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Post by Tom Earp on Sept 6, 2011 13:25:35 GMT -5
While I have talked with GCF members via Ma Bell, IM, and email, I now will soon have the pleasure of meeting face to face with one very soon. Our own modorney will be flying to the East coast from Ca. His son Evan is now enrolled at Harvard, Yea Evan. Unfortunatly, not any GLO's there to speak of! Then make a stop in K C. We will make a day of it: Go to my Chapter of LXA, then coming back stop at UMKC, and if time go to the William-Jewel chapter. All are virtually pretty new houses for the chapters. From there, he flies to Houston to see an Acacia Brother of his.! Sad that there are not any Acacia Chapters near by the route. Looking forward to hooking up with the Mike and just BSing, driving and enjoying life!
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Post by Tom Earp on Oct 17, 2011 17:04:28 GMT -5
Tonight is the big night! Picking up modorney at 10:00 PM as he is coming in from Boston. Getting some shut eye and heading to Pitt. State Un early Tuesday morning for a tour of the campus and GLO houses. Then back to K C to see some of the GLO houses at UMKC. If time permits and rears not dragging to much, up to Liberty, Mo. to William-Jewell. Then back to KC. Wed. morning back to airport to put him on a new flight. Looking forward to meeting the Big Mike O! ;D
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Post by T J Gordon on Oct 18, 2011 6:05:09 GMT -5
Hope you 2 have a great time - sounds fun
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Post by Tom Earp on Oct 19, 2011 18:22:21 GMT -5
Just a short note T J. We had a ball and my butt is dragging. Going to bed early after I took Odorney to airport and will fill in tomarrow! It was fantastic for both!
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Post by Tom Earp on Oct 20, 2011 18:13:52 GMT -5
Well, needless to say, two old farts who go road tripping can have fun too! ;D Picked Mike up at KCI and plane was late out of Atlanta from Boston. Having never met even though having known each other for 4 years via Cyber and Ma Bell turned out easy. I had LXA coat on! Off to KC short toddy/beer and bed. Left K C KS, at 7:30, ate Micky D breakfast on the run. Got to "The Pitt" and did a tour of campus and GLO houses first. Got to my LXA house and guys were there to meet us and show the house. Right after Home Coming and won most of the awards. Went to Lamar, Mo. showed Mike where Harry Truman was born and I had to stop by cemetary to vist graves. Lunch on the run again. Then to UMKC and LXA house visiting some of the guys. Ate on the run again in K C and went to LX Alum meeting. Got back to my house at 7:30 dragging of course, Mike got on PC, I went to bed. Up early next morning. Let Mike use my car so he could see some of the area. Closed store on time and headed to KCI to send him on his way to Houston to see an Acacia Brothers of his. Called me as was heading to Houston airport to head back to Cal. We are already talking about another road trip when I am out of store, now planning to close at end of month. Visit some Acacia/LXA chapters! We now have a bond of friend ship being Fraterny members and Masons too. I can only hope that some of us others can meet and greet. It is worth it for sure!
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Post by modorney on Oct 23, 2011 16:52:13 GMT -5
Ten million smoots!
Last year, I was in the midst of college applications for my son, and thought of a fraternity brother, Bill. Bill is my age and went to MIT for his PhD so he's no dummy! Bill's son Marcus is the same age as my son, and, last year, thought of what college Marcus would attend - possibly the same one as mu son?
Along comes acceptance to Harvard and along comes a ton of paperwork for financial aid and a bunch of other stuff. More busy. But I was still thinking of Marcus. Then, out of the blue, I get a notice of the funeral. Marcus took his own life.
This woke me up. Here I am flying across the country over all my friends, when I could just easily stop in and see them. I looked at all the airline schedules and cobbled together a ten million smoot trip, involving 8 cities.
My first stop was Boston for parents weekend. A few fraternity brothers planned a get together, but my wife got sick and I could not make it. A monsoon rain drowned us all on the Harvard campus, and made for a soggy night. Other than that, Parents Weekend was wonderful.
I then hopped over to Kansas City and met Tom for the first time. Off we went on a road trip. First we visited Pitt State, Tom's alma mater, and the home of the chapter he founded. An excellent collection of brothers and a fine house. The chapter was down to one man a few years ago, and rose from this to a healthy brotherhood of 30+ men.
Tom, if you can encourage the webmaster of the chapter to update the picture to show the addition on the house. And include a picture of the winning float from homecoming.
Off to a quick tour of Tom's hometown, then to the chapter at University of Missouri, Kansas City. Another fine chapter, with an avid philanthropy heart - the living room was filled with boxes of groceries for the food drive - LXA's charity. No furniture! Just food! Houses are university owned, and LXA is in line for the Beta house next door.
One thing I like about Pitt State (and I wish UMKC would do) is the titles on the composite. UMKC has "High Alpha", "High Rho", etc. which often makes a visitor (pnm, parent, faculty) think these are ritual positions - all the actors who are scattered around the room during initiation. Instead they are real 24/7 jobs - president, alumni relations, etc. Just my opinion; lots of chapters do this.
That night we caught up to a bunch of alums and had popcorn, pizza and beer. A great bunch of guys - all around our ages - and a good time to talk about greeklife and brotherhood.
Off to Houston the next day. When I booked my flight, I knew I needed a rental car anyway, and Bill did not know exactly where he would be. He has three places - Austin, Houston, and Smithville - in between. Bill is moving out of Austin and fixing up his house to sell, so his actual location is hard to predict. Since he is busy with all this, I only planned on being there a few hours. I rented a cheap compact, and the Thrifty guy looked at me and gave me a Mercury Marquis. I took my comfy ride and drove off to meet Bill.
I didn't say much and didn't ask many questions, I just listened. As I was about to leave, Bill opened up and I thought "I'll let him talk, I can always get a later flight. This is his turn." He talked in depth for 20 minutes, and then I left. He really appreciated it, and I was glad I was there.
All around - a memorable trip on many accounts.
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Post by Tom Earp on Oct 23, 2011 17:33:49 GMT -5
Odorney gives a thumb nail of what we did and who we met! It was a meeting that the two of us will never forget for sure! We are already talking about another roadie trip in the future! ;D That what being a Greek Member is all about!
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Post by modorney on Oct 24, 2011 17:15:26 GMT -5
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Post by Tom Earp on Oct 25, 2011 17:20:28 GMT -5
Am looking forward to it! KSU and Neb, where both have LZA & Acacia chapters.
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