A letter from brother AK 91’
Dear Jonda Brothers,
As I thought about how the mentoring of actives and pledges is critical to the future of the Jonda brotherhood, I was reminded of 2023, when Paul Wickham (87’) invited Jonda golfers to visit Jonda brother Carl Robinson, at that time the oldest known living Jonda brother. Wick shared Carl’s email with me that he wrote on September 15, 2023. Here is just one excerpt.
“Today was certainly the highlight of my life over a long period of time when nothing much of pleasure has happened. Thank you all for coming to see an old Jonda brother who had almost forgotten about Jonda.”
2023, our 100th, was the great year we all experienced “the great recollection”, we remembered. Some of us may have “almost forgotten about Jonda” but because of the death of brothers in 2020-2021, we were suddenly full of memories. I say it to the active chapter, I say it to each of you when and if I see you, I say it to my wife and children, there is nothing in the world like Jonda, no other fraternity at all. It is worth remembering for sure. And as many of you say to me, “I cannot imagine what my education would have been like without Jonda.” Exactly, it was the great preparation, the mental and physical challenge that just keeps on giving!
Wick’s email from Carl got me to thinking. It could be that one day, I will be the oldest known Jonda brother. The same for you. Give it a little thought. Now, a question: will there be anyone to come visit you, should you be the oldest known living Jondaman? We were there to visit Carl because we remembered the bond. But if we don’t invest in the actives now, those who are up against very different challenges than most of us faced, maybe there will be no one to visit us, or Jonda will live in the basement of Courtright Memorial Library, nothing more than a few composites and yearbook photos.
The current active chapter needs our support. Whether that is connecting with a younger brother as a mentor to help him connect the dots on employment, giving to the alumni fund on a regular basis, or, adding to the $50,000 we have raised for the Jonda scholarship which will benefit an active seeking to finish their degree.
Let it continue fellas, Let brotherly love continue!
AK 91’
Eta Phi Mu Endowment Fund Scholarship Committee Chair. rnkrr8@gmail.com 814-737-9519
CC. Chaz O’Neil 06’
Alumni Association President. chzoneil@yahoo.com 614-668-3611
CC. EJ Buggs
Active Chapter President. 614-256-0646
