The Hoot 2014-2015
LambdaDU House Construction
Hello DU brothers,
I don’t know if all of you have been watching through the Alumni Website over the summer as the house has progressed through construction. I have just added numerous new pictures that can’t be seen from the webcam. They have now started on landscaping as the exterior is just about complete except for the front path and and front railings which are tied to the landscaping. I understand all but a few details remain to complete the inside of the house and some of those minor details will be completed by the University when you move into the house. I know for instance that the Lambda Iota original fraternity crest over the Fireplace is being carved by the manufacturer at this time.
We are very pleased with the construction of the house and I know you will as well, when you arrive. As officers you might want to share this with the rest of your brothers. It will give everyone a little familiarity before you get there and perhaps a little extra incentive to arrive early to work on settling in. If it is a little seasonably warm, I know you will appreciate the special fan system incorporated into the attic that pulls outside air through the entire house. That is something no other residence at Clarkson has at this time, as far as I know. Here are the latest pictures taken over the weekend and a few taken 3 weeks prior.
This is the webcam view showing the dining room deck for outdoor meals and the area for bike storage.
30 Elm Street Fraternity house Opening
On September 6th the brothers, Clarkson guests and and several local alumni formally opened our new 30 Elm Street Fraternity house. The ceremony was held on the front porch whose covering roof provided a shield from the rain for the speakers, guests and Pep band alike.
Welcoming remarks were given by Jake Brigante, Tony Collins and James Conway. The American and Canadian Colors were raised followed by both National Anthems. Fraternity Brother and former long time advisor Father Bob Shurtleff gave the house blessing.
Following the cutting of the ribbon, we all retired into the house for hors d’oeuvres and refreshments provided by the unexpected culinary skill of the brothers who prepared everything from scratch. Tours were given to first time visitors and the sun emerged as the ceremony wound down.
Much of the weekend was spent with the members, equipping the house with the necessary accessories for living - dishes, pots, pans, knives, dehumidifier, waste baskets, paper products, cleaning tools, workshop tools, Living room TV, folding tables and chairs, , outdoor chairs for porches, work bench, Grill, etc. etc.
We also had a chance to inventory additional items needed to complete the house as a finished project. When we obtained funds in excess of our goal there wasn’t time to put it to use without potentially delaying the house opening, so these items will be handled as projects through a new process being put in place by Clarkson, where we purchase the services and items with university assistance and pay direct with reimbursement of qualified items by Clarkson.
Projected are complete enclosure of the front and side porch area with matching railing, Study tables and chairs for the 2 studies, modification of cabinets in the Legacy room for wall space, enhancement to the Fireplace, bar area and entryway floor, new pool table and foosball table, additional electric outlets to workshop and first floor, new alumni composites covering 1950-2008 plus, furniture for Club/HDCP room, rehab of major trophies and completion of the AV system.
By going to a proprietary wireless system (not available in Potsdam) and a non amplifier audio system with more competitive purchasing, our AV system savings offsets the cost For much of these projects. Our aim is to once more have the best physical house on campus to attract the students we want and make their families comfortable with their choice.
Currently there are 19 members living in the house and we have a total membership after the Fall rush of 25. Come second semester, we should be able to fill the remaining beds with the new members, putting us above the break even point of 19 to accumulate excess in our Clarkson account available for many purposes. Financially we remain strong and our house will be second to none thanks to your generous support. Those planning to come for Spring Weekend, I think will be very pleased with what they see.
Lastly, we’d like to thank last years mentors for their service and are happy to announce that joining this years returning mentors are Rob Brai who has taken the role with the VP finance and Whitey Hansen who will be sharing his knowledge of the Potsdam community in mentoring VP External relations. The new Living Room TV has built in Skype capability to make attending a meeting long distant with a committee or the entire membership a reality.
October-December DU House Updates
A number of projects were undertaken using the extra Alumni funds raised after the main house construction was completed.
Projects tackled during the 4th quarter of the year:
Wall space was made for plaques and pictures in the Legacy Room transferring one of the three cabinets to the Living Room with some minor cabinet work and also adding locks to all cabinet doors.
The complete Audio Video system was purchased and installed for the basement, 1st fl. and outdoor decks. It includes 3D 4K curved TV with Skype capability, a 3D Projection TV with motorized screen, a behind the bar 2D TV, each with a BluRay DVD and a wireless full house speaker system.
The class composites are being framed. Only 1989 and 1976 are missing the 1952-2008 years. The 15 composite sets will be hung with lock secured mounts on the second floor.
Railings have been added to all decks for appearance, containment and safety.
The Pool and Foosball Tables have been purchased and assembled.
Electrical outlets were added for speakers, a pool table light, the Projector TV & Screen and for the workshop.
Chairs (8) and round study tables are on order for each of the two study conference rooms. Each table will have a 24 inch diameter fraternity crest (DU & Lambda Iota)
To be undertaken during Spring Semester:
Reface the fireplace wall with stone and modify the mantle in lieu of the Clarkson standard, plain wall board facing provided.
Change the entry way floor from linoleum to a tile or stone surface.
