One alumnus’ generosity, and the support of its alumni board, led to Beta Mu Chapter at Austin Peay State University being able to renovate their William Alley Activity Center and begin plans for a new chapter house.
Brother Chris Pitts of Beta Mu Chapter stepped up with a very generous offer to fund and manage the renovation of Beta Mu’s William Alley Activity Center when he heard that the chapter house was no longer a fitting space for the brothers.
“If we had to go out and raise funds, just as a general fundraising campaign, it could have probably taken another year or two to do exactly what we want to do to — raise the funds that he has so graciously and generously provided to us,” Brother Keith Hunter, the Beta Mu Alumni Chapter President, said.
Brother Pitts has worked in the self-storage business for 29 years. With this experience, he has managed several construction projects of his own and has a trusted contractor.
“I was surprised one of my brothers, who’s a next-door neighbor, he stopped by one day last April. He was telling me the chapter was down to just a handful of members, and the house was in a state of disrepair. And I said, somebody's got to do something, or that chapter is going to fold,” Brother Pitts said.
Brother Pitts then went to the Beta Mu Alumni Chapter to discuss a way to improve the chapter’s facilities. The chapter house was beyond repair, but the chapter also had the William Alley Activity Center, a building with a concrete floor with no heating or cooling, bathrooms or rooms. Brother Pitts asked if it was possible to renovate the Activity Center, and the chapter and alumni board agreed that this renovation would be the best option for the chapter.
He and Brother Hunter both noted that renovating the Activity Center into a fellowship hall would give the collegiate brothers a place to gather, hold events and do schoolwork, and demolishing the chapter house would improve curb appeal, hopefully boosting recruitment.
Brothers Dale Collings, Noble Ruler of Beta Mu Chapter, and Gage Littleton, VNR-House Operations, shared the changes the chapter made to their Activity Center, including restrooms, a kitchen with new appliances, fellowship area for gathering and studying, an outdoor patio area and more.
“We believe that this renovated building will help change the culture around the chapter and bring in new people based on a cleaner, safer environment, and everything that will go along with that.”
Through Brother Pitt’s decision to step up and support the collegiate chapter more, and seeing the improvements at the chapter, several alumni have begun to grow more involved with Beta Mu Chapter.
The chapter held a grand re-opening of the facility where roughly 60 alumni attended to see the renovations. The collegiate brothers displayed historical items specific to the chapter for the visiting alumni. Food was provided and attendees were able to tour the renovated facility.
On November 24, the chapter demolished their chapter house. The chapter’s plan is to raise recruitment numbers and then begin fundraising to build a new chapter house. The chapter posted the demolition on social media saying, “This morning we watched years of stories come down. Brothers from past and present gathered to honor the memories and express gratitude for every moment lived inside those walls. Goodbye to the old Alpha Gamma Rho house — but never to the brotherhood it built. Here’s to the new season.”
