How one alumnus is connecting 2,000 Brothers across the Sunshine State
As an undergraduate at Old Dominion University, Paul Johnston, Gamma Tau ’07, spent a lot of time thinking about what it meant to be a member of Phi Kappa Tau. He and his chapter brothers were part of a colony, which meant they wouldn't be initiated until the colony officially chartered. That waiting period gave him time to dig into the fraternity's materials, searching for something that captured the spirit of the brotherhood he was building toward.
He found it in a poem.
"Bridge Builder" by Will Allen Dromgoole tells the story of an old man who, after crossing a deep chasm, turns back to build a bridge for those who will follow. For Johnston, the poem became a quiet compass, one that would guide him well beyond his college years in Norfolk, Virginia.
"That poem felt central to my undergraduate experience," Johnston said. "It stayed with me long after I left campus."
A Lesson in What Gets Lost
One of the draws of Old Dominion was its proximity to the beach. Students came from across Virginia for a change of scenery, but many left the area after graduation, returning to hometowns closer to the mountains or the capital. Without a strong local alumni base to sustain it, the chapter eventually closed, less than a decade after it chartered.
It was a hard lesson, but one that planted a seed.
Finding the Way Back
Years later, after building a career and settling in Florida, Johnston felt a pull to reconnect with Phi Kappa Tau. He just wasn't sure how to start.
So he called the Executive Offices.
"I introduced myself and asked if I could get a list of local alumni," Johnston said. "They sent me a roster of over 2,000 brothers in the state of Florida. Jackpot."
With a background in mid-level management and a comfort with raw data, Johnston got to work. He started by calling the first 100 brothers closest to him. As anyone who's tried cold-calling can imagine, most calls went to voicemail. Calling was time-consuming, required detailed tracking notes and was prone to errors. It wasn't working.
Texting felt too informal for a first introduction, especially without knowing which numbers were cell phones versus landlines. Email seemed like the better option, but Johnston knew he needed more than an introduction. He needed a call to action.
Building the Bridge
"If I just sent an email introducing myself, the relationship stays between me and that brother," Johnston said. "But what if we could grow a network instead? What if all 2,000 brothers in Florida could communicate with one another, instantly?"
He chose WhatsApp as the platform, prioritizing ease of access. The simpler it was to join, the more likely brothers would show up. He began sending personalized emails with a link to the group, copy-and-pasting his way through the roster. He quickly discovered Gmail's daily sending limit: 200 emails.
He kept going.
Johnston eventually reached every brother with a listed email address. About a quarter of those emails bounced back, a reminder of how easily contact information falls out of date. (If yours needs updating, visit [phikappatau.org/update-info](http://www.phikappatau.org/update-info).)
A Network Takes Shape
Since launching the effort in August, the group has grown to 80 members, including Chief Alumni and Housing Officer Chris Parthemore and Past National President Dale Holland.
More importantly, the connections are real. Brothers are reconnecting with old friends and making new ones. The group isn't built around any single chapter. It's open to all active members in the state.
"I've been pleasantly surprised with how many brothers have taken to communicating on this platform," Johnston said. "We're not just reconnecting. We're building something new."
Looking ahead, Johnston sees the network growing into a hub for business networking, shared interests, local events and group outings. The key is having everyone on one platform where communication is instant and accessible.
The Old Man and the Bridge
Johnston often finds himself thinking back to that poem from his undergraduate days, wondering if he's become the old man in the story, building a bridge so others can cross a little more easily.
*"He, too, must cross in twilight dim,*
*Good friend, I am building*
*This bridge for him."*
If you'd like help starting your own bridge, reach out to Paul Johnston directly at PaulAJohnstonJr@gmail.com or (813) 895-4789.