The Delta Colony of University of California-Davis Petition to Charter Phi Gamma Delta
TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction Membership Finance Scholarship Philanthropy Campus Involvement Recommendations
To the brothers of Phi Gamma Delta, INTRODUCTION As a member of the Alpha class and President of this Colony, I have borne witness to the incredible growth and development of our organization. Since our founding on February 28 th, 2016 our group has become a potent force on campus: active in philanthropy and service, competitive in inter-greek competition, and possessed of a positive reputation unrivaled on campus. Together, we have: Achieved a cumulative 3.275 GPA since our beginning at UC Davis Hosted two large-scale philanthropies FIJI Pancake Breakfast and Phi Gam Yoga Jam to become recurring events each year Donated 30 hours of service each year per brother, through our dedication to the Davis community and the Phi Gamma Delta value of service Established standards of excellence for our Colony, with goals in philanthropic, fraternal, service, and academic involvement Through many trials and with unparalleled dedication, the men of our Colony have striven to bring Phi Gamma Delta s values of friendship, knowledge, service, morality and excellence to the University of California, Davis. When the Alpha class was recruited by Trevor Curtis and Matt Farrell, we were introduced to the slogan Be a FIJI gentleman. Since that time our brotherhood has taken it upon ourselves to live by that philosophy, to be FIJI gentlemen. With all the turmoil that fraternities have been subjected to over the past few years, our brotherhood has pledged itself to be different, and it is through our dedication to the values of Phi Gamma Delta, and to this motto that has brought respect and recognition for the name Phi Gamma Delta at UC Davis. Submitting our chartering petition has been a milestone at the forefront of our minds since the inception of our brotherhood, and we are confident that the material presented in this document will be persuasive. It important to state, however, that this is merely one step along the path to becoming a truly outstanding chapter of Phi Gamma Delta. It is with great pride and privilege that present to you the chartering petition for the Delta Colony of Phi Gamma at the University of California, Davis. Kenneth Easter Delta Colony President, 2016-2017
MEMBERSHIP The Delta Colony at UC Davis has a dynamic recruitment process: Our recruitment chair begins by giving a presentation to all brothers on values-based recruitment. This presentation defines our target audience, encourages brothers to proactively meet potential new members, states ways to initiate authentic conversation, and sets standards for selecting potential new members before entering the recruitment process. Brothers are expected to be held accountable for three potential new members before every recruitment period. Names are listed on an online sheet for each brother to view, and these potential new members are brother to recruitment events. o The recruitment chair verifies each brother has met this standard before recruitment begins. Potential new members are also required to have above a 2.5 GPA for consideration into the Colony. The recruitment chair also assigns each brother to a committee to help set up each day of recruitment. The Delta Colony at UC Davis understands that one of the most important aspects of expansion is through dynamic, year-round recruitment, and each brother recognizes his position in reaching out to potential new members on campus. Currently, the Delta Colony sits at 28 brothers, slightly under the Interfraternity Council average of 33 brothers. At the time of chartering, the Colony projects to hold a number above this average, so the sustainability of the Colony can be maintained. This goal is feasible, as since of fall 2016, brother numbers have increased in each quarter. Additionally, no brothers will graduate before the spring quarter of 2018; thus, the Colony is confident that it can increase membership to at least thirty five brothers by this time. With an average of thirty five brothers in the spring of 2018, the Colony will continue to remain financially and logistically stable. (EBC Estimated Brother Count) 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 Members during each Academic Quarter 0 Winter 2016 Spring 2016 Fall 2016 Winter 2017 Spring 2017 Fall 2017 Winter 2018 EBC Spring 2018
FINANCES Income General Dues: The general amount paid by each brother of the Colony is $800 a year. Each brother is charged through LegFi $100 a month for nine months during the academic year. If a brother is approved to be a part of the payment plan, they can pay $50 biweekly or $25 weekly. Such approval comes from the Treasurer and is between the Treasurer and the associated brother. The Davis Colony is respectful of brothers financial situations, thus, we ensure that each brother pays in a manner easiest for him. Over the summer months when school is inactive (July, August, September), we continue to collect any outstanding balances that may have been acquired over the course of the quarter, so the new school year can begin with no pending balances. If brothers have not covered their outstanding balance, they are referred to the Judicial Board for further action. Below, a graph depicts the Davis Colony s financial expenses and deposits over the last twelve months. In each month, we have collected more money (through dues or fundraising) than spent, to the extent that we had a surplus of money that could be placed directly in our chartering account ($4000, voted to be placed in the account on 11/5/17). While our Colony has taken FIJI Academy, Ekklesia, and other IHQ expenses into account, we still have the opportunity to add another large sum of money, and can vote in the later months about this transaction. As each quarter brings in a new pledge class, our income will still rise, leading to our Colony being on track for chartering in late winter or spring of 2018, should we maintain our goal of $12,000. Additionally, our chartering funds exist in a separate banking account, and we have enough planned funds to sustain our Colony after chartering.