A number of enhancements to the bar and snack area are also under consideration.
Crests decals for the study tables are to be placed under the finish (Note :the white is actually colorless).
January 2015
The son of Dave Nims (Lambda’59), Tom, was a division1, All American Lacrosse player who played goal on Syracuse’s first National Championship team in 1983. Recently the Camillus/West Genesee Hall of Fame, inducted Tom Nims into its Sport’s Hall of Fame. Dave with Tom’s children, Kenny and Taylor, posthumously representing him. The picture below of Tom, hangs in the Syracuse Carrier Dome.
Tom’s son (Dave’s grandson), Kenny, followed in his father’s footsteps playing LAX at Syracuse, and like his dad, went on to be selected as an All American while playing on Syracuse’s 2009 eleventh National Championship LAX team. Kenny that year was also the second leading scorer in the nation, and adding one more caveat as the MVP of the national championship tournament. Kenny was later the No. 1 draft selection in the 2009 Professional Lacrosse League’s annual draft. Those who watched the 2009 finals game against Cornell were rewarded with Kenney’s memorable steal in the waning seconds and miraculous tying goal with less than 5 seconds to go in regulation. Syracuse went on to win the NCAA championship game in sudden death overtime.
Keeping with family tradition, Tom’s daughter, Taylor, also went on to play division 1 Lacrosse at Syracuse. Dave’s Father Kenneth (’24) was one of the very early Lambdas, his Brother Don (’58) and Nephew Gregg Topping (’86) were all Lambda’s and DUs while attending Clarkson. Kenny Nims has graciously contributed a pair of signed LAX gloves and helmut for our legacy room exhibit. Our thanks to Kenny and Dave for adding this piece of historic legacy to the new house.
To Commemorate the Sacrifices made by our Lambda and DU Brothers in wartime, we are preparing a plaque to hang in the Legacy Room.
February-March 2015 House Updates
Some New Additions to the House to be ready for Dedication and Reunion Weekend in April.
If you have photos of earlier composites please contact us.
New composites 1953- present on second floor hallway.
The Donor Plaque is up in the Entry way.
New legacy and historic pictures have been hung.
The Fire Place Lambda Crest stone finished.
Outdoor Railing work completed.
Study tables with fraternity crests embossed and chairs purchased and in place.
Veterans Plaque being constructed & framed
What would the house look like if we planted a low growth shrub under roof run off locations?
Benefits are more than appearance. Note in top picture the accumulation of mud on right side tower from rain and run off with a no-gutter roof design. Shrubs selectively located would absorb it around the house. Also covering a rock filled ditch that now surrounds house to absorb the run off. (the rocks sink as the ground softens producing a potential ankle busting formation, especially when covered with snow.) The new additional railing, where added to the open porches and decks for safety, has reduced the potential hazard. This would eliminate it. Exterior landscape maintenance is done by the University and shrubs would have to be approved by Clarkson.
April House Dedication & Chartering Weekend
LambdaDU Students Help Habitat for Humanity Project
Photo caption: Clarkson University students from the social fraternity Delta Upsilon and from the Clarkson chapter of Engineers Without Borders are helping North Country Habitat for Humanity with its project in Malone, N.Y. Front row from left: Sam Berry, Ryan Birchenough, Josh Miller, Jacob 'Beard' Land, Mitchell Laughlin, Shane Garrabrant, Danny Angileri, Brian Guntharp, James Temple, and Michael Hough. Back row from left: Jake Tyo, Nathan Watkajtys, Gregg Steiner, Travis Decker, Orri Antonsson, Alan Disbro, Ryan LaClair, and Christopher Laubisch of Engineers Without Borders
Ever wonder what it takes to get 18 Clarkson University students awake and on the road by 8 a.m. on a Saturday so they can work outside on a cool, damp April day? That's easy -- just the chance to help out.
Don Dangremond ‘72 Retires from Clarkson
To all the brothers,
If the word has not yet reached you, the man who has been our Lambda and DU connection at Clarkson it seems forever, Don Dangremond, has joined wife Joyce in retirement as of June 30th. Though not completely, I am told, as he expects to be doing some part time activity on campus.
In the past four decades, Don has been our “go to guy”, ambassador and connection to Alma Mater. He has served as DU Alumni Corp president. a mentor & advisor, and friend to the fraternity and the brothers. I am sure I speak for all the DU’s and Lambda’s, and for that matter the Clarkson alumni, thanking Don for all he has done to help keep us connected, and as important, the part he played through the tremendous growth Clarkson has undergone since our graduations.
Congratulations, Don, on a job well done.
House Enhancements 2015-2016
During the July reunion weekend, several of the board members met with Clarkson Facilities and a local landscaper contractor to find out the best way to landscape the house considering the severe winter conditions and hungry deer population that we share the woods with. The contractor responded with a plan of moderate cost that not only adds to the house appearance but provides safety, foils the roof run off without resorting to gutters and will provide limited privacy as it matures that’s compatible with its surroundings. The Landscapers recommendations are shown below. There are examples of the plantings that will be shown when the final design is approved. The board will be reviewing the proposal and making its recommendations
Consideration was also given to sunlight and maintenance which will be performed by the University grounds keepers. In addition, plowing requirements were incorporated into the plan. Several additional measures can be later added after the university addresses its further maintenance needs. But for starters, this gives the house a more welcoming appearance while being very functional.
