September Recruitment Roundup

The University of Lynchburg with their 2020 Associate Class

Recruitment is well underway for many campuses and while chapters have had to find new ways to engage potential brothers, Phi Tau men are rising to the occasion.

Here are the top three chapters reported so far:

The new Associate Class at Texas State

• Nebraska Wesleyan – Upsilon: 19

• Washington State - Alpha Kappa: 17

• Texas State – Gamma Psi: 24

If your chapter is looking for ways to capture the attention of potential new members on your campus, bookmark our recruitment resources here. We have branded templates, a national recruitment video, schedules, Snapchat filters, and graphics – all for you to use.

Did you have a great virtual recruitment? Share it with us here.

The full 2020 brotherhood at the University of Idaho

Welcome Back Message 2020

15 September 2020 - Oxford, OH: From the Office of the CEO

I hope you had a great summer! I have compiled a few updates for you to review ensuring you have a successful year with Phi Kappa Tau. Remember you play a key role in safeguarding every member and guest when they attend one of our events. You make the difference.

My team and I look forward to working with you and your brothers this year. Should you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me directly at ceo@phikappatau.org.

Fraternally,
Wm. Tim Hudson
Chief Executive Officer

Phi Kappa Tau and COVID-19

COVID-19 has fundamentally changed the way in which fraternity will operate in the near future. As we adjust to life with COVID, there are key reminders to note as we move through this very unique academic year:

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

• Refer to 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.

• Wear a Mask when around people you do not live with.

• Practice Social distancing when in public.

• Schedule regular cleaning for your chapter facility or other applicable common spaces.

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. 

Phi Kappa Tau Mark of Distinction program

The National Fraternity rolled out the updated Mark of Distinction program for new associate members during Fall 2017. All chapters and colonies are expected to fully adhere to the program during the association process of new associates as outlined. This program will allow for a more controlled education program for new associates to take part in and learn the values of Phi Kappa Tau.
If you have any questions about the program, please reach out to your chapter’s success manager.

Phi Kappa Tau and Tightrope

Phi Kappa Tau is committed to ensuring that you have the safest and most rewarding college experience possible. That's why we've partnered with Plaid to offer the Tightrope Education Program for our associate members. 
Tightrope is a research and data-driven program consisting of online courses and optional in-person chapter activities to provide practical training on:

• Alcohol and Other Drugs

• Hazing

• Sexual Misconduct

• Mental Health

This program will replace the partnership Phi Tau has had with GreekLifeEDU over the past 4 years with its requirement of full associate member participation.

Phi Kappa Tau Risk Management Policy

With the Fall 2020 academic term shortly underway, be sure that you are taking time to review the Fraternity's Risk Management Policy. This policy ensures that every chapter is providing a safe environment for all members and guests.

Furthermore, during the semester, chapter officers and advisors will work to educate every member of the chapter regarding the Phi Kappa Tau Risk Management Policy. The first program they will hold is the Risk Management Policy Overview by Oct. 15. Take a moment to review the policy before the meeting and bring any questions you might have with you.

Please take some time to review the policy by clicking here prior to the beginning of the academic year.

Phi Kappa Tau Good Samaritan Policy

To encourage members and chapters to act without fear of disciplinary action The Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity has two Good Samaritan policies, one for individual members and guests and another for the chapter itself. Remember to always call emergency services by dialing 911 for anyone needing immediate medical attention.

Please read and familiarize yourself with our full Good Samaritan policies by clicking here.

Dispute Resolution Policy

Effective Aug. 1, 2010, Phi Kappa Tau new members, existing members, and alumni making claims for personal injury, claims for damages to property, or disputes of any nature are referred for resolution through the Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity Claim and Dispute Resolution Program. This means that you and Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity will be bound to use the Claim and Dispute Resolution Program as the primary and sole means of dispute resolution. If you are unable to resolve a claim or dispute arising out of your membership or participation in any Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity-related activity, under the terms of the program the claim or dispute will be submitted to binding arbitration instead of through the courts. If legal action is instituted, the court will be requested to refer the matter back to the Claim and Dispute Resolution Program for final resolution.

