The Cornerstone
Zeta Chi Chapter - Delta Tau Delta - 2013 Fall Edition
1st Annual JDRF Sports Challenge
Alumni Homecoming Dinner
Friday, Oct 25, 2013, 07:00 PM
Delta Tau Delta, Fraternity Drive, Hattiesburg, MS
2013 Southern Miss Greek Awards
(Left - Right : Tyler Albin, Jeff Keyseear, Chase Wilson, Sid Gonsoulin, Shawn Potter, Jarred Trammel, Clint Ellzey)
The 2013 Annual Southern Miss Greek Awards, held late in the spring semester, were an especially proud moment for Zeta Chi. Chapter Advisor Sid Gonsoulin and Zeta Chi Alumni Shawn Potter were both initiated into the Southern MIss Greek Hall of Fame. Sid's acceptance into this elite group is a unique accomplishment as membership is typically exclusive to Southern Miss graduates. Zeta Chi was recognized for outstanding GPA, Retention, Community Service and Philanthropic Donation.-Tyler Albin, President
Alumni Spotlight: Robert Goss ZX 11
Continuing Zeta Chi's initiative to visit and share life stories across generations of brothers, Founding Father Robert Goss was chosen as the Fall 2013 spotlight. As you may know, Robert's son Luke joined Zeta Chi in Fall 2012, the first "Father-Son Legacy" in the chapter's history. In father-son spirit, Alumni Chairman Austen Davidson commissioned Luke to catch up with his father in the following interview.
So, Dad, what are you currently doing in your spare time?
Golfing, following Southern Miss sports, authoring articles for professional journals from time to time. Professionally, I work in the supply chain for Halliburton, running the Corporate Procurement & Contracting team.
What can you tell us about your family life?
I have been married for 21 years to my awesome wife Sherri and I am proud father of two sons who seem to have good heads on their shoulders.
How do you view your lifelong relationship with Zeta Chi and Delt?
After I graduated in 1987, I sort of dropped off the grid for awhile getting traction in life, starting a family and career. Over the past 10-15 years I have stopped by the fraternity shelter at Southern Miss at least once per year, sometimes more often. I have made a priority of not just visiting the university for athletic events but also initiating contact with the young brotherhood. Its never too late to reach out. Our commitment can and should be enduring.
What is your favorite memory of being a Delt?
That would be a Tri-Delt tea party where the ladies were playing the piano and singing for us. I recall this memory not because I was amazed by their playing, singing and beauty but because my fellow brother Roy Butts got on the piano and played a Journey song that sounded awesome. All the girls surrounded the piano in awe. From then on, the ice was broke between this well established Southern Miss Sorority and the new-comer (just founded) Zeta Chi Chapter of Delta Tau Delta. We had some especially amazing Founding Fathers.
-Luke Goss
Southern Miss Staff Cookout
Executive Member Spotlight
Jarred Trammel is Zeta Chi's Vice President of Recruitment and has been working diligently since gaining the position after Kiet Duong stepped down in the spring. Jarred is a sophomore polymer science major from Mandeville, Louisiana and was initiated Fall 2012 in the Gamma Eta class. In the Spring, he did an outstanding job as the community service chairman and brings that same passion into recruitment. He consistently and persistently reminds the active chapter that recruitment is 365 days a year. He helped secure a 14 man new member class of high-quailty young men that will aspire to be the type of leader that Jarred has been for Zeta Chi. Jarred is pushing hard for over a 10+ man recruitment class in the Spring and work is being put in daily to make this happen. Zeta Chi is on the rise and will continue to grow and evolve.
Fall 2013 "Gamma Iota" New Member Class
(front row left - right) Michael McCarty, Darry DeLaune, Jonathan Lawler, Devin LeBlanc, Kyle Brooks, Andres Trevino, Justin Simmons, Grant Gamble
(back row left- right) Michael Barlow, Tyler Wolanski, Brandon Morrison, Ryan Bolanos, Cory Schweitzer
Zeta Chi Chapter welcomed 14 new members home this Fall. This class has the potential to be just as strong as any and we are very excited to call them brothers.
Initiation is scheduled for 8pm November 16, 2013 at the Shelter.
