The Baechtle Nuptials

Congrats to Matty Baechtle '01 who tied the knot a few weeks back to the former Miss Carla Francischetti. The ceremony in Pleasanton, New Jersey did not feature Brother Baechtle demonstrating his kung fu skills, nor brandishing the firearm that he carries for his day job with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. It did, however, feature plenty of Bon Jovi.

Brothers in attendance included Scott Barghaan '00, Kevin Burns '00 Mark Tumelty '01, Mike Phillips '01, Mike Francavillo '01, Minas Kourouglos '02, Joe Benanti '02, Dan Smith '02, and Pete Jerauld '03.

BOO! Run for Life

Brother Brian O'Neill '98 is recruiting runners, walkers & volunteers for the 3rd Annual BOO! Run for Life, a Halloween-themed 10k run/ 2 mile walk to support renal cell (kidney) cancer research. The race takes place October 12 at West Potomac Park in Washington, DC, beginning at 8am.

Brian's father Dean passed away in 2003 after a 7-year battle against renal cell cancer. His friends and family established the Dean R. O'Neill Renal Cell Cancer Research Fund at the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health. All proceeds from the race support this Research Fund. Last year's event was a great success with over 600 participants and raised tens of thousands of dollars for the Research Fund.

More event details are available on Facebook.

Homecoming Roll Call

A great number brothers have stated their intent to join the fun for Homecoming weekend. A lesser number has actually ponied up the money. Below is the list of brothers who have PAID as of September 18, for either golf, dinner or the tailgate. We'll update this list each week as more checks are received.

The deadline to receive payments is October 10.

Hill Beck
Page Bradford & wife
Wayne Bradshaw
Paul Cook & wife
Truba Cooper & wife
Robert Cranshaw
Gene Donner & wife
Chris Genier
Ed Godsey & wife
Cliff Gordon
Preston Hicks & wife
Kevin Hutchison & wife
Chuck Maguire
Walter Mann
Keith McGrath
Steve Murphy & wife
Jim Newins
Milt Nuckols
Greg Pannell & wife
Bill Powell
Ron Puckett
Jim Smith & wife
Fran Spanberger & wife
Richard Stockel
Scott Stolte
Donne Storino & wife

Kill the Elephant!

Brother Jack Goodson '04 sends word from Kingsport, Tennessee, where he's a sportswriter for the Kingsport Times-News, a 50,000 circulation daily newspaper in Northeast Tennessee. His focus is prep and college coverage -- game leads, features and previews.  His specific beats include high school soccer and University of Tennessee football.

A fun fact about Kingsport, Tennessee, courtesy the always-reliable Wikipedia.  In 1916, townsfolk demanded the death of Mary, a five-ton Asian elephant, after she stepped on the head of her assistant trainer & killed him.  Mary was "hanged by the neck from a railcar-mounted industrial crane ... as dozens of children fled in terror".  What does this story have to do with Jack?  Not a damn thing, I just wanted an excuse to use that title for a post.

Jack sent along the above picture of the 2000 pledge class out at the Challenge Discovery ropes course up in Doswell.  I understand no elephants were harmed in the making of that team.

What's the Current State of the UR Greek System?

There are currently six men’s fraternities on campus: Kappa Alpha, Kappa Sigma, Sigma Chi, Phi Gamma Delta, Sigma Phi Epsilon, and Sigma Alpha Epsilon.  Conversations have been conducted with Lambda Chi Alpha and Theta Chi about returning to campus, as well as an historically black Greek fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha.  As of last spring, 28% of men were affiliated with a fraternity (49% of women), and the Greek GPA was higher than the all-men’s average.

There are tremendous external pressures on fraternity chapters.  National headlines are rife with stories on hazing, alcohol poisonings, sexual assaults, or drug dealing within fraternities. Many universities and national fraternities face significant lawsuits for lack of oversight or negligence in controlling the activities of individual chapters.  In 2003, Kappa Sigma National Fraternity introduced a code of conduct that addresses some of these issues.  Violations of this code can result in immediate revocation of a chapter’s charter.  Other fraternities have implemented similar rules and requirements.

