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Frank Miles, Tattler Editor
Scott Erb, Tattler Staff
Phil Wilson, Tattler Staff
Tommy House, Tattler Webmaster
Not Pictured:
Travis Bryant
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The Downbeat
Frank Miles, Tattler Editor
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Welcome
to the biggest Sinfonian Tattler ever!
We don’t have any statistical proof to back that up, but it feels
like this issue is packed with more information than any other.
First
of all, if you’re an online auction junkie, we’ll tell you where you can
find some fraternal merchandise.
We’ll also explore some reasons behind Troy University’s name change and we’ll give
you a glimpse of what to expect from the Sound of the South this season.
Part
2 of My Idea of a Good Sinfonian
will tell us how to reach our potential and we’ll learn how alumni dues
are spent “for the good of the order.”
We’ll look in on a group who made the journey to Evansville to become better
leaders. And, of course, we’ll
catch up with some of our long lost brothers. The moon is turning into a football,
and the Sinfonian Tattler is ready to kick-off!
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Phi Mu Alpha’s New “Bids”
Travis Bryant, Tattler Staff
 At one time, the only bids that
Phi Mu Alpha was concerned with were the ones chapters handed out to
prospective members after a few short interviews and one very loooooooong chapter meeting. But that's not the case anymore.
Now there's eBay.
Over the past year, the number of fraternal items placed on the auction
site has  increased immensely. It is kind of fun to peruse the listings
to see what is out there. Lost your
brother's pin? You can find a new
one; even a jeweled one. There are
song books to be bought and long lost black and white  photos. Not to mention pillows, paddles and
pens. Even the occasional
hand-tooled-brother-inspired item makes the online catalog. Lyrecrest even got in on the action last
year and sold the bar that was downstairs for so many years!
If you're a member of the national listserv, then you've no doubt read up
on some of the opinions of the selling of such fraternal items. Some are afraid that this, at worst, will
let the mystic cat out of the bag and litter the streets with our fraternal
secrets. Or at best, just manages to
cheapen the meaning of fraternity.
 We at the Tat are calling it
either way. That's a discussion for
the listservs. We just want you to
know that it is all out there.
Because if there is one thing we are sure of, it's that all of this
stuff would be a lot better off at home, under a brother's roof; someone
who gets it, who understands and can enjoy all of the hidden symbolic
meaning.
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Travis has lost every eBay auction he has ever participated
in.)
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Are You Ready?
Phil Wilson, Tattler Staff
The
city of Troy has been quiet these last few
months, but soon that all too familiar sound will be filling the airways
demanding the attention of citizens and area alumni. You know what sound I am talking about…
The Sound of the South.
Fans
will be treated to the sounds of Latin jazz as the Sound of the South
presents another season of great music.
The band will offer some spicy flair to the audience with its opener
“La Virgin de la Macarena” followed by several other Latin charts arranged
by Ralph Ford. And just when we are
learning to do the Cha Cha, the band will hit us with something else we can
dance to. The second show will be an
R&B show, and will definitely delight audiences.
Not only
will our ears be gratified, but our eyes will be, too. The band will be decked out in new
jackets and the helmets will be sporting a new plume. Check out this link for a glimpse of the
new uniform.
http://www.soundofthesouth.org/uniforms/index.htm
This
year’s homecoming is a special one as it marks the 40th
anniversary of the Sound of the South.
Alumni of Troy State University will be traveling back “home”
to celebrate and bring the original Sound back to town. Please make plans to join the alumni band
on Nov. 5, 2005. Mark Walker, Assistant Director of Bands,
asks for alumni help by paying your alumni dues, participating in alumni
band and continuing to support the Sound of the South. We look forward to seeing all Iota Nu
alumni and sharing in some brotherhood as we cheer on the Trojans. For more information about homecoming and
the John M. Long School of Music, check out the
website.
http://music.troy.edu/
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Trojan Summer Music Games
Troy Russell, IN, Special to the Tat
Thanks
to a newly renovated stadium and a renowned music program, Drum Corps
International returned to Troy on July 26 to take part in the DCI Trojan Summer Music Games.
