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Greetings!

It is my hope everyone is well and off to a great 2010! We have a couple of important areas to cover, and also some “need to know” information included with this newsletter.

Chapter Eternal

On January 23, 2010, ZX lost brother Scott Shoemaker to Chapter Eternal. In the past twelve months brothers Bob Mays and John Jackson have also passed. It is the duty of the ZXAA to provide its members with news of this nature in a timely manner, yet regret having to do so.

In the wake of his passing, the John A. Jackson Zeta Chi Memorial Scholarship is very close to being finalized with the MSU Foundation and will be awarded annually to active members within the ZX chapter. Contributions can still be made directly to the MSU Foundation, noting clearly that the money is for John’s scholarship. Contributions are tax deductible. Donations should be sent to the: Office of Development and Alumni Relations, Kenneth E. Meyer Alumni Center, Suite 100, 300 South Jefferson Ave, Springfield, MO 65806-2211—Mark clearly in your note and check the money is for the John A. Jackson Zeta Chi Memorial Scholarship!

Dues are Due

Association dues are due every year on March 1 (yes, we made the date easy to remember!). Dues are $50 per year and allow ZXAA to operate, providing communication and support to ZX alumni. It is important for everyone to renew, and it’s EASY. Click here.

Rally Around the Truck, Boys!

This newsletter will kick off the “Rally Around the Truck” fundraiser. The objective is to raise $5,000 with all money being used to restore our 1940 Ford Fire Truck. At this time we know it needs: a windshield, seats, rear end, engine tune up and paint. We are expecting it to also need brakes and some transmission work. Kim Hancock will lead the repairs on the grand ‘ol gal. The truck will be unveiled at our ZXAA reunion set for this fall. The idea is to get everyone to “Rally Around the Truck” and send a donation. There are 4 levels to choose from: $25, $50, $100 and “make her unbelievable.”

No donations are to small and none to big! Again, the attached link will allow you to join in the “Rally Around the Truck” fundraiser and it’s EASY to join AND renew your ZXAA membership. PayPal is the preferred method of payment, but checks can be sent to me at 1638 S. Enterprise, Springfield, MO 65804. It is important to send your money immediately. The sooner we have the funds the sooner repairs can begin.

ZXAA now has window decals available. These will be sent to everyone in the reunion invitation coming late summer. There is also a “Rally Around the Truck” sticker for those sending donations on the Truck fundraiser. Click on any of the links provided to get signed up now!

National News

Starting with the spring 2010 edition, the Shield and Diamond will be available on-line at:

http://www.Pikes.org/media/documents/memos/SD/SDemail4.html

Greetings! 2010 is here and looks to be the best year for the Zeta Chi Alumni Association (ZXAA) in history! This year will mark the 5th anniversary of ZXAA. We have come a long way. Part of the Association’s continued efforts are to communicate/update alumni better on events, news and general information regarding ZX. Some months may be more detailed than others, but the objective is to communicate need to know information and not waste your time otherwise. I’m sure as we develop this communication it will improve and be worthwhile for everyone to take a few minutes and update themselves. The plan is to keep these short, sweet and to the point. Excuse me this one time as the first newsletter has much to cover.

Many things are in the planning stage for the Association. Obviously, with the planned re colonization of the Zeta Chi Chapter at Missouri State University in the Spring of 2011 there is excitement and anticipation for the Zeta Chi chapter. Planning is underway for a Zeta Chi reunion for this Fall. No firm date has been set, but we are looking at September. All ZX, young and old, will be asked to attend. Much advance notice will be given. It will be a weekend event in Springfield. There will be activities for spouses, formal dinner and entertainment planned. Once plans are finalized, information will be provided. If you have any ideas or interest in being part of the planning team contact me at jcr4362@sbcglobal.net or (417) 882-3266.

Our Firetruck is in need of basic repairs. She has been sitting still for many years and needs some TLC. Repairs will begin early in 2010 and we will have her ready to unveil at our reunion. “Rally Around the Truck” fundraiser will kick off in the first quarter of 2010. We will need to raise funds for the repairs. We would like all alumni to participate if possible, there will be different levels of contribution, information will be forthcoming. ALL funds raised will be used for the Firetruck repairs.

We are on Facebook (FB). The name of our group is: Zeta Chi Alumni Association. There are many pictures to review. As our members on FB grow, the site will allow us to do more things with it. Zetachipikes.com will continue to be the primary source of communication and should be checked regularly. Please share with all alumni you are in contact with the importance to “join the association” at www.zetachipikes.com. This is our directory and who receives communications.

