Hellooooooo!
 

Hello from the SAI board! Come over and see us sometime! We're having a thread now about the rumor that you guys are joining the "social" national fraternity group (NIC). Is that true? Someone come on over and shed some light on this! By the way the Phi Mu Alpha brothers (Omicron Phi chapter) here are absolutely great guys!
Roses,
Heather

Social Fraternity
 

Greetings SwissMiss04,
At the last province 32 workshop, the National President, Dr. Darhyl Ramsey, said that the National Fraternity is under discussion and is making a move to join the NIC. Currently there are several chapters throughout the nation that are on their own IFCs at their campuses. Experience at these chapters has shown that recruiting is better increased. At one of the chapters, I can't think of the state, the president of the IFC is a brother of Phi Mu Alpha. The fraternity is officially social. In 1992 there was a Title IX response letter that ended the initiation of women, a practice that was challenged with Title IX for a short period in the late 70s, and was used to officially register the fraternity with the Federal Government as being "social". As a social order the fraternity could prevent women from joining. The roots of the fraternity were social(refer to the original establishments)but it wasn't until 1982 that it became official with the government. If you ever considered our fraternal order to be professional then you've just been one of the many that have given in to a popular misconception. Yours Truly,

Mystic Cat32

I don't know that it so much being "given in to popular misconception" as it is that many Phi Mu Alphas bill themselves as professional. If we want to get technical, SAI is not a professional organization. The government also recognizes us as a social organization, but we include professional aims and ideals in our purpose.

Without a doubt, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, as a national organization, identified itself as a professional fraternity for many years. It has not done so for about two decades now, although one will still run across chapters and individuals that will say we are a "professional fraternity." It is understandable why they say that, but they are wrong. While we expect, broadly speaking, professional behavior, we are not a professional fraternity.

now another question!
 

OK, so if you're not a professional fraternity, is musicianship a requirement?

Musicianship
 

To join Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia you must love music. That doesn't mean that you have to be a music major or even know how to read music. We're not an honorary fraternity and we're not a band director fraternity like Kappa Kappa Psi. The affiliation with music is better understood when we look at the foundations of the Order. The fraternity began at the New England Conservatory at a time when it was predomiately women. The Chancellor, Ossian E. Mills, wanted to establish a social Order that would unite the few men that were there and develop a brotherhood. If you refer to the original objects of the fraternity this comes to light. It is true that some chapters still consider themselves to be professional but I assure you that if you go to the National Assembly or communicate with Jon Mongiovi at Lyrecrest, you can better understand the origins of our social Fraternal Order. Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia is social fraternity for musical gentlemen. Fraternally,
Mystic Cat32

You might add that Mills, considered our Founder, was not a professional musician himself. He was the bursar (financial officer) of the Conservatory. The Fraternity grew out of prayer meetings he held with some of the male students at the Conservatory. As my brother MysticCat32 points out,the primary purpose of the Fraternity has never been to make better musicians, but rather to make better men.

I know of at least one chapter (but I can't remember its name right now) that has no music majors or minors as brothers - all of the brothers are studying other fields but just love music.

The chapter at U of Wisconsin-Whitewater (Beta Psi maybe? sorry, I don't remember the chapter name for sure) is almost completely non music majors or minors. Whether there are a few that are actually M/m, I'm not sure...I can only speak for a few years ago when I was there

Hi everyone here on the Phi Mu Alpha board!!! I just wanted to say a few things:

1- I love our Phi Mu Alphas here at Clarion - theyre some of the best guys to hang out with- their house is right down the street from ours.

2- Obviously theyre social here at Clairon.

3- What did you mean by saying that KKPsi is a "band director" fraternity? I am an active sister of Tau Beta Sigma, both of our chapters (KKPsi, TBS) are co-ed. Unlike Phi Mu Alpha and SAI, in TBSKKY you have to be in a band, but we all support music! :)

okay, enough ranting!

Luv In Greek Unity (and Music Greek Unity!)
Alison

KKY
 

To my knowledge, Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma are professional GLOs that consist mainly of people wanting to become band directors. I know that this isn't always the case because I know of at least one alumni member at school that pledged both PMA and KKY at his old school. He was allowed because one was social and the other was professional. The fraternity is social whether people want to believe that, including some brothers, or not. Fraternally, Mystic Cat32

Re: KKY
 

Gonna have to buzz you out on this one, MC32. KKPsi and TBS are band service organization...you got the band part right! :) There was a TBS chapter at my school with members from all majors.

From their web site:

"Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma are honorary service organizations whose sole purpose is to serve the college or university band programs through service projects, fundraisers, social events and other projects as needed."

Hope that helps!

Re: KKY
 

Well said, Mystic Cat.

AngelPhiSig - It's so cool to see someone from Clarion!!! That's where I was planning to go until my plans changed at the very last moment :(

Ginger- What school do you go to now?

RedRoseSAI- Well Im gonna buzz you on that-

TBS and KKY are HONORARY band organizations. We are there to serve the band, but are no service organizations. (if we were, one would not be able to be in AphiO or GammaSigmaSigma while also in TBS or KKY)

Its great to see some talking here on this board!!! :)

LIGU
Alison

:confused: It does say, on your national web site, that KKY and TBS are "honorary service organizations"...that's where I was getting my information from. Is that just a formality?

Angel Phi Sig -

I'm not in school right now... I took a few years off to work and will be going back in fall for night classes to finish my degree. I had been at the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater, and when I go back to school I'll be at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee.