Big Changes
By Bob Petrick

On October 6th, 2000 the Pitt chapter of Triangle Fraternity officially parted company with 268 North Bellefield for the last time. This date marks the end of an era for the Pitt Chapter that dates back to at least 1973. The School for Blind Children, located across the street from us on North Bellefield Avenue purchased the property for $250,000, plus $10,000 for moving and other expenses necessary for the move to occur in the year 2000. The University is offering space to Greek organizations on “the Hill” on the rim of the circle of what was formerly Pitt’s football stadium, and where the new convocation/event/basketball center will be located when complete sometime in late 2001. The Pitt chapter of Triangle plans to occupy one of the available lots, but details are still forthcoming from the University. It is the hope and goal of the corporate board of the Pitt chapter that this move onto campus, into new housing, will spark Triangle on the Pitt campus to a bigger and brighter future.

For those of you who read this newsletter, but are not on the chapter’s email D-list (contact Eugene Hendricks, AKA Spock to be added to the email list), a fair number of the active organization of the Pitt chapter bade farewell to 268 North Bellefield in their own way on the evening of October 5th into the early morning hours of October 6th. Unfortunately, this farewell included demolition to a fair portion of the interior walls of the house, and painting of graffiti over much of the inside, and the exterior walls on the ground level of the chapter house.  Before anyone reads this last phrase and flies off the handle, please read this article to it’s conclusion, and you will see that the situation has already been dealt with.

The alumni officers of the Pitt chapter as far back as the Fall term of 1999 had been aware of problems at the active level with communications both internally and with the alumni, and an overall lack of direction in the active chapter. In order to help the active chapter to set a direction and focus in on goals for the 2000/2001 academic year, the alumni board of the Pitt chapter set specific goals for the active chapter, with agreement from the active chapter’s elected officers, prior to commencement of school in August of this past year. These goals included:
1.)	Having quorum at 75% of active meetings and minutes published via email for each meeting.
2.)	Maintaining a GPA of AT LEAST 2.50 for both semesters.
3.)	Recruit, pledge and educate at least 3 QUALITY pledges in the Fall term.
4.)	Be current on all paperwork and form with the National Organization
5.)	Have at least 90% of past and current brother house bills paid up by 01/05/2001.

After the events of October 5/6, the corporate board convened on October 14th, 2000, and the active chapter was given until October 24th, 2000 to come up with additional action plans to make amends done to the reputation of Triangle on campus and with the community, particularly the School for the Blind. The following additional requirements were placed on the active chapter due by 01/05/2001.

1.)	A formal written apology to the School for the Blind, to be delivered personally by the Pitt Chapter as soon as possible, and prior to October 30th, 2000.
2.)	Seminars on risk management, time management and the local and national constitutions of Triangle, to be held as soon as possible, and not later than 01/05/2001, attended by all actives.
3.)	Meeting with the Greek Advisor to re-activate the active chapter with the IFC on campus
4.)	Various philanthropy events, including events at Halloween, prior to Christmas with the IFC, and some charity event with the School for the Blind.
5.)	No initiations of new members are to be held until the corporation board gives permission.

Some of these events were held; most were not followed through on. On January 6th, 2001 the corporate board of the Pitt chapter of Triangle voted to suspend the active organization indefinitely, and also voted to recommend to National Council that they suspend the active organization as well. The vote was unanimous, with the three active chapter members of the corporate board also voting to suspend. All members who were active at that time now have alumni status with Triangle, and the two pledges we had at the time were released. All items of historical significance to the Pitt chapter are in long-term storage, until a new facility for the chapter is constructed.

