FIT celebrates 33rd anniversary with their annual alumni weekend
Chartered in 1992, the FL Delta Upsilon chapter at Florida Tech (FIT) recently celebrated its 33rd anniversary, and for three decades they have been hosting their annual FIT Alumni Weekend.
Alumni weekend has become a long-time tradition of the FIT chapter, much like giving pledge names that tend to stick, and carrying a challenge coin to symbolize membership, pride and brotherhood. (Warning: If you’re not carrying your coin it may cost you a drink.) The annual event truly practices, “Not Four Years, But a Lifetime.”
This year 70 alumni, undergrads and family members connected in downtown Melbourne, Florida to socialize, tell stories, enjoy libations, and wrap up with some fraternity business. Alumni renewed connections and began new ones with undergraduates.
A busy weekend agenda
Foundation President, Gary Sanders made the trip to Florida to celebrate with the FIT brothers saying, “It’s a great group. One minute you’re hearing about a NASA rover, and the next you’re debating if the guy telling you about it looks like Captain Kangaroo. When another brother named ‘Cooter’ started buying drinks, I knew I was in for a fun night.”
The weekend began on Thursday with a golf outing for the true hackers. For those that don’t know every line of “Caddyshack” there was an alternate tasting challenge at a local bar offering flights of fancy drinks.
On Friday, brothers brought their families out for dinner at Makotos, a hibachi restaurant. The dinner partners alumni with undergrads, spending the evening learning about new brothers and sharing experiences.
Saturday began with chapter and alumni business. A general alumni meeting was held followed by a traditional (i.e. long) Good and Welfare.
Joel Weiss ’15, remembered his first alumni weekend in 2012 saying, “I had a blast. It was amazing to see the camaraderie and hear alumni relive the fun they had.” He had similar experiences with this year’s event adding, “I’d love to see more brothers attend.”
A strong alumni association with dedicated alumni is key
In the late 1990s, Mike “DJ” LaBelle ’95 established an FIT alumni association focused on keeping brothers involved and engaged with the undergrads. The AA has been active ever since, keeping brothers informed through an active Facebook group and emails, and more personally engaged with the annual alumni weekend. Mike makes the trip all the way from the Netherlands.
The alumni range from founding members to the newest alumni like Eli Rines. There are also brothers who attend every year without fail such as Dr. Alan “Beaker” Brown, a professor of organic chemistry at Florida Tech. He’s been the chapter’s faculty advisor for three decades and received the Council Key in 2009.
Long time Leadership Consultant and all-around Pilam guy, Vin Marbury, C.K. attends Alumni Weekend regularly saying, “some of my closest Pilam connections are with the boyz from Florida Tech… Mike LaBelle, Jim Good, and others who have become involved with National.”
Vin was there for the chapter from the very beginning, supervising the Founding Father initiation. He has advised the chapter and mentored undergrads for 30+ years. Because of his contributions to the chapter he too was given a nickname. They call him “The Godfather.”
Joel Weiss volunteers as a Chapter Coach and member of the Board of Trustees. Asked why he stays involved he said, “I do this mainly because the brotherhood showed me heart when they didn’t have to.” Joel, who was a wrestler, suffered from complications from multiple concussions and was forced to do a medical withdrawal. But the brotherhood stuck with him, initiating him before he left school, and Joel stuck with Pilam.
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