September 2011
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- Cover Story - 147th Anniversary Convention A Success
- The 2010-11 Awards were announced at the Convention. See the winners!
- Two New Chapters enter the Bonds of the Fraternity
- Recruitment - 67 Ways to Recruit New Members
- Fraternity Branding - Helping Theta Xi Protect Its Letters
- Show Me the Money...Helping Chapter's Organize Their Finances
- New Theta Xi Website
- Connect with Theta Xi on Facebook and Twitter
- Mark Your Calendars!...Important Dates for 2011-12
- Ritual Observation Survey
- Give Back to the Next Generation - Peer Facilitators Needed
- Omega Brothers in Service of the United States
- Jim Vredenburgh Receives the Highest Award from NIC
- Fire Safety in Chapter Houses
- Greek Community Unites with NIC Call to Action
- Headquarters Welcomes Three to Staff
- GreekLifeEdu is No More
147th Anniversary Convention a Success!
Theta Xi held its 147th Anniversary Convention from August 4-7th in St. Louis, Missouri. With the theme of being “True to the Bonds”, more than 200 attendees from 47 colonies and chapters met in the Gateway to the West. St. Louis has been home to seven Theta Xi Anniversary Conventions with this year being held at the Hilton at the Ballpark in downtown St. Louis, overlooking the Gateway Arch and the home of the Cardinals, Busch Stadium.
The educational sessions at the convention centered on Chapter Finances, Recruitment, Leadership, Risk Management for undergrads and alumni members, Theta Xi branding (SEE HERE FOR INFO), and expansion. Chapter Finances and Recruitment were the two featured educational topics for the undergraduates. The financial focus was centered around Omega Financial, the fraternity’s new strategic partner on chapter finance (SEE HERE FOR INFO). As for the topic of recruitment, the undergraduates attended Phired Up Dynamic Recruitment workshop, which was an interactive and experiential program that helps chapters strive for recruitment excellence.
Grand Lodge Elections
The 
election 
of new officers and directors is always a highlight from each convention. Like most years, there was an amazing list of candidates for Undergraduate Director on the Grand Lodge at the convention. This year the Undergraduate Directors elected were Chris Connelly (pictured on the left) (Alpha Nu 1037) and Robert Olson (pictured on the right) (Alpha Eta 711).
They join alumni members:
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National President - Dennis Marstall (Alpha Iota 587)
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National VP for Administration - Richard Rushton (Nu 700)
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National VP for Chapter Operations - J. Tanner Marcantel (Alpha Alpha 1675)
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National VP for Alumni Affairs - Brian Lichter (Alpha Epsilon 1097)
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Director - Robert Duncan (Beta Pi 77)
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Director - Ryan Kight (Mu 1197)
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Director - Adam Schaffer (Iota 1538)
- Director - Ronald Shidemantle (Beta Upsilon 173)
For more information on the Undergraduate Directors and the other men who will lead Theta Xi for the next three years, CLICK HERE.
Legislation Adopted
Much was also accomplished during the legislative sessions. The following list highlights key items adopted:
• Modified the requirements to form a new Alumni Association
• Modified the procedure to nominate an elected officer or director
• Transferred oversight of expansion efforts from VP of Administration to VP of Chapter Operations
• Changed the terms of the two most recent members of the nominations committee to coincide with the dates of the next National Conventionin 2014.
Over the course of the four-day convention, brothers bragged on the success of each session, workshop and event. Many said this was the most cordial and productive Convention in several years.
(courtesy of Phired Up Productions)
One of the most popular presentations at Convention was Phired Up Productions' recruitment seminar with the undergraduate attendees. One of their big themes was “You can’t recruit who you don’t know.”
There are a lot of moving parts in undergraduate chapters but when it comes to recruitment a lot of those parts are not put into motion. There are often times some very easy ideas to generate a lot of names from which to pull from. Some chapters have only one or two people in the chapter trying to recruit every Associate Member, when there a lot of members frankly just sitting around.
