I watched the video, its a promo with spinny stuff. No content.

Honkey, I don't think we are criticizing the program per se, more the way it is presented.

So far, it seems like every other come and go program that LXA has ever introduced. A lot of fluff, no substance. The dangerous thing is that it could be a really, really good program. However, HQ dropped the ball in presenting it to the general fraternity. It LOOKS like every other program we have ever had.

We need to ask ourselves this question; is this EVOLUTION or REVOLUTION?

Are we just slowly evolving like all the other fraternities that have similar programs? Is this program revolutionary that will change the face of greek life for decades?

Like I said, banning hazing was revolutionary. This just seems like some natural progression to go along with all the other general fraternities.

We need a REVOLUTION to again set ourselves apart from everyone else. We have lost our uniqueness, our identity. We are no different other than our letters and colors. This "True Brother" program could be used and applied to ANY other fraternity. I guarantee you, if you were to look at other general fraternity programs and videos, they would be EXACTLY THE SAME.

In a sea of medicoraty (I spel gud) we need to start making some waves!

I was excited when I heard about it last year at GA, but I haven't heard any details yet. I know they wanted a "roll out" at the leadership seminar, but I would like some details. I think we need to play catch up in this area. Almost every other fraternity has developed a program similar to this. Once we catch up we can then be revolutionary. Unfortunately this is looking more and more like "the Great Passage" program. I want to see the new member education and the "pre approved pre initiation activities."

I was actually quite pleased with that. Everything is a lot more clearly laid out and defined. It also reaffirmed that everything we are doing is acceptable. There were quite a few new ideas as well. It goes along with the kappa manual, I believe there were two separate packets.

The new kappa manual is tiny compared to the old one. The old one had a bunch of stuff I never used as a good portion was irrelevant in today's world. I need to look at it again, I don't have my own copy. I really wish they would put them online soon.

Officer manuals
 

I'd like to see the books too, but I am unsure of which level of mastership and stewardship I must attain before one can be revealed to me!

You should try Scientology, they are all about that.

Sorry, but not needed.:(

Oh, I am not into that either!

Not my thing!:rolleyes:

Scientology, oh man! DON'T get me started.

Y'all should read Jon Wood's blog on the True Brother Initiative. It's damn good.

http://voices.crossandcrescent.com/

"my ever-increasing idealism, I’ve been that one brother who’s constantly the buzzkill mentioning things like “ideals” and “practice what you preach”… therefore, I’m afraid that when I go back, I’m going to be confronted with the same brick walls I’ve always been;"

THAT'S the problem with HQ. HQ and it's policies cater to a very specific, small percentage of our general fraternity; the "ideal" brother. 99% of us don't care about "honor" and "courage". We're realists. We're in college, not some knight in some medival fairy book, or some superhero from the 50's.

I hate to say it, but there are always 2 or 3 guys in every chapter that are the same exact personality as the kid that spoke up on a Friday afternoon saying "TEACHER! You forgot to assign our homework for the weekend!"

The same guys that will go up to you while you are drinking on a Friday night and hitting on a chick to say "Remember GammaZeta, we must show true virtue as brothers, even when socializing with the opposite sex. Honor, virtue, honesty...that is a True Brother." DUDE, SHUT UP!!!! Take off you LXA Super Brother Cape for one friggin' night.

But they are the most dedicated. Since they want to continue that dedication, they usually end up working at HQ. Therefore, the programs that are made are targeted at that type of brother, since that is the type of brother that made the program.

If they want a successful program, get the guy that might owe some dues, the guy that may drink a bit too much, the guy with a C average, the guy that doesn't hold office and the guy that misses some meetings. Let the AVERAGE member develop a program for the AVERAGE brotherhood.

