Brother Interview: Rick Pelletier '02

This week's brother interview is on....me!  Rick Pelletier '02!

Basic Stuff: 

1. Your name, as you would prefer it to be stated? 

Rick Pelletier

2. Your current location? 

Townsend, DE

3. Your Facebook/Twitter/LinkedIn account links (or other websites as well)?

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Richard.D.Pelletier.Jr
LinkedIn (rarely go on here): https://www.linkedin.com/pub/rick-pelletier/12/533/851
Playstation ID: Kapkibaki (similar to my email, but missing the A after the P; I messed up when creating it and you can't fix Playstation IDs after the fact ;;)

Fraternity Stuff: 

4. Badge Number? 

#40

5. Pledge Class Name? 

Delta 

6. Fraternity Nickname, if you remember it? 

Bocelli

7. Story behind how you got your nickname, if you remember it? 

When I first started school, I was a piano performance major.  Back at this time, everyone liked to call each other by their nicknames a lot (Tuna, Hotbeef, etc) or some unofficial nickname.  I had the pleasure of still being in school with Armando Sorchini (think it was his last year....7th year maybe?) and we were both on our volleyball intramural team together.  One day we were getting together in the rec center and he just yelled out "Bocelli" really loud, and it stuck.  I really don't sing (I can hold a tune, but nothing special), but for some reason that's the name they went with.  It worked out because I ended up being the more critical brother when it came to us singing the fraternity songs, which BTW, we still don't sing correctly or in tune lol.  

8. Your fondest memory of being a Phi Psi? 

Getting my first little, Ryan Wolvin.  This has nothing to do against my other little (love you Bobby and very proud to have you too!), but I waited two years to get my first and I wanted Ryan as my little so much.  

This story has a good back story with it.  I always wanted to have a close connection to my little, whoever it would be.  I looked at other big/little relationships, especially Eugene and Jay, and was envious of what they had.  I wanted that.  After I got initiated, the next semester we had no pledge class.  When the following semester came around, I was under the impression that I would be up for a little since my class had been in for a year.  I had my hopes up on getting Dan Marzin or Nick Stepenosky as a little, and I'm fairly sure that one of them was hoping to have me as their big as well.  It wasn't until about the week of the Big/Little Ceremony that I found out that I wasn't going to get a little because the brotherhood considered my class as still being "neophytes" since we still hadn't seen a new class initiated since ours.  They said that neophytes couldn't get a little.  I was furious and very bitter.  I vowed to wait until I had a connection like the one with Dan and Nick to take a little.  

The following year, Ryan pledged.  I ended up bringing Ryan out to the fraternity.  It was a random encounter that I had with him out near Mimosa while walking around that area with one of his friends from home who was considering pledging.  I was trying to convince him to join, and ended up getting Ryan to come out instead from that meeting lol.  We instantly hit it off and had a lot in common.  It was now a full year from when Dan and Nick had pledged, so they were up for littles this semester as well, and they were making it quite clear that they wanted Ryan as their little.  I didn't want to be an ass and fight over him with 2 brothers who I previously wanted as littles myself, so I approached Ryan one night and told him plainly that I wanted to be his big and that I wouldn't fight over him with them, so if he wanted me as his big, it was completely up to him.  I also said that I was looking for someone who would take this fraternity as seriously as I did and left it at that.  The night of the big/little ceremony, I had no idea who I was getting.  When I was paired with Ryan, I was ecstatic.  

We have been inseparable ever since.  Ryan was my best man in my wedding, and I like to believe I was his (he has 2 real life brothers, so naturally they were ahead of me as groomsmen lol).  He was the first person I told when I found out that Kerri and I were expecting.  We have gone to every GAC together since he's been in, watched I don't know how many Lord of the Rings extended edition marathons so far, and talk more to one another than I do with any other friend of mine.  Kerri calls him my other wife lol.  

9. Your most embarrassing moment as a Phi Psi? 

Dressing in drag for a mixer.  I usually hate themed mixers to begin with, but this one was particularly frustrating because I did it and very few other brothers really participated.  Also up there in the embarrassing department was competing in the AEPhi Greek God competition.  Did it 3 times and never made it far.  The only good thing it did was get our organization a little closer to theirs (relations with them were non-existent before that).  It also garnered me the "AEPhi Princess" award at a formal lol.  

