[PhiPsiRuss]

June 7, 2004

Dear Brothers,

I wanted to take this opportunity to provide a full status update of our Phi Kappa Psi History Book Project and of the future work plan being undertaken to finish the Sesquicentennial Edition representing our last five decades.

In November 2002, Brother Shawn Collinsworth and I met with Brothers Kent Owen, Mike McCoy, Bob Marchesani, Phil Davidson and John Mead at Heritage Hall in Indianapolis to discuss history book ideals and agreed to pursue a Harry Gorgas -J Duncan Campbell ''Biennial Chapter'' historical treatment for our latest fifty year installment as exercised in the prior 1952 Centennial History Edition. Sesqui History Book Chairman Hal Dick and a group of Phi Psi volunteers had spent the preceding Biennium writing resource materials that have since been incorporated into the current biennial chapter history book template.

From that original Indianapolis planning meeting, History Book Project Senior Editors Haldon Dick and Kent Christopher Owen agreed to provide project and editorial consulting assistance under the supervision of Project Manager Executive Director Shawn Collinsworth.

I would like to now take this opportunity to especially thank Shawn, Kent and Hal and recognize the very hard work in these past eighteen months of Sequi History Book Section Chapter Writers - Brothers Mike McCoy, Rev. David McDonald, Phil Davidson, Steven Nieslawski, and Terry Harper who have each literally donated hundreds of hours in exhaustive research and submitted writings based upon the historical reference resources offered in past issues of The Shield, Executive Council Meeting Minutes, and Grand Arch Council text proceedings etc. I wish to also thank our Director of Scholarship Brother Rico Hernandez who has agreed to finish one vacant writing assignment and is busy at work.

Last week I flew into Indianapolis and Heritage Hall to meet with Brother Kent Owen and spoke to Hal Dick by phone in which we were joined by Deputy Attorney General John Mead (Former Ast Editor of The Shield ), Mike McCoy and Suzi Owen along with History Book Project Manager Shawn Collinsworth and Director of Publications Ted Jones to review project progress of an estimated 800 to 1000 page preliminary draft. At this juncture...we are now nearing the full completion of the entire 25 chapter preliminary text draft as provided by our cadre of dedicated volunteer writers.

The project will now immediately fall under the full supervision of Executive Director Shawn Collinsworth and assigned staff who will be responsible for overseeing the final stages of the History Book Project in consultation with Senior Editors Hal Dick and Kent Owen and a forthcoming book distribution scheduled in next Biennium. We have already solicited publishing bids and have allocated funds in the next General Fraternity Fiscal Budget to help fund the publication project in which will finally provide our Fraternity with have a competent historical account of the last 25 Biennium's that begins with our Phi Kappa Psi Centennial Celebration and culminates with the closing ceremonies of the Phi Kappa Psi Sesquicentennial Celebration and dedication of the Phi Kappa Psi Bicentennial Time Capsule and segway to a future fourth history edition.

The Fraternity will be undertaking an advanced pre order of the Sesquicentennial Edition of The History of Phi Kappa Psi at a point in the future that will correspond with its approximate distribution.


This has been an incredible undertaking and I wish to recognize and especially express my deep appreciation to the aforementioned Brothers who have given so much of their time and talent to help bring this ambitious undertaking to closer reality.

Fraternally,
John V.Ciccarelli...
58th President of Phi Kappa Psi