AA Chi Phi News

At this year's annual Chi Phi Congress, the Southern Order Memorial Foundation (SOMF) was named Chi Phi Alumni Association of the Year.  The SOMF was chosen from over 65 national alumni associations across the country as the most outstanding alumni group of any chapter.  With over 1,000 living alumni from the Alpha-Alpha chapter and over 150 years of proud history, the SOMF continues to grow with each young man who becomes a brother of our chapter.  Congratulations to the SOMF and all our proud alumni, actives and Board members for continuing the tradition of excellence at Alpha-Alpha!

This past June the Alpha-Alpha chapter sent six delegates to the 144^th Congress of the Chi Phi Fraternity.  House advisor John Eads and five active brothers traveled to Denver for four days to attend the event.  During the day, the delegates spent time in general congressional meetings where important fraternity issues were discussed and voted on.  The Board of Governors and the Educational Trust both gave reports regarding their activities and progress over the past year.  Rituals were also completed during Congress.  Most notably, the Grand Alpha gave the Grand Lecture (a once a year lecture given by the Grand Alpha to only properly challenged members of Congress).  A Memorial Service took place that commemorated those Chi Phi brothers that have passed away in the past year. Also, several of the delegates from the Alpha-Alpha chapter participated in committees.   John Eads was involved with the committee on risk management where he shared valuable insight with other Chi Phi brothers.  Jonathon Townsend participated in the credentials committee where he helped evaluate the financial standing of several chapters.  In addition to attending the Congressional sessions and committee meetings, Alpha-Alpha had one of our brothers give an educational presentation.  Brother Ted Kirk spoke before the entire Congress about risk management.  Brother Kirk used some of the past issues our chapter has had with hazing and risk management to ensure that other chapters realized the severity of such issues.  The national staff and brothers from other chapters commented on how helpful and informative they found Brother Kirk's presentation.  Overall, Ted represented the Alpha-Alpha chapter well and established our position as a chapter at the forefront in the effort to eliminate hazing within Chi Phi.

            After the business of the day ended, the Alpha-Alpha representatives spent time meeting other Chi Phi brothers from across the country.  Brothers from numerous chapters attended a Rockies baseball game and several other social events where they had the opportunity to interact in a less formal situation.  All of the brothers from the Alpha-Alpha chapter enjoyed meeting our fellow Chi Phi brothers and both learned and shared much insight into the way our individual chapters operate. 

            We are also proud to announce that the Southern Order Memorial Foundation was awarded the Alumni Association of the Year Award by the National Chi Phi Fraternity.  This award was given in recognition of the incredible dedication and involvement of SOMF this past year.  We are all very proud of the strength of our alumni association which is now nationally recognized for its quality.  Congratulations to all of the alumni earning this award and we thank you for all of the time and effort you dedicate to our fraternity.

            Overall, the Alpha-Alpha's trip to Congress was a great experience.  All of the delegates enjoyed the opportunity to meet our fellow brothers and we left Denver with a greater appreciation of what it means to be a Chi Phi.  Our time at Congress further enhanced our growing relationship with the national office. The actives would like to thank SOMF for supporting our trip to Denver.  Without alumni support this trip would not have been possible. 

 

 

 

 

BRETT CHAVIS

MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

COMMITTEE

 

 

David Kirk, CHI PHI, AIA, LEED AP

T. Dodson, CHI PHI

Paola Ribadeneira

Stewart Beall

 

 

 

 

Dear: Chi Phi Brothers

 

 

With the establishment the Brett Chavis Memorial Scholarship at the UNC School of Social Work (SOSW), we are able to honor a kind and selfless man, a CHI PHI brother who we all knew to be a giving friend.  We lost Brett to bipolar disorder in June of 2007 and many of us wished that we could have helped him more in his battle.

 

 

The Brett Chavis Memorial Scholarship will provide tuition assistance to graduate students in the SOSW program.  Social workers combat mental illness and society’s ills as a labor of love.  They make little money professionally and are often saddled with considerable debt when they finish graduate school. The majority of services they provide to the mentally ill are on outpatient basis.  These are among the countless reasons why the Chavis family supported the establishment of this scholarship and why we, his friends, are working to create it. 

 

 

We ask that you support this scholarship that will assist students and future patients in years to come.  You can still make a gift today. As of 10 February we’ve raised $18,278.36 in cash with another $7,106.64 pledged over the next ten years.

 

 

We need more money, and with your help, we will make this scholarship a reality. Even a small donation adds up.

 

 

Please join us in celebrating the life of Brett Chavis and make a gift to the Brett Chavis Memorial Scholarship. The investment in time and money today will help others in the future fight the ravages of mental illness, and may even save a life.

 

 

Sincerely,

David Kirk

 

 

P.S. All donations are tax deductible!

 

 

 

 

 I will celebrate Brett’s life by donating $____________ to the Brett Chavis Scholarship.

 

Please make check payable to UNCSchool of Social Work

 

 

 

 

 

For credit card gift:    American Express     MasterCard      VISA

 

 

 

 

 

Account Number: _____________________________   

Expiration Date: ________

 

 

 

 

 

Signature: ________________________________________________________

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I would like to make a pledge of $________ payable over the next _____ years, starting in September 2008.

 

 

 

 

 

 _____ I have included my first payment and would like to be billed:

 

 

Annually     Quarterly      Monthly

 

 

 

 

 

_____ I would like to fulfill my pledge with my credit card and would like to be charged:        Annually     Quarterly      Monthly

 

 

Mr. Thomas Allred

1037 Prestwick Ct

Clemmons, NC 27012

 

           Mr

 

The Chi Phi Endowment Fund

 

On Saturday, April 5, 2008, at its semi-annual meeting, the Southern Order Memorial Foundation voted to create an Endowment Fund. The purpose of the fund will be for the maintenance and preservation of the Chi Phi Fraternity house located at

300 South Columbia Street

in Chapel Hill, NC. It is hoped that this fund will reduce the necessity of conducting future large capital campaigns, as was done in 1988, resulting in a much needed major renovation of the house at a cost of $512,000. A well-managed endowment fund will prevent a major renovation from ever happening again. The Endowment Fund has been established with an initial grant of $10,000. The principal of the fund will be held in perpetuity; only the interest will be available for the maintenance of the Chi Phi House. The Endowment Fund will be administered by the financial committee of SOMF, who will be responsible for receiving, investing, accounting, and distributing of the fund.

 

Funds are being solicited from the approximately 1000 Alpha-Alpha alumni. All alumni are being asked to secure the future of the Alpha-Alpha chapter in Chapel Hill by bequeathing funds (large or small) in their last will and testament.

 

This is a plea to all Chi Phi alumni. Your bequest will be forever because only the interest will be available for purposes of maintenance. We desperately need to add funds to the initial $10,000 grant, so that sufficient funds will be available for a future renovation. Let’s make sure that the Chi Phi house is available for your son, grandson, and all qualified young men at the University of North Carolina.

 

To obtain additional information on the endowment fund, including a copy of the commitment statement and a sample copy of a codicil for your will, please go to the Chi Phi website at www.aaachiphi.com.