Sigma Nu - Theta Kappa - Commanders Dinner

The slideshow above is 6th Annual Commander's Dinner in 2018 on

Sat., Jan. 13, 2018 at the Capital Grille, Buckhead.

The next dinner is: Sat., February 4, 2023 at 7:00 pm

at the Capital Grille in Atlanta

The previous Commanders' Dinners are is the slideshow below.

Held at Bones Restaurant and the Capital Grille, Buckhead.

For more information or to RSVP - click above or here.

Next: Sat., February 4, 2023 at 7:00 pm

NY Prime Steakhouse in Buckhead

Our 2023 Commander's Dinner

Fellow Commanders & Special Guests -

We understand this is a commitment and we all have a lot of them, but we want to continue this tradition to honor our new Commander each year. If you have suggestions or ideas, please contact Evan Winebarger at 770-853-7796 (C) or evwinebar@gmail.com OR John Austin at 678-613-5601 (C) or jaustin@austinsparks.com.

DATE: Sat., Feb. 4th, 2023

TIME: 7:00 PM (7:00 PM for Cocktails; 8:00 pm for Dinner)

PLACE: NY Prime (Steakhouse), 3424 Peachtree Rd NE, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA

WEBSITE: https://newyorkprime.com/location/Atlanta-GA/

ATTIRE: Business Casual (Sport coat, Pins, No tie is required)

COST: ~$110-$145 each (we will buy the collegiate dinners)

WHO: The current Commander & Lt. Commander, all past commanders of Theta Kappa, our volunteers, and special guests.

TO HONOR: Andrew M. Scott (Andrew), ΘΚ 1047, our 53rd Commander

In 2020: Alexis F. Guilloux (Alex), ΘΚ 952, our 50th Commander

In 2021: Avinash B. Patel (Avi), ΘΚ 986, our 51st Commander

In 2022: John T. Radcliffe (Jack), ΘΚ 1032, our 52nd Commander

Please RSVP: Click Here to RSVP (The message will be sent to John)

TO RSVP:
- Call or Email John Austin or Bill Geddy
- Click Here to answer an RSVP that will be sent to John.
- Click here to say you are attending, so others know.
We know this is a big commitment, so if you live outside of the Atlanta area, consider brining your spouse and funding a shopping trip to Lenox Mall or Phipps Plaza as they are right around the corner. I assure you the dinner will be a lot cheaper than the shopping.
Commanders who have attended past dinners (21 of 49):
- #01: Robert G. Williams (Robert), ΘΚ 258 (1967-1968)
- #08: Jon E. Lott (Jon), ΘΚ 92 (1974-1975)
- #09: Jeffrey L. Spatz (Jeff) – ΘΚ 100 (1975-1976)
- #11: John B. Austin (John), ΘΚ 120 (1977-1978)
- #12: Philip C. Holley (Phil), ΘΚ 131 (1978-1979)
- #14: Jimmie D. Walker, Jr. (Jim), ΘΚ 150 (1980-1982)
- #18: James R. Mullis (Jim), ΘΚ 195 (1984-1985)
- #19: William B. Geddy (Bill), ΘΚ 219 (1985-1988)
- #21: Thomas P. Houlihan (Tom), ΘΚ 251 (1988-1989)
- #22: Jeffery Kinlaw (Jeff), ΘΚ 282 (1989-1990)
- #27: Jason A. Smith (Jason), ΘΚ 417 (1994-1995)
- #33: David W. Pittman (David), ΘΚ 528 (2001-2002)
- #37: Bruce W. Evans (Wilkes), ΘΚ 607 (2005-2006)
- #41: James S. Mobley (Scott), ΘΚ 710 (2010-2011)
- #43: Evan P. Winebarger (Evan), ΘΚ 754 (2013-2013)
- #44: Eric D. Degen (Eric), ΘΚ 811 (2013-2014)
- #45: Adam F. Clay (Adam), ΘΚ 810 (2014-2015)
- #46: Zachary A. Geurin (Zach), ΘΚ 823 (2015-2016)
- #47: Marshall B. Richards (Marshall), ΘΚ 847 (2016-2017)
- #48: George C. Hamil (Connor), ΘΚ 875 (2017-2018)
- #49: Chandler D. O'Brien (Chandler), ΘΚ 891 (2018-2019)
Volunteers and Guests who have honored us with their attendance:
- James H. McBrayer (Jim), ΘΚ 5 (Honored Guest)
- Anthony B. Fair (Tony), ΘΚ 9 (Lt. Cdr; Advisor)
- William H. Griffin (Bill), ΘΚ 25 (Alum Cdr, House Corp)
- Wray D. Upchurch (Wray), ΘΚ 171 (Alum Cdr, Advisor)
- R. E. Shane Ragan II (Shane), ΘΚ 254 (House Corp. President)
- Eric S. Moore (Eric), ΘΚ 273 (Advisor, AAB)
- Edward G. Hurst (Ed), ΘΚ 280 (Alum Cdr/Advisor, AAB)
- Brent E. Myers (Brent), ΘΚ 295 (Advisor, AAB/House Corp.)
- Robert W. Rabb (Rob), ΘΚ 301 (Advisor)
- Todd E. Kalish (Todd), ΘΚ 311 (Advisor, AAB)
- John G. Houlihan (Greg), ΘΚ 334 (Advisor, LEAD)
- G. Connor Hamil (Connor), ΘΚ 875 (as Lt. Commander)
- Chandler D. O'Brien (Chandler), ΘΚ 891 (as Lt. Commander)
- John A. Hearn (John), M 2000 (Mu Cdr, Vice Regent, now Regent)
- R. Michael Barry (Michael), M 2071 (Mu Cdr, TF Hopkins)
- Joseph M. Gilman (Joe), ΘT 2 (ΘT Cdr, Past Regent, Foundation)
- James L. Perrett (Lee), BΘ 1581 (Past Regent, Foundation)
- Tyler C. Young (Tyler), EZ 1929 (EZ Cdr, Foundation)
- Bradley L. Hastings (Brad), ΘΠ 688 (ΘΠ Cdr, Foundation)
Each past commander is responsible for their own charges. Each attendee will be assessed an amount for the honored commander’s dinner, which will be equally split. We will have a private dining room for this special occasion - our previous dinners have been very successful. PLEASE LET US KNOW IF WE CAN MARK YOU COMMITTED.

