Summer Work Day Recap

Alan Chamorro and I were at the house this Saturday to put the capstone on the large capital campaign this summer. The whole house is freshly painted white, the repaired gutters and new roof are sharp. The interior of the back house is transformed entirely.

The undergrads mobilized 25-35 members through the day. They and President Jack Walker were highly motivated to take advantage of this recent change of fortune to greatly improve the house grounds, and are willing to sweat to do it.

Many tasks were completed (mopping/sweeping/polishing floors, re-hanging all composites in back house) on the interiors of the house itself.

The biggest task of the day was to establish grade and gravel on the fence-ward side of the new East yard sidewalks.

6-15 brothers rotated through to work on this project, resulting in constant progress over its 5 hour duration. It was cool to see the good teamwork of the brothers work as a team and exhibit individual drive to perform the heavy work of excavating the area and laying the gravel with picks, shovels, and wheelbarrows. The 15 square yard area was excavated 2-4 inches, leveled, then geotextile was laid down followed by 4-8 inches of gravel.

There was a lot going on in Davis that day, with Sorority rush taking at both of chapter’s Russell Blvd neighbors. Rush comes up this week for fraternities as well. The stated objective of the chapter leaders (and alumni board officers) is to endeavor to establish double occupancy in every room in the new and improved back house, which would lead to a much greater positive cash flow through the house, providing opportunity for the fraternal property to self-fund property and tenant improvements in a virtuous cycle.

Summer Construction Updates

See below for pictures from our summer construction activities this summer!

Alumni Fundraising Update #4

To: Theta Chi UC Davis
Zeta Xi Chapter Alumni Brothers

From : Alumni Board

Ref: 501 Russell Blvd. House - Fundraising Update #4

Hello Zeta Xi Brothers,

We are quickly approaching the point where the fundraising efforts of the last three months will be converted into action, with the major rehab of 501 Russell scheduled to begin soon after the undergraduate brothers move out of the house on June 30th.

Here's an update of our progress and plans:

Fundraising - As of June 20th, we have received pledges and donations totaling just over $250,000, with a few more brothers indicating they will make a pledge soon.  

We can still benefit from additional funding as the list of improvements needed is long and construction costs are high. Please consider a donation if you haven't made a pledge yet, and if you have pledged - now is the time to convert your pledge into donations and getting the funds to our alumni treasurer.

Work Day - We are planning an alumni/active work day for the afternoon of Sunday June 30th, from 12 Noon to 4:00 PM. The active members will be moved out as of that day and we will begin the rehab project with a cleanup day.  If you're anywhere near Davis, please consider dropping by for a few hours to help out, with pizza and beer, and brotherhood starting at 12:00 PM.

Construction - We are going forward on a series of improvements with various trade contractors, with all windows being replaced in the back house starting in early July.   We're close to signing a contract for a major electrical upgrade and installation of new HVAC; with that project also staring in early July as well. We're gathering bids and contracts for interior improvements and will update as we make progress.

The easiest way to donate is via a Zelle Email:  alumniassoc501@gmail.com

We can also accept donations via check made payable to:

Zeta Xi Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity Alumni Association

and mailed to the Alumni Treasurer:

James Beall

225 S. Edgar Ave.

Fullerton CA 92831

Thanks for all donation to date, please convert your pledge into a cash donation at this time.

Fraternally,

Eric Tennyson

Alumni Board President

erict2030@aol.com

Save the Date: 2nd Annual Alumni Day, Oct 19th, 2024

Hello All, Chuck Cox here with the details for the 2nd Annual Alumni Day, set for October 19th, 2024 in Davis, CA.

Tentative Schedule:

11:30am - Golf Tournament - Wildhorse Golf Club

2:30pm - Cornhole Tournament – OX House front lawn

5:00pm – Happy Hour & Silent Auction, OX house

6:00pm – Dinner, OX house

7:30pm – Alumni updates from the board

Come join us to make this a better event than last year. See old friends, see the new house updates and re-live your college days.

Alumni brewers and winemakers, donations are always accepted for the auction or for brothers to share during Happy Hours.

