SWGP Announcements

[PhiPsiRuss]

March 31,2004

Dear Brothers,

Over the past weekend, approximately thirty-five nationwide new Phi Psi alumni_ volunteers gathered together to participate in the 2nd Annual Phi Kappa Psi New Volunteer Orientation at Heritage Hall Headquarters in Indianapolis Indiana. The newly established training program was created and is designed to help orient, assist and support new Phi Psi volunteers who comprise our Chapter Advisory, House Corporation and Alumni Association Officer Networks. Building upon the success of the inaugural NVO_ program initiative started in Spring_ 2003, the new Phi Kappa Psi_ local volunteer training curriculum includes workshop and forum exchange discussion sessions that review individual Phi Psi volunteer job descriptions, new fraternity program initiatives i.e. Men of Excellence, Chapter Accreditation, Phi Kappa Psi National Day of Service, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Founders Day, available resource options, and the important opportunity to interface with professional staff personnel and with other Phi Psi volunteers.

I wish to take this opportunity to thank our Director of Chapter Services Chad Stegemiller, Director of Alumni Services Mark Solomon and Fraternity Treasurer Steve O'Rourke who did an outstanding job in organizing the weekend exchange volunteer skills learning program hosted by facilitators Shawn Collinsworth , Shane Yates, Jason Pierce, Shannon Price and Tryon Hubbard.


Our thanks to the following Brothers for attending the 2004 New Volunteer Orientation.

Eric Miller North Carolina '00
Andrew Wojewodzic New York Theta '98
Joe Kaiser Missouri Alpha '98'
Karl Marschel Missouri Alpha '97
Steve Meyers Texas Alpha '01
Douf Fish Pennsylvania Theta '98
Bill Reinecke Missouri Alpha '87
Chip Impastato Louisiana Alpha '90
Neal Glazier New York Theta 99
Albert Cuneo Pennsylvania Alpha '76
Rob Long Missouri Alpha '94
Dan Qulette Texas Gamma '69
Mike Burrell Illinois Epsilon '91
John Pontius Pennsylvania Epsilon '99
Larry Ziaser Michigan Beta '62
Damien Lynch Pennsylvania Rho '97
Michael Ley Pennsylvania Xi '86
Dino Vervitsiotis Pennsylvania Theta '98
Jason Simmons New York Theta '97
Marc Smith Wisconsin Gamma '79
Rob Fleming North Carolina Beta '92
Tom Kegler New York Theta '96
Derek Meixell New York Theta '99
Wayne Cook Pennsylvania Lambda '65
Nick Modha Pennsylvania Epsilon '98
Eric Smith California Delta '79
Robert Pallasch California Delta '79
Russell Adkins Pennsylvania Beta '99
Jonathan Ziehl New York Theta '95
Alex LaRoche Pennsylvania Theta '95
Cord Nuoffer Indiana Epsilon '96
Chris Hessenflow North Carolina Beta '91
David Viglione New York Theta '98
Sean Liddle New York Theta '95
Matthew Naylor New York Theta '98

We are looking forward to continue to building this outstanding pogram with plans to incorporate a Hyparchos Network advisory learning track in the 2005 New Volunteer Orientation.

We Live and We Flourish !

Fraternally,
John V. Ciccarelli...
S.W.G.P.

[PhiPsiRuss]

Dear Phi Psi Brothers and Spouses,

I would like to invite each of you and your spouses and family members to attend the upcoming San Diego Grand Council on July 7-11, 2004 at the U.S. Grant Hotel in downtown San Diego. The U.S Grant is a beautiful Hotel in downtown San Diego that is nearby to wonderful area tourist attractions that include the world famous San Diego Zoo, Sea World, Coronado Island, Old Town, Balboa Exposition Park, San Diego Wild Animal Park, San Diego Rail Museum, Sea Port Village and Legoland Amusement Park. For more information please contact the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau at www.sandiego.org.

Public transportation, MTS buses, trolleys and coasters provide convenient transportation throughout San Diego County.

Disneyland and the new Disney California Adeventure, Knotts Berry Farm and the Long Beach Queen Mary are located just an hour and slightly more drive north of San Diego toward Los Angeles.

The cost of attending Phi Psi official scheduled events for spouses and guests which include the GAC Welcome Event, Awards Luncheon, Presidents Reception and Grand Arch Council Banquet is $150.00.

