All I can say is WOW.......I have never seen Jono respond like that......Kudos Brother Jono

Pardon the Interruption
 

:::::::::::::applauding from the peanut gallery::::::::::::::::::

I was serious about the 250k shots of Jamie..... Any takers?

Jono, remember what they say about ASSuming. Maybe you could get your head out of your ass and actually read what I posted.

We went along with the LXA recruitment program. It didn't work. We did cold call people. We did go up to random people. We did everything he advised and then some. We went word for word by his playbook. Guess what, generalized LXA recruitment methods DON'T work everywhere.

"This arguement is not the least bit valid."

Oh yes it is. I didn't realize that you actually went to Umass-Amherst and recruited guys. How come you never stopped by the house? I'm sure you knew that our campus was segregated. I'm great that you are able to make sweeping generalizations about the Umass campus considering your unique knowledge of it by going to a school in FLORIDA. Could you tell me something else about the Umass-Amherst experience that I didn't know? I forgot that you actually recruited before on the campus.

I'm sure you knew that fraternities at Amherst have been discriminated against. I'm sure you knew that freshman from day one are brainwashed by the town, administration and upper classman to not join a fraternity. See, it's not just Gamma Zeta that has failed, the entire greek population at Umass has been failing since 1997. I'm sure you knew that Umass-Amherst recently bought and tore down 7 fraternity houses, or that the Town of Amherst recently denied renewing or giving zoning regulations allowing for fraternity/sorority house.

But you are right and I'm wrong. Every single new student at Umass has the intention on joining a frat, they simply forget when they arrive. Because a 30,000 student campus which only has less than 1.5%-2% greek population is just TEEMING with students wanting to go greek. It's just that they never got around to it. That must be it.

I didn't blame the failed recruitment on "Coming Out Week", moron. It was a funny story. Going up to guys at the campus center on sidewalks written in pink chalk advertising gay pride and coming out while saying "Hey there, what's your name? I have something to tell you about". Yes Professor Jono, that didn't freak anyone out or make anyone uncomfortable. Thank you for your knowledge.

I'll take responsibility for my chapter's demise when I am responsible for it. It couldn't have been the town closing down chapter house after chapter house for minor safety violations 3-4 times a semester. It couldnt have been the town forcing us to replace a $500 window because it was an 1/8 of an inch off. It couldn't be because Umass wants to discontinue the greek program. It couldn't be because 3/4 of all fraternities that were there when I was are now gone. Gamma Zeta was the exception, right? It wasn't enough that we had a president fail out of school trying to make the chapter better.

That's great that all those chapters are doing well. You are right, in fact, by your logic, we should have chapters at Tufts, Boston College, Dartmouth, Hampshire College, University of Vermont, Brown, Yale, Southern Conn., William and Mary, Springfield College, Clark, Brandeis, Bentley, Northeastern, Simmons, Saint Joseph, Trinity, Weslyan, Quinnipiac, Keene... Because by your logic, every campus will support a greek system. So how come we don't have chapters at all those places? After all, if MIT can support a chapter, then every campus in New England can support a chapter.

Oh ok, we should inspire ourselves. Got it. Maybe if you actually read my posts you would have found out that we did depend on ourselves. That was my whole point, that some chapters find LEADERSHIP WITHIN, and NOT from HQ.

And Jono, I hope your chapter never closes. And I am going to lay into you. You are absolutely clueless, period. I would never tell you why your chapter is successful or not. Because I wasn't there. You don't know the kind of sacrifices we made to do everything in our power to keep it going.

So to say what you said. Fine. You are right. Chapters only fail because of the membership.

You are right. We did just sit on our asses. You are all knowing.

If you want to say we never did anything, fine. Go fuck yourself.

Have a nice weekend.

Oh yeah, I also love how you are obsessed with me. You need a life. I relate my opinion and experience and here comes Jono, out of the blue to criticize again. Keep it up, but I still won't go out with you.

Well, since I am no longer a MOD, I do want to say to much anymore!

GammaZeta, while you have had many good points at times, there are others who also have good points.

Jono usually hold back and tries to make good points and he usually does as in this case.

IHQ has the best interest at heart as many of us have seen and not as you have seen is the true bigger picture.

You and I have discussed this many times and if I did not settle your ire, then am I at fault?

I think @ 98% want to be positive towards LXA IHQ.

They may not be perfect, but, they are working with a huge amount of Members and with a buget to get us back on track.

We overall have one of the finest programs for working with Zetas.

The realization of lworking with Alumni is becoming more in vouge as it should be as we are the back bone of LXA!

Changes are in the wind and do not come easily!

