December
2004
Vol. 1, Iss. 4
Editors:
Travis Bryant
Scott Erb
Frank Miles
Casey Speigner
Getting
Alumni Back in Tune In our last three issues, we talked about the good ol’ days and what Sinfonia meant to us. We talked about what it was like leaving Troy and making your mark on the world. We also talked about getting involved. This issue wants to combine all three. We want to show you there are ways we can all make a difference with music and Sinfonia. We talked about how the band directors and musicians are making a difference. As you see, the four members of the Tattler are not in the music profession, but we do not let that stop us. We are dedicated to spending a couple hours a month to send this newsletter out to you hoping we will make a difference. Hopefully (again we like to hope) you are wondering what YOU can do. You
may say you’ve only got 2-3 hours a month that you can give.
How will that make a difference? In this issue, we’ll show
you. We will talk about how to get involved on all three levels:
chapter, province and national. We have a new feature called Down
Memory Lane. Also, check out the latest events and who the new probationary
members for next semester are. This will be an exciting issue which
we hope you take to heart. Remember the old phrase "Work for
Sinfonia, and Sinfonia will Work for You!" Pinning
Ceremony
Gentlemen
- I am proud to say the brothers of the Iota Nu chapter pinned fifteen
extraordinary guys on December 1. Their names are as follows: Cody
Bowers, Christopher Jones, Bernard Burke, Jeremy Leach, Brian Smith,
Francisco Negron, Alex Johnson, Robert Lee, Brandon Poiroux, James
Ryan Clanton, Gary O'Neil Youngblood, Robert Schaefers, Lamar Hawthorne,
Aaron Slayback, Ben Strictland. "Our
brotherhood has been getting noticeably stronger in the last few
years and we are interested only in going 'on and ever upward' year
after year. Our probationary members understand this and I can tell
they are truly honored to be wearing the pin. The future of the
Iota Nu Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha is promising and prominent." You never know
- you might get a GGGGGLB, so keep in touch with the collegiate
members.
I’ve recently been reminded of many things related to my time at Troy and especially my time in Phi Mu Alpha. What a wonderful time that was. As I see the news of new probationary members, I think back to the reason I considered Iota Nu. I was in the midst of sleep-walking my way through the college experience. Sure I had made a few friends in the band and elsewhere, but none that I considered true, life-long friends. None that I shared a special bond with. I was, in a sense, searching for true brotherhood. I grew up as an only child so I don’t have a real brother, or at least I didn’t. I went through probationary membership in the winter of 1997 and the rest is fraternal history. I have many wonderful thoughts and stories. Some of them make me laugh uncontrollably, and some make me cry. These are moments that truly made my college experience. But that’s enough about me and my time at Troy. We want to add a new feature to the Tattler titled Down Memory Lane. Each month we want to share some of the stories that helped form your college years. From good times at Taco Bell to striking deer in the middle of the night, we know they are out there. This is something we hope will keep the Tat rooted in the tradition that is Iota Nu. Please, don’t
just blow this off and say, awe, someone else will do it. They might
not, in which case you’ll just get to hear stories from me,
Frank, Trav, and Erb over and over and over. Also, don’t use
the excuse that it will take too long. That won’t fly either.
We’ve all read the memories posted on e-mail for years. So
send them to casey@sinfoniantattler.com
and we’ll get them posted from there. We look forward to reading
your memories. (Editor's note: Brother Scott Enriquez gives
us a little taste of Memory Lane in this month's Q&A. Enjoy!)
Q
& A: Scott Enriquez
Tat:
When did you leave Troy? Tat:
Where are you now? Tat:
Married? Tat:
Kids? Tat:
What made you strike out on your own? Tat:
Sounds like you have a lot going on, what do you miss most about
college? Tat:
Ever see any other Iota Nu Alumni out your way? Tat:
Do you ever find the time to "do the music thing"? Tat:
You've done a lot and are doing a lot, any advice for active chapter
members that may be reading this? Tat:
How about advice for fellow alums? Tat:
How do you see the music education situation out in your neck of
the woods? The band was
HUGE and so was our pledge class (Is it just me or does it seem
that things just didn't get any better than that?). Our pledge class
moved an organ for an old friend. Thursday nights were spent on
the front porch at the "House of Beef" talking about "Life."
Britt was old and still is (Wrinkle). Ed dressed up like a bear
for the Halloween party (Beebo). Hunch Punch at the ranch. Singing
Valentines. Parties at the trailer in Dozier. Paintball. It was
"Checkers" and not whatever burger joint is there now.
