Chapter Update

Written by Justin Lafreniere

With two seniors graduating in May of this year and one in December, Eta Zeta has come to some geographic point; it is not a crossroads, for the chapter has direction, from the juniors, the sophomores, and dedicated yet young freshmen. But with the House made up by mostly younger classmen, the effect is noticeable. In two years, Eta Zeta plans to add five Pi Alphas (brothers who have completed a summer Push Event), more than doubling the previous five years. And with the commitment to both Push and Brotherhood, the chapter has established itself as a nationally known and respected chapter. Following the closure of UNCC for hazing, Queens’ chapter has remained a shinning bright spot in the Carolina chapters that are so important to Pi Kappa Phi. The chapter will be sending a team to participate in a “Kids on the Block” puppet show for empathy training to finish up a Push Week that will have included events with the Carolina Crash Rugby Team and the annual 24-Hour Run. The chapter also recently held its second annual Glow Party and a Jock Jams mixer under direction of social chair, Michael Fleming. Elections were held on December 3rd to usher in a new era of leadership.

Pi Kappa Phi- Eta Zeta

December 19th, 2009

Volume 1, Issue 2

Brothers hanging out

behind the house during

an all-Greek event

Pi Kapp Photo shoot in

Dana fountain

Brotherhood Spotlight Adam Phillips Interview by Ian Kowalski

Brothers and friends

hanging out

1.) Can you tell us a bit about your

personal life?

In the spring of 2008, I began interning as the marketing intern/managing editor for Push America here in Charlotte, where I was responsible for news content, including newsletters and Web site maintenance. Joey Smith (HZ 121) was working as a director of logistics at Push America at the time and knew that I still needed to fulfill some internship credits in order to graduate in May, and he helped me procure the internship. Once graduation time rolled around, I still had one class to take of the summer in order to finish and was offered the full-time summer internship as one of the two PR coordinators for Gear Up Florida, Build America and Journey of Hope. After a pretty amazing summer working with the teams and once I finally finished at Queens, I had the opportunity to stay on staff as an intern until a full-time position opened up. In January of 2009, my direct supervisor left to pursue another opportunity and I filled the role of director of marketing and public relations. Not married (I’m only 23! Quit pressuring me!).

2.) What was your experience like

as an undergraduate in Pi Kappa

Phi? (How big was the house

(member-wise), did you have to

know the first 21 members as well

as associates do now, what was it

like working on the growth of the

chapter, etc.?)

Page 2 of 6

I joined Pi Kappa Phi during my first semester at Queens. I was part of the largest associate class of the chapter’s history with 10 or 11 other young men. That year alone, Eta Zeta saw pretty incredible growth with my class in the fall and an even larger class in the spring. Between spring’s initiation and the senior class’ graduation in May, Eta Zeta grew to over 50 men, which is the largest it has ever been (to the best of my knowledge, it hasn’t gotten that big since I graduated, but I could be wrong). At the Awards Convocation at the end of the school year, Eta Zeta won our first Greek House of the Year award. We had great leadership in the executive council when I entered the house and the one elected following my initiation. Our associate membership education doesn’t seem to be much different from what it is now, with the exception that it’s only gotten better. It’s pretty impressive to hear semester after semester that the associates really know their stuff. My undergraduate experience was very impactful during my four years at Queens, and it definitely continues to be. Had it not been for Pi Kappa Phi, Eta Zeta specifically, it is very likely that I would’ve transferred out of Queens; freshman year was not easy on me. Those men that became my brothers are why I stayed. Had I left, I would’ve lost out on the three incredible years to follow. My very best friends in the world I met through Pi Kappa Phi. I don’t know

Eta Zeta brothers and guest

at Nationals

that it’s possible to leave Queens with 30 or 40 best friends, but the few that you keep post-graduation will be there for life. And although the rest of your brothers may not be your very best friends and most trusted allies, it’s good to know that if you ever needed them, those 30 or 40 brothers would be right by your side at the drop of a hat. I recently saw a group of older brothers a few weeks ago while one was in town, and it was like no one had ever left; like we could still walk across campus and spend an evening in revelry and brotherhood. Life gets heavy sometimes, but even at its lowest points, life’s a little better because of Eta Zeta and the men that continue to add to its tradition.

3.) How has Pi Kappa Phi helped

you in your life since graduation?

