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Part Five
The history of the Phi Chi Medical Fraternity was ably compiled and written by Dr. Pearson and Dr. Reisch through 1947 and Dr Reisch’s long time secretary, Mrs. Ellen Moore, wrote part IV in an exemplary manner. It concluded with the closing of the 43rd Grand Chapter in 1986. The mantle of Historian has passed to me. As Editor-in-Chief, I am humbled and daunted by the epic that precedes my contribution.
Daniel H. Cannon, MD
1986
The entire Fraternity was shocked, and dismayed, by the unexpected death of Dr. Jacob E. Reisch on December 11, 1986, due to a ruptured aortic aneurysm Dr. Reisch had been a member of the Executive Trustees for over 51 years. The Executive Trustees met, via phone, and named Daniel H. Cannon, MD, GPS, the Acting Chairman
1987
Many long conversations were held with Mrs. Moore, in Springfield, Illinois, and with Mrs. Mullis, in Valdosta, Georgia. The Trustees met in Dr. Reisch's offices in February to make decisions for closing the office, and to make arrangements concerning the lawsuit in Michigan.
The Board confirmed Dr. Cannon, as Chairman of the Executive Trustees until the Grand Chapter met. Arthur H. Keeney, MD, Louisville, Kentucky, Dean Emeritus of the University of Louisville School of Medicine, was named Editor-in-Chief of the Phi Chi QUARTERLY.
With the help of Mrs. Moore, the Trustees decided the disposition of Phi Chi files and material. The office of Chairman would be moved to New Albany, and the Editor-in-Chief of the QUARTERLY to Louisville, Kentucky. The University of Louisville was contacted and without reservation, accepted all of the historical files of Phi Chi for The Kornhauser Library. The Trustees felt this was particularly appropriate since Alpha Alpha was one of the founding chapters of the Fraternity. The materials are open to any member of the Fraternity who wants to view them or to students who are studying Fraternities in general. The files will be added to from time to time.
July 1987, Mrs. Bobbie Mullis, the secretary in the Central Office, at Valdosta Georgia, announced that she and her assistant, Mrs. Carla Lunceford, were retiring. Mrs. Mullis had been Dr. Saunders' secretary for many, many years, when he was the Grand Secretary-Treasurer.
Mrs. Jo An Dietrich, who was employed as our secretary, went to Valdosta, as Mrs. Mullis's guest for a week and learned the functioning of the Central Office.
All funds of the Central Office were immediately transferred to the New Albany office and promptly reinvested in various mutual funds, almost doubling our interest income.
The move of the Central Office to New Albany was accomplished by October 1, 1987. Things were beginning to be well organized by November 1987.
A word about the lawsuit: A student sued the National Fraternity because of a note published in the Phi Chi Notes, a publication of Psi Chapter, concerning the spelling of Wernicke’s Psychosis in those notes, and speculating as to the transcriber’s mental ability. The two gentlemen, who wrote the editorial sideline, were not members of our Fraternity.
Mediation recommended a settlement of $15,000.00. On the advice of counsel, we took advantage of this settlement because the expenses to go to court would be far in excess of that amount, even though we won. He also advised that there was no recourse against the student who brought the suit. This plus $20,000.00 in legal fees, made the total approximately one-half of the assets of our Fraternity.
We also note that Volume 76 of the Phi Chi QUARTERLY, Number 1, published in the Fall 1987, was mistakenly numbered 76 instead of 77.
By the time the XLIV Grand Chapter met, on November 20, 21 and 22, 1987, the Central office had been entirely moved to Dr. Cannon's office in New Albany. The office is located between his home and the adjacent Victorian house, in which the Convention was held. Eleven Chapters were present and enthusiasm ran high Scott Schorr, Zeta, was elected the Grand Presiding Senior, and Keith Legare, Sigma Kappa, as Grand Presiding Junior. Dr. Cannon was confirmed as Chairman of the Executive Trustees and Editor of the QUARTERLY. Ed Hardiman, Chi Chapter, was named Assistant Editor-in-Chief, and the office of editor moved to New Albany.