Additional details ( cost, hotel blocks, golf pairings) to follow. Stay Tuned!!

Alumni Fundraising Update #3

To: Theta Chi UC Davis
Zeta Xi Chapter Alumni Brothers

From : Alumni Board

Ref: 501 Russell Blvd. House - Fundraising Update #3

Hello Zeta Xi Brothers,

This is our Call to Action: If you have not yet made a donation or pledge to our fundraiser to rehab 501 Russell Blvd, now is the time to do so.

The alumni board has been hard at work gathering bid proposals, prioritizing what items need to be completed to ensure health and safety, satisfy the inspection items from the City of Davis, and prevent the house from deteriorating.   We are quickly approaching the time when we have to make final decisions and sign contracts, so we need to know the budget that we have to work with.

Update on the challenge to match our three lead donations totaling $150,000 - as of May 10th we have received pledges and donations from 28 different alumni brothers totaling approx $81,000.   We are less than $70,000 away from meeting our goal of investing $300,000 into our house.   Every donation counts, we've received pledges of $20, $501, $2,000 and $10,000; please consider giving any amount that you are able. 

In addition, we've received a commitment that each undergraduate brother who will be a member in Fall 2024 has made a pledge, and will be contributing to the rehab fund.       

If you have any question about the fundraising effort, the plans we have for the house, the alumni or undergraduate chapter, or just want to check in and say hello, please consider joining us for a Zoom call on Monday, May 13th, at 7:00 PM.

The alumni corporation is a registered Nonprofit Corporation - CA - Mutual Benefit in good standing.  We are 501(c)7 non-profit, similar to an HOA in that funds are collected and expenditures made for the mutual benefit of the membership, with no profit intent.  Accordingly, we're not a 501(c)3 or charity, and not tax deductible.  Always check with your own tax advisor.

The easiest way to donate is via a Zelle Email: alumniassoc501@gmail.com

We can also accept donations via check made payable to:
Zeta Xi Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity Alumni Association

and mailed to the Alumni Treasurer

James Beall
225 S. Edgar Ave
Fullerton CA 92831

Thanks for your donations to date, and please help us spread the word to alumni brothers in your networks.

Fraternally,

Eric Tennyson
Alumni Board President

Fundraising Campaign Announcement

To: Theta Chi UC Davis 

Zeta Xi Chapter Alumni Brothers 

From: Alumni Board 

Ref: 501 Russell Blvd. House - Request for Donations 

Hello Zeta Xi Brothers, 

TLDR; the OX house is falling apart and we need money from you to fix it.   Please donate and we’ll spend the money wisely to get the house back in shape.  Thank You.

We’re reaching out to all alumni and brothers of Zeta Xi Chapter to ask for your help, specifically financial assistance so that we can make needed repairs and improvements to our chapter house at 501 Russell Blvd.   

The front house is almost 100 years old and the back house more than 50.    The passage of time and years of fraternity living has taken its toll.   The active chapter had a difficult time during Covid with classes being remote for two years, but is now back on a good footing with solid membership and leadership.   The chapter house needs significant repairs in order to remain in operation.   The City of Davis fire and building departments have recently inspected and given violation notices which we are currently addressing and completing repairs.   While some of the items are maintenance to be addressed by the active membership, many are structural and complex in nature that require the alumni chapter to be involved.   

The alumni board has obtained property condition reports and initial repair estimates as follows:

1. Foundation failure and repair

2. Roof condition and repair

3. Termite/Dry Rot condition and repair

4. Whole House report, limited inspection of HVAC, electrical and plumbing

5. Tree and landscape inspection

6. Personal inspections by board members 

Based upon these findings, we believe that the following repairs to 501 Russell Blvd. should be performed: 

1. Foundation Repair

2. Roofing Repair and Replacement, including gutters

3. Window Replacement

4. Termite/Dry Rot Repair

5. Siding/Trim Repair

6. Exterior Paint 

7. HVAC complete system replacement

8. Plumbing/Electrical - new electrical panel, possible full re-plumb of the back house

9. Trees/Fences - clean up of overgrown trees and fence repair 

10. Concrete/Landscape - repair walkways, install new landscaping

11. Back House Interior -full remodel of 12 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms

12. Misc. Expenses - parking lot repairs, front house exterior

The total estimated costs are estimated to be at least $300,000, with a complete rehab of the back house possibly reaching $500,000 or more.  Please note that we are not addressing an interior front house remodel at this time.  Our focus is on the structural integrity of the house, making the exterior weatherproof and not subject to further deterioration, and updating the back house residence to modern safety standards and finishes.  All funds donated to this campaign will be held in the alumni board account and used solely for rehabilitation to our house at 501 Russell Blvd.    

