Brothers,
We are now at a month after our incredibly successful Alumni Weekend, so here is a recap below of everything that went on! Also, find some useful links for our social media groups (LinkedIn, Facebook, etc.) and some info on helping our house (which is very much in need). Also, I’ll touch on our outstanding philanthropy Sorry for the delay. Let’s jump in!
On Friday, September 6 we had a wildly exciting tailgate for the UVA football team and their blinding WIN over the William & Mary Tribe! We had wings, burgers, brats, a truckload of beer, and great fun all-around. I heard Kevin McNerney beat everyone in a chugging contest.
Saturday we had two events, a career-building and networking event and a celebration of Kevin McNerney’s time as such a great leader of this house! At the career-building event we tackled problems that the house is having in regards to Rush, the Upcoming House Renovations, Alumni Outreach and Involvement, Living Conditions in the House, and Optimization of Finances.
- Let us know if you’d like to represent your pledge class as a class officer! We are trying to improve our ability to have clear and effective communication and the best way to do that is through the brothers you know.
We hosted the event for Kevin McNerney at Three Notch’d Brewery and Craft Kitchen, one of my favorite places. Brothers were able to come together, drink heavily, and thank Kevin for everything that he has done for us. Thanks Kevin!
We concluded the weekend with a nice brunch on Sunday at our beautiful house which was catered by Ace Biscuit & BBQ! What an awesome time we had, I hope to see everyone at next year’s weekend!
Soon after our Second Annual Alumni Weekend, we had our philanthropy event to support the Virginia Institute of Autism (VIA School) a local non-profit which is dedicated to helping people overcome the challenges of autism through innovative, evidence-based programs in education, outreach and adult services. Check out their website to donate directly!
We raised over $500 for VIA School and we were so happy to have the opportunity to do it. We raised the money by getting Dean Groves to volunteer to be PIED in the FACE! Check out articles by CBS 19 and UVA Today for more information.
Rush
We are heavily focused on finding rush-prospects for next spring, we are hoping to have one of our largest pledge classes ever!
Join our LinkedIn and Facebook groups!
Donate
As we look ahead, we’ve had the younger, newly initiated, brothers start looking into living in the house next year. Unfortunately, we had many of our Class of ’21 initiate brothers either deactivate, graduate early, or move to a different school, so the number of brothers we are looking to board in the house next year is 6 less than this year! This is a substantial figure, because every brother pays around $6,000 per year in order to live in the house. We know now that to even hit the same amount of rental income as this year, we will need to find at least $36,000! Even with all dues by all of the brothers going towards living in the house (which means funding no Rush budget or Social budget), we don’t come even close to that number.
We’ve put together some ideas for fixing this gap, listed below, but we need your help too! If we can get 100 alumni to sign up for the $18.11 per month program (typically goes towards running the house) and the $18.57 per month program [typically goes towards funding alumni events (tailgates, golf tournaments, reunions)], the house will be in a much better position as we look forward to next Spring’s Pledge Class.
Fundraising Ideas
- We could board rooms that are not being filled to capacity to students outside of the brotherhood.
- We could raise the rent, but the rooms right now are fairly on-par with the other places in Charlottesville that are available for rent.
- We could raise dues even further, as we have gone through four dues raises over the last two years.
- We could have a large fundraising event with our alumni, where maybe we auction off valuable items that are donated by alumni (UVA sports passes, bourbon bottles, Theta Delt Composites, etc.)
- Target second year and first year students this semester who haven’t signed a lease yet and will be getting all of them to live in the house (number is unknown).
- Institute a class officer system or a grouping system to better enhance our alumni outreach.
- Increase the number of alumni signed up onto the $18.11 and $18.57 plan, especially including the Young Alumni from 5-10 years ago who stopped paying their parlor fees.
Visit our online giving page and select “Alumni Annual Fund” to sign up for the $18.11 and/or the $18.57 per month programs. We need as much participation as possible, the house is in di(e)re need.
Ways to Give:
Mail:
UVA Fund
c/o Theta Delta Chi
P.O. Box 400314
Charlottesville, VA 22904
Check Memo: Alumni Annual Fund | FSOD360
Phone:
434-924-7018
Reference: Theta Delta Chi Alumni Annual Fund, Account: FSOD360
For additional ways to give or assistance, visit the University’s giving page.
Well, that’s all from me. Please reach out via email (rsh5xe@virginia.edu) or phone (540-303-3625) if you have any clarifying questions.
ITB,
Robbie Hodgson
Theta Delt VP/Alumni Chair