Leadership Lessons: Adaptation

Quarantine has impacted everyone in vastly different ways. From those on the frontlines whose workload has increased dramatically, to those who may have faced layoffs and have had to make difficult decisions as to how to get by. In my case, working for a small local coffeehouse in Chicago, we were somewhere in the middle.

Two Hearted Queen is a small coffeehouse, locally owned and operated just a few blocks southwest of Wrigley Field. Open for five years it just recently had the opportunity to expand to a second location a neighborhood over in Chicago’s Historic Boystown neighborhood. LGBT owned and fiercely independent, Two Hearted Queen is an answer to the corporate chain coffee rampant in metropolitan areas. Along with many small businesses upon the outbreak of COVID-19 and shutdown orders, it was faced with the difficult decision to adapt to the current situation or shut its doors.

I work on the marketing side of things for Two Hearted Queen. I was responsible for the marketing rollout of the new Boystown Location as well as the day-to-day communications for the coffeehouse and overall graphic design. The quarantine shifted all focus away from growth of the business to survival. With the stay home orders, restaurants are only able to do carryout. The shop had never done carryout orders before and had no online platform for it. So people would have to pile into the shop to order and take it to go which is a major public health concern, or we were going to have to figure out online ordering, and quickly. In addition to that how was the shop to maintain the livelihood of the hourly staff amidst the shutdown when hours had to be cut dramatically to save cost?

It’s easy to feel defeated, when we realized we had to temporarily shut the doors of our new location and focus on our home base it felt like everything that had been built up over several months and years was coming to a halt. Baristas were stressed, patrons were concerned, collectively as a community we’ve seen better days. It’s easy to get stuck in your ways and think that there’s only one way to do things.

Your character is infinitely better defined by how you respond when you are faced with adversity than with prosperity.

With one coffeehouse closed, it wasn’t an option for the second to go. We had to mobilize like much of the country has had and pivoted our entire business model. No one would have blamed us if we just closed up entirely, but within a week we had built an online store that in a day accounted for 25% of all pick up orders, and within three days we were able to shift to an online pick up only model to where there was no physical contact with patrons. In addition to online ordering a fundraising campaign was launched to provide financial relief to baristas and in just one week it has raised over $18,000. We were blown away by how generous our supporters were, but how well the carryout adaptation worked.

Now the shop is experiencing a much more exciting predicament, not only is the online carryout an option, it’s popular. With people seeking safe ordering options paired with a desire to support small business our mornings at the coffeehouse have been lively, forcing us to work in a brand new way to adapt to the new system. Between the online ordering, relief fund, and some new marketing we were able to find a way to find some stability in these uncertain times.

We still don’t know what changes could come as soon as tomorrow, but in the meantime we’ve found a way to succeed and make a bad situation slightly better through thinking on our feet. For chapters out there, find ways to turn this situation into a win. It may feel like your semester is entirely derailed and everything you’ve built is coming to a standstill, but think about what can you do today to keep momentum going. It’s up for you to decide if this is going to set you back or force you to propel forward. 

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Colorado State Alumni Bring Art to Local Fourth Graders

James Vidakovich, Colorado State ’66, has built a career in television and media, so when he heard about BRAINY (Bringing Arts Integration to Youth) at his alma mater, the 11-year Veteran of Sesame Street knew he wanted to participate.  

Jim Vidakovich, Colorado State ‘66

“When I heard the professors from the College of Liberal Arts talking about some of the great programs for young kids in the college, including the BRAINY program, it reminded me of my 11 years working on Sesame Street,” said Vidakovich in the Colorado State press release. “One of the goals of Sesame Street was to get into the homes of kids who didn’t have the same things as some others, to really connect with undeserved communities to help them learn. That’s what BRAINY does.”

Brainy was founded in 2011 by an Associate Professor in the Department of Art and Art History, Patrick Fahey, and the first Director of CSU’s Gregory Allicar Museum of Art, Linny Frickman. Their goal was to give kids from Title I schools – schools where 75% of the students come from low-income homes – the opportunity to experience the power of art by visiting CSU. Title I schools don’t get to take a lot of field trips, so Fahey and Frickman developed this program to help them see how achievable higher education could be.