We have organized a Grand Arch Council Ladies Committee that will be contacting GAC guest registrants in the month of May to help coordinate Phi Psi family activity options while Phi Psi Brothers attend day convention sessions. We are in the process of obtaining discount passes for various San Diego tourist attractions that individuals may be interested in participating.

San Diego, California is a true family vacation destination that offers a wide array of great activities and gorgeous scenery that I know that you and your family members will have great fun and will always remember.

I hope to see you and your family at the Phi Kappa Psi San Diego Grand Arch Council this July and enjoy a very special family holiday.

Sincerely,
Susan Ciccarelli

[PhiPsiRuss]

April 11, 2004

Matt Shaw
John Henebry
John Zigelmeyer.
Wynn Weigand
Richard Bower
Jim Trigilio
Shannon Price


Dear Matt, John, Zig, Wynn, Richard, Trig and Shannon

I wanted to take this opportunity on the eve of the Project 2025 Conference Call to express my deep appreciation to each of you for the outstanding job that has accomplished in the creation and devolpment of the Phi Kappa Psi Project 2025 National Housing Initiative.

When I approached Zig eighteen months ago on this proposed initiative.....I felt that it was imperative that our Fraternity adopt a very proactive stance in addressing the immediate and long term needs of our chapter house corporartions and the entire Phi Psi housing sphere whose individual housing assets are in the excess of 35 million dollars.

Within one Bienieum, the Project 2025 Initiative task force has undertaken, created and implemented the largest chapter housing education resource forum in the existence of Phi Kappa Psi as realized last September in Las Vegas with plans for an annual track and second conference scheduled at the same time this year.

With public saftey as a number one goal, the Exceutive Council approved the Project 2025 endorsed National Fire Sprinkler Initiative at its Spring March 2004 Meeting in which our local chapter house corporations will now have a preferred and available resource option that will enhance public saftey, provide lower insurance costs and meet growing city and state ordinances.

In addition, I have made mention to Zig and Jim Trigilio this past week of a suggestion to incorporate within Project 2025 a comprehensive undertaking to help improve the apperance of our chapter house properties that fall into the range of outstanding and attractive facilities to the other side of the spectrum of glorified foosball parlors.In that vein, the many contributions of Brothers Jerry Nelson, Bruce McMahon, Paul Wineman in the creation of installed chapter computer labs sponsored by the Endowment Fund have in fact helped provide a valuable catalyst to instill a true learning enviroment within many of our nationwide Phi Kappa Psi chapter houses.

In that umbrella goal, I would also ask that Project 2025 take under advisement the need to promote the betterment of chapter house conditions in terms of quality furniture, carperting, draperies, kitchen equipment etc that will improve the living condition, apperance and attractiveness of our chapter houses in the eyes of our undergraduate tenants, parents, prospective members and our host institutions. Perhaps the concept of an instituted "Phi Psi Operation Sparkle," furniture buying clubs, Parents Committees, could be solutions advanced by Project 2025 that can take seed now in preparation of Fall 2004 and well beyond. The benefits of doing so will naturally assist our respective groups in the form of additional tenants, increased member recruitment and alumni related support.

In addition. I would like to offer as a suggestion the opportunity for Project 2025 to utilize the upcoming July San Diego Grand Arch Council to disseminate information to promote the upcoming 2nd Annual Project 2025 Housing Education Conference September 10-12 2004, newly approved Simplex Fire Sprinkler Program and the myriad of chapter housing corporation resource materials.

I wish you all a very productive deliberations and want to express my heartfelt appreciation to Project 2025 Chairman John Zigelmeyer, Director of House Corporations Shannon Price and to each of you for the tremendous job in getting this vitally important initiative established and advanced in the support of our beloved fraternity.

Thank you very much.....

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

[PhiPsiRuss]

April 25, 2004


Dear Brothers,

On the occasion of the New York Iota chartering last weekend in Binghamton New York, I was joined on Sunday, April 18 in a Phi Psi caravan with Brothers Dud Daniel, Eric Parker, Russell Warshay, Robert Parada, Ron Dinino, and Joe Hochberg throughout upstate New York which included visits to our New York Alpha, New York Theta and New York Eta Chapters. It was day of great Phi Psi spirit and hospitality in the Empire State in which a growing regional dynamic is occurring in our Fraternity in the creation of new colonies, chapters and alumni associations.