We will soon have a jazzy Zeta Chi Pike Alumni window stickers available for Association members. Association dues are due March 1 of each year. Invoices will be going out shortly for membership and renewals. Membership dues are important as they allow us to maintain our site, update FB, send mailings, invitations, annual meeting costs and expenses of Association business. We need everyone to join and/or renew. The Paypal link at www.zetachipike.com is the best option. If anyone has a question on the use of Association funds feel free to contact me or any committee member.

We have much more going on than space permits to share at this time. Your Association is STRONG. Great things are in the works and future. We need everyone to be a part of this thing. Zeta Chi is a special group, “Together We Can Achieve Great Things!”

—-Zeta Chi on Facebook—-

Jim Roebuck, President

Zeta Chi Alumni Association

Attached you will find the obituary for John Jackson. You will note towards the end of the notice John requested memorial contributions be made to the Zeta Chi Alumni Association for a scholarship in his honor. “The strong bonds John formed during his college years lead him to request memorial contributions following his death be made to the Pi Kappa Alpha, Zeta Chi Alumni Association where a scholarship will be set up in his name”. We will be working with John’s family to honor his request in the near future. Anyone interested in being a part of John’s scholarship should make their check out to PiKA, Zeta Chi Alumni Association, and mail to Kathy Jackson, 901 Fairway Place, Richmond, MO 64085.

Click Here to view the obituary for John Jackson.

It is with great sadness I inform everyone of the passing of John Jackson on December 18, 2009. John’s attitude and spirit is an inspiration to all. He knew of Zeta Chi’s re colonization plans for Spring 2011. He made the trip from Richmond to “Line the Halls” for our October 8, 2009 presentation to IFC, a tremendous effort and strength on his part.

John’s visitation will be December 21, 2009, 5-7 PM at Richmond Methodist Church, (just west of the square) 212 West Main St., Richmond, MO 64085, Phone (816) 776-2122. Funeral services will be December 22, 2009 at 2:00 PM at the same facility.

Communication should be sent to John’s wife, Kathy, 901 Fairway Place, Richmond, MO 64085

Jim Roebuck, President
Zeta Chi Alumni Association

Big news received December 14, 2009. There has been a major change in the Fraternity expansion process plans at Missouri State University. It is important to remember the plan MSU announced recently was for Sigma Nu to colonize in the Spring of 2010 and Beta Theta Pi to colonize in the Spring of 2011. Sigma Nu will colonize in the Spring of 2010. The change is Beta has elected to withdraw from the colonization process at MSU. As a result, Pi Kappa Alpha-Zeta Chi will re colonize in the Spring of 2011!!! Our Association’s #1 objective has always been: Re colonize Zeta Chi. We have accepted the offer from MSU. We now have the opportunity to return our Fraternity to campus in the Spring semester of 2011. There has been much work from many alumni over the years and many highs and lows. Today it has all paid off and in the Spring semester of 2011 Zeta Chi officially returns to the campus of MSU.

Even before this news, the committee has met to start planning for next year which will be a big year for ZXAA. 1.) Rally Around the Truck (more details to come early in January 2010). 2.) Zeta Chi re colonization in the Spring of 2011. 3.) 5th Anniversary of ZXAA reunion.

More details of each will be shared when finalized. Never before has the entire Fraternity, all generations, come together as a group. In 2010 we will do just that and you will be asked to attend the 5th Anniversary of ZXAA reunion. It will be during the reunion our 1940 Ford Firetruck will be “returned to service”. Repairs will begin early in 2010.

Any questions on re colonization or suggestions for the reunion can be sent to me at jcr4362@sbcglobal.net or call me at (417) 882-3266. On behalf of the ZXAA committee, we wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a great Holiday Season. THANKS! FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

“Together We Can Achieve Great Things”

Jim Roebuck, President
Zeta Chi Alumni Association

This morning I received a phone call from Ryan Collett, Expansion Director of PiKA. Zeta Chi was not selected to re colonize at Missouri State University in the Spring of 2010. The selection was given to Sigma Nu, the second choice was Beta’s and they will be offered colonization in 1 ½ years. I cannot express in words my disappointment and my personal feeling of responsibility for this failure. I felt we had a good game plan and implemented it and I thought our presentation was done very well. Many people had much time and effort invested in this decision. My personal thanks to everyone, to all Zeta Chi that I asked for help, no one said no, everyone stepped up.

I have a follow up with Dean Doman next week and will seek his feedback.

Options: Very few, but all will be discussed in full by the committee and carefully considered.