They prioritized making the experience hands-on, so students play instruments, dance, create art, and even act. This program has been a huge success – hundreds of fourth graders now travel to CSU throughout the year. In the morning they experience music, break for lunch, then immerse themselves in art and theater for the afternoon. Students at CSU get to help as well, which is particularly good for those entering the education field.

Al Howard, Colorado State ‘66

As Vidakovich learned more about the program, he became more committed to help. He pledged to providing financial support then began recruiting members of CSU’s Alpha Sigma chapter to join him. He began by reaching out to chapter brother Al Howard, Colorado State ’66.

“After retiring I needed to find a new relevance, and there were many things about BRAINY that just clicked with me,” Howard said. “I wanted to find something meaningful to me that would be helpful to others, and I really felt like supporting BRAINY was very doable and would make a difference in these kids’ lives.”

The pair reached out to other chapter brothers, and soon enough they had 20 pledge their contribution. Together, they have nearly doubled the program’s budget.

“Honestly, it’s the sort of thing we dream about in higher education, to have somebody support a program themselves and then bring together their community to join us. Their support has been remarkable,” said Lynn Boland, the current Director of the Gregory Allicar Museum of Art.

Go Far, Alpha Sigma!

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Everything is Cancelled, Now What?

Stay Connected!  

• Technology – Technology is your friend – do you have access to Zoom or Google Hangouts? 

• Plan - It is important that we stay connected.  We encourage you to continue to host regularly scheduled Executive Council, committee, and even chapter meetings through virtual options. During these meetings, begin planning for your return to campus for the Fall term. Planning is an important aspect to our collective future success!  

• Brotherhood - Host virtual chapter meetings or events to keep your chapter engaged and focused on the future! 

• Socialize – Host online gaming events, trivia nights, Netflix parties, etc. 

Fiscal Responsibility - Save money for the Fall semester. Instead of giving refunds to chapter members, put it in savings for Fall and/or your general savings so you are better prepared if something like this happens again down the road.  It greatly benefits the organization to have cash reserves, and you can explain that to your members.   

Support - Consult with your Board of Governors, Success Manager and/or Campus Fraternity/Sorority Office on ways to address members’ concerns on payments and return on investments. 

Serve (if, and only if healthy) – Look for opportunities to serve in your respective communities.  There are lots of organizations that need volunteers to help our elderly, children dependent on school provided meals, we need blood donors, etc. 

Upcoming Resources (check links for dates and registration information)  

• Monday, March 30th at 8:00 PM EDT - Recruitment Webinar: Recruitment Starts Now! Hosted by Barry Mask, Auburn ’78, National Recruitment Advisor. RSVP to tconroy@phikappatau.org 

• Wednesday, April 1 (Time TBD) Phi Tau Virtual Town Hall.  RSVP to tcontroy@phikappatau.org  

• Free webinar on how to go virtual: https://www.billhighway.co/how-to-go-virtual-while-still-creating-an-engaging-experience/ 

• Free webinar on how to have effective and engaging board meetings: https://boardable.com/resource/webinar-virtual-board-meeting-guide/ 

• PhiredUpFridays – free online recruitment education: http://blog.phiredup.com/phired-up-provides-free-on-line-fraternitysorority-growth-education/ 

Staff contact: https://www.phikappatau.org/connect 

Penn State Student Stands 46 Hours for Childhood Cancer

THON is a student run philanthropy at Pennsylvania State University committed to providing emotional and financial support, as well as spreading awareness for children impacted by childhood cancer. Each year, students put on a 46-hour dance marathon, although dancing through all 46 hours is not expected. This year, however, members of Penn State’s Omicron colony, chose to dance for nearly two-full days.

Timothy Bravo, Penn State AM, stood up in Penn State’s Bryce Jordan Center for all 46 hours.

 Bravo, a sophomore criminology student, also had an older brother attend Penn State, but he left early when their mother was diagnosed with cancer, he told the Collegian. “I felt like there was some unfinished work here, so I came to Penn State to continue that,” he said. Another reason he’s standing for all 46 hours is chapter brother Sean Krumpe, Penn State AM. “If he can do it, then I should and I should be supporting him,” Bravo said.

Bravo was selected to be Phi Tau’s THON chair next year, a position he is excited to begin. 

Well done to this Man of Character!

