National pledge/NM programs
 

This is an informal poll:

1. Does your GLO have a nationally implemented pledge/new member program?

2. Was it put into practice via the convention body (i.e., voted in) or did the national exec board only decide on it?

3. Do chapters have the option of "tweaking" the program in any way or electing not to use it at all?

Thanks all for your input. :)

Hmm. . .Haven't done NM stuff in a while, but here's what I can remember. (An active AST can correct me if necessary!!! Please do!;) )

1. We have a national NM manual divided up into chapters, with 1 week devoted to each chapter in the book. It is a "National" program, but it doesn't specify that everyone do this exact activity (i.e. Sorority Jeopardy) on this exact week in the NM period.

2. The book/program has been around a while, but it was recently revised and updated by the Council and Staff, without being voted on at Convention (the changes weren't major)

3. Chapters can use any activities they want (legal of course!) to teach the information. What's in the book is on the NM exam. The chapter can add extras, such as chapter or univ. history, special traditions, etc.

Sounds kinda vague, but like I said, it has been 7-8 years since I've been involved in NM education. MMCLINE, EagleChick, what do you know?

33girl--Hmm I'm thinking this post is in regards to our ASA advantage that Nationals has put forth...;)

oh Lana, you must be channelling the ghost of Calva Watson Wootton and reading my mind...:D

Yes, the LEAD program. A great program that actually has modules available for all 4 years of college.
Information on Sigma Nu's LEAD program

Our High Council only has the ability to enforce the mandates of the Grand Chapter. The active brotherhood make up the vast majority of delegates to Grand Chapter. It is something that is strongly encouraged by our HQ now. We have installed a new system called the "pursuit of excellence" in which chapters are rated by a points system.. quite a few of the points are based on implementation of the LEAD program. This entire points system was enacted at the 60th Grand Chapter in Toronto this Summer.

Our chapter has been practicing LEAD since we were a colony. It was something and still is something that is essentially required if a colony seeks to recieve a charter.


Certainly. We don't have to do LEAD and in fact many chapters still operate on their original traditions entirely. Most are coming around and admitting that the LEAD program has something that can benefit every chapter. It can easily be incorporated into an existing candidate program. Each chapter of Sigma Nu maintains its own individuality and uniqueness. This is one of the areas that we are able to have this.

We have a national program !! It's called Vision and Reflection and it's pretty cool. Every new member gets the booklet and it has stuff about the Org's history and about NPC and NIC and NPHC and it also has a section for each of our Ideals I guess you could say.. Inclusiveness, life long learning, leadership, scholarship etc.... and in each of these sections it has like questions to "reflect" on and to ask the active members, but the Membership Orientation Chair...("pledge mom") has the option about how to present the material put forth in the book... so I guess we are allowed to "tweak" it a bit as far as how we present the material, but the material needs to be presented. The MOC fills out reports that get sent to national that tell them how we are implementing the program and how it's going :D

We have Lead program too but that is for whole chapters. Ours is like 8 weeks for pledging. Or you can do 4-1-4 or 5-1-3 where the first weeks are education then I week then more education, but we do 8 weeks straight.

1. Yes. AEPhi had recently implemented the First Avenues program when I pledged. It emphasizes learning AEPhi history, striving toward academic excellence, and fulfilling other new member responsibilities. It runs 6-8 weeks at the chapter's discretion. (There is also a program called Second Avenues which emphasizes continuing education for initiated sisters.)

2. AFAIK, it was voted in at a convention.

3. There is certain basic information that must be covered. Chapters have some discretion with regard to additional information to be covered and specific new member activities. Chapters also have some discretion with regard to the exact length of the NM period - if a 6-week NM period means initiation is right in the middle of midterms, for instance, the chapter may decide to push I-week and initiation off until after midterms.

You use the same LEAD we do by Dave Mainella?

(I'd assume adapted to Theta Chi history, values, etc)

Re: National pledge/NM programs
 

1. Alpha Phi Omega, the co-ed National Service Fraternity, has a 20 point National Pledging Standard that all chapters are supposed to follow in developing their pledge program. You can see it at our National website, www.apo.org

We also have a professional printed pledge manual, which most chapters include in the pledge books they give to pledges. This manual covers basic history and information about our Fraternity.

2. It was voted on at a past National Convention, and I think reaffimed each time.

3. yes and no. Some points of the NPS are not ones they can tweak. Stuff like no hazing, following the rituals as written, etc. Other points are flexible. Stuff like pledge period being between 6-10 weeks, what to teach but leaving up the specifics and methods to the chapter, etc. Chapters can develop their own, unique pledge programs within the guidelines of the NPS. Which I think is the right way to do it.

Hope this helps