Dear Fraters,

I am proud to be the bearer of great news, our own Mu-Omega chapter has been selected as a 2013-2014 Top Teke chapter! Granted to only 12 out of the over 250  chapters this year, Mu-Omega is finally getting the international recognition it so richly deserves. For more information and for a full list of the winners, please go to the TKE page announcing the honorees.

During the 2013-2014 year, Mu-Omega has distinguished itself through it’s recruitment efforts,GPA improvement and especially through the amazing philanthropy done during the inaugural “Teke Week” where our undergraduate fraters raised just over $7,000 in a week, far exceeding even their ambitious goals.  Earlier this year, Mu-Omega was recognized with five awards by George Mason University for their hard work, and to have this be the capstone of a stunning year is truly amazing achievement.

You have helped the chapter too! In giving an annual gift to the alumni association, in coming to social events and strengthening your Bond with other fraters, in volunteering your time to serve in board positions on the Board of Advisors or the Alumni Association, even in sharing this email with everyone you know, you have played a part in making our chapter a Top Teke chapter this year. One of the things that International HQ looks for is the formation of an alumni association.  So simply by keeping this association active, you are doing your part to help the active chapter. Alumni Association funds also helped underwrite Teke week, and alumni association support and membership has provided guidance and education to younger members of our chapter.

Please continue to support the alumni association and the chapter as you can, be it financially, socially, or through service on our Board. It is a truly amazing way to make an impact and moments like these are the reward. I admittedly though, am a bit biased in my pride for our guys, so here are some words of encouragement and congratulations from TKE CEO Donald Aldrich:

“On behalf of the International Headquarters of Tau Kappa Epsilon, I want to congratulate the Mu-Omega Chapter at George Mason University for their tireless work in winning a Top TKE Chapter Award for 2013-14. The men at Mu-Omega are an example of the impact that Tau Kappa Epsilon can have on campuses and communities. The over $7,000 raised for St. Jude and 29 men recruited are just a couple examples of the successes that your men accomplished. Congratulations to the collegiate men, alumni, volunteers, and advisors who earned this great honor. We are excited about what this group can accomplish moving forward!”

YITB,

Donnie

And also Grand Cryosphlyos Chris Hanson adds:

“Congratulations to the fraters of Mu-Omega on this amazing accomplishment.  We are always proud of your work and achievements, but especially so today.  We truly are making better men for a better world.”

We will be sharing this news all over social media using the hashtag #gmutopteke please join us and generate your own content and use the hashtag to connect everyone and share in the excitement of today’s news.  We also will be keeping a full series of congratulatory notes on our website including Frater Aldrich’s note above, notes from Grand Officers, and anyone else who wants to comment. Look for that link to go live very soon.

This is an amazing springboard to start the 2014 academic year, which will be Mu-Omega’s FORTY FIFTH ANNIVERSARY. So please join me in wishing our fraters well. Send a note to the Histor with well wishes, make a donation to the alumni association  or to TKE itself in their honor, or come out to the next social event. Without your support we wouldn’t be what we are, so thank you again.

I love this Fraternity.

Yours in The Bond

Chris Townsend, a proud Mu-Omega #645
Prytanis
TKE Mu-Omega Alumni Association, Inc.

We are saddened to hear of the loss of a fellow alumni Frater in the Bond. Christopher McCarthy was a beloved member of our Fraternity, and he will be greatly missed. The following are the remarks from the active chapter Prytanis, regarding a memoriam ritual to be held this weekend.

Fraters,

It is with a heavy heart that I have to send this message regarding the death of a Mu Omega Alumnus, Chris McCarthy. I would like to first extend my sincerest condolences to all who had the pleasure of knowing this esteemed Frater. We are all Brothers in the Bond. A loss of both a great friend, family member, and Frater is devastating to us all and I would like to reach out and offer any help that myself or the active chapter of Mu Omega can provide. This Sunday, the active chapter will be holding a formal chapter meeting with appropriate badge attire. I have bought black ribbon to be draped upon the badges of all initiated Fraters to symbolize mourning for the loss of this esteemed Frater. A moment of silence in remembrance of Frater McCarthy will also take place during ritual. If any Fraters would like to attend, please let me know. It would be greatly appreciated if this email could be passed along to any Fraters close to Frater McCarthy. This event has truly reminded me that we all stand as one, Brothers in this strong and never ending Bond. The thoughts and prayers of Mu Omega both past and present are with Chris, his family, his friends, and his brothers. Again, my sincerest condolences and please let me know if there is anything myself or the chapter can do to honor Frater McCarthy.

Yours in the Bond,

— 
Brennan Outar
President – Mu Omega Chapter – Tau Kappa Epsilon
Vice President – GMU Interfraternity Council
George Mason University

Hey everybody, it’s about that time that we all look forward to, March Madness time!

Join our challenge and enter in your bracket for FREE. Just go to the website below and enter ‘GMU‘ as the password (case sensitive, must be ALL CAPS, no quotes)

http://tkemuomegaalumni.mayhem.cbssports.com/e?ttag=BPM14_paste_cbsinv

If you are an active supporting alumni member, you can win the $200 prize! Not sure if you are an active member? Go here and look for your scroll number.

If you’d like to support us with an Annual Member Endowment for the 2014 year, you can do so up until the start of the tournament and become eligible for the prize.  http://muomegatke.com/?p=500

Last year, I won the tournament in an amazing final win, and I want to challenge every Frater here to sign up and try to beat me!

Here’s to another great tournament season.

Yours in the Bond,

Chris Townsend, #645
Alumni Prytanis and TKE NCAA Tournament Bracket Defending Champion

Here is the list of the awards we received last night:

Standard I: Scholarship

Standard II: Leadership & Engagement

Standard III: Chapter Management & Self Governance

Philanthropic Program of the Year for TKE Week

3 Star Chapter of Excellence

These awards were given for meeting and exceeding the standards to which every organization is expected to meet. Being awarded the 3 Star Chapter of Excellence shows that the chapter is doing exceptional in it’s involvement with the school in all areas os academics, philanthropy and community involvement. The award for Philanthropic Program of the Year was given to us as we were selected among all the nominees to have the most outstanding philanthropy this past year. With our chapter involving not only the Greek community but the entire Mason community and exceeding our goal by over $2,500, Mason Fraternity and Sorority Life decided that Tau Kappa Epsilon was deserving of this award.

As for the remainder of the year, we have not lost the momentum to go on and conquer Greek Week! I have been acting as Greek Week chair and we have started preparing three weeks ago. The chapter, along with the rest of our Greek Week team, is very motivated and excited to do well this year in Greek Week. Greek Week is only a few weeks away and we are beginning to really get down to business as it gets closer. One thing we would like to ask the Alumni Association for is with the Can Food drive competition. We have plans to go to the surrounding areas to collect donations, but every little bit can help. If the alumni would like to donate I am sure a couple of brother can organize a time to go around an collect the cans! Just let me know if you have any questions. In the newsletter I will be sending out by the end of this week I will include the date, time and place of the Greek Week events.

YITB

Jose Aguimatang #810