1 Omegaphone www.thetachiomega.

com
UPCOMING EVENTS
PSU Homecoming vs.
Northwestern
Noon Kickof
Saturday
September 27, 2014
See details below.
34th Annual Theta Chi Open
Friday
May 1, 2015
CHAPTER ETERNAL
Since our last publication, we
have learned of the passing of
Thomas B. Kinney 69
Go to www.thetachiomega.com
to read the full obituary.
Its a great way to begin the 2014-15 academic
year with news of our undergraduates
success and recognition at this summers
158th Theta Chi Anniversary Convention and
36th School of Fraternity Practices held in
Minneapolis, Minn.
The National
Convention
is Theta Chis
largest and
most important
gathering of
undergraduates
and alumni.
Although
the primary
function of
Convention
is to conduct
official
Fraternity business, it is also a time for alumni
and undergraduates to reunite, network and
celebrate Theta Chis accomplishments with
over 400 brothers.
We are pleased to announce that during the
National Convention, Omega Chapter received
a 2013-14 Chapter Achievement Award in
recognition of significant achievement and
performance in the following areas:
Scholarship
New Member & Member Education
Community Service & Philanthropy
Chapter Finances
The Ritual
Chapter Operations
Internal Cooperation
Campus Involvement
Congratulations to our undergraduate
officers and all actives for your hard work last
year. We look forward to another great year!
On the heels of our 33rd Annual Theta
Chi Open in May (see pictures on page 4 and
at www.thetachiomega.com), we are looking
forward to having you all back at the house for
Homecoming this fall. It is early this year, so
be sure to get your lodging arranged. Kickoff is
at noon, and we are all excited to help Coach
Franklin usher in a new era of PSU football
dominance within the Big 10. Join us at the
house after the game for a barbeque and our
annual meeting. Details below.
National Has Decided Omega a Top Chapter Again!
David Hartwich 09, President, Alumni Corp. Board
ALUMNI BOARD REPORT
WWW.THETACHIOMEGA.COM
August 2014
HOMECOMING 2014
Saturday, September 27, 2014
We are loyal students and alumni for life
Join us this Homecoming for a great day of football,
friendship, food and fun. Here is what we have planned:
Noon: Kickoff against Northwestern at Beaver Stadium.
5:30 p.m.: Return to the house for a barbeque. All alumni are also
welcome to sit in on our annual alumni board meeting.
There is no charge to participate, but we would like to know how many we can
expect. Email your RSVP to David Hartwich 09 at [email protected].
8/30 vs. UCF, 8:30 a.m. EDT, Ireland
9/6 vs. Akron (home), Noon
9/13 vs. Rutgers (away), 8:00 p.m.
9/20 vs. UMass (home), TBA
9/27 vs. Northwestern (HC), Noon
10/11 vs. Michigan (away), 7:00 p.m.
10/25, vs. OSU (home), 8:00 p.m.
11/1 vs. Maryland (home), TBA
11/8 vs. Indiana (away), TBA
11/15 vs. Temple (home), TBA
11/22 vs. Illinois (away), TBA
11/29 vs. Mich. State (home), TBA
12/6 Big 10 Championship
Make Every Weekend
a Reunion Weekend
with PSU Football!
2 August 2014 www.thetachiomega.com
Time to Show This Guy What It Means to Be a Nittany Lion!
Chapter Welcomes New Advisor Eli Rymland-Kelly
CHAPTER ADVISOR
ALUMNI PROFILE
He will be arriving in Happy Valley this week, but while the Creamery, the Corner Room, a photo op at the Nittany
Lion Shrine, the Skellar and Whiteout Weekends are all now on his bucket list, he is not new to the ways of Theta Chi.
A 2013 business economics and politics graduate from the University of California, Santa Cruz, Eli Rymland-Kelly
joined Theta Chi his freshman year and went on to hold the positions of recruitment chair, secretary and vice president
at Theta Iota Chapter.
While holding these positions, he explains, I attended Initiative Academy, Deranian Presidents Conference and
National Convention, all of which are events that I correlate to my success and enjoyment during my undergradu-
ate education. These, along with brotherhood road trips, are among the fondest of my memories as an undergraduate
member. I look forward to meeting every undergraduate brother and helping your chapter with its daily endeavors and
growth.
Eli was born and raised in Northern California. He will begin his studies at Penn State Law this fall semester. We
wish Eli the best of luck in this new chapter of his life. Feel free to send your own note of welcome to Eli at [email protected].
He Wants Adventure in the Great Wide Somewhere
Ben Cullen Walker 14 Joins National Tour of Beauty and the Beast
Its a story of exploration, of reaching
beyond this poor provincial town to find
excitement in the great wide somewhere.
But it is also a story of coming to have an
appreciation of home where the heart is.
