Your Delta Kappa Phi Newsletter for December 2011
Feel Free to Forward to Any Brothers, Sisters and Friends!
Subscribe at http://dkphi.com/eNewsletters.htm
Delta Kappa Phi Website DKPhi Alumni Facebook Page DKPhi ListServe Demon Droppings Facebook Page
Hope You Find Everything You Want
Under the Tree!
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, Happy New Year, Joyous
Festivus or how ever you celebrate, here’s to hoping you had a
good year and best wishes for the one coming up.
Celebrate our two new brothers and our four new pledges. Not bad
for a fraternity without a campus to call home. Here is to hoping we can grow more in 2012.
Remember the highs and lows of the year past.
A second fantastic year in a row for a summer gathering of our
Delta Kappa Phi Family at this year’s Alumni Picnic. And it was
great to see (and finally meet for many of us) Brothers of year
past as well as Brothers with those higher Delta numbers at the
hilarious and well deserved Roast of Sam Zabec to kick off the
Scholarship established in his name. Growing communication
between our Fraternal Family socially and professionally on
Facebook, Linked-In, Google+ and our own ListServe.
Those same communication lines had our collective jaws dropping
with stories such as the Sandusky Scandal and JoePa’s dismissal.
The exchanged messages also contained many personal requests
as many of our members sought out prayers for friends and
family that were ill or hospitalized. There were a few losses of relatives of members of our brotherhood, none as unexpected as
one of our own Brothers taken as a still young man. May You Rest In Peace Steve.
I do hope for a Fantastic and Safe New Year for our families,
friends, Brothes, Sisters, Pledges and everyone else important in
our individual and collective lives.
The Demon Spotlight:
Δ384 Rusty Glessner
Do you have a suggestion for a Brother or Sister to Spotlight in our
new Feature? Please send their name and contact information to me
at [email protected]
For our first Demon Spotlight, Δ342, Rusty Glessner,
invites everyone to check out his recently released 4 song
EP Soul of the Heartland, available now at iTunes,
CDBaby.com and on his website www.rustyglessner.com
The extent of Rusty’s formal training occurred when his grandfather, a veteran bluegrass player, taught some guitar
chords when he was 10 years old, everything else has been self-taught. Influenced at first by listening to country greats
like Waylon, Willie, and Merle by the time he got to high school Rusty taste were growing as he discovered the rockers of
the time like Springsteen and Dire Straits.
In the summer of ’87 a move to State College brought discovery of the harder side of rock. Sabbath, Metallica, and even
hair metal played a big part in his musical life during these days. 1988 is coincidently the year that he found DKPhi
and also joined his first “real” band, the now legendary/infamous Heart of Darkness. For the next several years this
hard-rocking quartet would play the likes of the Skellar, the Brewery, Café 210, and countless house parties, including some classic gigs at the new Fraternity house at 232 East Nittany Ave. Upon graduating from Penn State in 1991,
Heart of Darkness (or Head of Lettuce, as Delta 313 Tom Judd affectionately dubbed them) packed up the truck and
headed to Hollywood.
Two years in L.A. did not bring the fame/fortune they had hoped for, the band broke up and Rusty moved back to PA.
Page 1 / 4
Back in State College in 1995, he spent several years mostly playing acoustic classic rock covers at the local bars.
Moving to the Philadelphia suburbs in 2002, it was, ironically, in the midst of this suburban sprawl that he really
started to rediscover country music. A chance meeting with famed songwriter Jim Femino (Toby Keith, MontgomeryGentry, James Otto) lead to a friendship and a real education on the craft and business of commercial country
songwriting.
Soul of the Heartland is a result of Jim’s teaching and Rusty’s hard work. The instrument tracks were recorded in
Nashville this past summer; the vocal tracks were recorded in his home studio in State College. Very proud of the way it
turned out, Rusty invite you to check out his songs and hopes you would like to hear more. The goal is to record 3-4 new
songs every few months. OK now all you Demons go and download these first 4 tracks (I did and burnt them to a CD too)
and remember to keep tabs on what Δ342 is up to on www.rustyglessner.com
Plan on Tasting Anything Delicious this Holiday Season?