There is a balance in the brotherhood. You have the "ideal" brothers that are the most responsible, etc. Then you have the "total fuck-ups", they usually provide comic relief, throw good parties and bring over the girls. But then you have the "average" brother, the guys that go to meetings, help out, do their part and are pretty good guys most of the time, but DON'T go to national meetings, who can't name the members of the High Zeta, don't go and print out the C and C for the whole house the minute it's available. Those are the "True" brothers that I feel the "True Brother" program COMPLETELY excluded.

I guess I am on the bottom average of that type. If I had a choice of going out on a Friday night, getting drunk and hooking up with some bar sluts, or staying in to wake up at 9 a.m. on Saturday to participate in "True Brother".......I'll see you at the bar. You know what, if we asked 100 brothers the same question, I would see 95 brothers at the bar with me.

Oh Honkey, you're just trying to get me going. Nice try.

What I say is the truth. Like it or not. I have been to two international conferences, several regional and I have made it to level 3. I have the certificate with the 3 shiny seals hanging right next to me. I've probably been to more conferences than most members. But what does going to international conferences mean? You traveled a long way to have a presentation? Hanging out with the other brothers was a blast, but most of the time it was just fluff.

See, your argument is to simply insult me, but you have not said one thing to prove me wrong. In fact, you have made my statement stronger. Could you be one of those "extreme" brothers no one likes? You rely on profanity and insults. That is why I will always be a superior brother to you.

And obviously you can't read. So tell me, all brothers are the same in their dedication and support? You don't think there are different levels? So every brother is as dedicated as you? Wow, I would love to see your chapter. Somehow I imagine it to be like a scene from the Stepford Wives. What are you, all zombies or robots?

Maybe your attitude is what almost completely sank HQ in the first place. Follow without question. Accept what is told to you.

You can attack my chapter all you want if it makes you feel better. Considering for the past 20 years we have scored above average on G.P.A, risk management and the North American Food Drive, as well as producing some of the most successful brothers from any chapter, you can only wish you came from the same pedigree as me.

EDIT: Seems that someone has decided to take down Honky's post with foul and filthy language in it. Oh well, I thought it was a great representation of what type of a "true" brother Honky really is, using such disgusting language. It makes me sad that such people are allowed to represent LXA using such horrible language.

Okay, I'm going to get blasted by somebody for this, but here goes: one of the phrases that came out of last week's conference was "beer monkeys". What IHQ is trying to do w/this new initiative is to set us apart from the organizations that attract this type of guy.

This isn't to say that the residents @ 8741 expect us to have a totally alcohol-free organization--they're realists, too. However, there are many men who've used fraternities simply for the fact that it's an automatic outlet for hooking up & getting hammered...not necessarily in that order.

Take this for what it's worth...my alma mater's alumni have no problem attracting 40 guys for a pub crawl. However, when we try to have a meeting for the betterment of the alumni assn., we wind up w/the same 6-8 guys. Where are the others???

What IHQ's trying to do is attract men who are willing to live up to the core ideals set forth by our Rx. Why should this be a problem? We all took the same oaths when we were initiated...seeing the exemplification last week helped to remind us all of what TBI stands for.

Sincerely yours in ZAX,
BF

I never really thought LXA ever had a problem with attracting the "beer monkeys" before. I've been to 7 different houses, and none of them were made up of "beer monkeys". Sure, every chapter is going to have a couple guys that are in that classification, but I never thought of the type of person we attract as any problem.

I always though LXA was considered to be on the more tame, mild side of fraternity life.

Has our national reputation really become a fraternity of "beer monkeys"???

If you want a fraternity full of guys who don't pay dues, drink too much, get bad grades, won't hold office, and miss meetings, that's exactly what you should do. If I had wanted an "AVERAGE brotherhood," I wouldn't have joined Lambda Chi. Try coming up with some party chants that emphasise how average we are. One of my goals as an alumni advisor is to show the undergraduates in our chapter that there is a standard of quality higher than "good enough."

The comments I've been reading on this board (from guys who don't have all the info yet) only serve to remind me how much we really do need TBI. Thank you for that.

Ok, take the time and actually read what I wrote. Did I say that LXA was an average brotherhood? No.....