Chartering Savings: The Colony will transfer $1,000 from dues collected each month to our Chartering account. This account is primarily funded through dues, but donations and fundraising proceeds also act as supplementary sources of income. Donations mainly come from graduate brothers and are deposited in the account by the Treasurer. Before chartering, we hope to raise $12,000, with a minimum standard of $10,000. Our current chartering savings plan puts us well on track for this goal, and through future Colony votes, we have the ability to add even more into the account. Currently, we have $9,000 in our chartering account. Fundraising: From October 20th, 2017 to November 10th, 2017, the Delta Colony organized a Yankee Candle Fundraiser, where brothers sold products from Yankee Candle to friends or family for holidays. Brothers were responsible for selling approximately 4-5 products (which would give an average of $25 received from each brother), and we raised $408 dollars in total. Due to the success of the candle fundraiser, the Delta Colony anticipates planning this event again in the coming fall of 2018. During spring quarter of 2018, our Colony will also be organizing a FIJI Food and Bake Sale on Picnic Day, a day where an anticipated crowd of 80,000 Davis locals and members of the surrounding area come to a campus open-house featuring a variety of events, foods, arts, and talent from multiple vendors. Colony standing with IHQ: The Davis Colony has a $0 outstanding balance with IHQ, and all undergraduate brothers are current with dues payments.
ACADEMICS AND SCHOLARSHIP UC Davis challenges each student with a rigorous academic curriculum through a quarter system, in which the academic year is divided in fourths, as opposed to semesters. Our brothers combat the trials associated with a top research university by fully embodying the Phi Gamma Delta phrase, Scholarship, Fraternity, Self. While scholastic achievements are primarily an individual feat, the Delta Colony at UC Davis offers multiple opportunities for brothers to seek academic help: Library hours three days a week (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) for four hours each Our scholarship chair sends emails with upcoming tutoring sessions, academic workshops, and scholarship opportunities An academic plan for brothers who need assistance recognized by the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life as the best and most thorough academic programming from any Greek chapter. Each cabinet member holds additional library hours, if available, encouraging brothers to study. Rewards-based point system, in which brothers submit their total weekly library hours, exam scores, professor office hours, or academic tutoring sessions to receive a certain number of points. For example, an A on an exam is worth three points, going to office hours is worth 2 points, or an hour in the library is worth a single point. At the end of each quarter, these points are summed, and awards are given to the brothers who have collected the most points. A minimum requirement of 2.75 GPA for all initiated brothers A minimum requirement of 2.5 GPA for potential new members We recognize that UC Davis is one of the most challenging public universities in the world, and we hold members accountable for scholastic shortcomings through academic assistance levels. Level I: the first term a brother does not meet the Colony GPA requirement; the brother meets with the Scholarship Chair and Purple Legionnaire to create an academic contract, outlining goals to improve performance. Level II: the second term a brother does not meet the Colony GPA requirement; the brother revisits the goals made in the academic contract, attends mandatory library hours, and loses social and intramural privileges. Level III: the third term a brother does not meet the Colony GPA requirement; the brothers loses all fraternal privileges until the Colony academic requirement is met. Major academic accomplishments: Maintained a higher cumulative GPA than the all-male average at UC Davis, the IFC average, and the all-greek average Higher term GPA than all three categories of interest in each quarter, save for the spring of 2017. The Delta Colony of Phi Gamma Delta has always strived to succeed in academic endeavors, and our main goals each quarter are to remain above the averages for men, fraternity men, and Greek life, as well as to improve each quarter in our cumulative GPA. The following graph shows the Delta Colony at UC Davis s average term GPA compared to the IFC average, men s average, and all-uc Davis average. In fall of 2017, winter of 2017 and fall of 2016, the Colony achieved higher than the other three averages; however, in spring of 2017, our term GPA was below the IFC average, but still above the all-male and all-uc Davis average.
