Lending the Alpha a helping hand

As a young Alpha, Omega Delta will not have a substantial number of its own alumni for 15 to 20 years.  So, the Corporation’s Bylaws enable the Board of Directors to invite Chi Psi alumni of other Alphas to join the Corporation on a year-by-year basis, subject to the requirement that the invited alumnus pays the minimum dues set for that fiscal year (the Corporation uses a July 1 to June 30 year).  For FY 2009 now underway, that minimum amount is $10.00.  If you would like to discuss becoming an invited member of the Corporation, please contact Corporation President Cliff Massa III.

There are many ways for a Corporation member of any age and any Alpha to assist Omega Delta.  Depending on your available time and resources, please consider one or more of these possibilities:

• Just being around.  The best way to support our Alpha is just to introduce yourself and spend some time with the actives, demonstrating that Chi Psi truly is a lifetime experience if a man wants to make it so.  All Corporation members will be notified of events like the Initiation banquet held each semester, a recruitment event with potential pledges early in each semester and one or two informal events where you can just “hang out” informally at the Lodge with the actives.  Once you get to know the actives, there may be business or social occasions where you can get together with one or more of them on your own.  Helping them to see themselves as Chi Psis – like all of us – and not just as Omega Deltas is something all alumni can do.

• Help with something on the “wish list” for the Alpha.  Every Alpha has a “wish list” of items they need – or at least they want (the difference between a weed-whacker for the lawn vs. a plasma TV for the Lodge, for example!) – whether it is an established Alpha with 60 actives and a flush checking account or a new Alpha paying its bills when 20 actives pay their dues.  So, please take a look at the “wish list” from time to time and see if there is an item on it that matches something that you were about to throw out or that you could get them a nice discount on through your office or workplace.  Lots of used furniture and other items have already found their way to the Lodge from helpful Chi Psi alumni in the area. 

• Additional contributions.      Particularly while the Alpha is young, the Corporation can be of help on specific needs, such as renting a facility in which Chi Psi programs can be held (for example, the Program for Self Development is best done as a evening-through-midday-event at an offsite location) or adding some nice touches and quality to an Initiation Banquet.  Alumni contributions to the Corporation above the minimum dues can help the Board of Directors work with the Alpha to meet such needs. Yes, you could make cash contributions directly to the Alpha, but the Directors strongly recommend making contributions to the Corporation if your purpose is to help fund such specific activities.  However, if you are willing to support the Alpha’s budget directly for operating expenses, please see the “Revenue Projects” bullet just below. 

• Revenue projects.     As a young Alpha working to increase the number of actives, the Alpha’s budget is tight.  Also, like many fellow GMU students, many actives work part-time.  This is where “revenue projects” from area alumni can be helpful to individual actives who must work to pay dues and to the Alpha as a whole for revenue above the actives’ dues payments.   Think about where you could use some willing labor.  Got fall leaf raking or spring lawn cleanup or similar work that needs to be done?  Need to clean out the attic or rearrange the garage or take junk from the basement to the street?  Why not pay (perhaps slightly overpay) the Alpha for help with these chores?  They are students, and their weekends fill up, too, so if you see a need over the horizon, contact them with as much notice as you can. 

• Grad school and the job search.  For many of us, the first job after college or the graduate school decision is “ancient” history.  For actives at the Alpha and for the first dozen or so true Omega Delta alumni, these are current developments or are just now visible on the horizon.  If your firm/company/employer is looking for new young employees from time to time, check on the “I’m looking for . . .” list  every few weeks to see if there is an active or young alumnus who might be interested.   Likewise, keep an eye on that link for those interested in graduate school and looking for any advice you could offer. 

The Alpha’s “Wish List”

All Alphas have a “wish list” of items they would like to acquire, whether the Alpha is large or small, new or founded decades ago.  Omega Delta is no exception, though where some Alphas may be hoping for a large screen TV or a new pool table, Omega Delta’s list is much more practical at this point. 

As both a young Alpha and a small Alpha, Omega Delta doesn’t have the budget resources to meet more than its mandatory expenses and important discretionary expenses such as for recruiting.  So, the Alpha is always looking for used items that an alumnus (or parent) no longer wants or needs but which still can be of use at the Lodge or to the Alpha generally.  Over the last three years, many pieces of furniture, lawnmowers, the outdoor shed for equipment and other items have been acquired this way or by direct cash contributions used to make the purchase (which was the case for the shed).

          If you have any of items, please contact Harry (Hal) Walker.

In addition, the Alpha would welcome cash contributions towards the purchase of a few more ritual items.  A total of $150.00 is needed, and no amounts have been contributed to date.  If you are willing to contribute for this specific need, please contact Jake Szewczyk.

Do you know an incoming GMU student?

The attraction to George Mason University is growing nationally, thanks in part to the success of the Patriots in the 2006 NCAA basketball tournament.  But the student body is still primarily comprised of students from Virginia and nearby Mid-Atlantic States.  There is also a heavy concentration of transfers from junior colleges in the region.

So, if you know a young man who will be coming to GMU soon whom you believe is a “raw Chi Psi” who should be introduced to the Alpha, please take a minute to get in touch with the Alpha’s Recruitment Chairman, Reed Hopwood, and tell him all you can.

Also, if you know a current freshman or sophomore who could be interested in Chi Psi, please talk with him and, if he is interested, please encourage him to contact Reed. directly. 

“I’m looking for . . .”

Over the coming months, this page will be developed for use by (1) Omega Delta seniors who want to post information about the jobs or graduate school opportunities that each is seeking and (2) Omega Delta alumni who are looking for new job opportunities and grad school information/advice.  We hope you will check here frequently.

If this feature shows promise, we would like to establish a similar feature allowing area alumni to post job opportunities that might be of interest to Omega Delta actives and recent alumni.