Theta Chi - Drake University

PAGE 3 Endeavors Dan Sinykin '86 Builds on Skills Learned at Theta Chi I f Dan Sinykin '86 could give a piece of advice to the undergraduates in the chapter today, it would be to use their time in Theta Chi to learn how to be a leader and build the skills they'll need to use in a career after college. "Take on leadership roles," Dan says. "Cultivate management skills and learn how to manage a budget. These will all be beneficial in whatever career you choose." Dan followed his own advice while an undergraduate at Drake. Active in the chapter and on campus during his four years, Dan got his start as social chairman and recruitment chairman. "My roles in Theta Chi were a great experience. They gave me the opportunity to manage my time and build an organization. Managing the social life of the house gave me the courage to pursue opportunities on campus as well—the members of Theta Chi encouraged me to pursue those extracurricular opportunities. I ended up very active on campus within student government and the Student Activity Board." When he graduated from Drake, Dan had a job offer with Procter & Gamble. For six years he worked with the company in Chicago and Cincinnati, ultimately leaving to sign on for a two-year commitment with a Chicago entrepreneur. During that time, Dan helped to start a 14-store retail chain spread throughout the Chicagoland area. From there, Dan took the step to be a business owner himself, acquiring a manufacturing business in Milwaukee. His wife, Jodi, was pregnant with their first child at the time and it looked like the perfect opportunity to move closer to family in Wisconsin. Now, more than 20 years later, Dan has tripled the size of Monterey Mills, a textile manufacturing business with factories in Wisconsin and North Carolina. Throughout the years, Dan's Theta Chi connection has remained strong. In business dealings, instant connections have been created when the commonality of Theta Chi membership has been discovered. Dan still looks to his Gamma Tau brothers for advice. Doug Hagerman '83 serves on the board of Monterey Mills and Chris Faber '86 is a pledge brother who Dan leans on for advice and counsel. "My fraternity brothers were outstanding individuals. The years from 18 to 22 form your tour to adulthood and I used that time to treat those guys as my family. Those were the people I grew up with." Dan and Jodi make their home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and have four children: Sam, a junior at Syracuse University; Elliana, a sophomore at the University of Texas-Austin; and Zachary and Justin, who are in high school. An Assisting Hand Society Donations Benefit Chapter A nother semester is rapidly underway at Gamma Tau Chapter. Along with it comes the new year, a great new member class and Relays Weekend this April. In an effort to support these activities, Gamma Tau has established An Assisting Hand Society, a sustaining fund that endows our 501(c)(3) education foundation and QC Building Corporation. While the foundation does not pay for recruitment expenses, it does provide scholarships to the undergraduates and new members. Additionally, the foundation covers fees and expenses associated with leadership programs and educational programs at the chapter level. Gifts to the QC Building Corporation provide for debt service and ongoing operational and maintenance costs of the house. As we all know, staying on top is never easy. With united alumni support we can demonstrate our commitment to excellence to the active chapter. A huge thank-you to the brothers below who contributed to our first appeal for An Assisting Hand Society. We are extremely grateful for your support. Allen McCoy '54 $5,000 Charles Frank '61 $100 James Neylon '67 $100 Randall Fowler '78 $100 Brad Westermann '83 $100 B rothers, while the undergraduates are comfortably into their second year in the new house, there are still projects that could use some funding or donations in-kind. As with any new build project, last- minute goals were left out or were put on the back burner due to funding concerns. In time, this is what we'd like to accomplish. If you can help with any of the projects below, please reach out to Tom Rossley '82, Al Kopec '79, or any brother you know is involved in the project. 1. Extra large red metal QC letters to be placed on the Forest Avenue side of the house. 2. A complete security system for the summer months, school breaks, and other holidays. 3. Pavers for an aesthetic front patio. Brothers still enjoy people watching on 34th Street. 4. An awning or some way of bringing shade to the back patio. That sun is intense. 5. Cut stone or a large rock to stop cars from running into the retaining wall on Forest Avenue. 6. Industrial-strength outdoor furniture for all outdoor spaces. 7. Kitchen stove venting still needs to be built-in. It is currently exposed. 8. Built-in exterior cement stairs with a railing from the back patio to the parking lot. 9. Industrial storage cubbies for the basement storage room. It's currently wide open. 10. Wall construction to partition off the ritual closet in the storage room. 11. Industrial bar stools for the basement. Initially we bought some very inexpensive stools. Finishing Touches Still Needed (Continued on page 4)

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