“Epic”, that is what I am hearing about Snake Reunion # 5 (SR-5)!
Lots of renewed interest from the past, present and for the future reunions and alumni meetings and here are some of the highlights of SR # 5 and our very first Eta Beta Alumni Association Chapter Meeting and our Annual Brotherhood Meeting!
Golf at the Greenville Country Club drew ten golfers, including about four new golfers for the Annual Bobby Tuttle Memorial Golf Tournament. Cost was only $40.00 per golfer and the course was in great condition. We thank brother Joe Arnoult for the new trophy for the winning team and of course the “O’ Sxxt Trophy” is still around for the losing team. Danny Wood did another excellent job of putting together and coordinating the tournament.
Opening social at the Greenville Country Club was a real treat. Great turn out, with over 25-30 brothers and their wives! Food was outstanding! Trolley tour: About 16-20 brothers and wives had a wonderful experience touring the ECU campus. We even got a tour of the ECU’ Joyner Library, something some of us didn’t experience while attending college! Next year we could spend more time visiting the old campus, athletic and health facilities! Millard Maloney did a great job of obtaining advanced football tickets, arranging the Trolley company and entertainment at the banquet.
At the Annual Brotherhood Meeting, Jerry Williams did a great job presenting our new Eta Beta Alumni Association Chaper Bylaws and getting them approved. I will now be working with our National Office as we strive to make our Alumni Association official. Since we don’t get to meet as a professional group but once a year, I will be very protective of our meeting time at future reunions! Also, Ralph Stone continues to do a great job of keeping me up to date and taking our all important notes and maintaining our official records.
Social/Banquet/Dance at GCC: Great facility (even with the PA system out), great food, and good entertainment! Billy Young and Lois Delashment have also agreed to find us a local DJ who will play beach, oldies and blues for next year. That will also be as expense savings!
We are open to suggestion on other entertainment, but I thought the young musicians from ECU were special. Also, special thanks for the Sigma Nu Crests that were donated by brother Joe Arnoult for all participating brothers. TAnd too, the “White Roses” presented at our banquet have become a reunion favorite with our wives and lady friends! Brother Jerry Williams’ roll call of deceased brothers also put our feet back on the ground.
On Saturday, no thanks to “Hurricane Sandy” things began to come unraveled! We did have a good pre-game social at the Wingate, but many brothers for various reasons had to pull out and head home. Those that took the “Trolley” ride to the football game had a great time, only to see Navy sink the Pirates, I am sad to say.
Finally, Brother Wayne Holloman who had planned a post game social in his back yard had to alter those plans. Hopefully the hurricanes will stay away next year. I also want to express appreciation to Brother Ray Spears who was a big help this year but was unable to attend.
SO WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
Let’s worry about 2013 for now! However,we plan to return to Greenville with a date to be announced. I like the month of September, but the Va. Tech game will be a very large crowd, as the “Hokies” really follow. The game vs Ol Dominion is set for August 31st but that is Labor Day Week-end. That could be a positive or a negative! I personally like the Aug. 31st date but the Alumni Chapter Board of Directors and the Executive Committee will make the final decison on dates!
We can look into a charter bus to take us to the football game as that would solve the problem of two trolley trips and make it easier to keep up with lost brothers and wives! I well remember the charter buses to football games, back in the sixties. Such fun and a Sigma Nu Tradition!
I have heard nothing but positive remarks about the Wingate. It is important for us to have our own meeting/social room. It allows us to socialize, have meetings, serve food and keep the bar open 24/7! Plus, the Wingate does not charge us for the meeting room!
The younger generation of Eta Batas was out in force and that is great for our future! We had eleven brothers and their wives to attend their first Sigma Nu Reunion. We can grow on that! They were very excited and appreciative of our efforts and we all had a grand time together. Plus we had three KSNs to attend their first Snake Reunion.
Note to all: There will banana pudding and Brunswick stew on the menu for the next Parker’s BBQ event!
Again I would like to thank all brothers/wives who attended SR #5 and especially Danny Wood, Millard Maloney, Jerry Williams, Ralph Stone, Ray Spears, Wayne Holloman, Joe Arnoult and my wife Sally, who had to put up with me during the many planning sessions!
Finally, how can we ever adequately thank Jolene McCann for her attention to the newly created ECU Swimming Scholarship Endowment sponsored by Kappa Sigma Nu/Sigma Nu brothers and wives. There is no doubt that Jolene more than deserved our “2012 Eta Beta Distinguished Service Award,” given in dedication and love!
Brother Jim Stout
Alumni Chapter Commander
Eta Beta # 71
