august 2017 | issue #81 capital campaign pledges...

There were those who thought it could not be done, a few thought it would be impossible, but this capital campaign is moving forward and it is succeeding! As the heading indicates, we have crossed the $1 million mark. To be exact, we are now at $1,238,925 and counting! Many

of the fraternities at Iowa State have, or are in the process of, replacing or conducting major renovations of their chapter houses. If we are to be able to compete for the best members, we have no choice but to do the same. To give you our “bird’s eye view” of the changes we have in mind, shown on the left is a side by side comparison of the layout of our existing chapter house and that of the new chapter house. We are literally using every square inch of space that our property allows for the construction of the new chapter house!

August 2017 | Issue #81

The Iowa State Pythagorean Fulfilling the mission of ACACIA

MAKING GOOD MEN BETTER

Capital Campaign Pledges Exceeds $1.2 Million

Thomas M. Whitney & GRIT Group Heritage Library

Have you owned or used a handheld calculator? If you can answer “yes” to this question (and who can’t?), then you have used a device invented by an Iowa State Acacian, Thomas M. Whitney.

Tom started school in Dysart, Iowa, and moved to Aurelia, Iowa, after the first grade when his father got a better job managing a larger grain elevator business.

( continued on page 4 )

Dyllin Mumme Interns at the Johnson Space Center Interning at the Johnson Space Center was everything I dreamed it would be. I had the amazing opportunity to work with the Procedures Management group within the Flight Operations Directorate which allowed me to have many diverse experiences. I was working on project that were not only for the International Space Station program, but also tools to assist astronauts onboard the ISS, astronauts in trainings at the NBL and B9, and also flight control and international partners.

Within the first week I was working on a Change Request work audit, CR’s were being assigned to incorrect reviewers. We needed to figure out how it was happening, identify all the individuals who were affected and do it quickly.

( continued on page 16 )

IN THIS ISSUE :

Establishing a Legacy for the Iowa State Chapter ............................................5

Donation Options to Support the Campaign ......................... 6-9

Brother Offers Cornerstone Challenge .....4

Acacians Across America.........................10

Alumini News and Notes ........................11

Undergraduate News and Notes ..............13

Homecoming Tailgate ............................20

The newsletter is sent to all of the alumni, pledges and actives of the ISU Chapter of ACACIA Fraternity, and their parents.

This newsletter is sent at no cost to all of its recipients, although donations directed towards the cost of this publication will be accepted by the Board. Should you wish to make a contribution, please make your check payable to The ACACIANS, in any amount. The next newsletter is sent out on a quarterly basis, every February, May, August, and November. If you have any information you would like to share, please send it to Harold Zarr at his e-mail address [email protected]. Take care, and best wishes to all of the Brothers, Little Sisters and friends of our Fraternity!

Capital Campaign Pledges Exceeds $1.2 MillionAs you can see, everything about the new chapter house is different. The orientation on the lot, the size of the parking area, the number of cars we can park, the size of the chapter house and the number of men it can hold. And this is just what it looks like on the outside! The interior is designed to be state-of-the-art in every aspect. A Wi-Fi system that is the best you can buy so that our members can have instant access to the web, energy efficient windows and spray foam insulation in the walls, a commercial grade kitchen, suite style living designed for two-, three- and four-man rooms, small kitchenettes on the top two floors, and dedicated library / study / classroom areas on every floor, including the basement. Theater and recreation rooms are also included in the basement. Everything about this new chapter house is designed to not only set the living environment for Acacians apart from the rest of the Iowa State Greek Community, but to simply put us in a class all our own.

And it will all be made possible because of the dedication and generosity of the alumni of our chapter!

The Iowa State Greek Community has been undergoing a tremendous amount of change in the past five years. Sigma Chi, Sigma Phi Epsilon, and Delta Tau Delta have built completely new chapter houses. In addition, Delta Upsilon, Alpha Tau Omega, Delta Sigma Phi, FarmHouse (doubled the size of their chapter house), and Alpha Gamma Rho (currently under construction) have all significantly upgraded their facilities. This is a normal cycle that we have witnessed in the past. Approximately every 20 to 30 years, fraternities significantly upgrade their facilities to meet the current needs of students. In order to compete with these changes, we have no choice but to build a new chapter house at our present location.

This is a picture of the construction that is currently underway at the AGR house, right across the street from Acacia. They are expanding the size of their chapter house from 70 to 100 men.

Our house is located in a prime spot in “Greekland”. One block from campus, in the heart of the Greek Community, our location is the envy of many other chapters. Capitalizing on this location, and our reputation and history of academic success, places us in a unique position to ensure the success of Acacia at Iowa State for decades to come. But to continue that dominance, we must build a new chapter house with the types of amenities that today’s college students expect to receive.

Some fraternities (and many sororities) have the gone the route of becoming “mega-chapters”, with membership of 100 men or more. (Examples include Tau Kappa Epsilon, Alpha Gamma Rho, and FarmHouse.) While these chapters have a huge size, that size is also a burden. All too often these chapters break up into smaller “sub-chapters” of around 30-35 men who become close friends, but not friends with the group as a whole. It becomes more of a dormitory environment than one where everyone knows each other, and develops personal relationships. Our philosophy is much different. With a live-in capacity of 42 men, and an expected total membership of 50-55 men, we believe that our ability to be more selective in the recruitment of members, with an emphasis on Brotherhood and academic performance, not numbers, will be the key to our long term success. It has worked well for us during the past twenty years, and we see no reason to abandon a strategy that has worked so well for so long.

In our conversations with our alumni Brothers, we have often been asked if we are asking for a total commitment of funds all at one time. That is absolutely not the case! What we are seeking is a five-year commitment from our alumni Brothers so that their financial contribution can be spread out over a reasonable time frame. What we need is your commitment and your initial contributions so that we can gather the funds we need to get this construction process going! We are doing well so far, but what we need is for each and every one of our Brothers to stand together to support the construction of this new chapter house. Collectively, we can make this happen and build a new chapter house to ensure our success and future for decades to come!

When we actively started this campaign just a few months ago, the campaign committee knew that building a new chapter house was an essential goal that had to be accomplished if we were

The following Brothers are your representatives on the Corporate Board. The Corporate Board is composed of both active chapter members and alumni. Feel free to contact us whenever you have ideas, suggestions or concerns!

corporate board members

Published by the corporate Board of the Iowa State Chapter of

ACACIA Fraternity

Harold Zarr President [email protected]

Matt B. England Vice-President [email protected]

Joshua S. Haugo Treasurer [email protected]

Chris MacKenzie Secretary [email protected]

Don Good Alumni Relations [email protected]

Tanner Jaeger Alumni Relations [email protected]

Jakob Croghan Chapter President [email protected]

Scott Beard Chapter Treasurer [email protected]

William Mengler Chapter Rep. [email protected]

Jeremy N. Davis Chapter Advisor [email protected]

to maintain the active chapter at Iowa State. Now, just a few short months after we began the active process of soliciting our alumni for their financial support to build a new chapter house at Iowa State, we have more than crossed the $1 million mark in our campaign. The primary focus of this newsletter to recognize and pay tribute to those alumni that have already stepped forward with their pledges and contributions. We are respectfully asking that our remaining alumni step forward to help us with this project that is vital to the future of our chapter!

The Campaign committee would like to publicly recognize and thank the Brothers listed below for their support to build a new chapter house at Iowa State! Without their financial support, this dream would not become a reality!