New York Alpha

The Brothers of New York Alpha at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York provided a very warm welcome in which to tour the outstanding chapter house facility and the magnificent Cornell campus. Almost half of the Cornell football team is made up of Phi Psi Brothers and the chapter has occupied a prominent and honorable position in the university throughout its history. Seven years ago, SWGP Brother Greg Knapp visited New York Alpha to help officially dedicate the beautiful new high cathedral chapter meeting room addition named in honor of Brother Joseph Benson Foraker.

New York Theta

The afternoon trip to Rochester, New York at the Rochester Institute of Technology was very enjoyable in which the Brothers of New York Theta hosted a special reception. The chapter house is located on a recently created R.I.T.Greek Row owned by the University in which Phi Psi has a prominent location and is only among a small group of Greek organizations to occupy. The New York Theta Chapter House is beautiful. It is among one of the nicest facilities that I have had the privilege to visit. New York Theta was founded twelve years and its Brothers hold a very deep respect for the ideals of Phi Kappa Psi. Dud and I enjoyed the opportunity to speak to the Chapter Brotherhood and we wish to express our appreciation for the gift of the New York Theta ''Decade Book'' which is beautiful hard bound chapter publication of letters, photos and documents that highlight the founding and first ten years of this outstanding chapter. I wish to thank Hyparchos Director and New York Theta House Corporation President Robert Parada for his tremendous and loyal service to New York Theta and Phi Kappa Psi.

New York Eta

Following our trip to Rochester , Dud and I then arrive later in the evening to visit New York Eta at the Suny Buffalo campus. The Brothers of New York Eta including District Archon Joe Hochberg met us at the New York Eta chapter house which is currently undergoing a physical house renovation that will include new heating equipment, room improvements, carpeting and draperies. The Brothers of New York Eta are looking forward to the upcoming Grand Arch Council in San Diego and the completion of the housing renovation to reoccupy the chapter house this upcoming Fall. It was a pleasure to speak to the members of New York Eta and express the appreciation of those who had traveled to Binghamton University as did individual members of New York Theta to assist in the chartering of New York Iota.

I wish to especially thank our Coordinator of Chapter Advisors Ron Dinino who helped to arrange the Sunday tour of New York State area Phi Psi Chapters. I spoke to the Chapter G.P. of New York Beta at Syracuse University whose Brothers were attending a Chapter Formal at Niagara Falls and the Colony President of our New York Kappa Suny Oneanta who both expressed very good reports of Phi Psi activity at their host institutions. The colony members of New York Kappa enjoy a 3.26 grade point average and just recruited another five new members on top of a strong organization campus average.

In addition, the recent Spring 2004 Phi Kappa Psi New Volunteer Orientation in Indianapolis included many New York State area alumni advisory volunteers. The newly created New York City Gotham City Alumni Association continues to grow.


Phi Kappa Psi Lives and Flourishes in the Empire State !

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

[PhiPsiRuss]

April 25, 2004


Dear Brothers,

Following the trip to the upstate New York area Phi Psi chapters, Brother Dud Daniel and I drove to Cleveland, Ohio to visit the Ohio Epsilon Chapter at Case Western Reserve University. On the way, we were able to stop at Endiboro University south of Erie, Pennsylvania and meet our Pennsylvania Xi Brothers for lunch at the Student Union. The Pennsylvania Xi Chapter is steadily growing its membership that operates on a campus without formal Greek housing. The Chapter is actively involved on the Edinboro campus. We enjoyed the opportunity to speak to the Brothers and Chapter G.P. Joshua Beach who I had met two years ago at the inaugural September 17, 2002, Constitution Day Banquet that was held in close proximity in Meadville Pennsylvania at Pennsylvania Beta at the onset of the Biennium.


Later in the afternoon, we drove into Cleveland Ohio and joined Phi Kappa Psi Director of Fraternity Education Wes Schaub Ohio Eta '80 who is the Director of Greek Life at Case Western University and administers its large Greek system and our Fraternity Deputy Attorney General Jim Miller Ohio Delta '85 for a barbecue reception at Ohio Epsilon. I enjoyed the opportunity along with Dud to review the Ohio Epsilon Chapter collection of Meeting Minutes, The Shield, Fraternity Education Manuals, Fraternity- University History Books and Phi Kappa Psi Grand Catalogues.

