Sigma Phi Epsilon - Rutgers University

Page 3 The July 2025 Conclave was a big success! Many Rutgers undergraduates and alumni celebrated and learned with brothers from across the country. The dozen undergraduates, led by President Ziyad Ibrahim '27, participated in legislation, workshops, and educational sessions about SigEp best practices. The alumni, including Jack Witemeyer '55, Lou Louizides '70, John Benton '86, Mike Schnur '87, Phil Patrick '88, and Ibby Koroma '12, were joined by Chapter Counselor Jake Meiskin, Rider '20 throughout the Conclave. Jack Witemeyer was honored as the oldest living brother in the Order of the Golden Heart, our highest honor. Our chapter was celebrated as a newly chartered chapter, with Ziyad going on the main stage to receive congratulations and a gavel. The charter will officially be presented at the Chartering Banquet in October. Grand Chapter President Dave Calderon, Cal Poly-Pomona '88 gave an energizing speech reinforcing that SigEp will be different and have a goal of the being the biggest and best chapter on every campus we reside. The Rutgers team attended and presented at multiple sessions. The alumni met with HQ staff regarding scholarships and fundraising. We also reconnected with many friends of Rutgers, including Noah Brinkmeyer, Steve Daniels, Rob Cross, and SigEp Executive Director Brian Warren. There were more than 50 educational sessions in multiple tracks, ranging in topics including Balanced Man Program, ritual, recruitment, chapter finances, social media usage, etc. The next Conclave will be July 21-25, 2027, in Phoenix, also celebrating our 125th anniversary—see you there! Fraternally, Phil Patrick '88 I pledged New Jersey Beta Chapter of SigEp as a freshman in 1963, as I was impressed by the maturity, friendship, and quality of the brothers, with their two houses on George St. I loved the pledging routine and compared it to basic training in the Army. I bonded closely with the dozen or so pledges, forming college-long friendships and, in some cases, lifelong friendships with them. Fraternities in the early 1960s were a rare mix of great parties and sophomoric antics (such as putting a car up in a tree one night) but with real-life experience in running a substantial business with about 100 brothers residing in the houses, getting three meals a day, and maintaining the houses, budgets, and our parents' "teas." I served as comptroller, running a $100,000 budget, with full financial responsibility as a 21-year-old. Additionally, serving on the executive committee, we made major decisions about money, discipline, and responsibilities that shaped my leadership abilities from the start. And lastly, I met my future wife of 56 years, who walked through those "Red Doors" at a party—it was love at first sight. Upon graduation, with the skills above, I entered the Army as a 22-year-old, serving on the DMZ in Korea as a lieutenant/captain. My management skills learned at SigEp and ROTC were key to assuming control of my men and the millions of dollars in equipment as an armored platoon leader. After four years in the Army, I embarked on a banking career in Northern New Jersey that lasted 45 years, attaining the position of executive vice president heading up the Banking Group of National Community Bank for 25 years and finishing at Columbia Bank at age 70, because I believe if work is fun (and it was), you'll never "work" a day in your life. Today, at age 80, I am very active in maintaining my home, playing golf every week, and enjoying my family, which includes eight grandkids and one great-granddaughter. It all started with the day I joined SigEp, and I am very happy that the new leadership is getting New Jersey Beta rechartered so the next generation can be as lucky as me. HFF, Pat Thaller '66 CONNECT WITH PAT AT PAT476@AOL.COM. Alumni brothers represent New Jersey Beta Chapter at Conclave. C O N C L AV E 2 0 2 5 ALL RISE! Leadership in SigEp, the Army, and Beyond GET TO KNOW PAT THALLER '66

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