FAQs Regarding COVID-19 and Chapter Operations [Updated 5/15/2020]

The Phi Kappa Tau Executive Offices have been closely monitoring the Coronavirus pandemic as it continues to unfold. Currently every campus with a Phi Tau colony or chapter has been affected by the outbreak. With health and safety of our members at the forefront of operations, we want to encourage all chapters to take proactive steps toward protecting themselves as the situation develops. 

We understand that all campuses and communities are being affected differently by this pandemic and that there is not a one-size-fits-all approach to operating in this new normal. We defer first and foremost to your campus policies regarding next-step actions. Listen to your institution and take their policies into account before you take any significant steps.  

Will National Convention/Leadership Academy’s be canceled? 

Unfortunately after a long deliberation and a motion circulated by the National Council and approved by the Residents Council, National Convention has been postponed. Read the statement here.

All three 2020 summer Leadership Academy sessions are canceled as well.

Do we need to shut down operations? 

Operations may continue to the best of your ability as long as they do not violate standards set by your institutions. We will include a variety of different ways to stay engaged in some of our other answers below, but there is no mandate to shut down operations. We encourage our chapters to engage virtually, similarly to how your institution may be participating in online learning. 

What do we do about new member activities? 

Brotherhood and Fraternity are not totally dependent on being on a campus. We encourage you to find creative ways to continue your new member education, specifically to host any educational programs online. Google Hangouts is a great and free way to do this. If your campus moves to an online or remote class structure, we encourage you to do the same. If your campus shuts down and you are not able to host new member activities online, new member education can be continued as usual at the beginning of the Fall semester. There is no mandate to restart the new member process. 

How does this impact spring reporting on ChapterSpot?

Chapter reporting on ChapterSpot will remain a loose expectation but given the measures being put in place we understand that certain due dates may not be possible. We will be extending the deadline for all ChapterSpot reports to June 15th to allow flexibility during this difficult time. If this deadline is not feasible, please contact your Chapter’s Success Manager. 

What about initiations? 

Defer to your host institution related to student gatherings. As most of our host institutions have moved to virtual learning, this will certainly limit this ability.  If your campus has suspended student gatherings, do not host initiations. If you are still clear to host student events, you may proceed with initiations. If initiations must be temporarily paused, they can be moved to early in the fall semester. Communication with the campus administrators, chapter advisors, and your chapter’s Success Manager are critical to keep people informed and up to date.   

What about other social events? 

The same policy applies to social events. If your campus has suspended or encouraged you not to gather, do not host your event.  

What does this mean for chapter billing? 

Outstanding Spring balances are still due, but there will be flexibility for any chapter on payment plans. Please refer to the Chapter Services Finance Memo for more information. 

Do we need to leave our house? 

As all leases and campuses agreements are different, we cannot say definitively if you need to vacate your house. Defer to your campus guidelines and pay attention to what other Greek organizations are doing. Contact your Housing Corporation officer to develop a plan for maintaining your chapter house and the potential return to campus. 

What resources are available to me as my institution is now 100% remote for the remainder of the semester?  

There are many resources that are being offered Free of charge by different organizations. You can find a full list of these resources here[hyperlink ‘everything is cancelled]. If you are interested in these services or attending a webinar, contact your chapters Success Manager for more information.  

How do we keep up the morale of the chapter and stay-in-contact with my chapter brothers? 

After gauging feedback from respective chapters, we have taken into consideration some of the ways they have been communicating. Some of these ways of staying in touch have included:  

• Group Communication-GroupMe, Slack, Discord, Skype, Group Facetime, Google Hangouts, Snapchat, Facebook Group chats, Email, Other Social Meda Platforms  

• PC/Console gaming -Xbox Live Party chats, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch  

• Shared Viewership- Netflix watch parties, Twitch Streaming, etc. 

I’m an advisor, how can I best assist the chapter?

Continued communication and support. During this time of uncertainty there are sure to be a lot of questions or concerns. Being able to continually touch base with the undergraduate officers and members can be a big help for them through this new normal. No one has lived through a situation quite like this so there is unfortunately no precedent on how to move forward. Our students will rely on us to help them find some consistency. 

What should our chapter focus on with my campus now fully remote?  

Maintaining some level of normalcy should absolutely be a priority.  With classes now being remote for most, assuring a focus on scholarship and operations should still be important. 

Maintain meetings as an exec board and a chapter as often as you can, although there is not much to do in terms of in-person activities in the Spring, you can still plan and get ready for the Fall! 