Now if you read what I said, there are different types of brothers within our fraternity.

Jon Wood is not your average brother, as he even admitted. Within our brotherhood, there are different levels of dedication, willingness, etc. Like I said, there is a small percentage of brothers (maybe 1% - 5%) that are insane with LXA spirit. The kind of guy that goes nuts if one thing is not up to code or within the standards of LXA. Call them the above average brothers. Then there is the average member of LXA (80% - 90%). They take LXA seriously, but they aren't carving the words for 3rd into their chest with a dull butterknife. They are well rounded in grades, socially and have good goals. They are involved with other organizations. They know how to have a good time and not let LXA become a buzzkill. Then there are the below averages. They probably drink too much, miss meetings, but are generally still good people.

The problem is that these programs are made by and for the above average brotherhood. We need something aimed at the average brother. A very simple program, easy to start and a program where everyone can see and realize at least a success. Once they see that initial success, then you move on to the next phase, and so on. Instead of forcing seven values at once, work in 2 or 3 into the regular functions of the chapter. For instance, use DUTY and PERSONAL COURAGE as the theme for Fall 2007 Rush.

DUTY; to enforce the existing members obligations to LXA to fulfill recruitment goals. For new members, establish and gauge that they will in the future uphold those duties.

PERSONAL COURAGE; for existing members, to do something during recruitment that you have never done before. Maybe go up to a group of freshman eating at a table. Or go to your school's orientation and sneak some material to potential members. Expand your boudaries. For new members, try something new, LXA will have a lot of new experiencesk, personal courage will allow you to participate in them.

See, we don't need a whole new inner, outer, seven principle system. That is overload for the average member. We need to focus on 1 or 2 things at a time, apply them to everyday chapter functions.

I have resisted posting anything on this subject, but the True Brother Initiative deserves better than it is getting on this message board. We run the risk of misinforming the Associate Members and prospective members who read these posts.

I have watched over the last two years as some of the best and brightest in our Fraternity have devoted countless hours and untold sums of their own funds to a selfless effort – an attempt to develop programming that will set our Fraternity apart. Wayne Gossard, Drew Hunter, Mike Smith, Elgan Baker, and all the others are among our most experienced High Pi’s and each has vast experience in working with undergraduate programming. They aren’t idealists – they’re realists who deal with our above average, average, and below average brothers every day. Each has experience with LEAP and Impact and all the other efforts that have met with limited success in the past, and they have resolved to get it right this time. This initiative is based on some of the most successful character and leadership development programs in existence today, but it focuses on the real individuals who are really joining our Fraternity today. When previewed for senior university administration at some of our test chapters we have received reactions like “Finally, a fraternity that gets it.”

True Brother is not about homogenizing our membership. It isn’t about black or white, rich or poor, gay or straight, useful or useless, drunk or sober. It is about finding men with a commitment to ideals like honor and integrity and helping them find ways to develop and demonstrate them, but only if they want to. These are characteristics that transcend superficial distinctions of race or class, and they apply just as much to the party animals as to the bookish types. Indeed, if the initiative is truly successful we may find that we have the most diverse membership of any organization in the Greek world, but all still committed in their own way to the same lofty ideals we have already sworn to pursue.

As many of you know, I serve as a volunteer at the National level. Any volunteer or staff member who shows up at IHQ with an idealistic notion that Lambda Chi Alpha is, as Jack Mason envisioned, an “Order of Knighthood,” is quickly disabused of that belief. They are exposed every day to thousands of undergrads who will find every way possible to press the edge of the envelope. I’ve got a son who just graduated from University of Denver, and his experiences as a brother at Alpha-Pi Zeta warmed my heart as I heard stories that reminded me of my own quasi-criminal behavior in the early 70’s. But having said that, our Fraternity is and should be more than partying all night and commiserating with each other the following day. For those members who are looking for that something more, True Brother will help them find it.

