On Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019 Phi Kappa Psi officially returns to the University of Missouri. On that day, we’ll hold the final in a series of initiation ceremonies at the chapter house, then move down Providence to the Stoney Creek Hotel & Conference Center for a well-earned re-chartering ceremony.

Summary of the Nov. 9 events

• Initiations: 8 am, 9 am, 10 am, 11 am at the Chapter House
• House Construction Tour: 12:30 pm at the Chapter House
• Re-chartering Reception: 2 pm, Stoney Creek Hotel, 2601 S. Providence Rd, Columbia. $30 for alums includes deli lunch buffet, cash bar, re-charter presentation.

Event Details

Over the course of this fall, a volunteer group of alumni has been conducting initiation ceremonies at the Chapter House. On Nov. 9, starting at 8 am and running through around 1 pm, that group will conclude that process. In all, about 70 young men will have been inducted into Missouri Alpha. As you know, space is limited, but please reach out if you would like to attend one of the ceremonies. We’re also looking into offering tours of the new construction project at that time.

Then at 2 pm, we’ll make our way to the Stoney Creek Inn at 2601 S. Providence for a ceremony celebrating our new initiates and the return of the Missouri Alpha Charter. Representatives from Phi Psi headquarters will be on hand. Cost for the event, including lunch, will be $30 for alums to help defray costs of the room and lunch for the undergrads. Please RSVP now if you plan to attend.

We hope to see you Nov. 9.

$2.5 Million Campaign Announced to Preserve Missouri Alpha’s History

We’re bringing you this third issue of the Mizzou Phi Psi 150 with great news and a challenge.

Four years ago, the charter of the Missouri Alpha Chapter of Phi Kappa Psi was suspended. Almost immediately, a group of alumni spanning the decades of the 1,200-plus living Mizzou Phi Psis went to work to make this suspension a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to secure Missouri Alpha’s future. We think we’re well on the way to making that happen.

Missouri Colony members and Mo Alpha alums at the Colony initiation in April 2017.

From those dark days in the summer of 2014, the revitalized group of alumni (called Mizzou Phi Psi 150 in recognition of 2019 being the sesquicentennial year for Phi Psi at MU) has worked in partnership with the Housing Corporation to bring Phi Psi back to campus the right way. We have a communication team to publish newsletters, this website, emails, and social media postings; a master planning committee to meet with architects, construction companies, and lending institutions; and a fundraising team to partner with a nationally renowned firm to lay the foundation to raise funds from our alumni.

The result? Today we announce the kickoff of the Honoring Our Past, Securing Our Future: 150 Years of Phi Kappa Psi at the University of Missouri capital campaign. This campaign aims to raise $2.5 million (just under 50 percent of the total estimated project cost) to renovate the old wing of the chapter house at 809 South Providence and completely replace the new wing. The resulting structure will honor the history of our beloved chapter (formed in 1869 at MU), while ensuring a future of attracting the best and brightest young men to Phi Psi.

Our new colony at Mizzou is going strong, but to sustain that strength, we have to address our outdated living quarters so Phi Psi can be competitive on a campus where dorms, apartments, and Greek houses have changed dramatically in recent years. Our new wing is over 60 years old and has long been deficient in spite of ongoing maintenance and periodic upgrades. Many alumni have said, “I wouldn’t want my son living there.” On the other hand, we are blessed with a stately and historic old wing that we want to preserve, along with a huge yard that is the envy of every other fraternity. We have a strong and engaged base of alumni and a housing corporation that has worked tirelessly to keep up the property while maintaining a strong financial base.

To recap:

• The Mizzou Phi Psi 150 master planning committee, which is co-chaired by Rick Bien ’76, Bob Underhill ’71 and Bill Scheidker ’66, began by assessing the chapter’s housing needs, the competitive environment, and the willingness and capacity of our alumni to support a capital campaign.
• Financial models were created to determine the optimum number of rooms and amenities, and estimate construction costs, debt capacity, and housing fees.
• Architects were evaluated and chosen, then re-chosen after the initial selection opted out.
• Then came lots of dialogue with Cunningham & Associates to incorporate alumni input, leading to a series of renderings that show a completely refurbished “old wing” and a brand new “new wing.”
• A legal framework then had to be established to maximize the tax deductibility of alumni gifts, leading to the creation of The Grasslands Foundation.