Of particular interest was the turn of the century 1904 meeting minutes of the Omega local fraternity that became the Ohio Epsilon Chapter at Case University in 1906. Present at the meeting was Otto Donnell, Ohio Epsilon '07 the Phi Psi father of Brother John R. Donnell, Sr. Ohio Epsilon '31 a past Trustee of the Permanent Fund and the grandfather of past SWGP John R. Donnell Ohio Epsilon '59 and current Senior Trustee of the Permanent Fund.

I wish to thank Chapter G.P. Chad Zavitch for inviting Dud and I to speak at the Chapter Meeting in which we together discussed ideals for the coming Ohio Epsilon Chapter Centennial Celebration in 2006.

We Live and We Flourish!

Fraternally,
Chic...

[PhiPsiRuss]

April 29, 2004

Chapter G.P. Jason Peterson
California Epsilon


Dear Jason,

I would like to thank you and the Brothers of California Epsilon for the opportunity to attend your Monday evening Chapter Dinner and Meeting. The fact that your cook from Senegal who speaks seven languages arranged to have a main course of Lasagna was not lost on me. I believe it was twenty-four years ago that I attended a similar chapter meeting with SWGP John Donnell and we had a wonderful meal.

California Epsilon has a long and proud history in Phi Kappa Psi. I wish to compliment the undergraduate chapter and your advisory alumni volunteers for the quality Phi Kappa Psi Family Community chapter programming which include a Mother/Son, Father/Son Phi Psi event exchanges, California Epsilon Alumni Career Night, and the Annual Alumni Induction Ceremony. The fact that California Epsilon has a Chapter Scholarship Fund of over one million dollars and is the largest CSF in our Fraternity is a wonderful testimony to our fraternal mission and the long term future of Phi Kappa Psi at the UCLA Westwood campus.


Our Southern California Chapters in San Diego, Orange County and Los Angeles are accomplishing great things and we look forward to California Epsilon to helping lead the way and to a great summer convention.


Fraternally,
John V. Ciccarelli...
S.W.G.P.

[PhiPsiRuss]

April 30.2004


Dear Brothers,

I am very pleased to announce that Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity NIC delegate Robert F. Marchesani Indiana Zeta '94 (Pa Nu '79) has been recently elected to the North-American Interfraternity Conference Board of Directors at the April 24 Meeting of the NIC in Washington DC Representing our Fraternity at the 2004 House of Delegates Meeting with Bob was our very own ''Mr. Phi Psi'' Executive Director Emeritus Ralph D. Daniel Arizona Alpha '47.

The election of Brother Marchesani to the NIC Board of Directors is a tremendous honor to himself and our entire Fraternity, as the North-American Interfraternity Conference House of Delegates is made up of representatives of over 64 Men's College Fraternities in North America representing 350,000 members at 800 college campuses.

Brother Marchesani has attended over 20 Annual House of Delegate Meetings and is currently serving on the NIC Public Relations Committee responsible to promote many of the new exciting NIC programs and initiatives advanced by NIC President Ed Pease and Executive Vice President Jon Williamson. Bob has been a very strong advocate of the North-American Interfraternity Movement for two decades and his election to the NIC Board of Directors is a wonderful tribute to his personal and collective efforts to support the mission of the NIC '' To Advocate, Promote, and Enhance the Excellence and Effectiveness of the Men's College Fraternity Movement'' in this exciting new era.

Brother Marchesani was assigned in this Biennium to chair the Phi Kappa Psi National Philanthropy Initiative in which has created our new strategic long term Phi Psi partnership with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. The inaugural BGCA community service program is currently enjoying a strong introduction with our undergraduate Chapters and Alumni Associations. Brother Marchesani has been employed by Eli Lilly Pharmaceutical Company in Indianapolis for twenty years and is primarily responsible for new product information introduction.


Brother Marchesani follows in the footsteps of past Fraternity SWGPs Harry Gorgas, Phil Cornelius, John Donnell, and Dick Ong who have served with distinction and have represented Phi Kappa Psi in the North-American Intefraternity Conference.

Our congratulations to Bob and his family on this wonderful accomplishment.

