Mother Phi takes over: A new Chapter in the History of Phi!
Mother Phi takes over: A new Chapter in the History of Phi!
Brother Bishop receives Henderson Award.
April 1, Mother Phi Foundation took possession of the two Phi properties on Lake Place in New Haven. On April 15, Brothers Jim Bishop ’56 and past executive director of DKE, David Easlick O’69, journeyed to New Haven to meet with Dan Griffiths from Whitney Management and the undergraduate leadership at the Phi houses on Lake Place.
Brother Easlick presented Jim Bishop with the William M. Henderson Award for 2008. This is the highest award given by the Fraternity annually to recognize the alumnus who has done the most for his chapter. It is a silver mint julep cup with a DKE pin affixed. Past president Grant Todd ’10 and Rush Chairs Nick Schneider ’12 and Reed Spiller ’12 were there to witness the presentation.
David Easlick, O’69 presents Henderson Award to Jim Bishop ’56. Also pictured Grant
Todd '10, Nick Schneider'12, and Reid Spiller '12.
We then caught up with Brother Beta, Jordan Forney ’11 and his Vice President, Joe Young ’11. All were excited with the movement forward with Mother Phi Foundation, Inc.
Mother Phi Foundation, Inc., signed a lease/purchase agreement with the Rampant Lion Foundation on April 1 which transferred all management responsibility to Mother Phi from the Rampant Lion Foundation. Mother Phi will be renting the building, paying an amount equal to the Rampant Lion monthly mortgage payment, which will pay the building off in 10 years or less.
A Band of Brothers on the front porch of 79 Lake Place. Front: Jim Bishop ’56, Keith
Matthew ’10, David Easlick, O ’69 Back: Joe Young ’11, Jordan Forney ’11,
Nick Schneider ’12, Reed Spiller ‘12
Whitney Management has been the management agent for the past year and will continue. Griffiths pointed out the necessary repairs and improvements that need to be taken care of in the near and short term. We committed to re-tuckpointing 73 Lake Place and rewiring the building to comply with New Haven codes. We will also be putting in a ceiling in the basement. The budget for this work is $65,000. We have committed to getting this taken care of this summer. Both houses will be full this fall.
The other building, 79 Lake Place, needs substantial paint and fix up. The basement needs a new ceiling and paneling and consideration will be given to removing some walls on the first floor to improve the ability to host meetings and other events. There are a number of other possible projects that will be added later.
The new webpage www.motherphi.org is really catching on. We need more Brothers to log on and register and use some of the services there. With the help of the undergraduates we will be reaching out to the alumni and organizing events in New Haven and New York.
We are particularly looking for a couple of alumni located near New Haven to help us with chapter operations as well as a number of other volunteers to get things moving around the country.
Jim’s plan is to work with the Yale Club of NYC and the DKE Club of NYC to get Phi members of the Yale Club automatic memberships into the DKE Club. Historically Yale DKEs have only been members of the Yale Club, and it would be helpful to bring them into the DKE Club, as well, to interact with DKEs from other chapters.
There are over 1200 Yale DKEs. We will be using the www.motherphi.org website to bring them more together. We also plan two color mailings and two 4 page color mailings per year. Monthly email blasts complete the initial communication package.
Our capitalization plan is as follows:
Alumni dues should pay the costs of the website, mailings, email blasts, database management, accounting, management, etc. If you look at the Honor Roll section of the website you will see who has already contributed. This is updated weekly.
Annual contributions assist with the monthly rental/mortgage payment.
Capital contributions will fund $125,000 work required on the two buildings.
Undergraduate rent will pay utilities, taxes, maintenance, ordinary repairs and operations.
Endowment funds will be set up and dedicated to whatever charitable purposes the donor specifies.
We are resuming our brick program. Anyone desiring a commemorative brick with his name and class year or in memory of anyone may contribute $500 and a brick will be placed in the garden. Please specify that you want a brick and what you want it to say.
Our donor categories are:
Benefactor ($10,000+)
Founders Club ($5,000-$9,999)
Mystic Circle ($2,500-$4,999)
Society of Brother Beta ($1,000 - $2,499)
1844 Club ($500 - $999)
Bull Dogs ($250 - $499)
Annual Dues ($100 - $249)
Jolly Good Fellows (Up to $99)
A current listing can be seen on the website. DKEs from other chapters are welcome to donate $500 and have a brick mounted at the mother chapter.