Delta Kappa Epsilon

We currently have a lot of missing brothers in our e-mail list. One of our 2008 goals is to increase e-mail communications to reduce expensive print mailings.

This will allow us to refocus funds on priorities like events and house renovations.

We’ve sent two e-mail newsletters thus far and will soon send a third. If you’re not getting these e-mails, please update your records so we have the right e-mail address!

Help us find lost brothers: please tell all brothers you keep in touch with about the newsletter, and ask them to visit this website to update their records using the link at the top.

And don’t forget, any time your contact information changes, please let us know using the Update Records link.

VT DKE alumnus Dave Calhoun (Spring ‘76) picked up some more press coverage in the latest issue of Fortune magazine.

You can read the whole article at Fortune’s website by clicking here.

The article, “Made to Measure”, describes his management successes as CEO of The Nielsen Company, which he took over in 2006.

Dave is just another example of successful DKE alumni… check out our list of Famous Dekes.

Bert Burson (Winter ‘79) is organizing a DKE Tailgate/Meet-Up at his parking spot at the Orange Bowl. His spaces are in the orange section of the parking lot, and will provide more specific information if you give him a call or an email before game day to let him know you plan on stopping by. His mobile number is (703) 244-7913, and his email address is eeburson@aol.com. If you’re making the trip, we hope you’ll stop by to say hello and enjoy a drink with us.

We will be holding an Open House and very brief Alumni Association meeting a couple hours before the Miami football game on November 17. We’d like to invite you to come see all the great work we’ve put into the house. Board members will be on hand along with our contractor and architect to show off the latest renovation efforts, make a few announcements and take questions. If you’re in town we hope you’ll join us for a bite and a drink or two to reconnect with the fraternity.

Open House: 12 noon – whenever
Meeting: 1:00 – 1:30 pm

Work on the attic renovations continues… as of this week the attic framing is nearly complete and HVAC system installation continues. See the below photos to get a sense of the scale of this project. It’s easily the most substantial construction work the house has seen in years and we’re excited to move forward with it.

However, our ability to continue is subject to your financial support – after completion of framing and HVAC work we must stop until fundraising catches up with spending. Please consider supporting this needed work with a generous donation.

Photos from September 29:

View architectural plans

Welcome to our new website. On behalf of the Alumni Association and the active brotherhood I hope you enjoy it.

We will use this site to share the latest information about the active DKE chapter, the Alumni Association and the historic DKE House in Blacksburg.

2006 marked our chapter’s 65th year at Virginia Tech, and 2008 will be our 40th year at 302 East Roanoke Street. With the financial support of the Alumni Association, the DKE House is undergoing its most significant restoration and modernization program ever. We’ll keep you posted on our progress here.

Thanks for visiting. I hope you’ll check back often.

The historic DKE House in downtown Blacksburg after completion of exterior renovations, June 2007.

Charlie Lloyd, our Campaign Chairman, just announced that so far we’ve received over $80,000 in pledges and donations to the 2007-08 Capital Campaign. These have come from about 60 alumni. This is a great start and we are very grateful to all who have recommitted themselves to their fraternity. Click here to see a list of donors.

We still have a long way to go – as you’ll see in the news items below, progress continues but we’re going to have to take a breather until fundraising catches up. Our goal is $200,000, with which we will be able to finish this aggressive and ambitious restoration project.

If you haven’t yet contributed, please visit our Fundraising section to learn more about making a tax-deductible donation. We hope to involve all brothers in this project so all can take credit for the turnaround.

Reconfiguration of the second level bedrooms is now complete, much to residents’ relief. Both driveway-side bedrooms received new closets and wall and ceiling work. The second level hallway has new recessed lighting and the removal of the former paddle room wall is complete, substantially opening up the space. The second level bathroom renovation is complete, with new walls and ceilings, new tile flooring, a new window and a new sink, shower and toilet.

The new staircase to the attic level is now roughed-in and the attic subflooring work is complete. Attic walls are now framed and HVAC system installation began this past week. Following this work we will have to put the project on hold until fundraising catches up – please send in your donations!

Check out these photos from 15 September:

Check back soon for more photos.

VT DKE alumnus Dave Calhoun (Spring ‘76) was recently named Co-chair of Virginia Tech’s new fundraising effort, The Campaign for Virginia Tech. Over the course of the next three years Dave will lead the public phase of the most ambitious campaign in university history. To read all about VT’s fundraising efforts and Dave’s involvement, click here for the VT Office of University Development’s IMPACT newsletter.

In addition to his exploits as a gentleman, scholar and jolly good fellow in DKE, Dave is also kind of famous in the business world for his executive talents as the current Chairman and CEO of The Nielsen Company, and before that, Vice Chairman of General Electric — accomplishments we are sure he would attribute almost entirely to experience gained managing his first enterprise as DKE’s Bar Chairman many years ago.

Congratulations, Dave.

Dave Calhoun (Spring ‘76, center) with DKE Alumni Board members Dan Johnson (Spring ‘74, left) and Jim Scanlon (Winter ‘76, right) at a reception at the DKE House in May 2005. Calhoun gave the commencement address for VT’s 2005 graduating class later that night in Lane Stadium.

We are underway on the first phase of DKE House interior renovations! We received the building permit for the interior construction on July 5th and began demolition work the next day.

Our plan is to do the second floor bathroom remodeling as well as other renovations on the second floor, install the permanent access to the attic level and complete the demolition/clearing of old rooms on the attic level.

Have a look at photos of demolition and construction in progress:

This phase of the work is expected to be completed in August.