On April 1, 2011, the Housing Corporation will host the first Senior Recognition Luncheon – an event designed to recognize the year’s graduating seniors in addition to welcoming them as new alumni of our fraternity and our University. This event will take place at the Duquesne Club in downtown Pittsburgh from 12:00 o’clock noon until approximately 2:00 o’clock p.m. The menu includes salad, choice of chicken or Virginia Spots, coffee and desert. All alumni are welcome to attend and are encouraged to sponsor a graduate if possible. The cost will depend on number of attendees but should be approximately $40. If you are interested please RSVP to [email protected]. This luncheon is the idea of Housing Corporation member Michael Demarco who has taken the lead in its planning. In addition to recognizing our graduates, brother Demarco has envisioned this luncheon as a way to help seniors become comfortable with professional events. Furthermore, it is a way to help them network and socialize in an alcohol-free environment. Brother Demarco also plans to make this luncheon part of an Beginning a New Tradition: Senior Recognition Luncheon Another Beta Theta Brother Recognized for Contributions to Sigma Chi The Significant Sig Award is one of the highest alumni awards granted by the Sigma Chi Fraternity. It recognizes those brothers that have excelled greatly in their field of study or occupation. Before this year the Beta Theta Chapter had 17 brothers who have received this award. They are Hervey Allen, Michael Bryson, Robert Bubb, Michael Ditka, J. Roger Glunt, David Green, Thomas Hall, Dr. John Lathrop, Dr. Joseph Marasco, Jr., Dr. Mark Nagy, Tom Olofson, John Ranck, J. Milnor Roberts, Rev. Robert Rowley, Jr., Hon, E.G. Shuster, Benjamin Thomas, Jr., and Regis Toomey. This year, Brother Keith E. Schaefer (1971) became the 19 th Beta Theta brother to receive the Significant Sig Award. Brother Schaefer was recognized for his success as Co-founder, CEO and President of BPL Global, LTD. BPL Global is a smart grid technology company dedicated to leading the transformation of energy and information delivery. The company provides software solutions and services to electric utilities enabling an intelligent grid that can more efficiently manage demand, improve service reliability, and optimize cost and capital productivity. The 2011 class of Significant Sigs included such renowned brothers as Jay Wright (Bucknell), the head basketball coach at Villanova; Brad Pitt (Missouri-Columbia), the actor and philanthropist; Brett Decker (Albion) editorial page editor of the Washington Times; James Haslam, III (Tennessee-Knoxville), part owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers; and Casey Martin (Stanford), former PGA pro. Brother Schaefer also dedicates significant time and effort to our alma mater as a University alumni trustee member and has been a member of our chapter’s mentorship program. On behalf of all Beta Thetas, we congratulate Brother Keith! The Panther Sig Spring 2011 Newsletter of the Beta Theta Chapter of the Sigma Chi Fraternity expanded series of events that will focus on developing their social skills. Brother Christian Quimby already hosts an interviewing workshop each semester that teaches the undergraduates how to get ahead in landing a job or an internship. Other topics that are in the works include a lecture on basic personal finance, resume building, and even tips on the appropriate style of dress for today’s workplace. These ideas come at a time when the fraternity at large is putting a renewed emphasis on manners and etiquette. Brother Demarco hopes that this could lead to a monthly luncheon in the city for a large group of Pittsburgh-based alumni. For those who cannot make it to the city, he hopes that the idea will catch on in other areas. He sees it as a great way to reinvigorate groups of brothers to get together on a more frequent basis. As alumni, this event will provide us with an opportunity to thank the graduates for their efforts over the past four years. As always there will be a few surprises in store. We encourage all of you to attend. With your participation, we can make this quite a memorable event. We’re on the Web! Create a profile, search for brothers, view our calendar of events, and pay your dues on-line: http://pitt.alumnisigmachi.org/ Check out the undergraduates’ new website – www.panthersig.org
Transcript
On April 1, 2011, the Housing Corporation will host the first Senior Recognition Luncheon – an event designed to recognize the year’s graduating seniors in addition to welcoming them as new alumni of our fraternity and our University. This event will take place at the Duquesne Club in downtown Pittsburgh from 12:00 o’clock noon until approximately 2:00 o’clock p.m.
The menu includes salad, choice of chicken or Virginia Spots, coffee and desert. All alumni are welcome to attend and are encouraged to sponsor a graduate if possible. The cost will depend on number of attendees but should be approximately $40. If you are interested please RSVP to [email protected].
This luncheon is the idea of Housing Corporation member Michael Demarco who has taken the lead in its planning. In addition to recognizing our graduates, brother Demarco has envisioned this luncheon as a way to help seniors become comfortable with professional events. Furthermore, it is a way to help them network and socialize in an alcohol-free environment.
