1. Your name, as you would prefer it to be stated?
Christopher Michael Hammer
2. Your current location?
Eatontown, NJ
Fraternity Stuff:
Fraternity Stuff:
3. Badge Number?
44...
4. Pledge Class Name?
Epsilon
5. Fraternity Nickname, if you remember it?
Rainbow Road Warrior
6. Story behind how you got your nickname, if you remember it?
6. Story behind how you got your nickname, if you remember it?
Jeff Pratz saw a gay biker club house called the Rainbow Road Warriors on the Blue Ridge Parkway in West Virginia on his way to North Carolina and thought of me... I used to commute 90+ miles each way for your chapter meetings and events so the name fits.
7. Your most embarrassing moment as a Phi Psi?
Too many to count. I'll try to be brief...21st BIRTHDAY + Trenton Train Station + a "lady" of the evening = story to be continued in person...
8. Your proudest moment as a Phi Psi?
8. Your proudest moment as a Phi Psi?
I'm going to say my Order of the S.C. induction in 2006.
9. Any fraternal advice you would give to an undergraduate Phi Psi today?
You can do a great deal of good for others in the time you have as an undergraduate BUT do get involved in other organizations on campus. Take time to spend with your alumni. Go to all local and national events. Apply for scholarships and fellowships over the years. ROADTRIP!
10. Who's the 1 brother you want to reconnect with / see interviewed here?
10. Who's the 1 brother you want to reconnect with / see interviewed here?
Tim Francis and Ricky Pearsall... I'd love to interview Steve Brahney...
11. Here are 26 A to Z keywords for other alumni brothers to share stories and Hammer memories of us which I have been a part of:
- Atlantic City late night trips after colony meetings
- Brooks Brothers educational trips for #SuitingUp...
- Cabo meals at Mama's and Mi Casa
- Dinners at Pelican, Blue, PB's Diner after meetings
- Events at Seaview, Renault, Mastoris, St. Elmo's, and the Union League
- Founders Days local and national
- Graduation day and parties thereafter
- Homemade brownies and Mac and cheese
- Initiations and post parties
- Journey's post wedding pizza party
- Knife and Fork Happy Hours
- LBI shore house 2003-8
- Mr. PhiPsi Dud Daniel stories
- NJ Epsilon local traditions too many to mention...
- Open bars at all the weddings we've been to together...
- Prime Rib in Philadelphia for Gentlemen's Night Out
- Queer Eye for the PhiPsi
- Road trips to Dayton Pittsburgh Philly and more for PhiPsi WWLS and GAC
- Scotch & cigars therapy on the deck or patio...
- Talks with past SWGPs
- UIFI fellowship winners
- Volunteering with the brotherhood over the years
- Whiskeyfest and Mahogany afterwards...
- XXX rated fun at the Sundowner in Niagara Falls 2009 WWLS
- Yuenglings by the bucketful
- Zuppa diPesce
12. What was my most memorable moment of being a brother? - Ben Schwedes
My A to Z list of things before would be a good starting point but in terms of being etched on my memory...there's two which tie: seeing Walter Lee Shepard's face beam at the end of the 2000 NJE installation initiation church ceremony (along with the other VIPs) in a packed church...the other would be any time I spent with Dud Daniel...he was and is a teacher, a model, a friend, and I miss him terribly since I hugged him goodbye in 2009 at WWLS not knowing I'd never see him again.
13. What made me want to be part of NJEpsilon (officially transferring your membership)? - @RobertJNagy
My best answer is simple: I hoped that the colony would be successful but I had no idea how close the membership became to me, and even more so when I advised I felt more like the 'father figure' to many...some of my life's happiest moments came from 1998-2002...I had been estranged from some of the NJ Delta brothers and alumni and felt the biggest problem was at NJ Delta I was tolerated by some as opposed to accepted by all at NJE.
14. What perspective have I brought to our chapter from NJ Delta? - @RobertJNagy
My perspective is that of someone who had to work to earn respect; that was the lesson I taught Tom Rozycki at NJD who of course taught that to Richard who in turn expected it of himself and the colony members. No one wants to be the 'new kids' but perseverance paid off.