This program is binding on all Phi Kappa Tau new members, existing members, alumni, chapters, House Corporations, foundations, alumni organizations and the National Fraternity. YOUR DECISION TO JOIN OR ACCEPT MEMBERSHIP OR CONTINUE YOUR CURRENT MEMBERSHIP IN THE PHI KAPPA TAU FRATERNITY AFTER AUG. 1, 2010, MEANS YOU HAVE AGREED TO AND ARE BOUND BY THE TERMS OF THIS PROGRAM AS CONTAINED IN THE PLAN DOCUMENT AND RULES, A COMPLETE COPY OF WHICH IS AVAILABLE FROM THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS: as a download on the national website or through request from the Executive Offices at Travis Robinson. This will be true both during your membership and after your membership, should you terminate for any reason.

Likewise, the terms of the Claim and Dispute Resolution Program are binding on Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity; the terms can only be modified by providing advance notice of the change to members. While both you and Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity retain all substantive legal rights and remedies under this program, you and Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity are both waiving all rights which either may have with regard to trial by jury for personal injury, property damage, contract, or any other related matters in state or federal court. This plan covers any legal or equitable claim for personal injury, property damage, equity or breach of contract, arising out of any tort, statute, contract or law.

Click here to view the Dispute Resolution Policy.

Want a refresher on any other policies or governance updates?

You can visit our Governance & Policies page to view all of Phi Kappa Tau’s policies as well as the Constitution & Statutes by visiting phikappatau.org/governance. If you have any questions about a policy or section of governance, please reach out to your chapter’s success manager.

Transylvania Alumnus named Chief Commercial Officer of Professional Racing Team

Jason Bitsoff, Transylvania ’94, has been named Chief Commercial Officer of Chip Ganassi Racing. He will be responsible for revenue generation across the various teams that compete in NASCAR, IndyCar, and Extreme E.

Bitsoff comes to the role after 13 years at Feld Entertainment. He landed sponsorships for Monster Energy Supercross, and has a background with the Rockets, Predators, and as well as serving as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University for their Masters of Sports Management Program.

Chip Ganassi has been involved in the racing industry for over 30 years. The Chip Ganassi Racing team includes three cars in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and two cars in the NASCAR Cup Series. Overall his teams have 19 championships and more than 220 victories including four Indianapolis 500s, a Daytona 500, a Brickyard 400, and many more. Bitsoff will be based out of their corporate office in Pittsburgh.

Read the original press release here.

Want to share a story with us? Submit news here.

109 Ways to Stay Connected for 109 Days

There are officially 109 days remaining in 2020. While we are all searching for ways to stay connected, the Chapter Services team has put together a list of socially-distant or virtual ways you can continue to grow and strengthen your brotherhood.

Check out 109 ways to stay connected for 109 days!

Community Service: 

1. Participate in a Blood Drive with the Red Cross. 

2. Perform a street or highway cleanup. 

3. Contact the Civic Engagement office (or similar) on campus and ask what volunteer opportunities are available. 

4. Have a “Service Day” where one Saturday every brother performs an act of community service no matter where they are located. Advertise this across social media channels.  

5. Do a park cleanup with your local park. 

6. Make face masks that you can donate to local charities. 

7. Contact your local United Way to see what opportunities are available to help serve the community. 

8. Volunteer as a poll worker on Election Day. 

9. Volunteer for Meals on Wheels. They have great social distancing guidelines. 

10. Host an online voter registration drive to encourage others to perform their civic duty. 

Philanthropy:

1. Fundraise using CrowdChange for SeriousFun Children’s Network and do a peer-to-peer fundraiser. Split the chapter into teams and compete head-to-head. 

1. Encourage brothers to donate to causes that they are passionate about in their communities and track brother’s donations. 

1. Create a SeriousFun Bingo board on social media; whoever gets a coverall first gets a prize. 

1. Host a fundraiser on Instagram Live or Facebook Live and pin a comment to an online donation form for a cause your chapter is passionate about (SeriousFun Children’s Network, Local Animal Shelter, etc.) 

