Join Alpha Omega Alumni Organization!
(AOAO)
We are proud to announce the return of the AOAO!
To get involved please use the Contact Form in order to let us know details about you and how you would like to serve the Membership.
To get involved please use the Contact Form in order to let us know details about you and how you would like to serve the Membership.
Check out the Latest Update to the AOAO from
Pat Bertsche (SP '86):
Dear AOAO,
I’ll apologize off the start for not sending an earlier update. Several things have happened which deserve naming, as well as a few future items are worth to make note of.
First, I hope you have had a chance to read the last AO newsletter from April. If not, please email me and I will send you a copy. It was encouraging to see they added 5 new members this spring who, along with the 3 from Fall 2021, enable the men to live in the house another semester. With 8 being the minimum, the men have work to do to attract the right people and must stay diligent in that work. It was encouraging to see how they came together, working alongside our sponsors, Dr. Hamilton and Dr. Gowing, and local alumni to do a better job marketing and serving the LETU community. Continued work in this way should produce the right results.
Zac Poorman and others have been engaged on campus with the active members and also provided assistance during the recruiting process. I remain involved with LETU administrators to see the campus club recruitment process be customized to societies whereby several of our traditions along with the word “pledging” can return to our practices.
Over the past year, alumni graciously gave raised over $20,000 for house repairs. Another $9,000 was in the house fund and the school kicked in about $25,000 along with all the labor necessary to complete the following list:
Work remaining as of 6/25/22 but should happen before the start of the school year:
In addition, the active membership had a new crest made and installed it recently – see attached picture.
As for our alumni association (AOAO), our goals have been centered around doing what we can to support the current membership. We play a big part in keeping the physical house in order, assisting with pledging activities and in areas where the active members solicit our involvement. They continue to comment on how special it is for them to be known and supported by AO alumni.
As of now, we are left with a few things remaining on the house list, requiring us to raise about $20,000 to complete. Work in the bathrooms (replace metal stalls, install back splashes, etc.) and all or most of the carpeting needs to be replaced.
Please consider making a tax-deductible gift to AO through LETU. Checks should be mailed to LETU, Attn: Daniel Ostendorff, PO Box 7333, Longview, TX 75607 and put “AO House Fund” in the memo section. Online donations may also be made at www.letu.edu/give and choose “AO House Fund” from the designation drop down box. In addition, there are two scholarship funds (Dr. K fund and Kegarise AO fund) which provide monies to all active members each semester. I believe 3 members received it last year splitting around $5,000. It would be great to see that amount grow so as the house grows, each member can get a decent amount of assistance.
Be on the lookout for the next AO newsletter where they will share more pictures of the house improvements and provide an update as to their fall plans.
Until then, if you have desire to engage with them or with AOAO, please let me know.
In Christ,
Patrick Bertsche
Spring ‘86
I’ll apologize off the start for not sending an earlier update. Several things have happened which deserve naming, as well as a few future items are worth to make note of.
First, I hope you have had a chance to read the last AO newsletter from April. If not, please email me and I will send you a copy. It was encouraging to see they added 5 new members this spring who, along with the 3 from Fall 2021, enable the men to live in the house another semester. With 8 being the minimum, the men have work to do to attract the right people and must stay diligent in that work. It was encouraging to see how they came together, working alongside our sponsors, Dr. Hamilton and Dr. Gowing, and local alumni to do a better job marketing and serving the LETU community. Continued work in this way should produce the right results.
Zac Poorman and others have been engaged on campus with the active members and also provided assistance during the recruiting process. I remain involved with LETU administrators to see the campus club recruitment process be customized to societies whereby several of our traditions along with the word “pledging” can return to our practices.
Over the past year, alumni graciously gave raised over $20,000 for house repairs. Another $9,000 was in the house fund and the school kicked in about $25,000 along with all the labor necessary to complete the following list:
- Install new roof and replace damaged fascia
- Replace almost all HVAC systems
- Install new window blinds
- Replace kitchen flooring with vinyl wood planks
- Install new dishwasher & refrigerator
- Replace most lights and ceiling fans
- Repair all damaged sheetrock
- Repair all leaks & paint over stains
- Repair back stairway
Work remaining as of 6/25/22 but should happen before the start of the school year:
- Replace all doors/frames & hardware
- Re-stain the Front Door
- New landscaping to be installed by the membership
In addition, the active membership had a new crest made and installed it recently – see attached picture.
As for our alumni association (AOAO), our goals have been centered around doing what we can to support the current membership. We play a big part in keeping the physical house in order, assisting with pledging activities and in areas where the active members solicit our involvement. They continue to comment on how special it is for them to be known and supported by AO alumni.
As of now, we are left with a few things remaining on the house list, requiring us to raise about $20,000 to complete. Work in the bathrooms (replace metal stalls, install back splashes, etc.) and all or most of the carpeting needs to be replaced.
Please consider making a tax-deductible gift to AO through LETU. Checks should be mailed to LETU, Attn: Daniel Ostendorff, PO Box 7333, Longview, TX 75607 and put “AO House Fund” in the memo section. Online donations may also be made at www.letu.edu/give and choose “AO House Fund” from the designation drop down box. In addition, there are two scholarship funds (Dr. K fund and Kegarise AO fund) which provide monies to all active members each semester. I believe 3 members received it last year splitting around $5,000. It would be great to see that amount grow so as the house grows, each member can get a decent amount of assistance.
Be on the lookout for the next AO newsletter where they will share more pictures of the house improvements and provide an update as to their fall plans.
Until then, if you have desire to engage with them or with AOAO, please let me know.
In Christ,
Patrick Bertsche
Spring ‘86