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EZ Reader
May 2015
Volume 1, Issue 1
EZ R EADER
Lambda Chi Alpha - Epsilon Zeta Chapter - 515 Harvard St. Grand Forks, ND 58203 - www.ndlxa.org
Homecoming 2015 - 50
Years at 515 Harvard, the
Rockin’ 50’s era
By Alumni Association rep. – Jeff Blakely
Our second chapter home at 515 Harvard has served
us well since members first took occupancy in the fall
of 1965. If you’ve done the math, 2015 marks 50
years at our current home. The Rockin’ 50’s era of our
chapter and those brothers that followed were pivotal
in making the 515 Harvard property a reality and
many have gone on to be very successful and
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Homecoming 2015
Alumni Association Update
Fundraising Status
Upcoming Alumni Events
Officer Installation Ceremony Recap
Academic Chapter Update
Graduating Seniors
Our Newest Brothers
Fall 2014 Academic All-Stars
House Corporation Update
High Pi Update
Donation Challenge
High Rho Closing Comments
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2
3
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prominent alumni in their careers. Furthermore, the
last few years have proven to be an outstanding time
for active and alumni Brothers alike. In order to
properly appreciate our successes, we will host the
largest dinner banquet in our chapter’s history.
Please join us on the Saturday evening of UND’s
Homecoming weekend, October 10, 2015 at the Ralph
Engelstad Arena to celebrate how far we’ve come and
get a glimpse of what’s yet in store for Epsilon Zeta.
During the banquet we will hear more about the last
50 years at our chapter’s home. We will hear about
the chapter’s recent successes in recruitment,
academics and involvement. Awards will be presented
to the highest academic achievers. We will hear about
the current status of the chapter house and our
fundraising progress. We will recognize our recent
donors. We will also induct our new hall-of-fame
Brothers: Al Olson, Bob Graveline, Duane Littlejohn,
Ron Sitzer, John Gezellius, Dave Hillesland, Jerry
Vandewalle, and Bill Marcil. Furthermore, we’ll
congratulate Brothers Dave Hillesland and Ron Sitzer
for receiving the Order of Merit Award and Brother
Jerry Vandewalle for receiving the Order of
Achievement Award from our General Fraternity.
And, of course, the festivities wouldn’t be complete
without a dance through the decades complete with a
picture slideshow. Perhaps some of your “proudest
moments” will be on display. Help us pick the
decades dance songs here:
http://www.ndlxa.org/documents/homecoming_ban
quet_50s_song_poll.html
This event will be hard to top come the 90th, 95th and
100th chapter anniversaries (but we will of course try!)
- we are hoping to see 75+ alumni from across the
eras, plus their guests, in attendance in addition to all
the actives and their guests. You're not going to
want to miss this historic event!
Banquet registration info to come via post card, and
will be posted on website later this summer. There is
a chance this event will hit capacity so please also
register as early as possible. Those planning to
attend are encouraged to book hotel rooms early as
Homecoming weekend fills up fast. We have a block
of rooms at the La Quinta Inn in Grand Forks.
Hope to see you there! Feel free to contact Randy
Ritterman, Kevin Till, or I with any questions.
Page 2
EZ Reader – May 2015
Alumni Association Update
By Alumni Association rep. – Andrew Lendway
I hope your 2015 has been off to a good start.
The Alumni Association has had a busy year thus
far. The Alumni Association is back to holding
its own monthly telecons albeit with a smaller
group. We separated our telecon from the House
Corps’ as their agenda has become jam packed
as of late. The current level of Alumni
Association involvement is about six alumni
brothers as well as the High Rho. We are still
looking for alumni brothers of any era interested
in helping out with events, communications,
fundraising, etc. so please let us know if you can
participate in these calls and help with our
various activities and efforts.
Initially this year, the March Hockey Weekend
was the focus of attention, but now we are
heavily engaged in all the details, planning and
arrangements to pull off a successful and
historic large-scale Homecoming banquet this
October. In addition to the March Hockey
Weekend events held at the chapter house this
semester, a group of alumni continued a
tradition of meeting in Minneapolis to cheer on
the UND Hockey team in the NCHC tournament
(see pic to right).
The Homecoming Banquet will be the next major
planned event. This is already in the planning
Alumni gathering in Minneapolis to watch UND Hockey NCHC Tourney
stages and is sure to be one of the biggest, if not
the biggest, events the chapter has ever held. We
since the campaign kicked off. Our goal is $250,000
hope to see many of you there – please refer to
and we are steadily working towards that. Thank you
page 1 of the newsletter for further details on
to all who have contributed thus far. We can’t say
the big Homecoming banquet.
enough how much it is appreciated. The funds raised
so far have helped to pay down debt and to cover the
On a smaller scale, there will be the annual Work
costs of some much needed improvements to the
Week held in August. More details will come on
chapter house.
that this summer so please check the Facebook
group page for updates.