Recognizing our Alumni Contributors

Cornerstone Society — $250,000 and Above

Founders Circle — $150,000 to $249,999

Century Council — $100,000 to $149,999 John B. Pugh - #442 James H. Davis - #489 Dennis G. McComber - #556

Leadership Guild — $ 50,000 to $ 99,999 Bruce M. Campbell - #502 Larry J. McComber - #525 Jerry W. Crossett - #577 Aivars Berzins - #634 David H. Fifield - #671 Hank Nystrom - #642

Knowledge, Virtue and Truth — $ 25,000 to $ 49,999 Richard W. Taylor - #506 James M. Hanson - #533 Richard Cone - #557 Ronald R. Anderson - #602Donald L. Good - #653 Terry L. Thoem - #667 John T. Lynch - #711 L. Alan Lowry - #725Harold D. Zarr Jr. - #814 Stewart Burger Donna Whitney

Euclid — $ 10,000 to $ 24,999 Robert L. Carstens - #354 John R. Fulkerson - #410 Donald G. Lyon - #461 John P. Bahr - #545 Arthur P. Roy - #588 Alex I. Fraser - #608 David E. Wolfe - #656 Michael D. Walker - #665 Randyl D. Elkin - #670 Robert D. Howlett - #670 James D. Schlick - #708 Kerry J. Fladung - #896 Laurey E. Decker - #910

Pythagorean — $ 5,000 to $ 9,999Dale W. Weber - #436 Richard K. Perrin - #541 H. Keith Sawyers - #542 Douglas N, Preston - #560 Lee R. Christensen - #566 Neil H. Woodley - #567 William J. Dilcher - #576 David W. McLaughlin - #611 Douglas R. Whitney - #627 Jerry L. Tuttle - #646 Thomas M. McLuen - #647 Philip C. Larson - #684 James D. Schlick - #708 James K. England - #800 Daniel G. Wisner - #854 Roger W. Kingery - #902 Jeremy N. Davis - #969 Jeffrey L. Peil - #991 Craig A. Buske - #1009 John A. Kvinge - #1022 Matthew B. England - #1047 Tanner J. Jaeger - #1101

Memnon — $ 2,500 to $ 4,999George A. Robinson, Jr. - #471 John E. Shrader - #539 Lee R. McDonald - #551 Donald E. Mathre - #573 Ronald M. Larsen - #718 John W. Bridenstine - #752 Gene D. Lucht - #852

Brotherhood — $ 1,000 to $ 2,499 Kenneth A. Porter - #457 David W. Smith - #565 John W. Baty - #623 James L. Hinkeldey - #869Cecil G. Williams - #929 Chris MacKenzie - #973 Larry & Kim Buske - parents

So far, 70 of our Brothers have stepped forward to offer their support for the construction of a new chapter house. We are asking you to consider being number 71 in our campaign! By working together as Brothers, we can make this dream a reality!

Amount Needed for Tax-Deductible Contributions 40% $ 1,160,000.00

Amount Needed for Non-Tax Deductible Contributions 60% $ 1,740,000.00

Fund Raising Goal for New Chapter House 100 % $ 2,900,000.00

Total Amount Pledged To-Date 42.7% of goal $ 1,238,925.89

Total Amount Received To-Date $ 412,944.99

Many Aurelia graduates joined Acacia, and Tom was no different. He joined Acacia in 1958, with roll number 572. During the time he was a member of the undergraduate chapter he served as Rush Chairman in 1959-60 and Venerable Dean in 1960-61.

Tom graduated from Iowa State in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. He then went on to earn a Master of Science in 1962 and PhD in 1964. In 1967 he joined the staff at Hewlett Packard and led a team of engineers that invented the HP35, the very first handheld electronic calculator. The name of the calculator derived from the fact that it had 35 buttons on the keyboard, but what made it unique was that it could perform trigonometric functions, a first for handheld calculators. At the time the handheld calculator was being developed, his good friend and ISU Acacia Brother Neil Woodley (567) asked him what he was doing at H-P? Tom replied, “What I am working on will obsolete the slide rule!” Neil thought Tom was kidding him, ‘eliminate the slide rule?’ Fat chance of that happening! Little did Neil know how Tom’s invention would change the world; and try to buy a slide rule today!

In 1978 Tom left Hewlett Packard to join a startup company called Apple Computer, and went to work for two guys by the names of Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. In his position as executive vice president for engineering, Tom, along with Steve Jobs and Jef Raskin developed a personal computer called the Apple II. It was the first commercially viable and successful computer for personal use in the United States.

In 1981, Tom left Apple and went to Stanford where he got his MBA degree and formed Whitney Ventures investing in startup tech companies in Silicon Valley. Recognized for his contributions by both the ISU Foundation and Iowa State University, Tom sadly passed into the Chapter Eternal in 1987 at the young age of 47.

What is less well known is that Tom also founded an ISU Acacia networking project called the GRIT. What does GRIT mean or “stand for”? The answer to this question: nothing. It was Tom’s clever take-off on the house communication that was titled “Whispering Sands,” i.e. sand = grit! The GRIT is an annual Christmas publication to which all of the ISU Acacia members he knew so well contribute updates about their lives. The annual updates are consolidated each year by a volunteer “editor” and distributed to all. He did not want the Brotherhood that they enjoyed to fade away over time. Now, some 55 years later (first edition distributed Christmas 1962), the GRIT is still an annual happening by an expanded

group of approximately 35 Brothers who shared so much during their time at Iowa State and beyond.

This is a diagram of the library on the third floor that will be named for Tom Whitney and the GRIT group of alumni. It will be directly off of the entrance to the President’s Suite.

In addition, as much of the hardwood flooring material as can be salvaged and lighting fixtures from our current chapter house will be used in this study area. It will also feature a locked glass case that will hold our charter and memorabilia of the chapter. Built in shelves that will be salvaged from the current house will hold the other awards that the chapter has earned.

On the walls of the library there will be plaques recognizing the members of the chapter who have earned the Roy C. Clark Award, the Order of Pythagoras, Award of Merit, George F. Patterson Award, and other national honors. This room is designed to be both a library and a recognition of the success of the chapter and its alumni. In short, the history of our chapter will be on display in this room.

Neil Woodley serves on the capital campaign committee. To honor Tom, he has sponsored a GRIT Challenge to finance the $250,000 needed for the construction of the Tom Whitney GRIT Group Heritage Library which will be on the third floor of the new chapter house. Tom’s wife, Donna, kicked off the project with a “5 for 5” ($5K/yr for 5 years) contribution of $25,000. Neil is asking the GRIT group members to join with their own 10 for 5 ($50K), 5 for 5 ($25K), 2 for 5 ($10K) or 1 for 5 ($5K) pledge to make the project a reality. To date, approximately $42,000 has been committed. For more information on this project, please contact Neil Woodley at [email protected].

Thomas M. Whitney & GRIT Group Heritage Library

One of our Brothers is offering a “Cornerstone Challenge” to his fellow Acacia Brothers! The goal of the challenge is simple: to recruit five Brothers (six in total) who are willing to match his contribution of $250,000 to the project. This will result in a total of $1.5 million, which, once received and added to other gifts, will enable us to break ground on building a new chapter house. The basic parameters of this challenge are as follows:

1. Find five additional Brothers willing to contribute $250,000 each to the project. 2. A pledge can be from a Brother who has not already pledged to the project. 3. If a Brother has already made a commitment, he can increase that commitment to $250,000 and it will count. 4. Any two Brothers may make a combined commitment of $250,000 and their combined pledge will count as one of the five. 5. A pledge of $500,000 will count as two pledges for the Cornerstone Challenge. 6. The Brother must secure his pledge in writing. 7. The contributions may be tax-deductible, non-tax-deductible, or any combination of the two.

Once the five additional gifts are secured, all of the Brothers who are contributing at the Cornerstone Level will be identified to the rest of the alumni Brothers. The members of the Cornerstone Society will have their pictures and biographies permanently displayed in the entry hall of the new chapter house.

Brother Offers Cornerstone Challenge

As our alumni know, we are in the midst of a capital campaign to build a new chapter house for the Iowa State Chapter of Acacia. As we have been visiting with our alumni, a number of our Brothers have advised us for the first time that they have established bequests to the ISU Acacia Chapter. A number of other Brothers have expressed an interest in bequeathing part of their estate to the Iowa State Chapter. As you might expect with any type of bequest, the wording used in the document is especially critical! For those of you who are considering this as an option as a part of your estate, this article is designed is provide you with some valuable information that is important for you to consider when preparing your documents.

There have been two other alumni (Sam Carstens - #354 and Edwin Drdla - #377) who made specific provisions in their estates for funds to go to the benefit of the Iowa State Chapter. Based on our previous experience, we want to provide you with some information that may be helpful to you to ensure that your wishes are carried out as you intend.

If your intent to provide support directly for the Iowa State Chapter, then your will must state that the funds are to be given to the alumni board of the chapter, namely The Acacians, an Iowa Code 504 Revised Domestic Nonprofit Corporation, Business Number 97614. The alumni board will then invest the funds and use them to build and/or maintain the chapter house, improve the property as needed, provide scholarships to the chapter members, or any other purpose that is needed to support the chapter. This type of bequest provides the maximum amount of flexibility for the alumni board to support the chapter, and there are no potential disputes as to where the funds are to be deposited. The board plans to invest the funds so that the earnings would be available to cover these types of expenses and hopefully, not need to use any of the principal that was invested. Shown below is the current listing for the alumni board as recorded by the office of the Iowa Secretary of State.

