Acacia Fraternity of Syracuse

To strengthen the ties of friendship and foster a better understanding of the unique working style the recently elected executive board, Chapter Advisor Brother Charles Cutshall facilitated the chapter’s first e-board leadership workshop. Brothers gave up their Sunday to come out and engage in a meaningful conversation about some of what they thought were upcoming challenges for the chapter and how they planned to lead the fraternity during their tenure. Said Brother Tuan Nguyen, “It was a time to reflect on where we have come from, where we want to take the chapter, and how we plan on doing it.” Special thanks go to Refounding alumnus, Brother David Flagg, for participating and providing the brothers with a great lunch, and to recent alumni, Brother Gemayel Jean-Paul, for allowing the chapter to use the retreat house where he currently resides as a space to hold the academy.

While most of the campus was just waking up from an added night of the usual weekend activities, the brothers of the Syracuse Chapter of Acacia Fraternity were already out and about helping to prepare and deliver meals to the less fortunate and elderly people of Syracuse. The director of MOW volunteer services, Ed Brown, made the conscious decision to give the day off to all of the everyday volunteers. The brothers of Acacia, always ready to do some Human Service, heard the call and came out in great numbers. Many brothers volunteer regularly at Meals on Wheels and the great turn out for MLK day only helped to strengthen the already good relationship that we share.

The gentlemen of Acacia wined and dined the lovely ladies that, in most cases, willing joined them for their Fall Formal at the Double Tree hotel. Brothers and their dates had the option of either having a strip steak or something fishy. Those that were most aware of the finer things in life had no trouble passing on the fish and heading straight to the steak. The others, less experienced, enjoyed the fish and felt that it was a wonderful dinner. Dinner was followed by an intimate party back at the house where brothers and their dates were able to sit back, kick off their shoes, and enjoy a friendly game of Twister. All in all a great time was had by all. Thank you Bro. Matthew Hagerty for making it happen!

The Syracuse Chapter of Acacia Fraternity once again took to the busy sidewalks of Wal-Mart’s around town to take in donations for boys and girls who did not believe that they would be receiving a visit from Santa Claus this year. AcaciaClaus was brought to the Syracuse chapter in ’06 by recent alumni Jordan Rennert and appears to have turned into an annual event. Brother Tyler Chu who did a fantastic job coordinating and rallying the troops led this year’s effort. He recalls, “When I was younger there were some Christmas when I didn’t get anything. It feels good to know that I helped make a difference and bring joy to some kids who might be like me.” Most of the toys donated were passed on to Cassandre Henriquez-Kaba who personally delivered them to an orphanage while visiting her family in Haiti. The remainder, too large to be packed into a suitcase and shipped to Haiti, was donated to Toys for Tots.

Recently Brothers Neil Melman (#443) and Gregory E. Woodruff (#403) got in touch with an update on what they’ve been up to in the 50-100 years since they were at Syracuse. Just kidding, guys.

Updates are on the “Where Are They Now” page.

Those in the Fall 2007 Executive Board have graduated into the history books. Congratulations all around to the 2008 E-Board.

Venerable Dean: Matthew “(_!_) face” Hagerty
Senior Dean: Derek Li
Junior Dean: “Hadou” Ken Smith
Secretary: Marcus “Creep” Lee
Treasurer: coming to a theater near you in Spring ‘08
Risk Manager: risk will be allowed to run amok until Spring ‘08
Rush Chairs: “Magic” Bill Coyne and Sterling Ventura

Not to worry; the money will be counted, and the risk will be managed, all by the former officers who will hold them in the interim.

The weekend before Thanksgiving, four men joined the Syracuse Chapter of Acacia. Ken Smith, Will Tan, Bill Coyne, and Sterling Ventura entered the roll of Acacia to become Syracuse Acacia’s newest brothers. Congratulations to them, and we know that the courses of your lives will be immeasurably altered from here on out.

Initiation was capped off with Thanksgiving dinner, a delicious meal prepared by Brothers Flagg, Peskin and perhaps several others. The dinner was unhindered by the smell of a burning plastic bag of coffee filters.

The meal was well-received, which is to be said of all meals in which one had to spare no expense or time in preparing it. The cleanup was a long, musical effort, but in the end all good Acacia brothers were able to get back to their beds and sleep for three days.

Bro. Horace Landry, Roll 407: There will be a funeral for Bro. Landry at Hendricks Chapel on the Syracuse University campus on Friday at 2pm. His obituary will be posted here as soon as available. Bro. Peter notes that Bro. Landry was also a Coxswain on the Crew. He is the only guy I know who was a cox and with Acacia as well, wrote Bro “Runt”.

The University’s news service had this to say about Bro. Landry, who was instrumental in helping us reestablish our chapter here on campus.

Just in case the news did not reach any of his/our beloved SU Acacia
brothers, CHESTER W AMBLER III passed away after a 6+ year battle with
Multiple Myeloma on November 4th.

Seeing some of the brothers at his memorial service on Wednesday,
November 7th meant a great deal to me and I thank each one of you for
making the trip…especially since it was on a weekday evening.

Peter and Mary Beth Baskin
Ron and Jeanne Hopkins
Larry and Karen Goldstein
Mark Choko
Tony DiNicola
Steve Armenia
Mike and Pat Krebs
Dave and Manira Bassett
Al Schappert

(I apologize if I have inadvertently omitted anyone’s name from this
list)

Plus Chet absolutely LOVED receiving the agenda/menu from the recent
ACACIA reunion with peoples’ signatures all over the back and the hand
written message that we were missed. That was a very kind gesture and
was one of the last joyous moments Chet had before losing lucidity.

Fondly,

Aldonna

Aldonna R. Ambler, CMC, CSP
The Growth Strategist*
Aldonna@AMBLER.com
1-888-ALDONNA (253-6662)
www.TheGrowthStrategist.com

Bro. Chester W. Ambler III, Roll N. 461of HAMMONTON, N.J., age 60, husband of Aldonna R. Ambler, passed away Sunday, November 4, 2007 after a 6 .5-year battle against multiple myeloma. He was also a brother to Christine, Riley, and Carol Masaracchia. Bro. Ambler is believed to have served as Senior Dean and Treasure of the Syracuse Chapter of Acacia Fraternity. Donations to honor Chet’s unconquered spirit, generous heart, and passionate sense of justice may be made to The Leukemia/Lymphoma/Myeloma Society, PO Box 4072, Pittsfield, MA 01202 (www.leukemia-lymphoma.org ); The Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, 925 Chestnut St., Suite 110, Philadelphia, PA 19107 ( www.kimmel/cancercenter. org); or the Nature Conservancy of New Jersey, 200 Pottersville Road, Chester, NJ 07930 (www.nature.org).