Eight
of the finest drum corps in the world took part in the games: Cavaliers,
Blue Devils, Spirit of JSU, Carolina Crown, Colts, Troopers, Kiwanis
Kavaliers and Mandarins. The corps,
classified by DCI as Division I corps, can have up to 135 members
and are considered to be of the highest performance quality.
The
best of the best that night were the Cavaliers.
When
Division I drum corps go on tour for the summer they must travel as a
self-sustaining entity. Division I
corps generally travel with three to five charter buses for members and
staff, at least one equipment trailer, a food trailer and support
staff. When corps attend a
competition they are usually provided a place to sleep and shower, a place
to hook up their food trailer, practice facilities and even laundry
facilities. Coordinating all these
amenities for eight Division I corps, in addition to coordinating the
competition itself, is a monumental task.
When Troy University began to undertake this task
they turned to the local chapters of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Kappa Kappa
Psi, Sigma Alpha Iota and Tau Beta Sigma for assistance.
Brothers
of the Iota Nu Chapter were excited to be able to help make the Trojan
Summer Music Games a success.
Brothers volunteered in many various positions from concession stand
workers to score tabulators to the field workers that escorted the corps to
and from the stadium. In return for
their hard work the proceeds from the concession stands at the competition
were split among the four organizations that volunteered. The proceeds from ticket sales went to
benefit Troy University bands.
The
brothers of the Iota Nu Chapter realize that organizations such as DCI help to promote “the
advancement of music in America,” and it is for this reason the
Iota Nu Chapter will continue to volunteer at events such as the Trojan
Summer Music Games.
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Q
& A: Eli Odum
Phil Wilson, Tattler Staff
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The year was 1997,
the class was the Alpha Delta Delta Betas (otherwise know as the ADDBs),
and the brother is Eli Odum. You may not remember what the service
project was, or even what songs were performed on their recital, but I am
sure you will remember the stunts pulled as you read this months’ alumni
spotlight. Get reacquainted with Eli Odum.
Tat: Please tell us where you are originally
from and what drew you to Troy State.
Eli: I was born in the small
northeast Georgia town of Clarkesville. I grew up around there
and in the Atlanta area as we moved a good bit,
finally settling back down in Clarkesville.
I attended Habersham Central High School and had an awesome band
director by the name of Nelson Payne. Mr. Payne always made band a
lot of fun and very classy as well, and around my junior year of high
school I decided that’s what I wanted to do. So I checked into a
few of the big schools in the north Georgia area, but never found
anything that worked for me.
So I asked about his old alma mater, Jacksonville State! And guess where he
recommended I go…good old Troy State. I guess that makes two
great band directors to come out of Jax State and prefer Troy State, if you know who else I’m
referring to. An assistant coach at my high school formerly worked
at TSU (he actually returned while I
was there) and helped me get in touch with the right people, and the rest
is history.
Tat: How would you rate your TSU experience?
Eli: I had a blast. Wish I hadn’t taken out so
much in student loans, but that’s life. I really learned a lot
about music and about life (real life and “social” life). From Long
Hall to The House of Goodness, a lot changed in me in those three and a
half years. I didn’t finish, but I also came to the conclusion that
I wouldn’t want to be a band director anymore. But my great musical
experiences at TSU lent to furthering my musical
career anyway, so all was not lost!
Tat: What appealed to you
about Phi Mu Alpha that made you want to become a member?
Eli: Well, in all honesty, the whole college
experience was my main reason to look into a fraternity. I felt I
should be involved in one, although I had no idea what they are really
about. Phi Mu Alpha made the most sense. I didn’t want to be
a huge partier for four years, and I knew I couldn’t afford the outrageous
social dues. Plus, I wanted something that related to my ultimate
goals, and that was and still is Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. I really
love the goals of supporting American music in America (no, that’s not rhetorical),
and still having a good time doing it. Oh, and Chuck Maguire
wouldn’t let me back out. LOL.
