PhiXiZeta USI Fall Fest Booth Fund

Brothers,

We all remember our days as an active brother.  We all remember those memories that will stick with us forever.  We remember the brotherhood, the Ritual, the philanthropies, the parties, the fun, the good/bad times, and everything inbetween.  Most importantly, I am sure we all remember the struggle that can go along with being an active.   Whether the chapter is large or small, assistance is always something that is needed. 

I've been involved with Lambda Chi Alpha-Phi Xi Zeta since the spring of 2009.  I've been an alumni for about two and a half years now.  I have seen the good, bad, and the ugly of this chapter.  The brothers of this chapter have been scratching and clawing to rebuild themselves after we found ourselves at the bottom of the barrel in the spring of 2009.  We had some cancerous members who were not living the ritual.   We had some problems with some older members who refused to see the bigger picture of what Lambda Chi Alpha is supposed to be for collegeiate men.  Some were not fit to be members, and others received poor guidance from certain individuals.  Phi Xi Zeta was all but shut down.  Our International Headquarters came down, placed us on suspension, and for lack of better words told us to "get our shit together or your charter is gone". 

The small group of members who remained after the headquarters visit took heed of the warning and went to work.  Cancerous members were eliminated, and the chapter's thought process was changed.  From that point forward, Phi Xi Zeta has been different.  It's a great kind of different, too.  Members began to live the core values and live the ritual.  Members began to hold others accountable for their obligations and oaths.  The chapter went from around 9 members in the fall of 2009 to winning the Phoenix Award at Lambda Chi Alpha's Stead Leadership Seminar in 2013 (given to chapters who have risen up from the ashes and shown sustained growth and improvement over 3 year periods).  The chapter is close to 50 men as of today. 

I am damn proud of what this chapter has accomplished while I was an undergraduate and now as an alumni.  We have had some brothers who were absolute rock stars come through and help keep this chapter afloat. 

All of this being said...the chapter accomplished ALL of this with virtually NO alumni support.  I am not going to speculate as to why members weren't involved, nor do I want to start some big argument about anything.  I just know that the active chapter did not have the alumni support that it needed.  It's because of this that alumni have a bad image within our chapter.  It's not because we alumni are bad people, but it is due to the fact that we are not there to be supportive and continue building the bridge.

I've attended alumni workshops put on by our international headquarters and it kills me to sit there and listen to the amazing stories about how supportive alumni are across the country to other chapters.  Then, when it's my turn to talk, I get to share the stories about how about how we have no support from our alumni and that we had only 4 alumni brothers show up to celebrate the chapters 30th anniversary celebration (and those were 4 Evansville alumni).

The alumni association needs to be re-established and add some life to the active chapter.  A few alumni brothers and myself want to get this going and raise some money so that the actives can have some help getting a new  Fall Fest booth.  We're asking for any donation that you can make, big or small.

Any donation of $30 or more will get you up to date with any previous payments you may have owed as an alumni.  We will then add you to a new facebook group where you can network/communicate with other alumni.   Currently, Daniel Dixon is the alumni president.  Mark Furman, myself, is the current alumni treasurer and House Corp President. 

The chapter is also currently without a High Pi (Alumni Advisor).   I was nominated and applied for the position, but was turned down by IHQ for the time being due to me not being 5 years out of college.  Nationals wants the chapter to re-establish an alumni board before approving someone so young.

Please step up and do your part.  In ZAX brothers,

Phi Xi 437 Mark Furman