Ross Roeder Enters Chapter Eternal

Phi Kappa Tau is deeply saddened to learn about the passing of Ross Roeder, Michigan Tech, and Michigan State ’58. Roeder was a Hall of Fame member, a Palm Award winner, and a Distinguished Trustee of the Phi Kappa Tau Foundation. He passed away on May 11th, 2021, at St. Anthony’s Hospital from injuries sustained in an automobile accident.  

 Roeder was born on February 25th, 1938, in Bay City, MI. He was a founding member of the Gamma Alpha chapter at Michigan Technological University. He later transferred to Michigan State and joined the Alpha Alpha chapter. Following a year on the Phi Kappa Tau staff, he earned an MBA at UCLA and served in Army Intelligence. His career was expansive; among other roles, Roeder held executive-level positions at Baskin-Robbins, Denny’s, and the NBA. He served as CEO of Fotomat, Federal Construction, and Smart & Final. 

Roeder was generous with his time and treasure, especially to Phi Kappa Tau. He began his distinguished career as a Field Secretary on the Phi Kappa Tau staff. He was elected to the Fraternity National Council in 1983 and served to separate stints on the Foundation board, serving as chairman twice and as a member of the steering committee for the “Decision for Phi Kappa Tau” capital campaign in the early 1980s.  For decades, Ross played critical roles, many behind the scenes, in defining the strategic direction of the Fraternity and Foundation. Roeder was honored with the Palm Award, the highest recognition of a Phi Tau alumnus in 2004 and the Centennial Convention in 2006, he received the Taylor A. Borradaile Award and became one of the inaugural members of the Hall of Fame.  

Roeder was involved in several other organizations including the Bayfront Hospital, St. Peterburg Area YMCA, the Michigan Tech board, and the Coast Guard Foundation. Michigan Tech’s Board of Trustees awarded him the Silver Medal and in 2012 he was presented with the Spirit of Hope award at the Pentagon.   

Roeder is survived by his wife, Mary Anne Reilly, his daughter and son-in-law, two grandchildren, two brothers-in-law, and many relatives and friends.  

A mass will be held on Wednesday, May 19th, at 4pm at St. Raphael Catholic Church, 1376 Snell Isle Blvd, St Petersburg FL. Full details here. 

Reunion for Psi Brothers

Thanks to Mike McClelland, Colorado ’60, for this member-submitted news!

From Mike:

Octogenarians Still Gathering.

Over the weekend of May 1, 2021, six members of the Psi Chapter at the University of Colorado in Boulder, now all in their eighties, came out of Pandemic confinement to gather with wives for a min-reunion in Rancho Mirage, California.

Over many cold bottles of Coors beer, these friends/brothers of 60+ years recalled antics in the house and on campus, stories that have been told and retold as this group and more have attended dozens of reunions over the years. As the weekend came to a close, plans for the next reunion began.

Photographed (left to right): Bill Wells, Colorado ’59, Dave Handy, Colorado ’59, Mike Reber, Colorado ’58, Mike McClelland, Ken Dulany, Colorado ’59, Ken Arthur, Colorado ’59

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Phi Kappa Tau Celebrates AANHPI Heritage Month

May marks the beginning of Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month. AANHPI Heritage month honors the generations of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans who have enriched America’s history and contributed to our collective success.

We are extremely proud of our Asian American and Pacific Islander Brothers. Your membership enriches not only our nation but every aspect of Phi Kappa Tau. With a sharp rise in Asian American hate crimes, Phi Kappa Tau is committed to providing safe and inclusive environments on our campuses and within the Fraternity. We are proud to call you Brothers.

Leroy Chiao, Berkeley ’79, welcomed the celebration with the following statement:

 I am pleased to help mark this years’ Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) month! I am proud to be a Phi Tau and a former NASA astronaut and International Space Station commander. In fact, my mission featured the first all-Asian heritage crew in space.

 I learned valuable lessons from my time in the Fraternity, from brotherhood to leadership. My experiences at Nu chapter helped shape who I am. I wish everyone all the best, as we all move forward, leaving the darkness of the past year behind us.  

We encourage our brothers to learn more about the importance of this month. Check out the following resources:

 Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month via Asian Pacific Heritage

 Exploring Places of AAPI History with the National Parks Service

 31 Ways to Celebrate AAPI Heritage Month via Asia Society

 Learn About Asian-American Violence via NBC

 What You Can Do About Asian-American Violence via Rolling Stone

 Happy #AAPIHeritageMonth!

Convention Save the Date

Yes, it’s happening!

 We are pleased to announce that Phi Kappa Tau is hosting its 64th National Convention in Oxford, Ohio from July 23rd-25th, 2021.

 In-person attendance will be limited and will following the COVID-19 protocol of our host location. Priority in-person tickets will be given to one undergraduate and alumni delegate from each chapter.

 Brothers will have the opportunity to cast votes, ask questions, engage in fellowship, and participate on the convention floor remotely. We encourage as many brothers as possible to participate.

 Registration will begin soon. If you are interested in receiving early-bird information, please fill out the form below:

Spring 2021 Charterings

 Phi Kappa Tau is pleased to announce a return to campus for several chapters over the coming months, including the first two chapters below.

Epsilon Delta – Virginia Wesleyan  

Epsilon Delta at Virginia Wesleyan University

Congratulations to Epsilon Delta at Virginia Wesleyan University, who initiated 22 men on April 18th. Epsilon Delta has been regrowing their chapter since November of 2018. At the time, Epsilon Delta had zero members. Their revitalization efforts resulted in the 22-man class.  

