Psi Upsilon Fraternity has partnered with Firsthand to provide a mentoring network for all our members – undergraduates and alumni. The platform allows brothers to connect for one-on-one career conversations. Whether you have an interview coming up, need to give your resume a tune up, or want to learn about a new career path, brothers will be there to help! Take a look at the page here and please sign up to be a mentor today!
Archons Town Hall: Wednesday April 1st 5-6PM Eastern
This town hall is for undergraduate chapter presidents and other members of their Executive Board as they discuss challenges and solutions to current remote learning environments – philanthropy, operations, recruitment, new member education, and staying connected to one another. If you would like an invite to this Zoom conference please contact Executive Director Thomas Fox at tfox@psiu.org
Join us for the first installment of the Psi Upsilon Virtual Speaker Series, live online April 9th 6-7pm EST.
Our speaker will be Kolemann Lutz, Phi Delta ’18 (Mary Washington). The Co-founder of Journey Foundation (with brother Jack Harmon, Phi Delta ’18 [Mary Washington]) will be discussing Adventure Philanthropy: the growing industry of effecting change through travel and exposure. Live via ZOOM webinar. Details on the virtual series here: Register here: To suggest a speaker or topic contact jonathan@psiu.org
All members will be receiving emails, postcards, and calls on behalf of Psi Upsilon from a company called PCI starting next week (March 16th). These are legitimate attempts from a company we have hired to update our contact information and records. You can see more answers to common questions here.
Registration for the 177th Psi Upsilon Convention is now live. Join us in Atlanta, GA to celebrate Psi Upsilon and the 50th Anniversary of the Gamma Tau Chapter at Georgia Tech! For more information go here.
March Challenge Overview Annual giving is one of the most important areas in an organization’s fundraising efforts. This March 15 – 22, join us by getting in on the March Challenge! The March Challenge pits chapter against chapter in friendly competition to see who can garner the most donors…the most Fans in the Stands if you like.
The March Challenge will have daily and final metrics to keep the competition moving.
From March 15-22 we’ll be providing updates on:
• What chapter has the most donors overall
• What chapter has given the most overall that specific day (to help differentiate)
• Which chapters are the top 5 each day
• All 1833 club members, and all recurring gift donors will be recognized daily
At the end of the Challenge the Chapter with the most donors will receive the trophy and be judged winner for the 2020 March Challenge!
Above (Journey Foundation travel photo. Scroll through their Facebook page to see more journeys like those of Jack Harmon, Phi Delta ’18, and Koleman Lutz, Phi Delta ’18.)
Lambda Sigma (Pepperdine) Raises over $18,000 for Conquer Paralysis Now with PSI U THINK YOU CAN DANCE Philanthropy
In 1983, Lambda Omega Sigma became the first Greek Fraternity at Pepperdine with the motto “Through Service We Shine” and in 1998 they became the Lambda Sigma Chapter of Psi Upsilon, and kept that focus on service. The chapter hosts a wildly successful philanthropy that not only includes the Greek community, but also attracts participation outside the fraternity and sorority world. During this year’s Psi U Think U Can Dance Philanthropy, the Lambda Sigma chapter not only sold nearly 500 tickets, but also raised over $18,000 for Conquer Paralysis Now, a non-profit started by the chapter’s first president, Sam Schmidt ’86.
27 years ago a group of alumni gathered to play golf and catch up, but over nearly 3 decades, this tradition of friendship has transformed into an entire cross-generational alumni culture for these Omicron alumni. These brothers not only gather to cultivate their Psi Upsilon bonds, but also give back to the community while doing so.
L to R: Omicron Alumni Tim Miller ’80, Matt Hower ’79, John Bloomfield ’79, Marty Hower ’80, Doug Glidewell ’81, Dan Wojnowski ’81, Tim Evans ’76, Kim Wells ’81
In 1992, four Brothers from University of Illinois – Champaign Urbana, were participating in a spring break-remembrance of friendship, golf, and fun, but little did they know that 27 years later the trip would become not only their tradition, but grow into a cross-generational, annual alumni gathering.
Omicron brothers from graduating years ranging from 1960 to the late 1980s continue to get together for the same reason as the original four, creating bonds that will last a lifetime. Over the years it has gained popularity, encouraging brothers to stay united and become better people together. After some time, the location has changed on a few occasions: Napa, Las Vegas, San Antonio, New Orleans, Tampa, Naples, Phoenix. There are newcomers, and every year, between four and eight join this traditional alumni getaway weekend. Although golf was the foundation of the gathering when it originally started, the group has expanded the focus of the trip to one of service, allowing brothers to step back into their philanthropic roots of Psi Upsilon members.
The group now gathers to build houses with Habitat for Humanity, but still makes time for a round or two of golf. After staying in touch yearlong via texts and emails, this upcoming November the group will return to Naples for their annual gathering. They all share responsibilities for the planning of the trip: one brother takes charge of meal planning to enjoy the foods they normally don’t allow themselves to eat, another plans the service project, and another secures tee times.
This group has remained close over the last 3 decades, supporting each other through marriages, kids, parents passing, illnesses of spouses, and even losing their own Brothers. During their trip in San Francisco, the group was able to connect with other Omicron Chapter brothers that live in the area. One of the original four, Matt Hower, recalls one round of golf he’ll never forget. “We had made tee times for the Golden Gate Park Golf Course and couldn’t figure out why it was so easy to get tee times. Then we teed off on the first hole – right into a thick horizon of fog. The first nine holes we were completely fogged in. That made it quite challenging to keep our eye on our golf balls.”
Hower is grateful for all the Omicron Brothers he’s met throughout the years during this annual gathering. He encourages other chapters to create a special tradition for their alumni to bond with each other as well, regardless of when they initiated. “Keep it interesting and get to know guys well. It’s a chance to be laid back, have fun, and enjoy no responsibilities… even if for just a few days.”
