Beta Theta Pi - University of Texas

Spring 2017 INSIDE: Thank You, Texas Beta Brothers • Page 2 Remembering Joe Romine '52 • Page 3 Chapter President Report • Page 3 BETA CHRONICLE Beta Omicron Chapter of Beta Theta Pi at the University of Texas TEXAS BETA SURPASSES $2 MILLION RAISED, THANKS TO GENEROUS ESTATE GIFT Help Us Raise Remaining $500,000 B oth yesterday and today, Beta Theta Pi makes us proud. When we look back at our own Beta Omicron experience, we can see how the friendships, leadership, and campus involvement—even decades ago— helped shape who we are now. As collegiate members, Beta was our home at UT. We lived there together as brothers, as a family. That Beta family still exists today. As a family, we must fulfill our lifelong commitment to Beta Omicron by supporting the next generation we will be proud to call brothers. A lot of progress has been made so far in 2017. Active membership is ahead of schedule and expected to be 93 after spring recruits are initiated. Additionally, with finances on target, the next step is finding Chapter housing. TBSAF board members will work with General Fraternity representatives and colony officers to determine what housing alternatives are available. Loyal alumni have committed more than $2 million in support of the Building the Future of Texas Beta campaign, including a generous estate gift from loyal alumnus Joe Romine '52, who entered Chapter Eternal on March 14, 2016. But our job is not finished—our goal is within reach. If you have not made a contribution or pledge in support of your Texas Beta brothers, we urge you to stake your claim now in this momentous project. I want to thank the loyal 132 brothers who have supported the campaign to date. However, we need the remaining 1,100 to participate in this campaign so we can reach our goal. Fill out the enclosed pledge card or visit our secure link at www.texasbeta.org to help us raise the remaining $500,000. As Betas, we know what it means to "lock up," and this is a situation where everyone needs to participate at some level. Your level depends on your individual circumstances and other commitments, but we encourage everyone to be a part of this once-in-a-lifetime event. We believe when this Chapter House comes to fruition, you will want the satisfaction of knowing that you helped make it happen. Yours in _kai_, Campaign Chairmen Louis Baldwin '68 and Mac Churchill '68 Tom Stephens '76 Has High Hopes for the Future of Texas Beta F raternities, in general, are places where you make lifelong friends. That could not be more true for Tom Stephens '76. The support Tom received from his brothers as an undergraduate resonates today, as he works professionally with many Betas. And even in some instances where they work in different fields, the support remains the same; you want each other to succeed. "You develop a bond with these men," Tom said. "I would compare it to being on a football team—you may not have anything in common with someone, but the bond you share exceeds that. I've always heard people say that and would roll my eyes, but it's true and something I didn't expect at all. When I went from a small town to a large university, I became engrained in the Fraternity and automatically made 70 new friends." Tom is more than happy to see Beta Theta Pi return home at UT. He is especially happy that it's coming back for what he believes is the right purpose. "The way they're doing it now seems like it has more substance. I believe, and I think all alumni would agree, that Beta is an organization to be proud of and offers more than your everyday fraternity. The new model is more in line with an academic fraternity, which makes complete sense to me. It's nice to see the young men of Beta Omicron rally behind this model and start setting goals for the future. "If we have every alumnus give a small amount to the campaign instead of a handful giving a lot, we would well surpass our goal. I wish everyone would realize how important it is and the way these young men are going about it is something to support. We all have our causes that we donate to—churches and local organizations—so if everyone could contribute something to Beta, it would be worthwhile. My hope is that we raise enough money for us to have a competitive facility, be the top Fraternity on campus academically, and have good relationships with other Greek chapters at UT. I want Beta Omicron to achieve what they strive for." Tom and his wife, Brenda, live in Wichita Falls, Texas, and have two daughters, Janie and Emily. In his free time, Tom enjoys being outdoors, whether it be hunting, fly fishing, snow skiing, or visiting the lake. He also enjoys golf, but after two shoulder surgeries, his golf clubs have treated him "very rudely." He's slowly working back into it though. You can contact Tom at tstep10756@aol.com.

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