Thank you to those who have continued to be active
with the chapter and the Alumni Association. We
For our fundraising campaign, we are - at the
very much hope to see you at the Homecoming
time of this writing - up to ~$88,300 raised
Banquet in the fall.
Page 3
EZ Reader – May 2015
Fundraising Status
Epsilon-Zeta is still in need of financial assistance from
our generous and giving alumni to keep things headed in
the right direction at 515 Harvard St. Particularly, we are
currently raising funds for: on-going maintenance and
bringing chapter house up to date after many years of
use and deterioration, paying down outstanding debts
(late '90's flood repairs - furnaces, recent bathroom
remodeling), scholarships and generating a House Corp
reserve fund. We have set a goal of raising $250k to
move our chapter to new heights in the coming years and
ensure our long-term success. 2013, 2014 and 2015
YTD fundraising is at ~$95.8k as of this writing. We are
making great progress!! Let’s keep it up. Find out how
Fundraising status graphic
to donate here: www.ndlxa.org/documents/donate.html.
Thank you so much to our gracious alumni who have
donated thus far!!! We can’t thank you enough. Here are
the donation recognition levels 2013, 2014 and 2015
YTD:
Black ($100-$299)
Gary McFarlen
Purple ($300-$999)
Dan Ruebke
Tom Anderson
Robert P Johnson
Randy Ritterman
Mark Monette
Dave Arneson
Glenn Schumacher
Bruce Bartl
Rick Boyd Lafleur
Gerald W. Vandewalle
Orlando Overland
Charles Benson
Keith Sethen
Jan Bjork
Mike Lodoen
Rodney Wilson
Erin Pechacek
Dean Berger
Ron Sitzer
Jason Block
Kevin Mell
Brian Peters
Mark Dockter
RD Slotsve
Dean Brown
Gary Nelson
White ($10,000+)
Michael Purington
Donald Gornowich
Tim Stallman
Allen Olson
Duane Littlejohn
Brent Skjerseth
Robert Dunbar
Don Schultz
Jody Gunlock
A.R. Timm
John Gezelius
Tom Olson
Chad Sears
Dustin Haug
Jeffrey Ulness
Raymond Herman
TJ Serr
David Solbert
Brian Horvath
Sam Vaagan
Jake Hodny
Terrance Severson
David Syvertson
Kenneth Johnson
Carl L Wysocki
Marvin Hodny
Kevin Till
Pat Thibert
Derek Kobetsky
Darold Johnson
Gregory W. Tschider
Arnold Kuhn
Green ($1,000-$2,999)
MD Johnson
David Wright
Norman Vietz
Andrew Lendway
Loren Anderson
Nathan Kenner
Jason Ziemer
Richard Vinger
Jeff Nelson
Daryl Evenson
David Koland
Steve Wangen
Lauren Nelson
Eugene Fuchs
John Kosanda
Gold ($3,000-$9,999)
Earl Webber
Sean Ogrady
Bob Graveline
Dennis Kost
Jack Marcil
Owen Webster
Ray Parks
Andrew Hager
Jason Lanctot
William Marcil
Donald Will
Roger Pletan
Bruce Heen
Garrett Mills
Denis Politano
Dave Hillesland
Brian Pedersen
Joseph J Mastascusa
Tom Wade
Upcoming Alumni Events
•
Back-to-School Work Weekend – August 14th – 16th
•
Homecoming Week – October 5th – 11th
•
Homecoming Banquet – October 10th
•
Fall Ritual – TBD (usually mid to late November)
•
More info here: www.ndlxa.org/documents/upcomingeventsalumni.html
Page 4
EZ Reader – May 2015
Officer Installation Ceremony Recap
In mid-January, our High Pi, Randy Ritterman,
conducted the Officer Installation Ceremony for
the newly elected academic chapter officers.
Before the ceremony, Randy prepared appetizers
for the academic chapter members. After the
The exalted stations to which these men have been
raised by the chapter's will and choice involve great
responsibilities, and the manner in which they carry out
the duties entrusted to them will determine whether
this chapter will flourish or fade into insignificance.
ceremony, the High Pi met with the new officers to
discuss plans and expectations for the upcoming
term.
The new officers are: Alpha – Joe Price, Beta –
Hunter Stonehouse, Theta – Patrick Sewich,
Gamma - Zachary Skorczewski, Tau – Ryan Adler,
Iota – Joe Prieto, Kappa – Robert Latvala, Delta John Rich, Phi – Ross Lien, Sigma – Chris Erlwein,
Epsilon – Kyle Perry, and Rho – Chase Geller.
As taken from the Officer Installation Ceremony:
High Pi and new academic chapter officers
Academic Chapter Update
By High Alpha – Joe Price
The Epsilon Zeta chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha is once again coming up on another end to the school year.
