Housing Corporation - 2001 News & Meeting Archives

January 2001

House Update

by Phil Adler `98, continuous improvement plan chairman

The house is moving along fairly well. We had water problems again this year, although not nearly the magnitude we saw with the "Beta Flood of 99". The pipe drains from the second floor showers sprung two separate leaks that had to be fixed and the main lines outside the house under the back apartment froze and had to be repaired.

On a positive note, the undergrads were successful in completing the basement storage room project that was part of the CIP. Some of you may have called it the dungeon, others the dragons den, it is the empty room in the basement with the fireplace. Thanks to Mark Valchine for supervising the construction of a double storage room. The back storage will be for ritual items belonging to the chapter. The front storage will be for members living in the house to keep large items such as tools or sports equipment.

Both the furnace in the back apartment and in the main part of the house have been replaced with newer and more efficient models. Thanks to Bob Hempton and his assistant for assisting in this potentially costly investment. As a result, we are saving an estimated $100-$150 per month just in the 2 months they have been working!

This years fire inspection was better than usual. The fire inspectors had some suggestions, but found no major violations. We will be looking into fire escape ladders for all rooms as well as better escape routes over the summer.

At this point in time, the chapter house will be closed for the summer due to lack of interested tenants. All members will be moving personal items from the house even if they are living in it the next school year. No summer activities other than CIP projects are planned at this time.

Finally, any brother interested in helping with CIP projects this summer, please contact Tom Olver or myself. We will be needing individuals on specific dates (to be announced) in order to renovate and adjust the third floor plan.

Potential projects include:
closing off of the 4th floor attic area (fire inspection recommendation),
moving formal room to the third floor,
adjusting the walls in the bedrooms to provide for better living space and storage.

All of these projects are pending funding, approval from the city building inspector, and volunteers able to help with labor. All interested individuals are able to stay at the house. Any interested volunteers in the housing treasury position please contact me for details and responsibilities.

_kai_,

Phil Adler, EG 206

Brothers are invited to help with improvements that will be made to improve the living conditions in the Chapter house beginning this summer. Your help is needed! You can help by giving of your time and talent with the physical work, or by contributing money to the cause.

The following is a list of items needed for the improvements we would like to try to make this summer. If you would like to donate a specific item, please send a check for the amount of the item to: Epsilon Gamma Housing Corporation, PO Box 151, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48804. Please indicate in the "memo" field of the check the name of the item you would like to sponsor.

Third floor:

• $ 510 Exterior Doors (to replace old patio door).

• $ 312 Interior French Doors for entrance to Chapter room.

• $ 500 Construction materials to close off attic, and reconfigure bedrooms with closets.

• $ 108 Pocket door for bedroom closet.

• $1,526 Carpet for Chapter room.

Second floor:

• $ 510 Exterior Doors (to replace old patio door).

• $ 204 New window for Study room.

• $ 217 Door with window to Study room.

If you would like to contribute to these efforts, but do not wish to sponsor a specific item, gifts of any amount are very much appreciated. In addition to the items listed, we hope to make progress toward beginning to furnish the new Chapter and Study rooms. Together, we can help ensure our Chapter house is the best fraternity house at Central Michigan!

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June 29, 2001

Photos from the EGHC Meeting and Work Weekend

Andy and Joe	Steve Grenus and Bob Hempton Work on the Furnace	Bubba Checking out the new wall on 3rd floor	Enclosing the attic on the 3rd floor
Framing new French doors for the formal room on 3rd floor	View from the hallway to the renovated bedrooms on 3rd floor	Jamie Riley and Joe Alexander	One of the new bedroom closets on 3rd floor
New door for bedroom #2 on the third floor	New wall in the 3rd floor formal room	Tom Olver on a ladder	The opening between bedrooms 2 & 3 on the third floor
Phil Adler and Will Hilliker with a saw	Steve Grenus and Will Hilliker	Will and Joe in the shed

July 15, 2001

Epsilon Gamma's 20/20 Vision: Housing Corporation Annual Meeting Highlights

By Tom Olver `98 EGHC President

LAKE ISABELLA, MICH. – The Epsilon Gamma Housing Corporation held its annual meeting on Friday, June 29, and reaffirmed its commitment to Epsilon Gamma’s 20/20 vision. The 20/20 vision is the result of an eleven-month strategic planning initiative, chaired by Ken Breen ’89, which began in November 1999.

Three high-level themes were contained in the strategic planning initiative report: 1) build a firm foundation, 2) initiate a continuous improvement plan (CIP) for the present house and 3) build a grand new chapter house. Work began immediately to restructure the organization and align the goals of the organization to achieve the major goal of building and maintaining a new fraternity house.

Phase one of the continuous improvement plan (CIP) began during the annual work weekend, June 29 – July 1. The project includes a thorough renovation of the third floor, including the addition of a 24”x42” closet to the northeast bedroom, removal of a five-foot section of wall between the middle and southeast bedrooms (creating one large two-man room), a 4’x4’ closet for the two-man room, complete rewiring of the electrical system and a new formal room on the west side of the third floor. The formal room will be separated from the residential areas with the addition of a wall on the south side and French doors on the north side of the chimney. New carpet and furniture will be added and a casement window and fire escape ladder will replace the sliding glass door and deck.

