GEORGIA ALPHAN
THE NEWSLETTER FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS OF GEORGIA ALPHA CHAPTER OF PHI DELTA THETA FRATERNITY AT UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA - SUMMER 2017
g a a l p h a . c o m
Not Your Father's Rush
One of the most misunderstood subjects that
Chapter Advisory Board (CAB) members try to
communicate is how the recruitment process changed
over the last couple of decades.
The recruitment process is more expedited than
what many of you recall from your undergraduate
days. In the late 1980s, the University of Georgia
Interfraternity Council (IFC) decided to implement a
structured formal recruitment shortly before the fall
semester started. While this change seemed like a way
to "level the playing field" for all the chapters, it turned
out that chapters began bidding potential members
prior to the on campus recruitment. UGA IFC did not
police this violation very well, partially because its
leadership was composed of members from the largest
chapters that benefitted most from this change. In
time, these chapters wrapped up their pledge classes
by the end of July and would not even participate in
structured rush—to the point of leaving their houses
locked up for the young men on house tours to stand
outside.
Georgia Alpha spent most of this time on the
short side of the recruitment process. We were
fighting with the other small chapters over a limited
number of recruits who went through structured
rush. Fortunately, we turned the corner and are now
competitive with any chapter at UGA. At this point
you might be asking "What does this have to me?"
For nearly 150 years of Georgia Alpha's existence,
rush recommendation has always been the key
source of selecting prospective members. Coupled
with recommendations from the Chapter actives,
we rely on these to recruit new members. Given
the facts described above, we need these qualified
recommendations as soon as possible, but at least
by the end of the high school year. You can submit a
recommendation via our website, gaalpha.com, or
contact Ashley Dillard #2108 at stad10@yahoo.
com or Mark Chandler #1686 at markc@hpiinc.
net. The sooner we can get your recruit's information,
the better chance we have to pledge him.
While the recruitment process changed, prospects
and resulting pledges from our alumni is the ultimate
way for our Chapter to thrive and to retain a close
goodwill with our alumni.
Save the Date
Annual Alumni Luncheon at the Chapter House on 130 Greek Park Circle
Saturday, August 26, 2017
11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Catered by Lee & Daniel Epting, Epting Events
Cost: $40 per person. Spouses welcome.
An email reminder with RSVP instructions to be sent closer to the event.
150th Anniversary Celebration of Georgia Alpha
Many of you inquired about plans for this event. According to GHQ, Georgia Alpha was founded June 5, 1871. We plan to host an event in
2021. While it is four years away, this is a significant event and achievement. Georgia Alpha is the 14th oldest Phi Delta Theta chapter and the
oldest in continuous existence nationally and on the UGA campus.
We will form a committee to plan this event to be chaired by John McGoogan #1485. If you are interested in helping with this event please
email John at jmc@prestwicklending.com.
Submit recruitment recommendations at gaalpha.com, or contact Ashley
Dillard #2108 at stad10@yahoo.com or Mark Chandler #1686 at markc@hpiinc.net.
Chapter Advisory Board
Chairman
Ashley Dillard #2108
stad10@yahoo.com
Treasurer
Howard Guest #2119
hguest3@yahoo.com
Housing Corporation Chairman
David Boohaker #2092
david.boohaker@gmail.com
Alumni/Rush Chairman
Mark Chandler #1686
markc@hpiinc.net
Public Relations/
Phikeia Chairman
John Barnett
john.barnett@gmail.com
Scholarship/
Philanthropy Chairman
Jason Fitzer
jasonfitzer@gmail.com
Housing Corporation President
John McGoogan #1485
jmc@prestwickcapital.com