Business No. Legal Name Status

97614 THE ACACIANS Active

Type State of Inc. Modified

Legal IA No

Expiration Date Effective Date Filing Date

PERPETUAL 4/8/1914 4/8/1914

Chapter

CODE 504 REVISED DOMESTIC NON-PROFIT

In some cases, an estate is set up so that the funds must be deposited with a 501(c)3 charity. If this is the case, you can then deposit the funds in the name of the Iowa State Chapter in an account that we have with the Acacia Fraternity Foundation. This is what both Sam Carstens and Edwin Drdla did with their bequests. It is critical that in your will, you state that the funds are to be deposited in the Iowa State Chapter account, in care of the Acacia Fraternity Foundation.

In this manner, you can ensure that the funds are deposited solely for the benefit of the Iowa State Chapter, and that they cannot be deposited into another account. When Edwin Drdla made his bequest, the Iowa State alumni board established an account in his name and then invested the funds through the Acacia Fraternity Foundation and have used the proceeds of those funds to provide scholarships to the members of the chapter. This fund has been in operation for approximately ten years at this point, and has proved to be an incredible resource for both the alumni board and the active chapter to attract outstanding men as Acacians.

Who you chose to leave a bequest to is of course, entirely up to you. But whatever decision you make, to ensure that the funds are actually used in the manner you intend, you must be very specific in your will. Experience tells us that in the case of any ambiguity, the funds will go to either the International Fraternity or the Acacia Fraternity Foundation, and not to a specific chapter unless it is clearly specified in your will.

It is equally critical that if you are planning to make a bequest, you should contact the Iowa State alumni board and make your wishes known to them. This is not due to any need for the alumni board to influence your decision, but simply to share with the board your intention so that they can be more effective in making plans for the future of the chapter. If any alumnus has any further questions, they are encouraged to contact Harold Zarr, the Alumni Board President. His e-mail address is [email protected], or you may call him at 515-257-4683.

Establishing a Legacy for the Iowa State Chapter

This is the simplest and easiest way to support the project. All that you need to do is to write out a check and drop it in the mail! To build the new chapter house, we need both tax-deductible and non-tax-deductible donations. Based on information provided to us by our attorney, of the total amount needed to build the new chapter house, approximately 60% of the funds can be used for the non-tax-deductible part of the construction and 40% can be accepted for the tax-deductible portion of the construction costs. In round terms, we need about $1.17 million in tax-deductible donations and $1.85 million in non-tax-deductible donations.

One factor that affects all of our alumni is that under the current IRS guidelines, you can “gift” $14,000 per year ($28,000 for a married couple) to any person or organization and you do NOT have to report it and thereby have it reduce your estate for estate tax purposes. If the value of your estate is such that is a concern, making a $14,000 or $28,000 per year contribution may be an ideal method by which you can reduce your estate without it negatively impacting your heirs for

estate tax purposes. As we always advise, you need to consult with your tax attorney to make certain that everything is done properly and in accordance with the tax code.

Depending on their individual situation, we have had alumni who make only non-tax-deductible donations, some make only tax-deductible donations, and some split their donations between the two. When making a non-tax-deductible donation, simply follow these two simple steps:

As our capital campaign moves forward, the alumni board has established six different methods by which you can contribute to the campaign to build a new chapter house. Recently, the Board has established an account at Vanguard into which non-tax-deductible donations of stocks, bonds or mutual fund shares may be deposited. This is a brand new option, so you will want to take some time to examine the procedures under this option as to how it is used. The methods for each of the options are briefly summarized in this article in the newsletter.

When setting up this project, the campaign committee and the alumni board have investigated and tried to provide as many methods as possible so that our alumni could make donations in a manner that best helps both our alumni and the project itself. We know our alumni have a wide background in terms of age, income and financial resources. For some of our alumni, tax-deductibility is an important issue. For others it is not, but estate planning and distribution requirements from retirement funds are issues that are important to them. We have tried, as much as possible, to address all of the possible scenarios’ which might present themselves so that we can successfully move forward with the project and provide those tax benefits that we could to our alumni as well.

We have set up six different options for you to use to support the new chapter house project. Two of them are non-tax-deductible and four are tax-deductible. They are:

1. Non-tax-deductible contributions of cash. 2. Non-tax-deductible contributions of stock or mutual fund shares. 3. Tax-deductible contributions of cash through the Acacia Fraternity Foundation. 4. Tax-deductible contributions of cash through the ISU Foundation. 5. Tax-deductible contributions of stock through the Acacia Fraternity Foundation 6. Tax-deductible contributions from an IRA.

In this section of the newsletter, we are attempting to provide you with as simplified a step-by-step set of procedures as possible so that you decide which method is most effective for you to supporting building a new chapter house. As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact either Harold Zarr ([email protected]) or Jim Davis ([email protected]) and we can help you with the details.

Donation Options to Support the Campaign

1. Make your check payable to: The Acacians2. Just mail your check to: Harold D. Zarr Jr. Corporate Board President – The Acacians 834 South East Michael Drive Ankeny, Iowa 50021-3671

Non-Tax-Deductible Contributions of Cash 1)

As our alumni know, you may donate up to $14,000 per year ($28,000 for a married couple) as a “gift” to an individual or organization per year. This “gift” will not affect your lifetime giving option as it applies to your estate. To facilitate the acceptance of donations of stocks, bonds and mutual fund shares, the Alumni Board established an account with The Vanguard Group, Inc. If you have cash, or own an investment of stock or mutual fund shares that you would like to donate, this can be accomplished by using this account. Before we proceed, there are a few points of information that we need to share with you.

1. First, please recognize that this is a non-tax-deductible donation.

2. When you donate a stock that has appreciated in value over time, you as the donor avoid having to pay capital gains taxes on the increase in value of the investment. Depending on your tax bracket, this could result in a substantial amount of tax savings for you. The more you donate, the greater the value of the taxes you avoid being required to pay.

3. You are required by the IRS to file a gift tax return (Form 709) if the total value of the gift exceeds $14,000 from an individual (or $28,000 for a couple) in a given tax year. The amount in excess of these values will have an impact on a donor’s lifetime gift tax exemption, which as of 2017 is $5.49 million. You should always consult your tax advisor for detailed questions about this option.

4. If you chose to make use of this option, you will need to share the cost basis for the stock donation with the The Acacians at the time of the transfer. The reason for this is as follows.

Under the current IRS guidelines, the The Acacians is classified as a “social club”. What this means is that The Acacians can accept an unlimited amount of donations in the form of stocks, bonds or mutual fund shares, we are limited in the dollar amount that we can sell in any one fiscal year. The amount that we can sell (i.e., the portion that would be recognized as capital gains) must be less than 35% of our total gross income from our normal business operations. For The Acacians, our income from our normal business operations is essentially equal to the rent that we receive on an annual basis from the members of the chapter that live in the chapter house. This amount is $116,000 per year. So if we multiply $116,000 times 0.35 that means that we can earn approximately $40,600 per fiscal year from the capital gains portion of the stock that we sell.

If we were to sell more than that, we would lose our tax-exempt status. So, as was mentioned earlier, while we can accept an unlimited amount of donations in the form of stocks, bonds and mutual fund shares, we are limited as to how much we could sell in any one fiscal year. But, if we had a large amount of these types of dollar assets, these assets could be used as collateral for the loan for the new chapter house, as the bank would be guaranteed repayment from the shares that would be sold.

To transfer stock or mutual fund shares you will need to fill out a form entitled Letter of Instructions for Gifts of Securities. The form is available on the Vanguard website. On page three of this form, you will need to fill in the following information:

1. Place a check mark in the box for Option A2. Our legal name is: The Acacians3. Name of receiving brokerage firm 4. DTC number 00625. Account number 6045939 (Note: This is a brokerage account.)

If you have any questions, just follow these steps

1. Call Vanguard at their toll-free number 800-992-8327.2. When you call Vanguard, you will get an automated response system. Just ask for a customer representative as soon as possible in the call.3. Inform the person on the phone that you want to transfer stock or mutual fund shares to The Acacians.4. Give this person our account number which is 604 593 92.5. Tell the person on the phone that this is a brokerage account.6. Tell them that the DTC number is 0062.

When we spoke with a representative form Vanguard, we were told that if you have the stock or mutual fund shares at Vanguard, the process is pretty straightforward and you will just have to fill out the form mentioned above and that should take care of it.

If you have the stock with a stock brokerage firm, then there will be some additional paperwork, but that they can help you with that pretty easily.