1. Host a virtual 5k or race and encourage participants to do it wherever they are and fundraise for a cause. 

Scholarship:

1. Have “study groups” and encourage brothers to study together virtually via Zoom or Google Hangouts.  

2. Digitize study resources that are in the house so all brothers can access it via a shared online folder. 

3. Revisit your scholarship plan. What needs changed? Or Developed? 

4. Use apps like ‘Studytable’ to connect with others outside your chapter with similar topics. 

5. Invite an academic advisor to speak at your next chapter meeting on remote learning and study techniques. 

Risk Prevention:

1. Discuss how we can do our part to limit risk during COVID. 

2. Host a seminar on how you can have safe social events for when in-person events resume. 

3. Review the risk management policy. How does this change with COVID? 

4. Host a discussion with a campus professional about mental health resources available to members. 

5. Assess event programming around socials and ensure that all members are trained for when in-person events resume. 

Communication: 

1. Develop a social media strategy with the PR Chair and brothers in marketing, communications, public relations, etc. majors.  

2. Create a ‘Brother of the Week’ marketing strategy. 

3. Add a LinkTree link to your Instagram account. 

4. Create an ‘Alumnus of the Month’ campaign highlighting an alumnus from the chapter for exciting news (new job, child, marriage, etc.) 

5. Organize chapter photos into a shared folder for you to reference in future years. Drip these through Social media. 

6. Do a social media campaign using #GoFar talking about how joining Phi Tau helps your members go far in life. 

7. Determine your general posting strategy for your Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook profiles. 

8. Ask the Executive Offices for custom branded fraternity graphics for your chapter. 

9. Join the other IFC chapters on campus and do PSAs (Public Service Announcements) around campus policies and being a Good Samaritan. 

10. Create a ‘Throwback Thursday’ campaign ask alumni for old photos to post on chapter social media. 

11. Update your chapter website on ChapterSpot by accessing the WebsiteApp on ChapterSpot. 

Alumni Relations:

1. Send a message to your alumni updating them on what the chapter is doing this Fall and how you’re adjusting to COVID. 

2. Call your alumni and share with them how the school and chapter are doing. 

3. Send alumni hard copy mailers or postcards. 

4. Post on social media via the chapter’s public channels to showcase what the chapter is up to this Fall. 

5. Post in the alumni Facebook group to update alumni on what classes and campus is like during the Fall. 

6. Host an Alumni AMA webinar.  

7. Host Instagram takeovers for alumni. 

8. Do an Instagram or Facebook live interview with chapter brothers or alumni and ask them about why they chose Phi Tau and about what they’re passionate about. 

9. Create an alumni mentorship program for new members. 

10. Find a way to help celebrate the seniors that graduated in May 2020 via your social media or at Homecoming 2021. 

Membership Development:

1. Come up with a strategic plan for the chapter’s future.  

2. Work with individuals to revisit what they want out of the fraternity. 

3. Host a virtual ritual discussion and talk about the multiple Phi Kappa Tau rituals. 

4. Host a discussion about Phi Kappa Tau’s initiation ceremony and review the ceremony. Contact your chapter’s success manager for a resource on how to facilitate this conversation. 

5. Work with your campus to have a presentation on a variety of different personal development topics. 

6. Host a personal budgeting workshop. 

Campus & Community Involvement:

1. Partner with clubs in a virtual setting.  

2. Participate and support campus programming in virtual endeavors.  

3. Have every member join at least one club or organization on campus outside of the Fraternity. 

4. Host a virtual event between the chapter and another organization on campus for this Fall. 

5. Plan an event between the chapter and another organization on campus for the Spring. 

Leadership Development: 

1. Host a virtual professional development speaker. 

2. Host a resume workshop.  

3. Have somebody from your career services office speak with chapter virtually. 

4. Start an alumni series where you have various alumni speak about their industry/company to the rest of the chapter members. 

5. Have each member set a meeting with the career services office to talk about their professional futures. 

6. Encourage each brother to take a personality test (I.e. 16personalities.com, Myers-Briggs, DISC) and then discuss it as a chapter. 

7. Host a webinar on life skills. 

8. Start an investment group using a stock simulator online and compete head-to-head with other brothers while learning about stocks, markets, etc. 

9. Host a LinkedIn profile workshop with career services and another organization on campus (I.e. sorority) where you build out your profile and connect with your peers. 

10. Invite a speaker to come present on a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Bias topic and host a conversation around a topic. 

11. Get every brother registered to vote and submit an absentee ballot (if applicable). 

Retention:

1. Host a brotherhood event by having a Netflix Party. 

2. Play multiplayer games online. 

3. Utilize a discord server to connect with guys via gaming.  

4. Learn about each other. Have members showcase their hometowns by doing a social media highlight. You can even do hometown tours on a private channel or public social media. 