10. Your proudest moment as a Phi Psi? 

My proudest moment as a Phi Psi isn't a moment spent with the brotherhood, but it was one spent representing our brotherhood and what we stand for.  The summer after I was initiated, I had the opportunity to go to UIFI.  It's a leadership development program put on by the National Interfraternity Conference.  The program is for all fraternities and sororities, and it is focused on values, both personal and Fraternal/Interfraternal.  Never have I learned so much about myself and Greek culture as I did at this conference.  Each day was spent doing exercises that were camouflaged as a team building exercise, but were really value-based exercises.  Each exercise had a very hard lesson that you could take from it about yourself and fraternity life.  This program showed me more about what it means to be a good Phi Psi and a good member of Greek life than anything that Phi Kappa Psi puts together (PLA, FELA, ALA, WWLS, etc).  To give you an idea of the scope of this program, the last night culminated in a large-scale (seriously, like 100+ people) role playing scenario where each person represented a real-life role in an alcohol related death.  Everyone represented someone from both sides, like the chapter President, big brother, fraternity educator, members from the national fraternity, sorority members attending the party, outside observers, reporters from news media, members of a jury, parents of the deceased, lawyers representing both sides, etc.  You were given very little objectives, like "you're a reporter who has to write a story about this situation and you have a deadline to submit the story or you're fired" type of direction, so it was a lot of improv on all ends.  Everyone there is obviously part of a fraternity or sorority, so everyone wanted to see this get played out well in favor of the fraternity, but what ended up happening was that the fraternity was shown in a negative light because of how they chose to respond to the situation, the national fraternity, local fraternity, and individual members were all sued, and it all went down in a very chaotic, frenzied manner similar to how it would in real life.  

Why do I bring this up?  Well, there were very important lessons to take from this in regards to who we are as people, not just fraternity/sorority members, how we live our lives to our values, and "do what we say we will do"/"be who we say we will be".  Now, here's where the pride part comes in.  During this program, it was found that some members were smoking pot in the sorority house that we were staying in.  The program leaders could not figure out who it was and gave everyone a chance to step forward and confess.  No one confessed.  Obviously someone in the group lacked the guts to stand up and own his/her mistake.  As a consequence of this incident, our group decided that it was not right for us to "pass" the program and receive any sort of recognition for completing it because we felt that it wasn't right for some members to get credit for this values-based program when they couldn't commit to their own values while at the program.  It might seem small, but this little act of 100+ people showing that our values were too important to compromise for the benefit of a completion certificate showed me what it means to be a good member of Greek life.  

It was a guiding principle for me moving forward with the fraternity.  I made sure from that point on to always make choices in the best interest of the chapter and fraternity, and not to compromise my values due to peer pressure.  Many chapter brothers can attest to the fact that I follow my own path, and this is largely why.  This served me well during my semester as President as we had a girl get way too drunk on initiation night and have to go to the hospital because she starting vomiting blood due to throwing up so much.  She very well could've died and would've been similar to this exercise we did.  I kept thinking back to that exercise and what those members did wrong and said that would not be me.  Despite some brothers suggesting that "she'll be fine", I took her to the hospital and personally saw to it that she was taken care of. I also reported the incident to headquarters and Rowan and took responsibility for handling the situation.  Thankfully she was OK in the long run, but it could've easily been a bad situation that I would've regretted for the rest of my life.  

11. Any unique memories from your time as a Phi Psi? 

So many...feel free to ask me about any and I'll happily tell you the story.  These are the ones off the top of my head, but there are more:

• Spring break 2002 road trip with Jeff Pratz, Eugene Bayawa, Tuna, and Doug Kennedy.  We visited chapters in VA and KY, and had some unique experiences that we will never forget.
• Alpha group leader (facilitator) for WWLS
• Being hand-picked by then SWGP John Ciccarelli to serve as 1 of 2 undergraduate brothers nationally to serve on a strategic planning committee
• Losing by 1 vote to the worst District I Archon ever (dude brought an escort to the final banquet) due to Drexel switching their vote after 3 hours of deadlocked voting
• Playing the piano for several mock initiations at WWLS and GAC
• Winning the Outstanding Solon Summerfield award
• Being in the GAC minutes at every GAC I've been to (and not just saying "Hi, Marc Chaty, Rowan '00. I just wanted to be in the minutes" lol)
• Moving to raise the fine for a chapter not attending GAC from $500 to $1000 after a 3 hour argument about a very heated topic at the last session on the last day of GAC 2002 (this did not go over well and was immediately tabled lol)
• Giving the 2nd nomination for brother Tryon Hubbard for each national officer position he ran for (SWAG, SWP, SWVGP, and SWGP).  He won each one.
• Representing our chapter as the first appointed officer in our chapter's history - Director of Scholarship
• Moving to amend the national bylaws and seeing the motion pass as Director of Scholarship.  It was a motion to add that chapter's must set a minimum GPA for members and policies for enforcing it.  It was a heated debate and I had to defend it in front of the entire GAC.
• Getting into the Order of the SC with the same 2 brothers I started the process with - Eugene and Russ (guess this isn't unique as they also have this experience lol).  This is a bond we will always share with one another.
• Getting to see my wife, Kerri, attend more GACs than like 90% of my chapter brothers lol.
• Helping to start the chapter's alumni corporation.  I hope that all of my effort here during the year's I was involved made some sort of an impact and are appreciated.

