FarmHouse Building Campaign
Dear FarmHouse Brothers,
This is the start of something BIG! As of April 15, 2005 we celebrated the 27th Anniversary of the Texas Tech Chapter of FarmHouse Fraternity! Congratulations to each of you because you are an integral part of Tech Chapter and have played a role in a successful history in which each of us can be very proud. Yet WE NEED YOU again!
The HISTORY - The Texas Tech Chapter has had many homes throughout the years. From our humble beginning, we’ve held meetings in various buildings throughout the College of Agriculture, a location at 10th & Ave. T, to the house on Broadway, to the former office building on University, and finally at our current home at #3 Greek Circle. Each move has brought about its share of struggles and triumphs. We’re now at a point for another triumph! Allow me to recap the last several years…
The Association was faced with a difficult decision approximately 10 years ago. Although 1619 University was our home during a period of our greatest growth, its size prevented us from housing a majority of our chapter. In terms of housing, we had to take a step backward in order to move forward. The University location was sold and we purchased a lot adjacent to Greek Circle with the hopes of someday building a lodge. We went a short time meeting at various locations around campus before the former Gamma Phi Beta lodge (adjacent to our lot) became available for lease. We rented the lodge for approximately 3 years until we were recently able to purchase it. It was excellent opportunity to get such a spacious building at a fraction of new construction prices. Our problem? It has no living quarters but for a small apartment.
During the time of the lease, many of you participated as limited partners in a venture to purchase two 16-unit apartment complexes (also adjacent to our lot) that we hoped would provide a reasonable living environment for the interim period. It helped for a time but was certainly only a bandage to a much bigger problem. Those units have recently been purchased by the architect of that creative plan, alumnus Marty Cleckler, thus freeing up our equity. The lot has also been sold for a small profit.
The PROBLEM - As you can see, our path to full residency has been anything but a steady progression. During this time of transition we’ve lost something extremely vital to the overall health of our Chapter… the Actives’ understanding for the importance of living together as brothers. College students have gone through a huge metamorphosis over the last several years. It’s virtually impossible to explain to them how important the living experience is without their first seeing it in operation. Since we truly believe that the central, most important experience of FarmHouse is the opportunity to live together, we must have the help of our alumni. WE NEED YOU!
The PLAN - We were able to sell the lot due to the spaciousness of our current property. We have developed plans for a two-story wing to be added to the south end of the Lodge. This wing would house approximately twenty residents (a start in the right direction) and finally provide us the opportunity for a house mother apartment! The plans and specifications are completed but in order to make this plan a reality, WE NEED YOU!
The OTHER PROBLEM - Brothers, it is time that we step up to the financial plate. We can no longer allow ourselves to wallow in the excuses of yesterday. We have each been there as Actives, frustrated that our alumni base was either to small or too young to offer us much in the way of donations. We allowed that attitude to prevent us from establishing an ongoing fundraising campaign. Those excuses are no longer valid. I’m sure you can recall having promised that you would someday be a giver once established in the workforce (we too remember your promise! J). We only ask for you to give in proportion to what FarmHouse has honestly meant to your life. The FarmHouse experience has been a benefit to each of us and this is our opportunity to show our appreciation by offering to the next generation the same opportunities FarmHouse has offered each of us.
The SOLUTION IS YOU - Enclosed you will find a chart of giving levels. These are based upon a three year cumulative gift. You will soon be contacted by one of your brothers to discuss your gift. Please take this time to talk with your family and pray about how much FarmHouse has meant to you and why your participation is so important. Tax deductible instructions for your gift are included as well. We look forward to seeing you soon at the ribbon cutting of our new addition. WE NEED YOU to make it happen!
Your Brothers,
Keith Bell
Clay Enger, Chairman
Kickoff ‘04 Campaign
Building Committee
Marty Cleckler
David Hodges
Jeff Norris
Randy Weaver
Drew Slater, Chapter Representative
Building PlanPictures
First Floor Plan
Second Floor Plan
Exterior Elevation
Pledge Card
This is the start of something BIG! As of April 15, 2005 we celebrated the 27th Anniversary of the Texas Tech Chapter of FarmHouse Fraternity! Congratulations to each of you because you are an integral part of Tech Chapter and have played a role in a successful history in which each of us can be very proud. Yet WE NEED YOU again!
The HISTORY - The Texas Tech Chapter has had many homes throughout the years. From our humble beginning, we’ve held meetings in various buildings throughout the College of Agriculture, a location at 10th & Ave. T, to the house on Broadway, to the former office building on University, and finally at our current home at #3 Greek Circle. Each move has brought about its share of struggles and triumphs. We’re now at a point for another triumph! Allow me to recap the last several years…
The Association was faced with a difficult decision approximately 10 years ago. Although 1619 University was our home during a period of our greatest growth, its size prevented us from housing a majority of our chapter. In terms of housing, we had to take a step backward in order to move forward. The University location was sold and we purchased a lot adjacent to Greek Circle with the hopes of someday building a lodge. We went a short time meeting at various locations around campus before the former Gamma Phi Beta lodge (adjacent to our lot) became available for lease. We rented the lodge for approximately 3 years until we were recently able to purchase it. It was excellent opportunity to get such a spacious building at a fraction of new construction prices. Our problem? It has no living quarters but for a small apartment.