Funding for the project has been supplied through the generous support of alumni and by proceeds from the annual Epsilon Gamma Housing Corporation golf outing. The estimated completion date for bedroom renovations is mid-August, mid-September for the formal room.

In addition to approving the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, reviewing financial statements, creating an ad hoc committee to review organizational by-laws and discussing leasing issues for 2002-03, four directors were elected to serve three year terms on the board. Directors include Steven M. Grenus ’88, Christopher P. Makowski ’89, Phillip J. Adler ’98 and Thomas C. Olver ’98.

Grenus, who has served the chapter as an advisor since 1988, was named communications director for the 2001-02 year. Makowski, former president of the Epsilon Gamma Alumni Association, will serve as activities director. Adler, active on the housing corporation and advising team since his graduation, is vice president. Olver, previously the fund-raising director, was elected president of the corporation. “I am incredibly optimistic about the future of our organization,” Olver said, “the men who have stepped up to lead the charge for Epsilon Gamma are dedicated and motivated brothers.”

Olver is looking to fill two vacancies on the corporation board: fundraising director and treasurer. Interested brothers, parents or friends of Beta Theta Pi should contact him at (800) 800-2382, ext 235 or tom.olver@betathetapi.org .

The Epsilon Gamma Housing Corporation, incorporated in 1987, was restructured in December 1999 to include the previous functions of the Epsilon Gamma Alumni Association.

October 13, 2001

News from the EGHC

By Tom Olver `98, EGHC President

Have you ever tried a Google search on the Internet? In preparation for writing this article on our progress with Epsilon Gamma’s Strategic Planning Initiative (SPI) and our “20/20 Vision” project, I decided to do some exploring.

The words “strategic planning initiative” solicited 475,000 responses. It seems as though everyone has delved into strategic planning at some level. Indiana University’s School of medicine has a strategic plan, so does the Board of the American Horse Shows Association, Kentucky’s Inspector General’s office, the Southeast Michigan Community Alliance (SEMCA) and Florida’s Citrus County Schools.

So, what exactly is strategic planning? SEMCA’s definition: “a proactive means of positioning an organization or system to achieve and maintain excellence in an environment of dramatic trends and transitions. The essence of strategic planning is crafting long-term strategies that, when followed, will favorably position the organization to thrive in a future rationally anticipated through the analysis of internal and external trends and issues.”

The Center for Simplified Strategic Planning in Southport, Conn., advises, “Success in today’s business environment requires that a company’s leaders have the ability to create a vision of the organization’s future direction as well as the course it needs to take to get there.” Epsilon Gamma’s “20/20 Vision” is the result of an 11-month strategic planning initiative, undertaken by Ken Breen ’89. The high-level themes include: build a firm foundation, initiate a continuous improvement plan (CIP) for the present house and build a grand new chapter house.

Through the planning process, the Epsilon Gamma Housing Corporation has become more than just the custodian of the physical plant; its board of directors has been charged with the humbling responsibility of defining the course that will assist us in achieving our vision.

The foundation is being poured. Through active recruitment and training of board members, chapter advisors and undergraduate officers, we are building a solid base. Three chapter advisors attended training sessions this year and five undergraduate leaders were provided values-based learning opportunities.

The continuous improvement plan is underway. Thousands of dollars and hundreds of man-hours were expended renovating the third floor this summer, improving the quality of life in the chapter house. The formal room has been moved upstairs, including a new window and attractive French doors. Bedrooms have been remodeled to enhance the living space, making it more conducive to the needs of undergraduate residents. The entire east end of the floor was rewired to accommodate phone and cable access, and provide a safer environment. The EGHC board will discuss plans for the next round of renovations at its October 13 meeting (9:00 am, 814 S. Main, Mt. Pleasant, Mich.)

Approximately 13 months from now, the EGHC will pay off the first set of notes on the house. Shortly thereafter, the Baird Fund loan will be repaid. It is vital to begin preparing for our next steps, ensuring the long-term viability of the current structure and planning for that “grand new chapter house.”

Payments for 2001-02 have been streaming in on a regular basis. We have collected 62.4% of fall revenues and 39% of past-due balances. Thanks to EGHC Vice President Phil Adler’s undying efforts, the corporation stands on solid financial ground. Lease signing for 2002-03 will begin soon, and we hope to have 15 signed leases by Oct. 13.

All brothers are welcome to attend the upcoming board meeting in Mt. Pleasant, and encouraged to participate in homecoming. I thank you for your continued support of the Epsilon Gamma Housing Corporation and appreciate the opportunity to serve as your president.

October 13, 2001

Meeting Minutes

Epsilon Gamma Housing Corporation Meeting

Minutes - October 13, 2001