Well, seeing as how I work for Push America, Pi Kappa Phi has helped in my life a lot! While it’s not a requirement to be a Pi Kappa Phi to work at Push America, my four years of active membership built a passion for Push America that I might not have pursued otherwise. My time spent as Secretary and Vice Archon helped in building leadership skills as well as organizational skills. As we all know, working in the chapter builds your people skills. Everyone butts heads at times, and learning to handle/control/reign that in is a real skill that is used every day in our office. We all come from intensely different backgrounds, and not rolling with those punches can cause unneeded stress. Although it can sound cheesy at times, Pi Kappa Phi’s leadership-focused mission really can

2009 Pi Kapp College

Awards

Page 2 of 6

come to fruition if you let it..

4.) Do you have any advice for

current and future brothers?

The best advice I can give to current and future brothers is to enjoy your time to the fullest of your ability. I know it’s easy to get caught up in outside forces when you’re trying to make the chapter run efficiently, whether that be attempting to win Greek House of the Year or competing against other fraternities that may pop up on campus. There’s nothing in your fraternal experience that will ever outweigh the people that you spend however many years with. Once you’re out of school, you won’t remember where you went for mystery destination or who planned the best Rush week (although mine was pretty awesome), you’ll remember the brotherhood events, the weekend road trips, the random late nights you’ll spend at Skyland’s drinking terrible coffee with your brothers. Those are the invaluable times. Live for those times. Don’t get caught up in the drama that tends to surround our very small campus: leave that to the sororities. Don’t be afraid to make hard decisions about the chapter. Whatever the decision, everything will be okay. Pass the gavel after meetings; tell people exactly what you appreciate about them. Try, try, try (and it’s a challenge that I fell prey to) to not stop caring just because you’re almost out of school. One of my biggest regrets of my collegiate career is missing out on a lot my senior year because I wasn’t trying hard enough to enjoy it.

Stuart Hair, Jay McBride, Derick Painter

and Sean Stinson

Hello brothers; I hope this newsletter finds you all well. This semester has been a whirlwind of activity for the Eta Zeta chapter of Pi Kappa Phi. We kicked things off in style with this year’s Rush in September. Brother Eric Galdo, Eta Zeta’s Vice Archon and participant in this year’s Journey of Hope, planned and put together a wonderful wheelchair basketball game and presentation for Push night during Rush. 18 freshmen going through Rush enjoyed a night of thought, understanding, and empathy. Brothers Galdo, Lafrenerie, and Bean talked of their experiences on the Journey of Hope and Gear up Florida. Their stories reminded everyone in attendance what Push America and Pi Kappa Phi are all about.

Brothers participated in

after school tutoring for

Elementary school kids

Brothers participating in

Quad rugby game with

Carolina Crash during

Push week

In October brothers and associates took time out of their busy weekend to help facilitate an event for people with disabilities at Shining Hope Farms. Located in Huntersville, NC; Shining Hope Farms provides therapeutic horseback riding for people with disabilities. Brothers and associates helped park cars, collect money, and package BBQ dinners for the event. After all the hard work some of the brothers and associates kicked back and learned how to square dance (which is much harder than it looks). Shining Hope Farms hopes to do future events with the brothers of Eta Zeta because of their commitment to Push America. Last, but most definitely not least, our biggest event of the semester is just around the corner. During the week of November 30th to December 5th Eta Zeta will be holding its annual Push week. During the week the brothers will be collecting donations in Trexler during meal times, participating in a 24-hour run, attending a Quad Rugby game put on by Carolina Crash, and listening to the stories and life lessons of national Push events as told by

Page 2 of 6

brothers Galdo, Lafrenerie, and Bean. The 24-hour run will take place from Friday December 4th to Saturday December 5th at Queens University of Charlotte. Queens faculty and staff will be pledging a certain amount of money for every lap that is done by a brother. All alumni are greatly encouraged to stop by to chat, donate, or do some laps. The Quad Rugby game is still being finalized and an email will be sent out to all alumni reminding them of the time and place for the Quad Rugby game. Carolina Crash is a local Quad Rugby team that works to bring people with disabilities together to have fun and bring understanding to the general population. Eta Zeta has decided to give its grant from Push America of 900 dollars to Carolina Crash for all the work they do to raise money and encourage empathy for people with disabilities. Donations will be collected and anyone is free to come and enjoy an exciting night of Quad Rugby. On one final note, I thought I should give a shout out to brothers Wes Clarkson and Andrew Chinn for being accepted to the Journey of Hope. Congratulations guys!

Push America By Travis Mullis

Eta Zeta is proud of Joey

Haynes, Justin Lafreniere,

Eric Galdo, and Jarred

Bean for participating in

national Push events!

Page 2 of 6

When most college students think of a summer vacation, they think of sunny beaches, time to spend with family or maybe a summer job to earn a little extra cash for the upcoming semester. Three Queens students, however, pictured something a little different.

