New Lampados Program.
 

One of the important decisions voted on by delegates at the recent Grand Conclave in Birmingham, AL was the choice of changing how men are incorporated into the Fraternity. The delegates voted to do away with the current Membership Selection Process and return to pledging as the means of membership incorporation via the new Lampados Program, which was developed and successfully tested in 30+ pilot programs all over the nation this past year in undergraduate and graduate chapters.

Beginning in September 2009, all men initiated into the Fraternity will go through this iteration of the Lampados Program.

To an outsider to the process, such as a Greek Affairs advisor, professor, or a parent, what will be the difference?

First, this change, as I understand it, primarily originated with the dissatifaction of Brothers concerning the inculcation of traditional Fraternity values in the MSP-type program and a sense that there can be more accountability, since this is basically a chapter-based process; and there are more risk-management processes built in. This is more in line with the culture of the Fraternity.

Oh, ok.

Here's a overview/presentation which was given at the recent Conclave which was on the public part of the Omega Psi Phi website.

http://www.oppf.org/docs/Conclave%20...%20071408b.ppt

All in all, good work. I still see some major problems and loopholes for hazers, though.

When I imagined a similar process for Alpha, there was a much shorter window for selection, and a longer period for education with biweekly benchmarks that would have to be met to proceed.

Basically a 2-7-2 process = 2 for selection, 7 for education, 2 for embellishment.

Also (and I'm so not being picky, trust me) I really think that the way to go for NPHC fraternities is going to be the notion of continuous values-based member development, with life-long learning as a goal. I don't see the Lampados Club doing this, and I don't expect Alpha to wise up and do it either.

Okay, I hear what you're saying. They're all good points. It would be better to have a longer pledge period but the thinking is, I presume, this is the way to cut down on exposure to risk. Whether this is correct or not is another issue.

And no process (and in-built safeguards) is going to cut out hazing. I think that point is made clear here. I think this is attempting to lessen the negative unintended consequences of the post-1990 NPHC intake processes, which were addressed.

I can dig it.

Explain to me what you mean by values-based member development. What's your take on it. "The devil is in the details.":)

I think I would be better at giving a hypothetical example than trying to explain it....it's based on some of the NIC/NPC programs such as The Blanced Man Program.

So imagine that there are four phases of membership:

Pledge
Neophyte
Prophyte
Alumni

And four ways/methods/approaches to learning:

Pledge: Learning (the essentials) by studying
Neophyte: Learning by doing (service, conducting meetings)
Prophyte: Learning by teaching
Alumni: Learning by living

The path to the next phase is accomplished through a combination of age and knowledge assessment:

Pledge to Neo: Initiation
Neo to Pro: Prophyte Ceremony (most orgs don't have this or it's informal)
Pro to Alum: Alumni Induction/Senior Sendoff

What I'd like to see is membership itself as a personal odyssey (unfortunately "A Personal Odyssey" is already an APO phrase lol).

Why is it called "values based?" Basically because it extrapolates ritualistic values (or values found in a public creed) and translates them to meaningful exercises and activities. Also, it ritualizes the transitions from one phase to another and allows the member to "earn" their way through the fraternity.

(I am a believer that the more something is made into a ritual or ceremony, the more seriously people will take the experience.)

Continuous because it doesn't stop after crossing
Values-based because it injects the core values of the org
Member development because it's not just about the process to get in, but the process to get in, stay in, and excel.

Thanks!!!! You know you gonna make me play the devil's advocate. Yeah, when you mentioned this programs like the Sig Ep's Balanced Man came to mind. In reality this program has had some of the same unintended consequences. I've read a Sig Ep blog and they were saying the same thing that NPHC members are saying about the intake program:"paper"
members, lack of a strong sense of esprit de corps and cohesion of those initiated in these programs, etc.

And to have segmented levels of initiation, like the Masonic and other fraternal groups, you may end up having to deal with hazing and "underground" activities at every level.

Unlike other fraternal groups, college fraternities (I'm definitely speaking about the culture of Omega Psi Phi here) are more like the military, where the foundation is interpersonal trust based on a shared experience in which there are transformative events, usually based on working through some ritualized ordeals. This is the strength and weakness of fraternities. This process can be abused. But in attempting to circumvent this by isolating aspirants from members in the incorporation process, you undermine the legitimacy of the fraternal enterprise as a social dynamic. And you get the emphasis on the "paper" vs. "real" brother, etc.

I'm in agreement with some sort of values-based approach but it has to be done in line with the culture and traditions of the organization. You can't apply the standards and culture of the Boule (Sigma Pi Phi) to the French Foreign Legion. :)

Although I do agree with you to an extent, NIC frats never had to endure MSP or MIP..... imagine the uproar if they got rid of Balanced Man and replaced it with 21 days, two weekends, or 3 days. :(

I LOVE the dress code and mandatory church service attendance! Wish my sorority had something like that.

I am almost certain I've known of Pyramids and Deltas post-1990 going to chapel together.

Interesting thread discourse.

That is all.

But, in their context, the move to have "dry" houses is an apt analogy. It was smart of many of the "white" NIC groups to make these programs voluntary, although there has been a lot of resistence to them.

First of all, congratulations to the Bruhs for stepping up and re-embracing the ESSENCE of the pledge process while instituting appropriate risk management guidelines.

Second, Senusret, I have been thinking about this life long learning approach. Initiation should NOT be the last learning step. I believe that there should be a formal process to move from collegiate to alumnae membership. I believe that there should be a formal movement from NEO to Pro. There should also be formal learning milestones throughout our lifetimes.

