Homecoming ‘21 had 42 brothers attend with 28 guests. We started with the early birds gathering, as usual, at the Hatchery for dinner Thursday evening then we migrated to The Venue (the old D&H) and those staying in the Wingate Hotel had a nightcap in the lobby. It was a good start to Homecoming.
The Alpha Sigs had three foursomes for the Friday morning golf outing. A fun time was had by all. In the afternoon we gathered at the Old Gal for pre-Touchstone Dinner drinks and House Corporation President, Paul Ruegamer #913, unveiled of their new plaque commemorating the 92 Brothers on the Honor Roll of donors to the recent Mortgage Reduction Campaign. The campaign raised $120,000 and resulted in lowering the Old Gals mortgage payment by 30%, or from $ 39,000 per year to $27,400. The Touchstone Dinner was the usual class act that Trine University puts on, which was followed by a large gathering at the Old Gal.
The Saturday morning Alumni Meeting, led by President Kyle Clark #1168, was attended by 28 brothers and our new Contact Chapter Advisor, Marcus Wagner, provided by Nationals, and our Trine University Advisor, Dr. Tim Jenkins. Marcus, who lives in Fort Wayne, is a high school principal. Since the Alumni Association and the House Cooperation are now in good financial shape, most of the meeting focused on how the Angola area alumni can help support rush. Lenny Duff #975 who resides in Fort Wayne agreed to help our CCA, Marcus, lead a new organized alumni effort to support the active brothers in their rush activities. We have only one pledge this semester. We had seven last year.
Saturday’s pre-football game tail gate party received good reviews. Tux Anderson #864 and JC Hemminger #1137 were our chefs and girlfriends and wives keep the food service organized.
As some departed for the Trine football game and others drove out to Lake James for the pontoon boat ride, it started to rain, heavy. After about 20 minutes it let up to a drizzle and an abbreviated pontoon boat ride was provided to the hearty sailors by Captain Mel Budreau #902.
By late afternoon the rain stopped and a lovely dinner was arranged at Club Paradise on Lake James. Konnor Stahl #1231 stood in for the active Chapter President Keeton Freeman #1233, presenting the following Chapter awards: Brother of the Year, Dominic Lacovetti #1223; Alumni Service Award, Mel Budreau; Scholastics Award, Mitchell Ratekin #1220; Leadership Award, Mitchell Ratekin #1220; Athletics Award: Jon-Matthew Spaw #1227; and not attending Super Pledge, Grant Evans #1236.
The Sweetheart song was sung to their new ΑΣΦ Sweetheart, Jenna Zabona.
John Goudy presented for five $1000 scholarships from the donations received at the Sig Gup golf outing in August. Two were present, Brothers Mason Angel and Jon Matthew-Spaw and not attending Brothers Keaton Fleeman, Jacob Nelson and Grant Evans.
Nick Gulde, standing in for Alumni Association President Kyle Clark, presented our Chapter’s highest alumni award, the Wayne Champion Award to Brother Corey Herr #1092 for his great work with the undergraduate chapter.
The House Corporation President Paul Ruegamer, then presented the Wayne Champion Award to Brother Mel Budreau, an Angola resident, for his consistent assistance to the active Chapter and his dedication to working with the active Brothers to keep the Old Gal’s landscaping looking great and his assistance managing contractors performing work on the Old Gal.
Froggy (Mark) Stone #882 topped off the evening with presenting National’s ultimate award, Delta Beta Xi Award to OddBall (Tom) Alspaugh #840. Mark said it was for his work on Homecoming, his travels around the country to visit Brothers and organize area Alpha Sig rendezvous and his leadership of the 2020 Mortgage Reduction Campaign.
The masses traveled back to the Old Gal to celibate a successful Homecoming ’21.
HOMECOMING 2022- DON’T MISS IT!
Homecoming Chainman
OddBall #840