They certainly had sun, there was definitely a family of sorts and you could even consider what they did a job, though they received no monetary reward. Queens juniors Joey Haynes, Eric Galdo and Justin Lafreniere spent their summer biking from coast to coast to raise funds and awareness for people with disabilities. They took part in the Journey of Hope, an annual event sponsored by Push America, the philanthropy of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. Push America an organization that seeks to show Americans that people with disabilities are in fact people, no different from the rest of us.

The Journey of Hope is split in to three routes: North, South and Trans America. Two start in San Francisco while one begins in Seattle. All end on the same day on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington D.C. Lafreniere was a crew member on the South route, driving the vans filled with gear and providing support for the cyclists, while Haynes and Galdo were cyclists on the South and Trans America routes, respectively. The program raises more than $500,000 annually and has, to date, sent more than 900 undergraduate students cycling across the country.

Haynes is currently studying abroad in Hong Kong through Queens’ John Belk International Program and could not be reached for comment, but Lafreniere and Galdo were more than happy to speak about their expectations and experiences from the trip.

“I didn’t know what to expect from it,” said Lafreniere. “Expectations were hazy at best. I got to see the desert, the mountains, all of the southern parts of the country. I got to drive a van across the country with the guys that became some of my best friends…you can’t really describe it.”

Galdo’s expectations were a little clearer, but even he found surprises occasionally. “I expected going into the Journey of Hope that it would be hard, and the friendship visits would be fun, but I never expected that through the hardest days riding up mountains that I would be able to rely on 26 other men who I barely knew to get me through my toughest times. I also never expected that at the friendship visits I would meet some of the most extraordinary people. Individuals that have struggled to make their lives the best they can with what they are given, and that have left a deep impression on my heart that I will never forget.”

Jarred Bean and Eric

Galdo speak with

Durward Owen about

National Push events

Students Find 'Family' on Cross-country Bike Journey By Dallen McKinnis

Pi Kappa Phi Eta Zeta

Friendship visits were opportunities for the Journey of Hope participants to interact with people with disabilities. After completing their cycling for the day,, cyclists and crew members would visit a rehabilitation center, school for the developmentally delayed, or other organization to play games, dance, sing songs, and just spend time and get to know people with disabilities. “I learned a lot about people in general, how they work, what they desire,” said Lafreniere. “I learned people are universally the same good creatures with the same abilities who just may struggle or have to find other ways to use their abilities.”

Galdo added, “My entire perspective on people with disabilities has changed. I have a whole new love for helping people who need it, and for giving back to the community. And I have seen what the group of 30 men from my team can accomplish when they work together.”

Yet Lafreniere said if he was given the chance to do the Journey of Hope again, he would turn it down. “I don’t want memories of another team to encroach on the memories with this team. I had my fun…I don’t think it could be better, and I’m afraid to try and make it so.”

Galdo, however, said he would certainly do it again. “In a heartbeat. This was hands down the best, most memorable experience of my life.”

Page 6 of 6

*Any Alumnus interested in attending Roseball should contact Walter Broadhurst via e-mail. Walter.Broadhurst@gmail.com

*Roseball will be April 23rd 2010

Brothers Joey Haynes and Eric Galdo at the

Capitol in Washington D.C. after their summer of

Journey of Hope

Brothers participating in special rollers

Archon- Matthew Mozzo

Vice Archon- Josh Lipack Treasurer- James Keesler

Secretary- Ruairi O’Kane Warden- Jerrit Fuller

Historian- Walter Broadhurst Chaplin- AJ Diaz

2010 Executive Council

1. Walter Broadhurst - Charlotte, NC - Computer Information Systems 2. Jc Gonzalez - Guayaquil, Ecuador - Psychology 3. James Keesler - Charlotte, NC - Psychology 4. Andrew Fuentes - San Antonio, Texas - International Studies 5. Benjamin Hussenet - France - Business 6. Ruairi O'kane - Belfast, Ireland - Business

New Brothers: Fall Class of 2009 By Josh Lipack

7. Andrew Frerichs - Raleigh, NC - Business 8. Walid Asmar - Bronx, NY - Business 9. Daniel Jackson - Durham, NC - Business 10. Tim Sheahan - Savannah, Georgia - Business 11. Malcolm Opoku - Accra, Ghana - Nursing 12. Brandon Harris - Seal Beach, California - Communication and Literature

13. Ian Kowalski - Caracas, Venezuela - Communication

Pi Kappa Phi Eta Zeta

1900 Selwyn Ave Charlotte NC, 28274 Questions? Contact: Matthew Mozzo E-mail: mattmozzo@hargray.com

Also Check out the chapter website!

http://www.hzpikapps.org/

*Congratulations to our newest lettered ladies: Ashley Van Osten

Kelley Masche

Kristin Lane