Phired Up Productions has put together a list of 67 Ways to Meet New Members. Please use this resource to help with recruitment. They’re all proven and they all work. There are 67 of them, and you probably only need 5… so choose your favorites and then just do it!
CLICK HERE
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Protecting Our Trademark - Affinity ConsultantsOne of the agenda items introduced at the 147th Anniversary Convention in St. Louis was the announcement with the Fraternity's partnership with Affinity Consultants. This partnership was formed to assure that ONLY Authorized Vendors are used for merchandise sales and production.
This partnership is critical in assisting Theta Xi with protecting the intellectual property of the Fraternity (such as the Fraternity Name, Badge design, Crest, and other Theta Xi specific symbols). Allowing any company to use our trademarks without permission means that the Fraternity has no control over how our intellectual property is used. Also, unlicensed vendors are profiting from the Fraternity without paying royalties and with no guarantee of quality. Licensed Vendors care enough to make sure our trademarks are used in an accurate and positive manner.
Log on to www.greeklicensing.com to find a list of approved vendors across the county. If you currently use a local vendor who is unlicensed, refer them to info@affinity-consultants.com so that they can become Officially Licensed. This is a benefit for the vendor as they can become licensed by roughly 75 National Greek Organizations and can then receive business from local chapters of all of those organizations.
A great service they provide though the website www.greekquote.com, is an easy-to-use online price-check system. Your chapter inputs the type of merchandise it wants to purchase (T-shirts, Party Favors, etc) and the specifics of the merchandise (color, quantity, design, inscription, etc). This information (kept confidential) is sent to the appropriate licensed vendors in your area. The vendors submit bids for your chapter to consider. You get quotes with easy-to-read prices such as “$7 per T-shirt” with no hidden costs (shipping is included). Just choose the bid you prefer, and you’re all set.
If you have any questions about specific items you want to purchase or specific vendors that you have been using, contact Ron Trucks at ron@thetaxi.org.
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New National Fraternity Website On The Way!
The long awaited redesign of the Theta Xi homepage is in its final stages and will be ready for roll out in Fall of 2011. Take a look at the new design...
The new website will have a number of new unique features and ways members can interact with not only Fraternity headquarters but with other members across the country. For questions or information contact Jeff Vernetti at jeff@thetaxi.org.
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OmegaFi - The Key To Better Finances
In the Spring of 2011, Theta Xi Fraternity entered into an agreement with Omega Financial to provide billing and financial services for all undergraduate chapters beginning immediately. This information was presented at Presidents and Rising Star Academies and also at the 147th Anniversary Convention.
The Grand Lodge has determined that all chapters will be required to sign up for Vault and Billing Collections prior to the beginning of the Fall 2012 semester. However, your chapter does not have to wait. You can sign up immediately, and OmegaFi will give your chapter a discounted rate. Call 800.276.6342 and request to speak to a member of the Theta Xi Implementation Team or email ThetaXiSetUp@omegafi.com. You may also visit www.omegafi.com and click on "Vault" and "Inquire Within" to submit information to receive pricing for your chapter that includes Theta Xi’s special discount.
At Convention, a number of the questions surrounding OmegaFi dealt with cost. To answer those questions simply, your chapter will pay a percentage of payments received, as they are received. This makes the OmegaFi fee performance-based and does not stifle your chapter’s cash flow. However, it's important to remember that, for most chapters, this system will actually pay for itself by helping you collect more of the dues and fees that you bill your members. In fact, chapters using OmegaFi collect an average of 97% of everything that is billed to their members. For most Theta Xi chapters, that will be a substantial improvement.
For any further questions, contact Ron Trucks at ron@thetaxi.org
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Follow Us!
Find yourself missing out on announcements? Change that by following us on our social media platforms on Facebook and Twitter.
Simply log on to Facebook.com and 'Like' Theta Xi or log on to Twitter.com and follow us @thetaxihq.