This last Leadership Seminar had the largest attendance of any Lambda Chi Alpha event in the last 20 years and the most consistently upbeat mood I have seen in a long time. Something is working. Be patient as the information is more broadly disseminated, and make every effort to understand every aspect of this initiative. You may complain about the pace and format of the roll-out, but there comes a time when we have to stop planning and start doing. We have 9,800 undergrads we have to touch before we roll it out to the rest of our alumni membership. If it doesn’t work I’ll be the first to apologize publicly for my misplaced faith in the talent and good intentions of the brothers who put it together. In the meantime, I will offer them my complete support and my thanks for stepping into the arena to do something positive for our Fraternity and its members. If they fail, they will have failed greatly.

With that, I will retreat back behind the curtain and allow the conversation on these boards to continue. Thanks for letting me interrupt.

In ZAX,
Lynn Chipperfield

First off I would like to say thank you for adding one of the most thoughtful and balanced posts I have seen in quite a while.

I cannot agree with everything being posted about this topic, I will attest as an undergrad that myself and others are slightly confused on the broad implications and specifics of the program. I did not go to LC, I had signed up and was very excited to go but had to cancel due to a new job. I have talked to several people that did, from my zeta and others. I have also read a good portion of the material provided to them. I commend the effort and initiative that went into the creation and I am well aware that a lot of people gave a lot of their free time to help accomplish this feat. I have faith in the program in the sense that because I, as the High Kappa, has to implement it and will try and keep a positive outlook on it. I am well aware that if I do not do my job because of any skepticism about the program that many of my brothers will miss out on potentially an amazing thing. I contend that there are a lot of people who are older and wiser than I, who have been doing this whole thing for a long time, and who just might know what they are talking about, created this program for us to give a go at. To attempt to destroy it before it even sees fall quarter would be an insult to those involved in its creation.

With that said I am just confused with the distribution of the information. I know we cannot ask HQ have it out to everyone as soon as it’s published and I understand the logistical nightmare that it must be. I wish that the information would have been released to everyone at the same time however. I know that some feel that this board is a small sect of LCA that likes to moan and bitch about things they do not like. However true that is, which it is sometimes, these conversations are going on everywhere and not just this board.

From what I understand after talking to the people who were at LC, some were disappointed that the program wasn't presented in its entirety. I guess a lot of it has to wait until the ELC comes to visit us. I am not sure when ours is coming again, but I think it’s around October or November. I apologize if this information is inaccurate but it was relayed to me this way, meaning there was a misunderstand at some point. I am not patient at all, I like having all of the information when I want it, and I hate waiting.

All of this is not to say that those who went had anything bad to say, quite the opposite. Everyone was impressed with how it was presented and the level of optimism and enthusiasm that the brothers from HQ and company showed towards the new program.

I am looking forward to this program because it is really the first I have seen since I have been in college. IMPACT existed but unless you went to LC no one else knew what it was, and didn't care. Before this all anyone had to rely on was the decade old manuals for recruiting and education. I was doing kappa for spring quarter last year, and it was really difficult to come up with things to talk about. I was trying on my own to turn our program around into something people actually enjoyed. In short, it’s nice to have some help in the form of ideas and not commandments.

I have to work graveyard shift tonight, so I am going to steal one of the guys set of books they got from LC and study them tonight.

Peace be with you, good night, have a pleasant tomorrow, and please do not forget who built this city on rock and roll.

In ZAX.

Brother Lynn, as A Brother and I hope a good friend of yours, I will defer to your explanation as being better and more knowledgeable than most of us.

No, we are not "beer monkeys", I never heard that before, LOL.

We are trying to be more followers of ideals that were set out at the very beginning of LXA and even more so with the merger of LXA and TKN.

I think a lot of feelings stem from the fact of ignoring Alumni except for getting donations that you and I have discussed before.

We as Alumni have gotten promises before and are still waiting. Granted it does move slowly with amount of people who have to be contacted and included in all of the proposals that have been introduced over the years that I have been inolved as a Brother of LXA.