No Tom, you are right. Jono makes good points, I just love how every "point" he makes comes from the blue and is directed at me or my chapter.

Maybe I should start making some "points".

I forgot that our fraternity is perfect. Well, beside the fact that our own founder was a crook, or the rampart racism within our organization, or the incompetence that plagued our organization for decades, or the fact most other greek organizations don't respect us. There are a lot of points to be made.

I understand that some people hold it against me because I haven't swallowed the "Lambda Chi Kool-Aid".

I guess it boils down to who you are. There are two typs of brothers. There are brothers that Lambda Chi Alpha needs, and there are brothers that need Lambda Chi Alpha.

Brothers that need Lambda Chi Alpha are usually the pathetic, loser in high school and college. They were never able to fit in or develop any social skills. They join LXA in the hopes of becoming part of something, anything. Their identity becomes the fraternity, following every word. They are the sheep that follows the shepard. Unquestioning, willing to go along no matter what. A lemming. They need an organization to form their identity. When someone questions the organization, they take it personally, because they are indirectly being questioned. Many times the only friendship they ever formed was at band camp, or at the chess club, or the Science-Fiction Fair. It is their one chance at becoming something more than what they were. When they do get some power in the frat, it goes to their head. Most of the time, it is the only time in their lives where they have any power or influence.

Then there are the brothers that Lambda Chi Alpha needs, like you and me Tom. Tom, you are a great example of this. We are the leaders. We are the ones that make the image of Lambda Chi Alpha. We don't NEED the brotherhood or the feeling of community. We could get that elsewhere. We join because we WANT to be a part of it, because we agree with what it stands for. Tom, you were already in a local fraternity. You were all set, but you took the initiative to become a Lambda Chi. You never NEEDED Lambda Chi Alpha. LXA would not be around if not for this type. This type is usually more successful, the CEO's, entertainers, leaders and politicians, businessmen that donate a lot of their success to the fraternity. John G. is another great example of this type of leadership. He has experienced so much in life, has gone places most of us never imagined, and doesn't need to be part of an organization. John is a leader. I could have joined any fraternity on campus. I was actually given the choice. After finding out we were $30,000 in debt the brothers suggested I join another fraternity because it was unlikely they would have lasted another semester. I didn't give up because I am a leader.

When your existence is based on belonging, it can be dangerous. When you fail to question what you are following, or why you belong, you fail to look at who you really are. When your self esteem or confidence is based on following blindly and not wondering if something can be improved, you will not go far in life.

If you want to be a sheep, that is your choice. But I will not let the whining of the sheep keep me from doing what is right. We are the good shepards, who make a path for you sheep. If it wasn't for us, you would be a lost flock in the wild, destined to be destroyed.

So be a good sheep. Don't think. Next time our fraternity is almost bankrupt, or is run into the ground, don't come crying to us.

Good theory. But what, exactly, have you done that makes Lambda Chi "need you?"

I'm not saying you haven't, but if you have, tell us about it. All we've read from you is how the cruel fates of school administration, townies, LCAP and IHQ conspired to take your beloved Gamma Zeta away from you.

Stop telling us about your leadership abilities and show us something.

Ottor, I'm not saying there was a conspiracy. It actually happened. Not necessarily by LCAP and IHQ, but definately from the administration and the town. Our chapter worked very, very hard to keep it alive. It simply became too much for a group of 18-21 year olds to continuously fight safety inspectors, town groups and the school.

The town of Amherst does not want fraternities anymore. I read the local paper everyday. There has been a major movement to shut down houses for minor safety code violations (whereas no other private student residence is subject to the same standards) as well as the Planning Board taking away and refusing to give the appropriate zoning approval to improve or build any fraternity house.

Umass does not have on campus greek housing. The new $900 million spending plan just approved for the Amherst campus does not mark any of that money for greek housing. So, at the very least, it will be 20-30 years before on campus greek housing is even considered.

I'm not sure if you are aware of what exactly the town of Amherst is. It is the single most liberal town in America. Think I'm kidding? The selectman have just recently BANNED the displaying of the American flag on telephone or light poles. The United Nations flag flies HIGHER than the American flag on the town common. Umass is holding major rallies against Bush's former chief of staff and Mass. native Andrew Card from speaking at graduation. Our library is named after communist W.E.B DuBois.

John Kerry is too conservative for this town. Hillary Clinton is considered a Bush puppet. That is how liberal this town is.

Now, how do you think a town like this will treat an exclusive men's organization, such as LXA?

I guess I should clarify. It really isn't the exclusive fate of just Gamma Zeta, it is the fate of the ENTIRE greek community at Umass. I can't blame HQ or LCAP, because no matter what happened, the greek community is becoming extinct at UMass. We are dinosaurs.