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

[PhiPsiRuss]

May 8, 2004

Dear Brothers,

Earlier in the week, I had the pleasure to attend the final semester chapter meeting of our Arizona Beta Chapter at Arizona State University. Brother Dud Daniel and I arrived on Tuesday and enjoyed the opportunity with Chapter Advisor Matt LeRoy to tour the beautiful chapter house and landscaped grounds that was renovated six years ago in donation by Brother Jerry Nelson .

Later in the evening we participated in a great attendance turnout of the final chapter meeting of the academic year in which the graduating seniors spoke highly of their undergraduate experience in Phi Kappa Psi. It was an emotional evening of high Phi Psi spirit in which the Arizona Chapter has earned many campus awards and is planning to send a good delegation to the summer Grand Arch Council. I wish to thank Brother LeRoy for his outstanding volunteer efforts in assisting the chapter which is committed to a very successful year ahead.


Following the next day on Cinco De Mayo I drove to Tucson Arizona to visit our Arizona Alpha Chapter at the University of Arizona in which I joined Chapter Advisor Joel Davis Arizona Alpha '85 and the outgoing and incoming Chapter G.P's for dinner. Afterwards we attending an enjoyable reception with the Arizona Alpha Brothers at their newly acquired and beautiful chapter house that is 100 years old and in excellent condition. Past National Fraternity Secretary Phil Davidson Arizona Alpha '59 had lived in the same house as an undergrad when it was formerly occupied by the Chapter. I enjoyed the special opportunity to speak to the Brothers as our Arizona Alpha Chapter continues to make great progress and now has over fifty members. It was originally 30 years earlier that I had come to Tucson upon return of my first Executive Council Meeting in Denver at the Brown Palace Hotel as the District Six Archon and in which our current Attorney General Richard Nelson then Archon of District Five also attended. I flew from that meeting in Denver and visited the Arizona Alpha colony members who were in the process of re-chartering and included colony members Richard Christ Arizona Alpha ''77 and former Chapter Consultant Steven Fowler Arizona Alpha '77. I joined Brother Fowler in the evening as we reminisced about our undergraduate days.

I wish to express my appreciation to Arizona Alpha Chapter Advisor Joel Davis who is doing an outstanding job and who earlier in the year accepted the Hyparchos Director position for the state of Arizona. In February of this year, Brother Davis assisted the Tucson Alumni Association that hosted a special reception at the Pima World War 2 Vintage Air Museum in honor of our Phi Kappa Psi ''Tribute to America's Greatest Generation''

My thanks to the Brothers of Arizona Alpha and Arizona Beta for their warm hospitality and in the special recognition of our Phi Psi volunteers who help served them.

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

[PhiPsiRuss]

May 17, 2004

Dear Brothers,

The upcoming 2004 Summer Issue of The Shield will feature a great article on our recent nationwide 2004 Founders Day Observances and inaugural theme undertaking which was based upon the success of the 2002- 2003 Sesquicentennial Celebration. Our 2004 theme '' Tribute to America's Greatest Generation'' has received many compliments in which we experienced a huge spike in Founders Day attendance and in the quality and creativity of Phi Kappa Psi Alumni Associations Observances. Among these included the Washington D.C. Alumni Association Arlington National Cemetery Blessing, Beloit Wisconsin AA ''USO Canteen Show'' , and Tucson AA Pima Vintage World War 2 Air Museum reception.

Our Founders Day theme for 2004 was announced at the 2003 summer WWLS in Ames Iowa which allowed many undergraduate chapters and area alumni groups adequate time to organize plans and dates early enough to meet an early Fall Shield submission deadline that would in effect be in the hands of our member readership at the end of the year in time to publicize the February dates....

We have already received many great theme suggestions for the 2005 Founders Day nationwide observances and plan to utilize the summer 2004 San Diego Grand Arch Council and our large ''captive'' undergraduate and alumni Phi Psi audience to announce and maximize a selected theme to initiate good planning and encourage Speakers Bureau keynote participant schedules.

The Executive Council will review an Ad Interim Motion in early June that will include a summary of submitted theme suggestions in which we openly encourage your ideals and suggestions. Please forward your recommendations to Director of Alumni Services Mark Solomon ( mos@Phi Kappa Psi.com) and Director of Alumni Associations Tryon Hubbard (John@jehubbard.com) by May 25, 2004

We look forward to receiving your suggestions!

Fraternally,
Chic...

