Sometimes it pays to go green!

Kappa Upsilon Chi brothers may have seemed out of place at the photo shoot for top volunteers groups that assisted with the Tailgator Recycling Program during the fall 2007 Gator football season. The observance honoring volunteers included students from Gators for a Sustainable Campus and delegates from the Greeks Going Green campaign. All students had one thing in common though; they had participated in making the University a greener place.

The Tailgator Recycling Program is a volunteer based service opportunity run by the Office of Sustainability at UF. The volunteers, collectively praised as the “Green Team,” receive funds from a grant allocated based on service hours collected on game days. Among one the top three organizations of recycling volunteers, Kappa Upsilon Chi Brothers provided over 100 hours of service. The service work included handing out recycling bags to various tailgaters, sorting recyclables out of trash cans, and circulating through the tailgating hotspots to advocate the program and ensure proper usage of the recycling bags. Dedee Delongpré, Director of the Office of Sustainability, describes the program best when saying, “It is not glorifying, but it is gratifying.”

Kappa Upsilon Chi’s participation in the program generated over $1,400, which came from a grant from the Burkhardt Sales and Service Department. “Although the money is great, I would volunteer for the program even if money wasn’t involved, because I think the cause is important and the volunteer work is fun,” said Kappa Chi member Scott Stallings.

The money raised from the volunteering is going to fully fund a mission trip to New Orleans during Spring Break. Kappa Chi is sending 18 Brothers into the 9th Ward of New Orleans that was destroyed after Hurricane Katrina to help reconstruct houses and participate in other service events. “It is great to see the hard work we put into serving during the fall go towards another great cause,” expressed Dan Holden, Service Chair of Kappa Chi.

Kappa Upsilon Chi also participates in service events such as Habitat for Humanity, serving meals at the St. Francis House, volunteering for Urban Meyer’s Golf Scramble, and renovating a local Childcare Center in Gainesville. “We see service as one of the leading characteristics of Christian men,” said President Corey Hellman while referencing to scripture: “Anything you did for even the least of my people here, you also did for Me.” (Matthew 25:40)

GAINESVILLE, FLA. - (December 19, 2007)- Gamma Class brother Steven Hoffstetter was named Gator Party President recently. Hoffstetter will lead a diverse coalition of fraternities, sororities, and organizations towards making life at the University of Florida an all around better experience. "We want to serve the student body in whatever ways we can," said Hoffstetter. "This is a great honor for both myself and Kappa Upsilon Chi, and I am excited to work hard an bring the Gator Party a big win on Feb 27th."

Kappa Chi brother Beau Frail is running with the Gator Party for the Architectural seat in the Senate. Frail has held this seat the past year. With three senators, Kappa Upsilon Chi has the most representation in the Senate. Check out the Gator Party website at: www.gogatorparty.com

A Fraternity on the Rock: Building on God's Firm Foundation

“Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain.” - Psalm 127:1

The Rush theme of “A Fraternity on the Rock: Building on God's Firm Foundation” is based upon Matthew 7:24-29 and Psalm 127:1. These verses explain that unless ones life is built upon the rock of God, all in this life is for not. The Gentlemen of Kappa Upsilon Chi want this fraternity to be built on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ. We believe nothing can be truly successful without Christ as the center. That is why in 2008, we want to focus on the rock, the solid foundation of our fraternity that will never falter.

Monday, January 14 – “Learn About Our House’s Foundation”

Tuesday, January 15 – “Rocking UF for Christ”

Wednesday, January 16 – “Under Fire, Surviving the Storms”

Thursday, January 17 – “Crashing the Party”

Friday, January 18 – Formal Rush at BCM, Invite Only.

Sunday, January 20 – Official interviews will be conducted on this day and bids will be distributed. The potential pledge will then have 24 hours to pray and fast for guidance on whether to accept the bid before induction.

All Rush Events are held at the Kappa Upsilon Chi House at 8 p.m.

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.” Matthew 7:24-29

GAINESVILLE, FLA. - (December 19, 2007)- The Fall Semester has ended at the University of Florida and what a semester it was for the gentlemen of Kappa Upsilon Chi. The fraternity reached new heights in 2007, nearing 70 brothers, while extending the fun and outreach Kappa Chi has become renowned for across the campus. Kappa Chi also welcomed the 16 members of the Eta Class to the fraternity. “We are just thrilled with what we believe this class can offer Kappa Chi in the future,” said Pledge Trainer Wayne Carney. “It has been a lot of fun working with these guys over the semester and I am glad to see how dedicated all of them are to Kappa Chi.”