Tat: What year were you initiated?
What is the greatest memory you have from that period?
Eli: I am a member of ADDB, IN ’97. And I would have
to say that MY favorite memory from that period is simple. Anyone
remember when that certain brother (who shall remain nameless to protect
the innocent) road tripped himself to Dothan, walked from the old north
Wal-Mart to Krispy Kreme, and hand-cuffed himself to the table outside
Checkers, in hopes that his pledge bro’s wouldn’t let him down? And
we all showed up, even sick Travis (who I vividly remember beating me on
the head several times with a sprite bottle).
Oh, there was also a time when a
certain other brother (who may or may not be in charge of this column)
had a run in with Bambi…
Tat: Are you able to implement the ideals
that are taught in Phi Mu Alpha. If so, how are you able to do so?
Eli: I am out all over the country with my current
band, The Ranchhands. We are performing original music that we have
written, along with country and rock songs written by other American
composers. We are also spreading our music to other parts of the
world, as we have a decent following in a few European countries.
We strive to put out the best every time, not just to be out there making
money playing crap. Everyone in this group loves what we do and
it’s a part of our lives, to make great music for people who love great
music.
Tat: What is your current occupation?
Eli: Occupation? Well, I currently am
occupying a hotel room in Grand Forks, ND, and tomorrow it will be a
cheap little motel room in Bismarck. This band is my
primary source of revenue. But I do occasionally write for Jalen
Publishing still, but not as frequently as I would love to. Gotta
work on that. But in general, making good music is my occupation.
Tat: Tell us more about the band
that you are a part of.
Eli: We are The Ranchhands,
based out of Nashville, Tenn. We have an album out
currently titled “Back Home.” It’s not something you’ll find at
Wal-Mart, but it is pretty darn good (even though it was recorded before
I joined the band).
Since I joined these guys in March of 2005, I
have been from Jersey to Jackson Hole, Wyo. and from Tulsa to just south of Canada. And we are going to be
in Europe for six weeks this summer (I can’t wait!). We
have even done shows along side some pretty big names already, including
George Jones, Alan Jackson, Keith Urban, The Charlie Daniels Band, and
many others (including my personal favorite, Joe Diffie).
You never know if we will be (or have been) in
your area. Check us out at www.theranchhands.com for a complete list of tour
dates, always being updated. Our CD can also be listened to and
ordered off of there.
Tat: What is the best part
about this job?
Eli: To me, the best thing is that I do what I love,
and make a relatively good living at it. Anytime you can make money
of any sort by making music, you’ve accomplished something, and when you
can support your life doing it, and comfortably, you really have a good
thing going on. But even better than that, meeting new friends from
all over the world and seeing them again because they love what you do is
truly a blessing.
Tat: Any shout outs?
Eli: Oh lord, shout outs…I know I’ll leave someone
out, but what-the-hay!
Phil, you have always been a great
friend, and a true Sinfonian.
Scerb, keep up the good work on this
thing! I’m lovin’ it!
To all my ADDBs, where are you guys
at now?
To my big bro, Russell Rutland,
you’re the best, good buddy. Hope life is treating you well.
To Larry Wells, Chad Turner, Michael
Bird, and all the rest from the House of Wood...where the hell is Vince
Jackson?!? :-D
And to everyone else reading this,
Hail Phi! Hail Mu! Hail Alpha! Hell Yeah!
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Conclave 2005. Different.
Better.
Frank Miles, Tattler Staff
 It had been a few years since
the national fraternity offered a leadership conclave for its members, but
it was worth it.
The
theme was “Different. Better.” And
it was.
More
than 170 Sinfonians, collegiate and alumni alike, swarmed the campus of the
University of Southern Indiana in July to take part in the
conclave. There was music,
brotherhood and education. Oh yeah,
and the delicious food that only Marriot can bring to the table.