5. Play a game together. Use jackbox.tv games  

6. Online card games (Poker, cards against humanity, apples2 apples, etc.) 

7. Host a virtual happy hour get together. 

Recruitment: 

1. Social Media ads have been highly beneficial for numerous chapters. 

2. Start a names list of potential new members and distribute among the chapter. This list can be updated throughout the year. 

3. Join campus events (in-person or virtually) and wear your letters and get to know the Freshmen class. 

4. Develop your strategy for Spring recruitment. 

5. Assess how the past 5 years of recruitment have gone to see trends and then do a SWOT analysis on your chapter’s recruitment. Contact your success manager to get numbers on the size of classes over the past 5 years. 

6. Host a recruitment workshop to train members on how to become better recruiters. Contact your success manager for a resource on how to host this workshop. 

7. Perform a name generation game where each brother scrolls through their phone’s contacts and writes down every male student on campus that is not affiliated, offer a prize for the guy he adds the most names. See how many names you can generate and add them to the names list. 

Brotherhood:

1. Implement an early Christmas or secret Santa Event. 

2. Host a Virtual ‘Fun Run’. 

3. Host Virtual campfire chats. 

4. Host Ted-style talks within the brotherhood.  

5. Host a Brotherhood roast. 

6. Host Virtual birthday parties  

7. Host a trivia night. 

8. Do something interesting around meal-time. Breakfast in bed/ Lunch and Learn/ Discussions over Dinner. 

9. Start a podcast. 

10. Build your campus or house on Minecraft.  

11. Host a virtual dinner party where every brother must cook the same meal from a recipe for themselves and then eat together. 

12. Assign weekly “outreach buddies/groups” who are challenged to connect with one another virtually for at least one hour during the week. 

13. Have someone different from your organization or campus council to take over your Instagram story every day. 

14. Put together a playlist on Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, etc. for members to share their current favorite songs or artists. 

15. Watch a sporting event together and start a group chat just for the game. 

16. Send out a member survey to all active members asking them about their goals for the chapter and what areas need to be improved. 

Finances:

1. Review your budget to actual for expenses and revenue. 

2. Create a budget for the Spring term. 

3. Improve your chapter’s budget template. 

Governance/Administration:

1. Review your chapter’s bylaws and make any changes while chapter operations are “slow.” 

2. Host chapter officer elections. 

3. Determine if there are committees the chapter needs to add. 

4. Host a Standards Board Training for members that serve on the Standards Board. Contact your chapter’s success manager for a resource on how to host. 

5. Prepare for officer transitions. 

6. Have chapter officers create a “how-to” guide to pass down to the next set of officers. 

7. Hold a retreat between the Executive Council officers and Board of Governors to talk about roles & responsibilities, expectations, etc. Contact your chapter’s success manager for a resource on how to host this retreat. 

8. Encourage your local IFC to host a retreat and talk about goals for the community. 

Michigan State Brother Receives Perfect MCAT Score

Congratulations to Vik Peddeti, Michigan State AM, who received a PERFECT score on the MCAT.

"Vik is our current scholastic chair and will be returning to campus this fall for his 3rd year at Michigan State, majoring in Mathematics. He plans to further his education by going to med school in the future." #GoFar #ManofDistinction

Want to share a story with us? Submit news here.

Brandon Peterson: 20 Under 40

Brandon Peterson, Nebraska Wesleyan ’12, has been listed in the Freemont Tribune as a “20 Under 40,” a series on young professionals all under 40.

Peterson comes from a family of entrepreneurs, all of whom are familiar with the pitfalls of running a business. Brandon himself has experienced this failure. “But that’s one of the things about entrepreneurship: you have to go in with just a boundless amount of optimism that this is going to work,” he told the Tribune, “And if or when it doesn’t work, then you have to go, ‘Well, we tried. What did we learn?’ and move on.”

Peterson originally attended Nebraska Wesleyan to become a dentist. He enjoyed it, but during his chemistry class, the professor was talking about the many requirements to go to dental school and she said: “You’ve got to love this.”

