Alumni Projects

Recently the Water Main, coming into the house, has sprung a leak. The leak started as a small drip, and has continued to worsen. Since this leak is before the water shut off of the house, no one in the house knew how to fix it. After calling in a plumber it was determined that this pipe was made of lead, along with much of the rest of the piping in the basement. Due to new laws in New York State, plumbers are not allowed to fix lead pipes, but must replace them. To replace all of this piping, the water main which runs under the front lawn, needs to be dug up and replaced.

This project is being run by Ian Plaxin, with the help of Stephen Roller, the current VP Property of the house.
The leak in the water main has been fixed. This project is officially completed.
The actives selected a plumber who:

• Replaced the lead water main running from the street to the house with a new copper pipe. This required the plumber to dig a trench in the front lawn
• Installed a water shut off valve prior to the water main, making it possible to shut off the water in the house if necessary
• Cleaned up messy pipe work that was done by the actives through out the years.

The actives were able to find a plumber who performed all of these tasks for a reasonable price. The project was completed in one day.

In the new Relationship statement between RPI and the Greek Community it states that RPI will help fraternity houses obtain a loan for house improvements, as well as help the fraternity fundraise.

Paul Nelson is leading this project, working with Paul Vecchio, an active brother, to communicate with RPI to find out details.

Before any request can be made RPI requires the following:

• Five Year Plan
  • Strategic plan
  • Self-assessment
  • Governance structure
  • Current or existing housing arrangements
  • Sustainability of membership and alumni support
    • Membership history
    • New member history
    • House corporation (point of contact)
  • Relationship statement compliance and summary of judicial history
  • Standing in relation to other campus organizations of similar background
  • Relationship with National governing board
  • Level of National recognition from fraternal governance board(s)
• Financial history and background
• Financial plan to support housing goal
• Financial plan for construction or purchase

Recently RPI has decided to make it mandatory for all Freshman and Sophomores to live on campus. RPI has stated that with this new law many new scholarships and grants will be awarded to students to help pay for housing. RPI is making an exception to this new rule, stating that fraternity houses will be considered ‘On Campus’ as long as that fraternity house bills students through RPI’s bursar office. Currently Phi Mu Delta uses the PMD National billing company Omega. Phi Mu Delta will need to come off of this billing plan and hand it over responsibilities to RPI.

Russ Hearn, is working with the Actives to find out the details for this conversion, as well as voicing concerns.

• Russ is in communication with Jessica Wickiewicz who is the Dean of Greek Relations
• Details for this project are still being defined by RPI
• Phi Mu Delta has the concern of when payments received by RPI will be handed over to PMD

For the past 15 plus years, Phi Mu Delta has allowed the Troy Little League to use land in the field behind the house lovingly called ‘The Void’. Over this time, the Little League has grown, and has built more and more on this land. Today three little league fields sit on this land, and the Troy Little League has over 500 members. The fields are used for summer, spring and fall seasons. Although the land is nice to have, the active brothers rarely use this land. The Little League has recently made an offer to Phi Mu Delta to out right buy this land. With the financial state that the house is in, this offer is being seriously considered.

Dave Covino is running the project to evaluate the offer, and finalize any deal that may come of it.

Currently Dave is in contact with a real estate lawyer located in Albany. Before any deals are made the land is going to be appraised. The lawyer will be used to write up contracts and advise Phi Mu Delta with any Tax implications.

Part of the deal with the Little League is to include the following items:

• Phi Mu Delta will be allowed to use the land, with permission of the Little League
• Phi Mu Delta will have first refusal to buying the land if the Little League ever decides to sell the land