Fall 2020 Update #2 from Gamma Alumni Assc

Alumni – Hope everyone is getting ready for the Holidays with their families.  Please find the general update from Gamma Chapter:

Chapter Update – Fall ’20

As previously communicated, this Semester we had 42 expected live-ins that participated in room draw in April.  After COVID forced classes online we ended up with 27 live-ins in the Chapter House.  To date we have not had any COVID infections in the Chapter.  We also conducted 2 weeks of virtual rush and were able to get 12 pledges.  We continued to virtual pledge semester and a few weeks back we were able to initiate 10 of the original 12 pledges.  In addition, the Career Chair worked with Ryan Panos to conduct 2 virtual alumni/active career discussions.  One discussion was on getting an MBA and another was working on Wall St.  We appreciate the alumni that dedicated their time to them.

Chapter Update – Spring ’21

Next Semester we are expecting to increase the number of live-ins to 31.  Chapter conducted Spring ’21 officer elections before the Thanksgiving Holiday.  Our newly elected Archon for the next two semesters will be Luke Mott.  Luke most recently served as the Chaplain and Career Chair.

Gammazette

Our Fall edition of the Gammazette will be available online as of this week.  For those we have email contact info, you will get an email link.  Paper edition should be arriving by the week of Christmas.  Articles include a tribute to long serving Board Member Mark Metcho who joined the Chapter Eternal last Spring, Pledge/Graduating Senior Bio’s, Journey of Hope update on Aaron Barnabas and many more articles.

Chapter Advisor

The Board is very excited to introduce Robert Chan as our new Gamma Chapter Advisor.  Robert was a founding father (Initiate #1) of Eta Theta – University of San Francisco.  Robert has served Pi Kappa Phi in many roles since graduating including Chapter Advisor (Eta Omicron), Summer Advisor (Eta Epsilon), Area Consul (Bay Area) and Assistant Chartering Officer (Kappa Mu).  He is married to Gina with two sons, Riley (Alpha Omega – class of ’22) and Spencer (Villanova Prep Boarding School – class of ’22) and Toby (dog).  He currently works as VP of Western Operations (Engage Sporting).  His hobbies include Olympic Club, Cigars, Hunt, Golf, Skeet/trap and action pistol (IDPA).

CIF Fundraising Matching Donation Opportunity

As previously communicated, we currently have a Gamma Chapter Investment Fund (CIF) with Nationals we use to fund our Undergrad Scholarship Program.  The Gamma Scholars Program awards 3 scholarships of $820/ea (increased from $700 last year) that are named after Stephen Deftos, Jeff Chang and Chris Schad.  Our long-term goal is to increase the scholarship amounts to $1,000/ea.  That will require us to increase our CIF balance by almost $14K.  This year we have our 2 Gamma alumni that have continued their dollar for dollar match from 2019.  Any donation to our tax deductible Gamma Chapter Investment Fund will be matched up to $3K/ea.  That means $3,000 worth will equal $9,000.  Here is the way to make donations:

By Check:  Make out a check to Pi Kappa Phi Foundation.  Add For Gamma CIF in subject line.  Mail to 2015 Ayrsley Town Blvd, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28273

By Credit Card / Debit Transfer:  Call Becky Smith at 980-318-5384 or donate on-line at https://donate.pikapp.org/gammacif.  Please make sure you select Gamma under “Chapter” drop down menu so it’s credited to our CIF.

Please make your donations before December 31 to take advantage of the matching gift program.

I appreciate all of you that have already donated this year.  I hope the rest of you will consider making a donation.  Please email us if you’ve made or will be making a donation.

Juan Serrano, President
Pi Kappa Phi Alumni Association