Yes, this is
the story of
Beauty and
the Beast,
but it is also
the story
of Brother
Ben Cullen
Walker 14
who will
tour with
the national
production
of Beauty and the Beast this fall. We
caught up with this Bordentown, N.J.,
musical theatre graduate this summer for a
quick interview.
What was the determining factor in
deciding to pledge Theta Chi?
I joined Theta Chi because the broth-
ers explained to me that they actively
avoided most frat stereotypes like haz-
ing and trashing the house. I knew I
didnt want to get treated like crap just
so down the road I could do the same to
someone else. The brothers of Theta Chi
showed me that there was much more to
Greek life than that. I also knew that if
I invited girls to a party, they would be
safe; many of them told me that thats
exactly how they felt at our house. Since
my academic life was pretty much con-
sumed by musical theatre, it was also
nice to have a place where I could just be
a dude.
Did you serve as an officer at any time? If
so, what and when?
I was social chair for spring and fall of 2013.
What is your favorite Theta Chi memory?
Staying at the house for my first Arts Fest
following my freshman year and immedi-
ately being welcomed back as if Id known
these guys for years.
How did you get involved in theatre?
I performed in a youth opera workshop
when I was eight and was hooked from
there on out. Of all the interests and hob-
bies that I pursued, theatre was the one
that was always constant so I figured I
might as well make it my career! I played
the Foreman and Courfeyrac in Les
Miserables at the Fulton Theatre earlier
this summer.
Where might brothers catch one of your
performances?
Ill be touring coast to coast (Canada
too!) with Beauty and the Beast from
September to May. I am a member of
the ensemble and the Beast/Gaston
understudy. Brothers can find the tour
dates at www.
beautyandthe-
beastontour.
com/tickets-and-
tour-schedule.
Brothers can also
check out my
Facebook artist
page at www.
facebook.com/
BenCullenWalker
for updates. Ill
also be sure to
post on there
whenever I go on
for the Beast or
Gaston!
Whats next for
you?
After we close, Ill
probably move to New York, sign with an
agent and start auditioning like crazy!
Ben Cullen Walker in
a PSU production of
Guys and Dolls.
3 Omegaphone www.thetachiomega.com
The countdown is on for the 2014 Penn
State football season with kickoff just a
few short weeks away! That hopefully
means your return trip to Happy Valley is
around the corner! Weve put together a
checklist of things to watch for when you
come back this fall:
For the Family. The Penn State
Arboretum already featured more than
17,000 plants
over 35 wander-
ing acres, ponds
with lily pads,
fountains, and
always-free admis-
sion. But this
springs addition
of their childrens
garden has ren-
dered it utterly
magical. Kids are
thrilled with the
limestone cave (where they were encour-
aged to create chalk cave drawings) and
wading path they can follow around the
garden, ankle deep in water. Everything is
larger than life in this area of the arbore-
tum, from the giant climbable caterpillar
to the flowerbeds and water pump where
kids can help water flowers to their hearts
delight. Aptly called a place to wander
and wonder, this destination is close
and free, so you have time to just be and
explore.
For the Grown-Ups. Big Spring Distillery
is big news! Any place whose website
starts with a tall tale of a local statesman
with a questionable past and shady diplo-
macy skill already has our full attention,
but Big Spring Distillery has more than
that: a boutique distillery located in a
match factory building in the heart of
Bellefonte that uses Pennsylvanias best
tasting water and the finest ingredients
from local farmers to craft something
truly remarkable. Open Thursday-Sunday,
stop in for taste or tour. Or both. (www.
bigspringspirits.com).
While you are in Bellefonte, grab a bite
at The Gamble Mill. They have awesome
burgers! And dont miss Ottos they
brew their beer onsite with picks like
Apricot Wheat, Spring Creek and Spruce
Creek Lagers, Mt. Nittany Pale Ale. They
tailor their menus to feature their beers as
the centerpiece.
Get Some Gear. New coach equals new
catchy t-shirts. You need to update your
blue and white wardrobe! Get your
Nittany Lion supplies at one of many
downtown
retailers (we
recommend
The Family
Clothesline or
Lions Pride on
College Avenue,
or the Penn
State Bookstore
on campus).
Do you have
a student fol-
lowing in your
footsteps? Dont listen if they say its
embarrassing to buy a Penn State Mom
or Penn State Dad shirt. You earned it,
and how else can you tell the world? Get a
sticker for the back of your car, too. Your
Penn Stater will love it. If youre planning
to be here for the October 25 for the
game against Ohio State, its Whiteout
Weekend pick up a shirt, too!
