If you have read the first three chapters of this series, you are aware that a lot of dedicated people were involved.

If you haven't read them, you can find them here:

Part 1: A Fraternity in Crisis

Part 2: Rebuilding Brotherhood

Part 3: Restoring Pride

It started out with Jim McDonough rallying alumni from the 70's, and Frank Puopolo, an active member of the House Corporation, giving an impassioned speech on the front lawn during Thanksgiving Week in 2009.

It led to an Alpha Chapter with higher standards, more members, more engaged alumni, and a significantly upgraded facility, including an impressive portico.

Alumni attendance at events and the annual Paintbrush Weekend project grew as overall awareness and pride increased.

All that was needed was validation. Well, maybe it wasn't exactly needed, but it would certainly be welcomed.

One of the first things that jump-started the realization that Phi Sig was again a special place was confirmed by the student body.

In the prior years of the 'resurrection era' each semester the house attracted 4-10 aspiring "Pledges" officially called "Associates" and this number was fine for sustaining the goal of keeping the House fully occupied and keeping the cash coming in to make improvements.

Then during a semester in 2014, Boom.

Twenty-five students aspired to join the fraternity and Phi Sigma Kappa was not only off to the races, but on the verge of becoming the most desirable Greek organization for men on campus.

At the same time, relations with other Greek organizations, including sororities, took a positive turn. The House was reaping the benefits of the hard work, extra effort and leadership on the ground at 510 North Pleasant Street.

Thirty, forty, or fifty new members were added to the rolls of membership for ten years, eventually leading to a consistent Alpha Chapter of well over one hundred Brothers, with about 25% living in the House, and the rest living in dorms or off campus.

Other things happened along the way.

• Philanthropy became a core experience of the members, raising money for a variety of causes through a variety of methods. From sponsoring 5k Runs to benefit a non-profit, to blood drives, to cleaning up the neighborhoods, to supporting the Amherst Fire Department to volunteering at local nursing homes, to working with the Big Brother organization in Amherst. In the 2016-2017 school year alone, Phi Sig raised almost $25,000 for local and national charities.

• Study Hours became mandatory for new members and were held most nights. Guess what happened? The fraternity's GPA improved and there were several semesters where it was the highest among fraternities.

• Brothers gradually filtered into leadership positions with other campus organizations like the Interfraternity Council (IFC).

• The Brothers created a 'J-Board' (J standing for Judicial) that conducted hearings and administered discipline without involving alumni for infractions like breaking a window or missing an important event. A group of 18–22-year-olds were administering justice.

In short, the Cardinal Principles of Phi Sigma Kappa, Brotherhood, Scholarship and Character were now an integral part of the Phi Sig experience and future members were attracted by the undergraduate role models leading the Chapter as much or more than the social experience of a fraternity.

Better results were happening in all areas. For example, for several years during the Town of Amherst Inspections in the Fall and the Spring, the House would regularly fail several times, requiring multiple follow up visits.

Then one year, the House had only minor actions to take after the inspection, and there was an internal celebration. For many years after that 'progress' the Town of Amherst recognized Phi Sig as the best house on campus in terms of maintenance, safety, and condition.

510 North Pleasant Street is private property and not part of the University. As such, the Town of Amherst exerts influence over all aspects of the residence.

To enhance compliance and cooperation, the Chapter started conducting a Standards of Excellence event every semester. Town officials, including the Building Inspector, a Fire Department Lieutenant and the Public Safety Officer from the Amherst Police all meet with the active Brothers and clearly spell out the best practices for a successful semester. School administrators, like the Dean of Students and members of the Sorority and Fraternity Life team also participate. Phi Sig was the first, and maybe the only fraternity to do this.

Have there been blips along the way? Yes. Put 100+ college age kids into the same space and sometimes things don't always go as planned. An occasional disciplinary action by the University has happened from time to time. Has it stopped the momentum? Barely. Each situation turned into a valuable learning and management experience for the men of the Chapter. Has the House persevered? Certainly. The legacy of sustainment is still present at Alpha Chapter.

Sustainability Evidence

Today, many of those former undergraduates who joined the lone nut dancing on the hill have the same appreciation for Phi Sig that the alumni who got invested in the resurrection had.

In fact, the majority of the active alumni today are men who graduated this century since the resurrection. They are giving back.

All three alumni groups have continued to all push in the same direction, with renewed membership.

