Congrats to Art Hasse ’61- awarded 2014 Goodwill Legacy Award

2014.0929.Nwy.KentwoodOfficeFurniture.GoodwillAward2.full (1)Congrats to Art Hasse ’61 for receiving the 2014 Goodwill Legacy Award

Art Hasse ’61, on behalf of his company, Kentwood Office Furniture was honored as the 2014 Goodwill Industries Legacy Partner Award Recipient. Kentwood Office Furniture has helped cultivate change for individuals and our communities through the power of work. For decades, Art Hasse, President and CEO of Kentwood Office Furniture, and his entire team have invested in Goodwill through employee volunteering, financial contributions, donation initiatives and the hiring of Goodwill program participants. “What I like about Goodwill is that Goodwill helps people. They take people who are really struggling in the economy, struggling to find a job or may have some barriers to employment, and they work with them, develop them, and train them to get a job,” says Hasse. “These workers become productive members of society and save the community, state and federal government money. They put people to work rather than placing them on welfare.”

Art has also been very generous with ATO Gamma Zeta as he donated furniture for our renovated study room. Congrats and THANKS Art!!

Last Tau Standing

Last Tau Standing TrophyFor the first time, ATO Gamma Zeta is sponsoring a NFL football “Survivor” pool which we’re calling the First Annual “Last Tau Standing” pool. Entrants pick a single NFL team to win each week. They can only pick a particular team once during the season. The last Tau to lose a pick during the season wins the pot, which will be split 50/50 with the winner and the ATO Gamma Zeta historic Bechstein piano restoration fund. With over 60 entrants in our initial pool, the winner will be splitting a pot that is over $6,000 in total!! In addition,

Paul Dioguardi ’95, owner of Hickory House Ribs in Aspen and Parker, CO has sweetened the pot and volunteered to ship 10 racks of his delicious BBQ Ribs to the winner for their Super Bowl party. THANKS Paul!! Finally, we’ll have a standing trophy on display at the Chapter House recognizing each year’s winners of what we hope to be an annual event. Good luck to all of the entrants and thanks for your donations to the piano fund!!

House Renovation Update

CMAC and Brez '80s

CMAC and Brez ’80s

Last weekend Neil Bresnahan’80 and I attended some basketball and football festivities. In between we stopped by Gamma Zeta and met Worth Master, Jimmy K …

The last time I had been in the House it was a disaster. Well Neil and I were shocked how great it looked on Saturday am. The Living rooms have returned to greatness… The lower level study rooms have been expanded and the Chapter Continue reading

Chairman Update – September 25, 2014

jack_klues_2008_largeHello Gamma Zeta’s,

2014 has been both a challenging and rewarding year for ATO Gamma Zeta.

We’ve made huge progress on the renovation of the public areas of the Chapter house and our historic Bechstein Grand Piano and in improving the culture of our undergraduate membership.   Our guys jumped twenty spots in the fraternity GPA rankings and our City of Urbana inspection went better than it has in years last week with nearly every outstanding item being cleared while the inspector was on site. We have also had unprecedented support from alumni with over one hundred Gamma Zeta alumni serving our chapter in many ways. University of Illinois Chancellor Dr. Phillis Wise has just accepted our invitation to visit the Chapter house for dinner on January 21, 2015.Continue reading

Piano Renovation Update

PianoI visited the Piano People in Champaign on September 21, 2014 to check up on the status of our historic Bechstein grand piano’s restoration process. The piano is looking great and will be ready for Homecoming on October 25. Former Worthy Master, Drew O’Neil ’14 who is a classically trained pianist and has been playing since he was four years old will be playing at Homecoming. We still need some additional funds to pay for restoration please donate at – https://atoillinois.com/donate-2/piano-restoration-fund/ or send a check made payable to the ATO House Corporation to Att: Dane Luhrsen, 1944 Hampton Drive, Wheaton, IL 60189

Larry Austermiller ‘61 and Dan Blaho ‘90 connect in Tbilisi, Georgia

Dan and Larry and a couple of Dan's boys in Tbilisi

Dan and Larry and a couple of Dan’s boys in Tbilisi

Note… Larry Austermiller ’61 noticed in a Gamma Zeta News item that Dan Blaho ’90 was working and teaching in Tbilisi, Georgia (that’s the country of Georgia… think Black Sea, not Lake Lanier). Coincidentally, Larry’s son and family are working there as well. So, when Larry took a visit to his family this August/September, he decided to look up his ATO Gamma Zeta brother on the other side of the world. Here’s Larry’s report…

Had not had a chance to connect with Dan Blaho here in Tbilisi, Georgia due to our mutual schedule issues. Learned this A.M. our grand daughter was going to a soccer practice at school where Dan is the new “Director”. Picked out from crowd who I Continue reading

ATO Gamma Zeta Networking Lunch 9/5/14 with Dr. Michael Terry ’93

Doc Terry shows his Stanley Cup Championship Rings

Doc Terry shows his Stanley Cup Championship Rings

On September 14, 2014 over 40 Gamma Zeta’s gathered at the Chicago Club to hear Dr. Michael Terry ’93 share his experiences from ATO, an exciting career and most recently as team Doc for the Chicago Blackhawks.  Thanks to Doc Terry for taking the time.  Thanks also to Cary McMillan ’80 for hosting us at the Chicago Club.  See pictures from event.

CMAC ’80 and Brez ’80 visit the house

10687185_287745838097955_6150919225518306654_nLast weekend Neil Bresnahan and I attended some basketball and football festivities. In between we stopped by Gamma Zeta and met Worth Master, Jimmy K …

The last time I had been in the House it was a disaster. Well Neil and I were shocked how great it looked on Saturday am. The Living rooms have returned to greatness… The lower level study rooms have been Continue reading