Alpha Gamma Rho - Penn State University

2 Gamma Crescent Keith D. Bowman '00 (Γ1440) Gives Advice to Undergraduate Brothers, Shares the Impact of Gamma Chapter L earning that I would be the "alumni spotlight" in the next edition of The Crescent has brought me great joy. I feel strongly that my God-given right as "alumni spotlight" is to give unsolicited advice to the undergraduates of Gamma Chapter. Nothing makes me happier than telling someone how to live their life. While you're waiting to join the real world, enjoy your time at 322 Fraternity Row. Your window of opportunity to learn how to recover from the stupid things you do is getting smaller by the day. It's college; you're supposed to have fun! I and countless Gamma brothers have gained great life skills from Alpha Gamma Rho. Kristofor Reitz '99 (Γ1435) and I set the dumpster on fire, by mistake, while cleaning up from Homecoming. I can't tell you how valuable dumpster firefighting skills are. Another great skill I learned during my time as an active is turning the shower too cold while someone is washing their hair. Again, great life skill; trust me, this will come in handy. One of my good friends and brothers, Eric "Bonz" Wagner '02 (Γ1472), learned many great life lessons in a short time. Bonz learned a valuable life lesson one day when he saw many brothers shoveling snow from the Gamma lot. He learned that you never tell these brothers to leave your Camaro alone because you don't want anyone to scratch it. If you do this, somehow, all the snow within eyesight ends up covering the Camaro. He also learned that Camaros don't start if you're not wearing jean shorts. During my time as an active brother, I saw many miracles. None of these miracles were as large as the one that transformed Jonathan Medsger '99 (Γ1426) from HICK TO SLICK. The transformation was undeniable! All kidding aside, joining Alpha Gamma Rho was one of the best choices I have made in my life. Along with having a great time, I truly feel my years at Gamma Chapter gave me a competitive edge when I joined the work force. After graduating with a degree in turf grass science, I took a position with a landscape company in Maryland, McHale Landscape Design. My original position was landscape maintenance foreman. I worked in this capacity for a few years before being promoted to maintenance account manager. In 2005, I was given the title maintenance division manager and continue to occupy this role for the McHale team. Currently, our team consists of 70 people, producing $7 million in yearly revenue. Failure would have come to me long ago had it not been for ΑΓΡ. McHale Landscape Design has four offices serving the Washington, D.C./ Baltimore metro area and the Eastern Shore of Maryland. We offer high-end residential landscape design build work as well as landscape maintenance services. Please visit our website at www.mchalelandscape.com. As for the unsolicited advice for the active brothers, here it goes. Have as much fun as possible while you're still in college. Make lifelong connections, respect and be kind to your fellow brothers, and never let your schooling get in the way of your education. When you graduate and retain employment, work with aggressive effort. No one cares about your GPA anymore. You're not special—put your ego in your pocket. Keep your head down and work. Do the dirty, thankless, and menial work that no one wants to do. Do this work with no ego or need for acknowledgement. Perform your job for the group you work with and be part of a team. Be kind to others and show genuine interests in their lives. Trust me—you will gain more than you give. Fraternally, Keith D. Bowman '00 (Γ1440) keithb@mchalelandscape.com Keith D. Bowman '00 (Γ1440) (center), alongside a few of his co-workers. Alumni Support Needed for Changing Greek Climate at Penn State A s most of you are aware, the last couple of months have been difficult times for Greek men and women at Penn State. We were heartbroken to hear of the loss of life at Beta Theta Pi in February and are disturbed by the allegations surrounding the events of that evening. We continue to hold Timothy in our thoughts and prayers as we grapple with the aftermath of such a devastating situation. The events on campus continue to have great consequences for all Greek students, Gamma Chapter not excluded. The university's response has been swift and rigorous, and there will be profound changes to the Greek community. What those modifications are exactly is yet to be fully understood, as the administration's position is ever-evolving. What we do know, though, is that there will be fundamental changes to fraternity recruitment, new member education, and social activities. Gamma Chapter is fully committed to making better men and doing it respectfully and responsibly and, as such, we are in agreement with the guidelines intended to eliminate hazing and over-consumption of alcohol in our community. While the new social restrictions will certainly be an adjustment, we look forward to continuing to provide the safest environment possible for our members and guests.

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