Brotherhood—it lasts a lifetime, it is always with us, and we are all connected by a common bond, regardless of age. This all ties into our theme for 2009: Once a Pike, Always a Pike. I want to take this opportunity to express the great strengths of Beta Phi’s brotherhood. Our Chapter has more than 1,700 living alumni across the United States. This fall Beta Phi will celebrate 88 years as a Pike chapter at Purdue and is one of the largest fraternities on campus.
A quote from Roy Hofer ’57 at his Beta Phi 50th class reunion expresses this bond. “Beta Phi rounded out my college experience. No other relationship with college friends can compare with the relationships created with brothers in a good fraternity experience. Although brothers go in different directions after graduation and your contact with them becomes less frequent, when you do get together, no matter what period of separation, it is as though you have never been apart. These are priceless relationships that only the fraternity experience can give you.”
Beta Phi has a strong base created from a lasting brotherhood. The strength in our success is reflected in four groups that interact with each other. We are unique in how this has come together. Over 70 years ago when we acquired a house at 629 Andrew Place and remodeled it into a Pike fraternity house, the project was undertaken by alumni. The Home Association continues today with many loyal alumni contributing time and talents. In 1992, a small group of Beta Phi alumni decided it would strengthen the Chapter by forming a local Beta Phi Foundation, allowing our alumni to contribute tax-exempt -gifts to support Chapter House improvements, provide scholarships, and provide funds and leadership training. The foundation is managed by nine Pike brothers.
The newest addition in assistance to the Chapter is the Beta Phi Chapter Advisory Board. This group is made up of 10 alumni, and each counsels an undergraduate officer. Due to the normal semester changes with our undergraduates, this new group of alumni advisors is quite important in strengthening the continuity of our processes. All of us can be proud of a strong, successful structure and the bonds we call brotherhood.
Fraternally,
Rich Russell ’58
Beta Phi Foundation President |