If the stock is in certificate form, there will be some additional paperwork that you will have to fill out, but again, they can help you with that. The fastest way to conduct the transfer is to just call them as there are lots of different scenarios that could occur, and they really need to do each transfer on a “case-by-base” basis.

Non-Tax-Deductible Donations of Stock or Mutual fund Shares.2)

The third alternative is to donate funds through an account that we have set up with the ISU Foundation. As you will recall, a number of years ago we established an account with the ISU Foundation so that we could build a library/study area on the third floor of the current chapter house. That account was never closed, so we are able to make use of it for this project.

Some of our alumni work for firms that will match their contributions when made to this account, so it enables them to “double” the amount that they contribute to the project, which is absolutely fantastic! Some of our alumni have already set up financial arrangements with the Foundation where they have agreed to support projects through the ISU Foundation, so this works for them as well. The steps are simple, and here is how it works.

1. Make your check payable to: Acacia Fraternity Building and Renovation Fund – c/o ISU Foundation

Account #2702338

2. Mail your check to: ISU Foundation 2505 University Boulevard P.O. Box 2330 Ames, Iowa 50010-2230

You will receive a letter from the ISU Foundation recognizing your charitable contribution for tax purposes.

For some of our alumni, tax-deductibility is an important issue. If that is the case for you, then we have two methods by which you can make donations by check. One method is to simply send one or a series of checks as follows.

1. Make your check payable to: Acacia Fraternity Foundation – Account #19.3

2. Mail your check to: Acacia Fraternity Foundation 8777 Purdue Road, Suite 225 Indianapolis, Indiana 46268 Attn: Darold Larson

A second method is to set up an automatic deduction from a checking or savings account to an account that the Board has established with the Acacia Fraternity Foundation via the world-wide web. Some of our alumni prefer to use this method and avoid the writing of checks. It is a simple process to follow, and this is how it works.

1. Vest the AFF donations web portal at: http//www.acacia.org/donate/

2. At this webpage, chose Iowa State – New Chapter House from the drop down menu located on this page click continue3. On the screen that appears, simply fill out the information that is requested to set up a direct transfer of funds from your bank account or from a credit/debit card.4. As you move through the remaining screens, additional information will be requested and choose to make either a one- time or a recurring donation according to a schedule that will work for you.5. The final step is to just review the information, and if everything is okay, just submit and you are done!

Tax-deductible contributions of cash through the Acacia Fraternity Foundation.3)

Tax-deductible contributions of cash through the ISU Foundation.4)

For some of our alumni, they prefer to donate investments that they have made in the stock of publicly traded companies as opposed to a direct cash donation. This works well in that you as the donor are able to claim a tax-deduction for the donation (up to certain limits established by the IRS). These donations are deposited directly with the Acacia Fraternity Foundation, and once the stock is sold, the proceeds are transferred to our new chapter house fund within the Foundation. Here are the steps that you need to follow.

1. Contact your stock broker and tell them you want to make a direct transfer of stock to a charity.2. Ask the broker to transfer the investment to: Acacia Fraternity Foundation3. The tax-identification number for the AFF is: 35-17783324. The “receiving firm” for the stock is: Charles Schwab & Company, Inc. 101 Montgomery Street San Francisco, California 94104 Phone: (800) 536-4274

5. DTC-eligible securities will be delivered to: DTC Clearing 0164, Code 40 For deposit to Acacia Fraternity Foundation Account #1018-3550

6. Notify Harold Zarr so that he can watch for the transfer and sell the stock once it has been deposited in the Charles Schwab account. Once that he occurs, he will let Darold Larson (AFF Executive Director) know about the transfer and sale of stock, and Darold will then work with the AFF Treasurer to transfer the funds to the Iowa State new chapter house fund.

Tax-deductible contributions of cash through the Acacia Fraternity Foundation. Tax-deductible contributions of stock

through the Acacia Fraternity Foundation.

Tax-deductible contributions from an IRA.

5)

6)Direct transfers of funds from an IRA to our account at the AFF is an easy method for some of our alumni to support the new chapter house project. There are six basic rules that apply to these types of transfers, which are as follows.

1. You must be at least 70-1/2 years of age.2. You can donate a maximum of $100,000 in total per person per year to charity.3. You must transfer the funds directly from the IRA to the eligible charity. They cannot “pass through” the donor to the charity.4. You cannot donate the funds to a donor-advised fund or a private foundation.5. It cannot be used for transfers from 401(k) accounts.6. IRA sponsors do not have to include the IRA donation on the 1099-R tax form, so you need to keep your own records when compiling your tax returns.

The steps required to complete these types of transfers are:

1. Contact the IRA administrator where your funds are located and tell them you want to make a direct transfer of funds to a charity.2. Have the check made out to: Acacia Fraternity Foundation – Account #19.3

3. The tax-identification number for the AFF is: 35-17783324. Mail the check to: Acacia Fraternity Foundation 8777 Purdue Road, Suite 225 Indianapolis, Indiana 46268 Attn: Darold Larson

While this donation is not tax-deductible, it is also not included as a part of your adjusted gross income. They may effectively reduce your taxable income and it may help you to lower or avoid the 3.8% surtax on net investment income, payments for Medicare premiums, or possibly even taxes on your Social Security payments. Just be certain to discuss this type of transfer in advance with your tax advisor to ensure that everything is done properly.

If you are retired, with an IRA from which you must make minimum withdrawals, this might well be an ideal way to support the chapter house project and meet your obligations under the law at the same time.

For this issue of the newsletter, we interviewed Brother Jerry Crossett #577. He has lead a very interesting life, filled with paths and with experiences unlike anything he expected when he graduated. So, without further delay, here is Brother Jerry Crossett and his story!

Please share with us when you first became acquainted with Acacia and Iowa State.

I joined Acacia as a pledge in 1958, and majored in mechanical engineering, graduating in 1961.

Following graduation, I headed out west with my new bride (Mary Lou) to Oxnard, California, and went to work for the US Navy as an engineer at Point Mugu Naval Air Station. While working for the Navy, I had a number of interesting jobs designing and testing sounding rockets at the Pacific Missile Range office. After two years I decided that I was not cut out to be a civil servant, so I applied to and was accepted as a student at Caltech in Pasadena, California.

What did you study at Caltech, and what did you do after that?

In 1964, I graduated from Caltech with a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering. I also earned a certificate in Rocket Propulsion and Business, through the UCLA Extension program. After receiving my MS from Caltech I went to work for Douglas Aircraft Company, Santa Monica, California. My primary job was as an Engineer/Scientist doing design work and launch support on the Delta Launch Vehicle Program, but I also had numerous other jobs when something went wrong somewhere. Basically, I was an expert in troubleshooting problems!

In 1971 I was selected to move to Japan and join the Thor Delta Inc. team as the propulsion consultant at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Nagoya, Japan. This was a three-year assignment, and during the time that I was in Japan, I worked with MHI to design and test the propulsion systems for the N Rocket, the first Japanese launch vehicle capable of carrying a satellite. In 1974 when the design phase was over I left Japan and went back to California to rejoin McDonnell-Douglas in Huntington Beach,

California. Unfortunately, due to defense budget cuts, there were very few projects that were being worked on that time.

I realized that the opportunities in this field were limited, so I left the “missile business” in 1975 I formed my own export management company. So technically, I have been “unemployed” ever since! But not to worry, as a result of forming my own export firm I have traveled the world selling a large variety of products, including computer software and hardware, used cars, bull semen and related equipment, and guns and ammunition. I am still exporting bull semen to Asia and guns to customers in all five continents. It keeps me busy and out of the poorhouse!

It is good to see that you are keeping busy. How is your family today, and do you have any hobbies to keep you busy in your free time?

My wife, Mary Lou and I still live in Fountain Valley, California. We have a daughter, Joy, who is Department Head of Fashion Design at Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, Kansas; and a son, Donald, who is in charge of computer operations at a small pharmaceutical company in Tustin, California. Both Joy and Donald have two kids, so we have four grandkids from 11 to 17 years old (two boys and two girls). (I won’t bother telling you how brilliant and talented our grandkids are.)

At one time I was engaged in competitive shotgun sports. I no longer compete, but I still enjoy shooting shotgun sports, skeet, trap and sporting clays.

Do you have a special memories of your time or the Brothers you knew at Acacia?

It is difficult to point to any special Acacia memories, but with time I appreciate that Acacia was a special place with an unusually high quality of brothers. The GRIT, founded by Brother Tom Whitney to keep us together, has been a big factor in keeping me informed about the lives of our little group. I still draw inspiration from my experience in Acacia at ISU.

