Any Umass Gamma Zeta's here?

[GammaZeta]

That's really weird that they didn't include 23 years in the Paed. I don't have any Paeds. available right now, but what does the last edition say about GZ? What else did they say about the other local chapters in New England, I think Alpha and R.I were closed for a little bit since 1980.

Oh well, I never found the Paed. to be the most accurate source anyway. I'll just mark that one up as a big typo or mistake on the editor/publisher.

But between 1980-2003, GZ was open.

Unless someone is playing a 7 year practical joke on me, made some fake photo composites and had dozens of actors playing GZ brothers!!!! Hmmmmmmmm. LOL!

That actually leads me to an interesting question. What chapter has been around the longest (total years in operation)? Also which chapter has been open the longest without going dormant?

[Tom Earp]

True that Bro!

Sometimes is hard to finger our things that happens at ihq.

OK, I am picking my nose at the time while I wrote this.

But, remember, IHQ can be like any Zeta We know!

Carry on the work of Your and G Z History!

I am for one and can think of others who are interested.

Remember, The Paed will list Chartering and closing and when re chartered. That was what I was refering to. Last dat4e 1980.

If a screw up then not my doing!

Go, work with the Local there and return Gamma Back Soon!

[JonoBN41]

2003 Paedagogus, page 107:

002 Massachusetts - Amherst: Gamma; Amherst, Massachusetts, founded 1863, state; picked delegation, chartered May 18, 1912; 1501 initiates [dormant 1976-1980].

That means active before 1976 and active after 1980.

[JonoBN41]

I cannot imagine fitting 16 rooms into the original part of the house. I know that from talking to some alumni, some of which had lived in the house 50 and 60 years ago, that everyone used to sleep in the attic on bunk bed style beds. The rooms downstairs were primarily for studying, relaxing, etc, and they would only sleep in the attic.

It used to be common practice - at least up north - for members to sleep barracks-style on the top floor, and keep the windows open all year round. Sometimes snow would drift against the beds. I even tried it one night while visiting Beta up in Maine. They called it "the Ram", I don't know why. They all had electric blankets (the room was unheated), but no alarm clocks. A brother stationed outside was appointed to quietly wake each guy when it was time for class.

They did the same thing at Cornell in a room they call "the Dormer", now a weight room. Check out
http://www.iswza.org/edgemoor/roomname.html
The Dormer is on the Third Floor. There's also a room on the Second Floor called "the Bank" - for a very interesting reason.

ZAX,
Jono

[docroc67]

Brother Jono,

We never used a "rack room" system. However, it is still used by some fraternities at Miami University. I believe that both Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Sigma Chi use this system now. We have always used a one or two man to a room layout with a large bathroom on each floor.

We also had names for different rooms and floor in the various houses we have owned over the years. The "Liver" for the Living Room; the "Diner" for the Dining Room; the "U-Room" for the Bar Room; the "Palace" for one House that was much loved but also much run-downed; and the "Habitrail" for an addition that had a certain "hamster quality" to its layout.

This all added to the memories for those who lived in our Chapter Houses over the years.

Yours in ZAX,

Mike Raymond, ZUZ

[JonoBN41]

GammaZeta,

Upon clearing out some 8,000 e-mails from my Sent Folder (yeah, four years worth), I came across an item I had forgotten about.

In February, 2002 I saw the Gamma Charter, or a copy of it, up for auction on ebay and wrote to several brothers from your chapter to let them know about it.

This seems to be the time period you weren't living in the house, but I'm now wondering if you know what ever happened with that auction, and who ended up with it?

Was it an actual Charter or a copy from Warren Cole's personal items? Do you remember hearing anything about it?

In ZAX,
Jono

[docroc67]

Good Evening,

I am very familiar with that situation. I bought a large number of items that came from the estate of Warren A. Cole's daughter. I got to know the woman who was selling the items quite well over a month or two of buying things from her. When the Gamma Zeta "Charter" came up on e-Bay, I placed a bid. She contacted me shortly thereafter to tell me that individual Lambda Chis, some from IHQ, were threatening her because she had this "Charter." It was like she had stolen it.

