GAMMA CHAPTER : FOUNDED 1921

Matthew Van Egeren

President - Alpha Kappa Lambda

Senior - History

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

January 2010

 

Spring semester has arrived, and with it, the introduction of the New Gamma.  Construction continues at an incredible pace; I get more excited every time I pass by to see the progress.  The vision of the New Gamma which the Actives and Alumni share does not end with the brand new house, though. 

 

In the week before school began the Actives, New Members, and many Alumni met at the temporary house on Ohio Street to piece together the programs we want to be available to our members for years to come. During what will be known as the  ‘Iliniwek Retreat’, occurring before each semester, Actives and New Members participated in exercises in team building and leadership, and attended lectures on leadership and business structure and management.  Alumni members Chris Disher (’77), Richard Van Egeren (’78), and John Evans (’72), each a successful individual in his own respective field, helped organize the event and contributed by sharing experiences in the professional world.  Their knowledge was extensive, and we were able to gain much insight on subjects like running a small or large corporation, and working on teams and committees in the business world.

 

During the week we also welcomed our campus advisors to our retreat.  Professor Steve Hall (’82) gave us an entire day of his time to give us a unique connection into campus organizations, student organizations and other resources for the house and its members.  Jack Peirce (’65), CFO of the University’s Alumni Association also stopped by to help us find resources for career development on campus.  Dave Bagger (’84), Assistant Director of the U of I Campus Recreations  came for a few hours to give us information concerning the athletics and service programs that the university sponsors.

 

The strengthening of the Alumni network is being felt in a very positive way.  It’s great to see our Alumni and how proud they are of the house and the Actives, as well as take an active role in the restructuring of the chapter.  On that note we have planned for a special guest speaker, Jerry Salzman (’58).  It’s not that often we have the CEO of a major company grace the house with his presence and volunteer to give a lecture or presentation.  I am definitely looking forward to this.

 

 

Fall 2009

 

As another semester passes we come closer to the grand opening of our much anticipated New Gamma Chapter House. With this new house the charm of the old house and the memories created within will not be forgotten. For now the actives are making the best of our temporary housing in Urbana and the distances we are have to travel to class every day. The location of our newly renovated house with all new living space will be just one of the many changes we will greatly appreciate next year.
 
Speaking for all Active Members, I can say that we have renewed excitement and optimism for the future of each of us and the chapter as a whole each time we pass 4th and Daniel. We know it is not only the structure of the house which is changing, but also our enhanced approach to leading men to academic and interpersonal excellence.  We owe much of our future success to the great alumni network. We feel a renewal of the bonds which we have with our past, present, and future brothers, and an enthusiasm for the incredible range of new programs we will have as resources for our members on topics such as leadership training and scholarship. Each of us knows we owe a great deal to the Chapter for molding us into the men we are today.
 
We cannot contain our anticipation for the strengthening of the programs which we have utilized in the process of our own creation, and can see that through the bettering of these programs, even better educated leaders, scholars and men of character will be coming through the Gamma Chapter of Alpha Kappa Lambda in the future.