Sigma Phi Epsilon - Purdue University

From the heart 2 INDIANA ALPHA State of the rooms in 2014 when the renovation project began. Visit 690 Waldron to see the progress for yourself! F or the past nine months I have been able to renew my relationship with the red bricks and mortar at 690 Waldron. My career in the military and with the airlines took me far away from West Lafayette, so I had not set foot in the house for nearly 40 years. However, I felt instantly at home when I walked through the doors in August 2014. What I saw last summer at 690 Waldron that I called home for four years is in need of some serious TLC. The physical structure is as much a strength of our fraternity as the brotherhood itself. Its over 100-year history speaks to you when you walk the halls. Brothers throughout history have been shaped in this old house—guys who have changed lives got their start here. This building that played such an important role in molding and preparing me, and hundreds of brothers since 1905, seemed to be calling out for help. Within weeks of my visit I met with officers from the alumni board and did a walk-through of most of the rooms, making notes and plans for what needed to be cleaned up, thrown out, or renovated. Connections with several other interested alumni provided promises of some initial funding for paint and supplies. The partnership between alumni and undergraduates is key in the long- range health and viability of the chapter. Over the past six months we have conducted numerous work sessions, and the energy displayed by the new members is fantastic. I encourage my fellow alumni to step up to the plate and volunteer. I particularly want to thank Bruce Cole '82, Dennis Lange '74, and Luke Gorski '04 for their contributions and labor of love. To date we have totally gutted and repaired the walls, floors, and ceilings in 12 of the rooms and have finished painting seven of those. In April, we will continue painting and get some new carpeting down. Our goal is to have 20 out of the 30 rooms in livable condition by the start of the fall semester. I have promised to make rooms available just as fast as the undergraduates can recruit new members in the rebuilding of the chapter. It has been very rewarding to head up to the house and work for a few days each month. I have set up a cot in my old room (room 18) and enjoy recreating the feelings of an 18-year-old once again. I encourage you to come to the house for some work and camaraderie. Whether your hands are fitted to a hammer or a paint brush, rest assured we can find a meaningful place for you to contribute. For those of you who can't make it in person, a financial contribution can really make a difference. Together, let's give back to the bricks and mortar at 690 Waldron. To contact me, send me an e-mail at spinbaker@mindspring.com. Giving Back for the Bricks and Mortar Keith Baker '75—Why I Stay Connected Keith Baker '75 and his wife, Andrea, live in Nashville, Indiana.

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