Our house at 501 Russell Blvd. has provided over 50 years of service to hundreds of alumni and active members, and is now at the point that it needs significant rehabilitation in order to continue to operate.   Therefore, we are asking all alumni to make a donation to the building repair fund.   If you are able to make a significant donation, perhaps one large enough to fund a line item or two, please reach out to one of our board members.    We will be contacting various alumni over the coming weeks, and we encourage you to reach out to your own alumni network and let all of our brothers know we need their help.

We have received two major donation pledges from alumni at this time; one alumni brother has pledged $50,000 and another has donated $30,000.  We are asking you to consider making a significant pledge if you are able to do so, but equally important is that we are seeking involvement and donations from as many brothers as possible. We are able to accept donations via Zelle, wire transfer, or by check payable to Zeta Xi Chapter, Theta Chi Alumni. We are working to establish a GoFundMe or similar platform as well.

We will be scheduling a Zoom meeting in the near future to answer questions regarding the project, and we welcome your calls or emails as well.   

Please Donate. Thank you for your consideration.

Fraternally,

Zeta Xi Chapter Alumni Board

Eric Tennyson, alumni board president

phone: (916) 834-0088

email: EricT2030@aol.com

Alan Chamorro, alumni house manager

James Beall, alumni treasurer

Chuck Cox, alumni liaison

Alum/Active Work Day, Spring 2024

The 2024 work day was a success. 5 alumni and more than 25 active brothers worked from 10AM to 5PM on Saturday, April 6th to beautify and repair the UCD Theta Chi fraternal property at 501 Russell Boulevard.

Items accomplished include:

  • Mowing the front yard and trimming / cleanup of front house hedges

  • Trimming and removal of weeds in the back and side yards

  • Removal of fallen branches in back and side yards

  • Drywall patching and repair of back house, first floor, hallway light switch

  • Replacement of old or faulty overhead lights with new LED fixtures in the front house

  • General trash cleanup and interior cleaning

See below for pictures from the brotherhood work day and before/after shots.

10/7 Golf Tournament and Fundraiser Recap

Brothers,

Our first annual event was a huge success!! We had 20 golfers, consisting of alumni and actives participate. We raised over $900 in the silent auction. There were about 60 alumni, actives and pledges at the house for dinner, drinks and socializing.

See below for pictures of the event and stay tuned for next year to be even bigger!!

Regards,

Alumni Board of Directors
Zeta Xi Chapter, Theta Chi Fraternity

501 Russell Property Improvement Day FQ3 2023

Members of the Alumni Board and undergraduate Brothers worked together on Saturday, 9/23 for several hours to give the fraternal property a much-needed cleanup and facelift. Brothers were led by their undergraduate officers and advised by Alumni Board officers in tasks such as:

  • Fixing exterior gates

  • Drywall Replacement

  • Paint Stripping and Repainting

  • Sealing of Exterior Siding Gaps with Wire Mesh

  • Trimming and cleaning of front hedges

Overall, 4 alumni and 25 brothers attended the event.

New Alumni Board Officers Elected

Alumni Brothers,

I’m excited to announce our 2023 Alumni Board Election winners:

  • President: Eric Tennyson (‘87)

  • Vice President: Chuck Cox (‘89)

  • Treasurer: Jimmy Beall (‘13)

  • Secretary: Ed Gallagher (‘96)

  • Property Manager: Alan Chamorro (‘89)

Thank you to all who attended our elections call. It was great to see and hear from so many of you. Please find the meeting minutes below:

View Minutes

We’ve got an incredible slate of new and returning board members. I personally have never been more excited for the future of the chapter and the alumni organization.    