Administrative Member Spotlight
New Member Spotlight
Jonathan Lawler is the son of Elizabeth Broome and Roy Lawler. He graduated from Petal high school in 2012 and is currently a sophomore at Southern Miss majoring in Exercise Science with a 3.2 GPA. As Southern Miss is right down the road from Jonathan's hometown of Petal, he grew up with an admiration for the school. Southern is his "dream school" and he hopes to continue to accomplish big things here.
Jonathan has found another place to accomplish goals and here at Zeta Chi. Jonathan noted that the chapter as a whole was what attracted him to Delt and that there is a family atmosphere to be found here. Our work with the community, our standards of living, accountability for each other and our "Lives of Excellence" are all factors that brought Jonathon to Delt.
Delt also has a special place in Jonathan's heart because of Zeta Chi's Cystic Fibrosis philanthropy efforts, raising in excess of $400,000 dollars since our inception. In the first few days of his life Jonathan was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. Zeta Chi will continue to raise money for this cause in the hopes that there will soon be a cure for Cystic Fibrosis for brothers Steve Richards and Jonathan Lawler. Jonathan hopes to leave the chapter better than he found it, an exceptional example of Deltism.
Zeta Chi Reaches an Academic Milestone
-Trevor Mette, VP of Academic Affairs
Zeta Chi 2013 Sweetheart
The Brothers are Zeta Chi are honored to introduce the 2013 Zeta Chi Sweetheart, Erin Smith. Erin is a Senior Microbiology major and Chemistry minor. During her time at Southern Miss, Erin has been actively involved in Phi Mu Sorority since 2010, and works in the Biological Science department through undergraduate research and as a teaching assistant. Erin applied to the University of Mississippi School of Medicine for Fall 2014 and wants to pursue a career in Trauma Surgery or Emergency Medicine.
Erin reflects "Since the first day I came to Delt, I have loved all the guys I met. I can honestly say that some of them are my best friends. Being sweetheart this year has been one of the best experiences of college, and I was so honored that the guys I love so much gave me such a great honor. Getting to help with events like Bid Day and summer rush events has been so much fun, and I look forward to what the rest of my time as Sweetheart has in store".
Are You Connected?
The Road....
As you might have heard, Zeta Chi has joined a national membership education initiative called "The Road". Since Delta Tau Delta began encouraging individual chapters to participate in The Road, the Zeta Chi chapter has made special effort to create a diverse educational experience for the brothers. I am striving to make my Road Plan an enduring part of chapter culture. Brother Bentley Anderson held a "DISC" Personality Profile identification session early this Fall. This presentation was a great way to not only improve communication between brothers but also improve recruitment efforts. Also, a session on "Life Leadership" was given by Retired Lieutenant Colonel Fredrick Varnado. Mr. Varnado brought his tremendous amount of knowledge and experience to the Chapter and shared with us vital information about Life Leadership and how to relate it to Fraternity Life. I am very excited to be the Road Chairman and am thrilled as we work to finish the calendar year successfully.
If there is anything that may benefit the chapter with The Road, please contact me at Jacob.Fitzgerald@eagles.usm.edu. It would be an honor to have any alumni come and share life lessons and real worlds skills with our young brothers.
-Jacob Fitzgerald
Did you Know?
In addition, the Zeta Chi Development Fund enabled 8 young brothers to attend the 2013 Southern Division Conference in Orlando, FL. These funds are not endowed, meaning the future of this assistance relies on future gifts to the Development Fund and the success of other fundraising efforts.
Are you interested in sustaining or growing these opportunities?
Contact Sid Gonsoulin. All gifts are tax deductible.
Email: Sidney.Gonsoulin@usm.edu
Phone: 601-818-4121
From The Desk of Zeta Chi's Alumni Relations Chairman
I have enjoyed my service to Zeta Chi, helping organize events and creating communications like this. I sincerely hope that you will consider the upcoming homecoming events and The Ritual as opportunities to visit with the undergraduate brothers. For any of you who were active in Fall 2002, I have been told that a "Time Capsule" of sorts was buried behind The Shelter in 2002 and will be revealed after Friday's Homecoming dinner. That will definitely be an interesting blast from the past. As always, please contact me if I can be of assistance in any way.
-Austin Davidson
CONTACT US
Email: zetachidtd@gmail.com
Website: www.southernmissdelts.com
Location: 118 College Drive #5203 Hattiesburg, MS
Phone: 504-615-5174
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/zetachi.dtd/
Twitter: @zetachidelts