Semester highlights include another successful retreat in Deland, FL. The area where retreat was held created a perfect setting for brothers and pledges to fellowship with one another and grow closer to Christ. “We try to give our brothers a chance to focus on God and brotherhood when we come out here,” said Chaplain Mike Jerrell.

Along with the fellowship aspects of Kappa Chi, the fraternity also put on its annual Skit Night for homecoming. Brothers put on family skits, dramatizations and dances to be performed in front of an audience. “It’s always the best night of homecoming week events, no doubt,” said brother Craig Blocher. “You can always count on Kappa Chi putting on the best events.”

This would also hold true with the socials put on by Kappa Chi in Fall 2007. Kappa Chi’s social with Sigma Phi Lambda, 80’s Night, was smashing hit. This amazing night was all themed from the 1980’s, with the hilarious sights of the decade including the hair, the clothes and even the attitudes. “It was so much fun to dress up, skate, and pretend like we were back in the 80’s,” said Phi Lamb Emily Burkert. “The guys helped make this an amazing event.” The 80’s came back to life this one day in 2007 at the Kappa Upsilon Chi House and the skating rink rented out for the event.

Back in the 21st century, one of the most exciting and intriguing events of the year at the University of Florida was literally having snow in the swamp. Kappa Chi’s last social event of the season involved a true Christmas theme indeed, bringing a white Christmas to UF. With snow provided by Gainesville Ice, brothers transformed the Kappa Chi House into a winter wonderland with Theta Alpha Sorority. The affectionately named, Snowball 2007, involved just that, snowball fights and several other activities. The hill behind the Kappa Chi was littered with snow to form a to slide down for all the guests included Kappa Chi brothers and Theta Alpha ladies. “We know how to throw a party,” said Social Chair Aron Lozano. “I would dare to say that was the best social of the semester, anywhere.”

Kappa Upsilon Chi also hosted such events as Movie Night, the infamous Kappa Chi Tailgates for football games, and a “Pledges versus Actives” football game that coincided with our sister sorority Sigma Phi Lambda’s intra-sorority football game. Fall 2007 was an action packed semester full of events for the gentlemen of Kappa Upsilon Chi.

Throughout all the fun, the brothers of Kappa Chi also went into the community to show Gainesville and the University of Florida a helping hand. Kappa Chi helped with renovations at Victory Church in Micanopy, by contributing to building improvements and constructing a fence for the church. Likwise, Kappa Chi helped at St. Francis Homeless Shelter in Gainesville, Florida and renovated a house for a family in need, offering a helping hand by cleaning, painting, and yard work.

The fraternity also, in cooperation with UF College of Architecture, worked with Habitat for Humanity by putting up walls for new homes. The brothers of Kappa Upsilon Chi and the fraternity as a whole see service as a calling for the organization and an avenue for outreach in the community for the Kingdom of God.

Similarly, Kappa Chi continued to work with the Greek community through Gator Greeks for Christ, and with the Christian community through many events. Our brother and Rush Chairman, Josh Richard, was re-elected to Student Government Senate for another year term. “It was really exciting getting back into Senate this year, and I had a great team around me including fellow Senator Steven Hoffstetter and House Representative Dave Chauncey,” said Richard. “God is good and I am so happy to be able to make a difference in Senate for Christ.”

“All in all, the Lord has been and is still doing amazing things. The theme for this term was, ‘Living for the Legend: Continuing a Legacy’,” said Communications Chair Robbie Richardson. “This theme alone just sums up exactly what Kappa Upsilon Chi has done this term and is all about.” Kappa Chi continues to seek in living for Jesus Christ and continuing the legacy of his love and peace. “It has been an amazing semester,” said Internal Vice President Dave Chauncey. “Who knows what God has in store for Spring 2008, the sky really is the limit.”

GAINESVILLE, FLA. - (September 12, 2007)- Kappa Upsilon Chi was pleased to announce 19 new pledges for the Eta pledge class of the chapter over the weekend. The 19 pledges come to Kappa Chi from all different backgrounds, but under one goal of glorifying Jesus Christ. "It is really great to see this fraternity continue to grow," said President Corey Hellman. "These are very exciting times for Kappa Chi."

The Eta pledge class of Fall 2007, is the largest pledge class in Theta Chapter history, breaking the Gamma class record of 17. This also put the chapter at nearly 70 members overall. "To see what God has been able to accomplish through us in such a short time is truly amazing," said Internal Vice President David Chauncey. "I can only imagine what God has in store for this chapter in the years to come."

The pledges will now go through a 10-week program on their way to becoming actives. This servant leadership intensive program is meant to instill the characteristics and virtues of a Kappa Chi into the soon-to-be brothers. "It is tough but rewarding," said Kappa Chi pledge Tyler Johnson. "These guys have been with me and helping me every step of the way so it has been great."