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Message from the CEO Regarding COVID-19

Brothers,

The Phi Kappa Tau Executive Offices are closely monitoring the Coronavirus outbreak as it unfolds. In the past week, chapter activities have been affected at every campus that has an active chapter or colony. All are under some version of limited/virtual/suspended campus operation, and many have already indicated they will not have students on campus the remainder of this Spring 2020 academic term. We have provided guidance to our local chapter officers, board of governor and housing corporation members.  We will continue to do so as additional information is provided surrounding the outbreak. 

As we move through this period of uncertainty, here are some things to keep in mind:

• All chapters should defer to guidelines set by their institution. Review the policies of your campus, state, and local health departments regarding class, travel, and work. Check these platforms regularly for any relevant updates and take their instructions seriously.

• Refer to this this page by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on information regarding the Coronavirus outbreak. Here you will find information on how it spreads, early symptoms, and prevention.

• Be hygienic. Wash your hands frequently, disinfect community areas, and avoid unnecessary contact. Do everything in your power to prevent the spread of germs.

• As it relates to our summer programs (Leadership Academy & Convention), we are monitoring daily updates from the Federal Government and the CDC and will provide further communication on any changes – for now though, we are moving forward as planned.  We will not hesitate to modify our position if authorities suggest otherwise. 

Member safety and well-being remain our highest priority. If there are additional ways to provide support to your group, please reach out to your staff point of contact.  After careful consideration, we have suspended travel duties of our Executive Office team. That said, our support teams will continue to work full-time and support chapters, colonies and volunteers through remote and digital options.  

May we all represent the lines of our creed which call on us to be good and loyal citizens, and to discharge our obligations to others as each member is asked to do their part and help mitigate the spread of the virus to family, friends and community members.  

Our thoughts are with all of our members and their families, and we wish you to remain safe and healthy during this time.

In Phi,
Tim Hudson
Chief Executive Officer

Read our Coronavirus FAQs Here.

Beta Beta Alumnus Prepares 27,500 Meals for Louisville Seniors

From left to right: Co-Owners Brian Masterson, Sueanna Masterson, Paul Masterson, and Andrew Masterson, Louisville ‘89

Like many cities around the world, Louisville has restricted access to the town’s restaurants and grocery stores in an effort to contain the spread of COVID-19. The city’s mayor, Greg Fischer, announced last Friday that Jefferson county would be placing an order to deliver 27,500 meals to the area’s senior citizens at five various community centers for pick-up.

This effort is being spear headed by Masterson’s Catering, a family-owned business since 1938 and co-owned by Phi Tau’s Andrew Masterson, Louisville ’89, CFO and CIO.

His brother and CEO, Paul Masterson, spoke to Spectrum One News, saying that the business has seen a decline due to event cancellation, but the food services portion of the business has seen a dramatic increase in business. This is the side that will be handling Louisville’s massive frozen meal order.

This has been a huge coordination process for Masterson’s, but according to Paul they have been doing business with their suppliers for over 20 years and everyone is very game to pull together and help out. This order also allows Masterson’s to keep their employees in work, as the uptake in frozen meals allows them to work for approximately the same number of hours and provides a continued source of revenue.

Rigorous sanitations have already been in process for Masterton’s as part of the food industry, but additional measures have increased such as disinfecting door handles and staircase rails.

It’s been challenging, according to Paul, to pull this together so last minute, but everything is in place to make it happen. Masterson’s is busily preparing for their first delivery on Tuesday. We thank them and their staff for their hard work in coming together and helping the community in times of confusion and need.

Go Far, Masterson’s!

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Colts Nominate Eastern Kentucky Alumnus for NFL Salute to Service

Brian Decker, Eastern Kentucky ’96, has service in his blood, according his profile by the Indianapolis Colts, published last November. 

“My grandfather served in the military in the Korean War and my dad served in the military in Vietnam. There was a tradition of service in my family,” he says in the article. “I think the military was always something I thought about in the back of my mind. 

Decker grew up in a rural area where college wasn’t prioritized, but when everybody else started going, he wanted to go as well. “I probably read and wrote at an elementary level when I graduated high school,” he said. Because of his grades he ended up going to a community college for a year or so, but realized it wasn’t the right fit. He quit soon after. Suddenly, the military felt like his only viable option. He enlisted. 

