Author Archives: Casey Parsons

Homecoming 2009 (Recap)

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Posted by Casey Parsons on October 27, 2009 – 6:59 pm
Filed under Active Chapter, Alumni News

Otterbein College posted a lot of pictures. If you have some you’d like to see us post on our website, please contact us.

Parade: Our Active guys did a fine job, as usual, in representing us to the campus and community. They build an elaborate pirate ship, which hearkens back to the “good old days”… all the way back to 2003 (or 2004?). The float was built on that same rusty flatbed we’ve been using for years (whose is that, anyways?) and was pulled by Alumni Advisor Nick Miller ’07 and his gigantic landscaping truck. Our Alumni Brothers were seen all over campus watching the parade.

Alumni Meeting: It was a very productive meeting! Todd Thomas ’10, President of the Active chapter, reported to us that Sphinx is the Fraternity of the Year again for the 3rd consecutive year (and running) and he’s expecting a large, healthy pledge class coming soon in Winter quarter. On the Alumni side, we recapped the year’s events (2008 Homecoming and Long Island Iced Tea Party, Sphinxgiving, Sphinx Social Night, Fire Drill, The Land, Sphinx Card Night, Golf Outing, New Year Welcome Back and the Active vs Alumni Ratathon), discussed important updates like bank accounts, a credit line for active housing expenses, our EIN, and 501(c)7 application, and our communications and media across our website, forum, blog, flickr, facebook, twitter and email list. And, of course, we discussed donations which can now be made online either as a one time or recurring gift.

The heart of the meeting was the discussion of goals for our organization. We laid out aggressive, achievable 1 year, 5 year and 10 year goals. The latter of which will come to fruition in 2019, our 100th anniversary, so we’ve dubbed them our Centennial Goals. There is too much to cover here, so click here to read more about goals.

And we wrapped up the meeting with the elections. The new Executive Council will be President Casey Parsons ’05, Vice President Kayne Kirby ’02, Treasurer Andrew Gernert ’07, Secretary Andy Hall ’89, Immediate Past President Scott Humphrey ’85/’91, Member at Large Eric Fletcher ’92, and Member at Large Aaron Loskota ’08. Other Brothers are needed to help to continue or positive growth, so please contact us to get involved.

Game: Otterbein beats Capital by one point! Click here to read about it at Westerville News & Public Opinion paper.

Dinner: We had a grand time at Wendell’s Pub, just north of campus. The crowd was an eclectic mix of younger and not-so-young alumni and their families. Everyone mingled well and generally had a jovial time. Did you like this new event? Please let us know what you thought.

Long Island Iced Tea Party: As always, the highlight of the weekend! The actives tended bar while us old fellas plopped down dollar after dollar for the strongest long islands I’ve ever tasted. The actives and alumni really had a chance to bond at this event, and new friendships were made where a brotherhood already stood. Do not miss this one next year!

Gooooooooooaaaaaaall(s).

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Posted by Casey Parsons on October 27, 2009 – 6:02 pm
Filed under Active Chapter, Alumni News

2000 years ago Aristotle said, “First, have a definite, clear practical ideal; a goal, an objective. Second, have the necessary means to achieve your ends; wisdom, money, materials, and methods. Third, adjust all your means to that end.” That opinion seems not only applicable, but necessary today, does it not?

We have an ideal: Building a Stronger Brotherhood. And because of that ideal we will build upon a foundation of goals. The following is a list of future achievements, our landmarks in a growth process. And between these landmarks there is much planning and doing, which is chiefly tasked the our Executive Council, but is the duty of us all.


