Homecoming 2009 Grand Celebration
Date: October 02, 2009 1:00 PM to October 03, 2009 8:00 PM
For event details, registration, and attendee list, click on Homecoming 2009 Grand Celebration above.

• Memorial Dragon Dedication
• Honor Memory of Deceased Beta Mu Alumni
  
• Alumni Receptions & Socializing
  
• Tours of the Chapter House & Campus
  
• Buffet Dinners & Breakfast
• House Association Annual Meeting
• Purdue Football Game vs. Northwestern
• Beta Songfest
• Loving Cup Ceremony
  

June 2009 Beta Mu Link

(June 9, 2009)  The June 2009 issue of the Beta Mu Link is available in the Download Center of this website.  Click on Download Center, Beta Mu Link Archive, and June 2009.  This issue contains the following articles:

• More than 200 Alumni Expected at Homecoming 2009 Grand Celebration
  
• 2008-09 Beta Mu Chapter House Association Board of Directors & Advisers
• In Memory - 12 Deceased Beta Mu Alumni
  
• With 111 Active Members, Beta is Third Largest Fraternity on Campus
  
• Chapter Boasts Best GPA in Three Years
  
• An Interview with Beta Mu House Director Marilyn Surber
  
• Century of Excellence 2008-09 Honor Roll of Donors
• 2009 Success Campaign - $67,500 from 59 Alums
  
• Alumni Board Honors Former Directors
• Survey Results - Thank You for Your Feedback
  

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Summer Projects

(June 18, 2009)  The Beta Mu Chapter House Association board of directors approved $50K of summer improvement projects for the chapter house.  We will complete these projects this summer in preparation for the 65 collegians that will move into the chapter house in August.

Not enough funds are available to proceed with Phase III this summer.  Therefore, the focus will be on necessary improvement projects.  The board will continue to solicit donations and capital campaign pledges, assess the funds available next year, and determine if 2010 is the right time for the next renovation phase.  The estimated construction cost for Phase III is $769K.

Improvement projects approved for this summer include purchasing new furniture for the Big Room, decorating the third floor study room, painting the center stairwell, tuck pointing the east exterior wall above the patio, carpeting the upstairs hallways, enclosing storage areas under the stairs in the new stair towers, repairing plaster in the Big Room, and painting several common areas of the chapter house.  In addition, the Mother’s Club plans to fund a large widescreen TV for mounting on the wall of the Big Room.

Click on Continued... below for the rest of the article and more details.

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Beta Mu Donor Statistics

(June 5, 2009)  From September 1, 2008 until May 31, 2009, we received $224,571 in donations from 224 alumni.  Last year by May 31, 2008, we had received $236,070 from 269 alumni.  Below are donor statistics and charts.  Our donor year ends August 31.  It's easy to make a donation on our website, www.purduebeta.com.  Click on Continued... below for our current Honor Roll of Donors.

• Average donor's grad year = 1966
• Average donor's age = 65 years old
  
• Oldest donor's grad year = 1937 (William Wearly)
• Youngest donor's grad year = 2010 (Brett Damisch)
  
• 77% of our donors are older than 50 years old
  
• 67% of our donors are 50 to 80 years old
• 15% of our alumni have donated this year
• Decade with the most donors:  1960s with 56 donors
• Decade with the highest percent of donors:  1950s with 31% participation

 

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An Interview with Beta Mu House Director Marilyn Surber

(June 8, 2009)  Marilyn Surber was contracted by the Beta Mu Chapter House Association at the start of the 2008-09 school year as our second house director.

Q: What has been your most rewarding experience at the Beta House?

Definitely the progress made toward improving the organization and condition of the kitchen. The guys have taken an active role in this process. Several work now as paid staff on a rotating schedule, keeping the serving and cooking areas clean as well as all dinnerware and utensils.

Click here to read Marilyn's full interview.

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William "Dick the Bruiser" Afflis '51

(May 20, 2009)  Richard Vicek is doing research for a possible biography of the late but legendary professional wrestler William Afflis '51 best known as Dick the Bruiser.  Brother Afflis, pin #714, lived in the chapter house in 1947-48.  Born in Delphi, Indiana, Afflis grew up in Lafayette, Indiana, graduating from Lafayette Jeff High school where he played football and wrestled.  Afflis played varsity football at Purdue University and played for the Green Bay Packers in the early 1950s, as a lineman, before he became a pro wrestler.  Afflis died in 1991.  Click on Continued below for some recollections from our alumni who lived with Brother Afflis and additional biographical information on his interesting life.

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Thank You for Your Feedback

(May 18, 2009)  Ninety Beta Mu alumni and ten collegians responded to our recent electronic survey to voice their opinions about our communications program, fundraising, chapter house renovation project and more.  Both the collegians and alumni want a similar alumni experience of connecting with brothers from their era, being kept informed of Beta Mu news, and returning to visit the chapter house.  Both collegians and alumni are encouraged to donate when collegians are friendly and the chapter house is clean and well kept during their visits.  Click on Continued below for more survey results.

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What are Men of Principle?

(May 20, 2009)  The Men of Principle initiative is a commitment to the vision of our founders.  A chapter that chooses to partner is making a public statement to pursue the Mission, Vision, and Goals of the The Initiative.  Further, these chapters have committed to positive pledge education, alcohol-free recruitment and the promotion of the principles and obligations contained in the Ritual of Beta Theta Pi.  It is a commitment to being who we say we are.  For further information, including the mission, vision, goals, facts, and a Q&A of The Initiative, click on Continued below.

