Alpha Gamma Rho – Iota Chapter

Annual Founders’ Day Meeting Minutes – April 2010

The 94^th Annual Membership Meeting of Alpha Gamma Rho – Iota Chapter convened at 233 West Lakelawn Place at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday April 10^th 2010. Approximately 100 Iota alumni and undergraduate members were in attendance. 

● Welcome and Introductions – Bob Hagenow, President,  Iota Alumni Corporation

The annual meeting of the Iota Chapter Membership was opened by Eric Ronk using our AGR ceremony.

The membership introduced themselves, giving their name, hometown, an accomplishment and a goal

● Annual Meeting Minutes, April 2009 – Bill Hantke, Secretary, Iota Alumni Corporation

The annual Founders’ Day, April 2009 meeting minutes where reviewed.  A motion was made to accept the minutes.  Properly moved and seconded.  Motion passes. 

● Annual Financial Report – Evan Schnadt, Treasurer, Iota Alumni Corporation

The Corporation checking account balance is currently $26,729 and the Morgan Stanley money account has a balance around $23,800.The current renovation loan balance of approximately $155,000 is being paid down, leaving a balance of about $80,000 after our September 2010 re-imbursement from the National AGR

Iota Fund. A motion was made to approve the report.  Properly moved and seconded.  Motion passes. 

● Corporation Board Structure Update – Bob Hagenow

The revised Corporation Board structure with the 3 working committees has been very successful in involving several new alumni and undergraduate members during the past 12 months.

--Membership Development Committee – Jon Rasmussen, chairman

Target items include creating an enhanced environment for achievement through personal career development plans (PCDP) and scholarship. Also, looking at revamping and evolving the officer         mentorship program. Matt Repinski has joined the committee as an alumni recruitment officer. 

--Communication and Promotion Committee – Corey Geiger, chairman

We are trying to promote Alpha Gamma Rho within our community through press releases relating to the chapter ranging from philanthropic events to new members.  Anson Goldade has been helping us to use our electronic media more effectively including the chapter website and Iota Proud newsletter.  Crescents will soon be archived digitally for viewing online.  All alumni should register to use the chapter website at www.uwagr.com.  Contact Cody Carpenter(cwcarpenter@wisc.edu) with any questions.

--Facility and Finance Committee – Al Koepke, chairman

An overall security check was performed on the house and the suggested improvements have been made to secure the chapter house.  Peter Strassburg organized an extensive house maintenance manual detailing the general upkeep of the house.  The committee has been looking to save money with the current meal system at the house.  Possibilities include cutting the hours of the cook, providing meals four days a week rather than five, posting signups for meals, and posting daily menus.  The summer room rental cost was raised $50.00 to $300 per month to live in the chapter house

● Chapter Advisor Report – Tom Crenshaw and  Brad Garrison

The undergraduate members are directly benefitting from the interaction with the alumni; especially since the field of study is diversifying across the chapter. The morale of the undergraduate chapter is very sound.

● Resident Advisor Report – Robert Weyker

During the fall semester, we had our first annual hog roast.  Around $1000 was raised for the Alzheimer’s Association.  Last fall, we hosted a foreign exchange student from the Netherlands and currently we have a foreign exchange student from France.  This will be Robert Weyker’s last term as resident advisor. David Lammie will be taking over duties as resident advisor for the next two years in August 2010.  

● Nobler Ruler Report – Eric Ronk, Noble Ruler, Iota Chapter

Iota Chapter was recognized this last year as being one of the top AGR chapters in the nation and one of two fraternities at the UW-Madison to be recognized as a Chapter of Excellence.  The new officer team traveled to Philadelphia for the National AGR Leadership Conference in February 2010.  We are looking to improve our member professional development over the next year with more in house presentations.  AGR won the 2009 homecoming competition and has won six out of the last seven years. The Iota Chapter continues to have a vision to be the best fraternity on the UW-Madison campus and the National AGR organization.

● Recruitment Report  - Kevin Zwieg, VNR Recruitment, Iota Chapter

Brothers Kevin Zwieg, Adam Geiger (former VNR-Recruitment), Jacob Greshik, and DJ Ciancio attended the AGR recruitment school.  Twenty (21) new members were initiated in the fall and spring semesters.  Competitive Edge was held on March 20^th with 17 potential members attending to learn about CALS and Alpha Gamma Rho.  The house is full for this coming school year. Alumni should contact Kevin Zwieg (kzwieg@wisc.edu) with the name any prospective member. 

● Management & Operation Report – Paul Merkatoris, VNR Operations

Several patching. painting of walls and general cleaning projects that have been completed, but the appearance of the house should speak for itself.  Summer rental contracts will be given out next week and we are hoping to have 20 people stay at the house during the summer months. 

● Iota Chapter Strategic 5 Year Plan –Karl Drye

A meeting was held January 22-23rd with 27 members consisting of undergraduates and alumni with Zane Akins of National AGR to develop a five year strategic plan.  The main areas that will be looked at in the future were:  Recruitment, Academics, Membership Development, Communication, Finances and Alumni Involvement.  Several action steps and completion dates have been assigned in the plan. A PowerPoint presentation was made by Derek Johnson and is on the National AGR and the Iota Chapter web site.

● Chapter House Property Tax Exempt Status –  Lan Waddell

A 30+ page application for a City of Madison Tax Property Exemption was developed and submitted to obtain a tax exemption for the chapter house property by Lan Waddell, Rick Daluge and Bill Hantke.  To date, no reply has been received from the city of Madison.  We are doing all that we can do to try to make this tax exemption a reality.  It could save the Iota Educational Foundation approximately $22,000 per year.

● New Business  – Bob Hagenow

--The election of Alumni Corporation Board members for the positions formerly held by Ben Towns and Bernie Staller was necessary.  Nominations were opened for the positions with Jon Rasmussen (1^st term) and Bernie Staller (2^nd term) being nominated for 3 year terms.  A motion was made to close nominations and cast the unanimous ballot.  Properly moved and seconded.  Motion passes. 

--The Iota of Alpha Gamma Rho Corporation By-Laws required some revisions with the addition of the 3 working committees.  A summary of the proposed changes was distributed to all in attendance.

Revisions will be: (1) Board of Directors will be 15 instead of 9 members, (2) Quorum to be “majority of directors” instead of 4 members, (3) Allow members who have served two x three year terms to be re-elected after a one year lapse, (4) State the Corporation Board Secretary and Treasurer to be two separate positions, while permitting an option of one person filling both positions, (5) Including an indemnification statement that the Corporation shall provide indemnification for current and former Directors against judgments and liabilities. 

New Business and Discussion – Bob Hagenow

●A motion was made to close the April 10^th 2010 Iota Chapter Annual Meeting meeting, moved and seconded.  Motion passes and the meeting was closed at 4:35 pm.

Bill E. Hantke

Alumni Secretary

Iota AGR Corporation

April 12, 2010