If you’re thinking the house doesn’t exactly look like it’s been remodeled, that’s because the exterior still hasn’t. We’re still raising funds for the 2nd phase of the remodel, which will include the 2nd floor, attic, and exterior. The 1st floor and cottage have already been completed.

CSU Chico:

• How many students are enrolled in the University/College?
  • Male: 7,000
  • Female: 8,000
• How many students of the one’s enrolled our commuters?
  • Male: 500
  • Female: 500
• How many students can be accommodated in University dormitories?
  • Male: 950
  • Female: 950
• How many students are occupying dormitories this year?
  • Male: 800
  • Female: 850
• How many people can be accommodated in private apartments or boarding houses within two miles of campus? 12,000
• How many students are occupying these apartments or boarding houses this school year? 11,000

Greek System:

• Number of national sororities on campus: 5
  • have houses: 5
  • average membership: 100
  • average capacity of houses: 13
  • average occupancy: 13
  • List: Alpha Phi, Alpha Delta Pi, Sigma Kappa, Gamma Phi Beta, Alpha Gamma Delta
• Number of national fraternities on campus: 11
  • have houses: 10
  • average membership: 30
  • average capacity of houses: 11
  • average occupancy: 10
  • List: Theta Chi, Sigma Chi, Delta Chi, Phi Kappa Tau, Alpha Gamma Rho, Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, Gamma Zeta Alpha, Sigma Nu, Sigma Pi, Lambda Pi

Theta Chi / Eta Omega Undergraduates:

• Undergraduate chapter membership as of April 10 of each year:
  • 2009: 53+
    • Senior/Graduate Students 4
    • Senior 4
    • Junior 22
    • Sophomore 23
    • Freshman: 0
  • 2008: 50
  • 2007: 70
  • 2006: 40
  • 2005: 30
• Pledges/new members in 2009: 23
• Pledges/new members anticipated in 2010? 30
• Percentage 2008′s pledges/new members initiated: 91%
• Most recent chapter GPA: 2.6 (par with CSU Chico Men’s average)

Theta Chi / Eta Omega Alumni:

• Year chapter chartered: 1982
• Number of alumni: 700+
• Number of alumni with good addresses: 350+
• Date of incorporation: April 17, 1983
• Number of years the current house has been used by the chapter: 25

Eta Omega Chapter House:

• Year Built: 1895
• Number of buildings: 2
• Number of Rooms: 15
• Number of Beds: 18
• Number of parking spaces: 13′
• Total square footage of land: 13,609 square feet
• Approximate dimensions of land: 247’ x 55’
• How many people does the occupancy permit allow to live in the building? 19 (17 in main house; 2 in back cottage)
• Proximity to the University: 4 blocks (.4 mi)
• Based on total available bed spaces, how many bed spaces have been filled over the past 5 years (total – as of the end of the first semester each year)?
  • 2009: 17
  • 2008: 17
  • 2007: 16
  • 2006: 17
  • 2005: 15
• Read more about the chapter house…

Brothers,

I am happy to report that Alumni Weekend / Fathers Weekend went off without a hitch. Everyone that came up last weekend seemed to leave town with a smile on their face. Overall Alumni Weekend brought roughly 300 Greek Alumni into town (not sure how many Theta Chi) and everyone seemed to have a blast.

Friday night the bars were packed, lines were long and drinks were flowing. Our fraternity house (surprisingly) stayed relatively quite during the night time with the occasional alumnus stopping by to take a look at the re-model.

Saturday the Active Chapter threw a Golf Tournament that included roughly 80 players in the field. Most of the field consisted of actives and their fathers, however, there were a handful of alumni participating as well. The tournament was a blast, the food was awesome, and the prizes for the raffle seemed to never stop! I encourage all alumni to try and participate in the tournament next year; you won’t be dissapointed. After the tournament the actives threw a party on 7th and Chesnut that included 5 to 6 beer pong tables, an open bar and Peter Smith running around trying to “Boat Race” everybody in the joint!

I’m sure a lot of alumni like myself, left Sunday feeling a little sub-par, but I’m sure everyone that attended will be back for more next year!

by Danny Kelchner

This past weekend, on May 1, we put on a Golf Tournament whose participants consisted of undergraduate brothers, their fathers and some alumni who were up in Chico for alumni weekend. Everyone enjoyed a day off golf at Tuscan Ridge golf course located off skyway. They were nice enough deal with us while everyone was drinking and having a great day of golf with their Dads or old friends. After everyone was done with their 18 holes we all met up for dinner and a Raffle of roughly 30 donated items (including a bicycle, a swiss army watch, gift cards, and more). Through everyone’s participation we raised $4,500 – a portion of which goes to Chico Green School. The event was not only a success but a blast for everyone who participated. We are already looking forward to doing the same thing next year and i hope you all will make the trip up and participate.

