AEPi at Temple Welcome Week

Temple had its third annual Welcome Week celebration to welcome incoming freshman to the university. One of the events during the week was Temple Fest, where different organizations set up information tables up and down Liacouras Walk (formerly Park Mall.) Yesterday and today (Wednesday and Thursday) Alpha Pi set up right in front of Maxi's Bar and Pizzeria and our table was two away from Hillel. Over 20 interested incoming freshman stopped by to get more information about AEPi, and almost all of them will be coming back to rush in a few weeks. Aside from that, we got to have a good time with Temple's over 200 student organizations.

Picture: (L-R) Gabe Toran, Mike Shulman, Ben Nadell, Jon Kriner and Brian Engle at the table on Thursday afternoon.

Alumni Spotlight: Jeff Silverman

Which years were you an undergrad at Alpha Pi?

I pledged in 1982 and graduated in 1988 (I took 2 years off between my sophomore and junior years.)

Which positions did you hold in the chapter?

Pledge President, Social Chairman, Sentinel

One funny AEPi story from your time at college:

We were going to the U.R.I. chapter for our pledge weekend (1982). We had stopped for pizza somewhere along the way. As we are ready to leave, the Master at the time whispers for us to walk quickly out the door. Once we get out side he yells "RUN...we didn't pay...hurry before they call the cops!!" All of us pledges sprint to the van, diving in, piling on top of each other, elbows & knees tangled, breathless, ducking down so no one can see us. We all thought we got away with dinner for free, a bunch of fresh faced felonious Temple students on the lam from a pizza shop. I didn't find out until almost 20 years later that the chapter didn't really blow off the dinner bill...the brothers just wanted to see us pledges falling over each other...scared of being arrested...ducking down, nervous. Too funny! It probably sets the record for the longest running gag in chapter history.

One piece of advice for undergraduate brothers:

FROM A FRATERNITY PERSPECTIVE: Enjoy everything the fraternity has to offer, experience everything you can. Get as involved as you can in the fraternity activities. Become a chapter officer. Join a chapter committee. College life passes quickly and you will look back and cherish the experiences and the friends you make in AEPi. Take it from someone who is living it: the friends you make in AEPi will be your closest friends for the rest of your life...they will unquestioningly be there to celebrate with you during great times and will support you and your family during life's rough moment. FROM A BASIC LIFE PERSPECTIVE: Protect your reputation while in college and beyond- if you are known by your friends and peers in as someone reliable and trustworthy, that will carry you throughout adulthood.

How has AEPi helped you since graduating?

Early in my career...close to 20 years ago...one of my closest AEPi friends (Scott Solomon) referred me to a position that became - in hindsight - a key catalyst to much of the professional achievement that, thank G-d, I am experiencing now. Aside from that situation, I have not proactively leveraged my AEPi experience for other business purposes, though opportunities do and can present themselves if you stay in touch with each other. What my AEPi brothers DO provide is a vital respite from the business world. Around my brothers, we can let our guard down, can be open and honest with worrying about the business ramifications. We can be who we are. We can also tease...relentlessly at times...each other. We judge each other on who we are, not what we have. As we all know, the business world is intensely competitive. One has to be "on their game" to maintain a high level of success. Every time I am with my brothers however, it's like a vacation...even if only for a few hours...from that arena. To me, that's significantly more important than the possible financial awards.

What do you do now professionally?

I am a Senior Solutions Consultant with Reynolds & Reynolds Company; a CRM, IT & eBusiness solutions company specializing in the automotive industry.

Are you married? Kids?

Married with two children

Which brothers have you most stayed in touch with?

Frequently throughout the the past 26 years: Robert Schiller (who passed away last year), Scott Solomon (Class of 1986), Mike Kelman (Class of 1983), Jeff Graber (Class of 1982), Paul Stein (Class of 1987), Mark Pokedoff (Class of 1984), Dan Grossman (Class of 1984) & Ken Katz (Class of 1986). I have recently been privilege to have reconnected with Eric Weiss (Class of 1983) and Jack Weinstein (Class of 1984) as well.

If brothers want to contact you, how can they?

Email- jeffsilverman@optononline.net or cell: (516) 232-0596

Pictures: Top right- (L-R) Jack Weinstein (Class of 1984) and Jeff today. Top left-Jeff in Spring 1983 at the fraternity alumni dinner. For more pictures of Jeff, visit the alumni photo webpage.

