter just as we’re sure many of you want to stay connected with us and with each other as well.
Fraternally,
Nicholas Geyer
Chapter President
How Two Omega Brothers (Gary Hicks ‘82 and Tim Uhrich ‘09) Extended the Fraternity Experience as Field Reps
Not many brothers have the opportunity to make Theta Chi a part of their daily lives after they graduate.
But two Omega brothers took advantage of the chance to live and breathe Theta Chi on a daily basis as alumni. They did so by becoming field representatives for the national organization.
Tim Uhrich ’09
Just a few weeks after being initiated as a freshman, Tim Uhrich ’09 knew he wanted his involvement with Theta Chi to last for more than just four years. “I had the privilege to attend Theta Chi’s 150th anniversary convention in Northfield, VT as a freshman and only a few weeks after my initiation,” he said. “Though I was sick the whole way to Vermont, I knew from the first time that Beta Chapter/MIT rapped the gavel and opened the convention floor that I had a future with the national fraternity.”
And so he began his journey as a field rep. Starting out with a basic understanding of the fraternity and its ideals, Tim says that the role has already changed his perspective on the meaning of Theta Chi.
“I always enjoyed seeing alumni come
back to the house and loved to listen to them tell stories, but I have witnessed through
my travels that Theta Chi really is for life,” he said. “Men of all ages coming together in service and in fellowship, to renew and maintain their oaths to a higher level of manhood.”
Gary Hicks '82
Gary Hicks ’82 had a slightly different reason for becoming a field rep back in the 1980s. During his time at Omega, the chapter went through a period of transition to help restore its organizational structure. He saw how the national and regional representatives helped Omega get back on its feet, and knew that he wanted to help other chapters to do the same.
“[When I became a field rep] I was hoping that I would help other chapters from falling into a rut like we did, or help get them out of it,” said Gary. “I wanted to get them to understand what the fraternity was and who they were and how it was supposed to be.”
So Gary traveled across the country meeting other brothers, helping some chapters reach their goals while testing his patience with others that didn’t have a clue about what Theta Chi stood for. But for him, the most rewarding part of his experience was what happened right at home at Omega Chapter.
“While I had the job as field rep, Omega had turned around enough to the point that they held a regional conference,” he said. “I came back for that and felt proud, because I might have had a part in helping the chapter do that. The fact that they turned around that much in just a few years was so rewarding.”
Tim is seeing many similar stories at other chapters along his travels.
“The most rewarding part for me is seeing a chapter, which has gone through the motions for years, finally believe in themselves,” he said. “When it comes to the fraternity, it is neither rewarding nor fun to mail it in – you get out what you put in. Theta Chi doesn’t happen; it is what you make of it.”
As Tim kicks of his second year as a field rep, Gary has some words of wisdom for him.
“I still think back on the times very often, very fondly,” he said. “I read about Tim a few months ago, and I wanted to get in touch with him. I was extremely happy to see that there was enough involvement [at the chapter] to see there was someone enthused enough
[to become a field rep]. I wish him well. I know it’s going to be one of the high points in his life; a very educational and transforming time.”
Our Field Reps, Then and Now...
What car did you take on the road?
Tim: White ’07 Kia Spectra SX.
Gary: 1980 VW Sheraco. I would have liked to have kept that car forever if I could have.
What was the cost of a gallon of gas?
Tim: $2.50-3.00
Gary: No idea...in ’82 to ’84, my guess would be $1 give or take.
What parts of the country did you travel?
Tim: Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Ohio Valley, and Michigan.
Gary: Everywhere east of the Rocky Mountains except Florida.
Furthest points north and south?
Tim: Bangor, Maine and Fairfax, Virginia.
Gary: Farthest north was Maine and the upper peninsula in Michigan; south would have been Texas.
Worst sleeping conditions at a chapter house?
Tim: Sleeping on a mattress, in a hot room, which had previously housed a brother with a cat. I’m allergic to cats. Rough week.
Gary: The only time I’ve ever tried to sleep in a hammock. It wasn’t stretched taught from end to end. I felt like I was caught in a snare...it was like I was in a big market sack.
Theta Chi Memories
Thanks to Dick Crowers ’45 for submitting this great memory from his Theta Chi days.
I have so many fond memories. Many related to Giffy, our chef. Giff (Emanuel T. Gifford) came to us in 1937. We were blessed to have him and his wife. She (if you can imagine such a thing), made all our beds each day and straightened. But some things were a bit much. Even in a fraternity house.
Dale Rauch ’42 and Bob Thompson ’43 went hunting one fall afternoon and one of them (hard to get a confession as to who) fired at a large bird. Turned out they’d wounded a great horned owl. In an effort to help, they brought this huge bird back to the house. Bob built a perch and installed the great glaring creature on the desk by his bed. His roommate, of course, moved out. Bob was not bothered at all by all the hissing and glaring. But it was too much for poor Mrs. Gifford. She refused to enter the room (which developed an interesting look and smell). Eventually they returned the owl to the wild and normal pandemonium resumed.
Giff had a dog, a huge Belgian Shepherd named Rex. You had to be careful. I was sitting at Giff’s huge work table in the kitchen starting to eat a couple fried eggs with Rex at my side. I looked up to talk to Giff, one slurp and the eggs were gone.
I also have a memory from our last party. On December 7th, 1941, a Sunday, we heard that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor. We all had a special problem. Do we study or should we relax and have fun because we might get killed? On the other hand, maybe we’ll survive and if our grades are too bad, how will we get back into school?
Finally we knew after the first semester in 1943 that we all had to leave.
The Navy was taking over the house and we all were going somewhere. We had one last party. At the early morning end we gathered in the foyer, and someone got a small trash basket and set it on fire. I thought sure as hell we’d burn the house down. All the guys and dates formed a circle around our bonfire, put our arms over each other’s shoulders, swayed back and forth around the fire and suddenly Frankie Pierce ’43 (died several years ago) started us off singing “I don’t want to set the world on fire, I just want to start a flame in your heart...” That was it. I believe all the others are gone. Sometimes, if I’m playing something special on my horn I’ll play it.
Alumni Updates
Jason P. Ross ’92- I served as Best Man at James Wilkins’ wedding in Kentucky. I was named as the “Junior High/Middle School Pennsylvania State Representative” for the Pennsylvania State Athletic Director’s Association. Also, I helped direct Seton Hill University’s (Division II college in Greensburg PA) first ever football playoff win in school history last season as a special teams coach for the football program.
Thank you to all those brothers that shared their news.
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