Monday, August 24, 2009

College Housing Infrastructure Act - fighting for tax-deductible donations

Wouldn't you be even more enticed to contribute to this renovation if the donation were tax deductable? The fact that HCB donations are currently not tax deductable is a reality we've been frustrated by from the outset of our renovation project. Below is an invitation I received via the Gamma Phi Beta Atlanta Alumnae grapevine (thanks for the heads up, ladies) in support of the College Housing Infrastructure Act. Regardless of whether or not you attend, check out more information about the political action committee focused solely on Greek issues in Washington and make your support heard!
__________________
On August 25, the Fraternity and Sorority Political Action Committee
will be hosting a reception in support of the College Housing
Infrastructure Act. As you can see from the reception invitation, Kris
Bridges (Phi Mu) and Julie Burkhard (Alpha Chi Omega past
international president) are on the host committee, as well as various
other IFC members.

Currently, you cannot make a tax-deductible donation to a Housing
Corporation to assist with improvements in campus sorority or
fraternity housing. The College Housing Infrastructure Act (CHIA)
will work to make these donations tax deductible. At a time when
housing on campus is difficult to come by, safe, affordable fraternity
and sorority housing is critical, and our support of campus housing is
paramount. Each college depends on IFC/NPC housing for their
students, yet support of those organizations which provide the housing
is not eligible for tax deductions. As you know, donations to the
colleges themselves are! This will make capital campaigns for housing
much easier. It’s in the interest of IFC /NPC organizations to push
for and gain support of this act so that they can continue to thrive
on campus.

Please Join Us For A Reception For The
Fraternity & Sorority Political Action Committee
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Anthony’s Restaurant
3109 Piedmont Road, Atlanta, GA 30305
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM Reception
Cash Bar & Hors d’oeuvres


Honorary Host Committee
Congressman Nathan Deal (R-GA) ΑTΩ
Congressman Phil Gingrey (R-GA) ΣN
Congressman Jack Kingston(R-GA) ΛХΑ

Host Committee
Brian Bates, TKE
Kris & Tee Bridges, ΦМ & ΣΑE
Julie Cain Burkhard, ΑХΩ
David Carico, KA
Mike Carroll, ΔХ
Robert Durham, ΣN
Bart Newman, ΣΦE
Joe Zimmerman, ΑEΦ
State Representative Joe Wilkinson, ΛХΑ

Electronic payments can be made by visiting:
www.fratpac.org
Or checks can be made payable to:
Fraternity & Sorority PAC
P.O. Box 3435, Alexandria, VA 22302
Contribution: $100
Student Contribution: $25

To RSVP: Contact Kevin O’Neill – (757) 207-6002

Federal law requires us to use our best efforts to collect and report
the name, address, occupation and name of employer of each individual
whose contributions aggregate in excess of $200 in a calendar year.

Contributions are not tax deductible for federal income tax purposes.
The maximum an individual may contribute is $5,000 per calendar year.
Corporations, foreign nationals without green cards, and minors under
age 18 are prohibited from contributing.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Pledge Class 2009

This coming Monday will mark their first Chapter experience... Say hello to the new faces of Gamma Phi Beta, three of which are legacies, and three of which are sophomores! (Click here for more information on the new upperclassman quota. ) Quota was 47 but because our chapter was not at Panhellenic cap (due to ebb and flow of graduating seniors), we were able to take additional new members... a great thing because all of these women are incredible!

New Member Educator Kate Adams is looking for alumnae guest speakers for new member meetings. If you are interested in contributing - in this way or another - please contact Chapter Advisor Kristen (Schmidt) White via e-mail: kristinschmitwhite@gmail.com.

Gamma Phi Beta New Members, Pledge Class 2009:
*Goldberg, Hannah (daughter of Delta Upsilon founding member Jan (Hawell) Goldberg of Roswell, Ga)
*
Ensley, Emma
*Swindall, Caitlin
Adams, Lyndsey
Anderson, Brittany
Cook, Carsen
Cowart, Caroline
Croteau, Brea
Dunlap, Laura
French, Rachel
Gray, McKenzie
Green, Katie
Hamblin, Sarah
Hampton, Rebecca
Harmon, Sara
Haymaker, Ali
Hebb, Lauren
Hinkson, Kristin
Hodges, Haley
Hylinski, Julia
Kottis, Christine
Ladson, Anna
Lattanzi, Jenna
Leduc, Corynne
Lindsley, Lauren
Maddox, Beth
Malone, Mackenzie
McCain, Bethany
McLaughlin, Bethany
McLean, Liz
Minish, Briana
Morris, Sarah
O'Connor, Lauren
Payne, Taylor
Peacock, Courtney
Pease, Emily
Peterson, Erin
Price, Meredith
Pulliam, Kacey
Pulliam, Lia
Quester, Rachel
Seabolt, Alex
Sharis, Wanda
Shaw, Emily
Slaughter, Elizabeth
Smith, Kaley
Sosnowski, Hailee
Strickland, Ashleigh
Suhr, Abby
Taylor, Emily Kathryn
Unger, Megan
Van Wagner, Court
Weinstein, Danielle
Wheeler, Sarah
Whigham, Claire
Yealy, Katie
Zolghadri, Shireen
*Legacies


Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Bid Day!