I still have questions or need assistance. Who do I contact? 

If you have any additional questions contact your Success Manger. We will be updating this list as information continues to update around the country, so check back here for further details.  

We wish you to remain safe and healthy during this time. Our thoughts are with all of our members and their families who have already experienced the effects of Coronavirus. 

Delta Kappa at the University of Tennessee Charters

Phi Kappa Tau is excited to welcome Delta Kappa Chapter at University of Tennessee-Knoxville back into our ranks. This past weekend 59 new members initiated at a chartering ceremony in Knoxville. They were joined by nearly 50 alumni to assist with initiations and partake in the festivities.

The Delta Kappa chapter began the re-chartering process a few years ago when Harrison Moser, Tennessee ‘20, a legacy and the son of Jeff Moser, Tennessee ’87, reached out to a member of the University’s development office, Steve Catlett, Tennessee ’81, who was also interested in restarting the group. Catlett and Moser got on a call with the Executive Offices and local alumni to begin the collaboration process of bringing the group back to campus.

Chapter President Alex Burns, Tennessee ‘20

This re-chartering would not have been possible without the help of these local alumni. Catlett has remained a vocal advocate for Phi Tau on campus through the entire process. Jeff Moser, Harrison’s father, is chapter advisor and assisted greatly in the process, as well as Trey Grant, Tennessee ’00, the financial advisor.

As a colony, Delta Kappa went to a Regional Conference to work on their recruitment and leadership skills, both of which helped them form a solid interest group. Last year two staff recruiters traveled to campus to grow the group, which resulted in an associate class of 44 in the spring.

The colony worked hard over the past year to grow and set a goal of chartering within one calendar year of their colonization day – 364 days later they did, according to chapter president Alex Burns, Tennessee ‘20, at the banquet Saturday night.

The event was organized with assistance from another local alumni, Gene Perkins, Tennessee ’81. Initiations were followed by a post-ritual explanation workshop and a dinner, which included the gavel presentation, chartering signing, and was capped off with great speeches from staff and undergraduates. The weekend included lots of alumni activity and participation, as well as attendance by university professionals. The weekend was made more special by the inclusion of Buzz Green, Ole Miss ‘66, a staff member who helped the original group charter in 1971, and Dan Dillion, Tennessee ‘71, one of the first Delta Kappa members.

The chartering was held in conjunction with a National Council meeting, where charter petitions were approved for both Alpha Rho at Georgia Institute of Technology and Omicron at Pennsylvania State University on April 18th and April 25th, respectively.  

Go Far!

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The Long Wait

Access Ed Washington’s original article in The Laurel here

On this day 11 years ago, Ed Washington, Lafayette ’09, was initiated into Phi Kappa Tau after a 50-year association period.  

Washington grew up in segregated Washington DC in the 40s-50s. When he went to Lafayette College in 1955, he was one of a handful of African American students. He and another black student, Victor Partridge, Lafayette ’59, were approached by members of Lafayette’s Alpha Omicron chapter to join. They accepted and went through the association process.  

At the time Phi Tau had 71 chapters but no African American members and an implicit agreement to restrict membership from black students. Alpha Omicron fought this clause for some time, but an agreement was not met, which cumulated in Alpha Omicron withdrawing from the national organization in 1956.  

Washington left Lafayette in ’57 and lost contact with his chapter brothers. It wasn’t until he reconnected with Partridge 30 years later that he found out Phi Tau had abolished its membership clause, the chapter had reestablished its ties, and Partridge had been initiated, making him the first African American member of Phi Kappa Tau. Sadly, Partridge died in 1986 and would not get to see his friend initiate.

For some time, Ed considered reaching out to Phi Tau to inquire about initiation. In his own words, it became a “one of these days” items. It was a sermon by his pastor in 2009 that triggered his reengagement. 

Alpha Omicron after they left the national organization and adopted the name “Delta Sigma”

“On Sunday, February 1st, 2009, more than 50 years after my college days, my pastor Dr. Wallace C. Smith delivered a sermon to frame the start of African American history month within its spiritual context. To emphasize a point, he referred to the struggle for civil rights in America. Not all advances were made by the handful of men and women whose names immediately come to mind when discussing the subject. Much of the progress we made was by people who took small steps, people whose names and accomplishments never appeared in headlines. I realized that I was one of those people, and that what Vic, the Phi Kappa Tau brothers and I did was a small victory in that struggle.”  

