Page 1 - Eta Survey - Spring 2016

ETA SURVEY

Eta Chapter of Kappa Delta Rho Fraternity | The University of Illinois | Spring 2016 | P.O. Box 80828 | Atlanta, Georgia 30366

A Letter from the Alumni Spotlight: Dale Schaffenacker ’78

Alumni President Editor’s Note: For this edition of the newsletter
we’re shining the Spotlight on Brother Dale
Dear Brother, Schaffenacker ’78. As an active KDR, Dale
The House Corporation served the chapter as Junior Tribune, Proprietor,
and chapter have been and several other positions. He graduated with a
busy since the last edition B.S. in Agricultural Economics and is living on a
of the Eta Survey! The small farm with his wife of 36 years, Molly. Dale
chapter continues to do and Molly have one child, their son Andrew, who
well. They had a strong recently was married and has a daughter on the
recruitment year and are back up above way with his wife Sheena. KDR has remained a
80 men. Over thirty brothers are signed up strong presence in his life – Dale served a number
to live in house this fall. I, along with the of years on the Eta Alumni Board, with about ten
House Corporation Board, are impressed of those years as president. Dale has held a variety Dale with his wife, Molly at a Christmas
and pleased with the leadership of the of jobs including owning a Jimmy John’s franchise market in Germany in 2014.
chapter. Some of us plan on joining several in 2000 – 2004. After working as a distributor of
of the undergraduates at the Williams playground equipment and outdoor recreation
Leadership Academy and National products from 2005-2009, Dale started his own
Convention in St. Louis in August. company. Today, Dale is owner of Molanda,
manufacturer distributorship selling outdoor
The board is planning on completing a recreational items such as playground equipment,
handful of major improvement projects over athletic goals, park site amenities, and bleachers.
the summer. We will meet on April 23rd
to finalize the plans for them. It’s hard to
believe we are five years past the dedication What led you to join KDR? principle to all of the directives, it was actually
of the renovated house. We’ve done basic I was exposed to the Greek system as I had in our best interest to do so. There are many
maintenance in recent years but this examples of situations where all it takes is one
summer we need to complete some more two older sisters join a sorority on their campus. member to do one incredibly stupid act to cause
extensive items. The two priority projects At that time, UI asked incoming freshmen a chapter to lose its house.
men if they were interested in going through
are replacing the retaining wall along the the Formal Greek Rush, which was held on a
drive way and addressing the storm drain in weekend in April. I definitely was interested, What do you do in your line of work?
the front yard. If we can swing it, we would and received all the letters and then took part After holding several jobs, including owner/
also like to level out the front yard and in Rush. Prior to Rush Weekend, I spent a
manager of a Jimmy John’s Sub shop, I
extend the retaining wall along the public weekend at KDR as a guest of my neighbor, eventually landed a job with a company selling
walk in front of the property. It’s logical to Jim McCormick ’75. I didn’t realize it at the primarily playground equipment. After a
do these at the same time given the intrusive time, but that weekend sealed the deal, even successful four years with them, my territory
nature of the drain project to the lawn. though it was before Formal Rush. was given to a different company, leaving me
jobless. I then started my own company doing
President (Continued on Page 4) During your time as a National Board essentially the same thing. I have been the
Member, did you owner of the Molanda Company for over six
foresee any of the years now. Molanda is a distributor for a variety
social changes that of manufacturers specializing in the outdoor
we have today? recreation market. I call on communities,
schools, churches, and most especially
I was on the National apartment property companies to help them
Board in the late 80’s. plan playgrounds and other active spaces.
At that time, we were
just beginning our
involvement with the What do you enjoy most about being
FIPG, the multi-fraternity self-employed?

liability insurance I have enjoyed the marketing aspect of my
company. Acceptance job, as well as the personal satisfaction of
into that group required seeing a project progress from just a thought
many changes on our all the way to its completion. I think marketing
fraternity’s part in order is the key to most company’s success. It’s a
to participate in their direction in which to allocate resources of time
program. Although we and money with the hope that it will pay off
Dale (pictured right to left) with Eta brothers Doug Jackson ’78, may not have agreed in

Bob McCormick ’79 and Bruce Mullins ’79 on a trip to Arizona, March 2014. Schaffenacker (Continued on Page 4)