During the time of the lease, many of you participated as limited partners in a venture to purchase two 16-unit apartment complexes (also adjacent to our lot) that we hoped would provide a reasonable living environment for the interim period. It helped for a time but was certainly only a bandage to a much bigger problem. Those units have recently been purchased by the architect of that creative plan, alumnus Marty Cleckler, thus freeing up our equity. The lot has also been sold for a small profit.
The PROBLEM - As you can see, our path to full residency has been anything but a steady progression. During this time of transition we’ve lost something extremely vital to the overall health of our Chapter… the Actives’ understanding for the importance of living together as brothers. College students have gone through a huge metamorphosis over the last several years. It’s virtually impossible to explain to them how important the living experience is without their first seeing it in operation. Since we truly believe that the central, most important experience of FarmHouse is the opportunity to live together, we must have the help of our alumni. WE NEED YOU!
“This summer I visited the Kansas State, Nebraska, and Iowa State chapters during the week of conclave. During my visits, I was able to observe the live in experience that is available to these chapters. After staying overnight at Nebraska, I was confident that the Texas Tech chapter was definitely missing a large portion of the Farmhouse experience.
“I am confident that despite reservations on the part of some of our current members, that live in housing would be fully appreciated by every member once they fully understood the positive influence and experience it would bring to our chapter.
“Although I am doubtful that I will have the opportunity to experience firsthand the benefits that live in housing would bring to the Texas Tech chapter, I believe that it would be a shame to make this the standard at Texas Tech. I encourage any alumni that have yet to decide how to support this chapter to consider housing for our members a top priority. Of all the successes that this chapter has had, it would be our greatest failure to prevent our members from fully experiencing the best that this fraternity has to offer.”
“I am confident that despite reservations on the part of some of our current members, that live in housing would be fully appreciated by every member once they fully understood the positive influence and experience it would bring to our chapter.
“Although I am doubtful that I will have the opportunity to experience firsthand the benefits that live in housing would bring to the Texas Tech chapter, I believe that it would be a shame to make this the standard at Texas Tech. I encourage any alumni that have yet to decide how to support this chapter to consider housing for our members a top priority. Of all the successes that this chapter has had, it would be our greatest failure to prevent our members from fully experiencing the best that this fraternity has to offer.”
Justin Crain, Active
The PLAN - We were able to sell the lot due to the spaciousness of our current property. We have developed plans for a two-story wing to be added to the south end of the Lodge. This wing would house approximately twenty residents (a start in the right direction) and finally provide us the opportunity for a house mother apartment! The plans and specifications are completed but in order to make this plan a reality, WE NEED YOU!
"FarmHouse at Texas Tech is unique because our chapter was the only 'live-in' fraternity on campus. A central location is vital to the success of FarmHouse by providing a place that will help strengthen the brotherhood of the organization. I was not able to experience this live-in opportunity while at Tech and as a past President, I can confidently say that a live-in wing would have helped strengthen the chapter in areas such as rush, which would have been a tremendous advantage while trying to help rebuild the chapter. Being able to live together also would have given each member a sense of pride about FarmHouse by having the opportunity to interact on a different level outside of weekly meetings, under one roof, which in turn leads to a stronger brotherhood.
“A fraternity without unity is a fraternity that will not survive and as men of FarmHouse, we are dedicated to this unity and live-in quarters would be a small investment that would yield even greater rewards for the future."
“A fraternity without unity is a fraternity that will not survive and as men of FarmHouse, we are dedicated to this unity and live-in quarters would be a small investment that would yield even greater rewards for the future."
Jason Stockstill, recent graduate
The OTHER PROBLEM - Brothers, it is time that we step up to the financial plate. We can no longer allow ourselves to wallow in the excuses of yesterday. We have each been there as Actives, frustrated that our alumni base was either to small or too young to offer us much in the way of donations. We allowed that attitude to prevent us from establishing an ongoing fundraising campaign. Those excuses are no longer valid. I’m sure you can recall having promised that you would someday be a giver once established in the workforce (we too remember your promise! J). We only ask for you to give in proportion to what FarmHouse has honestly meant to your life. The FarmHouse experience has been a benefit to each of us and this is our opportunity to show our appreciation by offering to the next generation the same opportunities FarmHouse has offered each of us.
The SOLUTION IS YOU - Enclosed you will find a chart of giving levels. These are based upon a three year cumulative gift. You will soon be contacted by one of your brothers to discuss your gift. Please take this time to talk with your family and pray about how much FarmHouse has meant to you and why your participation is so important. Tax deductible instructions for your gift are included as well. We look forward to seeing you soon at the ribbon cutting of our new addition. WE NEED YOU to make it happen!
Your Brothers,
Keith Bell
Clay Enger, Chairman
Kickoff ‘04 Campaign
Building Committee
Marty Cleckler
David Hodges
Jeff Norris
Randy Weaver
Drew Slater, Chapter Representative
Building PlanPictures
First Floor Plan
Second Floor Plan
Exterior Elevation
Pledge Card
posted by Texas Tech FarmHouse Alumni at 8:40 AM
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