2009 was a banner year for Theta Chi, Chico State

1st floor and basement renovated, sprinkler system installed, refinance of old 11% APR mortgage, Greek Week winners, top rush numbers, unprecedented alumni involvement, revival of the “Eta Omegaphone” newsletter. The chapter and the alumni organization are running on all cylinders.

We have bigger goals for 2010 and beyond

Despite all of the hard work and good fortune we will not stop until the Theta Chi house at 630 W 5th Street is completely restored. We’re half way there, but we need your help to finish the job.

Plans for phase 2 of the house remodel

We already have architectural plans for the 2nd and final phase of the chapter house remodel. Now we just need to raise the funds for the work…and we can do it with your small $19.81 donation when you join the “1981 Club”.

Join the “1981 Club”

Pledge a recurring donation of $19.81 per month (in honor of the founding of the chapter in 1981), and become a member of the new “1981 Club” – and help move us one step closer to fully restoring the chapter house.

The 1981 Club is makes it easy for you to make a small donation automatically by credit card each month. You just sign up once…set it, and forget it

If 500 alumni sign up for the 1981 Club we could pay for the 2nd phase of the house remodel in cash after about 2 years. That’s our goal. Click to join: http://www.etaomega.org/donate/1981-club/

What the money is for?

We will complete the much needed renovation of Eta Omega’s chapter house in Chico. The downstairs (phase 1) renovation, completed in 2009 was funded by a loan from Theta Chi Headquarters. To pay for the rest of the renovation (estimated to be about $250,000) we have to raise the money up front. We cannot afford to borrow this money – we must raise it ourselves.

How will my small donation help?

This small contribution is probably less than you spend on coffee in a week – definitely less than you spend on beer. Yet if only 200 brothers join the 1981 Club, we will raise nearly $50,000 in just over 12 months. If enough brothers sign up we could pay for this renovation in cash in just 30 months. Don’t wait for “someone else” to take care of this. The chapter’s success rests in your hands. Take a few seconds to sign up online with your credit or debit card, and you’re done. That’s it.

The first members of the 1981 Club

To demonstrate our absolute commitment to this effort, every member of the Eta Omega Alumni Board joined the “1981 Club” back in January. After just 3 months we have raised over $475 by ourselves.

• J. Reither – F’95
• T. Hyatt – F’93
• P. Smith – F’03
• E. Stone – F’89
• B. Davis – F’82
• M. Geenen – F’80
• T. Ticen – F’97
• W. Shoffner – F’00
• Be the next member: http://etaomega.org/donate/1981-club/

These eight brothers are a start

But again, we can’t achieve our goal without you. We must have full participation. Click the link above and join these brothers who have already made their commitment to Theta Chi, Eta Omega.

Pledge class competition

Oh yeah…we’ll be periodically announcing which pledge classes have signed up the most members. DFYPB!

UPDATE (3/16/2010): Spring ’96 is off to a good start – two brothers from that pledge class (C. Boden and D. Campbell) signed up before we even announced this campaign

Thank you for your continued involvement and support.

Fraternally,
Your Eta Omega Alumni Volunteer Leadership

Brothers,

On the weekend of February 5th and 6th the Eta Omega Chapter hosted the Theta Chi Mid-Year Leadership Conference. After many weeks of preparation and collaboration with the national chapter, we managed to host what Grand Chapter member Joe D’Amore said “was one of the best MYLCs he has attended.” Nine chapters from the Northern California region traveled to Chico to attend the conference. During their stay Eta Omega did a great job of extending a helping hand in the accommodation of our brothers from across the state and the facilitation of the conference.

The conference itself was held on Saturday February 6th from 9 am to 6 pm. During this time various exercises were conducted to access the strengths and weaknesses that each chapter had. At the end of the conference each chapter was required to meet privately with faculty from the National Chapter. During the brief session we were able to identify our own strengths and weaknesses. As of today Eta Omega excels in recruitment, social public relations, relations with campus, and inter-fraternal competition. However there are a few things the chapter can improve on in order to achieve our full potential. The National Chapter would like to see changes made to the pledge program, something they are working on with most chapters. They also expect Eta Omega to update its scholarship program. The chapter exec and officers are now working to implement these changes to the way we do these things. Once these changes have been made the chapter will be closer to an Altar Award.