Average Term GPA of the Delta Colony at UC Davis 3.4 3.3 3.2 3.1 3 2.9 2.8 2.7 2.6 Fall 2016 Winter 2017 Spring 2017 Fall 2017 2.5 Delta Colony IFC Average Men's Average All-UC Davis Average The next image depicts a graph of the Delta Colony at UC Davis s average cumulative GPA compared to the IFC average, men s average, and all-uc Davis average. In the past four quarters, the Colony s cumulative GPA has remained higher than all three averages, as well as above a 3.0. Currently, the Delta Colony holds a 3.275 cumulative GPA. Average Cumulative GPA of the Delta Colony at UC Davis 3.4 3.3 3.2 3.1 3 2.9 2.8 2.7 2.6 Fall 2016 Winter 2017 Spring 2017 Fall 2017 2.5 Delta Colony IFC Average Men's Average All-UC Davis Average
Service: SERVICE AND PHILANTHROPY The brothers of the Delta Colony have worked with a variety of organizations around the Davis area in order to give back to a community that supports the student population. Our Colony recognizes the importance of building relationships with communities, whether it s the Sacramento LGBTQ+ center, the Grace Garden volunteers, or Central Park gardeners. Brothers are required to give ten hours of service each quarter, with many brothers greatly exceeding this mark (in spring of 2017, we had six brothers reach more than thirty hours for the quarter, and had a combined total of 288 hours). Each pledge class is also required to reach out to the community and perform their own service event. Examples of work from our brothers include: Picnic Day clean up Central Park Garden restoration Elementary School volunteering Relay For Life Salt Creek Restoration White Elephant Sale Sandwiches for the homeless Adopt-A-Block Oxford Park clean up Donate Life This minimum of 30 hours for the school year allows the brothers to apply themselves to various parts of the community that they have a connection with, whether it s helping the homeless, gardening with senior citizens, or assisting with elementary school events. Our Colony organizes events not only for our own brothers but also with other organizations; for example, last spring, we partnered with Alpha Sigma Phi to host a booth for Relay for Life. Within the community of Davis, California, we have participated in several service events, including the maintenance of Grace Garden, which provides food for the homeless, as well as the restoration of Central Park, where we completely renovated a part of the park by removing weeds, tearing up old soil, and placing new gravel. The Delta Colony at UC Davis also regularly cleans a block of downtown Davis, a stretch of road along A street and 1st street. We adopted this section of town, and we clean it every two weeks to continue our lasting impression on the community.
