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Volume 5, Issue 8
       March 2016
In This Issue
Tau Legend Campaign
Kappa Sigma Supreme Executive Committee to Meet in Austin
Pay Dues Online
House Construction Ahead of Schedule
Distinguished Alumni Speakers' Series
Cruising with the Kappa Sigs
Tau Legend Campaign
        
A New Residence Hall Built on a Proud Legacy

Six Tau Chapter alumni have been awarded the International Kappa Sigma Man of the Year. No other chapter in the fraternity shares this distinction. As we look to a new residence hall and the future it represents, we celebrate these six Tau Chapter legends and their extraordinary lives through six Giving Circles of the Tau Legacy 2015 Campaign.

For information on the KΣ Man of the Year, their biographies and Giving Circle incentive packages, click on the circles below.



For more information on the Tau Legacy Campaign, click on the brochure below. You can download the donation form in this brochure, print and submit your contribution.

Click to download

Save the Date
Denton Cooley 
Tau Classic
Tuesday, June 7, 2016

    "Life without golf is like a brain without a heart." 
              Denton Cooley, MD

Memorial Park Golf Course,  Houston

Please mark your calendars for a fun day of golf with the Kappa Sigs!

More information coming soon.

Kappa Sigma Supreme Executive Committee to Meet in Austin
 
KΣ Brass Logo
The Supreme Executive Committee of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity will convene in Austin April 29 - 30.  The SEC is the governing body of the Fraternity and the Brothers who serve in these offices are elected at the Fraternity's Biennial Grand Conclave.  


A reception will be held Friday evening, April 29, from 6 - 8 P.M. at Warren Wildlife Gallery, 1401 Bouldin Avenue ( MAP). The meeting will be held Saturday, April 30, beginning at 9 A.M., at the Denton A. Cooley Pavilion, 1601 Red River Street ( MAP).  Kappa Sigma alumni and actives are invited to attend both events. 

Stay Current with Your Chapter
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One Simple Form for KS Alumni, Parents & Actives

Need to update your contact information or sign up for Tau eNEWS and event notices? Simply click on the green Update Profile button and enter your contact information in the required fields. The Update Profile page is one simple form that can be used by Alumni/Trustees, Parents and Actives.  

When you access the page -- either through the button below or through the website -- you will be able to select the types of emails you would like to receive, with the option to choose any or all.  

This data collection system is secure and meets all current privacy laws and regulations.

Please update your information as needed, as you are a valued member of the Tau community and we want to make sure you get your news in a timely manner. We also encourage you to forward this eNEWS edition to fellow Kappa Sigs who haven't yet signed up to receive Tau eNEWs.  

Please send any questions or comments you may have to

Sincerely,

Your Tau eNEWS
Publications Team

update profile
Pay Your Dues Online 
Now you can pay your Tau Trustee dues  online!    
 
Tau Alumni Dues $100:  
Dues Button      Tau Trustee Dues $500:*
Trustees Pay Dues

Tau Trustees dues cover Tau Alumni dues, House Corp. stipend, summer rush contribution, KS Fraternity dues and contributions to KS Military Heroes 

Campaign.


If you would like to pay your dues by check, please mail to:  

Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation / Tau Trustees Educational Foundation
P.O. Box 470061
Fort Worth, TX  76147
Attn: Field Lange  

Please feel free to forward this email to KΣ friends. This list is protected and names are not sold or shared.
Quick Links
Send Us Your News
Email
Please share the latest news in your own life for the "Alumni News" segment.  We welcome news and photos of your recent accomplishments, honors, recognitions and family news.  Please send news and photos to  editor@kappasigtauut.org.
 
Written & Designed by M&M
512.413.1602
 
 
 
Dear Tau Brothers and Kappa Sigma Family,

We received the heartbreaking news of Tau initiate Calvin Stewart's death  just as the final edits were being made to the Spring 2016 Tau eNEWS edition. Profound sadness has this week replaced the usual light-hearted mood at the lodge as the Chapter mourns the loss of a brother who left them much too soon.   

The Chapter held a candlelight vigil in Calvin's honor Monday evening.  His memorial service will be held Saturday, April 2, at 2 P.M. at St. Andrew United Methodist Church in Plano.  Our deepest condolences to his family.  May he rest in peace.
  