Individual chapters have learned to work and operate within these new regulations and guidelines. Lodge parties are strictly controlled via a pre-approved guest list.  Kegs have been replaced with a "BYOBeer" policy that permits 11 cans of beer per guest.  A sober driver system, required as part of the risk team responsibilities, shuttles people back and forth between campus and the fraternity row.  Pledge programs last a maximum of 6 weeks and have refocused on building the bonds of brotherhood in positive ways.  Engaged community service events sponsored by chapters are commonplace. 

As fraternities refocus on the original intent of their founders, the ties of brotherhood are as strong today as they were 10, 20, or 50 years ago. There is increased responsibility and accountability expected of men in all chapters, but the commitment to brotherhood, fun and connections with the University of Richmond are as strong as ever.

Thanks to our chapter Alumnus Advisor Kevin Strecker and Director of Student Activities Alison Keller (aka Alison Bartel; fka ABL) for help answering this question.

Reinforcements

Astute readers may have noticed a few new names listed as contributors for this site.  In fact, four active brothers have signed-up to contribute stories throughout the school year:

Grand Master Keith McCalla

Grand Scribe John Frey

Alumni Chair 1 Christian Amendola

Alumni Chair B Charlie Walp

I've asked them to help all us alums understand exactly what it's like to be a Beta Beta on campus in 2008.   I'll let them handle their own introductions. Look for their posts starting soon. 

---

Behind the scenes, two alumni brothers have responded to my call for help to build a better website.  Minas Kourouglos '02 has offered to help build the infrastructure necessary to have an updatable, searchable alumni database on the site.  Andrew Miller '03 has offered his services to optimize how well the site ranks in various search engines.  Because if there are lost Beta Betas out there, they need to be able to find us just be googling "Raiders of the Night".

#28

Brother Greg Pannell '81 offers his version of the paddle signature list, circa 1978.  Compared to its' 1994 counterpart, this one offers a far simpler, cleaner look.  Just a numbered list of signatures. No strange prefixes, stains or holes. According to Greg:

When I was a pledge I made sure I took care of my list, I heard a lot of bad stories, and some of the things I had to do to earn those signatures made it that much more important.

Makes you wonder if any sigs were earned after hauling a keg onto the roof. Maybe signature #28.

Thank You, Donors

Over the past year, dozens of brothers have generously donated to the Beta Beta Foundation. We want to thank each one of these donors for their support for the Foundation and to the future of the Beta Beta brotherhood.  Every dollar brings us closer to our goal of ensuring the financial strength of our beloved chapter.

$1,000+

Wayne Bradshaw 

Robert Bruns 

Truba Cooper 

Robert Cranshaw 

Gene Donner
Jim Newins  

RJ Morris 

Peter Pruden 

Scott Stolte 

Donne Storino 

Durwood Usry

$500 - $999

Artie Bunnell 

Hunt Burke 

Dave Fuller

Ron Hayes 

Keith McGrath 

Up to $499

Herbert Arnold 

Hilaire Beck 

Jan Epstein 

Stan Gasiorowski

Thomas Gates 

Jeffress Given 

Marc Greenberg 

Ronald Greene 

Neil Howard 

Reid McClure 

Paul McEnroe 

Jack Moore  

Milt Nuckols

Cary Ralston 

Jim Smith

Jay Wright 

Russ Wyatt 

'69

A great portrait of the chapter at the end of 1969.  Thanks to Rich Johnson for the picture and Truba Cooper for helping identify (most) everyone.  Anyone that can help fill in some of the blanks, post the names in the comments and I'll update.

Front Row (Left to Right):
1 – Harry McClaren
2 - Brian McCahill
3 - Rodney Hicks
4 - Page Bradford
5 - Eddie Godsey
6 - Mike Plant (?)
7 - Bev Holt
8 - Sam Graham
9 - ?
10 - John Lashon (?)
11 - Craig Poole

Middle Row (Left to Right):
1 - Tom Redfern
2 - Sam Atkinson
3 - Truba Cooper
4 - Mike Williams
5 - Dr. Mac
6 - Wayne Leake
7 - Sam Price
8 - Rob Nicol
9 - Charlie Cosby
10 - Cary Ralston
11 - Keith McGrath
12 - Donnie Ward
13 - Randy Walter
14 - Mike Vandeweghe