The other huge difference I wanted to be sure of was that NJE would reach outward to its fraternal neighbors including the brotherhood of USP and eventually DREXEL...NJ Delta has been traditionally inward...which has inevitably hurt their membership...even today.
I knew to be different and eventually better I had to keep both groups separated...it hurt some of my fellow NJD alumni feelings but whatever. I knew that NJE needed its own identity. Did it hurt? I think not!
The other huge difference I wanted to be sure of was that NJE would reach outward to its fraternal neighbors including the brotherhood of USP and eventually DREXEL...NJ Delta has been traditionally inward...which has inevitably hurt their membership...even today.
I knew to be different and eventually better I had to keep both groups separated...it hurt some of my fellow NJD alumni feelings but whatever. I knew that NJE needed its own identity. Did it hurt? I think not!
15. Knowing what I know now, what would I have done differently as an undergraduate (in Phi Kappa Psi)? - Ryan McNamara
I should have pledged as a freshman which would have made me a charter member...I get enough grief for not being part of that club. I would like to say be more social but I was terribly shy and closeted and mixers were so painful that I was designated driver for nearly my entire undergraduate life... (No, not everyone liked the fact I was gay, 1991 wasn't 2014 kids! When I came out after I graduated, some brothers warned my life in Phi Psi would be tougher because I had lied when I rushed.)
My final difference would have been to be less serious and have more fun. Phi Psi has always seemed like a vocation, a job with ups and downs. Few people can ever say they have seen me truly be happy by myself.
My final difference would have been to be less serious and have more fun. Phi Psi has always seemed like a vocation, a job with ups and downs. Few people can ever say they have seen me truly be happy by myself.
16. Can you tell us about the early days of the chapter and contrast between my experiences with your 2 chapters? - Sean Kaiser
I could and should write a book...simply put, I joined NJ Delta 1 year after chartering in 1991; when I became advisor 9 years later, there were many parallels in terms of men finding our footing after chartering...(aka the so called slump). Fall 2002 was the one term NJE didn't have a new member class. I don't think we were ready to get too big too fast. (I had seen my alma mater get too big for its britches literally and figuratively speaking...I didn't want to see NJE go down that path.)
Kids also factored into my biennium as advisor, but I'm so proud of the men who stepped up and took responsibility for their actions and made better lives for themselves...nothing can compare to watching my boys grow up with your support and prayers and those of their peers.
Kids also factored into my biennium as advisor, but I'm so proud of the men who stepped up and took responsibility for their actions and made better lives for themselves...nothing can compare to watching my boys grow up with your support and prayers and those of their peers.
17. Tell me what the role of the Order of the S.C. is... @BeeParisi
If I knew I would lol. Think National Honor Society and the All Star Team crossed with the College of Cardinals and the Mafia... we DO NOT have a lot more info to share until you go to 7 GAC national conventions...
I was the first person to get inducted from NJEpsilon officially but Richard and Chaty are the first with all 7 GACs from NJEpsilon...call me halfbreed or naturalized citizen of NJE, born at NJD, scarred at NJBeta (that's a different story).
Career Stuff:
18. Year you graduated?
Didn't graduate from Rowan but I have good reason why. I went to Trenton State College (now TCNJ) and was our colony membership advisor 1998-2000 then chapter advisor 2000-2002; the brotherhood gave me a bid to transfer my membership as a thank you for the work I did to help from the beginning and I did so in 2003.
19. Degree(s) you graduated with?
19. Degree(s) you graduated with?
Elementary Education and Psychology, Trenton State College
20. Your current occupation?
Employed by The Princeton Review as a tutor and trainer for 18+ years.
ANY brother who needs GRE GMAT or LSAT help PLEASE ask!
Relationships/Family/Personal Stuff:
21. Are you currently in a relationship? If so, with who and for how long?
ANY brother who needs GRE GMAT or LSAT help PLEASE ask!
Relationships/Family/Personal Stuff:
21. Are you currently in a relationship? If so, with who and for how long?
As Steve McDermott said: "I have never heard you talk about a significant other in all the time I have known you". I was married...to PhiKappaPsi for too long to get a chance for dating back in the day. I'm forever single.