Where do we go from here: On re colonization, time will tell, but this was our shot, it will be many years before another opportunity is offered. With Zeta Chi Alumni Association, we continue to build and improve, we stay together and grow closer, communicate and improve relations within Zeta Chi. “Once a Pike, always a Pike”, same to be said of Zeta Chi-“Once Zeta Chi, always Zeta Chi”.

Final plans for October 8, 2009:

All alumni welcome/needed to “Line the Halls” for our October 8, 2009 presentation to IFC. We will meet at 2:00pm PSU 313 (Plaster Student Union) Traywick Parliamentary Room. Presentation is at 2:30pm, 3:30 Open Forum at PSU 313—“LINE THE HALL” guys may attend, Wrap up at 4 pm, 5 pm Zeta Chi Rally at Ebbett’s Field.

Everyone needed, LAST CALL!

Everything is in place, we are ready!

“TOGETHER WE CAN ACHIEVE GREAT THINGS”

Jim Roebuck, President
Zeta Chi Alumni Association
jim@jimroebuck.com
(417) 882-3266

On October 8, 2009, at 2:30 pm Headquarters and I (representing Zeta Chi Alumni) will present to the IFC at Missouri State University for the purpose to re colonize Zeta Chi in the Spring of 2010. Three other Fraternities will also present during the week, one will be selected. I will notify alumni with the decision by mass email and web post. This is it, ZXAA #1 objective-1.) Re colonize Zeta Chi.

We have everything in place at this time. The presentation is all that remains. Thank you to the 100+ alumni who have completed the Mentoring questionnaire. It is still not too late for you to do complete a questionnaire and be counted as part of the presentation, contact me at jim@jimroebuck.com

ALL ALUMNI ARE WELCOME AND LOCAL ALUMNI HAVE BEEN SENT POSTCARDS TO “LINE THE HALLS” ON OCTOBER 8TH. Per IFC rules only 7 can attend the presentation, 6 Alumni Advisory Board members and myself. Having alumni in the hallway showing support will be noticed. We will meet at 2:00 pm at PSU (Plaster Student Union) 313 Traywick Parliamentary Room, and rally at 5 pm at Ebbett’s Field.

Membership to the Association is key, you can do so using the Paypal link above and “Join the Association”. Feel free to contact me with any questions jim@jimroebuck.com or (417) 882-3266.

Jim Roebuck, President
Zeta Chi Alumni Association

This is important legislation we need to support. Pi Kappa Alpha is looking to become the leader in supporting this bill-#1. The request in the message is simple and will take very little of your time. Please take a few moments and complete as requested. 

Jim Roebuck, President ZXAA

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Subject: From PKA International Headquarters

Clint Bartman, Senior Director of Real Estate
cbartman@pikes.org
Pi Kappa Alpha International Fraternity
http://www.facebook.com/l/4011f;www.pikes.org
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You can save a brother’s life. Pi Kappa Alpha needs your help!

You can help Pi Kappa Alpha directly, and save lives in Pike houses, by petition your congressman to support the Collegete Housing and Infrastructure Act, CHIA. If passed, CHIA allows donations from Pike alumni to be used directly for capital improvements and the installation of life safety systems, such as sprinklers, into Pike houses.
A group called, the Capital Fraternal Caucus, has already been established and is working in Washington, DC to aid Greek congressional efforts. This group consists of Pi Kappa Alpha members and all Fraternities and Sororities in the United States. Simply go to the following Facebook group and click on the Petition your Congressman link then fill out the requested information.

http://www.cfcfacebook.com

Over 4,000 Pike members have petitioned their congressman already, this puts us at #11 with respect to the other fraternities involved in these efforts. #11 is not good enough. Act now to petition our congressman for this worthwhile cause. Pi Kappa Alpha’s goal is to be #1 on this list.

Please spread the above information to other Facebook groups or Pi Kappa Alpha brothers. If you have questions or would like more information you can contact Pi Kappa Alpha’s, Senior Director of Real Estate, Clint Bartman at cbartman@pikes.org.
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To reply to this message, follow the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/n/?inbox/readmessage.php&t=1188909133155&mid=114aff0G2b67beafG292fd53G0

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The annual meeting of your Zeta Chi Alumni Association (ZXAA) took place in St. Louis on August 1, 2009. Larry Eby, Heartland Regional President, was the guest speaker and shared his fraternity experience, knowledge and insight for the future of ZX and ZXAA. Afterward, being witness to a Cardinal win against the Astros at Busch Stadium was icing on the cake. We have a lot of events, activities and chances for alumni involvement scheduled for the rest of the year. To keep informed, be sure you are listed in the directory by going to: “Are You Alumni” at www.zetachipikes.com