1 Year (2010)

  • Raised $10,000
    • 70/30 split between House Fund and Scholarship Fund
    • Invest money (CDs?)
  • Aware first scholarship Fall 2010 – $1500 (breaks even at $5000 total raised)
  • Bylaws completed
  • 50 Sphinxmen with Dues Paid ($1250)
  • Average Event Attendance = 25
  • Produce 2 Newsletters
  • Alumni Database
  • 501c7 Approved


5 Years (2014)

  • $50,000 Raised for House Fund
    • Down Payment Made on House
  • $30,000 Raised for Scholarship Fund
  • 501c3 Approved
  • 100 Sphinxmen with Dues Paid ($2500)
  • Average Event Attendance = 40
  • 3 or 4 Regular Newsletters


10 Years (2019) – 100 Year Centennial Goals

  • 50% of House Paid
  • $50,000 Raised for Scholarship Fund
  • Scholarship Begins Paying 3% ($1500 for $50k)
  • 250 Sphinxmen with Dues Paid ($6250)
  • Average Event Attendance = 70
  • 4 Regular Alumni Newsletters

It is a framework, and one we will update and amend as times and needs change. But a framework nonetheless,  so we can all look to the same direction and walk together. The more of us there are, the faster and lighter we travel.

Truth to Us Above All,
Casey Parsons ’05
President, Sigma Delta Phi (Sphinx) Alumni Association

Homecoming 2009

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Posted by Casey Parsons on June 23, 2009 – 4:32 pm
Filed under Active Chapter

90 Alumni at our 90th Anniversary! Click here to RSVP.

Homecoming and “The Long Island Iced Tea Party”
October 24, 2009.

Click here to RSVP. Don’t miss this one. It’s sure to be the best Homecoming festivites we’ve ever had.

Sphinx Social Night Recap

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Posted by Casey Parsons on March 2, 2009 – 10:10 am
Filed under Active Chapter

What a great night! We had around 70 Alumni, Actives and Pledges mix together for a friendly, memorable gathering.

As the attendees walked through the door of the Abruzzi Club they were welcomed by two pledges who provided the customary sign-in sheet and nametags. And of course, the pledges asked each Alumnus if his contact information was up-to-date.

Beyond the front table was a spread of memorabilia; paddles, bricks, composite pictures, and award plaques. Every time I see this collection of plaques I’m impressed… that’s a lot of awards!

Past the tables of Sphinx history was the bar area where, as you might guess, it was pretty much packed all night. The Alumni Association provided snacks and soda, and beers for $1.

As with every event at The Abruzzi Club, the bacci ball court was never empty. Game after game, mostly between the active guys, the balls rolled all night.

Later, led by Kayne Kirby ’02, a poker game sprung up. Two tables of Texas Hold ‘Em; complete with a $5 buy in and quality chips. Sure I played…and was the first one out of money. Bad omen for the Sphinx Card Night on May 2nd?

Jerry Comer ’87 taught the pledges some new songs that had been lost through the years. And the highlight of the night was when they performed them for the crowd of actives and alumni. The lyrics were *ahem* slightly inappropriate so we we’re only posting them at our new private forum, www.ocsphinx.com/forum.

Scott Humphrey ’85 and/or’91 and Aaron Loskota ’07 took the opportunity to update their Family Tree, which must have over 100 names on it. That thing is cool! Aaron also showed off his compilation of pledge names, which is a testament to his Sphinx dedication.

To view pictures from the entire night, click here.

We’re sorry that many of you weren’t able to make it. As you can see, you missed quite a night. We hope to see you at all of our other events, which you can see at www.ocsphinx.com/events.

Truth To Us Above All,

Casey Parsons ’05
President, Sigma Delta Phi Alumni Association

Alumni Meeting and Fire Drill

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Posted by Casey Parsons on March 1, 2009 – 5:11 pm
Filed under Active Chapter

Brothers,

This coming Wednesday, March 4, we’ll be having our regular Alumni Meeting at 58 W Lincoln at 7pm. All Alumni are always invited. Afterwards we will cheer on the pledges as they run the Fire Drill. Yep, it’s HELL WEEK!

Hope to see you all there!

Casey Parsons ’05
President, Sigma Delta Phi Alumni Association