Coming Back

One week of classes have concluded here at Montana State University, and a feeling of hope and anticipation live inside each attending student.  These feelings are the same for the Alpha Gamma Rho men coming back to school, but all of that excitement for a new semester is masked by a cloud of longing despair for a fallen brother, Mr. Clay McDonald ‘1171’.   Clay, son of Dennis and Sharron McDonald, was taken from this world to be with the Lord on August 21, 2011 in a motor vehicle accident near his home of Melville, Montana. 

                There was a Memorial service for Clay here in Bozeman on August 27^th with a reception following at the AGR house where food, community, and stories of clay were abundant.  All of the stories had a commonality and that was that clay was a considerate, fun-loving, son of a gun who cared most about his family and friends and that everyone around him was having as much fun as he was.  As an AGR Clay was extremely active having held three major offices in VNR of Finance, Noble Ruler, and VNR of Activities.  Clay managed to cram more living into his 24 short years here on earth then most people do in a lifetime.  He will be dearly missed by all of us lucky enough to know him and his memory will live on.    

                So as we here at the AGR continue to plan for events and the busy schedule ahead we are reminded of what truly matters in life.  The memories we make, the friends we keep, and the people we love are the necessities of a good life.   

Coming to an End

As the semester winds to an acceptable end, the Alpha Delta House looks back on a year well done, and looks forward to the year to come.  I think I speak for all my brothers in saying that the summer vacation months will be embraced.  For many of us it is simply a change from one type of work to another, but a change is sometimes nice.  Only a few of the brothers will be living in the fraternal house over the summer, but they will be an asset to house care and upkeep.  

I wish all of my brothers the best on their months away from Montana State University, and hope to see them well when the fall semester starts up again in late August.  We congratulate and bid brothers Jon Sheehy, Neil Mauws, and Trevor Schock good fortune in their future endeavors as they will be graduating this coming Saturday the 7th of May.  We also say goodbye to a friend, Mr. Paul "Smokey" Dowling, our brother from Chico State will retire from gracing us with his presence here at MSU, but we will remember the good times and thank him for the time he gave us. 

Another great year has come to an end, and the door of our shared home swings closed behind many an Alpha Delta, but everyone one of us knows the way back and will be welcomed with open arms whenever we choose to revisit.  

Fraternally,

Chisholm B. Christensen

Activation; Spring 2011

This past week was spent interviewing, bidding, and finally activating four of the initial seven Alpha Gamma Rho candidates into our Alpha Delta Chapter here at MSU.  The time we shared throughout this week, just as it seems to each activation session, brought the members of this house closer and reiterated the meaning of brotherhood to us all. 

            This spring 2011 Activation, saw us adding the pins 1240’, 1241’, 1242’, and 1243’ to the roster.  Those latest pins belong to Joel Pratt, Lane Nordlund, Shad Christando, and  Joseph Pigeons respectively.  Their names will be written among so many other preceding Alpha Delta AGRs.  What these four young men have accomplished is something they can be very proud of, just as we are proud of them.  Becoming an AGR is a decision and an achievement that they will not soon regret and one that will follow them far past their college careers. 

Congratulations Joel, Lane, Shad, and Joe you are the most resent in a long line of upstanding men to join a professional fraternity that will unmistakably provide you with more than you could ever hope to put into it.     

Fraternally,

~ Chisholm B. Christensen ~ 1219’

Sweetheart Competition 2011

            After an exciting week of early mornings and later nights, we have finally crowned our 2011 Sweetheart. All six of the candidates did extremely well and should be commended on a job well done. The six competitors are Sarah Grier of Alpha Omicron Pi, Talor Darfler of Chi Omega, Lacey Steinbeisser of Alpha Gamma Delta, Kayla Hofmann of Pi Beta Phi, and our two girls who aren’t affiliated with a Sorority, our “GDI’s”, Robbyn Reukauf, and Kelly Barb.     