Jim Pritchett
A.E.K.D.B., 

Jim Pritchett '71
T.K.S.E.F. Chairman 


Kappa Sigma House Construction Ahead of Schedule   

Architectural planning, engineering details and the arduous permitting process required by the City of Austin has consumed much of the last eight months, but construction for the new Kappa Sigma Residence Hall is now moving forward at a steady pace.  

After removing 550 truckloads of clay to hit bedrock, foundation soil was laid and drilling began for the pier and beam foundation at a 39' depth.  Once the rebar was set, the concrete columns were poured and the foundation, encompassing close to 3/4 of an acre, was poured and trialled.  The first level and walls for the parking garage have been poured and rebar is now being laid to form the foundation base for the first floor, which will be 14' above garage level. 

Hagen McMahon
"We expect to have all four floors above the parking garage framed within the  next three to four months," said project manager Hagen McMahon '66.  "At this point, we're ahead of schedule." 



 
 The new Kappa Sigma Residence Hall for the Tau Chapter
is now under construction.

Please pledge your donation to the Tau Legacy 2015 Capital Campaign today.

Contact: 
Willie Madden 
Director of Alumni Relations & Capital Campaign 
P.O. Box 5021 
Austin, TX 78763-5021 
Phone: (713) 303-6446 
Distinguished Alumni Speakers' Series    

International Safari Hunter Rick Warren Jr. '78 is Featured Speaker in March

Rick Warren has enjoyed an exceptional career growing his Rick Warren 1family-owned Caterpillar dealership (serving as president from 1990 - 1999), working as a professional day trader, and now serving as Managing General Partner of Cimarron Investments, but his greatest passion is traveling the world to hunt majestic animals and exotic birds.  

His first safari was in 2009 and he has enjoyed more than 40 international hunts in the last seven years. Averaging 150 days of hunting each year for the past five years, he has killed animals from 158 different species in Africa and is scheduled to kill five more in 2016.  

On March 7, as the Tau Chapter's featured alumnus speaker, Warren showed video presentations and recounted his adventures tracking and killing animals around the globe.  

Known to his friends as "Deadeye," he has received numerous hunting awards, including the "Big Five," which he was awarded twice. In Africa, the big five game animals are the African lion, African elephant, Cape buffalo, African leopard, and white/black rhinoceros.

He is the founder of Warren Wildlife Gallery, which houses more than 300 full body mount mammals and 400 exotic birds. The gallery is located just south of downtown Austin.  

Warren is the largest contributor to date to the Tau Legacy 2015 Capital Campaign to fund the construction of the new Residence Hall and was a top donor to the Tau 125 Campaign that funded the building of the lodge.  

He earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from UT Austin in 1981. The Tau Chapter presented him with the Frank Erwin award in 1995 and 2010, and honored him as Tau Man of the Year in 2012. He currently serves on the Texas Kappa Sigma Educational Foundation's Executive and Nom inating Committees. 

Featured speaker Rick Warren '78  (center) was presented a copy of Vaquero: Genesis of the Texas Cowboy, a book of Bill Wittliff's fine art photography. Standing with Warren (from left) are Fall GMC Conner Rambin '14, Spring GMC Ben Sarvadi '14, TKSEF Board Vice President Reggie Tuck '69, Tau Chapter Grand Master Michael Swayne '13, and Tau Chapter Treasurer Josh Notari '13. 

Alumni News


Friday, April 22, 2016 Yaupon Golf Course
Saturday, April 23, 2016, Live Oak Golf Course
Lakeway, Texas

All Tau/KS alumni, actives, and family members are invited to play.  
Format is a four-man Florida Scramble.  

Sign Up Today! 
 
More information               Entry form

Registration begins at 11:30 A.M. on Friday, April 22
Friday tee time:  1 P.M.
Saturday tee time:  10 A.M.
Banquet:  Friday, April 22

Answers to some recently asked questions: 

Q.  Can you help us complete a four-man team?  
 
A.  We'll do our best to accommodate, but please contact me as        soon as possible at rlucas@walteroil.com.

Q.  Can other family members play?  

A.   Yes, not only alums, actives, and dads, but other family 
      members are welcome to play. 

Q.  Is it possible to play one day only?  

A.  Yes, but you will be eligible to win only that day's 
     competition, not the tournament. Each day competition 
     includes two closest  to the hole and one long drive.  

Q.  Are wives and significant others invited to the banquet on 
     Friday evening?  

A.  Yes, you can register them at the $50 non-golfer banquet 
     price (a great deal, as it's a break-even price).  

Note:  We're racking up some expenses, so we would appreciate receiving registration payments as soon as possible.  