It was decided that there would be a XLV Grand Chapter Convention, held in 1988, so that final plans could be made for the Centennial Celebration in 1989.
Arthur H. Keeney, MD, resigned from the Executive Trustees, because he was unable to properly carry out the duties demanded by the Fraternity, in addition to his other professional activities. He was elected an Emeritus Member of the Board.
The Grand Chapter, paid tribute to Mrs. Bobbie Mullis, Mrs. Carla Lunceford, of the former Central Office in Valdosta, Georgia, and Mrs. Ellen Moore, Dr. Reisch's secretary, in Springfield, Illinois, for their long service.
1988
The XLV Grand Chapter was convened September 16 through 18, again at New Albany, in the home of Daniel H. Cannon, MD, Chairman of the Executive Trustees. Dr. Vernon Ward, the Grand Secretary-Treasurer, reported on the successful institution of the Jacob E. Reisch, MD, Memorial Fund, in which contributions exceeded $40,000.00. This large amount of money was generously contributed by less than 6% of our Alumni.
Expenses still exceed income, we are hoping, by alumni contributions, to build our fund sufficiently, and that interest will provide for the Central Office's upkeep. This cost is far less than it has been, not only due to the consolidation of the offices, but to computerization.
Phi Sigma Chapter, Loyola, with a total membership of 86, was disenfranchise by Loyola University because they failed to follow the Constitution and Statutes of the Phi Chi Medical Fraternity, using our name, without paying allegiance to us, or properly initiating members. The Grand Chapter had little choice but to revoke their Charter.
Dr. Cannon announced that dies had been prepared and new engraved shingles would be issued to all new members, and for a small charge, to any prior member who had received the printed membership certificates.
New Charters are also being engraved. Each Chapter was urged to ask their alumni organization to become a chartered alumni chapter. Plans for the Centennial were discussed. Invitations given by the delegates of Upsilon Nu, Alpha Beta and Zeta. It was left to the Trustees to make the final decision. When the formal invitations were received from the Chapters, Alpha Beta, Memphis, Tennessee was the site chosen for the XLVI Grand Chapter.
Only eight delegates appeared and the Grand Chapter, therefore, met as a Committee of the Whole. The Executive Trustees approved the actions of the Grand Chapter, but because of the absence of a quorum, no elections were held.
1989
The 1990 edition of the Directory published by University Publishing Company, Bloomington, Indiana. Memorabilia included a Centennial pin done in cloisonné, and a Centennial edition of the QUARTERLY. The Phi Chi Coat of Arms done in gold leaf embossing on parchment, which was sent framed. The Phi Chi Coat of Arms done by Jacob E. Reisch, MD, the prints prepared by a local artist.
Dr. Rudy F. Sievers, a member of Executive Trustees for 33 years served the Fraternity in many capacities, including Grand Presiding Senior and Grand Secretary-Treasurer died on March 3, 1989. His beloved wife, Billie preceded him into the Chapter Eternal by one week. A memorial was established by Upsilon Nu in his memory. Dr. Sievers' death, along with those of Dr Reisch in 1986 and Dr. Saunders in 1981, brought to a close an era of Fraternity history and of devoted men who served this Fraternity for a total of 144 years.
The following awards were established:
Rudy F. Sievers, MD, PhD Award to a chapter’s most outstanding member (annual).
The Authors Award for the author of the best article published in the Phi Chi Chronicles (annual).
The T. B. Pearson, MD Award annually to the most outstanding Phi Chi Chapter.
The XLVI Grand Chapter met at Baldaur II, the stately home of Alpha Beta, in Memphis, Tennessee. Only seven chapters (Alpha Beta, Chi, Epsilon Kappa, Nu Sigma, Sigma Kappa, Upsilon Nu, and Zeta), were represented.
Edward R. C. Hardiman, MD, a former delegate of Chi Chapter, Philadelphia and the Associate Editor announced that he had been personally contacting Omicron Chapter and that they were preparing to restore their chapter to good standing. The Grand Chapter noted with distress, that Sigma Kappa had lost their Fraternity House due to University expansion and, that no immediate plans were in the making for a new house and the former alumni association had been dissolved.