The following chapters showed up to help with initiations and support the newly revived Epsilon Delta:  

• Gamma Tau  

• Epsilon Mu  

• Epsilon Lambda  

• Delta Gamma  

• Alpha Lambda  

• Chi  

Alpha Rho – Georgia Tech  

Alpha Rho at Georgia Tech

On May 2nd, Alpha Rho at Georgia Tech signed their charter with 35 men. Alpha Rho was approved to charter in March of 2020 but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they postponed the event for a year.  Alpha Rho re-chartering efforts began in November of 2017. 

Over 30 alumni volunteered to help with initiations, including 10 members of Beta Xi chapter at the University of Georgia.  

Upcoming Charterings:  

The following colonies will receive their charters over the coming months.  

• Omicron Colony – Pennsylvania State University  

• Pi Colony – University of Southern California  

• Alpha Gamma Colony – University of Delaware  

• Delta Rho Colony – Eastern Kentucky University  

Stay tuned for more information about expansion and upcoming coming charterings!  

Phi Tau Welcomes Eddie Rauen to Staff

29 April 2021: Oxford, OH – The Phi Kappa Tau Executive Office is pleased to welcome Edward (Eddie) Rauen, Cincinnati ’98, to staff in the role of Major Gift Officer.  

Eddie Rauen is a results-driven professional with extensive experience delivering results at nonprofit organizations – including the National MS Society and St. Jude’s Research Hospital. Rauen brings strong leadership skills, strategic thinking, and expertise in fundraising, major gifts, grantmaking, and donor-cycle execution to the position. He has extensive experience leading diverse, collaborative teams that have a positive impact on their community. Rauen is driven by the belief that people and relationships make the difference. He believes relationships fuel an organization’s mission.

Rauen holds a Bachelor of Arts of Sociology from the University of Cincinnati and a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from the Mount St. Joseph University School of Business. He lives in Cincinnati with his wife and children.

Welcome to the team, Eddie!

Hall of Fame Member Roy Clunk Enters Chapter Eternal

Phi Tau is saddened to report the loss of Hall of Fame member Judge Roy “Denny” Clunk, Mount Union ‘48. Judge Clunk entered Chapter Eternal on April 18th, 2021, following a short illness. He was 91 years old. He is survived by his wife, Josephine, his four sons, his son-in-law, 17 grandchildren, 3 step-grandchildren, and 24 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, his daughter, his step-grandson, and his sister.

Judge Clunk was born in Canton, Ohio, in 1930 to Dr. Roy H. Clunk, Mount Union ‘19, and Marjorie Clunk. He served as a judge in Alliance country for over 30 years. He began his career at the Alliance Municipal Court in 1978 and he was appointed to the Start Country Probate Court in 1985, where he served until his retirement in 2003. He continued to serve as a retired assigned Common Pleas Court Judge until 2014. Judge Clunk was recognized as a leading probate judge and in 2003 received the prestigious “Trent Award of Excellence” by the National College of Probate Judges.

Judge Clunk was an active member of his community. He served as president of the Alliance Citizens Hospital Association, Alliance Area Youth Center, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Parish Council, and many other community organizations.

Important to him was an enduring relationship with Phi Kappa Tau and the Epsilon chapter. Judge Clunk served many years on the Board of Governors for the Epsilon chapter and was inducted into the National Hall of Fame in 2018. Judge Clunk leaves behind a legacy at the Epsilon chapter. His son, Roy Clunk, Mount Union ‘75, is heavily involved in the Epsilon chapter and his grandaaughter’s husband, Matt Tesrake, is an honorary-initiated member. Judge Clunk’s father, Dr. Roy H. Clunk, joined only four years after the Epsilon chapter was founded in 1915 and helped grow the young chapter. The Clunk family was featured in the Spring 2020 edition of The Laurel as an enduring legacy family.

Read his full obituary here.

Phi Kappa Tau Nominating Committee Reopens for Nominations

With the announcement that the National Convention will convene in July 2021 – the Graduate Nominating Committee has resumed work that was started prior to the postponement of the Convention in summer 2020.  

The Nominating Committee anticipates that Phi Kappa Tau will elect a national vice president and two national councilors at the 64th National Convention, in Oxford, OH from July 23-25, 2021.

The national vice president will hold office for two years and, at the 65th National Convention (2023), will succeed to the office of national president for a two-year term, following a vote of confidence by the National Council. The national councilors will hold office for six years.

Any alumni member in good standing may be nominated for election. The nominating committee will receive and review nominations/applications until the end of April 2021.

Alumni interested in serving on the National Council can find information about the candidacy process and online application here:  https://www.phikappatau.org/national-council-application

Members wishing to submit names for consideration should be emailed to nomination@phikappatau.org for follow-up.  

Save the Date!

64th National Convention…  Yes – it is going to happen!

 Where:  Oxford, OH on the campus of Miami University
When: July 23-25, 2021
How:  This event will have a maximum in-person capacity and will also allow for remote participation

Staff and the National Council are currently finalizing details around the agenda and a number of variables that impact attendance and the type of activities that will be permitted.  The later date in July allows for the organization to have a greater opportunity for gathering members in person and conducting our business meeting.  

More information will be posted shortly – and you will have the ability to register prior to the end of this month.  

With this announcement – we also note that any council that wishes to submit a Constitutional Amendment prior to the 90-day deadline – can do so prior to April 25th.  Please contact CEO Tim Hudson with any questions at ceo@phikappatau.org

A Founders Day Message from the President

Read this special 115th Founder’s Day message from National President Bill Brasch, Louisville ‘67:

This Founder’s Day, we are encouraging a Day of Giving to drive donations to our Brotherhood Fund which supports the fraternity’s greatest needs.

Make a Gift to the Day of Giving Campaign

Happy Founder’s Day, and Go Far!