Last fall was a great semester for our chapter – we had many accomplishments and successes. The chapter
took home two awards at the President’s Greek Award for Excellence banquet - the chapter won the
Excellence in Brotherhood award, as well as the Chapter Achievement award. We are very excited to have been
chosen for these awards – they are a good symbol of how far the chapter has come in recent years with the
hard work of the actives and the support of the alumni.
2014 was a big year for our chapter as last fall we placed 5th among fraternities at UND for quantity of new
members (19) as well as 3rd for both new member (3.15) and overall chapter GPA (3.05). Additionally, the
chapter ranked 1st among all fraternities and sororities for 2014 philanthropic contributions! Also, within the
chapter, Shane Schuster, was elected president of the Inter-fraternity Council. We also had four men elected
to Student Government this spring. An increase in on-campus involvement is just another positive sign of the
direction that the house is moving. I expect nothing but the same in the future for this house.
In April, we hosted the largest Parent’s and Founder’s Day formal in recent history in the Ralph Englestad
Arena. It was a beautiful venue that received many compliments from many proud parents. Also, the chapter
welcomed five new brothers into our bond this spring. The active membership now numbers close to sixty
men.
The chapter is very excited for the Homecoming banquet this October which will take place at the Ralph. I
hope to see and meet many of you at this event. Until then, I wish you all a great summer!
Page 5
EZ Reader – May 2015
Graduating Seniors
This Spring/Summer there are four members of our bond who are graduating and moving proudly from the
academic chapter realm into alumni status. They are as follows: John Mitzel (EZ 1081, Fargo, ND, Banking
and Financial Investments), Joseph Czerniewski (EZ 1094, Chicago, IL, Aviation Management), Dan Frank (EZ
1104, Jackson Center, OH, Criminal Justice) and Vinny Herelle (transfer - BE 1670, Palm Beach Gardens, FL,
Psychology).
…high ideals are
nothing more than
hollow platitudes if
not transformed into
good works…
Our Newest Brothers
This spring the chapter recruited, retained and initiated 5 men into our
bond. They are listed here along with their hometown and major:
Cameron Pederson (West Fargo, ND, Accounting), Dakota Neether (Watford
City, ND, Biology), Nick Stephan (Farmington, MN, Civil Engineering), Ryan
Danielson (Stillwater, MN, Commercial Aviation), and Luke Gage (Wailuku
Maui, Hawaii, Commercial Aviation).
Some of our newest brothers along with their big brothers
Fall 2014 Academic All-Stars
This past fall the chapter decided on a different way to award our
academic all-stars. With gracious contributions from alumni Kevin
Till, Randy Ritterman and Ray Parks the house was able to buy a
GPA paddle with the names of everyone that received a 3.5 GPA or
better. This year, we had the highest number of actives on this
paddle with 18.
The academic all-stars for the Fall 2014 Semester were: Ryan Adler,
Joe Czerniewski, Zach Davis, Dylan Diede, Rynam Domke, David
Duschane, Erik Hanson, Josh Jansen, Ryan Keller, Kass Longie, John
Mitzel, Zach Neameyer, Kyle Perry, Joe Price, Jordan Schaefbauer,
Shane Schuster, Matt Shide and Jorden Vinger.
Fall 2014 Academic All-Stars
Page 6
EZ Reader – May 2015
House Corporation Update
By House Corporation President – Kevin Till
Little by little, our chapter house is being returned to
invest an additional $60k into further projects in
its proper state of functionality and decent aesthetics.
2025-2028 timeframe; and 5) increase reserve fund
In most months, we are able to take two steps forward to ~$30k by 2028. In order to make these goals a
reality, the active chapter and alumni will need to
while only taking one step back. Since the last EZ
Reader went out in December, some of our
provide a level of support in terms of revenue (and
accomplishments have included rekeying the entire
assistance with maintenance and upkeep, on the
facility, fixing heat sensors on the fire alarm system,
active chapter side) roughly equivalent to what we’ve
deep cleaning of the kitchen range, installing a hand
seen recently. Active chapter revenue will support the
washing sink and various other maintenance in the
basics needed to maintain the facility: minimum loan
kitchen, adding/repairing various floor transitions on
payments, maintenance and repairs, property
the main level, repairing the light fixtures and wall in
management, property insurance, taxes and a portion
the ladies bathroom, fixing the dormitory exit door,
of the total reserve savings. Donation revenue will
repairing the ceiling in the chapter room, installing
support additional loan repayments, project fund,
emergency exit maps, further furnace repairs and
scholarships, mailings, events, and a portion of the
maintenance, office clean out / organization, formal
total reserve savings. Once the loan is repaid in full
living room woodwork repairs, and numerous other
by 2025, all loan repayment allocations will transition
repairs and maintenance.
to project fund allocations for the last 3 years of the
plan.
