House Corporation Newsletter – Holiday 2010
Brian Lojko New Chapter Advisor
House Corporation Trustee Brian Lojko has accepted an offer from Central Florida Grand Praetor P.J. Stephens to assume the role of Chapter Advisor at Eta Iota, and has relinquished his role as an active HC Trustee. Brian replaces Tim Wargo, who stepped down due to overwhelming work and family commitments. HC will address the Trustee vacancy after the holidays; we thank Brian for his service to the Board and look forward to assisting him in his new role.
40th Birthday
Believe it or not, the 40th Birthday Party is just around the corner: March 31 – April 3, 2011. We already have many brothers signed up. Have you? Now's the time to start planning — book your flight yet? Hotel? The Hilton still has rooms for $109/night. Planning to golf Friday? Register and pay online for B-day & the Golf Tournament at www.EtaIota.org, where you can also find more info on all the events.
Final 2010 Projects
The final large-scale project for 2010 is underway: local A/C contractor DG Meyers will install the south wing central air conditioning system beginning the week of December 6th. Once complete, our building manager, Shannon Lytle, will remove the old individual window units from rooms 1-7 and permanently seal the openings. Central air in the north and south wings reduces energy consumption, reduces repair and replacement costs, adds value, and creates a better living environment. This marks the end (with the exception of rooms 8 and 9) of a project that's been discussed or in the works for nearly a decade.
Walkthrough
HC Vice President Nick Weiss, Undergraduate House Manager Jason Auger, and building manager Shannon Lytle conducted an extensive walkthrough of the entire Eta Iota property in late November. HC is reviewing the list and determining triage by order of importance. The walkthrough identified opportunities in both common areas and individual rooms — leaking faucets, inoperative bathroom vent fans, damaged door jambs, carpets, drywall repair, and tile/grout work, plus larger projects like rear decking, landscaping, parking lot repairs, exterior stucco, and soffit work. A detailed list is forthcoming for Board review against the existing fiscal budget.
Undergraduate Initiation
On November 13th, our Eta Iota brothers initiated 16 candidates into Sigma Chi. Post-Initiation Training (PIT) commences at the first chapter meeting following initiation and continues into the following semester, covering Sigma Chi "mechanics" as well as a deeper understanding of our philosophies and beliefs — a continuation of pledge training that reemphasizes the roles and responsibilities of the lifelong commitment. Congratulations to the new brothers, and job well done to the undergraduates.
A Note from the President
We're right in the middle of the holiday season. Schools are preparing for winter break; families are getting ready to travel, attend parties, shop, and reunite with loved ones. We all get wrapped up in the spirit of the season, but should take a few minutes to remember what it's truly about. I encourage you to think of those less fortunate — suffering from physical or mental illness, overseas fighting for what we believe in — and remember our fallen comrades and brothers, and how you might make a difference in their lives or their families'. Savor the company of friends and family and be thankful for our blessings.
I look forward to the continued success and challenges of our brotherhood as we roll into the New Year and work toward the betterment of our chapter and fraternity. A heartfelt thank-you to all of you who contributed to our noble cause through your volunteer efforts.
Have a great holiday!
IHSV,
Robert Tetrault, "Mr. Burns" 2002