National Alpha Zeta Service Project

We're talking with several organizations about a possible National Alpha Zeta Service Project to benefit the victims of Hurricane Katrina and Rita in the Gulf Coast.

This work trip would be four or five days in mid-December or early January (during winter break). The relief/rebuilding project would benefit farms or rural areas in the Gulf Coast (most likely Louisiana or Mississippi).

Alpha Zeta would provide transportation from the National Office in St. Louis and we'd work with an organization that would provide lodging and meals. You'll be sleeping indoors and eating hot meals.

I'm looking for 12-15 volunteers. You don't need any particular experience or ability, just a willingness to donate your time. Additionally, if you're south of St. Louis you'd probably be able to meet us at the site. Let me know what you think, if your interested or know of some way we can help.

"We must constantly keep before us the ideal of doing the greatest good for the greatest number." -- Alpha Zeta Initiation Ritual

Woodland, Chico, Sacramento

Wow! Great trip. Unforntunately, it must come to an end. All too early. Alan and I have a 6:30 a.m. flight out of Sacramento; hence we had to depart Chico instead of enjoying some more of their hospitality.

Nonetheless, we had a good visit with the California Wheat Commission. We toured their wheat laboratory. Also learned they have 4-5 internships available in a variety of fields.

After the meeting it was on to Chico, which is a neat town. We had dinner at the Sierra Nevada Brewery. We supported local agriculture by imbibing in some wonderful brew (Sierra Nevada was founded by a Chico State alum) and sampled some beef raised on the Chico State farm. My complements to the ranchers...

Went for after dinner refreshment with Cal Eta Chancellor Emily Morgan and Student Rep. Eryn Creamer at J.O.E.'s a popular bar with the students and faculty on campus. We'd call it a dirt bar in STL, but a better term would be a sawdust bar. Literally had an inch of sawdust on the floor (us city folk don't see that too often -- I'm sure there is a code against it in St. Louis).

Saturday we met with High Chancellor Paul Ruszkiewicz, AZ Foundation Board Member Paul Jones and Eryn. Caught up with the Cal Eta and visiting Cal Delta group who toured the Sierra Nevada Brewery. Had lunch and toured the Chico State Farm then took a quick tour of campus.

Paul R. led the installation in the evening. It was a great slice of instant history. The chapter had a good turn out -- and it was really great Cal Delta (thanks George and Nancy Loogman, Shana??? and one other young lady, who's name I can't recall) came up for the ceremony. We presented the chapter with a charter and gavel; engraved: Alpha Zeta, California Eta Chapter, September 24, 2005.

Going over the installation, we ran into some issues with the reading due to changes in the colony process in 2003. With the colony process, you don't necessarily need to initiate new members at the installation, as done in the past. I'm going to do some further updates and get the changes passed through the High Council, so we can clarify ceremony in the future.

I'm looking forward to getting the photos from Cassie and Melissa -- thanks in advance -- and putting more information about the event on the Web site.

San Luis Obispo, Fresno

After a successful meeting in Modesto -- and almost getting struck by lighting, we've had a great couple of days. I can now officially promise that the NALC will be excellent! The Cal Delta Chapter is getting things together and planning a great conference. They've got some interesting things on the agenda that will be fun and educational.

Anyway, Alan and I met with the Bob McCorkle, Gene Starkey, Katie Krimitz, Nancy Loogman, a couple of other Cal Poly administrators and a couple more chapter members (sorry, I unfortunatly can't remember everyone's name, yet.) Gene, a prof. emeritus, gave us some great leads and good ideas. Katie took us to one of the tour locations. It will be a tough decision on which tour to take.

We had lunch at this crazy place where we might also have the banquet called the Madonna Inn. It's like a swiss chalet with an Italian/Western influence and French Cafe flair.

Today we drove over to Fresno met with a handful of people at Fresno St. to try to get the chapter going again. They're excited and have a $20,000 endowment as a motivator. Hopefully, we'll get a few students to come to the NALC.

Then we met with people from the California Apple Commission and Nisei Farmers League. Both good contacts. And things are looking very positive. Come March we will be able to produce a great conference.

Off to Chico tomorrow.

Cheap ways to get to NALC 2006 at Cal Poly, SLO in California

Check out and maybe sign up for membership at Student Universe:

http://www.studentuniverse.com/

I've found many cheap flights through this website, and the great thing is that I have opted to have them send me deal alerts through my email and inform me of great deals around the US - often around the world, too!

I strongly encourage any chapters that are planning on attending NALC 2006 here at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo(SLO), CA to start looking for flights now, cheap flights to SLO are not impossible to find!!

Sacramento, Modesto, San Jose

Alan Krob and I arrived in Sacramento today, after minor delays leaving St. Louis. We met with Bill Mattos with the California Poultry Federation in Modesto. Good meeting and a great way to kick off this West Coast Blitz. Hopefully, the rest of the trip will go that well.

We're in San Jose tonight. Then off to San Luis Obispo tomorrow to meet with Bob McCorkle and others at Cal Poly. Traffic not withstanding, should be a good drive.

Hurray, a comment! Props to Cornell

Thanks Dianne in Washington State!

Also, I did get in touch with the Cornell Chapter. And I will be in Ithaca in a couple of weeks. Thanks Scott Henning, Cornell Chancellor for putting me up at the house for a couple of nights. I'm looking forward to my first visit out there.

In other news, Alan and I leave for California tomorrow. We'll be in places that end with "O": Sacramento, Modesto, San Luis Obispo, Fresno and Chico. Wish us luck.

Update from the National Office

Next week Exec. Dir Alan Krob and I will be in California talking with several organizations about sponsorship for the NALC. On Saturday we'll be in Chico for the Cal Eta Chapter installation, which I am looking forward to. It should be an interesting instant history moment for AZ.

In the meantime, I've sent out notices to the 2005 scholarship winners, and posted them on the Web site. Check that out when you get a chance. It's a great reminder of the talent AZ has in its membership. Additionally, apply for a 2006 scholarship. It's not a ton of money, but it is a check written to you, not the university, so you can spend it however you'd like. Of course we'd prefer it be used for tutition or books.

In a couple of weeks, I'll be in Vermont. If I can get in touch with ANYONE at Cornell (answer your phone folks), I hope to stop by the house and take a couple of Cornell members with me to the Green Mountain Centennial.

And I have an idea for a Fraternity fundraiser: "Support Agriculture" wristbands (or Alpha Zeta wristbands). If anyone is interested, let me know.

I'd still like to see some comments on the site. Just say hi or something. This is a blog, it doesn't have to be profound.

To those effected by Hurricane Katrina

Our thoughts and prayers go out to AZ alumni, students, their families and all those in the Southeast effected by Hurricane Katrina. We pray for your health and safety, and hope for a speedy recovery. Please feel free to post your comments and condolences to those effected. Godspeed.