Acacia - Indiana University

The Wreckage PAGE 4 F ive new board members were seated at the June 26 meeting of the Indiana Acacia Building Corporation (IABC). Robert Garrow '77, Aaron Darcy '95, Conor Wiegmann '15, Mark Hackbarth '71, and Richard Bush '77 were chosen by alumni present in the Acacia dining room and online via GoToMeeting. These alumni joined existing board members Scott Lakin '77 and Michael Oakes '76. The new board elected Scott Lakin as President, Conor Wiegmann as Sec- retary, and Michael Oakes as Treasurer. Nonvoting members include Jeff Lindauer '89 (Chapter Advisor), Christ "Count" Drossos Jr. '73 (President, Indiana Acacia Alumni Association), Justin Fox '95 (House Director), and Phil "Bilko" Stephens '87 (Resident Advisor). Information on Indiana Acacia leadership is always available online at: indianaacacia.org/leadership and indianaacacia.org/news. I am honored to have been selected as President of the Indiana Acacia Building Corporation (IABC) at the most recent board meeting on June 26, 2021. I believe that my skill set allows me the opportunity to maintain and grow our fraternity to best serve the young men attending Indiana University and our alumni brothers. I hold a doctorate in nursing practice and have been a Registered Nurse for 33 years. During that time, I served 10 years at the director level, leading direct and indirect staff in successful performance improvement projects. I am a "what you see is what you get" person, which people either appreciate or find uncomfortable. Either way, I plan on telling you the truth as I see it and will strive to be transparent with our members. My goal at this point is to make sure that the physical house is cared for, updated, and ready for recolonization in 2024. Thanks to the capital campaign donors, work continues at 702 E. Third Street. I am also focused on growing our alumni base. We have over 1,800 living alumni, yet fewer than 100 are considered active alumni (who pay dues annually or volunteer with alumni and Chapter activities). I am asking for your feedback on how to best reach our alumni and get them engaged. I pledged Indiana Acacia in the fall of 1977. During my three years in the house, I grew as a person and realized how important every Acacia brother is to our mission. Over the past few years, a few brothers have carried the responsibilities of our Chapter and house. It is time for us to engage our fellow brothers in growing our base and moving our Chapter forward. Be Bold, Scott Lakin '77 IABC President slakinrn@gmail.com New Board Members Seated SCott lakin '77 StepS into iabC preSident'S ShoeS Christ Drossos Jr. '73 Takes Charge of Alumni Association NOTE: Homecoming is pulled off each year largely due to the efforts of Christ Drossos Jr. '73, and the annual alumni dues program is on autopilot from the Acacia Fraternity Foundation (AFF). The Indiana Acacia Alumni Association has been only loosely organized for several years, but at the June 26 Indiana Acacia Building Corporation board meeting, Drossos was elected President of the alumni association, creating an opportunity for a more formal and active organization. He has earned all the awards he can get, the latest being the George F. Patterson Jr. Award in 2018. My Dear Brothers: At the last Indiana Acacia Building Corporation (IABC) board meeting, it was made official to identify the Indiana Acacia Alumni Association as a separate entity and to work in collaboration with the IABC. According to IABC bylaws, alumni members in good standing (having paid annual dues) are eligible to vote for both the pool of potential board members and officers and to elect new board members. We now are back to square one regarding the active Chapter's status, as we have lost our charter for the second time in the last 10 years. We have a timetable to regroup, redesign, and rethink the Chapter's future existence and operation at Indiana University. While there are some who think we just ought to shut it all down and let it go, I am not one of them. We can only learn and better our fraternity by being an active Chapter, and we will be just that once again in 2024. Getting to where we want to be is going to take an all-hands-on- deck approach. We will need help in every area, especially for recruitment. Be prepared to chip in and be a part of our resurgence. We also need everyone to stay the course and continue their pledge participation in the capital campaign. The house needs to be finished, and the best time for that to happen is right now. Homecoming this year will be a unique event, as we will gather after the IU vs. MSU game on October 16 as a Chapter for a celebration of brotherhood at the Chapter house, where we will gather in the dining room and the Kyle P. Simcoe Patio. Please plan on attending, and more details will be available as we get closer to the date. Look for those details on the alumni Facebook page, the Indiana Acacia website (indianaacacia.org), and in email blasts. Our annual alumni dues mailing and notification will be coming in the fourth quarter of this year. The minimum dues contribution is $65 with an option to contribute more if you so desire. Remember, all alumni dues are placed in a scholarship/ educational account earmarked for our Chapter at the Acacia Fraternity Foundation. All monies are used for educational expenses and scholarships. This will be a great time to build this fund due to the current active Chapter status. Your paid dues will also allow you to vote for and/or become a member of the IABC if you wish to get involved. I can tell you that I, personally, will be looking to find some of you younger brothers to pick up the ball and run with it. It is time to move to a more diverse group, young and old alike, to lead our alumni forward in the next chapter of our Fraternity at Indiana. Thank you and may you all be well and safe as we look forward to seeing you at Homecoming 2021. Fraternally, Christ Drossos Jr. '73 cdrossos@bluemarble.net

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