We will be blasting out information, contests, photos, and fun facts throughout the year so please follow Theta Xi today!
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Ritual Observation Survey
In an effort to help educate Chapters on proper Ritual habits, this fall the Fraternity has implemented a new program - the Ritual Observation Survey. This process, which will be conducted and completed by Chapter Advisors will provide all of us with a better understanding of each chapter's Ritual practices, and in doing so, enable us to help them improve their Ritual performance and practices.
This Fall, each Chapter Advisor or Deputy Chapter Advisor will be asked to take one evening and attend a Ritual Meeting and complete a short, online survey.
This survey, while respectful of the private and secret nature of the Ritual, will enable us to better evaluate each group's Ritual strengths and areas of concern. Our intention is to use this process to provide chapter leaders with positive feedback and additional resources to assist them in strengthening their Ritual practices.
Be on the look out for information regarding the survey this fall.
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Save The Date For 2011-12 Events
Presidents Academy (January 13-16, 2012) –
In its 13th year, Presidents Academy is an intensive weekend of leadership training for Chapter Presidents. This academy is an exciting and interactive program that enables each chapter president to improve his personal skills and chapter operations by joining with his peers from across the country for a high quality leadership and educational weekend that includes small group interaction, outdoor leadership experience and quality interaction with recent past presidents (peer facilitators) and alumni volunteers.Past attendees consistently rank Presidents Academy as one of the highlights of their undergraduate Fraternity experience. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of this unique and engaging program! Incoming or current chapter Presidents are the only members eligible to attend the Presidents Academy. The small registration fee covers all on-site expenses. Travel to St. Louis, where the Academy is held, is each president’s responsibility. In many cases, chapters and/or alumni associations provide financial support for travel expenses.
Rising Stars Academy (January 13-16, 2012) –
This academy is for first-year initiates (men initiated in 2011) and coincides with the Presidents Academy. The Rising Stars Academy concentrates on providing attendees an opportunity to assess and develop their leadership styles and skills, in an interactive and experiential setting. Along with meeting new members from across the country, they gather ideas they can take back to strengthen their chapters in the areas of recruitment, membership education and overall operations. Team building skills are strengthened by accomplishing tasks presented on an exciting outdoor leadership challenge course.This is a can’t miss event so identify a new initiate who you feel is your emerging leader and make plans to get him to Rising Stars Academy today! There is a small registration fee per man but Theta Xi Foundation will pay the on-site expenses of one person per chapter/colony. Additional Rising Stars attendees are encouraged at a reasonable registration fee. All attendees provide for their own travel to St. Louis. In many cases, chapters and/or alumni associations provide financial support for travel expenses.
Newell District Leadership Academies (February, 2012 - date and sites to be determined) –
A host chapter in each District hosts these academies designed to create a greater national consciousness by bringing together chapter members to meet, work and interact with one another and with officials of the Fraternity.They provide an opportunity for representatives of chapters to share their successes and concerns. DLAs provide educational and leadership programs to aid in the personal development of undergraduate members, thus helping to build leaders who improve and strengthen their chapters overall operations.
Held in February, chapters will gather at a host campus for a full day of workshops and activities focusing on Fraternity values and individual leadership skills training. All chapters in good financial standing will receive a mileage reimbursement.
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Each year we choose six past-presidents to serve as peer facilitators at Presidents Academy. We affectionately refer to these men as “Risen Stars” because they have demonstrated their leadership ability at the chapter level, and now enjoy contributing to the next generation of chapter presidents.
If you are a chapter president this year (ending your term in December) or were president a year ago…consider applying to be a peer facilitator for the 2012 Presidents Academy.
We are looking for men who:
• Are past chapter presidents (or will be by January 2012)
• Attended Presidents Academy in 2010 or 2011
• Are willing to make the following time commitment: Thursday, January 12 (arriving in St Louis no later than NOON) through Monday, January 16 (leaving St Louis after 3:00 PM)
• Are willing to participate in pre-Academy training (on January 12) and to follow up in a support/guidance role with the current presidents assigned to your group, post-Academy
If you are interested in being a “Risen Star,” follow the link below and complete the application, including a brief essay and the names of three references.