For a more constructive response to your conception of a values-based incorporation process for Greek-letter organizations. I agree in spirit with everything you've laid out. In fact, in many ways there are "unofficial" prophyte ceremonies practiced. The problem is that they usually are not fully integrated into the values-based scheme you epsouse. And some sort of ceremony for those transitioning to graduate status may be helpful; but how that would be received by those being transitioned is "iffy". Some see graduate status as a diminution of the level of commitment and ardor for the organization. Maybe this is tied into the all-too-often stereotypical views about what the fraternity is and what social and personal transformations which occur as a result of becoming a member. It's on this deeply symbolic level, though, not so much the programmatic one--like all rites-of-passage processes--that young men and women are impacted. That a much better job could be done by shepherding neophytes to embrace fully the principles and precepts of thier organization is not even an issue.

I do have a real concern. I do think there needs to be more social, cultural and life skills remediation incorporated into these programs. Let's face it, the institutions which support fraternal social values--family, community, church and other support systems--are not as healthy as they should be in out society, esp, in the African American community. And the fact that young people are bombarded with consumeristic and individualistic messages in popular culture from the cradle means that there may be social deficits which have to be addressed. Much of this has to do with selection, which the new Lampados Program emphasizes; but it's not the '40s and '50s. The socialization of those with positive support systems now is not what it once was "back in the day" but many of our intake programs operate as if it was in a previous era.

I'm in agreement that we've got to do better; but with the constraints of incraesingly hostile college administrations and risk management issues on ther one hand and those who yearn for the halcyon days of old when they pledged for a whole year and did everything short of killing a pledge (Brothers made in the '30s and '40s have related these to me), solutions that will satisfy all won't be possible.

So by remediation, do you mean there should be classes and workshops on etiquette, how to tie a tie, how to enjoy the opera, etc?

The one thing I haven't "worked out" in my mind is whether alumni milestones should be commemorated organically (weddings, births of children, etc) or whether it should be some sort of ongoing incentive-based system (such as a combination of years of service and active participation).... or all of the above.

Well, since it did not happen with my line or recent lines from my chapter, there should be something written to actually enforce this rather than make it simply tradition.

Yes, etiquette--personal and business, communication skills,etc. But it's even deeper, having to do with social skills that are essential for the healthy functioning society--things that I took for granted growing up as a black Southerner. And male-female relationships, STDs,etc.

I disagree. Not everyone is of the same faith or any faith. To mandate that someone attend a church service is a violation of that person's rights.

Yes, but on a volunteer basis.

As I agree that it should be.

I would have had major problems being asked or expected to attend a Christian church service as part of my intake process.

If memory recalls, we attended church together on a voluntary basis. We so happened to all be of the Christian faith. Since there were different denominations among us, we attended services that were nondenominational. Good experience.

As an aside: People also have to remember the difference between voluntary and "voluntary." Don't tell people they have a choice if they realistically don't and will be treated differently if they opt out.

Your response reminds me of a menacing, sarcastic refrain we would constantly hear while I was on line: 'You ain't gotta take this s@$t!'

This reminds of an incident at a District Council meeting I attended when I lived in the Los Angeles area. An undergrad came to the meeting dressed in street clothes (a nice pair of jeans and a shirt) and he slouched in his chair when he sat down. The chair stopped the meeting and reminded him that the attire for the meeting was business (suit and tie) and then and the Brothers went on to speak to him about how to conduct oneself in a business context and to be a proud, black professional man.

And I had a long conversation the other day about acculturation issues and "shifting" with a Brother in my present chapter who struggled with this. What helped him resolve this was his LB. His LB, who is a VP at TIAA-Cref in NYC, is an "owt Bruh." He'd never seen him outside of a Fraternity or social context. When he saw him in his business environment, he thought that this was a different person. This helped him resolve some of his ambivalent feelings surrounding some of things he'd faced. The fraternal context is a perfect place to broach this issue (and others!)

Yayyyy us in this thread two years ago. We could have saved Greekdom if they had listened to us. :(

lol

One of my fav threads. I was just referencing this program a few weeks ago in a convo with a Soror.

^^^ OOOOOOH! I remember you mentioning this now...without mentioning it. :)

:D

An update from the latest issue of The Sword & Shield, the newsletter of our Grand Basileus concerning what is now called the "Lamp of Omega Program."

NEW LAMP OF OMEGA PROGRAM
Recently, the Supreme Council voted to delay implementation of our new program to bring in
new members. We will maintain the current MSP through July 2010. In the interim, we will
train our leadership to implement the new program; recruit and train members for our new
Omega Training Cadre and publish our new program materials.

As stated in our last newsletter, "The new and improved program will not only inform about our
great organization, it will also add value to each candidate’s growth experience. Sessions on
leadership, etiquette, protocol, and community service will add a new dimension to our intake
program. We are also adding a new instructor’s manual and resource guide. We want to ensure
that Omega Psi Phi Fraternity is presented uniformly to each candidate.‖ We appreciate your
patience as we try to get our Conclave mandate right."

From what I've heard the delay on the implementation largely had to do with not enough due diligence in marketing/selling of the program being done in reference to HBCUs, which would not be as receptive to a revised "pledge program."

Definitely keep the student affairs and greek life professionals in the loop...... I only recently learned how important it is to have a direct pipeline to those professionals.

GOOD DEAR, KEEP IT.
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