            Through the dance, talent, roping, and trivia competitions, various girls stood out.  However, at the end of the week and after much deliberation, Lacey Steinbeisser found herself at the top of the pile.  Talor Darful was deservedly announced as the runner-up in the competition and the other four girls were left wanting. In the end, I think the judges were the only ones who had a very good guess at who was going to win. 

I believe my brothers would agree with me in saying that this year’s competition was one of the best in recent years.  The level of competition brought by the competing women, along with the hard work of Russell Quinlan, came together to make an excellent Sweetheart competition. 

            Thank you to everyone that made this week possible and exceptional.  An especially big thanks to the competing women; they all did a great job.  Finally, congratulations to Lacy Steinbiezer for winning the 2011 Sweetheart Competition.  She will carry that title and the bragging rights for the entire 2011 year. She will receive a commemorative Alpha Gamma Rho belt buckle, much like the one we Alpha Delta’s wear.      

Nice job ladies, you made all of it possible.

~Chisholm B. Christensen  

A New Year at A.G.R.

As the Christmas break wound down, more and more vehicles found their way back to the familiar Alpha Gamma Rho parking lot.  Of those cars, six new automobiles are parked in the lot for the first time.  Those vehicles belong to John Nesbitt, Max Grier, Ben Johnson, Drew Gaskill, Clay Bott, and Adam Heggelund, our new actives who were able to move in this semester.  A couple other names to be added to the roster are Trevor Schock, who is back from a semester at Kansas State, Jared Leveque joined us again after a semester off from school, and Paul "Smokey" Dowling, our exchange student from Chico State decided to stay with us for another semester.

All together we are twenty-nine living in the house on Greek Way, and total thirty-seven active Alpha Delta's; a number which hasn't been reached for quite some time.  This Spring semester at Montana State University our goals are to work hard on our recruitment and have an early Activation, work to stay in good standing with the college both academically and socially, and mainly work continue in this upward swing we have deservingly been experiencing.  

Thank you for your support of the Alpha Delta Chapter of the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity.

~Chisholm B. Christensen  

Semester Winding Down

The semester will soon be wrapping up here at Montana State University.  It is currently pretty quiet inside the AGR house as brothers are busy studying for upcoming finals next week and finishing up projects for their classes.  Last weekend did offer the brothers an opportunity to have some fun, however, before studying had to set in.  Last Friday night was the annual Stag-party where the brothers close the house and have an evening with just the active brothers as they reminisce about the accomplishments of the past year and look forward to the year to come.  Saturday morning saw many members of Alpha Gamma Rho at Bobcat Stadium for the second round of the FCS playoffs against North Dakota State University.  Unfortunately, our Bobcats made some errors down the stretch and were not able to overcome the Bison.  Putting the loss out of their minds the brothers carried on as they held the annual Winter Formal, Christmas Party on Saturday evening.  A good time was had by all and Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, and a couple of elves were even witnessed at the event.  Overall, it was a good weekend, but it is back to work as usual here at 1707 Greekway.

Fraternally,

VNR Public Relations

Elections Continued and Two Brothers Receive Alumni Status

This last week saw officer elections completed at the house.  Positions that were up for grabs were: Alumni Relations, Philanthropy, Activities, Public Relations, Scholarship, and Membership Development.  The new officers who will also sit on the executive board are:

Alumni Relations - Sam Walton

Philanthropy - Danny Pratt

Activities - Russell Quinlan

Public Relations -  Chisholm Christensen

Scholarship -  Clinton VanVoast

Membership Development - Jason Pluhar

Last week also saw the election of two brothers to the alumni association upon their graduation this Fall.  Brothers Lane Gobbs and Dylan Klasna were unanimously elected to this honor by the active chapter.  Congratulations to Both Lane and Dylan as well as to all of the new officers who were elected over the past two weeks.  Finally the active brothers hope to see some alumni in town this weekend to cheer on the Bobcats to victory over North Dakota State University in the second round of the FCS playoffs.

Fraternally,

VNR Public Relations