There are many moments worth celebrating in the course of a chapter’s history. Arguably the biggest events include installation or reinstallation, major anniversaries, and homecoming; but the one that frequently stands at the top of the list is the construction of a new chapter house.
For Delta Phi Chapter at the University of North Texas, that’s exactly what happened this past year. Over the last several months, Delta Phi has been busy building an approximately 15,000 sq. ft. house between Kappa Sigma and Sigma Phi Epsilon, just off Maple Street in Denton, TX. As with any construction project, the chapter has had multiple hurdles to overcome. But because of their dedicated alumni and undergraduates, Delta Phi celebrated the completion of their new home just in time for the fall. The new house has 21 bedrooms (including a president’s suite) and can house 41 brothers.
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By J. Dennis Gentzel, P.E., Fire Programs Specialist, US Fire Administration
Every year college and university students experience a growing number of fire-related emergencies. There are several causes for these fires, however, most are due to a general lack of knowledge about fire safety and prevention.
The United States Fire Administration (USFA) offers these tips to help reduce and prevent the loss of life and property in dormitory and university housing fires.
The Facts
In most cases where fire fatalities occurred on college campuses, alcohol was a factor. There is a strong link between alcohol and fire deaths. In more than 50% of adult fire fatalities, victims were under the influence at the time of the fire. Alcohol abuse often impairs judgment and hampers evacuation efforts. Cooking is the leading cause of fire injuries on college campuses, closely followed by careless smoking and arson.
The Cause
Many factors contribute to the problem of dormitory housing fires.
- Improper actions prior to notifying the fire department delays emergency response.
- Student apathy is prevalent. Many are unaware that fire is a risk or threat in the environment.
- Evacuation efforts are hindered since fire alarms are often ignored.
- Building evacuations are delayed due to lack of preparation and preplanning.
- Vandalized and improperly maintained smoke alarms and fire alarm systems inhibit early detection of fires.
- Misuse of cooking appliances, overloaded electrical circuits and extension cords increase the risk of fires.
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Omega Repurchases Chapter House after 5 Years
Richard Maltz, Omega House Corporation President
Theta Chi of Penn State, Inc. is pleased to announce that prior to Penn State’s Homecoming weekend, the alumni corporation completed the repurchase of the chapter house at 523 South Allen Street from the Norwich Housing Corporation. Theta Chi of Penn State secured a primary loan with a local State College bank and a 2nd mortgage from Norwich.
Having sold the house to National five years ago, Norwich took great care of our chapter house. They brought the house up to code and took care of many other issues with the property.
We thank Norwich Housing Corporation and its officers for helping Omega Chapter in their time of need and for caring for our home the last five years. All of Omega’s brothers owe them a huge debt of gratitude.
To follow the news at Omega/Penn State, check out their website at www.thetachiomega.com
Since 1928, The Norwich Housing Corporation (NHC) has had a proven track record of assisting Theta Chi house corporations with the acquisition, construction and renovation of fraternity houses for Theta Chi chapters.
With programs such as the low-interest Life Safety Loan and the Ladue Emergency Loan, the NHC is a leader among national fraternal organizations by providing funding for housing construction and renovation projects.
Housing is a key component to the Fraternity’s growth and success. Working together, the NHC and Theta Chi house corporations can meet the needs of today’s students and improve our ability to compete in the modern housing market.
For more information about the NHC, or to request a loan application, please contact the International Headquarters by calling 317-824-1881 or e-mailing norwich_loans@thetachi.org
The Center for Campus Fire Safety presents the nation’s premier campus fire safety training event of the year. The 2011 Campus Fire Forum will be November 7-9 in Indianapolis, Indiana at the Indianapolis Marriott.
The Forum will offer educational workshops, conducted by some of the nation’s leading fire safety and industry professionals, and hosted networking receptions. The Forum will also be showcasing the advancements in products that provide solutions to campus fire safety enhancements. And don’t forget the Town Meeting, which has always been a highly successful group discussion forum.
On Tuesday, November 8, several representatives from the Greek community will be presenting and discussing several sessions regarding Greek housing
The 2011 Greek presenters include:
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Irene, the 9th named storm of the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season strengthened over Puerto Rico becoming the first hurricane. In addition, based on the current forecast, Irene is poised to come very close to the southeast United States later this week. NOW is the time to start preparing since all hurricanes and tropical storms pose serious threats to property and business revenue stream. The following is a synopsis of loss prevention measures from Willis that you can take to reduce property damage and business downtime from wind and flood.
BEFORE THE STORM
- Review/update business continuity/disaster recovery plan.
- Review procedures with your internal emergency response team to ensure all positions are filled and all members are properly trained.
- Make sure that all of the brothers in the chapter share contact information with each other.
- Make sure the house corporation and chapter advisers have contact information for brothers living in and out of the house.
- Check the general condition of the building – specifically the roof covering, roof flashing and roof drains. Make all necessary repairs.
- Order emergency supplies such as plywood for windows, mops, brooms, tarpaulins for key equipment, sandbags, etc.
- Identify key equipment, stock and supplies, and vital records that will need to be relocated or moved.
- Assemble materials needed to secure outside and/or roof mounted equipment such as cranes, signs, trailers and HVAC equipment.
- Monitor commercial TV, radio and/or internet web sites to keep abreast of weather conditions and issuance of watches and/or warnings.
- Test all generators, emergency lighting, UPS equipment and sump pumps to ensure proper operation.
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A quick reminder for all chapters, house corporations, alumni associations and alumni chapters about filing your Form 990.
After the Pension Protection Act in 2006 was passed, virtually every chapter, house corporation, alumni association and alumni chapter is required to file a version of Form 990 with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) every year, regardless of the income they generate each year.
These reports are due every year by the 15th day of the fifth month after the close of your tax year.
For example, if your tax year ended on December 31, the 990 is due May 15. For most chapters that operate on a fiscal year that ends on June 30, the report is due November 15.
Form 990 can be found at http://www.irs.gov.
The following are three of the 990 forms:
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The Association of Fraternal Leadership and Values (AFLV) presents the Professional House Director Conference June 23-26, 2011 in Providence, Rhode Island.
This event is the premier opportunity for fraternity and sorority “House Directors” to gain valuable skills and keep up with the issues that impact them on today’s ever changing campus.
Whether one has ten years of experience or is looking for a new career as a professional house director, this conference will provide each participant with a wealth of knowledge to enhance an already developed skill set. A careful blend of lectures, panels, Q & A sessions, and networking opportunities provide the foundation for a rich and solid professional development experience.
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Electrical fires in our homes claim the lives of 310 Americans each year and injure 1,100 more. Some of these fires are caused by electrical system failures, but many more are caused by incorrectly installed wiring and overloaded circuits and extension cords.
The United States Fire Administration (USFA) would like consumers to know that there are simple steps you can take to prevent the loss of life and property resulting from electrical fires.
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A wide range of natural disasters occurs within the United States every year. Natural disasters can have a devastating effect on you and your home. The U.S. Fire Administration encourages you to use the following safety tips to help protect yourself, your family and your home from the potential threat of fire during or after a winter storm. You can greatly reduce your chances of becoming a fire casualty by being able to identify potential hazards and following the outlined safety tips.
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There are many moments worth celebrating in the course of a chapter’s history. Arguably the biggest events include installation or reinstallation, major anniversaries, and homecoming; but the one that frequently stands at the top of the list is the construction of a new chapter house.