The dinner welcomes and honors the new Theta Kappa Commander: Alexis F. Guilloux (Alex), ΘΚ 952, our 50th Commander. We have honored the following commanders:
- In 2013: Evan P. Winebarger, ΘΚ 754, of Lilburn GA, our 43rd
- In 2014: Eric D. Degen, ΘΚ 811, of Canton GA, our 44th
- In 2015: Adam F. Clay, ΘΚ 810, of Statesboro GA, our 45th
- In 2016: Zachary A. Geurin, ΘΚ 823, of Alpharetta GA, our 46th
- In 2017: Marshall B. Richards, ΘΚ 847, of Canton GA, our 47th
- In 2018: G. Connor Hamil, ΘΚ 875, of Carrolton GA, our 48th
- In 2019: Chandler D. O'Brien, ΘΚ 891, of Woodstock GA, our 49th
This event is being planned and hosted by Evan Winebarger, ΘΚ 754, our 43rd Commander, and John B. Austin, ΘΚ 120, our 11th Commander and the Risk Reduction & Legal Advisor to the Theta Kappa Alumni Advisory Board. Thank you John for arranging this and thank you to each of you for considering this and your past service to our chapter.

Our 2023 Dinner will be to honor the 53rd Commander, who was recently elected in November 2022, is set for Sat., Feb. 4, 2023. Our plan going forward is to hold this special dinner in the first several weeks of the year, so it easy to remember, but also the undergraduate Commander can easily travel to Atlanta.

2023 Date: Sat., Feb. 4th, 2023

2024 Date: Sat., Jan. 6th or 13th, 2024

We have held seven (7) very successful “Theta Kappa Commanders’ Dinners” to honor our new and out-going commanders as well as several alumni. These seven young men have helped lead the renaissance of the new Theta Kappa Chapter along with our volunteers and have established us as one of the top chapters in the nation. These events were a great mix of socializing between many of our past commanders/special guests and the business and fraternity side – using the time to mentor and coach the new commander as well as get updates and exchange ideas on the current state and future of our chapter. Each honored commander and guest has indicated they got a lot out of the event as well connecting with the brothers who have walked in their shoes. We look for the next event to be even larger and we all look forward to it.