As you can see, there’s been a lot of work done to the
house already this year – and yet, there is much more
This plan is strategic in that it paves the way for a
that still needs to be done (see Donation Challenge on clean slate with a well maintained and moderately
upgraded facility with no debt at ~63 years of age.
page 7). But, we have a plan! When I last wrote you
all, I committed to present, in this spring 2015
This leaves time to plan and eventually to raise funds
newsletter, a long-term game plan for the House
for whatever the next step may be for our chapter
Corporation to get us where I think we need to be by
housing – such as a new house, perhaps looking out
our 100-year anniversary in 2028. That plan is as
to the 125-year chapter anniversary.
follows: 1) continue the fundraising drive toward
$250k total donations and reach that goal by 2028; 2) I am excited for our chapter’s future considering all
eliminate our remaining debt (presently at ~$114k) by the progress we’ve made lately with the house, our
2025; 3) invest $40k into projects (above and beyond
alumni and particularly on the active chapter side. We
regular repairs and maintenance) through 2025; 4)
mustn’t pause here though. Let’s keep keeping on.
Deep cleaned kitchen range, new furnace intake well
EZ Reader – May 2015
Page 7
High Pi Update
By High Pi – Randy Ritterman
Spring has finally come to the plains of ND and with it brings the bright future of the Epsilon Zeta Chapter of
Lambda Chi Alpha. Last fall we put through the largest class of associates in recent history of the house. Then
these new brothers wrapped up the semester with a GPA well above the UND men’s average. In fact, they out
distanced the older members in the house. Perhaps a little competition is in order. Let’s see how the Spring
2015 class fares.
The house did very well in the Greek Life Awards in December of 2014 and I was honored as Outstanding
Alumni for the Greek Houses. January brought the formal installation of the new officers on Jan. 17.
Fortunately this has been a relatively quiet semester in regards to Executive Committee. I continue to skype in
for the meetings and it is working well. I do make effort to visit the chapter at least every other month. In
March I was there for alumni weekend, April for Parents and Founders Day Formal and May for initiation.
The highlight of the fall semester 2015 will be the Rockin’ 50s banquet and alumni reunion during UND’s
2015 Homecoming . We look forward to seeing many of you at the house that weekend and at the banquet on
Oct 10.
Donation Challenge
By Ron Sitzer and Dave Hillesland
Brothers, it has come to our attention that the fraternity house we all own and love needs some repairs this
summer. The City Inspector and Fire Marshall inspected the house recently and gave the House Corporation a
list of YOU MUST DO immediately items. The cost of those repairs, replacements and other things found during
the inspection amounts to around $8000. Knowing that costs always go higher than expected, our thoughts
are it will be more like $10,000. Drawing on the house corporation’s emergency funds is not the way to go.
Dave Hillesland and I discussed what might be the best way to raise that kind of money in a short time and
decided that we would challenge98 other brothers to give $100 each to the fraternity. Anyone who sees this
post on Facebook and is willing to join us, please go to http://www.ndlxa.org/documents/donate.html and use
a credit card to make a donation. We pay a small fee for taking credit cards but not enough to matter on
$100. If you wish to make a larger donation, you can mail a check directly to P.O. Box 13454 Grand Forks, ND
58208. Once you have made a donation, let everyone know you donated and challenge other brothers to match
you. If you are in touch with brothers who are not on Facebook, please contact them and challenge them to
match you.
We are confident we have 100 Lambda Chi’s from UND who want our house up to code and ready for another
great rush this fall. As of this writing we have reached $4200 thus far. Let’s not stop here brothers!
We hope to see as many of you who are able at homecoming. We have what we think will be the largest
gathering of brothers from Epsilon Zeta Zeta in history. Thank you for your time and all you have done and will
do for our beautiful house.
High Rho Closing Comments
By High Rho – Chase Geller
We would like to thank all of our alumni on their
hard work and dedication to the house. Without
this alumni support, the chapter and the house
wouldn’t be where it is today. Whether it is your
donations or your company, it is very much
appreciated! We would also like to give a huge
thank you to everyone who either showed up or
supported the alumni hockey weekend back in
March. The Red Pepper was excellent as always
Chapter member boot
hockey brotherhood event
and it was tons of fun!
Please don’t forget to clear all your calendars for
the 2015 UND homecoming and the Rockin’ 50’s
We’re on the Web!
Lambda Chi Alpha Reunion coming up in October!
We booked a ballroom at the Ralph Engelstad
Visit us at:
Arena and a DJ to direct the dance! There will be a
http://www.ndlxa.org
lot of food and it will be a great time to reconnect
to all your fellow Lambda Chi Alpha brothers. We
hope you all can make it, Thank You!
Lambda Chi Alpha
PO BOX 13454
Grand Forks, ND 58203
[Address label here]