Sigma Chi - Gettysburg College

Spring 2020 Newsletter

Theta Chapter of Sigma Chi at Gettysburg College

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The BATTLEFIELD SIG theta Chapter of Sigma Chi Fraternity at Gettysburg college Spring 2020 Theta Chapter Reignites Alumni Communications Program Hopes to Increase Alumni Involvement, Reconnect with Brothers A s we enter the third month of 2020, I want to give you a brief update on what the House Corporation Board (HCB) has been working on this term. At Homecoming last fall, we held our annual elections, and I'm happy to report that four members of our board were re-elected to their positions, a new young alumni liaison was chosen, and Brother Drew Edelson '18 was elected to the newly created position of events manager. Brother Edelson will be planning three alumni events throughout the Northeast in 2020, so stay tuned for details. We hope you'll be able to attend at least one event. LEAVE YOUR MARK We also formally launched our brick paver project during the Homecoming reception. For those of you who weren't in attendance, Gettysburg College recently finished construction on a brick patio in the front yard of the chapter house. You can now purchase an engraved brick paver that will allow you to put a permanent, personal touch on the property. It is our hope that the brick patio will serve as an enduring source of funding to support the undergraduate chapter for years to come. For more information, please see page 3. COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM CHANGE Our first action as a board was to part ways with our previous alumni relations vendor, Affinity Connection, who had handled the communications of the HCB since the rechartering of the undergraduate chapter. The decision was not made lightly, but after careful consideration of the needs of the chapter, HCB, and the greater Theta alumni community, we concluded that our needs were not being met. PARTNERING WITH PENNINGTON To that end, I'm happy to announce that we've retained Pennington & Company to handle our alumni relations and fundraising. We expect Pennington to be a crucial part of our new push to reconnect Theta alumni from all years and increase overall engagement of our alumni base with the undergraduate chapter. With that said, we hope you enjoy the new look of our newsletter and find even more reasons to stay connected to Theta. FOREVER SIGMA CHI No matter how many years have passed, we're all members of Sigma Chi for life. Alumni support is essential in maintaining our brotherhood, and we welcome support and volunteers at every level. By joining the board, writing a recruitment recommendation, or simply sending article ideas for the newsletter, you can play an important part in Theta's future. We look forward to bringing you the latest news from 240 Carlisle Street. In Hoc, Samuel R. Blum '15 House Corporation President samrblum@gmail.com (301) 938-3150 I n 1948, Fred Bikle Hoenniger '52 arrived at Gettysburg College, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, "as naïve as one can get." Unfamiliar with fraternities and coming from south of the Mason-Dixon line (hence his Theta nickname, Rebel), the only contact he had with Theta Chapter was through his great-uncle Phil R. Bikle '05, who was the chapter's advisor. But his family ties to Theta began with Phil's father and Fred's great-great-grandfather, Philip M. Bikle 1863, who founded Theta Chapter while working as the dean of Gettysburg College. "I knew nothing of fraternities, so Phil introduced me to the brothers and probably saw to it that I got an invitation to Pledge Week," Fred shared. Most of the brothers during that time were veterans of WWII. "I needed them, and they were up to the task," he said. "They showed me some of the attributes of Sigma Chi: friendship, loyalty, organizational value, patriotism, tenacity, the meaning of brotherhood, and how to study." After spending his first year of college living off campus, Fred moved into the Sigma Chi chapter house for his last three years at Gettysburg. He was elected Praetor during his senior year and graduated with a B.A. in economics. While living in the chapter house, the veteran brothers influenced Fred to join the ROTC, for which he is forever grateful. Fred joined the U.S. Air Force after graduation, working as a finance officer while awaiting a pilot training class. Once he started flying, he knew it was the life for him—and that life lasted 30 years. During his career as an Air Force pilot, Fred flew jet fighters from the F-86 through the F-15 and was stationed in some "awesome" Sigma Chi Provides Col. (Ret) Fred Bikle Hoenniger '52 with Lifelong Benefits and Treasured Memories (Continued on page 3)

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