Alumni News and Notes

Ronald Arlie Christensen - #531

Harold Skerritt, 87, of Glenwood, IA, formerly of Malvern, IA, passed away at the Glen Haven Home in Glenwood on Monday, April 24, 2017.

Harold Leon Skerritt, one of two children of John Glenn and Phyllis Florence Bernice (Burgoin) Skerritt, was

born on March 2, 1930, in rural Malvern, Iowa where he grew up on the farm and attended Osborne Valley country school and later Silver City High School graduating with the Class of 1946. He started faming after high school, for a couple of years, as his father had died in January 1946 and he stayed at home to help his mother with the farm. He later attended Iowa State College and completed 2 years of study in Animal Husbandry, before returning full time to the farm. Shortly after his return to the farm from Iowa State, he was inducted into the US Army and was ultimately assigned to the Airborne Rigger Training (Quartermaster) School in Virginia as an Instructor, serving from 1951-1953.

Harold was a grain and livestock farmer, when he began farming on his own in 1954, after his time in the service. The land he was on was in its third generation in the same family and the farm became a Century Farm under his tenure. Harold continued onward with his livestock, even after his retirement from grain farming in 1995. He did still own a small herd of beef cows at the time of his death. Something he always said was his goal and privilege to do. He also was very active in the Mills County 4-H program, while he was able, in many capacities over the years, both as a participant and in leadership and mentoring roles. He was the program leader of the Ingraham Straight Shooters 4-H club for over 20 years, and also was a charter member of that Ingraham Township club.

Harold and Marilyn Jean Mintle were married on March 4, 1956, in Glenwood, Iowa. Their marriage was blessed with two children, JohnKarl and Ann Lynette. Marilyn passed away in

May 1976. Harold went on to marry Rhodonna (Donna) Lee Kooker in August of 1979, in Silver City, Iowa. Donna had two school aged children, Kimberly and Brian Kooker, who came to live on the farm. Donna moved

away from the farm in 1986 and the couple eventually divorced. In the year 2000, Harold moved from the farm to live in Glenwood, Iowa. Harold and Madonna (Donna) Jeanne (Hartman) Beck were married on June 10, 2001, in Omaha, Nebraska. Harold’s family grew once again to include Donna’s six adult children, Romie, Roxanne, Randy, Renee, Rhonda, and Rachelle. Madonna passed away in March 2015.

Harold passed away, peacefully, on April 24, 2017 at the Glen Haven Home in Glenwood, Iowa at the age of 87 years, 1 month, and 22 days. In addition to his first wife and third wife, Harold was also preceded in death by his parents and older brother Roger Eugene Skerritt, who died in infancy in 1927.

Harold is survived by his double first cousin, Margarite Goodenow of Council Bluffs, Iowa; children, John Skerritt and wife, Pamela Hawhee of Ames, Iowa and Ann Schoening and husband, Gene Schoening of Silver City, Iowa; stepchildren, Kimberly Kooker, Brian Kooker, Romie Beck, Roxanne Boverhuis, Randy Beck, Renee May, Rhonda Bloom, Rachelle Gronemyer; and other cousins, relatives and circle of friends.

In Memoriam

The alumni board has established two scholarship funds that are used to provide scholarships to the members of the active chapter. One account is maintained at the ISU Foundation. Some of our alumni work for corporations that have “matching gift” programs where, if you contribute money to the ISU Foundation, your employer will match some or all of your donation. This allows you to “double-up” your donation! The second account is maintained at the Acacia Fraternity Foundation. Alumni who do not have access to matching gifts programs where they work may support the chapter by making contributions to this account. In both cases, your donations may be tax-deductible to you, you just need to double-check with your tax advisor.

Our emphasis on academic performance and high moral character of the members that we recruit has never wavered, and has led to the building of a chapter that is well respected within the Iowa State Greek Community. But this alone is not the key to our success. The generosity of our alumni in being willing to financially support the scholarship and house renewal funds are equally critical to our success.

Without the hard work of the chapter members, and the active support of our alumni, our success simply would not have been possible. We recognize all of our alumni who have so generously contributed to the financial well-being of the chapter, and we hope that as you examine the record of success of the chapter in the chart shown below, you will see that your investment has been well placed. We sincerely hope and respectfully ask you to continue your financial support of the men of the Iowa State Chapter of Acacia.

Scholarship Fund at ISU Foundation

Chapter Partner ($ 1,000 - $ 2,499)David Fifield - #671

Other categories for contributionsRefounding Father ($ 10,000 or more)Board of Directors Club ($ 5,000 - $ 9,999)Pythagorean Partner ($ 2,500 - $ 4,999)Gold Partner ($ 750 - $ 999)

$1,500 Contributed in 2017 by Iowa State Acacians

The table that is shown lists those Brothers and friends who have made tax-deductible contributions to the chapter scholarship fund in 2017. Please accept our grateful thanks for your generosity! Your contributions provide vital support the academic efforts of your Brothers in our Chapter!

Account #0706841

Scholarship Fund at Acacia Fraternity Foundation

$3,725 Contributed in 2017 by Iowa State Acacians

Refounding Father ($ 10,000 or more)Robert L. Carstens - #354

Silver Partner ($ 500 - $ 749) Douglas R. Whitney - #627Takenori Aso - #660

Spirit Partner ($ 1 - $ 99)Walter R. Kolbe - #527

Other categories for contributions Board of Directors Club ($ 5,000 - $ 9,999)Pythagorean Partner ($ 2,500 - $ 4,999)Chapter Partner ($ 1,000 - $ 2,499)Gold Partner ($ 750 - $ 999)

Bronze Partner ($ 100 - $ 499)Dale W. Weber - #436Lynn R. Pendry - #469James H. Davis - #489Richard W. Taylor - #506James M. Hanson - #533Gary D. Harter - #538Dennis G. McComber - #556John F. Shrader - #660Daniel G. Wisner - #854Stewart L. Burger

The table that is shown lists those Brothers and friends who have made tax-deductible contributions to the chapter scholarship fund in 2017. Please accept our grateful thanks for your generosity! Your contributions provide vital support the academic efforts of your Brothers in our Chapter!

Account #19

Two Scholarship Funds Support Chapter Members

Alumni News and Notes

From the Office of the Venerable Dean Jakob Croghan #1129, Venerable Dean

Writing this letter, I am watching the summer come to an end. This time of year always seems to be rather chaotic but exciting. Classes will be starting soon and I will be returning to live at the chapter house after spending the summer living in Wichita, Kansas. I, like many of our brothers, have been on internship this summer. Many of these internship opportunities have developed thanks to our alumni network and I would like to thank our alumni for continuing to hold a trust in our Chapter and help foster our fraternal experience. This involvement from our alumni is one of many great benefits of our fraternity and continues to be one of our strongest recruitment tools. I look forward to continuing this relationship into the future!

Homecoming, October 28th, 2017

As a way of saying thank you and continuing to grow our alumni relationships, we would like to formally invite all of our alumni and their families to attend our first official homecoming tailgate! Our Chapter has rented a large white tent to the southeast of Jack Trice stadium where we will be hosting our tailgate. For those of you who have attended recent football games, this tent will be similar to the cardinal and gold tents set up north of the stadium. For more information about the tailgate, please see the flyer included in this newsletter.

Our Homecoming tailgate coincides with several other exciting Homecoming firsts for our Chapter! This year our Chapter has paired with Delta Gamma, who founded their Iowa State Chapter this last spring and will be fully participating in their first homecoming, Phi Gamma Delta, our neighbour to the east, and Gamma Rho Lambda, a Multi-Cultural Greek sorority that will be participating in homecoming for the first time! To add to excitement of this historic pairing, we will be hosting a full-scale lawn display at our chapter house for the first time since re-founding! This display will be a part of ExCytement in the Streets following the Homecoming Pep Rally on the night of October 27th. I would encourage everyone to come to see this unique event celebrating both our University and our Greek Community. Additionally, the Chapter would like to invite all alumni to stop by the Chapter residence at 138 Gray Avenue anytime they are in town. Our members hope to see at least 50 different alumni during the 17/18 school year!

Increased Academic Performance

Preparation for and participation in the numerous Homecoming activities, while exciting, will not be the Chapter’s only focus for the upcoming semester. As we strive to make good men better, we have increased our focus on our academics, the reason that all of us have been brought together. For the men of ACACIA, academics has always been our number one priority, and this semester, we will be doubling down our efforts. We seek not only to increase our overall Chapter GPA, but also to perform at a level that will place ACACIA as one of the top 3 chapters in the Interfraternity Council! In a later article, Brother Niemann, describes how our Chapter plans to reach this lofty goal.

