01/05/2016
Dear Beta Pi Alumnus,
This is Nick Harrie (1867) the outgoing chapter Alumni Relations chair. I am writing today to cordially invite you to visit the chapter and contribute to our Initiation Week activities occurring January 19 – January 23. This fall pledge class is likely one of the largest classes ever at 21 men, and I think we have an opportunity to make it a really special Initiation, given that we are unable to attend Oxford this year.
Key Times / Opportunities
· Tuesday (1/19): 8:00pm - Fireside Chat #1
· Wednesday (1/20): 8:00pm - Fireside Chat #2
· Thursday (1/21): 8:00pm – Fireside Chat #3
· Saturday (1/23): 1:45pm - Initiation Ceremony
Alumni Help Needed:
· We need alumni volunteers to read a portion of our ritual book and join in the ceremonies.
o 1 volunteer for Tuesday (9:30-11 p.m.)
o 1 volunteer for Wednesday night (9:30-11 p.m.)
o 1 volunteer for Thursday night (9:30-11 p.m.)
o 1 volunteer for Saturday’s Initiation Ceremony (2-5 p.m.)
RSVP is requested. Please contact myself, the incoming Alumni Relations chair, Josh Van Benschoten, or the Facebook event page we have created:
https://www.facebook.com/events/170193823338155/
so we can try and remind you of all the upcoming events!
Calling, texting, and emails all are acceptable.
Nick Harrie: (701) 219-4875 [email protected]
Josh Van Benschoten: (805) 795-0875 [email protected]
We aim to have 10 alumni at each event, and we encourage you to invite brothers you stay in contact with to join you in this amazing event! Attached is a full schedule of events.
Yours in __kai__,
Nick Harrie 1867
(701)-219-4875
[email protected]
Additional Information -What is a Fireside Chat, Initiation Ceremony, etc.
The main activities we would like alumni to attend are the fireside chats or the actual initiation ceremony. It means so much when alumni come to our house, and with this very large group unable to attend Oxford (due to chapter finances and the use of two buses needed), we want to make this a special week. The fireside chats are held Tuesday – Thursday beginning at 8:00pm each night in the Greiner Room.
In a fireside chat, we turn off all of the lights and move all of the furniture from the Greiner Room, excluding a lone chair in the front of the room with a candle. If a brother so chooses, he can make his way to the candle-lit chair and speak on anything that relates to our “topic of the night.” The stories one shares can be either funny or very serious in nature, and that’s what makes them very powerful. Below is a list of our topics we touch on:
(1) Favorite Lore Story,
(2) Favorite Beta Memory, and
(3) What Beta Means to Me.
While the undergraduates are limited to these topics, as an alumnus, we want to make it very clear that you can talk about absolutely anything you wish as it relates to your experience and time with Beta. The three topics listed above should only be used as a guideline and starting point for anything you wish to share. Below is a condensed schedule of when we would like to see alumni over at the house for each one of the Fireside Chats:
Tuesday Night (1/19): Social starts at 8:00pm, Fireside Chat starts at 8:30
Wednesday Night (1/20): Social starts at 8:00pm, Fireside Chat starts at 8:30
Thursday Night (1/21): Social starts at 8:00pm, Fireside Chat starts at 8:30
Following each of the fireside chats there is a scene from the ritual book we will perform, and each night we need one alumnus to read a part from the book. We expect the ritual to begin at approximately 9:30pm – 10:00pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
On Saturday at 2:30pm, one alumnus will be needed to read from the ritual books.
If you are interested in doing an extra part, which might last as long as 11:00pm on Tuesday-Thursday, please contact me directly at [email protected] or the incoming Alumni Relations Chair, Josh Van Benschoten [email protected] and specify what night works best for you. First come first serve.
Thank you so much for your time and effort in helping this the chapter it is today! If you have any questions at all, do not hesitate to reach out. We would love to see just as many alumni as actives in our house to further connect the undergraduates with the alumni. We have made great efforts over the past few years to become closer, and I would love to see that bond become even stronger! Bridgebuilders we all are.