Thanks and I look forward to seeing you there.
 
A.E.K.D.B.,
Richard Lucas '75

Bill Zwiener '73 Hosts Deer Hunt for Wounded Warriors

A longtime advocate of the U.S. Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment, Bill Zwiener '73 hosted a deer hunt at his South Texas ranch last December for a group of U.S. Marine war veterans and fellow supporters.  

"It was an honor and a privilege to spend time with these brave men who have made incredible sacrifices in service to  their country," Zwiener said. "They are true leaders among men and I would stand with them in any fight. I love and respect each one of them."  

The fallen deer were fully harvested for venison steaks, hamburger and sausage and divided among the participants. Zwiener plans to make this an annual event at the Z4 Ranch, a.k.a. El Rancho de los Cuatro Hermanos.  

Wounded Warrior Regiment serves active duty and veteran Marines by providing resources to facilitate healing in all aspects of their lives.    

Deer hunt at the Z4 Ranch (left to right):  Glenn Danforth (friend and supporter whose son is serving in Afghanistan), Captain Josh Gonzalez (suffered skull fracture on last tour), Staff Sgt. Mark Juarez (sustained sniper bullet wound to the head), Tom Schieffer (friend and supporter), Bill Bilzing (hunt coordinator, former Navy service), Sgt. Edgar "Gunny" Gonzalez, Bill Zwiener (host), Sgt. Ivan Sears (double above-knee amputee), and Don Luksa (friend and supporter).  

Chapter News

Dear Tau Alumni & Parents,

The construction of the new Kappa Sigma Residence Hall is three months' underway and we couldn't be more excited. With four stories providing 40,000 square feet of living space, including 36 bedrooms, the new living quarters will be one of the largest and finest fraternity houses in the country.

On behalf of the Tau Chapter, I would like to express our deepest gratitude to all alumni and parents whose generous donations are making this new house possible. The construction process is amazing and I encourage all alumni and parents to visit the property to witness the magnitude of this alluring structure.

I'm pleased to report another successful fundraising year for our philanthropy cause, the SEAL Legacy Foundation, an organization dedicated to providing support to families of wounded and fallen U.S. Navy SEALS.  We doubled ticket sales in our most recent campaign, raising $5,000 more than the previous year, for a total of $45,000 in contributions. We continue to coordinate events with the organization in the fall and spring and encourage everyone to donate to this great cause.

I'm also very proud of the chapter's academic ranking within the Interfraternity Coucil. We achieved an overall GPA of 3.234, placing us 7th among the 27 fraternities on the UT campus.

As Tau continues to prosper, we remain humble and focused on our goals. With an outstanding rush team, the lodge and new house, we expect this year to be the most successful rush season in Tau history. The recently elected Grand Masters of Ceremo nies for spring and fall, Ben Sarvadi '14 and Conner Rambin '14, are already working hard to launch this year's rush fundraising campaign. Rush-related events are scheduled for late April in Houston and Dallas and all alumni and parents are invited. More updates to follow in the  upcoming months.  

In closing, I want to again thank all alumni and parents. Your participation, guidance and support play a huge role in our success and we will be forever grateful.  

A.E.K.D.B.,  



Michael Swayne '13
Grand Master
Kappa Sigma Tau Chapter

Parents' News

Cruising with the Kappa Sigs
Kappa Sigma Mom/Son Weekend 
April 8th - 10th, 2016 

Friday, April 8
7 - 9:30 P.M.
Mom and Son Sunset Cruise with Drinks & Fajita Dinner; Lake Austin Riverboats 

Sat., April 9
Time TBA
Day Options:
Tour and hike at Lady Bird Wildflower Center 
Yoga at Wanderlust Yoga 
Sat., April 9
7 P.M.
Happy Hour &
Senior Tribute
Lodge

Sunday, April 10 
11 A.M.
Mom and Son SoCo Brunch at the South Congress Hotel
I tinerary and Registration form.  Please print out the registration form, complete the information, and mail with your payment to Wendy Askew by April 1st.  You can also email registration form to kappasigmatauutparents@gmail.com
Wendy 713-540-1028; texaskew2@aol.com
Vickie 940-642-7788; vicdl@sw.rr.com
Itinerary
Registration Form (pdf)
Registration Form (Word)