Next alumni spotlight: Jonathan Alexander (Class of 2007)

Donation to chapter

Thank you to Greek Housing Alliance for their $2,018 donation to the chapter. Not only are Dan Grossmann (Class of 1983) and Rabbi Joe Domosh, who own Greek Housing Alliance, our landlords and owners of the nicest house on Temple's campus, but they actively support Alpha Pi. We'll be facing some new challenges this semester as we deal with the fire at our new house. It is comforting to know that our alumni and our friends support us. Again, thank you to Dan and Joe on behalf of Alpha Pi's over 700 undergraduate and alumni brothers.

Joe Domosh is the congregational rabbi of Temple B'nai Israel in Burlington, NJ, South Jersey's oldest conservative synagogue. He is also the rabbi of Star of David Bikers, a Jewish Motorcycle Riding Club in Philadelphia.

Dan Grossmann is a two-time Past Master of Alpha Pi. He will be featured in an upcoming alumni spotlight.

Alumni Spotlight: Jeff Graber

We are beginning a series of Alumni Spotlights. Different alumni from various years in Alpha Pi's history are going to be asked questions on different subjects. If anyone would like to be "spotlighted" email aepi@temple.edu. Our first alumni spotlight is none other than the legendary Jeff Graber. Coming soon: Jeff Silverman.

What year did you pledge AEPi?
I was a Refounding Father in 1979 with 19 other guys.

What positions did you hold in the chapter?
I served as Exchequer for two years.

Did you have any nicknames while in the chapter?
Brother Grabes and Graby Baby

What do you do professionally now?
I do different things. I own Graber Tax & Financial Services, which offers business accounting services and financial planning. I'm also an adjunct college professor and real estate investor.

How did your experience in AEPi help you later in life?
As the Exchequer of Alpha Pi for two years, I gained experience and confidence in managing a budget. I utilized this knowledge in my accounting and financial positions, working for mostly computer companies as a controller.

You were a Refounding Father in 1979. What was special about this experience?
I was part of a group of individuals who learned the meaning of brotherhood and the history of Alpha Epsilon Pi. It was a wonderful, memorable experience that will stay with me the rest of my life.

What advice would you want to give your undergraduate brothers today?

First of all, know that brotherhood is for life. After you graduate and seek out where you "fit in" in this world, you will take many paths. No matter what kind of work you do, or however far away you eventually settle down, you will always have the bond of brotherhood that keeps you in touch with your brothers (in mind and in spirit). You will appreciate the friendships you have today and attend your closest brothers' happy and not-so-happy occasions. Secondly, be active in the fraternity and give of yourself---your time and your effort. You will be rewarded for this the rest of your life, both personally and professionally.

Are you married? Kids?
I am married to my lovely wife Karen, we have two children.

If brothers want to contact you, how can they do so?
They can email me at jkgraber@aol.com. I currently live in West Chester, PA.

Pictures: Above right-Jeff today. Above left-Jeff at an AEPi formal in 1983. Below-Jeff and Karen, who were dating at the time, at an AEPi formal.

COFA Construction

Brothers Joe Raffanello and Pesach Kessler are sketching and painting a wooden AEPi COFA. Once it is completed, we'll be able to hang it from the house. Here is the first in a series of pictures that will be updated over the next few days and weeks until their project is done. Who said Jews don't do construction?

Above: (L-R) Joe Raffanello and Pesach Kessler. The pencil sketch is hard to see but looks great! Below: (L-R) Pesach Kessler and Joe Raffanello printed out a large scale color copy of the COFA and are beginning to sketch it onto a piece of plywood.

AEPi: Top GPA on campus

Today, fraternity and sorority grade reports were released. For the second consecutive semester, AEPi had the top GPA amongst all 13 fraternities on campus. Our average GPA for Spring 2008 was a 3.05, while the average fraternity member's GPA was a 2.7 and the average Temple male got a 2.82. Our average GPA in Fall 2006 was a 2.63, and for the past 3 semesters we have worked hard to raise that score.The second place fraternity was way behind us with a 2.8 average GPA for the Spring 2008 semester. AEPi is leading the campus both academically and socially. Congrats to our top ten GPA getters (with a tie for the tenth spot) for the Spring 2008 semester who in no particular order are: Arkadiy Landa, Eric Shelmire, Ben Nadell, Jon Kriner, Brad Hoffman, Joe Raffanello, Paul Minkovich, Oleg Grapp, Steve Auerbach, Harry Rosenblum, and Mike Slutsky.

