After coming out of COVID and establishing a Colony, Tennessee Delta hosted the largest Founders Day Banquet in six years on March 2. The Holiday Inn Vanderbilt was the host site for the twelfth year, as their attention to a red and green décor and many extra niceties again drew the praise and thanks of the attendees.
The announced speaker, Byron Norfleet Vanderbilt ’80, former Archon and retired President of Jockey International, wasunable to appear due to a last minute medical matter. We wish him all the best for a speedy and complete recovery. Special welcomed guests were Kristin Torrey, the Director of the Office of Greek Life at Vanderbilt, and Cam Alden, the Coordinator of Greek Life. Alumni will remember Kristin as Phi Psi’s National Greek Affairs Advisor of the Year in 2012. We are grateful to Kristin and Cam for their support and guidance of the Greek community, and being great friends to Tennessee Delta over the years.
Brother John Murray Vanderbilt ‘71, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Phi Kappa Psi Foundation, the National Foundation for investments, scholarships, and programs, addressed the attendees about the availability of many scholarships from the Foundation, news welcomed with great attention by the undergraduate colony members.
The dessert was once again a chocolate cake covered by the Phi Kappa Psi crest in icing. Following the GAC practice of determining those who have attended the most national conventions, the oldest and youngest Brothers in attendance utilized the same system of starting with the entire group standing, then seating those year by year as decades, then years, then month, then days were called out. Chapter Advisor Art Johnsen and colony member Finn O’Brien were determined to be the bookends of age in attendance, therefore being awarded the honor of ceremonially attacking the cake.
Colony Chaplain Benjamin Shelton performed the ritualistic tradition of lighting the candles in honor of the Founders, followed by the reading of the names of the Deltans who had joined Chapter Eternal in the previous twelve months.
To emphasize the ideals to which all Phi Psis aspire, the group recited in unison the Phi Psi Creed, from wallet — sized cards provided to all.
Following the conclusion of the Banquet, President Rob Ayerst presided over the Annual Meeting of the Tennessee Delta House Corporation, to which every initiated Deltan belongs. Zoom technology brought in a number of out-of-town Brothers to the meeting.