REGISTRATION FORM
The deadline for applications is October 17th. Telephone interviews with a selection committee will be scheduled shortly after. If you have questions contact: Phil Barrineau (“Dr. B”), Director of Leadership Development & Expansion at doctorb@thetaxi.org or on Facebook: Phil Barrineau
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Vredenburgh Receives NIC's Highest Honor
This past April Theta Xi Executive Director Jim Vredenburgh, Beta Omega 11, Virginia Tech ‘73 (pictured on the left) was awarded the North-American Interfraternity Conference’s highest honor – the NIC Gold Medal for lifetime achievement.
In recognition of Brother Vredenburgh’s outstanding work and devotion to Theta Xi Fraternity as well as the fraternal community as a whole, the Iota Club of St. Louis hosted the NIC Gold Medal Reception at the opening evening of the 147th Anniversary Convention in St. Louis.
Following the reception, NIC Executive Director Pete Smithisler (pictured with Brother Vredenburgh above) joined the convention attendees in St. Louis to present the Gold Medal to Jim during the Alumni Recognition Banquet. Congratulations Brother Vredenburgh.
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Best wishes for their safety go out to Omega and paternal brothers Ryan, Omega 739 (left) and Ross (Omega 765) Jones who are currently in Afghanistan. They serve together in the same unit and are currently in their second tour of duty together.
Both men were active members in the chapter with Ross being the resident Live-in advisor and Ryan serving two terms as Chapter President. Ryan was also the WSU Greek Man of the Year two years ago.
Theta Xi would like to thank the Jones brothers for their service!
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Theta Xi annually recognizes achievement by chapters, colonies, and alumni across the country with its annual awards. The highlight of the award process is the presentation of the Memorial Trophy, which is presented to the top five percent of chapters which are recognized as the most outstanding.
For the 2010-2011 year, Alpha Zeta Chapter (UCLA) and and Alpha Iota Chapter (Kansas State) have been designated for Memorial Trophy recognition and Beta Upsilon Chapter (Slippery Rock University) has won the General Improvement Award. The West District received the Outstanding District Award for the year as a result of strong work by all chapters in the district.
Doug Kenealy (Mu 709, Iowa State) has been awarded the Dr. W. Turrentine Jackson Award recognizing the Fraternity’s Outstanding Chapter Advisor for 2010-2011.
.FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF WINNERS CLICK HERE
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Recently a fire alarm went off at a Theta Xi chapter house and the local fire department showed up to find that only a handful of members exited the house and that parts of the alarm system had been disabled or were not working.
Luckily nobody was injured and there was no damage to the property, but there very well could have been a major issue.
Please take this time and have your fire system checked out and conduct a fire drill each semester.
Other items of fire safety include
1) Making sure that fire escape routes are posted around the house and in bedrooms or sleeping areas
2) Surge suppressor outlet strips are used instead of multi port plugs and extension cords
3) Emergency exits are not blocked (including window escapes)
4) Emergency exit signs are illuminated and emergency flood lights are tested
5) Battery operated smoke detectors have their batteries changed.
Also, confirm your house meets all local fire ordinances and codes as well. For further questions or information, contact HQ at txhq@thetaxi.org or 800-783-6294.
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At the 147th Anniversary Convention in St Louis, Theta Xi Fraternity announced that Associate Members are NO LONGER REQUIRED to complete the GreekLifeEdu program.
Instead, we have designed an interactive trivia game that is based on our Risk Management Policy. We premiered it at Convention and believe that your new Associate Members will find it both educational and engaging. Please remember that all chapters are expected to use this activity with your Associate Members, beginning this fall.
The program is called “Managing Risk: The Bond of Brothers,” and is designed for small groups to earn points by working together to answer three rounds of questions and case studies related to various aspects of risk management. The activity takes 30-45 minutes, and can be done by any size group.