As we make this transition, the board will rely on all of you to support them. With your continued involvement we can set the new board up for success. I can’t wait to see what they accomplish with your support.


All the best,
Peter Swanson - Alumni Board President (2019 - 2023)

2022 Fundraising Results

House Repairs are Underway

Thanks to our generous alumni donors we raised over $10,000 for chapter house improvements during our Picnic Day fundraiser. As promised, those funds are allocated to fixing the dilapidated window facing the parking lot, and to install a much needed new stove in the kitchen.

See below for pictures of the new installations!

 

 

Thank You to Our Generous Donors:

We can’t thank our donors enough for making these fixes possible. I want to take this opportunity to publicly thank everyone who has contributed to our Picnic Day Fundraiser. One of the donors below deserves extra recognition for matching donated funds, but has chosen to remain anonymous thus far. If that changes, they deserve special recognition for being a huge reason these fixes are possible. Thank you to all who donated:

Derek Yau | Ryan Abusaa | Gianni McClaine | Shaun Hamlin
Samir Himes | William Han | Jim Day | Darren Goetz | Hal Bartholomew
David Stiles | John Hodgson | Jonathan Nasca | Bert Pierroz
Seaver Klug | Will Lorne | Julian Lawton | Brian Keller | Brent Chaney
Daniel Diaz-Vigil | Eric Parker | Bob Sommer


Peter Swanson

President, Board of Directors

2022 Fundraising Goals

Hello Alumni Brothers, 

Picnic Day is tomorrow and we’re excited to see you all there. Before the main event gets underway I wanted to share the details one last time and highlight our fundraising agenda for the year.

Event Details

Picnic Day is planned for this Saturday, April 23rd, and there will be an event at our chapter house at 501 Russell Boulevard. We will be hosting this private event for alumni and friends to celebrate the resumption of our Picnic Day traditions, the continuation of our fraternal bonds, and to address important fraternity business. Doors open at 11AM and we will have an Alumni Board meeting at 1PM.

Fundraising Agenda

The house has seen many improvements on the part of the Board and Chapter leadership over the last year, but there are fixes backlogged that require further financial support to tackle. This year our goal is to raise $30,000 for critical house fixes. The full scope is outlined in the infographic below as well as this interactive graphic courtesy of Seaver Klug. It includes overhauling the dilapidated kitchen, fixing the caving roof and fixing long broken windows. Your support would mean the world to us and the undergraduates currently living in the house.

Fundraising Goals

Generous donors to the board have offered to match every dollar donated to a limit of $15,000. That means anything that you can chip in will be matched dollar for dollar, doubling your contributions all the way up to our campaign goal of $30k.

These dollars are bookmarked for these account fixes. You can rely on our board members to quickly move forward on fixes when their respective funding thresholds are reached.

Please consider donating to the Alumni Board for these important fixes, and stopping by the event in Davis this coming Saturday. Instructions on how to donate via check or bank transfer can be found here on our website. Our crowdfunding campaign will be live soon with more payment options so stay tuned for that!

We welcome your support, and appreciate the consideration you show in contributing to a greater source of value at our brotherhood property. Your helping hand contributes to better living conditions for our chapter tenants, and allows us to continue to serve the alumni of the Zeta Xi chapter.

All the best,

Peter Swanson

Nominated Delegates for Alumni Board Elections 2019

This list will be updated as nominations are received.

Spots up for a 4-year term:

President

  • Peter Swanson

Vice-President

  • Jarret Anaraki

  • Derek Yau

Treasurer

  • James Beall

  • Will Lorne

Secretary

  • Ryan Abusaa

Property Manager

  • Andrew Koper

  • Samir Hines

  • Will Lorne

Spots up for a 2-year term:

1960’s Representative

  • Charlie MacDonald

1970’s Representative

  • Bryan Jeff Holcomb

1980’s Representative

  • Joe Moore

1990’s Representative

2000’s Representative

2010’s Representative

  • Daniel Quiroz

  • Daniel Diaz-Vigil