“And I sat there, and it just hit me, and I go, ‘I don’t love this. I don’t love this at all,’” Peterson said. “And I got up right in the middle of her talking and I walked out and went straight to the register’s office, and I switched my major. And that was the best decision I’ve ever made in my entire life.”

He switched his major to business administration and psychology. Always active in high school, the same trend continued into college. Peterson joined Phi Tau as a founder of Upsilon. “I was never going to be a fraternity guy, I had no desire because of the stereotypes,” he said, “But when I was able to start it and create the foundation, then it was a little bit different. I could take something, and I could create a new perception on it.”

In 2012, Peterson was awarded the John Cosgrove Spirit and Leadership Award.

Peterson traveled abroad to New Zealand for a semester and when he returned he interned at his mother’s Planet Fitness gyms to get a taste of running a business. He would clean, answer emails, and do other managerial tasks. He would end up increasing profits for the location by 20% in five months. “It’s discipline and working hard and understanding that long-term goals are a thing you’ve got to work for,” he said, “Don’t complain, just do.”

In 2014 when he graduated he became a regional director for Anytime Fitness. He was successful but wanted to run something of his own. In 2016, a friend from college came to him with an idea.

Together, they created the nonprofit SELFiD, which stands for “Self Image Defined.” The friend, who suffered from an eating disorder herself, helps young girls with their mental, physical, and emotional health and helps them find happiness in their lives.

“From that moment, we created SELFiD at my kitchen table, and in my basement, we just brainstormed,” Peterson said. “And from there, we have a board of directors, we have people that have come across the state and across the United States that have come to support the event, we’ve had donations. It’s been phenomenal.”

“That was my first experience ever starting a business,” Peterson said. “And I’m so glad it was a nonprofit, I’m so glad that people supported it and it was just so many learning experiences that came from that.”

Since then he has created five more companies and sold one of them. “I learned that it’s usually harder than you expected it to be,” he said. “The payoff doesn’t come when you think it’s going to come. It’s usually farther out and it usually costs more.” But one of his most important pieces of advice is be first to market, especially with technology. “I don’t care what kind of (intellectual property) you’ve got, you’ve got to be first-to-market,” he said. “Because if somebody else has done it first and before you, you’re pretty much out of the running unless you have this crazy quality that’s going to be different.”

In early 2017, Peterson realized running startups wasn’t going to pay the bills. He joined DPA, Del Paterson and Associates. “I came in and I said, ‘You offer a great service, you became a national company by not quite all of the innovative marketing techniques. Let me come in and just be more of a kind of a consultant-style employee to help revamp this side of things,’” Brandon Peterson said. “He said, ‘OK, let’s give it a shot.’”

At DPA, Peterson brought in new digital marketing and enhanced marketing efforts, growing the team from 20 employees to 35 in a few years. Today, the company is launching their marketing agency, DPA Impact. They plan to expand to a new building with 100 employees by 2021.

Peterson is someone who can’t sit still for very long and is always planning the next project. “If you shoot for something better than what you’re doing right now, you’re going to hit something,” Peterson said. “Something good is going to come out of it, so why not go for it?”

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Kent State Alumnus Finds Missing Woman

Jeremey Humphrey, Kent State ’98, successfully found a woman who had been missing in the Idaho wilderness for days.

 Humphrey is an ultrarunner, an intense form of long-distance running where races must be longer than a marathon’s 26.2 miles. Often these ultramarathons – or “ultras” are closer to the 50-mile or 100-mile mark, although many exceed it like the Badwater Ultra across California’s Badwater desert basin, a 135-mile race that begins at 279-feet below sea level and rises to 8360-feet on Mount Whitney or the Grand to Grand Ultra, 147-miles along the rim of the Grand Canyon. The races held internationally are often equally grueling, like the Spartahlon, a 153-mile, 3-day race across Greece, the Marathon des Sables, a 6-day, 154-mile trek across the sand tunes of southern Morocco, or the 142.6-mile Jungle Ultra through the Amazon in Peru. Most ultras occur through extreme conditions or altitudes.

 A regular competitor in these races, Humphrey has not been training as he usually would due to Covid-19 cancellations. Instead, he’s been focusing on challenging himself by running as far as he can for fun. “I’m usually training for 100-mile fitness,” he told Runner’s World, “With everything canceled, I’m out of my regimen and just running big stuff, lots of adventure runs. I haven’t run less than six hours in a long time.”