Chapter Advisory Team

Our Chapter has set a course into the future that we believe will continue to maintain ACACIA’s status as one of the finest fraternities. However, if we are to continue our tradition of excellence in the constantly evolving Greek environment we will need the support of our alumni and advisors. As I wrote in the February newsletter, our Chapter is restructuring our advisory system into a larger, more specialized team. This Chapter Advisory team will be composed of six different individuals. They are as follows:

1. Chapter Advisor (currently held by Jeremy Davis) to provide advice at our weekly chapter meetings, function as a key contact when issues arise, and oversee the following advisors 2. Academics Advisor (currently held by Stewart Burger) to provide guidance and advice for members and our Scholarship Chair relating to education and scholastic achievement 3. Cornerstones Advisor (currently held by Wicitra Mahotama) to serve as a resource for our Cornerstones Chairmen and the cornerstones membership development program 4. Financial Advisor (currently VACANT) to provide guidance for our Chapter Treasurer on financial and budgetary matters that arise 5. Recruitment Advisor (currently held by Tom McGee and Andrew Doherty) to help our Recruitment Chairmen recruit the right guys ensuring the future of our fraternity 6. Ritual Advisor (currently VACANT) to educate our members about our ritual processes and ensure they are properly carried out

We are actively seeking individuals to fill the currently vacant positions of Financial Advisor and Ritual Advisor. Additionally, Jeremy Davis, our Chapter Advisor for the last 15 years, has asked the Chapter to search for a replacement for him. He is no longer able to commit as much time as he previously has due to his role with the National Pork Producers Council and his involvement as the International President of ACACIA Fraternity, both of which require him to travel frequently. The Chapter Advisor would ideally live within an hour of Ames, due to their important relationship with the Chapter. With the exception of the Chapter Advisor, these advisory positions would not require a significant time commitment or the individual to live close to Ames.

These positions would provide the individual with a chance to directly influence the success of our Chapter and provide a way to better connect to the undergraduate Chapter. The main purpose of this team is to help ensure that each aspect of our Chapter is functioning smoothly and working well the others. This will allow our Chapter to not just continue to operate, but to reach new levels of excellence and to achieve a greater level of success. If you are interested in one of these advisory roles, please contact Jakob Croghan at [email protected] or Jeremy Davis at [email protected].

As always, our Chapter is looking forward to the exciting semester ahead and hopes to share our adventure at Iowa State with all of you!

Improving ACACIA’s Academic Foundation72% of Acacian’s Earn a 3.00 GPA or above in Spring, 2017 Semester

Brett Niemann #1146, Scholarship ChairmanAcademics have always been the number one priority for the men of ACACIA, and a strong academic performance was had this past semester. The Chapter was able to raise its all member GPA from 3.12 in Fall 2016 to 3.16 this past Spring 2017. This placed them tied for 12th place amongst the 31 IFC fraternities, and well above the all men’s university average of 2.91. However, the new members are our biggest success story, pulling in a 3.25 GPA as an incoming pledge class. The Chapter is very proud to be moving in the right direction in terms of their academics, but many brothers still believe that there is more work to be done.

“As young men attending a college university, our first priority should be our academics,” writes one of the brothers. The active Chapter has been moving to raise their overall GPA and has set a goal to make it into the Top 3 chapters for GPA within the Interfraternity Council. Some of the ways that the Chapter has gone about trying to reach this goal is the introduction of the new scholarship plan this last semester.

This revamped plan offers new incentives and rewards for members

that are attaining and maintaining good grades. Additionally, the Chapter offers our members reimbursements for university tutors. The ACACIANS Housing Corporation will generously offer tutoring reimbursements to any member to help them with their classes. It is a great way to encourage members to go out and take those extra steps towards getting higher grades. Another great way to get brothers involved with academics and keeping each other accountable is the mentoring program currently run by the Scholarship Chairman. This is where an older brother is paired up with a younger brother, usually in a similar major, to help mentor the younger member about ways to study and help them with course work. This program offers many different advantages for the mentor and mentee. The mentor gains experience as a leader, assisting others and keeping to a schedule. The mentee gains the necessary help with their classes as well as an opportunity to build those strong relationships with the older members.

While there is much work to be done by everyone in their pursuit of knowledge, the Chapter is looking forward to an awesome and informative semester ahead!

Jon Ahrens #1142, Senior Dean

In late July, the 12th biennial Darold W. Larson ACACIA Leadership Academy took place in Bloomington, Indiana, at the chapter house of the Indiana Chapter of ACACIA Fraternity. Under a single roof, the brightest leaders of ACACIA Fraternity gathered together with one common goal: To better their fraternity’s record. Whether this is accomplished through the lessons they learned from the guest speakers or from the conversations they had with the representatives of other chapters, they all take bits and pieces to bring back to their respective chapters with the goal of improving the organization to the best of their ability. Topics addressed by the guest speakers covered a wide range of things from fraternity organization to recruitment and other leadership topics. Each one of these speakers sparked numerous different conversations, all revolving around the issues that each of our Chapter faces and how each Chapter has risen above these issues.

This year, we had four representatives from the Iowa State Chapter in attendance, Brothers Jon Ahrens, Matt Hart, Brett Niemann, and Ryan Whitener. Alumni Brothers who attended were Michael Weber (Assistant Executive Director), Harold Zarr (AFF Board member) and Jeremy Davis (International President). During the pass the gavel at the final banquet, you could see and feel the impact that this week had on its attendees, and one thing shined above all else: No matter where you’re from, or what your background is, we are all brothers. It was amazing to see how a group of 70-80 men, most of whom had never met before, can come together for a week and mesh with each other as if they had known each other for years, showing us the true meaning of our brotherhood.

Reflections on the 2017 Acacia Leadership Academy

Matthew Hart - #1152

Attending the Acacia Leadership Academy (ALA) this past July helped me grow as a leader within Acacia and the community. After meeting Acacians from across the country and comparing the differences between all our chapters is an experience that I will never forget. It was fun time meeting other brothers from all over to hear about how they joined Acacia and how each college campus is different in so many ways. Some chapters excel at certain things that other chapters struggle with and the outcome is that ALA gives everyone a chance to help each other as Brothers to figure out the best way to solve the issues within each chapter.

It was awesome hearing what other chapters do during the year that would benefit the Iowa State Chapter and other Brothers were equally amazed at how we accomplish our goals. For example, we have a professor dinner every semester and it’s a clever way to know your professor on a personal level. A Brother from the Vermont Colony was interested having this type of event started at his chapter in the future. Human service is Acacia’s motto and it is our goal to help each other and then that benefits the rest of the community. Overall, one huge benefit of attending ALA is because we all come together as leaders of each chapter to better Acacia Fraternity as a Greek organization and at each local chapter.

Jeremy Davis #969 – International President and Iowa State Chapter Advisor

The Acacia International Fraternity held the 12th Biennial Darold W. Larson Acacia Leadership Academy at the Indiana Chapter House in Bloomington, Indiana from July 26-30, 2017. Throughout the course of the leadership academy, 84 undergraduate brothers representing Acacia’s chapters from across the United States and Canada discussed best practices for chapter operations, recruitment, officer leadership, and more. Additionally, Brothers participated in a low-ropes course that focused on team building and overcoming challenges. From keynote workshops to break-out sessions facilitated by alumni volunteers, the undergraduate Brothers were provided with a significant amount of knowledge each were able to bring-back to our chapter to help improve our chapter’s operations.

While the undergraduate Brothers are participating in the Acacia Leadership Academy activities, the Acacia Fraternity Foundation Board of Directors also met for its annual meeting. The AFF is working to enhance its support of educational programs offered by the Acacia International Fraternity through its educational grant support of Cornerstones membership development programming, which includes new member and on-going membership education materials and activities, programs such as the annual Lee W. Kearney Venerable Dean’s Summit, and the Acacia Leadership Academy, along with several scholarships annually to deserving undergraduate brothers.