Philanthropy: Along with community service, the Delta Colony of Phi Gamma Delta at UC Davis also participates in multiple philanthropic events, either by organizing or participating. Last spring, we hosted our first large-scale philanthropy, a pancake breakfast benefiting Alzheimer's research. We partnered with local organizations, including Yoloberry and the Fire Department, to feed dozens of friends and citizens. Yoloberry graciously allowed the Colony to use their building and lawn as a location for the breakfast, and firemen from a local department donated their grill. The Colony planned the event the same weekend that the Western Kentucky University FIJI bikers (on their annual Bike4Alz event) arrived in Davis, and the Colony decided to make this philanthropy a yearly tradition, occurring whenever the Bike4Alz team arrives in the spring. In total, we raised $1500, all of which went straight to Bike4Alz. We also collaborated with Camp Kesem, which provides a summer camp for children affected with cancer. Camp FIJI consisted of our two organizations selling tickets for a s mores event at a local park. Both members of Camp Kesem and the Delta Colony were responsible for selling a certain amount of tickets, tabling with members from both groups, helping set up and run the event, and then cleaning afterwards. The event helped establish our presence on campus, as well as give us another connection with which we could plan future events. During winter quarter of 2017, we held a fundraising event at Raja s Tandoor Healthy Indian Food, a local Davis restaurant. We advertised the event on social media and invited friends to come; all proceeds ($38) went to the United Service Organizations. Finally, the Delta Colony participates in numerous other philanthropies, some of which are listed below. Brothers who achieve excellent philanthropic standing in our Colony take active roles in at least two of these events. Through our support of other fraternity or sorority philanthropies, we hope to increase inter-greek relations as well as mitigate some of the negative stigma associated with Greek life. AnchorSplash sponsored by Delta Gamma: 4 th place overall GamBurger sponsored by Delta Gamma: 2 nd place overall Theta Thanksgiving sponsored by Kappa Alpha Theta Chi O Cookies sponsored by Chi Omega Chi O Casino sponsored by Chi Omega
Lion Cup sponsored by Alpha Delta Pi, 3 rd overall Pies with Pi s sponsored by Alpha Delta Pi and Pi Kappa Phi Neon Lights sponsored by Pi Kappa Phi Phiesta sponsored by Pi Kappa Phi AXO Runway sponsored by Alpha Chi Omega Arrowjam sponsored by Pi Beta Phi, 4 th overall Pi Phi Pizookies sponsored by Pi Beta Phi Pie-a-Phi sponsored by Pi Beta Phi Puppy Love sponsored by Sigma Chi Kappaccino sponsored by Kappa Kappa Gamma and Sigma Chi Watermelon Dash sponsored by Theta Chi Bubble Soccer Tournament sponsored by Alpha Sigma Phi, 1 st overall Delta Dodgeball sponsored by Delta Delta Delta, 2 nd overall Delta House of Pancakes sponsored by Delta Delta Delta Delta Desserts sponsored by Delta Delta Delta Fundraiser at Habit sponsored by The Wildlife Society Fundraiser at Raja s sponsored by The Wildlife Society Fundraiser at Ali Baba s sponsored by The Wildlife Society
CAMPUS INVOLVEMENT The Delta Colony at UC Davis places a heavy importance on community involvement outside of our fraternity. Brothers are required to participate in at least one other organization on campus in order to enhance their education and their greater campus involvement. Last spring, the brothers of our Colony voted on several standards of excellence that brothers can achieve within our fraternity. These standards have been documented and stored with our other Colony files for future reference whenever needed. While the minimum standard requires involvement in one other organization, brothers who achieve excellent recognition must have, in part, at least one other leadership position in another club or professional fraternity; through this standard, we encourage brothers to take active roles in community organizations, so that they may develop both socially and professionally, as well as build strong connections between the organization and the Delta Colony. Since the enactment of these standards of excellence, our fraternity has partnered or directly benefited from the collaboration of several other clubs, such as the Wildlife Society, Camp Kesem, and Clinica Tepati. Listed below are many clubs and organizations our brothers take part in, some holding leadership roles within them. Those marked with (**) denote a leadership position held within the organization by a brother. ASUCD** Aggie Health and Fitness Club American Society of Civil Engineers Associated Student, University of California Davis** Baumler Lab, research Biomedical Engineering Society CARE Peer Education Clínica Tepati, health-based organization Davis Political Review Geowall Project Team** Infant Cognition Lab at the Center for Mind and Brain Korean American Student Association National Society of Collegiate Scholars Pre-Pharmacy Club at UC Davis Students in VITA, volunteer tax assistance Student Leadership in Green Infrastructure Success Through Educational Mentoring The Wildlife Society** Tutors for Inmates UC Davis Club Field Hockey Coach** UC Davis Rugby Team UC Davis Conference and Events Undergraduate Admissions at UC Davis Vet Aide Club Wild Campus Internship**
