Welcome

After four years, my service to you as your Alumni Association President is complete. I'll be succeeded by Ryan Lovell, MA 392. Ryan has served TKE-MA for the past few years as the Chapter Advisor, and works as the Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Coordinator at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA. Justin Baker, MA 475, will be taking the reigns as Chapter Advisor. I wish Ryan and Justin the best in the year that lies ahead.

I have greatly enjoyed being your President, but I felt it was time to move on. The last four years of my life have been four years of major change, and this year certainly hasn't let up in that respect. A beautiful new daughter, job interviews, getting the offer, building a new house, graduating from Residency this week, settlement on the new house next week, moving, starting the new job in July. . . like I said, lots of change. As I stated a few months back, there's just too much going on to devote the required amount of time to the AA to ensure that all goes smoothly.

I also strongly believe in term limits. An organization such as ours needs new leadership from time to time in order to keep things fresh and avoid burnout in our incumbent officers. I'm extremely pleased that I could pass the torch to Ryan's capable hands. I'm going to remain involved in a much smaller capacity. I'll have less time to devote to the AA, but will do so by helping out with fundraising. Because I won't have as much time to devote, I'm going to help out financially as well. Our AA needs more than donations of time and effort to stay running and support the Chapter with all that we do.

We've come a long way in the last four years. The undergraduate Chapter has done an about-face by zeroing their debt with the OGC, moving back into the house at 626 S. High, improving their grades and membership numbers, and zeroing their debt with the OGC (again). They've certainly done the work, but I hope that we've helped in some way. I'm proud in all that we do to support the undergraduates, and hope that we could do more in the future, particularly by providing incentives for better academics, officer training, continuing to support leadership education, and in career guidance. I hope that programs like the alumni big brother program could finally get off their feet this year, and that more alumni take a little time to help out the Chapter. They seem to be an enthusiastic group, and I hope this enthusiasm continues into the new academic year.

I also hope that this year is the year that many of you can find a reason to come back to TKE. We all joined TKE for many different reasons in many different eras at many different times. The landscape of Greek Life has changed greatly at WCU and throughout the nation, but the friendships we made while at WCU still persist. I'm sure that there are a handful of guys you've kept in touch with over the years since graduation, but when was the last time you got together back at the house, the Rat, Jake's, 15 North. . . wherever, with your fellow fraters you spent every day with for a few years, but haven't seen since? Yeah, the friendships still persist, but it's TKE that will bring us back together. Let's make this the year that it happens. Let's make this the year you find again what it was that led you to TKE, but more importantly, what kept you involved in TKE. Let's make this the year that you make it a point to call your friends, not to ask them if they think they're going to Homecoming, but to tell them you're going and ask them if they'd rather meet you at the parade, the game, or the house. Let's make this the year that you come to just one Alumni Association, Board of Advisors, or Chapter Meeting, just one.

Don't have the time? Does your list of "stuff" going on look a lot like mine? I'd bet it does, just substitute what the items on the list are. But, find that thing about TKE that keeps it alive in you. TKE is more than just a club to you. It's why you still read these e-mails, look at updates on the website, and read the newsletters. I leave you with the following charge: This year, this summer, hell, this week, find a small way to get back to TKE-MA. Whether it's calling a friend and making plans to meet up in WCU (tell everyone else if you do), making a donation, coming to a meeting, going to Homecoming, volunteering for a position in the AA, or something else . . .just find one way.

I wish the new AA and undergraduate officers the best in the upcoming year, and hope to see you around.

YITB,
Jody Yozviak, MA 398
Alumni Association President

Save The Date

• September 30th: Homecoming
• October 14th: WCU Greek Alumni Mixer