Taking a page out of “A Christmas Story”, the Pittsburgh
Brotherhood will make their December visit to an Asian
restaurant. Hold your “Fah-r a-ra, Ra-r a h’s” since it will not be a
Chinese fest due to the mangy Bumpus’ dogs appetite, but we will
be turning Japanese at the request of Bob Radcliffe. Meet us at
Yokoso at 153 Bridge Street in the Homestead Water Front on
Wednesday December 14th at 6 pm for drinks and 6:30 for
dinner. MENU HERE The Old Man, John Pileggi, will gaze away
from his leg lamp long enough to read your email and add you to
the reservation list if you mail him at [email protected]
The State College Demons will be doing things a bit more “A
Christmas Carol” and will conjure up the ghost of Christmas past
who will take them in their jammies to Olde New York. Yeah, I
know that one was a bit of a stretch, but I was trying to keep in
the Christmas movie spirit of things. Just like Bob Crachet
inviting Scrooge, Rusty Glessner will be tracking the guest list for
the dinner on Sunday December 11th so if you
are interested in attending, send him a response on the Facebook DKPhi- State College Dinner Page or send him an email
at [email protected] to add your name. Oh BTW, the "jammies" attire is completely optional - if anyone does shows
up in item, we definately want pics for the next Demon Droppings!
Passing out pledges to all the good little mentors must put Buzz in a “Miracle on 34th Street” Santa like spirit as the
Holidays approach. But come on now, didn’t you think he was at least a bit crazy when he pitched the idea of us taking
on new pledges and proclaiming ….wait for it… “Yes Virginia Beach, There is (still a) Delta Kappa Phi!” Santa Clauzz,
the elfs, oops I mean, pledges and other “deer” Brothers will be hoofing it over to the Golden Corral at 101 Volvo
Parkway in Chesapeake, VA on December 17th for a holiday dinner. If you believe in him and want him to add you to
his nice list, email Bob at [email protected]
Recipe of the Month - Pumpkin Gingerbread Trifle
Our Guest Chef is
Stephanie Jo Defibaugh
Delki 160
"I have a holiday trifle that
I make every year,
Gingerbread Pumpkin Trifle.
What's nice about this is that
you can buy store bought
gingerbread, and make some
pudding in an instant. It assembles in no time.
It’s inexpensive, festive, simple
and quick. Happy Holidays!"
two 14-ounce packages gingerbread mix
two boxes vanilla instant pudding + needed milk
1 (15 oz) can pumpkin pie filling
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice (a mix of 1 tsp cinnamon + ½ tsp nutmeg may also be used)
¾ cup raisins
½ cup chopped toasted walnuts
1 container Cool Whip or optional Fresh Whipped Cream Topping (recipe below) l
Make gingerbread cake mix according to package directions. If you have a
grocer that sells already made gingerbread or have a recipe handed down in
your family for generations – feel free to substitute.
l
Let the gingerbread cool before cutting into slices or squares whichever will
work best the bowl or container that you will be using for your trifle. Reserve
scraps for garnish.
l
For the pumpkin pudding layers, prepare vanilla pudding according to
package instructions. Combine pudding with the pumpkin pie filling. Fold in
brown sugar and spices. Cover and chill.
l
To assemble trifle, put half of gingerbread cubes in 2 quart trifle bowl. Top
with half of pumpkin pudding, sprinkle with half of raisins and walnuts, then
half of the whipped topping/cream.
Repeat layering once more with all of remaining products in same order.
l
l
Chill at least 2 hours before serving. Best if assembled the same day as you
serve. Trifle, can be made a day ahead but will look best if finished the day
you use it.
l
Garnish the top of the whipped cream with crumbled extra gingerbread
crumbs or crumbled gingersnap cookies.