Within Greek life at UC Davis, the Delta Colony has always been an active participant in study lounges, chapter philanthropies, service events, meetings, and educational sessions. In Spring 2017, the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life recognized our Colony: Best academic programming out of all Greek chapters Greek Advisor of the Year Dennis Whitcomb, Purple Legionnaire Greek New Member of the Year Nick Carter, current president Maintaining a strong relationship with the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life has allowed our Colony to remain relevant and engaged on campus while exhibiting the excellence all brothers achieve, whether in academic or fraternity work. The Delta Colony also participates quarterly in intramural sports. In fall of 2017, we formed an intramural volleyball team with the sorority Chi Omega and a soccer team. In spring, brothers played with friends and each other on a grass volleyball team (pictured below). By participating in intramural sports, we increase our involvement in athletic communities as well as create stronger relationships with other organizations that we look forward to collaborating with in the future.
To whom it may concern: My name is David Bronstein, current Interfraternity Council President at the University of California, Davis. I am writing on behalf of the Delta Colony of Phi Gamma Delta, recommending them to become a chartered chapter here at UC Davis. The men of FIJI have excelled in all aspects of campus and community life. When it comes to academics, they have proved themselves excellent students, maintaining a chapter cumulative GPA higher than the all UC Davis average, all Greek average, as well as all IFC average, every quarter they have been on campus. This commendable feat has been achieved due to their extensive academic programming, a model system that received accolade from campus this past spring at the Greek Awards Ceremony. When it comes to their philanthropic efforts, FIJI debuted their first large scale philanthropy this past year in the form of a pancake breakfast, which was able to raise more than $1500 for Alzheimer s research. Prior to that, they paired up with Camp Kesem, a national organization providing summer camp to kids affected by their parents cancer, and donated all profits to Camp Kesem. In Greek events, FIJI has been a force to be reckoned with, as they have participated in multiple sorority philanthropies, including, but not limited to, Pi Beta Phi s Arrowjam, Delta Gamma s AnchorSplash, and Alpha Delta Pi s Lion Cup. Alongside all of their involvement in philanthropy, they also set high standards for themselves in regards to community service. Requiring 10 hours of community service hours a week from all of their members, the men of FIJI have been able to impact many lives on campus and within the community, and have brought favorable distinction upon themselves and have set a great example for the rest of the Greek community. Brothers of FJII can be seen across campus, whether it s through their involvement with clubs like The Wildlife Society, on campus government in Associated Students of University of California Davis (ASUCD), or on our Division I sports teams. Their brothers can be recognized often not by their letters, but by their actions, an excellence that few fraternities can boast. FIJI has time and time again surprised my expectations and other community members, as rarely does a new organization make such an impact immediately on the rest of the community. Their merit was recognized at the Greek Awards, when they brought home New Member of the Year Awards, Greek Advisor of the Year, as well as mentioned above, Best Academic Programming. They are a young, ambitious group, but one that shows more tact and maturity than many of our more established groups. Although they are still developing, they have already become a fixed set of the culture here at Davis, and I wholeheartedly recommend them to be chartered, as the campus would only benefit from their permanent addition. If you have any further questions, please feel free to reach out dlbronstein@ucdavis.edu. Sincerely yours, David Bronstein IFC President