We are not the "Grand Knighthood", but young men who continually come to LXA for a reason for what we professed from time one.

We have our ups and downs, but we as Alumni would like to see more ups for a change instead of the downs. Whether this new program will change things, I cannot say. Whether it changes things for the Alumni, I have no clue.

I only know that the Brothers who post on this site and others do so for a reason, not to argue, but discuss our feelings.

While I have had good relations with IHQ, others have not and no one can deny their feelings or mine.

But, one of my main worries has been and will always be the fact that when some Brothers graduate, they are lost and gone from us and LXA.

So if this Program is instituted, is this supposed to help in the future alone? Can it or will it help for those in the past that ahvfe been lost?

Maybe Yes, maybe No.

I guess time will tell is all I can say.

Dever, when you read all of the info, please let me know and lets discuss it.

In ZAX,

"We run the risk of misinforming the Associate Members and prospective members who read these posts."

I think that fault lies on HQ. Everything we have read about True Brother tells nothing about the program, how it will work, dates, times, places, initiatives.......

HQ should have came out with a nice, simple 2-3 page outline of the program. Nothing fancy, just the basics. How hard is that?

So far we have only had hearsay and buzzwords. Where's the beef!!!!!

"We as Alumni have gotten promises before and are still waiting"

Exactly. Our track record isn't the best on programs like this.

I woke up this morning fully prepared to support the TBI, now I'm not as sure. It's hard to believe this initiative has been in the works for two years and has been kept such a secret. Just one month ago (July 3, 2007) I wrote the following in an email to a brother who was planning on going to Memphis. "I'd like to know more about this program. Is there any way you can summarize it for us alumni who won't be able to be there? I really have no clue what it's about. And, is it for alumni too, or just actives?" He wrote back with as much vagueness as in Biff's article in the C&C and did not answer my final question.

I question the wisdom of a bottom-up approach as opposed to a top-down approach, missing the opportunity to elicit the support of approximately 100,000 living alumni who now feel (except for a privileged few) that they are being left in the dust.

A "we'll get to you guys later" attitude was a very poor choice, but I guess it's too late now. Maybe it's too late for us anyway.

Now whenever I ask anyone if the True Brother Initiative applies to alumni, they say, "Sure it does!" They just don't say how.

That was my whole beef with it, if you are going to put out the program, put EVERYTHING out at the same time. I cannot answer your question either. Tom and I were talking about this yesterday afternoon, and I honestly had no idea.

I agree, Jono.....we are being left in the dust...dust in the wind....

All kidding aside, why in the hell can they not give to all of us as a WHOLE? We alums are brothers too....but I guess in the eyes of IHQ, we alums should be put out to pasture with all the other old cattle gone by the wayside. My guess is that they want the program in the chapters first to boost the membership totals.

Well as an undergrad im totally for our alumni to get put to pasture... jk

All kidding aside, I think the reason there is not a solid answer to how TBI affects alumni is simple. Before they implemented the undergrad phase they field tested it at different chapters of different sizes and locations. How can you field test alumni? There are so many differences between alumni you want to make it effective for all of them not just a minority. Just my thoughts, we are waiting to get some more solid information on TBI, anything I get I will be sure to relay to our post-graduation brothers lol.

Jono, that is exactly it. You hit the nail on the head.

"We'll get to the alumni later"

Ok, now maybe the ALUMNI will get to their CHECKBOOKS a little bit LATER. Now maybe the ALUMNI will VOLUNTEER a little bit LATER. If that's the way HQ feels about us.

Is this program so divisive and elite that alumni cannot be involved?

Gee, I was out at my observatory tonight, which is "kind of" in a pasture, looking at Jupiter. Does that count? :)

Love you guys.

In ZAX,
Jono
(beer monkey or scotch gentleman? Choose one) :eek:

I chose beer monkey. In a way, I feel that the True Brother initiative is kind of a slap in the face to the present and past membership.