“Once I got there, in a very short amount of time I realized I had made a great decision because the military is the ultimate meritocracy – they don’t care where you come from, they don’t care what your socioeconomic status is, where you went to school – they’re just really concerned about your ability to assimilate and work hard.” 

Decker threw himself into this hard work. “It was probably the first thing in my life that anyone ever told me I was good at. It’s hard to develop a passion for something until you’ve enjoyed some success. I really liked the structure. I liked the fact that it was about working hard. If you worked hard and did the right things, you could advance.” He worked so hard he made his way up to Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Special Forces, serving two tours of duty in Iraq. The first tour he was 32, and his wife was seven months pregnant with twin girls 

Decker was in charge of a special forces team. “I was getting an opportunity to lead some of the most highly trained, qualified, some of the greatest Americans that I’ve ever met – to lead them and be responsible for them in combat,” he said. By all measures, the deployment was a huge success. “We did great things, had a huge impact in the area where we were – nobody got hurt, nobody got killed, you bring them all back – that’s mission success.”

When Decker returned he went on to graduate from Eastern Kentucky, eventually obtaining his masters in Naval Postgraduate School and taking a position overseeing the talent acquisition strategy for future Green Berets. Assessment and selection for special forces is, according to Decker, a lot like the NFL draft or combine. It’s a 24-day job interview and on top of that it’s not to join, it’s just to go to training, which can be anywhere from a year and a half to two years long. Decker has helped to essentially overhaul the special forces selection process.

What Decker and his team came to realize about the selection process is that by focusing only on performance, they were missing to on the person’s characteristics. Decker’s attention to individual qualities and traits led him to become a consultant for professional organizations of every major sport and eventually the Cleveland Browns brought him on to be a part of their player selection process.

“It was the perfect opportunity because even though I love sports, my passion is selecting and developing people for high performance teams – whether that be special forces or football. The only people that are really willing to put the resources behind selection are with sports teams because you can’t overcome a poor selection process.” In Decker’s experience, many of the qualities of a great leader are the same, whether they be soldier or athlete. “I would go a step farther and say that when you talk about the elite level of the military, or any sport, or most business organizations – if you take the sports specific requirements away and look at the mindset of the person – they’re more alike than different,” he said 

During his three years as Commander of Special Forces Assessment and Selection the program saw so much success that other organizations became interested. This is how he eventually came into contact with the NFL’s Chris Ballard, who became General Manager of the Colts in 2017. Ballard reached out to Decker and the two struck up a professional relationship. The same year, he brought Decker on to help with player selection and development.

For the past three years, this relationship has been wildly successful. Ballard praised Decker’s accomplishments for the team in the same interview. “The skills, judgement, and leadership he gained and refined in the military assist every day in the development of our culture and team,” he said.

Decker continues to give back to the military and prioritizes discovering non-traditional ways to incorporate veterans into business. His focus remains on developing skills that players can use for life, much like he did for his soldiers. “Where football is very similar to the military is that shared sense of purpose. We’re all a part of something that’s greater than ourselves. I think every one of us who works here wants to be able to know that in some way, form, or fashion, we’re having an impact.”

To honor his hard work, Colts nominated Decker for the 2019 Salute to Service Award, an annual award created to acknowledge the exceptional efforts of members of the NFL community in their support of members of the military. Unfortunately, Decker did not win, the award went to the Los Angeles Chargers’ Donnie Edwards instead. Still, we can all celebrate this Phi Tau and his incredible accomplishments. Go Far!

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FAQs Regarding COVID-19 and Chapter Operations [Updated 5/15/2020]

The Phi Kappa Tau Executive Offices have been closely monitoring the Coronavirus pandemic as it continues to unfold. Currently every campus with a Phi Tau colony or chapter has been affected by the outbreak. With health and safety of our members at the forefront of operations, we want to encourage all chapters to take proactive steps toward protecting themselves as the situation develops. 

We understand that all campuses and communities are being affected differently by this pandemic and that there is not a one-size-fits-all approach to operating in this new normal. We defer first and foremost to your campus policies regarding next-step actions. Listen to your institution and take their policies into account before you take any significant steps.  

Will National Convention/Leadership Academy’s be canceled? 

Unfortunately after a long deliberation and a motion circulated by the National Council and approved by the Residents Council, National Convention has been postponed. Read the statement here.