Hit the Links. You can play a round
on one of the Universitys two 18 hole
courses Blue and White or an
array of practice facilities where the
mens and womens golf teams call
home (pennstategolfcourses.com). Or,
check out Toftrees Golf Club, which
has been awarded 4 1/2 stars as one of
Golf Digest magazines best places to
play (toftreesgolf.com). Mountain View
Country Club is offering 9 holes and
dinner for two for just $59 any day after
3:30! (mtviewcountryclub.com)
Eat. In addition to world-class sports and
entertainment, Happy Valley has carved
out a niche in local food, wine, beer, and
even spirits. Check out a few now and
put the rest on the bucket list for the
next time you come to town. This time:
treat the family to an upscale dinner at
Zola New Wold Bistro, located down-
town on College Avenue (we recommend
the crispy whole red snapper; zolabistro.
com). If you want more casual fare head
to Rotelli, voted best Italian restaurant
for three years running, or old-time
favorite, the Deli!!
Rediscover Campus. Have you seen the
renovated Nittany Lion Shrine? Stop by
and get this years picture taken. And
dont miss the new Pegula Ice Arena across
from the Bryce Jordan Center. It is one
of the finest facilities of its kind in the
nation. Make plans to go to an open skate
or watch the ice hockey team in action!
Remember the Nightlife. Coming back,
it seems like so much has changed or
has it? Theres still a seat for you at the
Skellar, the oldest continuously operating
bar in the state and recently picked as one
of the top 10 college bars. And dont for-
get about Zenos! Located directly above
the center of the earth, you probably have
an undergrad story to tell, but this year
you need to add the sequel! Meet up with
friends in the places where it all started,
and catch up. Its time. (zenospub.com)
Become a VIP. Over the next several
years, Happy Valley will become some-
thing like a second home to you. Youll
have a favorite place to stay, a favorite
restaurant (and even know their best
brew and dish) and an insiders guide
to all the hot spots in town. And as a
HappyValleyVIP, you can do it all for less.
Just go to HappyValleyVIP.com and sign
up, then use the membership card to get
discounts on favorite hotels, restaurants,
even massages! Signing up only takes a
minute. Youll be glad you did.
FALL IN HAPPY VALLEY
8 Tips for Your Return to Happy Valley This Fall
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4 August 2014 www.thetachiomega.com
P R S R T S T D
U . S . P O S T A G E
P A I D
S t a t e C o l l e g e , P a .
P e r m i t N o . 2
560-153 AAD
ALUMNI UPDATES
A d d r e s s S e r v i c e R e q u e s t e d
5 6 0 - 1 5 3 A A D
I n s i d e :
A c t i v e s A w a r d e d f o r S c h o l a r s h i p , R i t u a l & S e r v i c e
O m e g a W e l c o m e s N e w C h a p t e r A d v i s o r
N e w G r a d J o i n s N a t i o n a l T o u r o f B e a u t y a n d t h e B e a s t
Fall rush is quickly approaching. If you know of any PSU students interested in Theta Chi, please contact Recruitment Chair
Ryan Gattoni at (908) 963-9459 or [email protected].
George W. Chapman Jr. 49 (Bethlehem,
PA; [email protected]) Marion and I
celebrated our 65th wedding anniversary
on June 18, 2014. Marion was KKG at Penn
State (49).
George E. Groninger 54 (Derwood,
MD; [email protected]) At 81+
years, I am still able to be active with
caring for my home and yard, working at
my church, travelling annually overseas
with friends and attending occasional
sporting events at PSU, Baltimore Orioles
and Baltimore Ravens games. In addition,
I always enjoy visits with my four children
and four grandchildren!
Thomas A. Eyerly Jr. 59 (Orlando,
FL; [email protected]) Anne and I are
celebrating our 50th
wedding anniversary
this year by going
to Ireland in late
August for an eight-
day tour topped of
with the PSU/UCF
game in Dublin on August 30. Since we
live in Orlando and have since 1968, it
is a bit tougher choice of which team to
support, but Ill stay with the Lions all the
way. We have two sons in Atlanta, and
daughter Susan Caray lives 10 miles from
us in Maitland, Fla., with her four children.
So, we enjoy a lot of grandparenting,
especially when their dad, Chip Caray, is
away for six months in the summer as the
TV voice of the Atlanta Braves. Anne and I
have been enjoying retirement and good
health for the past 15 years.
On May 2, 2014, more than 20 Omega alumni broth-
ers joined together at the Shore Gate Golf Club in Ocean
View, N.J., for the 33rd Annual Theta Chi Open. Following
the day of golf, brothers met for a post-game dinner and
awards ban-
quet at their
traditional
Avalon/Stone
Harbor house.
Be sure to mark your calendars for next years open scheduled for Friday, May 1, 2015.
Details to follow later this year.
For more pictures of this years open, go to our website at www.thetachiomega.com.
Theta Chi Open Crowns New Champ
Congratulations to This Years Winner, Michael Dalesio 73
Congratulations to this years winner, Brother Michael Dalesio 73 from West Chester, Pa.