[PhiPsiRuss]

June 1, 2004

Dear Brothers and Friends of Phi Kappa Psi ,

Over the past twenty-three months, I have had the sincere privilege and genuine pleasure to serve as the S.W.G.P. of the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity. It has been a truly an exhilarating and unique experience in which has allowed me the special opportunity to visit over fifty of our nationwide chapters and speak to many of our undergraduate members and our dedicated local alumni volunteers. I am pleased to share that all across the country and everywhere I encountered, Phi Kappa Psi is truly experiencing a reawakening based upon our ''recommitment '' to our founding core values. To paraphrase my predecessor Steven Nieslawski two years ago ''We have re-found ourselves.'' The first Biennium following our 2002 Sesquicentennial Celebration has been marked in record organization growth and in the strong collective spirit to forging new partnerships with our important publics.

We have listened and responded to your comments. The entire Executive Council Elected & Appointed Officers, Permanent Fund and Endowment Foundation Trustees, and our nationwide family of local dedicated alumni volunteers that comprise the entire fraternity leadership team have worked together to further revitalize Phi Kappa Psi and help prepare our Fraternity for the challenges and opportunities that we will face in the 21st Century. I wish to especially thank Executive Director Shawn Collinsworth and our professional staff in their strong dedication and hard work.

The 2002-2004 Phi Kappa Psi Biennial Plan has created and/or introduced the following new fraternity programs and initiatives to address an ambitious agenda for the future, in the development of the Phi Kappa Psi Project 2025 Housing Initiative, New Volunteer Advisor Orientation, Men of Excellence Values Based Curriculum, Hyparchos Area Coordinator Network, Dab Williams Alumni College, 2004 Phi Kappa Psi Grand Catalogue, Permanent Fund Resolution, Phi Psi Web Portal, Sesquicentennial History Book Project, New Alumni Association Accreditation, Boys & Girls Club of America Community Service Partnership, Strategic Assessment Review, Headquarters Speakers Bureau and Theme Founders Day Celebrations.

I am also very proud to share that Phi Kappa Psi enjoys the distinction of having the largest average chapter size of 45 in the North American Inter-fraternity Conference. Our census has topped four thousand student members for the first time in two decades. We will have chartered a record five new chapters and initiated the building process of four additional new colonies in this exciting period of growth bringing our total chapter roster to the approximate level of one hundred groups and in the stated strategic goal of establishing an additional twenty-five more chapters in a decade. I am also pleased to announce the creation of eight new metropolitan and regional Phi Psi Alumni Associations and in the revitalization and planned development of many more in the near future. The 2004 Grand Arch Council in San Diego will be represented by over 40 Accredited Alumni Associations up from 20 groups recorded two years ago.

We have invested heavily in our future in the form of new Phi Psi member services, communication forums and resource support programs. Our emphasis in values based student leadership development, alumnus advisory training, scholastic excellence, new alumni association programming, physical plant upgrade and in the enhanced priority of philanthropic and community service endeavor is defining our organizational path. In 2003, Phi Kappa Psi announced its stated Project 2025 goal to create the most attractive, competitive and safe fraternity housing on our nation's college campuses which includes the feasibility of the Phi Kappa Psi National House Corporation on the drawing board. In 2004, our fraternal organization entered a long term strategic service partnership with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America in which to further elevate our Phi Psi commitment to the ''Great Joy of Serving Others'' as ''Men of Excellence'' in Phi Kappa Psi.

I am deeply thankful and will be forever inspired by the level of dedication and loyalty that exists in our beloved Fraternity. I wish to take this opportunity to thank you for the privilege in serving in this role and in the lifetime of memories that it has provided. I am looking forward to the future and in my personal goal to help facilitate the return of my own California Theta Chapter and in the active participation of the Phi Kappa Psi Speakers Bureau Outreach Program.

I invite you to attend the upcoming 72nd Grand Arch Council in San Diego as we are expecting a very strong attendance at this summer's convention and will join together to share in some exciting new announcements and by marked accomplishments.

Let us enjoy our success and be ever reminded of each of our individual responsibility to insure that Phi Kappa Psi will live and flourish in what will be indeed be a very bright and vibrant future.

I am proud to be a Phi Psi!