All three 2020 summer Leadership Academy sessions are canceled as well.

Do we need to shut down operations? 

Operations may continue to the best of your ability as long as they do not violate standards set by your institutions. We will include a variety of different ways to stay engaged in some of our other answers below, but there is no mandate to shut down operations. We encourage our chapters to engage virtually, similarly to how your institution may be participating in online learning. 

What do we do about new member activities? 

Brotherhood and Fraternity are not totally dependent on being on a campus. We encourage you to find creative ways to continue your new member education, specifically to host any educational programs online. Google Hangouts is a great and free way to do this. If your campus moves to an online or remote class structure, we encourage you to do the same. If your campus shuts down and you are not able to host new member activities online, new member education can be continued as usual at the beginning of the Fall semester. There is no mandate to restart the new member process. 

How does this impact spring reporting on ChapterSpot?

Chapter reporting on ChapterSpot will remain a loose expectation but given the measures being put in place we understand that certain due dates may not be possible. We will be extending the deadline for all ChapterSpot reports to June 15th to allow flexibility during this difficult time. If this deadline is not feasible, please contact your Chapter’s Success Manager. 

What about initiations? 

Defer to your host institution related to student gatherings. As most of our host institutions have moved to virtual learning, this will certainly limit this ability.  If your campus has suspended student gatherings, do not host initiations. If you are still clear to host student events, you may proceed with initiations. If initiations must be temporarily paused, they can be moved to early in the fall semester. Communication with the campus administrators, chapter advisors, and your chapter’s Success Manager are critical to keep people informed and up to date.   

What about other social events? 

The same policy applies to social events. If your campus has suspended or encouraged you not to gather, do not host your event.  

What does this mean for chapter billing? 

Outstanding Spring balances are still due, but there will be flexibility for any chapter on payment plans. Please refer to the Chapter Services Finance Memo for more information. 

Do we need to leave our house? 

As all leases and campuses agreements are different, we cannot say definitively if you need to vacate your house. Defer to your campus guidelines and pay attention to what other Greek organizations are doing. Contact your Housing Corporation officer to develop a plan for maintaining your chapter house and the potential return to campus. 

What resources are available to me as my institution is now 100% remote for the remainder of the semester?  

There are many resources that are being offered Free of charge by different organizations. You can find a full list of these resources here[hyperlink ‘everything is cancelled]. If you are interested in these services or attending a webinar, contact your chapters Success Manager for more information.  

How do we keep up the morale of the chapter and stay-in-contact with my chapter brothers? 

After gauging feedback from respective chapters, we have taken into consideration some of the ways they have been communicating. Some of these ways of staying in touch have included:  

• Group Communication-GroupMe, Slack, Discord, Skype, Group Facetime, Google Hangouts, Snapchat, Facebook Group chats, Email, Other Social Meda Platforms  

• PC/Console gaming -Xbox Live Party chats, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch  

• Shared Viewership- Netflix watch parties, Twitch Streaming, etc. 

I’m an advisor, how can I best assist the chapter?

Continued communication and support. During this time of uncertainty there are sure to be a lot of questions or concerns. Being able to continually touch base with the undergraduate officers and members can be a big help for them through this new normal. No one has lived through a situation quite like this so there is unfortunately no precedent on how to move forward. Our students will rely on us to help them find some consistency. 

What should our chapter focus on with my campus now fully remote?  

Maintaining some level of normalcy should absolutely be a priority.  With classes now being remote for most, assuring a focus on scholarship and operations should still be important. 

Maintain meetings as an exec board and a chapter as often as you can, although there is not much to do in terms of in-person activities in the Spring, you can still plan and get ready for the Fall! 

I still have questions or need assistance. Who do I contact? 

If you have any additional questions contact your Success Manger. We will be updating this list as information continues to update around the country, so check back here for further details.  

We wish you to remain safe and healthy during this time. Our thoughts are with all of our members and their families who have already experienced the effects of Coronavirus. 

Delta Kappa at the University of Tennessee Charters

Phi Kappa Tau is excited to welcome Delta Kappa Chapter at University of Tennessee-Knoxville back into our ranks. This past weekend 59 new members initiated at a chartering ceremony in Knoxville. They were joined by nearly 50 alumni to assist with initiations and partake in the festivities.

