Page 1 - Cla Delta Spotlight - Summer 2012

Cal Delta Spotlight USC House Corporation of Phi Delta Theta | Summer 2012 | University of Southern California Alumni Offce | P.O. Box 80828, Atlanta, Georgia 30366 | www.phideltatheta-caldelta.com Alumni Spotlight: Our Fall 2012 Milestone By Stephen Scully ’81 Les Weldon ’83 President – USC Phi Delt House Corporation 've always been interested in the his fall 2012, we again will Idramatic arts. In high school, though, Thave a full Fraternity house I was an athlete playing 3 different with 39 members living in. In sports (football, soccer and golf) and at addition, this will be the fourth that time it wasn't really "cool" to be fall class to move into our House in drama. So I did it rather covertly. I since we have completed the took classes and even acted in a couple construction. I fnd it amazing how of plays but never as a main lead. At time has fown by from the days of that time I also started developing an fundraising and fghting the City of interest in writing. It began with short Los Angeles to rebuilding the House and seeing this stories and through college evolved into screenplays. chapter fourish to the prominence of today. I rushed several houses and actually had some good feelings I am pleased to report that the chapter will about a number of them. But, the warmth, friendliness, and return 92 active members this fall with the plan to open honesty were what attracted me to the brothers. They secure a fall pledge class targeting 25 new members. were true guys without any of the haughtiness I felt with Over the last three years our active chapter has done other houses. And the Phi Delt tradition also weighed a tremendous job of building our membership and heavily. We have a great history. presence on the Row. Looking back even further, I As a student, my focus was on grades in case I had remember the chapter meetings that had to be held post-grad work to do. That should always be frst. But in a VKC class room with less than 20 members, a close second was the bond with the guys in the house. through today, enjoying one of the largest fraternity I knew back then that I would form friendships and houses at USC. relationships that would last a lifetime. And now, almost This fall 2012 milestone is a testament to the 30 years later, it still holds true. Some brothers I haven't effort that everyone who is or has been part of USC seen in years feel like I just saw them yesterday. Phi Delta Theta. Through a core group of our alumni After I graduated, I decided I was going to be a flm that stepped up, they provided the funds that were writer. Of course, no one was banging at my door asking required to rebuild our house. The active chapter me what I was working on or what scripts I had to offer. was seeded early on with a strong group of men who So I decided that frst I needed to eat and then I would put aside the requirement to have a house and took dedicate myself to writing at night. And that's what I the necessary steps to rebuild our chapter. Today did. I got a job working with a brother's father -- Ed our house is thriving, continuing to grow and has McClements -- selling insurance during the day. Then, been recognized by the National Fraternity and the fve nights a week I would write -- Sunday through University as one of the premier fraternities in the Thursday -- reserving Friday and Saturday to do what United States. Without question, all of us together Phis do best. Have fun. But it was a long, grueling have accomplished a tremendous amount and 2012 road having to write four or fve hours a night after is clearly a unique milestone. working a full day at the offce. In the end, though, I In closing, I ask that you not forget this effort. think it paid off. Our journey is not over and our fraternity continues My frst experience working in the biz was to need your support. As I have written in past trial by fre. I had written a script ("Freefall" starring newsletters, our House Corporation has taken on Eric Roberts), and my partner and I decided that signifcant debt, and this must be paid off. Rents we should also be the producers -- and I had never alone will not bring the principle balance down. produced anything before! The script called for the We need our alumni to recognize what has been lead character to jump off of Angel Falls which is the accomplished and to remember how USC Phi Delta world's highest waterfall -- at 3,200 feet high. It is Theta has impacted each and every one of our lives. Even in these challenging economic times, we See MOVIES continued on page 4 have prevailed and it will be up to all of us to keep Photos from top to bottom: Morgan Freeman; this chapter thriving and available to great young Mickey Rourke; Sylvester Stallone; Rin Tin Tin; Trojans who will unquestionably choose Phi Delta Sir Ben Kingsley, Les (in sunglasses) on set. Theta. Fight On and Proud to be a Phi.