22. Hobbies that you are currently into? What do you like to do in your spare time?
22. Hobbies that you are currently into? What do you like to do in your spare time?
For more info on what I'm doing now - Http://www.GoFundMe.com/MadalynHammer
23. Describe your ideal woman. - Matt Eisenschmied
23. Describe your ideal woman. - Matt Eisenschmied
You ALL think I'm going to back down? Sarcasm alert: Mom aside, there is no such thing!
I have fought with future brides of brothers which got me disinvited, have dropped out of a wedding because I was not confident that I could stand up...My long list of sins against phi psi ladies and their spouses is legendary. I'm not the nice guy some people allege I am and not Satan. I am honest. Brutally so.
Suffice it to say I believe that the real woman you should look for is attractive, complementary to you, and independent enough to be successful at both marriage and motherhood without your help.
24. Anything you would like to share with other brothers through the blog regarding your relationship/family/personal life?
When Rick asked me for an interview I figured that no one needed to hear more about my nicknames or otherwise trivial info.
I did want to address something I read when the Alumni Corporation did a survey about the formal...
Someone made a comment to the effect of "...some of us don't want to deal with the current leadership or Hammer who only seems to complain (about something within NJEp)"
I want to share something with y'all: I'm not complaining.
Whenever you or I have something to say, remember, it's your right to speak your mind. It's not helping anyone if all we do is keep inside what we truly feel or think be it fraternity wise or otherwise...
I also want to address those of you on the fringes - whether you show up or not, feel disenfranchised, left out, abused by the past slights, insults, etc of others: turn the page and move on.
There will always be people who have less love for their fraternity days than others and some who while they did have great times simply cannot go to events due to distance, family obligations, work, time.
Don't mistake seeing someone all the time with being a great brother any more than not seeing someone = a bad brother.
We all have one thing in common as brothers... The right to be who we want to be - you don't all need to be leaders or super involved...HOWEVER, with the current leaders term limited, I challenge those of you yet to step up who want to do something positive to consider being a part of the chapter's Alumni Corporation and/or Advisory Committee or even just as a mentor to an undergraduate.
Believe me, I have 0% right to know or have friends that I never went to school with - but I do, because I took that step to get involved and pay it forward.
I wish everyone health and have a safe/happy Homecoming/Halloween/Thanksgiving...
I have fought with future brides of brothers which got me disinvited, have dropped out of a wedding because I was not confident that I could stand up...My long list of sins against phi psi ladies and their spouses is legendary. I'm not the nice guy some people allege I am and not Satan. I am honest. Brutally so.
Suffice it to say I believe that the real woman you should look for is attractive, complementary to you, and independent enough to be successful at both marriage and motherhood without your help.
24. Anything you would like to share with other brothers through the blog regarding your relationship/family/personal life?
When Rick asked me for an interview I figured that no one needed to hear more about my nicknames or otherwise trivial info.
I did want to address something I read when the Alumni Corporation did a survey about the formal...
Someone made a comment to the effect of "...some of us don't want to deal with the current leadership or Hammer who only seems to complain (about something within NJEp)"
I want to share something with y'all: I'm not complaining.
Whenever you or I have something to say, remember, it's your right to speak your mind. It's not helping anyone if all we do is keep inside what we truly feel or think be it fraternity wise or otherwise...
I also want to address those of you on the fringes - whether you show up or not, feel disenfranchised, left out, abused by the past slights, insults, etc of others: turn the page and move on.
There will always be people who have less love for their fraternity days than others and some who while they did have great times simply cannot go to events due to distance, family obligations, work, time.
Don't mistake seeing someone all the time with being a great brother any more than not seeing someone = a bad brother.
We all have one thing in common as brothers... The right to be who we want to be - you don't all need to be leaders or super involved...HOWEVER, with the current leaders term limited, I challenge those of you yet to step up who want to do something positive to consider being a part of the chapter's Alumni Corporation and/or Advisory Committee or even just as a mentor to an undergraduate.
Believe me, I have 0% right to know or have friends that I never went to school with - but I do, because I took that step to get involved and pay it forward.
I wish everyone health and have a safe/happy Homecoming/Halloween/Thanksgiving...
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