Another serious issue brought up at the meeting was the condition and preservation of the fraternity house. As many of you know the first floor was remodeled after we received a $400,000 dollar loan. If we expect to finish the rest of the house the chapter must respectfully maintain the condition of the house and excel in operations. As a chapter we have the man power and drive to meet these challenges and continue to strive for excellence. With active collaboration between the alumni and undergraduate chapter, Eta Omega has potential to one of the finest chapters Theta Chi has to offer.

Sincerely,

Dustin Pesch

Undergraduate President

Theta Chi; Eta Omega Chapter

This wasn’t just some superficial interior remodel – the 1st floor was totally gutted, the foundation was jacked up and leveled, a fire sprinkler system was installed – major work. Big thanks to our general contractor, John Bakke of Chico Home Improvement, Reese McClure who did the tiling, architect Greg Peitz, and the brothers at the Norwich Housing Corporation for helping see this project through.

Plenty of work left to do on the rest of the house, but Phase 1 is complete. Phase 2 (2nd floor, attic, exterior, etc.) is doable, but we need donations to help fund it.

Photos from the completed 1st floor remodel:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/reither/sets/72157622239677105/show

Eta Omega Alumni Update – Jan 2009

We’re Going Big 

Here it is – your annual e-newsletter, with updates from all the key players in the Eta Omega Alumni Board, the Active Exec, and “members at large.” Catch up on 2008, then tune in and chip in for a huge 2009.

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Alumni Prez Update  

The House Needs More than a Facelift

It’s been another successful year for the Chapter and the Alumni Association. We continue to build upon our successes and strive to achieve higher standards of excellence in the Community and in the eyes of the Theta Chi, National Fraternity. The chapter has come full circle since the re-organization, and we’re now working toward a total house re-model in 2009.

The ball is already rolling with the House Improvement Project. This plan has been discussed, as most of you know, for several years now, but the Chapter and the Alumni Groups are finally in positions where we have to move forward. It’s time to stop applying the band-aids to the house. In other words, pending loan approval, we are going to rebuild the fraternity house inside and out.

Brother Jeremy Reither and myself will be flying to Nashville, TN in March to present the loan application (along with architectual drawings, and a construction bid) to the National Fraternity Board of Directors. Your alumni board, alumni fundraising taskforce, chapter executive members, and representatives from National are all working very closely to make sure that this project is financially feasible and that we consider all re-model possibilities to maximize the usability, desirability, safety, and rent revenue potential for the house.

Both National and the Alumni BOD are pushing for a complete renovation that includes a centralized kitchen and dining area, living rooms on each floor, and many two-bedroom dorm-style suites with community bathrooms. Also on the table is a library/study room in the basement, laundry room, new siding/windows/drywall/electrical – I could go on. Although I can’t speak for National, I believe they recognize, as we do, that the house is in dire need of a re-model, and the safety and security of our undergrad brothers is at stake.

Although the loan application won’t be submitted until March, and the status won’t be known until possibly April, we are hopeful that we will get this much needed assistance from National. If all goes well, construction could begin as soon as May, 2009!

Thanks to Those Who Kicked Down in 2008

Thanks to everyone for their financial support and donations over the years. Top donation award goes to Brother Brian Flournoy for donating over 10k worth of roofing material and even more in man-hours in 2008. Snaps to you all for your contributions!
 
I want to thank everyone for their continued support and dedication to the fraternity. Brother Reither has continued to be a very active partner on the Board of Directors. We now have several committee’s that are active and filled with distinguished brothers from Mark Geenen, Ed Stone, Tyler Tycen, Chris Boden, and Willie Shoffner. Big thanks to previous board members as well – John Crenshaw, Torrey Sullivan, Matt Warmerdam, James Suver, Chris Livermore.

Get In the Mix

If you feel like you’d like to see your name among these, contact us us at alum.board@etaomega.org, and find out how you can help. It is easy to move on with our lives and forget about all the “great and meaningful times” we had during our tenure at CSU Chico. But it’s impossible to forget about “being Eta Omega” and all the connections and life skills you learned during your time as an active brother. Keep the legacy alive for future generations…after all, your son might be Eta Omega some day.
 
Brother Tom Hyatt
Fall ’93, Alpha Gamma
Alumni Board / President

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Active Prez Update

Strong and Getting Stronger

Now that I have been president for the last semester I’m starting to understand how to keep the chapter running smoothly like a ship. The most remarkable thing to happen to this chapter is the improvement in chapter communication. The exec board now uses a mass text message method of informing brothers about events and dates to remember. And this exec board makes themselves accessible to brothers at all times. The result has been better attendance at chapter meetings and an overall excitement to be a part of this great brotherhood that the founders made possible. This new and improved chapter has been like a snowball and things are getting bigger and better as we go along.

