Page 1 - Kai from Pi - Fall 2016

KAI FROM PI

Pi Chapter of the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity ★ Indiana University ★ Alumni Relations Office ★ P.O. Box 5782 ★ Bloomington, IN 47407 ★ Fall 2016

From The House Corporation

Brothers: Please make a point of visiting the castle on
As 2016 comes to an North Jordan whenever in Bloomington! Our
end, I ask you to look back brotherhood connections extend throughout our
and reflect on your time as lifetimes, yet are nurtured rather infrequently. I
a Pi alumnus. We recently invite you to spend some time in volunteering with
celebrated together at the our advisors, our house corporation, or to dial in for
105 Beta Conclave and the an executive teleconference via WebEx. Gifts to Pi
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event was a great success! chapter are always welcome through our Marching
This year’s meeting Along Educational Foundation, P.O. Box, 80828,
featured a discussion with Atlanta GA 30366.
Betas at the intersection of Yours_in_kai,
business and tech, moderated by Michael Huber,
President, and Indy Chamber members Dave Dr. Charles McCormick III ’72
Bowen, Wabash ’99; Matt Gentry, Purdue ’12; and President
Tom Hirons ’74. The conclave included chapter Marching Along Educational Foundation
updates, and the prestigious Senator Richard G.
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Lugar undergraduate leadership award was feted to (Turn to page three for photos from the 105 Beta Pi Chapter members in OKC.L-R: Max Westlake,
Nick Mpistolarides, former president of Indiana Pi Conclave.) Nick Mpistolarides, Brandt Downey, and Charles
Chapter! We hope to see you there next year! McCormick ’72.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: CHARLES CHAMNESS ’85

Editor’s Note: For this edition of the newsletter we’re shining the Spotlight on fellow alumni
brother Charles Chamness ’85. From the hometown of Bloomington, Indiana, Chuck gradu-
ated with a BA in telecommunications and minor in history from IU. Chuck is president and
CEO of National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies and dedicates his free time
to family and organizations such as the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. Since 2005, he has vol-
unteered with St. Baldrick’s and shaved his head every year to raise money for children’s
cancer research. He has also been a member of the IU Foundation Board of Associates for
several years. Chuck and his wife Briget have been married since 1989 and they have four
children: Charlie ’15, Sally, and twin boys Joey ’19 and Robbie. His son Charlie is a recent
graduate of IU, and his son, Joey, is an active fraternity member.

What led you to join the fraternity as an active? classwork a bit. Looking back, the classes I really as an assistant media buyer with a large agency, but
Being from Bloomington and having worked at the enjoyed were the history classes of Prof. Rufus within a few months I discovered that advertising was
IU Foundation in high school and in college, I rushed Fears, which led to my taking a minor in history. My not what I wanted to do. I set my sights on returning to
several fraternities, but my Uncle Don “Moto” Morris senior year was focused on work as a member of the D.C., which I did as director of communications for a
’54 was a Beta in the 1950s so it was first on my list. IUSF Steering Committee running practice for Little small bank trade association in late 1986. I spent the
Kent Webb ’85 and I pledged, and we moved from our 500 riders at Armstrong Stadium. As graduation next 10 years in Washington, D.C., serving in the first
dorm room to 919 East 10 the second week of our first approached, I knew I’d be coming back for fall Bush administration as deputy assistant secretary for
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semester. I was placed with pledge brothers in Ryan/ semester, so I applied for a summer internship with public affairs under HUD Secretary Jack Kemp as well
Gordon. Kent had to room with a bunch of sophomores Indiana’s great U.S. Senator Richard G. Lugar. Sen. as a press secretary on Capitol Hill and in other public-
who made his life pretty tough. We had a great pledge Lugar’s sons John Lugar ’85 and David Lugar ’87 and private-sector positions. My best experience in
class and were initiated on January 30, 1982. Many said are Pi Chapter Betas as well. John was in my pledge D.C. was meeting my wife, Briget, and having our first
our pledge class was the definition of “skeens” and they class. Thanks to the Lugars, I had my first experience two kids, Charlie ’15 and Sally.
were right. in Washington, and it eventually translated into a career. What is a typical day at NAMIC like for you as
As an active member, how did your internship open What did you do after graduation? CEO?
the door for a career in politics and public policy? So in late 1985, I was ready for my first job, and Jeff We’re a trade association, so I travel a lot, working
I was a telecom major with a concentration in Richardson ’73 set me up with a series of networking with and representing our 1,400 property/casualty
advertising, and had spent a lot of time on campus interviews with ad agencies in New York City, which I insurance companies. I’ve been CEO 13 years and
activities and participating in all the entertaining arranged after cancelling the return flight paid for by a (continued on page 4)
happenings at the Beta house and had neglected the company that recruited me at IU. I began 1986 in NYC