Lambda Chi needs leaders. They need people to put an image on the fraternity. They need me because I show what can be accomplished. I put a positive face on our organization, just like so many of you.

I have done quite a bit of work for the chapter in the last few years. I have been an alumni leader. I don't feel the need to come on this board everyday though and boast about it, but some members know of my work. If you are an alumni of Gamma Zeta, you know what I have been doing.

I don't brag about what I'm doing. I'm not going for an Order of Merit award, or national recognition, or an article in C and C, or a presentation at some conference. I'm not doing it to spread the good word of LXA, or to promote our well-being and welfare.

I'm doing it because we have some damn good men in Gamma Zeta, some great friends and brothers, that deserve to go to an alumni bbq for once in their lives. I'm doing it because I've met some of my best friends through LXA, and I want to keep those connections alive for all 1,500 of us alumni.

Well, I'm gone till Monday. I know everyone will have a great time without me!

GammaZeta, this sounds very much like no matter what LXA nor any other Greek Organization tries to do, it will be of not use.

As I mentioned to you in PM, I am sure LXA would love to come back to U-Mass, but from the sounds of things and the situation with the Un. and the town, it will not happen. It is sad to say the very least as many Greeks graduate from College and go on to do so many good things.

It is their lose if they cannot get beyond thier noses.:(

A Foto of the Fez
 

Congrats! You better wear that at conference. :)

Aw, no Pix on yout head?:(

Dang!:p

No photos - afraid not
 

As much as I'd like to bring this along to Memphis and wear it - and possibly coronate Ed Leonard, the logistics of doing so are just a bridge too far. I am departing for South Africa on 6/4 and flying home via Chicago on 7/22. As much as I would like to take this thing along, I would, literally, have to carry it half-way around the world and home again to do this. A great story perhaps, but a really, REALLY dumb thing to do with this irreplaceable artifact.

It goes to Indy, via UPS overnight, on Tuesday next. To arrive on Wednesday. With Earp's TKN badge. Both destined for display for the Centennial and beyond.




But, you know, now that we have one, and can measure it . . .

Brother John,

Are you going where I think you are headed with that last sentence? Are you suggesting that our band of merry little brothers here attempt to have these fantastic items replicated? If so, I am all in favor. It cannot be that hard to find someone to custom make these for us, and I for one would wear the heck out of it. So if that was path you were intending to travel, you got my vote. :D

John wit all of the Miles you collect you should be able to go anywhere you want to, Si?

Consider my PM to you.

First, items at IHQ really need to be cataloged. While man power is in a short supply, well?

I know of some of the things I and jono have donated and were unseen.

Space is a major problem as I am sure there is a treasure trove of many old and important tid bits!:)

I stopped by a local shop several weeks ago and the owner said she could easily make a fez for me. Sure enough, there was another lady upstairs working at a sewing machine.

Next week I'll take in the ebay photo and see what she can do.

You would look good in a fez!:)

It would be very intersting for sure!
:D

Thanks to Bob in Seattle finding a great online supplier, I finally have a FEZ to go with my original fez pin. Once again, the pin is riding where it should.

The only problem is storing and displaying it. I currently have it inside a glass pedestal cake dish. I must say, it looks delicious there.

http://www.bnzalumni.org/photos/main.php?g2_itemId=144

I thought the picture would display automatically, but I guess you have to click on the link.

As Homer would say:

"MMMmmmmm.....Feeezzzz. AAArrggugggugggguh."

Wow, awesome!

Looks fantastic.:)

some of us from the Great Lakes Conclave were talking about getting fezzes made for next year's GA. Pray, Brother Jono, what is the website for your online supplier? Don't you want to see a bunch of Michigan bros wearing fezzes at GA? It will be rad.

NO! I want to be the ONLY ONE! Just kidding. :) Yes, that certainly would be rad. Here's the link. www.villagehatshop.com

Mine cost $16.95 plus $6.75 shipping (from San Diego), $23.78 total. Good luck!

BTW, I got the small size. My head measures 22" in circumference and the small fits me well. You don't want it down to your ears anyway, so don't order them too big. You might want to try a few (Sm, Med, Lg) first to be sure.

In ZAX,
Jono

Fez pin
 

What we need next is a fez pin. Could we use yours for a model and find someone who can reproduce it?

John, yes I've been thinking about that. I'm sure we could work something out. I could easily make a wax or clay negative mold and a positive plaster cast - which is probably what they would do. That way I wouldn't have to put the pin at risk by mailing it off and wondering if it would ever make its way back safely.

Do you think something like that would do the trick?

I'll see if I can find anyone who can make some copies and then ask him / her what method they would like to use.