I’m hoping that we could reach the pinnacle by getting this loan for a new house, but chapter moral is high, and people respect the house and clean the place up. More brothers are getting involved with the chapter and extending that helping hand. 

Highlights from 2008

• Our chapter was selected of 10 eligible Theta Chi chapters to be on the undergraduate advisory committee which keeps close contact with national for ways to improve Theta Chi nationally.
• 10 new brothers were initiated which was the most pledges for all of the chapters in Chico.
• We won the championship for football and placed second in soccer.

• We won Greek Week for the first time in our chapter’s history.

• Thanks to the alumni donations to St Judes Research Hospital our school raised about $200,000 which made us the #1 school to fundraise money for the hospital, two years running.

Alumni Weekend Reminder

Alumni weekend is May 2nd at every alum’s favorite place in Chico: RILEYS! This alumni weekend is for all Chico Alumni so spread the word and make sure to get details from the Facebook event page.

Adam Shea
Undergrad / Chapter President

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Chapter Relations Update

How We See It 

The active chapter has experienced great success in the last year – with Adam Shea (chapter president) and a strong active exec leading the active chapter and working closely with key alumni. 2008 has been one of the most productive years in terms of chapter/alumni relations. The communication between the Active Chapter and the Alumni BOD is the best it has ever been, and the active chapter has taken a more responsible role in running the fraternity.
 
The alumni board and the active exec have regular conference calls, document the results of those calls, and follow up on action items to get things done. Simple changes, like creating “group e-mails” for the alumni  board and for the active exec board have simplified communications, and increased participation.
 
The actives have been as organized and on top of their responsibilities as any exec in recent memory. They’re managing the fraternity in an effective and responsible way, building morale, learning from alumni input, and participating in national conferences. There are a lot of young promising leaders in the chapter. The future looks bright for Eta Omega.
 
Peter Smith
Alumni Board / Chapter Relations

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Why Your Contribution Matters

We are in the process of applying for a $600K lower interest loan from IHQ which will retire our $200K existing higher interest mortgage and allow for a $400K renovation of the house. But with your help we can do more than just renovate, we can bring the standard of living at 630 W. 5th Street to a level that truly sets Theta Chi apart.

In our first year of the House Renovation Capital Campaign, we have a goal of 100 alumni stepping up and pledging $20,000. I am certain we can achieve and exceed this goal. But only if you participate by visiting etaomega.org/donate

Every Month each of us receive phone, mail, and email requests for financial assistance from organizations from your child’s school to the presidential campaign. The decision to provide financial support often depends on what impact that organization has had on the life of your family. Typically a college fraternity may not rank high on one’s list of charitable priorities, but if you take a minute to reflect on your Theta Chi experience, you may be surprised by how big a role the fraternity has had in your life.

Many of us met our future wives directly or indirectly through the fraternity. Some of our closest lifelong friends are the brothers we met in our late teens and early twenties at Theta Chi. And even as Chico graduates, our social circles often include Fraternity Brothers and their families. While at Chico, those few years in the fraternity continue to have a lasting impact on our lives today.
 
The alumni and undergraduates are asking for your support in our campaign goalThe active chapter has risen to their challenge by winning Greek week, excelling in sports, setting the academic bar for fraternities, by continuing to be the most desired fraternity with the top rush numbers (20 quality new men this past year), growing the total chapter size back to 50. Your individual campaign contribution does make a major impact on the future of Eta Omega Chapter as an institution of learning and an environment where young men can realize what it means to be a Theta Chi, Eta Omega.

There are no professional fundraising middlemen, just fellow alumni asking for your support. Donate by credit card or check now.

Campaign details are also available the website.

 
Ed Stone
Alumni Fundraising Chair

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Bro News & Secretary Updates

2008 was a crazy year for our bro’s! Many of us are settling down, starting families and businesses, and nearly 3 decades of Eta Omega alumni are taking the world by storm! Here are a few choice highlights from 2008:

