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The Quest to the 'Crest
Since the Fraternity moved into the classic farm house in 1970, Lyrecrest has been known as the National Headquarters of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. With over 35 years of history in this building, it has become far more than an office space. For many brothers, there is a mystique about visiting the grounds. For those who have been able to make the sacrifice, the trip has been worth it.
When Earl Needham, Pi Chi (Texas A&M-Kingsville) '71, became a member, all he knew of Lyrecrest was the address. It wasn’t until the 1990s that he saw a picture of the building. As a member of the U.S. Marines and, later, the U.S. Air Force, he never had the opportunity to make the trip. After his retirement in 1999, he settled in Clovis, New Mexico. Eventually, he started driving semi-trucks.
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| Earl Needham stands outside his truck in the Lyrecrest parking lot. |
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As luck would have it, Needham eventually found his way to Evansville, Indiana. He had been sent to Memphis, Tennessee, and was on his way home when he got orders to pick up a shipment in Evansville. Upon his arrival, he dropped his trailer and drove off to see the National Headquarters.
Because he arrived later in the evening, he wasn’t planning to see anyone. He thought he would take a few pictures of the outside and be on his way. Luckily, Matt Downing, Beta Lambda (Muskinghum) '04, retreat coordinator & programs associate, was working with a visiting chapter and gave Needham a tour of the building.
Needham stated, "This is one of the best experiences from being on the road. Just knowing I was there was a great experience."
While individual visitors drop in occasionally, the Fraternity hosts collegiate chapter members come to Lyrecrest almost every weekend. The Fraternity’s retreat program, which was formalized in 2000, brings chapters to the Headquarters to develop leadership and team building skills, plan chapter goals and discuss Fraternity topics and history, among many other things.
Aaron Athas, Omicron Iota (Wisconsin-Platteville) '04, drove seven hours with seven collegiate brothers for a chapter retreat last May. Coming to his second retreat, he was looking forward to spending time with brothers and "diving into the meaning of Sinfonia."
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| Omicron Iota, along with other members from Province 29, stop for a photo after a Mills Music Mission while on a Lyrecrest retreat. |
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The benefit of the retreat program is that it takes members away from their normal routine and allows them to focus on personal and fraternal goals. Working with Matt Downing, Omicron Iota worked to enhance their strengths and address their weaknesses. Athas had discovered one of the weaknesses the chapter faced was how they communicated with each other. Not only do they now understand this problem, they developed tools to handle it.
Athas stated, "We know how to fix them and how to continue to strive towards the same goals. We will be able to advance our chapter’s mission, as well as the mission of Sinfonia."
Whether stopping in to say "Hi" or staying for an extended visit, Needham and Athas only represent a small percentage of the couple of hundreds of brothers who visit Lyrecrest each year. Many brothers wish they could find the time to make the trip, but other priorities keep away. Both Needham and Athas feel that stopping at the National Headquarters can refresh your fraternal memories. |
"The easiest way to get back to your roots is to visit Lyrecrest," said Athas. "It’s there to help you get in touch with the experiences that you have had."
Needham added "If there’s a way that a brother can get to Lyrecrest, whether for a retreat or to just stop in, he needs to make it happen."
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