 It was in early July Humphrey found a new incentive to run when he learned that a woman and her dog had disappeared.

 The woman had been missing for several days before an investigation started because she hadn’t told many people where she was going or for how long. Humphrey was familiar with the area she was last known to be in after years of running, hiking, and camping nearby.

 “I just had this strange, maybe spiritual, feeling from the moment I heard about it that I could see the entire thing and how it would play out if I went out,” he said. “I’ve been in the mountains my whole life and I’ve helped search and rescue before. I lost my dad and his twin brother when they fell climbing in Denali. The mountains have given a lot to me and taken a lot from me and some energy told me I had to do this.”

 A search and rescue team had already begun working in a northern section of the area, so Humphrey decide to start at the southern end, relying heavily on the detail that she liked to run by lakes. He packed his bag with provisions for 40-miles and set off running.

 Humphrey spent all day running near lakes and calling her name. At mile 20 he knew soon it would be time to turn around, but he decided to press on for a little longer. Finally, after ten hours of running, he heard a woman’s voice call back.

 “I’m calling out, and it shocked me, I heard a female voice call back though I couldn’t see her,” he said. “I could sense the direction, so I cross this drainage, a little dip in the topography. I’m jumping over rocks and logs, and I see someone, and again when I’m about 300 yards away, that’s when I see her dog, so that’s a good sign. My adrenaline is up as I’m bounding down this hill, full sprint until I finally reach her.”

 As instinct predicted, he did find the woman near a lake. She had not eaten in four days and was drinking the murky lake water to survive. Humphrey dumped his pack and gave her and her dog what was left of his food and electrolyte supplies. He called the rescue crew, and the woman and dog were airlifted out of the forest. Humphrey returned to the trail head where she had parked her car and drove it to the local fire department.

 Besides sustaining some minor injuries, the woman is otherwise okay. She is recovering well, and she and Humphrey have spoken since. “She’s super tough,” he said. “She just wanted to eat pizza and ice cream.”

 Humphrey will continue to run before winter storms come through the area. “Normally, running is super selfish and fueled by the desire to be a champion,” Humphrey said. “All these years of doing that, I feel like I had a skill set that made it possible to help someone else, and that feels good. It feels not so selfish.”

 Want to share a story with us? Submit news here. 

Fall Philanthropy and CrowdChange

Fall Philanthropy and CrowdChange

We are excited to share the Fall 2020 launch of our partnership with CrowdChange with you! In case you are not familiar, we have partnered with CrowdChange to help you host virtual events and online fundraisers so that you can continue to raise money for your philanthropies in the midst of COVID-19. This online fundraising platform offers tons of features to help you take your philanthropy events to the next level at no cost to your chapter!
 
Chapters have been EXTREMELY successful with CrowdChange, raising an average of 235% of what they raised the previous year for similar or identical events not on CrowdChange. 
 
WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU: Register for ONE of the Online Training Sessions below. Feel free to pick the date that works best for you, but make sure you register for one of them:

• Option 1: Tuesday September 15th, 8:30 - 9:30 pm ET - Register Here

• Option 2: Sunday September 20th, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm ET - Register Here

• Option 3: Wednesday September 23rd, 7:00 - 8:00 pm ET - Register Here

 
This top-rated session is called 7 Keys to Crushing your Fundraising Goal. It will give you actionable tips on how to scale your philanthropy event and will offer guidance on fundraising virtually. If you'd like to get a head start, simply go to: http://phikappatau.crowdchange.co and click the "Start a Fundraiser" button.

Phi Tau Launches Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force

In light of the Black Lives Matter movement Phi Tau has been looking internally at our own practices and policies to examine our own shortcomings in the way of racial bias.

 The first ever Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (or DEI) Taskforce held its inaugural meeting last Tuesday.

 So far the committee is comprised of six members:

• Brandon Lewis, Middle Tennessee State ‘15, Associate Director of Chapter Services and a staff representative

• Steve Issakhanian, Cal Poly Pomona ’19, an undergraduate representative and member of Delta Tau’s Maxwell-winning presenters

• Dexter Horne, Centre ’13, an alumnus representative and former Shideler Award winner

• Ricky Bailey, Florida State ’03, a representative from the National Council

• Tim Popma, Central Michigan ’05, a representative from the education committee and Dean of Building Men of Character Retreats

• Scott Brown, Tennessee ’88, representing the governance board

 There are two main areas of focus: policy & communication and education & programming. Policy & communication seeks to examine our current policies and procedures and identify areas for change. The National Council has asked that the two standing governance committees review our governing documents and policies and determine if they are antithetical to supporting anti-racist education.