Below are some links to documents, photos, and the menu for the evening. The slideshow on the event (is running above) are from the two events.
- To download the Dinner Post Packet & Photo Collage: 2013; 2014; 2015; 2016; 2017; 2018; 2019
- To download the Dinner Program Packet provided: 2013; 2014; 2015; 2016; 2017; 2018; 2019
- To download the Dinner Menu: 2013; 2014; 2015; 2016; 2017; 2018; 2019
- To download the Attendee List & Signed Dinner menu: 2013; 2014; 2015; 2016; 2017; 2018; 2019
- For all Past Commanders - please answer the following survey - click here to link to it.
Each past commander and guest is responsible for their own charges. Each attendee will be assessed an amount for the honored commander’s dinner, which will be equally split. We will have a private dining room for this special occasion - our previous dinners have been very successful. PLEASE LET US KNOW IF WE CAN MARK YOU COMMITTED.

We also would like to recognize the distance several traveled and additional costs you incurred to attend these events: Tony Fair and Bill Griffin came from Statesboro, David Pittman has come from Dublin for the inaugural dinner, and Jon Lott who came from Alma. Jeff Kinlaw, Tony Fair, Bill Griffin, and Eric Degen traveled from Statesboro and farther for the second dinner. Thank you for the efforts and the time you spent with us.

Lastly, we want to thank Brother John Austin, ΘΚ 120, for putting this together, arranging such a spectacular inaugural dinner, and for recruiting each of you to attend. As the host and the senior commander present, John presented an engraved gavel from the Theta Kappa House Corporation, Alumni Chapter, and Alumni Advisory Board, which is his to keep forever. Also thank you to John's wife, Donna Jo, who created the invitations and did some of the creative a work as well as stamping & labeling envelopes.

Why did we do this?

Handed down to us from the Mu Chapter at UGA as one of their “best practices” for engaging their alumni with the added benefit of supporting the chapter and the current commander. Brothers Michael Barry (Mu 2071, Mu Commander 1991-92) and John Hearn (Mu 2000, Mu Commander 1988-89 & a current Vice Regent) have been generous with their time to work with our AAB and providing Theta Kappa with some roadmap suggestions they used to rebuild their chapter from three (3) active members 8 years ago to be awarded two successive Rock Chapter awards (2010 & 2012) and the distinction of being rated the #1 Greek Fraternity Chapter in the USA.

So why? The secret to success often is small, focused, like-minded group taking action together - that is what we have here. You could do the same thing with 8-15 (or smaller) brothers you went to school with, go to football games with, or socialize with on a personal basis. If you ask any attendee of the inaugural dinner - you likely get a similar answer - it was a great event, it was powerful, it was fun, it was worth the effort, we made an impact on the current commander, and we would all do it again.

Our Purpose: To meet annually upon the election of the newest commander at Theta Kappa to welcome the new commander, convey the wisdom of our experience, our passion for leadership, our willingness to support and mentor him, the need to protect the brand and name of Theta Kappa and Sigma Nu, and the need to make the right yet sometimes very hard and very unpopular decisions for the good of the chapter and fraternity.

Our Objective: To grow a nucleus of members and servant leaders to the chapter and fraternity that will assist in advising and leading the officers of the Chapter, the Theta Kappa collegiate & alumni chapters, the Theta Kappa House Corporation, and the Theta Kappa Alumni Advisory Board for years to come.

Points of reflections to pass onto our newest Eminent Commander:
1. Reflect on the challenges and forward movement of the chapter while you led Theta Kappa to provide insight and perspective on making the right decision and the positive outcome it lead to.
2. Reflect on another collegiate brother who supported and assisted you in your role as commander and the positive direction of the chapter.
3. Reflect on an alumnus who supported and assist you in your role as commander and the positive direction of the chapter.
4. Reflect on the experience and impact being commander made on your brotherhood experience, your family, and your career.
5. Reflect on your willingness to mentor and shape our newest leader to avoid past mistakes many of us made, develop a positive leadership ethic, and to sustain the future of the collegiate chapter and our alumni.
Some considerations for future events:
- The commander is elected in late November/early December to serve December to November.
- In the future we are going to shoot for the MLK weekend Saturday as the weekend for the event, so we have it as early in the term for the new Commander as possible.
- Lt. Commanders? Spouses? Another night of the week? Another venue? Is the price too steep? Another location city? Speaker? Homework? How do we increase the value to the group and honoree?
- Each inaugural attendee should personally reach out to other fellow commanders to tell them about the event and encourage their participation.
Please review our "Code of Conduct" and the Conduct Expectations at all fraternal events - click here.