Back Row (Left to Right):
1 - ?
2 - Jack Moore
3 - Bill Wilson
4 - Walter Owings
5 - Preston Hicks
6 - Wayne Warren
7 - Mike Harrington
8 - R.C. Moore
9 - Ray Blackmore
10 - Andy Swinson
11 - ?
12 - Penn Pendleton
13 - Stan Gasiorowski
14 - Jack Cocke
15 - ?
16 - ?
17 - ?
18 - Rich Johnson
19 - Bob Barkley

A couple great shots of the lodge - inside and out - from around the same time.  Note the classy padded bench seats.  In the far corner is the wooden scrapbook put together by Brother Bradshaw earlier that year.

The Bologna Locomotive

What's the difference between a hockey mom and Donne Storino? Lipstick.

With the political conventions behind us, you have may thought the best speeches had already been delivered.  No one told that to our resident pitbull.  From the desk of our President:

It's amazing how in only the last two years so many brothers have gotten involved. Many of us have grown to know brothers from many different eras. Some of these guys I feel like I have known since I was an active brother. We must keep this "good thing" going, and we must strive to bring as many people into the alumni brotherhood as possible. Everyone "on the list" should reach back past their time and forward beyond their time to bring more brothers into the rebirth of the Beta Beta Chapter through our Foundation. 

As I was telling Bruns, I really don't think [UR] expects us to come back this year after last year's smashing success. Let me tell you: they are in for quite a surprise. This year looks like a great party and celebration for us as BBs and as Spiders. Let's get on board. The Bologna Locomotive is gathering speed, boys, so let's throw some fuel on the fire!! I don't golf, but I have paid my golf fees and will be stirring up quite a ruckus both Friday and Saturday. My bride, Anita, will be at my side wearing her Kappa Sig sweetheart pin.

We need to show UR and the whole damn lot that Kappa Sig has the strongest alumni of all fraternities. There is no one like us at UR. Let's roll, brothers!!!

The Red Polo Debut

By 1994, the bar was raised (or forever lowered, depending on your perspective) for composite imagery.  No longer content with just plaid jackets, Brothers began to think outside the box about what ridiculous things they could portray inside their little box: Tom Whitehead and Jay Mark introduced two variations on 'the point'; Joe Italiano displayed his mansweater; Rich Muneke brought props; and Kevin Morrow took things to a whole new plane.

Herenow, my top 10 of 1994:


10. The Old Man


9. Dwayne Wayne glasses and a name that sounds like the title of a Skinemax movie.


8. Grunge meets The Fonz.  Aayyyyy...


7. Jean jacket and no shirt: think of the chafing.


6. Back when terrorists were still just innocent fun.


5. Sometimes nicknames don't need an explanation.

4. Hi, Eric Stratton, rush chairman. Damn glad to meet you.


3. No, he's not wearing a sweater.  And yes, that's his real name.


2. Best Use of Melon


1. Leopard print sheets + come-hither look = Irresistible

The Donne Witch Project

From the Donfather himself:

I lived in the lodge for a while with Brother Joe Baird (Chapter Celestial). It was a weird Summer indeed. Joe and I had been reading the demented tales written by the other-worldly H. P. Lovecraft. Ghouls and critters from other dimensions and all that. Really spooky stuff. On several occasions, we heard strange noises "out back" and more than once found doors that were closed, wide open. It was the time of The Haunting of the Lodge. Or perhaps it was the beer and grain alcohol punch.



It was also the time of the hamburger. Joe and Brother Bill Powell were working Channel 12 block parties, and Joe would bring back literally boxes of frozen patties. I swear we ate hamburgers for every meal for months, and I mean nothing else. It became a real mission to stick to our "diet."

Brothers would drop in all the time for hijinks and hanging out. The lodge during that time was a real hangout where brothers would congregate. Often times we would cook up pranks to pull on other frats or UR in general.

At one time, we had brothers living in the brother's room and the girl's head, as we called it. There was a closet with a pull-close wooden curtain where the bar is now. I believe it was either Brother Jim Soyars or Pete Kucera that were living in that space. Also, the doors were never locked (different times). There was always someone in the lodge. It was used constantly, 24-7.

 
I still have great nostalgia for The Grand Old Lady, and still cannot go there without waves of memories coming back.