Province
34 was well-represented by three chapters: Pi Sigma, Delta Beta and Iota
Nu. The Trojan contingent was the
largest as Justin Amaro, John Mitcham, Troy Russell, John Phillips, Jim
Brasher and Frank Miles made the trek to Evansville. There are stories to tell, but let’s just
say we all had a good time.
 Since developing leadership was
the main focus of the event, two heavy-hitting motivational speakers were
brought in to present strategies for effective leadership. John Spence, who has consulted Fortune
100 companies, and Michael Poll, who has spoken on campuses across the
nation, really hammered home the importance of setting goals and formulating
a plan. Elaine Penn, also popular
with the college crowd, brought her brand of motivation which entails team
building, diversity, stress management and peak performance.
 The highlight for many
attendees, though, was the presentation by a Sinfonian. John Mongiovi, Upsilon Psi, conveyed the
“Message of the Ritual,” delving into the deepest meanings and symbols
portrayed in the Ritual. If you
haven’t seen it and you get the opportunity, do not miss it. It is inspirational, to say the least.
 Province Governors and Alumni
Coordinators also engaged in meetings at the conclave and worked hard to
formulate a plan for getting alumni reconnected to the fraternity. You’ll be hearing much more concerning
alumni involvement in the future.
All in
all, the conclave was extremely educational and, more importantly,
extremely fraternal. For more
information on the speakers, click the following links:
www.johnspence.com
www.leadersmakeithappen.com
www.elainepenn.com
(View More Conclave 2005 Photos Here)
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Organization: A Key to Success
A Conversation with Dan Krueger,
Director of Alumni Affairs
Travis Bryant, Tattler Staff
If you get enough alumni
brothers together it won't be long before the fellas start talking about...
organizing! Face it, it's in our
Sinfonia-blazed blood to want to streamline things and make it all as
efficient as possible. Not too
mention worthwhile. As active alumni
discussions pop-up more frequently in chat rooms, on discussion boards and
in workshops we thought we'd find out what the pros at Lyrecrest were
cooking.
Organized alumni groups are
nothing new to Phi Mu Alpha. They've
been around for as long as Jim Brasher can remember (I'll let someone else
do the math!). And there are two flavors
still popular among "the old guys" – alumni clubs and alumni
associations.
 Associations and clubs hold equal ground in the area of importance,
said Daniel Krueger (Xi Pi '96), Director of Alumni Affairs. "In large metropolitan areas,
associations make sense because of the likelihood that a large
representation of Sinfonians live there and can sustain such a group,” Dan
said. “Alumni clubs are there for
alumni that choose to continue the alumni experience of Sinfonia with
brothers of their initiating chapter.
“A central group that live in
the area usually organize it and communicate through the use of e-mail and
message boards. They both serve the
purpose of fulfilling a desire to interact with each other, so neither is better
than the other."
Krueger says that the set-up for
the two types of groups is intentional: alumni clubs, consisting of alumni
from one chapter only, and alumni associations, grouping together brothers
from any chapter. "If twelve
brothers are living in an area, but were initiated at different chapters,
having the option to organize through an association makes sense," Dan
said. "It can be difficult to
find the needed amount of people from the same chapter living within a given
radius. The chance that something
can be organized that is open to anyone will have a greater rate of
success."
Of course, as with anything of
worth, there is a cost involved. For
a group of alumni to form an association they must first petition the guys
in Evansville. This
carries a petition fee of $100. If
approved and the process is completed, all alumni association members are
then subject to $40 annual national dues.
Krueger says, in a viable and living organization, it's not hard to
connect the dots to see where and why the money is needed.
"The petition fee can be
justified in the following ways: 1.) Copies produced for the Commission on
Standards to the petition for approval (hopefully). 2.) Time needed to run all contact
information and make sure that it is up-to-date in the Fraternity's
database. 3.) Cost of producing, framing and
mailing a charter to the group."