Washington at his initiation in 2009

He sent an email to then-Director of Chapter Services Tim Hudson, Truman State ’97, to see if he was eligible for initiation. He was met with a swift and resounding yes. Two weeks later on February 21st, 2009, at Capital Conference, Washington was initiated, making him possibly the longest associate in Phi Tau history.   

Ed wrote all these details in the summer 2009 Laurel, a few months after his initiation. You can read the captivating and heartfelt story in Washington’s own words by clicking here.

Bradley Alumnus Nominated for Cybersecurity Excellence Award

Matt Stephenson, Bradley '91, has been nominated for a Cybersecurity Excellence award for his podcast, InSecurity.  

In 2019 InSecurity aired 50 episodes for its full second season. InSecurity looks to make the world more secure by talking to people in tech, executives, teachers, and artists – anyone who has hacked an inefficient system while they were trying to make it more secure. Via the press release:

 Notable guests include Pulitzer Prize nominated journalist and author of Billion Dollar Whale, Bradley Hope; athenahealth CISO Taylor Lehmann; LaColombe Coffee founder/CEO Todd Carmichael; former WIRED magazine editor & Loeb Award winning journalist Rob Capps; and Joseph Menn, Reuters journalist and author of Cult of the Dead Cow: How the Original Hacking Supergroup Might Just Save the world.

 Stephenson shares that he has found several brothers within the cybersecurity world via Phi Tau’s social media, and even connected with them at shows.

Congrats, Matt, on this nomination!

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Phi Taus Take AFLV

17 Phi Taus representing 14 chapters attended AFLV Central in early February.

 AFLV, the Association of Fraternal Leadership & Values, is the largest and most diverse gathering of fraternity stakeholders in the country. Via the ALF website, more than 3,750 participants from over 200 campuses gather each year for the conference in Indianapolis with programing at all levels of expertise. AFLV exists to accelerate progress in the Greek community through change and operates by challenging conventional wisdom to discover new solutions, commits to providing an inclusive and accessible experience, and prioritizes time and resources to support the people who are most likely to affect systematic change. 

Erik Raisys, Washington State ’17, was among the Phi Taus in attendance. “I joined IFC to make a difference in my Greek community and to move us in a more sustainable direction overall,” he shares. “AFLV was an incredible experience to learn from members of other Greek communities, meet brothers from around the nation, and listen to many powerful speakers. I gained a lot of perspective on what other communities did and a lot of skills that I could bring back to my community.”

Kendrew Scott, Eastern Kentucky ’18, was another participant. “I wanted to become involved in IFC because I wanted to improve the Greek community on our campus. I also wanted to increase my chapter’s presence and be an example for my brothers to follow,” said Kendrew.

Guillermo Flores, Southern Illinois ‘08, who attended as a Greek life professional said of the event, “ Every year the number of Phi Taus that come to represent their campus IFC's grows and it makes me proud. If you want something to change then you need to get involved and put in the work. These Phi Taus are doing just that and I thank them for being leaders on their campus. Thank you for all you brothers do!”

Participating in the greater Fraternity & Sorority community at large is a meaningful part of unifying our shared experience. We value brothers who go above and beyond to share the best of Phi Taus mission and learn about the good work of other Greek orgs. Go Far!

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Gamma Alpha Wins Annual Ice Competition

The winning ice sculpture

Gamma Alpha chapter at Michigan Technological University has once again won the school’s annual ice sculpture competition.

Photo via mtu.edu

This is their third time winning in the past four years, but the chapter has been sweeping the competition for decades. This year’s theme was “Discover What Shines from Prehistoric Times” and the Phi Tau’s statue was called “Dongson Fishing Village.”

These elaborate sculptures, on display for an entire month, are part of an annual winter festival tradition on Michigan Tech’s campus. Second place in the overall division went to Tau Kappa Epsilon for “Stone Age” and third to Alpha Gamma Delta for “Wooly Mammoth Surrounded by Saber Tooth Tigers.”

We look forward to seeing your work next year, Go Far!

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Photo submitted by Ryan Heetderks, Michigan Tech ’16.

A Trip to Flying Horse Farms

Leaders Regional Conference is held at beautiful Flying Horse Farms, a SeriousFun camp north of Columbus, Ohio. Flying Horse Farms was opened in 2010 and is home to 22 buildings, including the picturesque “Big Red Barn,” cabins, archery ranges, and two lakes, all housed on 200 wooded acres.  

