AEZ Chapter History - Spring 1998
On January 25, 1998 the group officially gained Petitioning Group status, and began its second semester on the UTD campus. With a new set of officers and much enthusiasm, the petitioning group continued its work toward chartering. The new officers and advisors were:
President
Luci Wong
VP COLD
Jay Cordaro
VP Membership
Christian Sparks
VP Service
Robyn Jordan
Secretary
Christine Shek
Treasurer
Jason Mercer
University Advisor (Student Activities Office)
Patty Atchley
Fraternity Advisor (SMU AO Chapter Alumni)
Michael Hayes
Scouting Advisor (GSUSA Representative)
Amanda Owens
University Advisor (University Police Chief)
Colleen Ridge
Advisory Chair (University Police and BP Chapter Alumni)
Roger Stearns
Methodist Minister and BP Chapter Alumni
Jeff Warrick
During this semester, Treasurer Jason Mercer set up the group's bank account. The account was set up at Community Credit Union just down the street from the university on Campbell Road. The beginning balance was $325.00.
Membership Vice President Christian Sparks began the first planned fellowship program with a weekly movie night at the Waterview Park clubhouse. The group also held a tradition of going to supper together each Sunday after the meetings.
Four new brothers joined the interest group this semester. They were: Deirdre Fisher, Brian Halvorson, Leigh Anne Hutchison, and Poev Seu. The namesake for this semester was Capt. Steve Bettley of the UTD Police Department.
The biggest step forward made by the group was the service program, which was developed by Vice President of Service Robyn Jordan. The projects done by the chapter included:
Campus Escorts: An ongoing project with the UTD Police Department that offered accompaniment for students to walk to their cars at night upon request.
Visiting ill children at Children's Medical Center (this was everyone's favorite): We went and made valentine decorations and cards with the children staying in the hospital over Valentine's Day.
UTD Career Day: Made "wish packs" for the Make-a-Wish foundation.
UTD Health Fair: Handed out home inkless-fingerprinting kits for parents to fingerprint their children at home.
Work Day at BSA Camp Constantin: This was a joint project with Alpha Omicron. Members helped rebuild the dining hall and enlarge a campsite.
Buckner Children's Carnival: Ran a bobbing-for-apples booth. Very fun!!
Cleaned Trash along Floyd Road: Helped in a campus/neighborhood effort to clean up trash alongside Floyd Road near the entrance to UTD.
Section-wide Garage Teardown: Tore down a condemned garage for a low-income elderly woman so that she wouldn't have to pay someone to have it done.
The first annual spring banquet was also held. The menu was potluck style. Kelly Severns did a wonderful job of coordinating and playing Master of Ceremonies for the banquet. Perhaps one of the most unique things that we did was to invite family to the banquet. There were around forty people present (impressive for a chapter of 12).
The first awards were given out at this banquet:
Outstanding Active
Christine Shek
Outstanding Service Active
Christian Sparks
Outstanding Pledge
Leigh Anne Hutchison
Outstanding Service Pledge
Deirdre Fisher