The following link will take you to the national website, where you will find two documents (about a third of the way from the top of the list):
(1) Managing Risk -- the question sheets for each round of the game
(2) Managing Risk Facilitator’s Guide – which includes complete instructions and the correct answers to all the questions, to be used in de-briefing each round and totaling points, etc.
http://www.thetaxi.org/Chapters/resources.php
If you have questions contact: Phil Barrineau (“Dr. B”), Director of Leadership Development & Expansion. doctorb@thetaxi.org or Facebook: Phil Barrineau
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Theta Xi Charter's Two Chapters!
Shippensburg University (Pennsylvania) 
is home to our newest Theta Xi Chapter. After less than a year as a colony, this very successful group of young men received their charter as Gamma Chi Chapter on March 26, 2011.
National President Don Meringer presided over the weekend’s events including the initiation of 13 new brothers on Friday evening, and the Ritual Chartering on Saturday, followed by a banquet on campus with 115 in attendance.
In addition to parents and friends of the brothers, the University President attended, along with Emilee Danielson, Director of Greek Life (and Gamma Chi’s first chapter sweetheart!), the IFC President, and Dean of Students Bob Smith. One of the many highlights of the evening was the presentation by “Dean Bob” of t-shirts he had printed for all the members, and the proclamation of the following Monday as “Theta Xi Day” on campus.
The national organization was represented by Brother Meringer, Ron Shidemantle, Ron Trucks and Phil Barrineau. Now the largest fraternity on campus, the men of Gamma Chi are back this fall and working hard to recruit more quality young men as they contribute to the life of the campus and community.
Beta Zeta Colony 
was reorganized on the Auburn campus in 2007 and was re-chartered on April 30, 2011, a great way to celebrate our Founders Day weekend!
National President Don Meringer presided over the Ritual Chartering, assisted by Grand Lodge Undergraduate Director Bernie Lemoine and Director of Leadership Development and Expansion Phil Barrineau.
A celebration picnic was held at the Beta Zeta house following the Ritual Chartering, with nearly 100 in attendance. In addition to parents, friends and alumni, the University was represented by Bo Mantooth from the Office of Greek Life. Congratulations to the men of Beta Zeta for their hard work, and to their alumni for an unparalleled level of support and engagement.
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Theta Xi Call to Action
The NIC has developed a video in response to the concerns of 
inappropriate behavior this fall across the country. All members are encouraged to watch this video and take its message to heart, not only undergraduate but alumni members as well.
As you all know, Theta Xi prohibits the use of alcohol at recruitment events and of course prohibits hazing of any kind. If you are not familiar with all of these recruitment policies, we encourage you to read through Alpha Nine and reveiew Theta Xi's Risk Management Policy.
Watch the video HERE.
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Theta Xi Headquarters is pleased to announce the hiring of the following staff members:
Jeff Vernetti - Manager of Communications and Special Projects (Gamma Epsilon 326)
Brother Vernetti returns to staff to oversee Fraternity Communications, including the new website and social media platforms (see above). He previously served on staff from 2002-05 as Director of Chapter Operations and Expansion. He can be reached at jeff@thetaxi.org.
John "JT: Thomas - Leadership Consultant (Gamma Pi 154)
Brother Thomas joined the staff before the National Convention after serving in many leadership positions at Gamma Pi Chapter at UNC Pembroke. He was actively involved on campus and is looking forward to bringing his knowledge of recruitment to Theta Xi chapters across the country. He can be reached at jt@thetaxi.org.
David Dorsett - Leadership Consultant (Beta Omega 449)
Brother Dorsett also joined the staff before the National Convention after serving his chapter in numerous leadership roles. He was an active member of the Virginia Tech campus, serving as a resident advisor, a director for special events for the VT union, and as a new student mentor. His leadership abilities will certainly help bring success to Theta Xi chapters this year. He can be reached at david@thetaxi.org.
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