Notes:
l
Trifle can be made in a large trifle dish or a large glass bowl. Individual Trifle
Bowls or deep glasses can be used if you would like to make a mini trifle for
each of your guests.
l
The gingerbread (uncut) can be made up to week ahead. Wrap in parchment
paper followed by a layer of plastic wrap and stored in an airtight container
in a cool place.
l
If making the Fresh Whipped Cream: Mix 4 cups chilled heavy cream with 1
tsp vanilla and 1/2 cup confectioners sugar. Using hand or base mixer, beat
Page 2 / 4
cream with sugar and vanilla until it holds soft peaks
Drink of the Month - Irish Elf
2 oz Jameson Irish Whiskey
1 oz Rumple Mintz or Peppermint Schnapps
5 Sugar Cubes or 1 scant Tbsp sugar
Hot Dark Coffee
1 ½ oz Whipping Cream (or aerosol Whipped Cream)
1 Candy Cane
1. Brew coffee according to your preference of strength.
2. Place whipping cream in a bowl and using a whisk, whip
until it starts to thicken or form soft peaks.
3. Cut off approximately 2 inches of the bottom of the candy
cane and crush it into fine pieces.
4. In a large coffee mug (10-12 oz), add sugar and the liquors.
5. Make sure your coffee is very hot, reheat in microwave or on
range top if necessary. Add coffee to the sweetened liquors.
6. Spoon or spritz on the whipped cream gently, allowing it to
float on the coffee.
7. Garnish with crushed candy cane sprinkled on the whipped
cream and the remaining cane added as a stir.
A delicious combination of Irish Coffee
and a bone warming apres ski cocktail
Want a Great Stocking Stuffer Idea?
Who has that full white beard, that twinkle in his eyes, a perpetual smile,
a rosy nose and brings joy to all?
Well yeah, I guess the description fits Santa Claus too,
but I am of course referring to Sam Zabec!
Imagine the expression on the face of your child or other loved ones when they peel
away the ribbons and festive wrapping paper and find their very own copy of the
Sam Zabec Scholorship Roast DVD!
...Uh, yeah, that is the same quizative expression I thought they would have too,
Anyway if you would like a copy the DVD is now available at
SamZabecScholorship.org for the low price of only $15!
R.I.P. Δ281 Steve
Evans McKeesport Brother from the
Alpha Omicron Pledge Class
November 16, 1984
Auld Lage Syne
FYI: A common translation of the words "Auld Lang Syne" is "times gone by." So when
we sing the song to end each and every year, we are saying, "We'll drink a cup of
kindness for times gone by" but in celebrating the New Year the phrase is also used to
symbolize endings and new beginnings.
Check out the Delta Kappa Phi Newsletter Facebook page and use it as a place to
submit those newsworthy tidbits you would like me to pass here along on Demon
Droppings. Check out other DKPhi Facebook activity by looking for the pages Delta
Kappa Phi Alumni Association and Delta Kappa Phi - Penn State.
Remember there is great looking embroidered merchandise like Delta Kappa Phi
Shirts, Ball Caps and Golf Towels available. Also available is the DVD featuring many
memorable photos from McKeesport and University Park and all are available at the
Order Form for DKPhi Gear located on the www.DKPhi.com website.
Start the year off right and send any news you would like to share to
[email protected] and I'll be happy to included in it the next edition.
Until next year, YITB Δ212 Rich Horn
Delta Kappa Phi Yellow Pages
If you or a member of your family would welcome some Fraternity traffic through your doors of your
business send us your information and we'll be happy to place a free ad here on Demon Droppings
Massage Therapy
Page 3 / 4
Brite Lite Services
Bob Radcliffe Δ148
Computer Repair
and Phone Support
www.phone-support.net/index.htm
412-872-5222
Frank Pileggi Δ60
412-889-4107
Barratuna Drafting
& Design Services
Keith Bailey Δ226
CAD services
at affordable rates
http://www.barratuna.com
412-626-2515
H.E.L. Guitars
Shane Huss Δ419
Custom Guitars
www.helguitars.com
Your Ad Here
FREE!
Your Ad Here
FREE!
717-818-7484
December 2011 Delta Kappa Phi Alumni Assocition
Page 4 / 4