Like we were not good enough to uphold the values of LXA. That we now need to look for better brothers than we had before. That we as alumni were previously subpar and LXA was only settling for what they could get.

I'm trying to remain optimistic, but I still haven't seen anything from IHQ that tells me what this is all about. At last GA I heard great buzz words but I was told that it was getting tested out over the next year so I assummed by now there would be packets and papers available online. How can I, as an involved alumni, possibly help my chapter implement TBI if I still don't know what it is.

Well, you've succeeded in dragging me into this discussion group!

I'm a bit shocked by all the negativity. I really don't see how True Brother is a slap in the face to alumni.

From what I've read here, it seems people are upset because:

1) The Fraternity launched this without consulting them (and over a
hundred thousand other alumni), because their main focus is the
undergraduate chapter.
2) They feel that they are the type of person that would not be
sought-after under the new suggestions for recruiting.
3) There's no new programming geared toward alumni.


So, my response is:

1) Duh! The primary focus of the Fraternity has always been the
undergraduates, as it should be. As for all alumni being consulted
on the matter, that's obviously not practical. Were you upset
about the launch of LEAP or Impact? I doubt that more than a
handful of alumni knew about those before the first Leadership
Seminar workshops.

2) The core values enumerated in the True Brother program are nothing
new. I have a 1948 edition of the Paedagogus that has a very
similar list of ideals. The revised statement was clearly derived
from research of the primary documents of the Fraternity (rituals,
creeds, and constitutions of LCA & TKN, early writings of the
founders, etc.) To be blunt -- as far as I'm concerned, any alumni
that object to those values should never have joined this
fraternity and are quite welcome to leave.

3) This goes back to the principle the Fraternity's primary
constituency is the undergraduate chapters. As was explained,
wait until it was complete to begin the roll-out, but there was
strong pressure to accelerate development and release the first
portion right away.


From what I can tell (and, btw, I am not one of the architects of the
program), TBI in essence is:

1) Publicly enumerate the core values of the Fraternity.
2) Align all programs and publications of the Fraternity with those
values.

That's basically it. The rest is just organizational detail. I would suggest that we try to be patient in waiting for some more of those details to be explained.

In ZAX,
Ed Miller
(GGZ alumnus)

Brother Miller, I cannot disagree with you on all of your points except:

As Almmnus,

We are supposed to be Members of LXA for Life!

We are not asked about much of anything except about donating money. Considering the time and money that each of us may spend other than doating is very big and time consuming for us but with love for what we beleive in.
I have brought this up many times and one voice agreed with me, but not a lot seems to have been done so far.
So this new step in your words I beleive goes back to the "original principles" of LXA.

So, the question is why if it is already in place?

If it needed to be updated then why? Easier language to understand?

As you said, there are 1,000s of Alumni. Who are these people, well, Brothers such as myself and many others!

I am not upset as some, but there are members in the Alumni community who care enough to ask these questions and care.

I care enough as some of the others on here do, to question the why for and where ofs.

Is that wrong?

I know how close were were to being in financial problems, ergo, that is why changes have been made.

We are one of the most forward thinking and inovative Fraternities and hopefully will always be, but it does cost money to give the services that LXA does compared to others.

Off of soap box!

Brother Earp,

Thanks for your reply.

I don't think there is any intention by IHQ to discount or ignore
alumni. Quite the opposite -- this initiative was done by alumni,
with almost no involvement by HQ or the GHZ, other than giving their
approval. This idea originated with some alumni who had worked on the
Graduation Ritual committee (of which I was a member, but not a major
contributor). That committee had been formed for the purpose of
creating a graduation ritual that would encourage members to be more
involved as alumni. Among the things discussed by the committee was
the fact that while we talk a lot about the ideals of the Fraternity,
we never say much about what those ideals are. This is partly due to
the fact that they were stricken from the Paedagogus out of concern
that Associates might be required to memorize anything that was
presented as a list, and that could be considered hazing.