He said the alumni dues are just
as valuable. "The $40 alumni
dues is a commitment that the members are making to help the Fraternity
with its everyday operational costs,” Dan said. "By paying dues, members are
guaranteed an annual subscription to our national publication, The Sinfonian. In addition, associations receive
quarterly mailings with information that pertains to them and the
Fraternity."
Such strong guidelines and
organization have lead to some impressive alumni groups popping up around
the country, all gathering together for food, drink and brotherhood. “We
currently have seven active alumni associations," Krueger said.
"They exist in Washington D.C., Dallas/Fort Worth, Philadelphia,
Central Florida, Coastal Georgia, Central Ohio and New York (Central Ohio
and New York were just chartered June 2005). Each group averages around 15-20
members."
Many of these groups hold
performances or do public service type events. But all of them do what they can to
foster brotherhood and fulfill their roll as alumni Sinfonians. It is this level of activity that Krueger
says is hard to measure.
"To give a number of active
alumni is difficult because active can be defined in many ways," he
said. "Someone could be
considered active because he is on the NEC, while someone else is an annual
donor to the Sinfonia Educational Foundation. Without specific guidelines, ‘active’ is
somewhat vague."
If you would like more information
about what some of the alumni associations around America are doing, check
out the national roster (http://www.sinfonia.org/Directory/alumniassociations.asp)
and then click around a couple of their Web sites. But be warned, you may just be inspired
to stand up and get the ball rolling wherever you are!
DC Area: http://www.groomes.net/dcalumni/
NY Area: http://www.nysinfonia.org/
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Troy University Comes Full-Circle as “One School”
Scott Erb, Tattler Staff
“Cheers
to ole Troy State, we are with you all the
way...”
“Our
Vows of love, our vows of faith, Troy State we say to thee...”
How
many times in Collegiate Singers, band, or Phi Mu Alpha did we sing those
lines, so relevant to our fraternal obligation of loyalty to the Alma
Mater?
Starting
Aug. 1, these lines will no longer be sung around Troy or at the university’s sporting
events. In case you didn’t know, the
TSU Board of Directors voted two
years ago to change the name Troy State University to Troy University. Back in 1998, Troy State tried to change its name to
Alabama Southern University, completely taking Troy out of the equation. The students were quick to rally against
the name change due to loss of school spirit. But with this new change, there was no
such rally. Students and faculty
alike can see the name as a catalyst for growth. Troy State is now Troy University. It even sounds more
prestigious. Well, in my
opinion.
 Why did we have to change the name?
What was wrong with Troy State? There are many reasons for the
change. Troy University was originally called State
Normal School Troy. That named has evolved into Troy State Normal College, Troy State College, Troy State University and Troy University. With the new name comes more
private funding. People generally
assume that if “State” is in the name that the school gets more funding
from the state of Alabama. This is untrue; it gets the same amount
as the other public universities.
Also, having the word “State” in the name develops the perception in
some people that Troy is a 2nd or 3rd
tier school.
The
name change brings with it new accreditation. Right now each campus is separately
accredited. It is hard and
frustrating for a student to transfer from one campus to another under the
old system. One campus may offer
classes that  the other does not. With the
new system, Troy will be a seamless
university. Students will be able to
flow in and out of campuses with ease and without worrying whether or not
their classes will transfer to another campus. Overall the name change will bring on
many changes for the University System.
Some will be rough at the beginning, but Troy is taking the necessary steps
to compete in Alabama and the world as a nationally
“ranked” Division 1 school.
Some of
us alumni might not like the change, and some may feel like we are getting
ripped off because the new name renders the Troy State paraphernalia we own
useless. But let’s instead think of
it as gaining confidence that Troy will strive to excel in academics,
athletics, band and many other arenas so that when we come back to our Alma
Mater we can be proud of what is happening; proud to boast that “I went to TROY.”
“This
is a momentous day in the life of our University,” said Dr. Jack Hawkins
Jr., Troy University Chancellor. “It
will signify that Troy University is a single entity with a
single purpose – providing top-quality education to students who wish to
excel in a globally competitive world.”
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