The Delta Kappa chapter began the re-chartering process a few years ago when Harrison Moser, Tennessee ‘20, a legacy and the son of Jeff Moser, Tennessee ’87, reached out to a member of the University’s development office, Steve Catlett, Tennessee ’81, who was also interested in restarting the group. Catlett and Moser got on a call with the Executive Offices and local alumni to begin the collaboration process of bringing the group back to campus.

Chapter President Alex Burns, Tennessee ‘20

This re-chartering would not have been possible without the help of these local alumni. Catlett has remained a vocal advocate for Phi Tau on campus through the entire process. Jeff Moser, Harrison’s father, is chapter advisor and assisted greatly in the process, as well as Trey Grant, Tennessee ’00, the financial advisor.

As a colony, Delta Kappa went to a Regional Conference to work on their recruitment and leadership skills, both of which helped them form a solid interest group. Last year two staff recruiters traveled to campus to grow the group, which resulted in an associate class of 44 in the spring.

The colony worked hard over the past year to grow and set a goal of chartering within one calendar year of their colonization day – 364 days later they did, according to chapter president Alex Burns, Tennessee ‘20, at the banquet Saturday night.

The event was organized with assistance from another local alumni, Gene Perkins, Tennessee ’81. Initiations were followed by a post-ritual explanation workshop and a dinner, which included the gavel presentation, chartering signing, and was capped off with great speeches from staff and undergraduates. The weekend included lots of alumni activity and participation, as well as attendance by university professionals. The weekend was made more special by the inclusion of Buzz Green, Ole Miss ‘66, a staff member who helped the original group charter in 1971, and Dan Dillion, Tennessee ‘71, one of the first Delta Kappa members.

The chartering was held in conjunction with a National Council meeting, where charter petitions were approved for both Alpha Rho at Georgia Institute of Technology and Omicron at Pennsylvania State University on April 18th and April 25th, respectively.  

Go Far!

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The Long Wait

Access Ed Washington’s original article in The Laurel here

On this day 11 years ago, Ed Washington, Lafayette ’09, was initiated into Phi Kappa Tau after a 50-year association period.  

Washington grew up in segregated Washington DC in the 40s-50s. When he went to Lafayette College in 1955, he was one of a handful of African American students. He and another black student, Victor Partridge, Lafayette ’59, were approached by members of Lafayette’s Alpha Omicron chapter to join. They accepted and went through the association process.  

At the time Phi Tau had 71 chapters but no African American members and an implicit agreement to restrict membership from black students. Alpha Omicron fought this clause for some time, but an agreement was not met, which cumulated in Alpha Omicron withdrawing from the national organization in 1956.  

Washington left Lafayette in ’57 and lost contact with his chapter brothers. It wasn’t until he reconnected with Partridge 30 years later that he found out Phi Tau had abolished its membership clause, the chapter had reestablished its ties, and Partridge had been initiated, making him the first African American member of Phi Kappa Tau. Sadly, Partridge died in 1986 and would not get to see his friend initiate.

For some time, Ed considered reaching out to Phi Tau to inquire about initiation. In his own words, it became a “one of these days” items. It was a sermon by his pastor in 2009 that triggered his reengagement. 

Alpha Omicron after they left the national organization and adopted the name “Delta Sigma”

“On Sunday, February 1st, 2009, more than 50 years after my college days, my pastor Dr. Wallace C. Smith delivered a sermon to frame the start of African American history month within its spiritual context. To emphasize a point, he referred to the struggle for civil rights in America. Not all advances were made by the handful of men and women whose names immediately come to mind when discussing the subject. Much of the progress we made was by people who took small steps, people whose names and accomplishments never appeared in headlines. I realized that I was one of those people, and that what Vic, the Phi Kappa Tau brothers and I did was a small victory in that struggle.”  

Washington at his initiation in 2009

He sent an email to then-Director of Chapter Services Tim Hudson, Truman State ’97, to see if he was eligible for initiation. He was met with a swift and resounding yes. Two weeks later on February 21st, 2009, at Capital Conference, Washington was initiated, making him possibly the longest associate in Phi Tau history.   

Ed wrote all these details in the summer 2009 Laurel, a few months after his initiation. You can read the captivating and heartfelt story in Washington’s own words by clicking here.