Fraternally yours,
Chic...
John V. Ciccarelli
California Theta '72
58th President of Phi Kappa Psi

[PhiPsiRuss]

June 2, 2004

Dear Brothers,

I just returned home from a quick one and half day turnaround trip to Heritage Hall in Indianapolis in which I had the opportunity to discuss the upcoming Grand Arch Council plans with Executive Director Shawn Collinsworth. I also joined with him, Brother Mike McCoy , Mystagogue Kent Owen and his wife Suzi in a ''thank you'' luncheon for the hard working men and women of the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity Professional Headquarters Staff. I wish to express my very deep appreciation to all of these wonderful people for their immense dedication and for the tremendous job they performed on a daily basis.

Special congratulations to our Director of Chapter Services Chad Stegemiller and his lovely fiancee Anna who will be getting married on this Saturday. Also we extend congratulations to Brother Ben Nicol who has finished his tour of duty as an Educational Leadership Consultant and will be working with Endowment Fund Director of Development Tom Pennington at the newly located Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity Endowment Fund Office in downtown Indianapolis Monument Circle.

Excitement is building as the upcoming 72nd San Diego Grand Arch Council is taking great shape. We have an exciting program being planned as the July 7-11, 2004 Convention will witness the first ever Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity official Chapter Chartering Ceremony with the installation of New York Kappa of SUNY Oneanta.

The Grand Arch Council Program includes a special undergraduate summer Padre Baseball Night as well as an Alumni Reception San Diego Harbor Cruise. On Saturday, July 10, 2004 , will mark our Grand Arch Council Memorial which will be observed and fall on the exact One-Hundredth Anniversary of the passing of Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity Cofounder Charles Page Thomas Moore.

In addition to the presentation of a Biennial and GAC record of five new chapters and eight new alumni associations, I am also pleased to announce that two outstanding chapters will be receiving the inaugural ''Men Of Excellence'' Recognition Banners. We are also pleased to announce the first ever hosted Phi Kappa Psi Alumni Association and Hyparchos Alumni Affairs Network Breakfast in recognition of a record of forty accredited Phi Psi Alumni Associations attending the San Diego Grand Arch Council from the previous level of twenty. In addition to an anticipated large induction into the Ancient Order of The SC, the Grand Arch Council Ladies Committee is hard at work to make this the most fun filled family vacation convention for the wives, children and Phi Psi guests. The next GAC registration date of June 15, 2004 is fast approaching so please make your reservations if you have not already done so and contact our Headquarters Staff if you have any questions or need assistance.

Looking forward to a great Grand Arch Council!

Fraternally,
John V.Ciccarelli...
S.W.G.P.

[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

[PhiPsiRuss]

June 21, 2004


Dear Brothers,

I enjoyed a very special Father's Day yesterday in which after having a family breakfast with my parents, wife and children we spent the afternoon in Pasadena, California shopping and sightseeing. Later in the evening, I placed a call to Brother J. Duncan Campbell, Pennsylvania '34 Gettysburg College to wish him a special Phi Psi Father's Day whose son and grandson are Phi Psi legacies at Cornell University and who together attended the Sesquicentennial Grand Arch Council in 2002.. Brother Campbell's wife Margaret had recently passed away this past March and for purposes of our Sesquicentennial Edition of our future forthcoming History Book , I had wanted to interview him for historical inclusion as he was one of the two living authors along with Brother Harry Gorgas of the preceding ''Centennial '' issue published fifty-two years ago.

We had a wonderful and insightful conversation in which I had a hard time ''keeping up'' with Brother Campbell and a marvelous memory, as he recited by the month and year particular facts of Phi Psi interest including the background of the project undertaking of the Centennial History Book. It had been just a few years earlier as an undergrade that he had been asked by Fraternity Secretary Dab Williams to undertake a Phi Psi history research project at Virginia Alpha and Virginia Beta that precluded him being asked to help co- author the Centennial History of Phi Kappa Psi.

In our exchange I had asked him for a few quotes in which he made mention of his own Phi Psi undergraduate experience at Gettysburg College in the 1930's in which he shared the salient testimonial '' Where else than in Phi Kappa Psi could a motherless seventeen year old learn to become a man'' ''It was in Phi Psi that my philosophies and all my values in life were formed'' .....

We talked about the direction of the fraternity movement today and Brother Campbell made the noted point '' Our greatest critics of the concept of ''fraternity'' are made by those who know the least about us''.......''Every father wants what is best for his children.....Why in fact are there so many Phi Psi legacies today including sons, grandsons, nephews if the purpose wasn't important, as the valuable Phi Psi experience has demonstrated repeadetly to help build men.''

