Sigma Phi Epsilon - Kansas State University

Sigma Phi EPSilon • KanSaS BEta ChaPtEr KanSaS StatE UnivErSity • Fall 2016 t h e H O O P o f S T E E L T here's nothing like fall to bring back memories of getting back to school and rejoining our brothers. I'm sure we each can distinctly remember our initial semester as a new member, and all the excitement mixed with uncertainty about what college and the Fraternity experience would hold for us. Looking back, I can't imagine what college would have been like if I hadn't been a SigEp and taken with me all the friendships and truly memorable experiences. No matter what year was your first at Kansas Beta, I know you can relate. We are looking forward to a year filled with optimism and growth for the Chapter. The condition of the house at the end of last spring was as good as it's been in years. Our members treated the facility with respect and the usual maintenance during the summer was primarily cosmetic. That said, our last major renovation is going on 10-plus years, and the normal wear and tear combined with a shift in how the men use and live in the house points to a need to begin preliminary evaluations of future enhancements. Simply, the men really like being together and have begun using certain rooms as hang out spaces where many can gather to listen to music, watch TV, or play video games, while using shared rooms like the library, RLC, or other rooms to study together. As we consider future renovations, we'll want to take into account how today's men live and study in the house. We are thrilled to welcome Diann Veith as our new housemother. Diann is an alumna of Alpha Delta Pi at K-State, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education, and has spent the last 15 years as the director of a private school in Overland Park. Among the areas she has taught is etiquette. We share the belief that this is an important skill in the quest to become a Balanced Man, and she will provide guidance to the men to further their development. We completed a significant Kansas Beta Grows Stronger as Alumni and Undergraduates Look to the Future renovation of the housemother's apartment to include a breakfast wet bar with a microwave and refrigerator, as well as a washer, dryer, and new bathroom tiling and paint overall. She's as excited to join as we are to have her on board. Sharon Henes begins the fall as president of the Parent's Club, and there is already a full slate of activities planned with the help of numerous involved parents. It's terrific to have this type of interest and support and we thank them all. They also contribute items to the house with funds raised through auctions or other fundraisers. An event I personally recommend all of you to attend, if you can, is the Rob Regier Memorial Golf Tournament on October 7 at Colbert Hills. We lost Rob Regier '88 to testicular cancer and this annual tournament has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Johnson Cancer Center at K-State over the years. It's a great time to reconnect with brothers who also play in the tournament and the Cats play Texas Tech the next day. Get a foursome together to play, and then stick around and make a weekend of it. Kansas Beta's 100-year anniversary will take place in spring of 2018. I am putting together a steering committee for those who would like to help plan and host our celebration of this momentous event. We need volunteers from all generations. Please help me if you're interested by reaching out to me via e-mail or mobile phone. Thank you! HFF, Dan McEntee '86 (913) 484-8792 danm@kc.rr.com The countdown to 100 years of Kansas Beta continues! Contact Dan if you're interested in volunteering on the steering committee. T he summer months at Kansas Beta are a time to prepare the facility for another school year. This summer, however, was a little different because we welcomed new Housemother Diann Veith, who moved into the housemother's apartment on August 11. It was decided by the Alumni Volunteer Committee (AVC) that an upgrade was needed for her apartment. The two-room suite has been painted and a wet food bar, microwave, and refrigerator were added. Cabinets were installed for storage and better organization of kitchen items. Granite countertops were installed in the bathroom and food bar to finish off these areas. A stackable washer and dryer were installed in the walk-in closet for her convenience. The apartment was completed the first week of August. We had a six-member work weekend in June, led by House Manager Stephen Flaspohler '19. The men spent the weekend laying down four truckloads of mulch and cleaning up the yard and parking lot. We had the rugs cleaned and areas throughout the Chapter House that showed signs of wear and tear were painted. Last summer, all the rugs in the study and sleeping rooms were removed and the Housemother Suite and Chapter Facility Undergo Significant Improvements (Continued on page 2)

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