A MESSAGE TO PARENTS OF MEN IN THE BETA-OMICRON CHAPTER
March 22, 2011
Your son may have informed you that the Kappa Sigma chapter is facing a financial situation that must be resolved if we are to stay active at the University of Denver. This message is intended to inform you of how this situation developed, describe the actions that are underway to solve the issue and solicit your support.
Elsewhere on this web site you will find correspondence to our alumni that provides information regarding our current situation. You should be able to navigate to this information from the home page. It will, therefore, not be repeated here.
The minimum that had to be raised and released to the University of Denver last year was $121,475. We raised $127,407 and the University agreed to permit the financial campaign to continue for another six years. Additionally, pledge commitments totaling $106,642 were obtained from our alumni brothers to be paid during the next three years.
This brings us to today. We are required to deliver a minimum of $97,596 to the University by December. We must also obtain donations or commitments to satisfy the total indebtedness by June 30, 2011. Therefore, we need to raise additional donations or pledge commitments totaling $400,265 by June 30, then be able to pay the minimum amount due each December.
Here is our plan for moving forward. We do not intend to take the entire six years offered by the University to satisfy our obligation. A five-year plan has been developed that seeks to raise $124,519 annually, rather than the smaller amount required by DU. This provides flexibility from year-to-year in the event we come up short in one year. It also provides an additional amount to pay fund raising expenses and a small surplus for unforeseen chapter operating expenses during the next five years.
Teams of volunteers have been organized across the country to reach out to our alumni brothers. The response has been encouraging, considering the economic times we all are facing. We also decided the parents should be informed of this situation and provided the opportunity to assist in our effort to save their son’s fraternity. Providing for a young man’s education at a school such as the University of Denver in today’s economy can be a challenging task. However, those of us involved in this effort recognize the benefits we accrued by being members of Kappa Sigma at DU. The chapter has a storied and commendable 110-year history. We do not want to see the traditions we enjoyed not be available to your son and generations to follow.
You should be able to link to a pledge form that has been designed for parents. It is to be completed and submitted electronically, or you can print a copy and send it to our treasurer, whose name and address is included on the pledge form. If you are able to assist with our efforts to save your son’s fraternity house, I urge you to submit a pledge commitment. At this time we are emphasizing pledges, not donations. While donations will be accepted, they will be placed in an escrow account until we know if attainment of the June 30 deadline is possible. We will turn to fulfilling the pledge commitments during the last six months of this year and the years to follow.
If you are unable to assist with this campaign while your son is a student, but you would be in a position to make a donation after his graduation, a pledge that begins after his graduation is just as good as a pledge to donate this year. We must get commitments totaling $400,265 by June 30. Actual donations can be extended throughout any period you specify.
I have been and continue to be impressed with the quality of men in our chapter. They have encountered some challenges and difficulties, but didn’t we all during our collegiate days? Members of the House Corporation strongly believe the opportunity we had to mature in the fraternity environment led to more productive and rewarding lives. We want to retain that environment for your son. Please help us if you are able.
You can find the online parent pledge form here.
Do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or comments.
Sincerely,
Frank S. Butcher
President, Beta-Omicron House Corporation
Frankbutcher@comcast.net
720-840-5359
