FarmHouse - Washington State University

FarmHouse Almanac p . 2 T he alumni association has been working to develop the Washington State Chapter's alumni relations program to not only cultivate awareness with our members, but to help our members stay in touch with one another. Internally, our communication has been strengthened through our monthly association meetings, which include participation from the chapter president, treasurer, and alumni public relations chairman. Founders Day did a remarkable job of bringing the FarmHouse brotherhood together. We would like to keep this positive momentum going with regional alumni brotherhood gatherings. Brothers, including myself, have stepped forward as coordinators, with the ultimate goal of holding events in every region of Washington State. If you are interested in hosting a small event in your region, please let me know. Also, if you are interested in growing our brotherhood by attending an alumni event in your area, feel free to contact one of the hosts listed below: • Matt O'Callaghan '08, Portland, Ore., mjtoc1@gmail.com • Erik Kubik '03, Tri Cities, Wash., erik.kubik@gmail.com • Eric Hausken '98, Moses Lake, Wash., eric.hausken@outlook.com Please mark your calendars for the WSU away game versus Oregon on October 10 and Homecoming on October 17. More details on these events are provided on page 4. I urge all alumni to stop by the chapter house prior to any WSU home football game. We welcome you to tour the house, meet the active chapter, and visit with other alumni in attendance. It has been my pleasure to connect with a wide range of alumni as interim alumni association president. On behalf of the soon- to-return association president, Jared Beck '08, and myself, thank you for your continued brotherhood and support. Fraternally, Matt O'Callaghan '08 Interim Alumni Association President mjtoc1@gmail.com Alumni Work to Renew Bonds of Brotherhood How Can You Reconnect with Your FarmHouse Brothers? From Charter Member to Proud Alumnus Hank Husby '55 Reflects on the Values of FarmHouse A s a charter member of FarmHouse at WSU, Hank Husby '55 has watched the fraternity grow and flourish since 1954. The wholesome values and "good, clean farm boys" brought Hank into a fraternity that would help him become a confident gentleman and provide him with years of unforgettable memories. College is a time of exploration and personal development, and for Hank it was a time of transformation. "I was very much a country guy, not a social butterfly," Hank said. Through FarmHouse, he was able to cultivate the skills he needed to become more social and outgoing. FarmHouse and Washington State helped him build relationships with his peers, coworkers, and superiors throughout his life and career. Etiquette, how to be a gentleman, and leadership are three values of the fraternity Hank acquired during his time as an undergraduate—all of which he is proud to see are still reflected in the chapter's current membership. In returning to the chapter as an alumnus, he was delighted to see FarmHouse upholding these traditions and beliefs, saying, "I'm proud of how my brothers relate to others and the leadership traits they possess." Alumni offer a wealth of knowledge, not only in their experiences with the fraternity, but in life. To strengthen the already strong leadership skills of FarmHouse members, Hank urges the fraternity to capitalize on its alumni's knowledge through mentorships with the undergraduate members. "There needs to be a relationship between the generations," Hank said. Hank still tries to stay connected to his brothers by returning to the chapter house for class reunions. "Being with the guys this summer at the 60th reunion was such a blessing," Hank said, "It was a real treat to be with these young alumni." Hank and his wife, Joan, reside in Stanwood, Washington, where they spend time tending to their vegetable and flower garden and traveling to visit family. He has seven children, over 15 grandchildren, and over 15 great-grandchildren. E-mail: hjhusby@frontier.com Hank Husby '55 addresses the brotherhood at Founders Day. A fter finishing up a strong spring semester, I am very pleased to report fantastic news. For the spring 2015 semester, the Washington State Chapter earned second place in grades once again, finishing with 3.17. More impressively, not one brother fell under academic deficiency from WSU. The shift to summertime brought our attention to summer recruitment. I am pleased to report that through our summer recruitment efforts, we signed eight incoming freshmen this summer, with hopes of welcoming more brothers after our fall recruitment. Our recruitment strategy emphasizes quality over quantity in hopes of improving our retention rate and increasing the chapter's potential. As we enter the fall semester, we have an exciting and busy road ahead of us. Within just the first month we were swamped with Cougar football games, bid night, our camping date dash, and the FarmHouse Country Cookout philanthropy, which benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Washington State Brothers Earn Second-Place GPA Ranking Undergraduates Find Success in Summer Recruitment The executive officers relish the opportunity to connect at Founders Day. (Continued on page 4)

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