At the conclusion of a great week of educational sessions, workshops, and athletic events (along with meetings for the AFF Board of Directors and International Council), the Acacia Leadership Academy concluded with a great evening of brotherhood and fellowship at the closing dinner on Saturday evening

Harold Zarr #814 – Alumni Board President and AFF Investment Committee Chair

The Acacia Leadership Academy and the International Conclave (held on opposite years) are the two premier educational events of the Fraternity. In 2015, the Acacia Fraternity Foundation adopted a proposal put forward by Harold Zarr to create a $2,000,000 endowed fund that would serve as a perpetual source of funding for these two events. Acacia has long had a well-earned reputation as the Fraternity that can do more with less than any other Fraternity. This endowed fund is designed to provide the Fraternity with a perpetual source of funds that would ensure that these two events provide an educational experience second to none, and will provide training to the future leaders of our Fraternity and the world beyond.

Once this endowed account is fully funded, it is expected to generate earnings of approximately $60,000 per year. These earnings (and not the principal of the endowed fund)

will enable the International Staff to develop and deliver an annual educational experience that simply cannot be duplicated elsewhere. But to make this possible, we need the financial assistance of the alumni of the Fraternity. What we are asking is that our alumni commit to donating $50 per month for sixty months ($600 per year, or $3,000 over five years – all tax-deductible) to an account set up at the Acacia Fraternity Foundation for exactly that purpose. Acacia currently has just over 22,000 living alumni and we are asking that 670 alumni Brothers (only 3% of our total alumni, or about 20 alumni Brothers from each chapter) agree to support a project that is vital to developing the future leaders of the Fraternity. I am supporting this project, and I hope that 19 other Iowa State alumni will agree to join with me in contributing to this endowed fund.

If you believe, as I do, that this is a project that is deserving of being funded, please set up an automatic payment from your checking or savings account to the ALA Endowed Fund by visiting the Acacia website at acacia.org and selecting the Foundation tab on the top right-hand side of the page. If you prefer, you can simply mail a check made out to the Acacia Fraternity Foundation – account #345.x. Mail your check to Darold Larson, 8777 Purdue Road, Suite 225, Indianapolis, Indiana, 46268. Let’s demonstrate that Iowa State alumni recognize that an investment in our undergraduate Brothers is a sound investment in the future of our Fraternity!

Dyllin Mumme Interns at the Johnson Space Center

Throughout the summer I was encouraged to do lectures, trainings, and tours. They ranged from trainings on how to improve communication for the ISS, to lectures from Ellen Ochoa, Norm Knight, Gene Kranz and more, to tours of the NBL, Mission Control and many of the other buildings at JSC. I also did on the job trainings in the ISS Mission Control room with five console positions four being in the FCR. I even volunteered to work the Fourth of July; sat with OPS PLAN and listen to my childhood hero Peggy Whitson communicate with MCC-H and watch her work onboard the ISS. These opportunities allowed me to be in the environments the users of my group’s tools would be in. I received first hand exposure into how they used the tools and how it impacted their daily routine. I now can put myself in the shoes of my customer and teammates and see how things might affect them and see things from their perspective.

This summer I had the pleasure to work on six different projects; IPV Tablet Testing, Procedure CR distribution work audit, Wiki history page for the Ops Division, Operations Nomenclature Database Review, Assist with XML procedures, and Incorporation of OLAF into existing processes. The most challenging for me personally was the wiki history page. I had no prior experience with wiki pages, I didn’t even know what it was, I had to not only learn how wiki text works but also create a page, templates, forms, and test versions of each of those while still balancing my other projects and tasks. However that was not the whole project, I also worked with members and former members of the Operations Division to populate an Invented Here list, which I would display all of its information on the wiki page.

Luckily for me I am not shy and when I needed help wiki page experts in CO and CX made time to assist me with the actual capabilities wiki

pages had and answered questions I had. This may be only a wiki page to most people, but this is one of the things of which I am most proud. Not only is the page up and running, but I added the capabilities for the Invented Here list to be updated as new inventions are created even after my internship ended.

For IPV Tablet Testing I worked closely with two other members of my group as a team to determine formatting issues with the windows tablet version of IPV. We collected screenshots and compared the mobile friendly version of the tool to the current configuration being used and

took what we found to the testing lead and set them to the developer to fix them. For the Procedure CR distribution work audit I talked about it briefly above, but did not explain the scope of this audit. It was a CRW excel report that included every reviewer for five missions, specifically there was 26,764 entries to verify. After filtering and sorting for irregularities and incorrectly assigned CR’s, I output 250 feedback items to the SODF Manager. This included a broken out list of reviewer based on Role Label which would allow for a quick viewing to identify incorrect reviewers and a list that could be used as a baseline for future CR distribution work audits.

With OpNom database review, I worked with the OpNoms lead to archive outdated or duplicated OpNoms and submit the CR through CRW. From an excel sheet pulled in November, 2016 with 5,282 lines of OpNoms, I created a duplicates list of 2,141 entries and submitted 145 lines in the first CR. For Assisting with XML procedures I took a PAT training, ESA XML training, and worked with XMetal and old procedures to learn the skills needed to write a procedure to fit the standards for XML format. Lastly with Incorporation of OLAF into existing processes I learned how it would work and its full capabilities. It would reduce the manual work and human error in writing and changing procedures for my group, international partners, book managers, and anyone else that change procedures.

This summer has taught me many valuable lessons, such as how to communicate with fewer words. How to work as a team without being in the same building or even same country. Determining how much time you actually have to make a decision and how to put myself in the shoes of others when working on products for them. Most importantly everything I learned this summer I will use to enhance my educational experiences and leadership positions.

Senior SpotlightJakob Croghan - #1129

My name is Jakob Croghan, and I will be graduating this December with my Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering, after four and a half years at Iowa State. Following the completion of my Bachelor’s, I will be pursuing a Master of Science in Industrial Engineering with an emphasis in advanced manufacturing. Ideally, I will be graduating again, this time with my Master’s, by May 2019.

Over the last four-and-a-half years, I have had numerous different opportunities to grow both as a person and as a leader. The one that has had the biggest impact on my life is joining the men of ACACIA. Coming to Iowa State my freshman year from the small town of Manning, Iowa, I knew I was going to be in for a little culture shock. That fall semester, my roommate, a member of ACACIA, was there to go through it all with me. He turned

out to be such an influence on me that I started to become interested in going Greek and, specifically, joining ACACIA. That interest quickly turned into a reality, and on March 23rd, 2014, I became a proud ACACIAN. Since that time, I have accomplished a number of different things with the help of my brothers. My first ever Homecoming, I was elected as a Lawn Display Co-chair, where I helped a pirate ship come to life in Greekland. I’ve also had the opportunity to serve as our Chapter’s Lipsync Co-chair, Secretary, and Junior Dean, working each time to make the position and our Chapter better. However, my proudest achievement from my time with ACACIA so far has been serving as our Chapter’s Venerable Dean. It brings me great joy to be able to represent the outstanding young men of our Chapter, and at the end of my time with ACACIA, I hope that they will be just as proud of me as I am of the work they do.

While ACACIA is a big impact in my college life, it has also inspired (and in many cases encouraged) me to become involved in other areas of campus. Shortly after joining ACACIA, I ran for and was elected to the Student Government, where I served as a senator for the College of Engineering. During my year-long term, I was a part of a number of different projects, but the most memorable was the decision to change our name from Government of the Student Body (GSB) to Student Government (StuGov), to make the organization more approachable to students. I also became involved with my college by volunteering with Engineer’s Week, and my department as both a research and a teaching assistant for the Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering (IMSE) department. Both of these opportunities enabled me to connect with and learn from my professors in a way that I would not have experienced otherwise.

Whether it be tailgating at the football games, playing pool in the basement, or cheering brothers on in their many pursuits, my time at Iowa State and with ACACIA has been filled with so many positive memories that I’m not sure if I am ready for it to come to an end. However, I do have some advice that I’d like to offer to my brothers while they still have opportunities to take advantage of it: Always be willing to challenge yourself and step out of your comfort zone – you’ll be a better man for it; don’t limit yourself to activities within our chapter – each new experience provides you with something that will make both you and our chapter

better; and above all, make the most out of living in the house – when’s the next time that you’ll live with 28 of your brothers?!

Aditya Navale - #1130

My name is Aditya Navale and this upcoming semester I will be graduating with a degree in Physics and geology with a minor in mathematics. After graduation, I plan on attending law school and pursuing a career in either intellectual property law or public policy. I was born in India and later immigrated to the U.S when I was nine. My family moved around often and then eventually settled down in West Des Moines. Upon graduating from high school, I later came to Ames and was allowed early admittance in the summer semester at Iowa State in the APEX program. There incoming freshman such as myself got a head start on college before our peers. APEX did much for me in preparing me as a student however I felt as though I was missing the personal aspect of college.

