In Their Own Words: Chartering Edition

 

In honor of the 14th anniversary of our chartering, this week's "In Their Own Words" comes from a brother who was around during our chartering days and would like to share his memories of chartering.

"NJ Epsilon's Chartering: In My Own Words"

It was a sunny afternoon in April; people assembled at Rowan Hall, the school's engineering building, a futuristic gray lobby with big windows... Lots of gents in tuxedos and a few ladies and guests who were snapping pictures of people, of groups of friends, talking and laughing... It was almost like a pre-prom party without the parents, nervousness on the undergrads' part, not knowing about the Ritual they were about to undergo at the church.

We all went just down the road to a small church maybe 200 seats; every single one was full. People from chapters in Philadelphia, NJ, NY, and other locations; past presidents, current officers, and of course, Mr. Phi Psi himself, Dud Daniel, and the staff/alumni advisors of NJE making final preps for the event to happen. The sun slowly set through the western windows and the bells gonged as we challenged 25 young men then initiated them (in 2 groups, so the elder half could watch the younger half be initiated and 'see' what they had just experienced).

I remember SWVGP Nieslawski at the time saying he looked into the audience and saw such a look of joy on past national President Walter Lee Shepard, Jr.'s face...we all smiled because we know what Rowan's group had was heart, and soul, and great character. We sung Amici, and then adjourned to the house where a friend of the brothers bought more pizzas than ever thought consumable but we ate every slice...

The weird thing about this installation was that the Executive Council meeting and banquet the next day was 40 miles to the east at Seaview, in Galloway, where the 1954 GAC golf outing took place (the convention was in Atlantic City). It split the event up so the young lads came down to a great old golf club resort, this time with dates and families in tow, to be given much praise, and the traditional gifts, and to listen to speeches, watch videos and eat. What a classy affair and what great hosts these young men were. I knew that 25 men who made the decision to join our strong band was our gain as well as theirs.

Fourteen years later, this chapter has earned multiple awards, had three archons, one student body president, and over 200 initiates, each of whom, no matter what they say, has at least one friend for life he has made through Phi Kappa Psi.

May New Jersey Epsilon live and flourish, and its gentlemen know by serving others they help themselves add value to their campus community and to our country.

Do yourselves a favor, today: say thank you to whomever that friend is. Call him, text him, let him know you are there for him, that you love him. Our family is unique, and rare, and sometimes distant by choice or chance, but it is part of who we are...we gain some, we sadly lose some, but we all have someone whom we love and who loves us for what we stand for.

PS: you have others to thank: if you ever meet a charter member, shake his hand, slip the grip, and say thank you, especially if you're an undergrad today. You joined a fully formed chapter, recognized both here and nationally as among the very best; it didn't get that way because of you but you have every expectation of maintaining and building on their shoulders the next levels. Be gentlemen, be Americans, be proud... Live Ever, Die Never, undergrads of NJE.