Brother Demarco also plans to make this luncheon part of an
Beginning a New Tradition: Senior Recognition Luncheon
Another Beta Theta Brother Recognized for Contributions to Sigma Chi The Significant Sig Award is one of the highest alumni awards granted by the Sigma Chi Fraternity. It recognizes those brothers that have excelled greatly in their field of study or occupation. Before this year the Beta Theta Chapter had 17 brothers who have received this award. They are Hervey Allen, Michael Bryson, Robert Bubb, Michael Ditka, J. Roger Glunt, David Green, Thomas Hall, Dr. John Lathrop, Dr. Joseph Marasco, Jr., Dr. Mark Nagy, Tom Olofson, John Ranck, J. Milnor Roberts, Rev. Robert Rowley, Jr., Hon, E.G. Shuster, Benjamin Thomas, Jr., and Regis Toomey.
This year, Brother Keith E. Schaefer (1971) became the 19th Beta Theta brother to receive the Significant Sig Award. Brother Schaefer was recognized for his success as Co-founder, CEO and President of BPL Global, LTD. BPL Global is a smart grid technology company dedicated to leading the transformation of energy and information delivery. The company provides software solutions and services to electric utilities enabling an intelligent grid that can more efficiently manage demand, improve service reliability, and optimize cost and capital productivity.
The 2011 class of Significant Sigs included such renowned brothers as Jay Wright (Bucknell), the head basketball coach at Villanova; Brad Pitt (Missouri-Columbia), the actor and philanthropist; Brett Decker (Albion) editorial page editor of the Washington Times; James Haslam, III (Tennessee-Knoxville), part owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers; and Casey Martin (Stanford), former PGA pro.
Brother Schaefer also dedicates significant time and effort to our alma mater as a University alumni trustee member and has been a member of our chapter’s mentorship program. On behalf of all Beta Thetas, we congratulate Brother Keith!
The Panther Sig Spring 2011
Newsletter of the Beta Theta Chapter of the Sigma Chi Fraternity
expanded series of events that will focus on developing their social skills. Brother Christian Quimby already hosts an interviewing workshop each semester that teaches the undergraduates how to get ahead in landing a job or an internship. Other topics that are in the works include a lecture on basic personal finance, resume building, and even tips on the appropriate style of dress for today’s workplace. These ideas come at a time when the fraternity at large is putting a renewed emphasis on manners and etiquette.
Brother Demarco hopes that this could lead to a monthly luncheon in the city for a large group of Pittsburgh-based alumni. For those who cannot make it to the city, he hopes that the idea will catch on in other areas. He sees it as a great way to reinvigorate groups of brothers to get together on a more frequent basis.
As alumni, this event will provide us with an opportunity to thank the graduates for their efforts over the past four years. As always there will be a few surprises in store. We encourage all of you to attend. With your participation, we can make this quite a memorable event.
We’re on the Web! Create a profile, search for brothers, view our calendar of events, and pay your dues on-line:
http://pitt.alumnisigmachi.org/
Check out the undergraduates’ new website – www.panthersig.org
Save the Date for these Upcoming Brother Events As the de facto alumni organization of the Beta Theta Chapter, one of our goals for the upcoming year is to hold events that allow our alumni an opportunity to reconnect with the Chapter, undergraduates, and other alumni. In the past the only real “alumni” event was Homecoming. This past year we began a new event that we called “Brothers Weekend.” This consisted of a golf outing at Green Oaks Country Club on a Friday afternoon followed by a tailgate for the home football game the following day.
Brothers Weekend was such a success last year that we have decided to turn it into an annual event. This year we have tentatively scheduled the event for Friday September 9th and Saturday September 10th, 2011. The golf outing will take place on Friday the 9th and will begin at approximately 12:00 noon at Green Oaks Country Club. Last year we saw almost forty brothers tackle the course. Skill prizes were awarded for longest drive, closest to the pin, longest putt, and best round.
The following day, Saturday September 10th, Pitt will play its second home football game of the year against the University of Maine. Although the time for kickoff has yet to be announced, we anticipate that it will be 12:00 noon or 1:00 p.m. Three and one-half hours before kickoff the annual Housing Corporation meeting will be held in the boardroom of Harvest Financial Corporation located at 1100 Smallman Street in the Strip District. Elections for membership on the Housing Corporation will be held at this time at nominations can be made at the meeting. Following the game, and approximately
Beta Theta Work Program Seeks Employers and Opportunities Looking back on college, brothers usually will have fond memories of living on the thinnest of budgets. Most will recall a diet of Ramen Noodles, renting a dirt-cheap apartment, and scavenging for change in the couch cushions for gas money.
Unfortunately, today’s economic climate has made paying for school and its numerous other expenses a very difficult burden for many of our undergraduate brothers. This fall the Chapter began what has become known as the Beta Theta Work Program. This consisted of a small group of local alumni offering to employ needy undergraduates up to the cost of their fraternity dues. So far the arrangement
three hours before kickoff, a tailgate will commence in the gold lot at Heinz Field. This will consist of a traditional tailgating menu of hamburgers, hot dogs, and plenty of drink. Look for the Sigma Chi flag flying high in order to pinpoint our exact location in the Gold Lot.
Although these events are about six months away we wanted to make sure that you have notice well in advance. More information will be disseminated via our website – pitt.alumnisigmachi.org and questions can be sent to [email protected] or [email protected].