At first, I was apprehensive about the idea of joining a fraternity due to the image it has and all that I have heard. However, I know from my

experience in high school that if I don’t step out of my comfort zone I would graduate feeling as though I could have done more. I toured a few chapter houses but never felt as though I clicked with any in particular. The fall semester had come and I still had not joined a fraternity. Then later I went to the fall fraternity recruitment event and met Joe Webb; He seemed earnest and sincere and at first

I didn’t think too much of him or Acacia however I was intrigued. He later invited me to the Acacia chapter house where the men were having a cookout. Initially I felt intimidated showing up by myself to a group of men who were so close to one another. The men of Acacia were quick to quell my fears with their hospitality. I never felt like I belonged anywhere else besides Acacia specifically because of the men in the house. Joe later extended me a bid and I was quick to accept as I signed it on the spot.

When I signed my bid, I did not fully understand the weight of the decision I was making. It was more than joining an organization, I was joining a family. I later discovered what Acacia had to offer for me when I was placed in roles of leadership within the house that I never would have been able to attain as a regular student at Iowa State. As treasurer, I brought transparency to the chapter’s finances; As the new member educator, I was able to aide and facilitate new recruits into what it means to be an Acacian. Then there was the development that I can’t put on a resume such as how I had developed socially, gained confidence and bolstered my self-efficacy. Outside of my chapter I was able to serve as the community service coordinator on Greek Week central where I was able to organize events such as the Polar Bear Plunge where the Greek community raised $377,132.94 for the Special Olympics of Iowa!

Having reached this point in my college career I try to reflect on my past. However, sometimes I struggle on topics such as what my favorite memory was but I know the majority of them included being a part of Acacia. From opening gifts during secret Santa, to playing video games until 2 AM with brothers, or building a slide down the stairs using mattresses. All I know for sure is that without having joined Acacia there would have been a huge piece of my college experience missing.

Aditya Navale - #1130

My name is Aditya Navale and this upcoming semester I will be graduating with a degree in Physics and geology with a minor in mathematics. After graduation, I plan on attending law school and pursuing a career in either intellectual property law or public policy. I was born in India and later immigrated to the U.S when I was nine. My family moved around often and then eventually settled down in West Des Moines. Upon graduating from high school, I later came to Ames and was allowed early admittance in the summer semester at Iowa State in the APEX program. There incoming freshman such as myself got a head start on college before our peers. APEX did much for me in preparing me as a student however I felt as though I was missing the personal aspect of college.

At first, I was apprehensive about the idea of joining a fraternity due to the image it has and all that I have heard. However, I know from my experience in high school that if I don’t step out of my comfort zone I would graduate feeling as though I could have done more. I toured a few chapter houses but never felt as though I clicked with any in particular. The fall semester had come and I still had not joined a fraternity. Then later I went to the fall fraternity recruitment event and met Joe Webb; He seemed earnest and sincere and at first I didn’t think too much of him or Acacia however I was intrigued. He later invited me to the Acacia chapter house where the men were having a cookout. Initially I felt intimidated showing up by myself to a group of men who were so close to one another. The men of Acacia were quick to quell my fears with their hospitality. I never felt like I belonged anywhere else besides Acacia specifically because of the men in the house. Joe later extended me a bid and I was quick to accept as I signed it on the spot.

When I signed my bid, I did not fully understand the weight of the decision I was making. It was more than joining an organization, I was joining a family. I later discovered what Acacia had to offer for me when I was placed in roles of leadership within the house that I never would have been able to attain as a regular student at Iowa State. As treasurer, I brought transparency to the chapter’s finances; As the new member educator, I was able to aide and facilitate new recruits into what it means to be an Acacian. Then there was the development that I can’t put on a resume such as how I had developed socially, gained confidence and bolstered my self-efficacy. Outside of my chapter I was able to serve as the community service coordinator on Greek Week central where I was able to organize events such as the Polar Bear Plunge where the Greek community raised $377,132.94 for the Special Olympics of Iowa!

Having reached this point in my college career I try to reflect on my past. However, sometimes I struggle on topics such as what my favorite memory was but I know the majority of them included being a part of Acacia. From opening gifts during secret Santa, to playing video games until 2 AM with

brothers, or building a slide down the stairs using mattresses. All I know for sure is that without having joined Acacia there would have been a huge piece of my college experience missing.

Devin Shields - #1135

Devin Shields will be graduating this December with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. During the fall career fair, Devin hopes to obtain an internship starting directly after graduation. He will be taking the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) this semester, and is not sure if he wants to pursue a master’s degree in Materials Science.

Devin joined Acacia in the fall of 2014 after spending a year attending a community college. He moved into the Acacia house during his second semester and continued to live there for the next three years. He was involved in the house by serving as the Junior and Senior Steward, (the person who takes care of the food and fixes things). On campus Devin is involved in solid state chemistry research, the chemistry club, and the glass blowing club.

Some of his favorite memories of Acacia are: his pledge class trip camping which happened to be scheduled during an early winter blizzard where eight of us crammed into one 4-person tent, having an older member try to teach him how to roller blade on the rough street in the wee hours of the night, and going all out to set up Christmas lights to the extent of climbing to the very top of the pine tree south of the house making it Iowa State’s largest decorated tree.

Ryan Zumbach - #1131

Ryan Zumbach is entering his final semester at Iowa State University and with Acacia Fraternity as an active member. He will graduate with a B.S. Industrial Design degree with a minor in Entrepreneurial Studies this December of 2017. He is returning to Iowa State after an internship with Procter & Gamble as a front end innovation designer in the Fem Care department. After graduation, he will be deciding between a full time offer with Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati, Ohio, or pursue an industrial design position with a product design consultancy firm.

Ryan joined Acacia Fraternity during his second semester at Iowa State after feeling uninvolved his first semester. He joined Acacia because he knew he met a group of mature leaders who were a part of the Greek Community for the right reasons. Some his favorite memories include the new member education process learning about the history of Acacia and the life of Pythagoras, Acacia Fraternity’s mentor. This time of reflective thinking and deep

conversations with other members of the fraternity refocused the way he views himself and others in pursuit of our values – knowledge, virtue, and truth. Other memories that top his list include the spring break trip of 2015 to Arizona to visit alumni, attending the Acacia National Conclave in Nashville, attending the Acacia Leadership Academy at the University of Indiana, spending a summer in Ames as a recruitment chairman (and buying a hot tub for the front porch with Ben Dirks), all of the pick-up basketball games at Lied, painting the downstairs apartment room to make it look fresh and then living there for with Tanner and Roshan and Grant, starting a sunglasses company with Wicitra, building a mascot named Rooty the Root Beer Float for our philanthropy, taking Stewart’s Wine, Beer & Spirits class with other Acacians, and the countless hours spending time at the house. The list goes on and on, but we’ll have to cut Ryan off there.

Some significant accomplishments Ryan has experienced with the chapter in 2014, receiving the New Member of the Year Award in 2014, winning Homecoming Week as the Homecoming Co-chair in 2014, recruiting 14 men to join the chapter in 2015, and winning an intramural basketball league.

Significant accomplishments within the university include being inducted into the Cardinal Key Honor Society, the Dean’s List six semesters, ISU Academic Recognition Scholarship, selected to attend the Okoboji Entrepreneurial Institute, study abroad semester at Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand, a co- op with a design firm in Austin, Texas, ISU Innovation Pitch Competition 1st place with brother Wicitra for our business idea as well as an 8th place overall finish at the Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization National Business Pitch Competition. Ryan also played on the ISU Men’s Club Golf Team for a semester and has been active in the Industrial Design Society of America as well as serving as a peer mentor and teaching assistant for first year design students.

Ryan’s advice for the young active members and new members of Acacia is to go out of the way to meet as many people as possible because the connections and friendships you make in college will shape your future with opportunity! Be yourself, always challenge stereotypes, surround yourself with successful people, and travel. The more diverse experiences you have at a young age will help you grow and learn at a fast rate.

Acacia Homecoming Tailgate

WHEN

WHERE

Saturday, October 28th , 2017

T ime : TBD

Acac ia A lumni and the ir Fami l ies

Southeast of Jack Tr ice Stad ium

Near Univers ity B lvd

Tent 29 N

The Iowa State Chapter of Acac ia w i l l be host ing a ta i lgate just outs ide Jack Tr ice Stad ium

Stop by the day of the game to en joy food , beverag-es, meet w ith fe l low a lums, and to prepare for an Iowa State v ictory !

WHAT

WHO

august 2017 | issue #81 capital campaign pledges...

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