A Note from Brother Bluter!

Dear All,

For those of you that were able to attend the initiation event in Lexington yesterday, I know that all of you share my feelings that it was an incredible day!  The ceremony went smoothly and I know that no one who attended will ever forget the experience.  It was capped off by the "ponding" of Brother Oest when we returned to Granville... Jack had actually bragged that he had never been ponded on Friday night?  I am attaching a couple of pictures for your review.  I am sure that more will surface as the stories of this notable event of Lambda Deuteron's purpledom history spread.

The Nomination of Jack Oest '74

2006 Outstanding Advisor Nomination: Jack Oest

Chapter: Phi Gamma Delta

Name of Chapter Member Completing Nomination Form: Brian V. Collins

Phone: (716) 984-4174

E-mail: collin_b@denison.edu

Officers willing to serve as references: Christopher Tissue, Daniel McKegney, Cameron Ramsdell

Although Jack has been our official advisor for less than a year, his presence has already made a lasting impression. As president of the house it has been a privilege working with Jack and much, if not all of our success is owed to his time and dedication. His selfless attitude and persistency has challenged our house to be the best we can possibly be. As an alumni, Jack epitomizes the brothers of Phi Gamma Delta, consistently portraying the five values of our fraternity: friendship, knowledge, morality, service, and excellence.

I had the opportunity to meet Jack in December of 2005 when he traveled from his home in Chicago all the way to Granville to address our entire house. Jack prepared a 35 page document listing the necessary changes our cabinet needed to make in order to improve our standing within the Greek community both locally and nationally. His house address was not only well organized, but it was clear to all of our brothers that Jack was speaking from the heart.

Pride in a Greek organization comes almost natural to active members of a fraternity. However, it is very rare to find an alum as motivated and passionate as Jack. Myself and other members of the house speak with him at least three times a week and e-mail almost daily. He is relentless in his pursuit of excellence and continuously challenges us to succeed. Not only has he made a consistent effort to build relationships with all of the current members of the house, but he has also bridged a long time gap with other FIJI alumni. In no time at all Jack’s entire pledge class as well as many other alumni will be joining us in Lexington, Kentucky for the formal initiation of our 2006 pledge class.

Serving as president of Phi Gamma Delta has by no means been an easy task. However, with an advisor such as Jack by my side, the transition has been almost effortless. He goes well beyond his duty as an advisor and extends his presence as a friend and mentor. Jack has laid the foundation and the members of the house have simply put all of the pieces together. I find it very hard to believe that there is a Greek Advisor in our community that has devoted as much time and produced the quality results that Jack Oest has.

Jack Oest constantly challenges the leaders in the Lambda Deuteron chapter of Phi Gamma Delta with daily emails encouraging the many lofty goals set forth by the fraternity. A few examples of such goals include the recognition of members of the chapter by the International Headquarters of Phi Gamma Delta, a revival of lost ritual, and bridge the longtime gap between alumni and actives.

A long term debt has rendered it difficult for the members of the chapter to pay the expensive initiation and active dues set forth by the International Headquarters. For this reason most, if not all actives have not been recognized. Jack has taken it personally upon himself to contact headquarters and negotiate an acceptable price stressing the current status of the chapter as a result of long term problems not necessarily related to the active members. In doing so, Jack has made it possible for each member in the chapter to now receive an active pin among other things Phi Gams world wide have in common. Not only has Jack made it financially possible to achieve this lofty goal but has also fronted the chapter the money in order to assure immediate action.

It is undeniable that ritual is one of the most important things to a fraternity. As a part of the return to national status, the chapter has expressed the need for a return to strict ritual. Jack has ordered multiple ritual books while also sharing with the chapter the many rituals that used to take place when he was a Phi Gam. Jack has gone so far as to organize a trip to initiate this pledge class of 2006 at the renowned national chapter room in Lexington, Kentucky. This important ritual has never taken place in this way and will mean a lot for the future upward trend of ritual. It will also serve as a marker for the culmination of great strides the fraternity is now making.

In conjunction with the eventual loss of ritual, a gap between the alumni and active relationship has also been formed. Jack has aided in the production of a newsletter that hasn’t come out for multiple years. The newsletter is sent out to all alumni and is an integral part in keeping alumni up to date with current fraternity happenings. Jack has also done a lot of personal PR for the chapter on the alumni side using the many projects that he himself began as a point of praise for the current status of the active chapter.

These are just a few examples of the never-ending list of ways Jack Oest helps the chapter reach its goals. It should be noted in conclusion that Jack plays such a key role in the upward march of Lambda Deuteron that he is often the key role player in the development of such lofty goals. Jack is able to concur problems facing the fraternity in setting goals that are both meticulous and aggressive. His ability to motivate and challenge the members of Phi Gamma Delta are a constant testament of his own dedication to the fraternity.