Brothers,

Before we jump into the January House Corp Update, are you one of the 150+ that are already registered for 45th Birthday?  If not, what are you waiting for?

Register NOW

OK, so a lot of great stuff going on in House Corp this month:

1. Tom McSwiggan has put together an extensive overview of work done at the house since last summer and has outlined the next projects he is tackling as Director of Operations.
2. After years of requests with no viable solution, the chapter has a new tax-deductible donation channel!  This has been in the works for many months and is finally ready for rollout so we’re excited to announce the details.
3. The nomination process for 2016 officers and trustees is now open.  We are looking for a few great men to help out!

Project Summary at 520 S Ridgewood

For those of you who haven’t been back to the house lately, you’re in for a treat at 45th when you see first-hand all the great improvements that have been made.  Tom McSwiggan, our Director of Operations, has been kicking ass over the past year, knocking out many long overdue projects.  There are too many to mention here and we’ll be running through the details at the annual HC meeting on April 2nd but here’s just a teaser of the big ones (big thanks to Tom for the write-up):

• We ran a camera down all drains to inspect the cast iron waste lines and found a few bad areas that needed attention.  We replaced two vertical waste lines in the wall between the chapter room and room 9 due to rust and heavy scaling which prevented adequate water flow.  The exterior waste line were mediocre with the exception of a very bad area that extended approximately 30′ from the north wing flagpole to the street. This area was also scaling heavily but was rotted and cracked with roots growing through also trapping waste products. This area has been replaced.

• The wood front column covers were replaced with a plastic PVC material for longevity. We installed vinyl soffit material on the ceiling of the portico, the old paint was peeling. Vinyl is much more appropriate for the application because the heat of the sun would continually bake the paint off the ceiling.

• While the columns were done, we ran new wires inside the columns and added 2 new LED flood lights to the top of the portico to replace the Halogen units. These flood lights use approximately 20 watts vs the gas halogen 300 watts each. The LED units  also last much longer and burn cooler preventing the chance of a fire or someone getting hurt climbing 16′ to change the old bulbs.

• The cement areas and stairs in the rear of the house were originally coquina stone which was severely deteriorated to the point of being dangerous and was in need of refurbishing. Because coquina stone is very brittle, the area behind the chapter room and stairs were redone in stamped concrete with added color.  Similar work was done on the broken coquina flat work in the front of the house that also posed a liability.

• The North deck was the main project of the summer. The original deck was made of wood and although not rotted, the stairs to the second floor and railings were not to code. Furthermore, the posts holding up the second floor were weak and the posts that were holding up the main portion of the deck were not on stable footings which was hazardous. Closer inspection revealed sand washing out from under the foundation near the study room and breezeway. This area was starting to show signs of settling stress.  The new deck features much better materials and is now extended approximately 9.5′ to the north and a retaining wall underneath. This now retails the dirt under the foundation and gave us room to add a door into the library / study to access a bathroom directly  from the deck which also brings us closer to A.D.A compliance (some of you older folk will appreciate it at the 45th). It gave us a short three step stair down to the back yard – this comes in handy during parties and makes egress much easier. Last but not least, There is more room to get mattresses and furniture up the second floor staircase – it’s easier to turn the corner.  As part of the deck redesign, the second floor deck landing  “THE EAGLES NEST” was increased 2′ to the south and 2′ out towards the backyard. This extra area also makes it much easier to move furniture and it also covers the area below which will become a covered bar.  New grab rails were installed on all new exterior stairs. Again, moving the house closer to A.D.A compliance.

• Numerous interior doors on the 2nd floor were replaced and a few more exterior doors.  There are only 3 more doors that need to replaced on the whole house; rooms 7, 8 , & 12

• We built a new regalia closet on the second floor across from the Brothers office (now called the brothers study). This closet is 96”h x 50″w x 22″d.  It is finished on the inside with FRP paneling and a vinyl floor all materials for easy cleaning and mold and mildew resistance. 

•  The entire house is now re-keyed on a new master key system. Over the years, many copies of the old master key had been made.  Now each brother has his own unique key for his room and to maintain key control, there are 5 master keys – Consul, House manager, Chapter adviser and myself and HC president. All room key codes are stored. There is a $100 fine for loosing or not returning a room key at semesters end.  We also added a few electronic punch pad locks strategically  throughout the house. At this point, the house is functioning much more fluidly.

• A new pump timer was installed on the pool pump motor, reducing run time from 24 hours to 8-9 hours per day. Installation of the timer has significantly cut the energy used and the draw. I’m sure it will extend the life of the motor too.

• As some of you know, the undergraduate brothers applied for a grant from the University / SGA and received funds for a new camera security system and a cement riser for the fire pit. The fire pit ring is installed but the cement arms of the cross need to be done before the 45th. The cross arms have not been done to date because we are planning on burying the electrical service to the house which will need to be buried under one of the arms.

Despite completing all of that, Tom is still not done and has worked closely with House Corp Officers and Trustees on plans and approved financing for additional projects, in the following priority order:

1. Insulating the exterior block walls with injected spray foam.  This will improve energy efficiency as the current walls have virtually zero r-value.
2. Trimming all trees around the perimeter of the building to avoid damage from branches and keep insects & animals from using hem as access points to the house.
3. Bury the electrical service. This needs to happen before the new roof is installed. The Florida power and Light engineers have already designed this for us.
4. Replace the shingled roofing on both wings as those have exceeded their life expectancy and showing signs of wear.
5. Numerous other projects which we will cover at HC meeting.

New Tax-Deductible Donation Option

House Corp Trustee and Fund Raising Chairman John Wrightington has been leading an effort in coordination with the Sigma Chi Foundation and ERAU to explore options for alumni to give to the chapter in such a way that qualifies for tax deduction under IRS rules. We explored many options and have landed on one that is not only simple but also helps the chapter maximize the value of the donation with zero processing costs.

Here’s how it works:

1. Alumni donate to a fund set up specifically for the Eta Iota Chapter of Sigma Chi through ERAU here.
2. Donors will receive confirmation of their deposit from ERAU with necessary IRS details to be used for tax deduction purposes. House Corp will also receive a monthly report of donor activity so we can recognize those who are participating.
3. The University maintains the fund until it is drawn upon by the active chapter for authorized expenses such as house renovations. There are certain restrictions where funds cannot be allocated towards social events or new house construction costs.
4. House Corp will send invoices to the undergraduates for recent and upcoming house improvement costs to be paid for by these funds.

As an added benefit, there is no cost to the chapter which actually makes this the most cost effective options for both the donor and Eta Iota! On top of that, if your employer offers charitable matching, this can further increase the benefits of your donation dollars!

If you have any questions, check out the FAQ page for more details.

House Corporation Nominations Now Open

Hear Ye, Hear Ye…

Calling all alumni to consider playing an active role in Eta Iota’s future as an officer or Trustee of the House Corporation. Time requirements are nominal and the responsibilities can be carried out remotely (though I suggest the role of President would benefit from local presence now and then at the house).

If you are interested or know someone who would make a good candidate, make a nomination on the online form. If you have questions about the roles or not sure if you’re a fit, feel free to contact me or any of the current House Corp Officers or Trustees.

That’s about it for now.  If you have any questions, feel free to drop me a note.

In Hoc,

John Banta (’96)

Eta Iota House Corporation President