• Brad Burrell (F’98) is getting married to Kristin Hylton of Walnut Creek on June 13th at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in downtown Sacramento.
• Rob Wurgler (F’86) works for ENTRIX offers a wide array of environmental management services such as: natural resource assessment, environmental damage assessment, regulatory due diligence (CEQA/NEPA), ecosystem restoration, and oil and chemical spill response. ENTRIX specializes in Water and Energy-related services, and is known in the industry for those two core service areas. For more information visit www.entrix.com or call Rob at (916) 386-3825.
• Hudson Tree (S’96) is still single
• Jeremy Reither (F’95) runs R3R, an internet marketing consulting agency, based in San Francisco. He is offering ‘friends and family’ rates to brothers who contact him and mention this newsletter before Feb 28, 2009. www.r3r.com
• Dan Campbell (S’96) is still not engaged.
• Matt Warmerdam (S’88) started a new career; personally mating and spawning giant corn-backed trout out of his house. His business is growing by leaps and bounds.
• Scott Harris (F’96) & wife Amanda had a baby girl named Emily…yes, he actually reproduced!
• Chris Perry (S’96) & wife Erica are expecting their second little one in March.
• Doug Osumi (S’88) interviewed and declined the Offensive Coordinator position for the San Francisco 49ers. He’s waiting for a head coaching position.
• Brian Flournoy (F’98) got engaged in Jan ’09 to Lisa Bothwell, looking to wed in early 2010. Brian also opened his own Business in 2004: Roofing Supply Group in Rocklin, CA. Roofing Supply Group is one of the leaders in the building products industry. www.rsgroof.com
• Chris Poncabare (F’97) and Chad Hinds (F’94) are both in the internet porn advertising business
• Mike Dunbar (S’93) is getting over his [edit], sprained his ankle while hiking Briones Park and is interviewing for a job in the [edit] industry.
• Chris Boden (S’96) will donate $10 to one of 3 charities whenever a bro calls or refers someone for a insurance quote: visit www.bodeninsurance.com
• Terry Sullivan (F’91) is going on tour with Sammy Hagar’s new band, Cabo Wabo Red.
• Ninous Hinaro (F’96) has tossed his name into the ring for the new Governor of Illinois.
• Tom Christy (S’98) and his wife Megan celebrated the first birthday of their son Cole on the 27th of January.
• Ryan Test (F’94) has started a snow plowing business in Boston, MA. He uses his hair to melt the snow.
• Ryan Esposto (F’95) has been sitting in front of his computer screen for the past 4 years straight…but he did move out of Chico, and into SF!
• Bill Hu (F’92) is still the most ripped Asian dude in the world!
• Eric ”EZ” Wright (S’98) got married May 08′ to Jen Sisselman of Newbury Park, CA. Currently living in Westminster, Colorado as of 2006, 20 min. north of Denver. He works as a field chemist for an environmental company (www.veoliaes.com)
• Bobby Andrade (S’94), married, two kids, lives in Kihei, HI. He’s a chef at a major hotel chain. He’s still under FBI investigation of the 1998 eyebrow shaving of Brett Gilbert.
• Josh Wolcott (F’95) & wife Elise had a baby girl names Ella. He finished a half marathon, but don’t worry he is still the major stake holder in Anheuser-Busch stock.

Can’t wait to see what great things Eta Omega does in 2009!!!
 
Chris Boden
Alumni Board / Secretary

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Quick Links

• EtaOmega.org (the official Alumni website)
• Donate Online
• Join the Alumni OX List (170+ members strong)
• Join the Eta Omega Facebook Group (85+ members strong)
• Contact Us

FYI: The loan application deadline is at the end of February, so we’re busy getting all our ducks in a row.

As Built Floor Plan – 630 W. 5th Street

The alumni task force that we formed initially focused on fundraising, but has shifted to evaluating our options regarding how to update/upgrade or even totally re-build the house. One of our best options might be to apply for a housing loan and a life safety loan from National. But to do that we’ve got to get our ducks in a row and submit an application this Spring. Basic items we’re trying to put together for the application include:

• New blueprints / plans (looking for an architect to help with this)
• Historical significance study (make sure we’re not restricted in terms of the types of changes we can make to the house)
• Financial records (we have good record keeping, and are in good shape here)
• Projected rent revenue, assuming 75%-80% capacity, sustained chapter size of 60 or so (we have to be able to cover the mortgage)
• Capital campaign plans / alumni donations (we need regular annual donations from alumni, and a regular campaign to collect them)

We can always use an extra hand when it comes to preparing this documentation for the loan – especially from guys who have architectural or construction experience. Contact us if you can help.

Update: we got the loans, refinanced the mortgage, remodeled the 1st floor, and made huge progress. We’re working on renovating the rest of the house – it’s just a matter of time (and savings).

Oh yeah – about that $3.7 Million chapter house. It’s at Auburn (not Chico):

See more photos of this house on the Auburn Theta Chi website (authetachi.org)

According to Brother Brian Flournoy (of RSG Roofing Supply – who donated all the supplies for the project), it’s coming along well. There was a good bit of rotted “soffit and molding” that needed to be replaced…and they’re taking care of that as we speak. According to Flournoy, “…as for the top of the roof and the project, looks good and almost done. It will look great once all of the rotted soffit is replaced.”

A few pics for you – courtesy of Flournoy. Click to see bigger images: