Brods,
We’re back! Promised you a few
things the last time upon accepting the UPBSFI presidency.
After going over our past files/records
(mostly Eric's well-maintained docs) and other sources during these
last few weeks, I have created an Access Database to be the central
and expandable repository for our org's data. A tedious process,
I have inputted them into Access; then formatted selected data to
fit into the attached Excel spreadsheet – the “UP
Beta Sigma Fraternity International Directory”. If you
find your name, it means that you have paid at least one membership
fee of $25 since our inauguration in May 2001; if not, not. There
is also a column that tells you if you are current in 2005. As
expected and I apologize, there will be missing, incomplete or incorrect
info, so please send me the right data asap so I could update Access.
I will send you the revised Directory as we go along. Hopefully,
if you didn’t find your name this time, you'll see it next time.
The Directory is sorted/arranged
in ascending order by Country, Chapter, Last Name. To summarize,
the present membership is 128: 5 Canada, 1 Hongkong, 11 Philippines,
111 USA. In the USA, 11 brods are unaffiliated, i.e. there is no
organized chapter in their states; 14 Eastern; 6 Midwest; 8 Northwest
(including 1 in BC, Canada); 44 UP Northern California; 29 UP Southern
California. Just a friendly reminder: the UPBSFI Directory
is for the sole fraternal use of UP Beta Sigma and should not be
disseminated or compromised in other ways.
Also attached is the Profile/Membership
form. If you feel that you’re ready to help us realize
our “Vision and Mission” of ensuring that the UP Beta Sigma
Fraternity remains the fraternity of choice at our Alma Mater and
that we preserve our traditions, legends, symbols and culture of
excellence, please fill up the form and mail along with your membership
to the specified address in the form (UPBSFI, 1111 Summitridge Drive,
Diamond Bar, CA 91765). Remember brods that your $25 annual
is our only
source of revenue, thanks!
I had also mentioned that we
would change our website name from ‘usa’ to ‘international’, and we
have. The new UPBSFI website address is ’http://upbetasigma-international.org’.
Btw, the website administrator is Ollie Jumao-as, UPD'73. Please
direct your inquiries and/or send your literary or pictorial
contributions to Brod Ollie at
‘ollie@mansys.ph’.
I understand that Ollie is now in Indonesia mastering the inner
energy meditation techniques of “tetada kalimasada” with other UP
Betan practitioners of this art in the Philippines.
As far as our present funds, as
of last week the outgoing Treasurer, Dominador “Boy” Ramos, has
indicated that a balance of about $1,515 will be turned over to us.
We had since then placed a full page ad for the UP Sigma Beta
Foundation of the Philippines souvenir program for 5000 pesos. We
also sent $100 as our bereavement contribution to the family of Brod
Danny Gorrez, UPLB’52 who passed away Aug. 16 in Los Banos. We are
also in touch with the brods from the East Coast who are monitoring
and attending to the special medical needs of Chito Velecina,
UPLB’82. I have assured them that the International will do
everything it can to extend assistance to a brod in need. We all do
care. If you want to get the latest news or to find out how you may
participate, which I urge you to, in their raffle fund-raising for
Chito, please contact Brods Nick Galvez ( 'galsaluk@aol.com')
or Joe Llames ('j.llames@worldnet.att.net').
An upcoming event that we are
excited to share with you all is our milestone - the 60th
anniversary celebration of the UP Beta Sigma Fraternity in the
Philippines next year. 1946 to 2006. 60 Years, WOW!! UPBSFAAI
Pres. Vic Ramos will be sharing with us their plans as they become
more definite. We would like to coordinate with the RP alumni and
spearhead the overseas homecoming promotion for 2006. We are
grateful to NY artist Wally Rodriguez’63 for designing a decal (see
attachment) to commemorate our 60th. He has graciously allowed the
UPBSFI to rollout this showpiece to you. To view the teasers, just
click on the addresses below. Later, we might be able to produce
the decal for sale at a moderate price. Watch out for it.
http://www.beta-sigma.org/flash/4606.swf
http://www.beta-sigma.org/flash/4606-a.swf
Cherry, Kurt and I thank the
Midwest brods, on our recent trip to Chicago at my wife’s UST Nurses
convention, for the good food, the sightseeing/shopping tours, the
golf game. Our gratitude goes to the UP brods Josue, Kino, Judge,
Willy and Lem; Trinity brods Orly and Dingdong; SSC brod Danny; and
Feati brod Rudy. I also chatted with Mario Pasamba’58 and Laverne
Munsayac’63, but unfortunately we were not able to hook up.
Finally, a couple of
appointments. Ike Araneta‘71 has accepted the position of VP for
National/Domestic Affairs and Edsel Arceo ’73 has taken the
Treasurer post. I am thankful to these brods for their love and
service to the fraternity. I am sure all the officers and the Board
will be working diligently to make the International a viable and
meaningful organization for all UP Betans. As the Southwest
Airlines commercial goes - "We know you have many choices when you
fly, so thank you for choosing International".
One last thing. When I
introduced myself in my first email, I forgot to make one
confession. And that is: yes, golf is a humbling game. As the UP
SoCal brods will attest, my hook is more vicious than Noli’s
sidekick!
Again, if you have concerns or
suggestions my email are ‘nmbituin@msn.com’
and ‘norman.bituin@ sce.com’,
cell 909-815-1374 call anytime. Salamat ulit, mga utol (or ‘dorbs’
as the young Betans call themselves nowadays).
For a united UP Beta Sigma!
Norman’65