Another event that we are excited about this upcoming year is the annual Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix. This is America’s largest vintage car race. This event consists of ten days worth of car shows, cruises and parades throughout the Pittsburgh area and culminates with a race on Sunday July 24, 2011, in Schenley Park. Entry into the park begins at 9 a.m. and activities are held throughout the day.
We have decided to reserve a tent on the park grounds so that our brothers can congregate and relax in between the festivities. The tent will be full of food, drink and camaraderie.
Again, details of these events are not finalized at this time. We will be sending out updates through our website. In order to receive these updates please visit http://pitt.alumnisigmachi.org and register as a user of this site. Once you have registered, you can simply update all of your current contact information on your profile. If you have difficulty, please contact Lawrence “Guido” Gurrera at [email protected] or Andrew Hanson at [email protected] and we will do our best to assist you.
We’re looking forward to seeing all of you at these events and hope that their success this year will make them new traditions for our Chapter.
has worked well with the exception that there are just more undergraduates requesting work than there are jobs available. For this reason we are asking that any alumni that have some work that needs to be done at their business – or even chores around the backyard – offer the opportunity to one of our undergraduate brothers. Any help will be greatly appreciated.
We hope that the Work Program can eventually expand into an “Internship Program” where alumni can advertise on our website for summer internship opportunities.
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Brother Robert M. Ferreri of Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, died suddenly on August 9, 2010. He was predeceased by his parents, Lucrecia R. (Poleo) and Vito Ferreri. He is survived by his brother, V. Richard Ferreri, Esq. and his wife, Sheila; his niece, Michelle Ferreri Esq., and his aunt, Lillian M. Houlahan and many loving cousins.
Undergraduates Find Philanthropic Success with “Bundle-Up” and “Wrap-Up” Projects
In Memoriam – Robert M. Ferreri
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The following brothers have recently entered the Chapter Eternal
Brother Ferreri was a member of the class of 1974 and entered the
Chapter Eternal suddenly on August 9, 2010.
V. Richard Ferreri,
Robert’s brother and a fellow Beta Theta of the 1970 class, has made a
generous donation to Beta Theta in Robert’s
memory.
Robert C. Lindsay Alfred J. Williams, Jr. Andrew J. Kuzneski, Jr. Anthony Mastrolembo Dr. John R. Weimer
Hugh G. McRandal Frank R. Kristl Albert W. Lesker, Jr. Mark H. Reinhard Walter J. White W. Bruce Glotfelty, DDS
Anthony Mastrolembo Robert J. Andres John W. Raihle Ignatius C. Laux Robert W. Ingrim
If you have announcements, news, comments, or even wish to share photographs for publication in the Panther Sig newsletter we’d love to hear from you. Contributions are always welcome and those wishing to submit an article for publication are encouraged to do so. Please make submissions to Lawrence “Guido” Gurrera at [email protected]
In addition to the Chapter’s regular fundraising efforts for the Make-A-Wish foundation, our brothers have engaged in a separate set of ambitious community service projects that has earned them some well deserved recognition in the local media.
During the fall 2010 semester, our undergraduate brothers raffled off football jerseys signed by gridiron greats Dion Lewis and Jon Baldwin and raised $2,000.00 in the process. They then took the proceeds and accompanied several disadvantaged area youth on a shopping spree for winter coats. Their efforts in this “Bundle-Up” project were eventually highlighted on the evening news. They are now raffling off a basketball and Oakland Zoo T-shirt signed by the basketball team and coach Jamie Dixon.
They continued the momentum into the spring 2011 semester with “Wrap-Up.” This endeavor was a
blanket drive that resulted in the collection of over 750 blankets. Each blanket collected was then matched by Delta Airlines for a grand total of over 1,500 blankets for local shelters. The project culminated with a challenge between Pitt’s sororities to build the best “fort” made out of blankets. The picture above shows the fort-building contest and was run in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on Sunday, February 18, 2011.
2010 – 2011 Dues Paying Members Sigma Chi Club of Pittsburgh as of 3/1/2011
Cathedral Level ($100) George Bellios Ronald M. Bellohusen John R Bender Michael Bryson Joseph Cavanaugh James Chontos WD Chrisner ($250) John Clark John Dane Michael D. DeMarco E.A. Eiler Al English Matthew Felten V. Richard Ferreri Robert Ferreri – IM Marc Friedberg Brian Generalovich David Gifford Robert Giunta Denis Glunt J. Roger Glunt David C. Green Guido Gurrera David Hammers Harry Kunselman A. Majcher Ralph Manning Chester Maruszewski Charles W. McClowry Thomas Meisner Gregory Musi Kenneth Putkovich Christian Quimby David Redding Gregory RodgersFrank D. Ruscetti ($200) Bud Schuster Thomas Shaw Ernest Simon William Terasavage Martin St. John Gregory Travalio
Gold Level ($50) Greg Davis Eric Incitti Samuel Manuel Joseph Marasco Mark Nagy David Nedzinski Philip Rabinowitz John Strayer Milton Tokash Erin D. Walker John Woychick
Blue Level ($35) Ray T. Blackham Gil Golden Michael Leonard Kenneth Lucas Joel McNeil William Miller Alan Sage Samuel G. Woodings
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