12. Any fraternal advice you would give to an undergraduate Phi Psi today? 

Something Steve McDermott taught me.  Paco asked me if I wanted to be Archon one day early in my fraternal experience.  I didn't know much of the position at the time, but knew it was important and I felt then that I needed to be in a position of power to do good for the chapter and fraternity.  Steve told me that I don't need to be in the position to do something for the fraternity.  If there's something you want to do, do it.  If you know that it will benefit the chapter, get it done.  You do not need to be the president to lead people.  You do not need to be the fraternity educator to teach new members or set a good example.  You do not need to be the secretary to improve relations.  You do not need to be the treasurer to ensure that your brothers pay their just debts.  

Also, always do the right thing.  Don't give into peer pressure.  By 18 years of age, you know full well what is right and what is wrong.  Do the right thing.  

13. When was the last time you visited Rowan or the chapter? 

Spring 2015 initiation

14. What is favorite event the chapter holds? 

Alumni/Family BBQ.  It's the largest attended event by our chapter brothers every year and everyone is relaxed and having fun.  Great way to kick off the new academic year.

15. Who's the 1 brother you want to reconnect with / see interviewed here? 

My damn little, Ryan, who despite the fact that I talk to him all the time, still hasn't given me his interview answers lol.  

Oh, and Eugene.  So many brothers would love to read an interview from him.  

16. Name 1 friend you made in NJE you still keep in touch with...

Way too many to pick 1.  I basically keep in contact with everyone in some form due to these brother interviews and my involvement with the chapter.  

Career Stuff: 

17. Year you graduated from Rowan? 

2006

18. Degree(s) you graduated Rowan with? 

BS - Chemical Engineering

BA - Music (dropped it to just music from piano performance because I couldn't get a senior recital together)

Math minor

19. Any advanced degrees or certifications you have? 

None

20. Your current occupation? 

Technical support specialist for Scheider-Electric.  I support software for chemical engineers, along with performing a myriad of other responsibilities in this role.  It's like a jack-of-all-trades kind of job.

21. Number of years in that occupation? 

9

22. Any career advice you would give to an undergraduate Phi Psi today? 

When you graduate, don't count out any jobs.  It's almost more important for you to get something (anything) that first year than hold out for that perfect job.  Work experience will open a lot of doors for you and will more than likely lead you to where you want to be.  

23. What's one piece of advice you'd give every undergraduate about networking?

Do a better job than me lol!  I am admittedly a very closed off person, so I don't do well connecting with other people.  Put yourself out there and try to make meaningful connections with everyone you know and meet.  You never know what might end up paying off for you in the long run!

Relationships/Family/Personal Stuff: 

24. Are you currently in a relationship? If so, with who and for how long? 

Yes.  Married to my wife, Kerri, for 4 years tomorrow (July 15).  We have dated now for 8 1/2 years.

25. Do you have kids? If so, how old and their names? 

Yes.  Richard David Pelletier III, who is now 1 month and 6 days old.  Love him to death.  Nothing like having kids.

26. Hobbies that you are currently into? What do you like to do in your spare time? 

What don't I like to do?  There's very little out there that I haven't taken some interest in at some point in time and tried to do well.  Right now, I am playing in a soccer league (been for several years now), trying to get back into shape, doing some landscaping and work around my house, enjoying a few video games (just finished Dragon Age: Inquisition and Batman: Arkham Knight, and going back to FFXIV soon), and of course, sleeping...my new favorite hobby lol!  Seriously, a lot of my time now is spent enjoying my time with my son, but it's very tiring.  

27. Anything you would like to share with other brothers through the blog regarding your relationship/family/personal life?

Just happy to be a dad right now.  It's taking a lot out of me that I would have normally invested in other things, like the fraternity, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.  Being a dad is all I've wanted for close to 10 years now and it's everything I hoped for.  

Extra Questions Submitted:
28. What is your favorite anagram of your name, "reptile licker" or something else? (Josh Bakal)

Well Josh lol, I put my name (Rick Pelletier) into an anagram maker website and I think I like this one the best so far:  Pic Tree Killer.  There's over a 1000 return names, so I just picked the first one that sounded interesting.  

29. The working theory is if you are fed coal that you will poop diamonds due to the amazing tightness of your ass. Is this true? If so, let's make some money. (Lee Hoffman)

I wish!  I'd be eating coal all day, every day if that was true.