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Master of Ceremonies Guy Fraker, Omicron '60
Bob Llewellyn, Omicron '44 with a newspaper from his time at the Omicron. |
The Omicron chapter hosted the 167th Psi Upsilon Convention, but that was not the only cause for celebration at the University of Illinois. The chapter turned 100 years old on May 28th, 2010. The centennial was celebrated throughout the Convention weekend, starting with a cookout at the chapter house on Friday night. The following night the Omicron Alumni Association sponsored an Centennial dinner at the Illini Union. Guy Fraker, Omicron '60 served as the toastmaster of the event. The memorable speakers of the night was Bob Llewellyn, Omicron '44who shared stories about the Omicron chapter in the 1940s. The speakers list also included Omicron alumni Art Wood '43, long time chapter advisor Joe Miller '57, Executive Council and past Foundation board member, Brad Corner '72, past Omicron Alumni Asociation president Dean Marinakis '90, Omicron Alumni Association secretary and Arrow editor Dave Komie '92, past archon and past Executive Council member Matt DalSanto '04, past archon Paul Palamattam '10 and current Archon Nick Munaretto '12. Each brother shared his perspective on the life of the chapter during his tenure as an undergraduate, reminding all of the dedication and love necessary to maintain a healthy chapter over time. |
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The University of Illinois was the location of the 167th Psi Upsilon Convention and brothers came in numbers from all over the United States and Canada. Every active chapter is required to send two undergraduate members and at least one alumnus as delegates. In addition the active chapters present, the following inactive chapters were also represented: Gamma (Amherst), Upsilon (Rochester) Rho (Wisconsin), Delta Delta (Williams) and Epsilon Phi (McGill). |
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James A. Swanke, Jr., Rho '80 announcing award recipients at the closing banquet. |
The Awards Committee of the 167th Psi Upsilon Convention was assigned the task of determining the chapters deserving of awards in categories that included academic achievement and philanthropic efforts. This was not an easy undertaking; this year Psi Upsilon’s undergraduate members accounted for approximately 10,000 hours of community service and raised roughly $115,000 for different charitable causes. Chapter grade point averages were very impressive as well. The average chapter GPA this past academic year was a 3.14. See if your chapter won an award here. |
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Jeb Becker with gifts given to his |
At the annual meeting of the Executive Council held just after the Convention closed John “Jeb” Becker II, Psi '62 (Hamilton College) was named an honorary life member of the Executive Council. Jeb has served on the Executive Council for over ten years. He is also currently the president of the Psi chapter’s alumni association and has served in that capacity for more than 20 years. Other honorary life members of the Executive Council include Murray L. Eskenazi, Lambda '56, Charles S. P. Hodge, Gamma '68, Robert L. Kaiser, Zeta '39 and Forrest G. Weeks, Tau '52. |
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Murray Eskenazi, Lambda '56, Honorary Life Member of the Executive Council. |
Murray Eskenazi, Lambda '56 (Columbia) inspired those at the 167th Convention Awards Banquet with hsi speech entitled "The Psi Upsilon Experience". Murray talked about the many intangible skills and values that are learned as a brother of Psi Upsilon. Using business analogies, he also spoke of the future of Psi Upsilon, the challenges that our fraternity may face, and how to ensure its success. |
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(Left) Jeb Becker, Psi '61, Dean Marinakis, Omicron '90, Dave Komie, Omicron '92 and Brad Corner, Omicron '72 |
Psi Upsilon endures in part because of the hard work and dedication of its alumni volunteers. The Distinguished Alumni Service Award is designed to recognize alumni whose service have brought honor to our fraternity. Four brothers were recognized this year with this award: John E. “Jeb” Becker II, Psi '61 (Hamilton), Dean C. Marinakis, Omicron '90, (Illinois) David P. Komie, Omicron '92 and Bradley R. Corner, Omicron '72. |
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Mark J. Kosminskas and his son Alec J. Kosminskas share several things in common that other father son pairs might not. Both are collegiate football players; Mark was linebacker at the University of Chicago, while his son is currently a center for Columbia University. Perhaps more importantly, they are brothers of Psi Upsilon. Mark J. Kosminskas, Omega '81 (Chicago) and his son Alec J. Kosminskas, Lambda '13 (Columbia) attended their first Convention together this June, each representing his chapter. They join the Wildhack family (Henry, John and Rob) of the Pi and many other families who have shared the bonds of brotherhood. If you or someone you know shares family ties with current undergraduate brothers, send your story. |