Since the QUARTERLY was no longer published “Quarterly” the name was changed to "The Phi Chi Chronicles", effective after publication of the "Centennial Quarterly".
Other important decisions by the Grand Chapter included naming Omicron, the site of the 1990 meeting. Upsilon Nu, the site of the 1991 meeting and Nu Sigma the site of the January 1993 meeting. The delegates believe that annual conventions should be in order.
The delegates also voted that the Chapters should financially support their delegates to the Grand Chapter.
Reports of the Chapters showed increasing activity and interest, as well as more participation by local alumni.
Two Alumni Chapters, Alpha Alpha and Alpha Beta were chartered.
The following officers were elected: Ray Brown, Upsilon Nu, Grand Presiding Senior. Dr. Melbourne Williams, Grand Presiding Junior. Dr. Scott Schorr, Member of Executive Trustees, and Dr. Arthur Keeney, Emeritus Member.
Dr. Vernon G. Ward and Dr. Daniel H. Cannon continued their terms.
Those elected to the Board of Directors for the Welfare Association were Dr. Daniel H. Cannon, President Dr. Vernon G. Ward, Secretary/ Treasurer. Dr. Duane Orn, Dr. Andrew Windham, Dr. Joseph B. Eisenach, and Dr. Jeffrey G. Meade, Board Members.
Due to the absence of the Grand Presiding Senior, Dr. Scott Schorr, on Friday and Saturday, Dr. Cannon conducted the meeting and officiated at the Grand Banquet, at which many toasts were proposed. The 75th Anniversary of Alpha Beta, as well as the Centennial of the Fraternity, was celebrated.
Since there were no amendments to the By-Laws, and therefore, no business to be taken care of on Sunday morning, the Grand Chapter closed Saturday evening, following the installation of the Officers, Trustees and Directors.
Of particular interest may be the statistics. It is to be remembered that the number of active members reflects all active members of a particular Chapter. It is to be noted that some Chapters are listed, but only a small percentage, or none, are members of the Fraternity. This is because they have not been properly initiated and reported, and the Phi Chi Central Office has no record of their existence and the so-called "local members" are not Phi Chi's.
ACTIVE CHAPTERS:
Alpha Beta, Memphis TN 38 Active
Chi. Philadelphia, PA 30 Active
Chi Upsilon, Omaha NE 17 Active
Epsilon Kappa, Seattle WA 10 Active
Kappa Chi, Minneapolis, MN 51 Active
Nu Sigma, Halifax Nova Scotia, Canada 20 Active
Phi Rho, St. Louis, MO 28 Active
Omicron, New Orleans, LA NO Active
Pi, Nashville, TN 13 Active
Psi, Ann Arbor, MI 6 Active
Sigma Kappa, Charlestown, SC 6 Active
Upsilon Nu, Omaha, NE 34 Active
Zeta, Galveston, TX 72 Active
This is a listing of 325 active members.
There are two Chartered Alumni Chapters, Alpha Alpha and Alpha Beta Chapter. Upsilon Nu and Kappa Chi was in the process of Chartering.
At the present time, members listed 60,000 alumni in the computer, and 19,808 current addresses. There are approximately 20,000 who have entered the Chapter Eternal. All known members of Phi Chi are now entered in the computer. These figures may change upon receipt of the information compiled by the Directory publisher.
As our Centennial year draws to a close, the following landmarks have been accomplished:
A new directory is being published, will be distributed in 1990.
The Centennial Edition of the Phi Chi QUARTERLY is almost ready for printing, and will be distributed early in 1990.
This Phi Chi History updated, will be published in 1990.
Financial support as measured by the marvelous response to request for the Jacob E. Reisch, MD, Memorial Fund, shows strong alumni support. Contributions to the Welfare Association are not quite adequate to sustain, and the criteria for making loans has been made more stringent.
The 100th year, and the beginning of our second century, is a critical time, but with the continued and growing support of loyal alumni, the future of our Fraternity seems secure.