 Education & programming will identify where there are holes in our educational programs, what we need to start or stop doing, or where we can improve. Our educational materials are also being reviewed.

 The immediate goals of the committee are to develop a proposal of recommendations for the National Council to review this fall and to open lines of communication between members, staff, and volunteers. Long term goals include creation of a long term standing committee with a chairperson and a standing body to consult on topics related to DEI.

 Immediately, the committee is asking members to complete this survey for recommendations to the committee. It is a place to share suggestions and ideas for ways Phi Tau can improve.

 The committee is formed around the democratic nature of our organization and will provide feedback and make changes as necessary. CEO Tim Hudson, Truman State ’97, opened the meeting by ensuring staff’s commitment to support the committee’s efforts and saying, “I know the work you will be doing will be challenging and rewarding. This is a tough topic but it’s one that needs to be addressed. It’s important to the future of Phi Kappa Tau and where we want to go as an organization.”

 We look forward to hearing the recommendations from the committee and addressing ways Phi Tau can improve. Stay tuned for more updates from the DEI task force.

 Want to share a story with us? Submit news here.

Will Steitz Wins Borradaile Undergraduate Award

Will Steitz, North Carolina State ’19, has been awarded the Borradaile Undergraduate Award. The award is presented to an undergraduate member who has contributed to the chapter’s overall success, led by example, and demonstrated a true understanding of brotherhood.  

Will was initiated in spring of 2019 at the re-chartering of Chi chapter. He never had any intention to join a fraternity in college, but the brotherhood among Chi colony grew on him and from the moment he associated, he was driven to make an impact on the newly reestablished chapter and the North Carolina State community. After initiating, he ran for Vice President of Community Service and was elected. He proceeded – as the nomination from a chapter brother submitted said – to “revolutionize” the role.  

 “One of the most remarkable aspects of Will serving as Philanthropy Chair was the way he approached it. He saw his position as a way to encourage everyone in the chapter to live by the creed and its values. He constantly preached that the work we do through community service was a way to be a man of character and to bare our Mark of Distinction,” the nomination read. He established several reoccurring philanthropy events such as the Chi sponsored highway, percentage nights at restaurants, and a large-scale community-based event the chapter hosted spring 2020. To Will, philanthropy was not a checklist item but something necessary for the character of the group. His enthusiasm turned the work into a brotherhood experience where they bonded through raising money and rallying for causes that mattered to them.  

Will attended every single philanthropy event Chi hosted and nearly every other service event on campus. “He motivated this chapter to become more than just a social organization, but a force for good on the campus of North Carolina State and the surrounding community.” 

Currently Chapter President, Will’s dedication to the chapter has only increased and he shows no signs of slowing down. As the chapter is still new on campus, they have run into on-campus housing problems. Unfortunately, North Carolina State will be demolishing the house the chapter currently lives in. Will has worked tirelessly with the Board of Governors, the Housing Corporation, the Fraternity and Sorority Life office, and the Resident Council to find solutions. While this is an ongoing and uphill battle, the future looks optimistic thanks to his hard work.  

Will has also prioritized improving events the chapter hosts, including philanthropy events, social events, and alumni events. “Will’s leadership is really encouraging the growth of our chapter and is igniting a spark in everyone to strive to live by our values.” When a chapter brother suffered a personal emergency, Will went out of his way to raise $350 from friends, family, and alumni to support the brother – without disclosing any private details. This money helped pay for gas, food, and other expenses throughout a hard time, a huge relief for a friend he had not known very long and a demonstration of his commitment to Phi Tau values.  

Will, who will be a senior this fall, has been active in Phi Tau National Programs such as Presidents Academy, Regional Conferences, and Building Men of Character Retreats. He is a Business major with a concentration in Supply Chain Management. An excellent student, he has earned Dean’s List every semester. This summer he is interning with John Deere in Wisconsin. Congratulations, Will, and Go Far! 

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