Alumni website

Alpha Pi's alumni website has several features. Alumni can easily update their information in two ways. They can visit our alumni website (pictured above) and electronically fill out the form. After filling out the form, the chapter receives the information and updates our alumni roster. Also, alumni can email their updated information to the chapter at aepi@temple.edu. If you provide us with an email address, you will be added to the alumni listserv, where you will receive updates about chapter activities, alumni events, and other important news. Also on the website, there is an electronic donation mechanism through Paypal. All of our alumni events are advertised on the website, and the chapter alumni newsletters are posted there. Some alumni brothers have set up their own website, which has pictures, news, and an alumni yellow pages (mostly from the mid-1980s.) That website is maintained by Jack Weinstein, who can be contacted at jackw62@earthlink.net.

Pictures: Above-our alumni website and the information updating form. Below- A picture from the alumni website maintained by Jack Weinstein. Alumni brothers (L-R) Jonathan Wasserman, Dan Grossman, Jack Weinstein, Jeff Silverman, Art Patalowski, Jeff Graber, Mark Pokedoff

Alpha Pi gets around

In more ways than one, Alpha Pi likes to get around. Between July 2006 and January 2008, the chapter was at 2012 North Broad Street. Between January 2008 and July 2008, the chapter lived in 2022 North Broad Street, which was also the home of Temple University founder Russel Conwell. We currently live in both 2002 and 2004 North Broad Street, and are awaiting the completion of our permanent new home 2000 North Broad Street. We were supposed to move into 2000 Broad Street (also known as the John Stafford Mansion) on August 1, but there was a tragic fire that destroyed the rear side of the third floor of the house. The owners of the house, who include Past Master Dan Grossman (class of 1983) are working as fast as possible to have the house ready as soon as possible. In the meantime, the chapter is in 2002/2004 North Broad, where we also lived in the late 1990s. Overall, Alpha Pi will have been in 5 different homes in less than one year once we move into 2000 North Broad. Truly, Alpha Pi gets around.

Pictures: Above right-a historic picture of 2000 North Broad Street, our new home. Above left-a much younger (and more handsome) Dan Grossmann, Past Master and owner of John Stafford Mansion

AEPi Helping the Community

Last year, Alpha Pi participated in many philanthropies around the Philadelphia region benefiting the Jewish community. In November, 15 brothers participated in Mitzvah Mania sponsored by Philadelphia Hillel and the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia. We went to South Philly and cleaned up a park by removing trash and planting new gardens. In mid-February, 30 brothers participated in Super Sunday where we called Jews around the Philadelphia region asking for donations to benefit the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia. Every month, between 20 and 30 brothers participate in the Jewish Relief Agency's food packaging and delivery events. We go to their facility in the Northeast and help package food supplies for needy Jews around the Philadelphia area. Then, we put the packages into volunteer's cars and our own cars. Afterwards, we personally deliver the food. Last year, we also participated in large scale Temple community service projects in which we went out and cleaned up our local North Philadelphia community. We participate in Temple Greek only philanthropies including raising hundreds of dollars for Alex's Lemonade Stand an organization which raises money for cancer research.

Pictures: Top left-Ross Klinger makes a phone call on Super Sunday. Top right-Mike Abrams picks up a package of food to put in a car at a Jewish Relief Agency event. Below (L-R) Arkadiy Landa, Jon Kriner, Jon DeSantis, a lucky female, Drew Wenning, Gabe Toran, and Oleg Grapp have rakes ready to plant at Mitzvah Mania in South Philadelphia.

Great rush video

9 Alpha Pi brothers attend AEPi Convention

9 Alpha Pi brothers were in Chicago last week at AEPi's 95th annual Convention. Highlights included attending a White Sox-Red Sox game at U.S. Cellular Field and went to a comedy show at Second City. The chapter won three awards including the Standford and Sheila Odesky Outsanding Rush Results Awards for initiating 25 men last year and an award for raising over $1,000 for our official philanthropies. The brothers toured the city including visiting Navy Pier and downtown Chicago. Master Jon DeSantis won the Robert Silverman Outstanding Scribe Award for his service last year. The hotel's sauna broke down on their third day there, which substanially increased their attendance at sessions. The attending brothers were Jon DeSantis, Jeff Gutkin, Alex Mandel, Past Master Joe Littman, Ross Klinger, Ari Charlestein and alumni Past Master Jonathan Alexander (Class of 2007), Past Master Marc Prine (Class of 2008), and Rabbi Shalom Denbo of the International Board of Rabbis.

Pictures: Above (L-R) Joe Littman, Alex Mandel, Jeff Gutkin, Marc Prine, and Jon Alexander at U.S. Cellular Field for the White Sox-Red Sox game. Below (L-R) Jon DeSantis, Joe Littman, Marc Prine, and Jon Alexander before the gala banquet.