Yesterday, UGA's Recruitment 2009 came to a close... I'll post more details soon, but meanwhile, click here for Gamma Phi Beta ON THE FRONT PAGE of the Red & Black today!

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Hardwoods and Lighting

Here are a few upgrades that have been done to the existing part of the house during Phase I.
A phenomenal difference hardwoods make - both in the back hallway (see previous post) and the TV Room!
The parlor and the library BOTH received ceiling makeovers... gone are the metal-boxed-sprinkler system, and, compliments of Parents' Club, we added recessed lighting AND a chandelier in each room.

This is the new dining room chandelier.Speaking of lighting - here are new lights in a new location (no longer on the column) by the front door; and then the light that hangs above the balcony outside.

There are so many other amazing details to notice that I can't capture them all. For example, did you notice in the picture of the library that the pocket doors have been stripped and restained, an attempt to restore the authenticity of the home. I have learned that when many minds come together, phenomenal things can be accomplished. I've got so much more to show you, so stay tuned.

Friday, August 7, 2009

Phase One Complete - Side Entrance & Foyer

Below is the first series of Phase I completion photos. I thought I'd start with shots of the new side entrance (by Henderson St) and foyer to the chapter room. From left to right, top to bottom, the new profile of the house; new side entrance mimics the look and feel of the front main entrance; side entrance opens to hardwood foyer/gathering area; first impression from side entrance (to the right of the side entrance door is one of three sets of interior doors to the chapter room not pictured here); standing in the back hallway (by where the old back entrance was) and looking toward new side entrance door; perspective from original part of the house looking down the back hallway (no more carpet!); main set of interior double doors to chapter room off of back hallway.

















In subsequent posts I'll show you upgrades to the existing part of the house, the new laundry room, vending closet and powder room. Then I'll do my best to explain the upstairs new addition while it's in the framed stage.

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

NEW ARRIVALS!

Twice the congratulations to our renovation's Project Manager and Delta Upsilon's very own Liz (Bagarozzi) Hutcheson (PC '91)... She's been so busy managing and facilitating this enormous renovation project, the fact that she spent the summer pregnant with twins has been, well, just plain amazing.



Good news!



Our Superwoman became Supermom last week... On Thursday July 31, 2009 Liz welcomed the arrival of Drew and Alex, beautiful, healthy twin baby boys!



Join me in pouring on Liz all of our happy wishes (and gratitude for her ability to multitask)!

Phase I is COMPLETE!

Speechless...

I don't know where to start. I cannot adequately put into words how astounded I am by the transformation of the sorority house. (For the sake of blogging, I will try.)

Sunday I went to the house for the HCB Annual Meeting; this was my first time inside the house since renovations began. I should have been somewhat prepared because I've been privy to the site plans and even some of the finishes. But walking through it - actually being within the walls - I was fulfilled and inspired in a way I didn't expect.

I counted and 397 S. Milledge has been home to at least 1,000 women over the past 25 years. This was home while profoundly formative years of college played out... (You tend to learn a lot about yourself with half of a dozen roommates!) And a LOT of great memories have been made because of this ole' house. A few spring to mind for me... Janet's wallpaper joke was the only cure for my mid-rush tired smile. And the phone conversations that happened on that back landing! Peering from the stairs by the attic down into the foyer to catch a glimpse of so-and-so-'s blind date. Exam cramming-turned-composition of "Hold Me Closer KP Taylor". Mysterious tater-tot discoveries... All of us - especially those of us who lived here - had our favorite and not-so-favorite parts of the house. So to see this home finally really given the dedicated attention it has long deserved, well, it's just so fulfilling. This house just sparkles!!

I've been inspired to attempt to get every alumnae into the house to experience this for herself! Meanwhile, over the next week (and as soon as I find my camera connector cord), I'll be posting picture after picture of the house.

Followers

About Me

I pledged in 2000, and that's when I first heard we were going to renovate the house. I graduated in 2004, moved to Atlanta where I now live with my fellow UGA grad (and AKL advisor) hubby Eric. Since 2006, I've been volunteering with HCB. I have been an Atlanta-area Realtor for the past 3 years and now also serve as the southeastern property manager for Chick-fil-A, Inc. You can reach me at: flowers.jennifer@gmail.com