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Chapter Recruiting New Members in September

(May 23, 2009)  The Beta Mu Chapter will begin recruiting new members on August 23 and end September 8.  Rush events are scheduled on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.  Alumni wishing to recommend potential members, especially men of principle, should email Chapter President Brent Hasse '10 at bthasse@purdue.edu with the rushee's contact information.  In addition, email a copy to House Association President Bob Hall '72, roberthall22@gmail.com, who will follow up.  Rush chairmen are John Piazzi '11, Justin Burkhardt '12, Nick Canada '12, and Matt Gentry '12.

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Intramural Sports Update

(May 12, 2009)  Final 2008-09 standings:  Betas finished in 2nd place by 225 points.  Delta Sigma Phi won with 1978 points while Beta Theta Pi had 1753 points.

(March 25, 2009)  Purdue Betas won 4 IFC intramural sports championships this spring semester:  billiards, wallyball, swimming, and the cornhole tournament.  Nick Rodich '11 won billiards and Andrew Wynn '11 won two swim events: 50 m breast stroke and 100 m individual medley.  On the winning wallyball team were Corey Mikula ''09, Scott Heck '09, John McGrath '10, Kevin Falsey '10, and Blake Olson '12.  Dan Wyss '12 and Kevin Alsterda '12 were cornhole tournament champs.

(December 15, 2008)  Beta Mu won 2 IFC intramural sports championships last fall semester:  flag football and punt, pass, and kick.  On the winning flag football team were Dan Burkus '09, Dan Erickson '09, Ben Roembke '09, Bill McGlynn '08, Brian Karstetter '09, Brent Hasse '10, Eric Garth '10, Mike Will '10, and Robert Hackl '10.  The punt, pass, and kick competition was a team effort with high performance from pledges Ramez Ayoub '12 (punt), Mike Disney '11 (pass), and Peter Kalmbach '12 (kick).

Ryan Kappel '10 has been athletic chairman for two years.  Beta was the IFC intramural sports champ last year, 2007-08.

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Memorial Dragon Update



(May 6 & 25, 2009)  Above is a photo of our full-scale Memorial Dragon as of May 5, it was about 4 feet tall and 250 pounds.  We had a setback on May 21 when it was being moved to the kiln for bisque firing - it was jarred and broke apart.  This sculptor declined to continue.  We switched the project to Cowpainters in Chicago who will make our dragon out of fiberglass.  First, a clay model will be built, a mold made, and from that our dragon will be cast in fiberglass.  This one will weigh about 70 pounds.  It's now scheduled to be completed in August.  Go to Continued below for a list of the 14 donors for the Memorial Dragon, $4200 received to date.

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2009 Success Campaign - $72,500 From 60 Alums

(April 21, 2009)  Beta Mu's 2009 Success Campaign raised $72,500 from 60 alumni.  These pledges will help fund further renovation of the chapter house.  Phase III is scheduled for the summer of 2010.  In spite of the poor economy this year, our results are similar to last year's Success Campaign.  By April 21, the 2008 Success Campaign raised $80,940 from 53 alums.

Ten Beta Mu alums volunteered their time in January, February, and March.  They reached 156 of our brothers.  The volunteer callers were:  Bill Slemmons '60, John DeVries '65, Terri Earnest '66, Grant Martin '67, John Carroll '67, Kevin Comer '71, Bob Hall '72, Mark Owen '74, Jay Carpenter '76, and Kelly Eads '89.

Click on Continued below for a list of the 60 alumni making new Success pledges.

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Homecoming 2009 Grand Celebration

(April 17, 2009)  Beta Mu Chapter announces plans for this year's Homecoming 2009 Grand Celebration on October 2 and 3 at our 150 Littleton Chapter House.  In addition to the usual Homecoming football game activities on October 3, we will dedicate the Memorial Dragon and honor all deceased Beta Mu alumni on October 2.

Registration for the Homecoming 2009 Grand Celebration is now available on this website under Events or click on Homecoming 2009 Grand Celebration.  Please register if you plan to attend.  An attendee list and schedule of activities is available under Events.  Also, go to Continued below for further details and a schedule of activities for October 2 and 3.

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Interact with Beta Theta Pi Brothers

(April 22, 2009)  We’re excited to introduce a new place in our new alumni community, where you can interact directly with groups of Beta Theta Pi brothers. You can participate in the brotherhood community, create a new group for you and your friends, or join an existing one! Within each group’s page, the members have control over the content. You can upload and share links, videos, photos, events and comments with other members. Create and/or join as many groups as you’d like...such as a group for your pledge class, another for alumni in your major/career field, and maybe another for brothers in your state/region.

Click here to get started!


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1950s Photos



(March 19, 2009)  Jim Glasgow '57 found some photos he took during his junior and senior years at Purdue (fall of 1955 thru spring of 1957) of some of the characters who inhabited the Beta house during those years and scenes of the house and campus as it was during those days.  These 1950s photos can be viewed in the Photo Albums of this website.  If you recognize any brothers in those photos, please email Jim at jimnroseg@earthlink.net.  He would like to renew old friendships and recollect the names.

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Q&A with President Brent Hasse '10

Q&A with President Brent Hasse


1. Where are you from?
Naperville, IL

2. What is your major and year of graduation?
Financial Counseling and Planning, December 2010

3. Why did you join Beta?
A family friend referred me to Beta Theta Pi. I had a good feeling about Betas the first time I saw it. Coming to Purdue I knew I would go Greek and I am glad that Beta Theta Pi was my choice.

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How Has Beta Influenced You?

(June 16, 2009)  Beta Theta Pi has undoubtedly played a big role in all of our lives, and for many of us that influence has lasted beyond our undergraduate years at Purdue University.  We want to know how Purdue has made a difference in your life today.  Think about your most important aspects of your life: your kids, your wife, your job, even yourself. Would any of those still be the same if you had never become a part of Beta Theta Pi at Purdue?

Take a few minutes to let us know how Beta has made an impact on your life, and to give us an update on where you are today. Click here to get started.
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