EtaIota.org Seeks New Webmaster/Developer

Eta Iota is seeking a new Webmaster/Web Developer to take over the reigns from Bill Palmer (’79) who has held the position since its beginning (with gracious help from several others).

The etaiota.org website is not only our web presence but also hosts our chapter’s membership database. This database has been critical in our chapter’s success in maintaining a close connection with out alumni. Therefore, the new webmaster becomes the de-facto database manager as well, and must monitor activity to ensure against misuse, and provide database functions to meet the needs of the chapter and House Corporation. These functions make this position of critical importance.  The membership database also provides integrated content throughout the website, from birthday and anniversary greetings, lost alumni and officer lists contact forms & biography profiles to brother website listings, and  the Eta Iota Family Tree project.

The interested brother should be familiar with modern web architecture, have a working knowledge of a scripting language (e.g., PHP, Python, PERL) and be able to adapt the website to a mobile friendly platform with tools such as Bootstrap, JQueryMobile, or a content management system (CMS). He should also be familiar with the WordPress CMS as our News and virtual scrapbook sections use WordPress.  As webmaster, he will be responsible for the website hosting and domain name accounts. As a developer , he should also be able to execute a transition of the chapter database from its current flat-file format (using PERL scripts) to an SQL based database, and provide the needed functionality to extract data from the database both for display on the website (i.e., through server-side includes), member record addition and updating via web form, and as needed for email and mass communications. A long-term commitment should be expected.

The interested brother should be able to provide for future enhancements including connection to a mass-email platform (e.g., mailchimp), upgrading the password scheme, expansion of database information, and to provide for updated security measures for the website and database.

This opportunity provides the successful candidate the chance to make a long-term positive impact on the future success of the chapter, become a prominent stakeholder in the future success of the chapter, expand the site’s functions with his own creativity, and remain well connected with both the undergraduate and House Corporation ends of the chapter’s operation. Technical assistance in making the transition can be expected.

The position is not an elected one, and therefore does not appear on the officer nominations form. Interested brothers should contact House Corp President John Banta or Webmaster Bill Palmer.

 

House Corp Update – Jan ’16

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!

Continue reading →

2016 House Corp Officer & Trustee Nominations

nominationsWith Eta Iota’s 45th Birthday coming up soon, House Corp is now taking nominations for officers and trustees for the 2016 term.  We have all 4 officer positions (President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer, each with a 1 year term) and 3 trustee positions (3 year terms each) to vote on at the annual House Corp meeting on Saturday, April 2.

To speed up the process and save time at the April 2nd meeting, we are taking nominations now and will open the floor for seconds before jumping into voting.

This is your chance to participate and nominate yourself for one of these roles and step up to the plate to make a difference or nominate an alum you feel would serve House Corporation well.

The nomination form is online and super simple.  Check it out here!

Pete Zaccagnino (’92) To Receive Significant Sig Recognition

Pete Zaccagnino

Congratulations to Eta Iota Brother Pete Zaccagnino on being selected as a part of the 2016 class of Significant Sigs.

Pete will be formally recognized in June during the Grand Council meeting and is now the third Eta Iota alum to receive this prestigious award. Our 2 other past recipients were Brothers Hugh Mills and John Bailey. Continue reading →

Brother Sid Barling Enters Chapter Eternal

Sid BarlingSid Shelby Barling, Jr., 72, a founding member of Eta Iota (class of ’71) passed away January 21, 2016. He was born in Oakland, California and resided in Orange Park, Florida. Fellow founding brother Terry Owens remarked that Sid was “instrumental in the founding of the chapter”.

In his early years, Mr. Barling lived in Arkansas, and graduated from Cutter-Morning Star. He served four years in the Navy, and then worked at the Tampa Fire Department. He graduated from Embry Riddle University in 1971 with a bachelors’degree in Aeronautical Science. He was one of the founding brothers of the Sigma Chi, Eta Iota chapter. After college, he flew with Shawnee Airlines in Orlando. He obtained his General Contractor’s license in 1976, and he specialized in commercial construction.

After returning to Orange Park, Mr. Barling, an avid fisherman, became a member of The North Florida Bassmasters where he served as president for many years. Many people knew him as the announcer for the Working Man’s Tournament on Thursday night at Whitey’s Fishcamp. For a year, he served as Worshipful Master at Cabul Lodge in Green Cove Springs.

Mr. Barling is survived by his wife of 44 years Carole Barling, son; James Shelby Barling, daughter; Jessica Jewell (Justin), brother; John Barling, sisters; Becky West, Barbara Heiner and Liz Griffin, 2 grandchildren; Sydney Jewell and Summer Jewell, sister-in-law; Donna Drake (Ed), and mother-in-law; Kathryn Blalock.

A graveside service will be held privately for the family 11 AM Thursday, January 28, 2016 at Holly Hill Memorial Park, 3601 Old Jennings Road Middleburg, FL. All are invited to attend the celebration of his life on Thursday from 4 to 7 at Whitey’s Fishcamp 2032 County Road 220, Fleming Island, Fl In lieu of flowers please send memorial contributions to Haven Hospice Custead Care Center, 745 Blanding Blvd Orange Park, FL 32065. Arrangements by HARDAGE-GIDDENS HOLLY HILL FUNERAL HOME. Please leave words of comfort at www.hollyhillfunerals.com.

Obituary source: http://holly-hill.tributes.com

House Corp Update – Dec ’15

Greetings Brothers!  I hope everyone had a great holiday with friends and family and had a chance to recharge for 2016.

We have a lot of stuff lined up for Eta Iota in the coming year with ongoing focus on important house renovations, maintaining a solid balance sheet for future operations and of course, celebrating 45 years at Sigma Chi at ERAU.

Invitations have been mailed for Eta Iota’s 45th Birthday and you should have received them by now. This month’s update will recap how we’ve incorporated feedback from the last major birthday event and Birthday Chairman, James “Gassi” Ahrens(’90) has the Top 10 list of reasons to attend (as if you needed that many).

Two items covered in this month’s briefing:

  1. We listened to feedback from past birthdays and made some changes for 45th we think you’ll enjoy.
  2. Gassi’s Top 10 reasons to attend Eta Iota’s 45th Birthday

Continue reading →

Sponsor an Undergraduate for 45th

Remember those undergraduate years when a tight budget forced you to live loan-check to loan-check and make tough choices on daily expenses?

Some active brothers and pledges will choose to skip 45th birthday events this April for financial reasons.  The birthday committee has worked hard to keep expenses to the bare minimum but as we’ve seen with past events, even a $125 ticket to a 5 year birthday is often not in the budget.

We’re offering an opportunity for our Alumni to help this year. Continue reading →