All of these things had to be done before we could ask alumni to contribute to a capital campaign. In the coming days and week, you will hear a lot more about the campaign and how you can support this effort. Depending on the extent of alumni support, we could be breaking ground for our new facilities by mid-summer, with occupancy about a year later as we mark our 150th anniversary at Mizzou.

Please take a moment to review this newsletter. We hope it will help evoke fond memories of your time in the chapter, while stimulating your interest in helping a new generation of Phi Psis—and many in the future—to succeed.

Good things take time, but we are well on our way to restoring not only our charter, but also our reputation on campus and the pride we all feel in being MO Alpha Phi Psis. We challenge you to contribute to this important call to all Missouri Alphans.

In the Spring Semester of 2017, Phi Psi will begin recruiting outstanding scholars dedicated to working hard, being involved on campus, and learning the rich traditions and values of Phi Kappa Psi.

We’ve built a strong tradition at Mizzou. We established the first fraternity on campus on June 12, 1869, becoming the first at any land grant institution and public university west of the Mississippi River. Since then, we have initiated 1,830 men, including United States Senator Paul Coverdell, U.S. Congressman William Randall, and many business, community and academic leaders.

Campus buildings Schurz, Neff and Lowry Halls are named for Phi Psis, and our own John Oberall was the first dean of the MU Law School. Our Chapter House was built in 1878 by George Bingham Rollins, a member of the University’s Founding Family.

We’re excited to be back at Mizzou. Watch this space and social media for updates in the coming days.

If you’re an alum of the Missouri Alpha Chapter of Phi Kappa Psi, please provide your contact info so we can keep you updated.

Being an alumnus is hard work,” states the Phi Psi website. “You made some of the best friends of your life in your chapter, but it’s tough to stay in touch, what with your job, your family, and all of the responsibilities that come with daily life. You might think that your Fraternity isn’t all that relevant to you today.”

Think again. Now is a great time to re-involve yourself with Phi Psi … and Missouri Alpha needs you more than ever.

“This is a critical milestone on our road to bringing Mo Alpha back to Mizzou,” says Bill Tracy, Missouri ’76, who leads the Mizzou Phi Psi 150 Chapter Advisory Committee. “We must demonstrate significant alumni support for this effort … and your attendance at one of these events is a necessity. Please make every effort to attend.”

We hope you’ll join national Director of Expansion Benny Rohloff and Director of Chapter Advisory Teams Matt Kifle – and your fellow Phi Psi alums – at one or more of the following events.

1. St. Louis — Thursday, Sept. 22, 11:30 am to 1:30 pm, lunch at Greenbriar Country Club, 12665 Big Bend Rd., Kirkwood, MO 63122.
2. Kansas City — Thursday, Sept. 22, 6:30 to 8 pm, dinner at Westport Flea Market Bar and Grill, 817 Westport Rd., Kansas City, MO 64111.
3. Columbia — Friday, Sept. 23, 11:30 am to 1:30 pm, lunch at Old Alumni Center on the Gustin Golf Course, 1105 Carrie Francke Dr., Columbia, MO 65203.
4. Columbia — Saturday, Sept. 24, at the Chapter House. Game time is 3 pm; we’ll meet at 11:00 am in the cafeteria.

Alums will purchase their own meal (plan on about $20). Dress is business casual (except the tailgate). At the Greenbriar CC, guests may not wear jeans or shorts, and a collared shirt is required.

We’ve extended the RSVP date. Please respond by Tuesday, Sept. 20 by replying to this email or by visiting the online RSVP form.

Sincerely,
Mizzou Phi Psi 150 Committee

P.S. Pat Newsham, Missouri ’86, President of Arcobasso Foods, wants to generate a huge turnout in St. Louis. So he is picking up the tab for every attendee’s lunch there! Will we see you at Greenbriar CC (or in KC or Columbia)? RSVP now!