Inside Enhancements:
Also discussed with contractors & the facilities staff and planned to be implemented during the Christmas holiday break, based on funds available (a) face the fireplace with stone and a matching mantle to provide a more rugged Adirondack look in the chapter room and a similar appearance on the main entry floor to make a more dramatic statement entering the house. The current plain vanilla look of the linoleum is the first impression all visitor’s get. Alumni brother Charlie Carvel has volunteered to be the boots on the ground for both of these projects and has assembled a team that will be forwarding proposals to us.
Old Large Composites:
As many already know, we are grateful for the work Alumni brother Terry Day has done to make a complete (as possible) Hall of Alumni with composites ranging from 1953 (and soon to be from 1950) to 2008. And of course we have the special 1919 composite donated by Neil Campbell from his father’s memorabilia. It has been made possible by framing 4 sets of new 11x 14 class year photos in one large frame. The 15 composite sets occupy the entire second floor wall space. Future sets will be mounted in the stair wells. This would not have been possible without the photo efforts of Terry. Also instrumental was Don Dangremond in obtaining an excellent supplier of very suitable frames with mounting. Donors and loaners of various composites from many brothers made it possible.
The older composites of Lambda Iota have long since disappeared, to who knows where. But we do have many DU composites that will be looking for a new home. It has been suggested that a silent auction for the ones still around, with monies collected going into a house improvement fund, would be a way to get a good home for them. It was further suggested that this would be something the students could run and manage. Look for more on this in the Fall semester coming from the house after the board discusses it with the membership.
We are still looking for a 1989 and 1951 composite loaner to complete the series from 1950.
October 2015 Updates
“In just 5 months, some of us will be sitting poolside sipping our favorite brew with a lifelong brother and others will be looking for the snow shovel. Which one do you want to be?”
Hi Lambda and DU Brothers,
We just arrived in Florida with its current mid to upper 80s temperatures and blue skies. Hearing about the cooling weather arriving up north, I thought it might be a good time to send out a follow up on our March FL reunion in Daytona Beach. We have yet to be disappointed with reunion weather since we started having them here. Ask anyone who has attended.
Last years, 2015 FL Reunion moved to Potsdam, celebrating the recolonization and dedication of the new house, was a huge success. Never got a full count on the attendees, but estimates were somewhere around the mid 200s. The new house looked great and we enjoyed meeting the new brothers and returning alumni taking part in the recolonization ceremony that re-established the Lambda Iota Chapter of Delta Upsilon back on the Clarkson campus.
Fraternity Status:
The success of the Alumni driven recolonization effort is borne out in Clarkson’s report on the 10 Greek fraternities listed in the 2014-2015 Clarkson Fact Book whose statistics were forwarded to us by Soupy Campbell’61.
Ten fraternities on campus Spring 2015 Ranking of DU
34 active members #210 new members #1
34 total members #1
3.17 average spring semester GPA all members #1
3.15 average cumulative average all members #1
all men’s spring semester 2.851
all men’s cumulative 2.988
Upon return to campus this Fall, DU rushed four more upper class-men adding to the campus leading total membership.
For more on the DU happenings at Clarkson…
Nate Watkajtys reports he is currently heading the social media chair for this semester for the Chapter. The old Facebook page was never handed over from IHQ, so last semester we made a new page. So lately I've been working on developing that. Below is a link for our current page that we post to fairly regularly. Feel free to share that with the alumni group as I'm sure they'd be happy to stay updated with undergraduate happenings. Nate ‘16
Don Dangremond visited the house recently supplying the photo below and wrote the following:
Photo from Tony’s Tuesday photo competition
“Thought you might like to see the e-mail below about the guys photo for the Tony Tuesday photo competition. Stopped by the house the other day....the house was in great shape and I enjoyed catching up with Greg Steiner and a few of the others who were around and met one of the new pledges. Also spoke to the Student Life folks who all had great reports for this fall about the house and the brothers.
Best to all......retirement has been great!” Don ‘72
The efforts of many alumni from the Corporate board, FL Alumni Group and individual alumni* supported a very active National DU participation that produced dramatic results including the new fraternity home in less than 2 years. Thanks goes to all the brothers for their support to the rebirth of Delta Upsilon at Clarkson. The statistics above I believe is a testament to the value of a worthy heritage born from a great bunch of guys who never lost faith in the meaning of “The Brotherhood”, what it has been and can still represent. Those that can, please join us in Daytona Beach this march to continue the celebration of being a Lambda and DU. The latest schedule and reunion information is attached. *note- including a family donation from one of the original 1919 Lambda founders
Best Regards and Fraternally ,
Paul
For the Lambda DU Florida Alumni Group,
Paul Zolin ‘59 Stub Estey ‘64 Chuck Phillips ’64