Advisory Team: Cody Prudhomme, Will Ashley, Tim Jablonsky, and Manny Mundo, from the current era, plus David Ladner from the 00's, are sustaining the legacy of leadership and doing the right things right by collectively advising the undergraduates the same way they were advised.

House Corporation: Zach Desjourdy, James Intravaia, and Andrew McNally were also undergraduates during this period and now constitute the core of the House Corporation, managing a facility that by conservative estimates is valued at well over a million dollars and generates more than $200,000 in annual revenue to pay expenses and invest back into the fraternity.

Alumni Association: Kevin Sharp, Brendan Maseda, and Robert Skuncik, along with Tom Lorito from the 60's and several others are actively managing the original entity that generated involvement.

And this year, instead of a Paintbrush Weekend, they will be leading a Shovel Saturday where alums and brothers will be planting shrubs and creating a new patio space.

Some of the 'old guys' are still hanging around or available with a 'break glass in case of emergency' role.

Alumni Engagement

Other alumni connections continue. Not everyone lives in Massachusetts, and not everyone is involved all the time, but dozens of men who lived in the House continue to connect because after all, fraternity is a lifetime affiliation.

Winter Gala: Until Covid hit, the Alpha Chapter Alumni held a Winter Gala in Boston (soon to return) with well over 100 attendees, mostly alumni, and the event raised money for the Alumni Association to help the house.

Golf Outing: Each year for the past five years, dozens of alumni have participated in a summer golf outing and dinner. It is amazing to see everyone reconnect and, of course, the event raises some money to help the house.

Award Winning Fraternity

The validation of the success of the effort is not just the size of the membership and the connections of the alumni, but the Chapter has earned several national awards as well.

Each award had milestones and requirements.

A distinguished group of national volunteers make the selections each year from among 70 chapters all over the country.

I'm not certain this is a comprehensive list of awards from the Grand Chapter, but you'll get the picture.

2011 -President's Special Achievement Award for Associate Member Education,

2011 -President's Special Achievement Award for Risk Management,

2011 -President's Special Achievement Award for Philanthropy

2011 -President's Special Achievement Award for Membership Experience

2012 -Outstanding Chapter Adviser

2013 -President's Special Achievement Award for New Member Education

2014: President's Special Achievement Award for Recruitment

2014 -Fred Schwengel Most Improved Chapter

2015 -President's Special Achievement Award for Recruitment

2015 -President's Special Achievement Award for Philanthropy/Sponsorship

2015 -President's Special Achievement Award for Community Service/Campus

2015 -President's Special Achievement Award for Philanthropy/Participation

2015 -President's Special Achievement Award for Campus Involvement

2016 -President's Special Achievement Award for Philanthropy

2016 -President's Special Achievement Award for Recruitment

2017 -Herbert L. Brown Outstanding Chapter Award

2022 -Herbert L. Brown Outstanding Chapter Award

2022- Outstanding Chapter Adviser

2023 -Whitfield Chapter of Honor Award

2023 -Outstanding Chapter Advisor

2024 -President's Special Achievement Award for Recruitment

The definition of 'sustainability' is "the capacity to meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own." 

Resurrecting Alpha Chapter was not only an example of sustainability, but also a lesson in sustainability for those involved.

There have been other times the Alpha Chapter struggled and came back, and this story is not meant to diminish the role that Brothers like Fred Boyajian and others played in those resurrections, because everything is built on everything in the past.

But you can ask anyone who became involved as an alum during the time period covered in this series, and the hundreds of undergraduates who experienced a first-class fraternity experience, and they will tell you that they are all proud of their association.

Their reactions support the motto of Phi Sigma Kappa: Damn Proud!

And we are.

Postscript:

At the start of this series, I referenced how alumni would be helpless without undergraduate commitment.

No members of the fraternity did more to sustain Phi Sigma Kappa than the elected Presidents and that honor roll appears here.

As the Advisor, the President was the individual I worked with the closest.

It is the hardest job in the fraternity, with the future dependent on leadership. Each of these men stepped up and delivered a part of the success of the Chapter.

I'd like to wrap this up by thanking the guys I've worked with over the years, and those that have carried on the leadership tradition of Alpha Chapter.

We know what you did, and I am grateful for the role you played in this success story.

Thank you, and remember, without alumni involvement, you would not have had the experience that is Alpha Chapter. When your time comes, consider giving back.

--Ed Doherty, Class of 1974