Regional Conferences are a one-day leadership development and officer training program offered across our nine geographic regions. Each Regional Conference offers three distinctive tracks with their own goals and objectives; Recruitment, Leadership, & Prevention. These tracks are designed so brothers can approach problems in their chapter with candor and develop real-world solutions to return with a plan for improvement and growth. Regional Conferences target officers for Recruitment and Prevention, but are made special because all are invited to attend Leadership track to work on their skills and network with other brothers.  

 For Leaders, chapters from Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan are expected to attend. In total this ended up including 44 brothers, representing 9 chapters.  

Some of the Recruitment participants

A few participants in Prevention

 After the introductory session, participants break into their tracks and start by playing ice-breaker games within their small groups, before diving into the material. The Recruitment track was the largest. They worked on skills like selling Phi Tau as a lifelong experience and best-practice tactics for recruitment on campus. They discussed what strategies work best for their chapter and what challenges the groups face.  

At the Leadership track, participants worked on assessing chapter brothers’ strengths and weaknesses and how to use those strengths to benefit the chapter. They practiced delegation by playing “To Delegate or Not to Delegate” and discussed time management and effective communication. The Prevention track focused on mental health, the fastest growing area of university life, and the best way to provide support for chapter brothers. They held discussions on what it means to be a “Fraternal Gentlemen” in 2020 and how to create a proactive environment for good mental health and its expression, as well as positive ways to place expectations and boundaries.  

Simultaneous to Leaders was the West Coast regional conference at University of Southern California in Los Angeles, with 58 attendees reporting from 9 chapters in California and Arizona. Remaining Regional Conferences this year are Bluegrass (Kentucky, Tennessee) and Southeast (North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida) on February 15th, as well as Heartland (Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Illinois, Wisconsin) and New England (New York, Massachusetts) to close the program on February 22nd. 

Bradley Alumnus Named President of GLMA

Scott Nass, Bradley ’93, has been elected President of GLMA, Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality.

Nass, MD, MPA, FAAFP, AAHIVS, was welcomed among the new Board Officers at the 37th GLMA Annual Conference in New Orleans last fall. Nass is the first family practice physician in nearly two decades to serve as GLMA President. He’s based in Palm Springs, where he also serves as Program Director for the Eisenhower Health Family Medicine Residency Program. Nass has been a recipient of the Senior Atlantic Fellow for Health Equity by the Atlantic Institute and Member of the Month by the California Academy of Family Physicians, as well as a Front-Line Scholar with TEDMED and a Southern California Super Doctor Rising Star.

GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality, previously known as the Gay & Lesbian Medical Association, is the largest and oldest association of LGBTQ healthcare professionals in the world. It was founded in 1981 with the mission of ensuring equality in healthcare for LGBT individuals and healthcare professionals. 

Congratulations, Dr. Nass, on this huge accomplishment!

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National Organ Donor Day

Ferri as USC

February 14th, the day of love, is also recognized as National Organ Donor Day. National Organ Donor Day draws attention to five different types of donation – organs, tissue, marrow, platelets, and blood. Approximately every two seconds, there is someone in the United States who needs blood. This translates to 41,000 daily donations.

There are an estimated 114,000 on the waiting list for a lifesaving organ, and one of them is Phi Tau’s Gerard Ferri, Southern California ’76. Ferri has been involved with the broadcasting world for over 30 years. He is the founder of Safe and Secure TV channel, an internet broadcast channel, and the owner of Peak Performance Properties (P3), a company that specializes in intellectual training to improve focus.

Ferri has been on the waiting list for several years and is now in late-stage kidney failure. According to the American Transplant Foundation, 20 people die on average every day waiting for organs. About 6,000 living donations occur each year and one-in-four donors are not biologically related to the recipient.

Phi Tau places one of its core beliefs around being a good and loyal citizen. Consider today singing up to be an organ donor or give blood. Your small contribution will go far in the lives of many. 

To find out more about Gerard Ferri’s quest and to see if you can be of assistance, email him here.

Chris Elser Nominated to Muhlenberg Athletics Hall of Fame

Chris Elser, Muhlenberg ’87, has been nominated to the Muhlenberg College Athletics Hall of Fame.

Elser 1989

Elser, a three-year starting quarterback on the football team, compiled a 21-9 record for the school to a share of the 1986 CC championship. At the time of his graduation he held records for completions (383), yards (4,549), and passing touchdowns (42) in a career as well as yards (1899) and passing touchdowns (19) in a season. Elser was a co-captain of the 1988 team and earned All-CC honors in two of his three years as a starter, including first-team laurels as a senior.

The induction ceremony will take place in April.  

Go Far!

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