A lot of time could be spent (and a lot already has been spent) on determining who was at fault, and why the active chapter fell so far so fast. There is no one root cause, and there is plenty of blame to go around, starting with me. The entire house sale/moving out process could have been handled more smoothly, but the timing was poor on many fronts. Instead of placing blame, I prefer to look at the positives that can and have come out of the situation. For starters, in spite of all of the adversity the former actives have had to deal with, they had the most improved GPA of all Triangle chapters through April of 2000. In addition, Triangle had the highest GPA of ALL fraternities on the Pitt campus in the Fall of 2000, at 3.17. We have roughly $250,000 in the bank, collecting interest and we can now begin in earnest to work with Pitt on putting up a brand new facility on campus. 

We are also looking to re-engineer the fraternity (a good thing for a fraternity of engineers, architects and scientists to think about), so that we focus on setting and demonstrating the high standards and personal and professional development that can and will distinguish Triangle from other Greek organizations on campus.

You can choose to see the water glass as half-empty or half-full. I prefer to look at it as half-full, and I invite those alumni of the chapter who also look to the future and see the possibilities of what we can achieve, and invite you to join us at Founder’s Day on April 7th (please see the details on location and time elsewhere in this newsletter), to begin with us on the journey to revitalize Triangle on the Pitt campus.
THIS FORM MUST BE RETURNED BY:  MARCH 30, 2001

MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO:
TRIANGLE FRATERNITY ALUMNI ORGANIZATION
C/o Dave Czuwara
99 Convent Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15209
(412) 821-5757

____________ Adult Buffets X $20         

Names of Attendees: _____________________________________
_____________________________________

____________ Kid’s Buffets X $15        

 Names of Attendees: _____________________________________
                    _____________________________________

____________ I cannot attend, please accept my donation.  (No, seriously.)

_____________ TOTAL	
Founders Day
By Dave Czuwara and Jeff Graeber

Triangle Fraternity – Pitt Chapter
2001 Founders Day Celebration

Date:  Saturday April 7, 2001
Location:  North Park Lounge Clubhouse – 5301 Ranalli Dr. Gibsonia, PA  15044  (724) 449-9090
Time:  5PM – 6PM Fraternity Meeting – Brothers only (guests may play games, watch TV, etc.) 
           6:15 PM Dinner is served
Dress:  Casual (jeans and collared shirts are appropriate)

For 2001 the Triangle Founder’s Day celebration will be breaking tradition.  The alumni group has picked North Park Lounge Clubhouse as the location.  North Park Lounge Clubhouse is a family-oriented restaurant that has pool tables, dartboards, over 50 TV’s, 60 arcade games and activities for kids of all ages.    Bring your wife (or girlfriend) and kids.  The more the merrier!  We will have our own private room.

Your evening will include a delicious buffet including the following:

Stuffed Shells				Buttered Red Potatoes
Roast Beef Au Jus			Green Beans Almandine
Stuffed Chicken Breast			Tossed Salad

Ice Cream

The buffet includes coffee, tea, soda, fresh rolls, dressings and all condiments.  A cash bar will be available.

All this for the low, low price of only $20 per adult and $15 for kids under 12.  Kids under 3 are free.

Please complete the registration form below and return by MARCH 30, 2001.

Driving Directions for Founders Day

Take Interstate 76 North to the Butler Valley exit.

Get on Route 8 North and drive ½ to ¾ of a mile.

The North Park Clubhouse will be on your right hand side.

Web Information
By Eugene Hendricks

Due to the change in the Pitt Chapter’s status, as far as the University is concerned, the distribution lists obtained through the University may not be valid much longer.  Therefore, the VP of Communications is urging everyone with e-mail access to join the Yahoo! Groups site.  All that is required is to send a message to:

tri-pitt-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

This will not only allow access to the overall mailing list but it will also allow current information to be posted and easily updated.  If the University should shut down the current mailing lists, this will be the only way, excluding maintaining a large address book, that communication can continue.

On an additional note, the Alumni website will be updated soon and it will now have pictures, generously donated by Brother Paul Link, of the Homecoming 2000 festivities.  The VP of Communications has also expressed his wish that any other pictures that are both electronic and of interest to the Chapter be forwarded to him at the e-mail address listed on the cover of this publication.