I realize that there was a period in our history wherein alumni were
considered an unfortunate by-product of fraternity that generally
served to impede progress. While there were probably some that were
an obstacle to the elimination of hazing and to the responsible use of
alcohol, quite a number of good people were driven away, as well. I
believe our current leadership understands the importance of alumni
involvement, and is trying to address this with things like the
Graduation/Alumni ritual and, indeed, the True Brother Initiative.

Does the primary objection come from potential misconceptions due to
the name itself? -- the idea that there will be some brothers that are
"true brothers" and others that are not? That is clearly not the
intention, and I think the organizers are working to make sure that
that is not the case.


In ZAX,
Ed

Ed, I cannot disagree with anything You have said, but it is the way I feel,
granted, it is done by Alumni.

But then My question is which Alumni?

Am I not one of the Brothers whom are Alumni who have been going or have been doing for so long?

Not hardly as there are many Brothers on this site whom are Alums who have been members of LXA for so long.

I just got off of the phone discussing this and with a We Bother are not sure of the TBI?

Granted, it cannot be put or Placed out. Or Could it?

Yes it could and it is called C&C.

I still have no Clue as of yet. Is it True?

I do not have a clue, but The Brothers I have discussed this over the Phone are still wondering!

I and they are still wondering what it is all about!

Dear Online Alumni

Me thinks Tom has a bit of the Napoleanic complex regarding this.

"How dare they not consult ME about it!?!"

Are you serious Tom? Seriously, you are on the phone to others panicking about this?

Chill out for goodness sake, in fact, EVERYONE CHILL OUT.

Let's give TBI a few years to pan out, it's primarily for the undergrads to revamp a very inconsistent lack of a international consistent kappa program (or lack therof) and to compete with successful programs like Balanced Man, True Gentlemen etc. etc. It makes sense, and probably will work out in the long run to our general benefit as a fraternity.

Honestly, this board is getting as silly as some of the NFL boards I read (WAH!!! the Dolphins drafted Ted Ginn Jr! If I was the GM....).

So my advice for the day is as follows, if you are concerned about TBI: find a local chater this fall and go out and see if you like it in person, report back to us on here. With that in mind...School and College Football start in 3 weeks, I think some of us need something to talk about in the Dawg Days of August.

R-E-L-A-X

Lenoxxx

Tom's right on this. We are just as much a part of Lambda Chi Alpha as the undergraduate chapters, and deserve to be treated as such.

So the fraternity cant do anything unless all living alumni approve it?

Do they need my approval to roll out a program or discipline a chapter?

Should congress consult me if they have legislation at a state or federal level?

Again, I think some of us are now a bit too hot under the collar about TBI, relax and go see it this fall if you are curious. Hey you might like it, imagine that!

Lenoxxx

Ed, first of all, welcome to GC. We appreciate hearing from you.

I don't think the True Brother Initiative is the same as LEAP, Impact, or the Alumni Ritual. It seems to be more on par with the change from pledgeship to associate membership or SigEp's Balanced Man program. I have been informed that the next Paedagogus (which would have come out this year) is being held up and rewritten in order to incorporate the TBI. In other words, it's a much bigger deal.

I do wish the alumni had been a little better prepared for the unveiling, especially since the alumni are expected to help administer it, according to a document from IHQ.

I'm sure it's a great program - I'm not saying it isn't - but it could have been presented with more alumni support, especially from those who have demonstrated a sincere interest in the fraternity for many years and are apparently needed to help implement it.

Virtually all of us on this board have an interest - that's we we're here. And that's why we feel a little put off. Not just the lack of being consulted, but because we still don't know much about it. It will fade, of course, as we learn more. It's all about learning, is it not?

If you have more information (and you seem to) on how the TBI applies to, and draws support from, alumni, please let us know.

In ZAX,
Jono

(Lennox - yes, that's why we're in Iraq)

"2) They feel that they are the type of person that would not be
sought-after under the new suggestions for recruiting.