Carwashes early Saturday morning for the Chapter. X and Y. Cold
Crowe’s chicken on band trips. Band boosters fixing us the
best dinner I ever had away from home after an exhibition. Being
so cold during an exhibition that I couldn't feel my fingers or
saxophone. Getting snowed on at Marshall. The Quad had trees and
looked damn good that way. Pinwheels. Taking Allen for a ride even
though he would have rather stayed home. He never got any pages
from my book either. Having 300 friends in New Orleans
Brasher's
Banter The next Province 34 Workshop will be held on the campus of Jacksonville State University, January 7-9, 2005, with special interest to all alumni throughout the province, especially on Saturday, January 8. A special meeting has been scheduled for alumni on that afternoon to discuss relevant topics. I urge all alumni in the area, and within driving distance, to attend. A special note of request to all alumni: Your chapter needs and wants your input! Not in the day-to-day operation of chapter business, but in regular correspondence regarding how YOU are, where you are, and what you are doing. Also, if you are not a regular monetary contributor to the national fraternity, I urge you to become one. And don’t forget your home chapter. Those trees on which the money grew when you were in school have been replaced by an aesthetically pleasing park for the students and visiting alumni. As many of you may or may not know, Dr. William R. Denison, long time faculty advisor for Iota Nu, has announced his retirement effective at the end of summer semester, August 2005. Plans are in the works for some type of bash and it should be a goody since he’s been on the faculty since 1968. That’s 259 dog years! Any suggestions for projects are always welcome. Please send suggestions, questions, comments, addresses, etc. via snail mail (Aw, shucks!!!) to: Jim
Brasher III Don’t
forget - when school resumes in January, around 15 men will begin
the journey toward brotherhood. There will be a ritual on campus
sometime in the first few months of 2005. Check the listserv often
for the specific date and time.
Well, now you get to enjoy the easiest and most convenient way to reconnect with Sinfonia. Just sit down in front your computer and head to Lyrecrest. Type www.sinfonia.org in the address bar to visit Phi Mu Alpha’s national headquarters. You can check out the latest news, contact your elected leaders, read the fraternity’s publications and see what worthy projects the Sinfonia Foundation has helped bring to fruition. Note that one of the first things you see on the home page is the object of the fraternity. This is something that many of you will have to familiarize yourselves with and take to heart. Phi Mu Alpha is a social fraternity and is making great strides toward rediscovering the organization that the men at the New England Conservatory started 106 years ago. I highly recommend that you click on Resources, then Fraternity Writings, then John A. Mongiovi. At the bottom of John’s list, read “Above All for Brotherhood.” It is an excellent article on the thinking behind the movement to return the focus of Sinfonia to its roots. Also, many of you may not be familiar with the Mills Music Mission as it is a relatively new undertaking. Click on the link and read all about it. The MMM is what Sinfonia is all about and we here at the Tattler just can’t wait until the day that a group of Iota Nu alumni can band together to elevate others to that place where all is true, beautiful and abiding. Sign up at MyDesktop
and find even more wonderful resources such as national and regional
listservs, a screen name registry and alumni list request. And possibly
the most exciting feature at sinfonia.org - the holiday sale. That’s
right! Shop at the Sinfonia Store for your favorite fraternal items
and get some great holiday bargains. Happy surfing and check back
often at www.sinfonia.org to catch up on the latest at YOUR fraternity.
Long Live Sinfonia!!!
Link
Dump Welcome to da’dump! Each month Tattler staffers scour the web and lurk in dark corners to find cool and fun stuff. From here you’ll get a glimpse into what is going on and who is doing it. And anything and everything is fair game. So if you know of something cool and neat that folks should check out send it to us and we’ll see if it fits the program! Email Travis Bryant with your cool link.
•
General Info:
|
| Football Schedule | ||
| Dates | (Home Games Bold) | Band Schedule |
| Dec. 14 | New Orleans Bowl | TBA |
| Dec. 30 | Silicon Valley Football Classic | TBA |
| John
M. Long School of Music
(Click the link) |
||
| Dec. 10 | Commencement | |
| Dec. 30 | Silicon Valley Football Classic | |
| Collegiates |
||
| Iota
Nu Chapter Events Meetings Sunday Nights 8:00 pm - Music Rehearsal 9:00 pm - Business Meeting |
||
| Jan. 2005 | Probationary Period Begins | |
Functions |
||
| Jan. 2005 |
|
|
| Feb. 2005 |
|
|
| Mar 2005 |
|
|
More
dates and Time to Come! Email the FEO for particulars about each
event Email: Justin Amaro |
||
“The views, opinions and conclusions expressed in this page are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Troy University, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Province 34, or the Iota Nu Chapter. The content of this page has been reviewed or approved by four guys, one who could sing, and the authors are solely responsible for its content.”