However, I noticed that the document was not signed by the proper officers and therefore had never been issued. As most every Lambda Chi knows, Warren A. Cole issued Charters in anticipation of all necessary approvals and so forth. Meaning that this one was probably never issued because the Chartering date would have been wrong on the document! I believe that he kept this one in his personal collection and it eventualy was passed on to his daughter. I offered to buy it from her and then turn it over to IHQ.

She eventually gave it our Fraternity. I put a "little heat" on a few people at IHQ because I felt that they did not act as gentlemen toward this very nice lady. Eventually, she contacted me again saying that she got a letter and flowers from our fraternity.

Obviuosly, that "Charter" is an important document for our archives. It helps demonstrate that Warren A. Cole was working feverously to help our Fraternity grow. It is also a great example of how his zeal and enthusiasm got ahead of his usual planning....

Yours in ZAX,

Mike Raymond, ZUZ

[GammaZeta]

Interesting story. Glad it's back. Like I said before, after we were shut down in 76 and reopened in 80, everything prior to those years were long gone.

[Tom Earp]

That was what I was refering to, but maybe misworded.

It shows in the newest Paed. that was a functioning Zeta after 1980 which it isnt. Did not list a closeing date.

Hopefully in the near future.

[GammaZeta]

I'm a little confused Tom by your wording.

Gamma Zeta was a fully functioning Zeta from 1980-2002.

I just wanted to say that everything, including documents, paddles, history, charters, prior to 1980 were lost. So please don't blame any of the current or recent brothers for losing anything , everything was already long gone before I got there. I myself was very sad when I found out we had no history prior to 1980. I'm a HUGE local history buff and would have loved to read some of the original documents, etc.

[Tom Earp]

Maybe that was the problem, GZ was closed down by the time that The Newest Paed. was printed? 1 year difference and must be put to bed to be printed. Maybe the next one.

[docroc67]

Brothers,

Those interested in UMASS, Amherst history may want to do an Amazon.com search for a book by Steven R. Sullivan entitled, University of Massachusetts, Amherst. This book was published in August by Arcadia Publishing. It is a photographic history of the institution. It will probably go out of print soon. New copy price is $19.99.

The best thing about this small book is its cover. The cover very clearly shows an old pillow with the Greek letters of Lambda Chi Alpha! I am pretty sure it is a photograph from inside the Gamma Zeta House. The photo, with some additional information, is also featured in the book. So, Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity made the cover of this fine little book!

Yours in ZAX,

Mike Raymond

[Gunny313]

I've only just recently starting re-exploring what is available on the Internet for my old Chapter and Fraternity. Here's why:

Started UMass in Fall Semester of 88.
I rushed/initiated in Spring of 89; spent way too much time in the social aspects and left UMass after Fall semester of 89. Only one full semester as a brother, but obvious memories I'll never forget.
After a stint at a community college, I enlisted in the US Army, and I'm still on active duty 13 years later.

Every few years I seem to get this yearning, this need to try and reach out and see if I can reconnect. After all, I truly believe Lambda Chi, and particularly my experiences at Gamma Zeta shaped into much of the man I am today.

I am a senior Noncommissioned officer; married with one boy; been nearly all around the world and across much of the country. I've had some amazing experiences in the Army, and yet, I can still recall with vivid clarity each step/phase of the initiation semester.

So, back to the original thread message....are there any Gamma Zeta's about??

[GammaZeta]

We're here!

We've had several brothers join the military in recent years from Gamma Zeta.

I know a couple GZ's lurk on the board from time to time.

Anyways welcome to Greekchat. What part of the country are you in Gunny? In a little while me and a couple GZ's are going to start getting organized again and start getting things rolling.

There has been alot of stuff going on with our old chapter, give me a pm when you get a chance and we can talk.

GZ

[Tom Earp]

Hey Gunny313


Welcome from an Old Fart.

Ask GammaZeta, we are staying in touch.!

Please Keep In Touch!

There are Brothers Here from All over, not only S S (GZ) but many of us.
Welcome to our Band of Merry Brothers of GC!!!!!!!!!!!

It is great to hear from you!

Hell Bro. Been doing it for 40 Years. Yes, there is a reason to do it isnt there!