2) The core values enumerated in the True Brother program are nothing
new. I have a 1948 edition of the Paedagogus that has a very
similar list of ideals. The revised statement was clearly derived
from research of the primary documents of the Fraternity (rituals,
creeds, and constitutions of LCA & TKN, early writings of the
founders, etc.) To be blunt -- as far as I'm concerned, any alumni
that object to those values should never have joined this
fraternity and are quite welcome to leave."

Ok. LXA is made up of alumni from the past 90 years. Assuming we all hold the "core" values. Now, LXA is trying to make a special program based upon recruiting certain values. Obviously, HQ believes that there must be a difference between the alumni of the past 90 years and the type of people they wish to recruit. If they did not see that difference, why the new program aimed at specific items?

So, we can conclude that HQ is beginning a program to recruit new members that are in some manner different from our alumni base. Everyone here has admitted that there is a specific "type" that HQ wants to focus on.

If there was no difference, then there would be no need for the new program. Since there is a difference between the wanted new members and the alumni, what is that difference? Obviously True Brother is some sort of values orientated program with some other aspects thrown in. This shows that HQ thinks there is a difference in values between alumni and the new protocol for new members. Now common sense tells you that HQ won't regress and recruit people of lesser values, we will not be looking to recruit in jail, etc. Therefore, HQ will be looking for people with better values than that of our alumni. I am insulted.

So obviously, in some form or another, alumni are no longer the standard, or they would not be changing it.

For those of you that say alumni don't matter, and HQ doesn't need the approval of alumni.

Well, think of it this way.

How many alumni do we have?

How many actives do we have?

Have you been associated with LXA longer as an alumni, or as an active brother?

EXACTLY...

Gamma as usual you have good points, but your delivery kills them.

I still believe that Lambda Chi exists because of and for undergraduates. It is great that we as alumni can come together and talk about Lambda Chi, but if that was all we wanted we could just be Elks and it wouldn't make a difference. Fraternities are special because we have the opertunity to interact with and be a brother to so many people. Without the undergraduates we will become nothing.

My only grievence with TBI is that I don't know anything of substance about it and I don't know where to go to find it. I don't care if it's a 400 page manifesto on what TBI is I will read every page. IHQ needs to get the information out to those who are interested in the program, and fast.

And Gamma, I think we would do good to seek out men with good values, because we have seen what a chapter without them will do. The less dead weight we have to pull the better we can be.

As alumni, we are picky, prissy, pissy, crotchety, have PMS, and expect more than we deserve. But we do write quite a few checks and donate a lot of our time. So I think HQ owes us a little more than we got.

"Without the undergraduates we will become nothing."

If it was back in 2000 or 2001, I would have agreed with you. Gamma Zeta was a very close chapter based on friendship and brotherhood. Since we disbanded some years ago, I find the friendships that have lasted to be stronger than ever. Gamma Zeta Chapter may not have undergraduates right now, but what we have is certainly not "nothing".

So from that perspective, without an undergraduate chapter to nourish and nurture, the only relationships that we have left from Gamma Zeta is between us alumni. When HQ does something that even hints at excluding alumni, or treats us as 2nd class brothers, or less important than another part of our fraternity, it is saying that what we have left of Gamma Zeta is not important, that it doesn't matter, that LXA is actually really only about the undergraduate community.

I've heard over and over and over about Lambda Chi Alpha "being for life." Is it really? I know that my friendships forged at Gamma Zeta are for life. Our bond between brothers from the chapter is for life, but everyday I feel that the total bond between all brothers of Lambda Chi Alpha is weakening.

"It is great that we as alumni can come together and talk about Lambda Chi, but if that was all we wanted we could just be Elks and it wouldn't make a difference."

Maybe the remaining 1,500 brothers of Gamma Zeta are just "Elks". Right now, all we can really do is come together and talk about Lambda Chi. Sure we like to drink, have fun, joke around, but I never thought that we were anything but Lambda Chi Alpha's....maybe I was wrong.