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(Left) Jesse Hammer, Omicron '43, Bob Llewellyn, Omicron '44 and Art Wood, Omicron '43 |
Convention is a time for important Psi Upsilon business to be conducted, but it is also a time for friends to reconnect. Art Wood, Omicron '43, Bob Llewellyn, Omicron '44, and Jesse Hammer, Omicron '43 made the trip to Champaign to attend the Founders' Society & Scholarship Luncheon, sponsored by The Psi Upsilon Foundation. The three long time friends reminisced about the Omicron and attending the University during World War II. Murray Eskenazi, Lambda '56 (Columbia) and Eldred Halsey, Delta '58 (NYU) joined the trio in singing a rendition of the “Sweetheart of Old Psi U”. Jesse's t-shirt was a reminder that recruitment is a 365 day a year responsibility of all brothers. |
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First time board members (Left) Patrick Gilrane, Psi '82 (Hamilton), Bob Petersen, Omicron '68 (Illinois) and Henry Wildhack, Pi '75, (Syracuse)
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The Executive Council and Foundation Board of Directors are vital to the ongoing success of Psi Upsilon. These board are composed of volunteers who dedicate their time and money to serving Psi Upsilon. During the Convention, each organization elected officers and added new directors. The Executive Council elected the following officers:
The Psi Upsilon Foundation Board of Directors elected the following:
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Undergraduates Elected to Executive Council
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Kevin Collins, Beta Beta '11 and James Litzinger, Sigma Phi '11 were elected to as undergraduate representatives to the Executive Council. |
The Executive Council of Psi Upsilon is made up of alumni term members from various chapters. The Executive Council also provides for two undergraduate delegates to ensure that the undergraduate voice is always considered. Kevin Collins, Beta Beta ’11 (Trinity) and James Litzinger, Sigma Phi ’11 (St. Francis) were elected by the 167th Psi Upsilon Convention to serve as the undergraduate representatives on the Executive Council. They will attend board meetings and serve as liaisons to the undergraduate members during the next academic year. |
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Serious discussion about grades prompted a change in the criteria for the Garnet and Gold Award. |
If you have attended the Convention and served on the Awards Committee in the past several years, you'll know that determining chapter awards is not an easy task. New legislation at the 167th Convention is aimed at simplifying part of the process. Previously, the Garnet and Gold Award of Academic Excellence was given to chapters with a combined GPA of 3.0 or greater. The Convention determined the 3.0 GPA was too arbitrary and has been removed from the language of the award. |
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Dan Wrona challenged undergraduates to react to situations by reflecting on the values of Psi U. .
Alumni considered the responsibilities of being in the student housing business.
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In addition to all the fun, Convention attendees benefited from nationally recognized speakers at the Leadership Institute. Don Wrona of RISE Partnerships kicked off the day with a presentation on values driven leadership. He spoke of how to align daily tasks with the principles of Psi U. Undergraduates then spent more time discussing case studies and how to react to situations faced by fraternity leaders. Alumni spent time with Bill Paris, principle of the Laurus Group who spoke to alumni about chapter housing fund raising campaigns. |
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Plan now to attend the 168th Psi Upsilon Convention in Washington, DC, June 24 - 26, 2011 hosted by the Phi Delta chapter (Mary Washington). The Convention will be held at the Hotel Palomar on DuPont Circle. Each chapter is required to send at least two undergraduate delegates and one alumnus to represent them in the legislative business of the Fraternity. Additional delegates are encouraged to attend and participate in the Leadership Institute, held concurrently, which will have sessions planned for alumni and undergraduates alike. |
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