Brother Campbell made mention that at eighty-eight years of age he has just finished in collaboration with fellow Phi Psi Mike J. O'Donnell a new book to be released later this summer "American Military Headgear and Insignia" that followed a release ten years ago by the same authors ''American Military Beltplates''.

My conversation with Brother Campbell was the perfect way to finish a great Father's Day in which I look forward to submitting this interview to Brother Collinsworth in the planned completion of our Sesquicentennial History Book.

Fraternally,
John V.Ciccarelli...
S.W.G.P.

[PhiPsiRuss]

June 28, 2004


Dear Brothers,

Earlier this evening I had the pleasure to take a short drive to the USC Greek Row in Los Angeles to join Brother John Henebry California Delta '85 and take a tour of the California Delta Chapter House currently in the finishing stages of a complete physical plant renovation. John and I had the opportunity to walk among the open corridors and expanded dining area as well as see the additional improvements to one of the nicest chapter rooms in Phi Kappa Psi. I was very impressed in the quality of the major upgrade of the fifty-four year old structure that will total a one and half million dollars and related capital campaign that addresses important life safety issues i.e. fire sprinkler protection, house security and creating a fraternity chapter living environment that encourages individual study as well as creative common area interaction among residents and invited guests.

California Delta has a very strong dedicated alumni base which includes the generous loyal campaign support of Brother Bruce McMahan Cal Delta '57 . The Chapter House Corporation and has done a first rate job in organizing their capital campaign in which Chapter alumnus Karl Bresenski has been responsible to oversee and lead the very successful fundraising effort.

I wish to thank Brother Henebry who is a past president of the Cal Delta House Corporation and has been a tremendous stawlart over these many years for California Delta and for his most recent volunteer service as a member of the newly established Phi Kappa Psi Project 2025 National Housing Steering Committee.

John has been recently asked to serve as the Chairman of the new separate entity American Leadership Academy created by interested Phi Psis to help provide and facilitate valuable life skill learning sessions held in Cabo San Lucas. I am excited to hear of his view of how it will be further developed as a continual benefit to its many undergraduate and alumni participants.

Our congratulations to Brother Henebry and the Brothers of California Delta !

Fraternally,
Chic...

[PhiPsiRuss]

July 1, 2004

Dear Brothers,

I wanted to take this quick opportunity to provide information and a preliminary schedule of the Grand Arch Council Ladies Program & President's Alumni Reception, and would ask if you would share the information with your spouses. I am very happy to make mention that we have a very large attendance for the San Diego Grand Arch Council and with over 50 spouses registered.

We will kick off the Grand Arch Council on Wednesday afternoon July 7th with a President's Alumni Reception San Diego Harbor Cruise at 5 p.m. Phi Psi alumni and guests will board buses in front of the hotel's main lobby at 4:30 p.m. and will return to the hotel after the event is over.

Each morning of the Grand Arch Council, the GAC Ladies Program will host a Continental Breakfast for the registered spouses and guests in the Grant Grill Hotel Lounge. Our schedule for the continental breakfast will be from 7:30 a.m. to 12 noon on Thursday, July 8, and from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on Friday, July 9 and Saturday, July 10. The continental breakfast and daily information orientation will allow the opportunity in which the various guests and families can make individual and group plans amongst close friends and new acquittances to sight see and visit the local attractions.

I would like to especially extend this opportunity to invite all Phi Psi spouses and family members including children to join and view the Opening Ceremony and Processional March of 72nd Grand Arch Council that will take place on Thursday, July 8, 2004, in the Grand Ballroom from 8:00 a.m. to 8 :45 a.m. in which there will be available seating in the alumni gallery area. Immediately following the July 8 Grand Arch Council Opening Ceremony, the GAC Ladies Committee Program will begin in the Grant Grill Hotel Lounge in which to enjoy breakfast and a special program presented by Brother Paul Wineman . In addition, we are in the process of securing discount coupons for many of the San Diego area attractions to distribute at the daily morning sessions and I would mention that Automobile Club Card offers the best affinity theme park discount program.

We are looking forward to seeing many of you and your families in our growing ''Phi Psi Family Community'' in San Diego next week.

Travel safe and Happy Fourth of July!

Fraternally,
John V.Ciccarelli...
S.W.G.P.