Alpha Gamma Rho - Penn State University

4 Gamma Crescent G iven the past year's safety requirements, the events that we have had in previous years to engage with alumni, such as the Gamma Chapter Homecoming and tailgates, were not feasible. To adapt to this new virtual environment, we held many Zoom calls to connect and learn from alumni about job opportunities within agriculture across many majors. This is something I hope to continue this semester and in the fall, whether in person or virtual. In addition, I have been working to fully digitize chapter photos from years past. This would allow everyone to access these photos and reminisce about the memories they have, which is something that has not been able to happen in over a year due to COVID-19. However, Penn State plans to reopen the campus this fall, and as such the restrictions over tailgates and other large gatherings should be gradually lifted. Although I have only experienced my position in this virtual world, I look forward to figuring out and planning safe in-person events similar to years past. I want to help Gamma Chapter connect with alumni and experience events that I and the younger brothers have only heard about. Stay tuned as we learn more about the fall semester! Fraternally, Kyle Ferguson VNR Alumni Relations Alumni Relations Report F inances for this semester have not been as good due to the pandemic. Thankfully, we managed to pick up 24 good guys for next semester to replace most of the seniors we are losing this year, which will help keep us stay afloat next year. While we are losing more than we are keeping this year, out-of-house dues will be higher next year to make up for it. Also, we are projected to have at least 28 members in the house next semester, and we are trying to increase that number. The new class has multiple members who want to live in the house but are locked into leases. I am working with them to break their leases so they can live in the house next year. Since it will cost extra to break leases, I am also planning to raise in-house dues to account for it. Fraternally, Jacob Schindler VNR Finance Finance Report T wenty-three brothers are living in house this spring, and we are still working out how many will live here in the fall. The house is in good condition with a couple of small projects planned. We have had a couple of issues with our heating in the house, but our boilers are now serviced and new thermostats are installed. On the third floor, we cleaned up our study room and turned it into a usable room again; many brothers are now getting good use out of it. The brotherhood has plans for projects around the house. First, we intend to put a fence up around the yard outside of Blue Tower. We will also be working on treating the floors in Great Hall to make them less slippery when wet. Finally, we will be putting turf on the deck to make it nicer on the weekends. Fraternally, Jim Twomey (Γ1856) VNR Maintenance and Operations maintenanCe and operationS report A s you've read so far, we've had to get creative in terms of social interactions. None of this is ideal, but it's the current world we live in and we have to adapt appropriately. This spring, we have organized many small and interesting ways for us to connect as a brotherhood. As some of you may have seen, A.J. Mastrangelo '19 (Γ1839) set up a snowboard/ski ramp going down the front steps of the house during the massive snow storm we experienced earlier this year. In the warmer weather brothers started playing pickup basketball games and going to the White and Blue courses to safely play golf. Despite the lack of in-person events, we were all thrilled to participate in THON this year. With the help of everyone's donations and hard work throughout the year, we placed ninth among Greek pairs with our partners at Phi Sigma Sigma and raised over $108,000! This is the highest amount of money we have ever raised—an absolutely insane number, especially with the challenges COVID-19 put on our donation efforts. Fraternally, Dylan Patrick '20 (Γ1850) VNR Activities Zack Shaffer '18 (Γ1802) attempts to land a backflip off of the ramp that A.J. Mastrangelo '19 (Γ1839) constructed earlier this semester. Activities RepoRt Huge shoutout to our dancers this year! They stood the entire 46 hours despite the school's recommendation for them to take a break in the middle of THON. They truly exemplified aggressive effort and became better men with each other's help. From left: Mike Donohue '18 (Γ1806), Adham Al-Bataineh '18 (Γ1794), and David Uribe '18 (Γ1778).

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