Theta Xi - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

F or the past year, as we approached and passed our initial fundraising goal and con- tinued to progress our renovation, we've debat- ed and discussed with numerous alumni what our ultimate goal should be: finish our original project or pivot to a larger plan that builds upon the success and momentum we've enjoyed to achieve a once-in-a-lifetime restoration of 1490 Sage Avenue. We had a very busy and productive Homecom- ing weekend. Gary Garofalo '62 (A960), Gary Peterson '62 (A964), and Bill Gutheim '63 (A982) expressed an interest in meeting at Rens- selaer to discuss the renovation project. Prior to their arrival in Troy we supplied them materials to review and met and toured the house. ese brothers came away impressed with our detailed planning and execution, supporting our efforts and the completed renovations and encouraged us to present a total renovation plan and gar- ner some initial donations to help convince the brotherhood to complete an expanded project. I also welcomed Mike Lyden '78 (A1173) as an- other Alpha alumnus to the Rensselaer Alumni Association Board of trustees. Retired Rear Ad- miral Lyden has graciously volunteered to help our alumni association with long-term strategic planning. Mike toured the house, reviewed our renovations, and met with the alumni associa- tion board and agrees that we should finalize and execute a plan to fully renovate our house. He is on board to help us cra and deliver the expanded vision. Les Ackerman '82 (A1210) is a local Albany ar- chitect with experience in historical renovation projects. Les toured the house and renovations and met with our alumni association board and has agreed to help us conceptualize the details of a final plan and communicate that plan to alumni to help persuade you to sup- port the expanded effort. Les agrees we should move forward with the larger project and capital campaign. Jake Woudenberg '07 (A1562) joined our alum- ni board meeting and agreed to help us create the visual electronic "brochure" recommended by the 1960s alumni group to communicate work finished to date plus our vision of a completed project to provide you the information you need to choose to join our efforts and/or to recommit. I'm currently working with our local contractor Duncan & Cahill to cra an augmented proj- ect plan. I will work with the group above as a steering committee and with our alumni board and our active chapter leaders and advisors to review, edit, and finalize the plan. Les and Jake will help us present it to you in a manner that will allow you to understand the opportunity we have to make an even greater positive change to our chapter house and active brotherhood and to position us to thrive into our second century in our home. ank you again for your continued generosity. Please keep fulfilling your original pledges so we can keep pace executing the renovations we've agreed to complete together. With the momen- tum and success we've already enjoyed and the increased commitment and support of a very im- pressive team of our alumni, we hope to deliver to you in early 2018 a fully vetted, detailed plan to finish the job we've started to earn your sup- port to finish the job right. Yours in the Bonds, David Fowkes '89 (A1275) Campaign Chairman dwfowkes@verizon.net ALPHA CHAPTER OF THETA XI FALL 2017 ALPHABET ALPHA ALUMNI CLOSING IN ON FINAL RENOVATION PLAN AND DECISION 2018 to Bring Answers and Proposed Vision Alpha Chapter Benefits from Brother Les Ackerman's Expertise L ester T. Ackerman '82 (A1210) re- members visiting the RPI campus as a prospective student, walking the freshman path and passing the eta Xi house. "e brothers were hanging out on the lawn, jok- ing with prospective students." To Les, they seemed like a fun and interesting group. Be- cause fraternities were really the only social life on campus, he went to a few house par- ties and says the eta Xi family-like atmo- sphere made him feel welcomed. He hit if off well with John Lombardo '81, who eventu- ally became his Big Brother, and says joining the chapter was a no-brainer. As a student at RPI, eta Xi was a "very important support for me. I knew that my brothers had my back, and I am very ap- preciative of that." Les made many friends through the fraternity he may not have oth- erwise. He fondly remembers a pledge party road trip in Vermont, Halloween parties with a basement full of leaves, IFC football games, and just hanging out at the house. Aer graduating with a bachelor's degree in architecture, Les worked for EYP Archi- tecture & Engineering in Albany and then Architecture+ in Troy. Les says, chuckling, "I then realized my destiny was to join New York State Government, something I never (Continued on page 3)

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