Phi Delta Theta - University of Missouri

THE MO ALPHA PHI Geor ge A Lo ng III, In diana Alpha 1413 G e o r g e A L o n g , I n d i a n a B e t a 1 0 / 1 9/ 1 2 0 8 # 3 3 2 G r a n v i l l e M o o d y J r . I l l i n o i s E t a , 3 / 7 / 1 9 1 4 # 2 3 2 G e o r g e A L o n g J r . , I l l i n o i s E t a , 6 / 6 / 1 9 39 # 58 6 E d w a r d C . L o y , I n d ia n a T h e t a , 4 / 5 / 1 9 3 4 # 5 0 4 H er b e r t S t r a w b r i d g e , I n d i a n a T h et a , 4 / 1 9 / 1 9 3 6 # 5 3 1 R o b e r t S t r a w b r i d g e , I n d i a n a T h e t a , 3 / 1 8 / 1 9 3 7 # 5 3 9 R u s s e l l S t r a w b r i d g e , I n d i a n a T h et a , 4 / 2 7 / 1 9 4 7 # 7 4 9 D a l l a s R y a n L o ng , F l o r i d a G a m m a , 4 / 2 2 / 2 0 0 7 # 1 6 6 3 2 Q&A with Neil Caskey '96 Q: Why did you join Phi Delta Theta? A: I grew up in Sikeston, Missouri, and the Phi Delt brand during that period was legendary down there. Virtually every Mizzou-bound guy I looked up to, including my own brother, Matt Caskey '94, was a Phi Delt. And that's what I wanted to be too. Q: What is your favorite memory with MO Alpha? A: It'd have to be the entire pledge experience. That's because every week was memorable as a pledge. Everything was new that semester. Our friendships. Our traditions. Our perceived independence. Even our mistakes. Those were joys we celebrated together and pains we helped each other through. I think that's part of the reason why every Phi I know would relive their pledge experience if they could. Q: Were there any brothers who made a strong impact on you? A: My brother, Matt. His influence was felt long before I moved into 101 East Burnam, but it certainly expanded while we lived there together. Matt was our house manager when we were pledges, so you could say we worked closely with him during that period. His respect for the house and the people that lived there was inspiring. Coincidently, the very first office I held as an active was house manager. Q: How is your life different because of Phi Delta Theta? A: I hope it's more accountable. When I arrived at 101 E. Burnam in the fall of 1993, there was no playbook to follow. There were no parents to direct us. All we had was a group of young men that had to figure it out together. I relied on others to get it done. And they relied on me. And I'd like to think that interdependence instilled some degree of accountability that I draw upon today. Q: Tell me about your career. A: I spent most of my time in advertising and public relations. Mostly boring stuff; nothing at all like you see on Mad Men. Q: Do you keep in touch with your brothers from Missouri Alpha? A: Yes. I'm lucky enough to stay in touch with quite a few. In fact, I see Tyler Alcorn '97 and his family at least once a week. We both have two girls who go to school together and also happen to be best friends themselves. Q: Is there anything else you would like to add about your time with Missouri Alpha? A: Only something to ask. Has anyone heard from Ed Numbe? Neil and his wife, JB, a Mizzou Tri Delt, live in Chesterfield, Missouri, and have two daughters, Chloe (13) and Maggie (11). In his spare time, he enjoys watching his girls dance and the Tigers compete. "Tip for all frustrated Mizzou fans, we've got a pretty amazing wrestling team that competes with the best of them." Email: neilcaskey@att.net I 'd like to start by pointing out a few highlights of recent chapter activities. In October 2018, MO Alpha was paired with Alpha Chi Omega and took fourth place overall in Mizzou Homecoming. A first place in the blood drive and banner contest contributed to the solid overall placement. MO Alpha started 2019 off right by initiating 33 Phikeias into the brotherhood. Fourteen members made the trip to St. Charles Lindenwood to attend annual Province retreat. SECOND IN GRADES Fall 2018 was great academically as we placed second overall in the IFC council with a cumulative GPA of 3.372. We were pleased that one of our members, who was on academic probation, increased his grades and was initiated into the fraternity. However, we did unfortunately lose two of our Phikeias due to grades being too low and two are currently on academic probation. Action is being taken to ensure that they we will be initiated, including mandatory study hours with the current Phikeias, participating in grade checks, and meeting with our scholarship chairman. PHILANTHROPY We had roughly 67 members and Phikeias participate in MizzouThon on April 6. This 13.1-hour dance marathon involves around 1,000 total dancers, along with all the miracle kids and their families. All proceeds raised throughout the year go to the Women's and Children's Hospital at Mizzou. Beyond MizzouThon, we have been very involved with many other philanthropies around campus such as Delta Gamma's Hoops for Troops, Chi Omega's Dodgeball Tournament, and many more. On April 16, we hosted an event resembling "Family Feud" called Phi Delt's Phamily Pheud. All of the money raised from this event will be donated to the LiveLikeLou Foundation, which supports families affected by ALS, and research for the disease. MEMBERSHIP We had a very successful informal recruitment period at the beginning of the semester. We currently have 19 Phikeias. One of our main goals in the Phikeia process is to increase relationships between the actives and the Phikeia and make sure there is not a social barrier between the two. We also want to teach the Phikeia the three cardinal principles and how to live by them: friendship, sound learning, and moral rectitude. Yours in the Bond, Chandler Benkendorf '21 President, MO Alpha chandler.benkendorf@mail.missouri.edu CHAPTER STAYS BUSY WITH PHILANTHROPY EVENTS, RANKS SECOND IN GRADES The Alpha pledge class.

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