Brotherhood issues!
 

Ok I need honest help and opinions from you. While being one of the best houses on campus in grades, sports, social, campus involvment, etc. I feel that our overall brotherhood is lacking. After consulting with other brothers about there opinions I found the same thing time and time again. I decided to send an e-mail to the list serve to one explain the problem, and two state that we should plan a brotherhood retreat (if our IFC looked at NPC on campus we would be better for it). I stated that the house has on average 3 types of brothers you can use the Hero, Nero, and Zero model for this. The Hero brother pays dues timelyor is on a payment plan, attends chapter as frequently as he can (class/work excluded) and always trys to do extra for the house. Brother Nero while paying dues and coming to chapter doesn't really do anything extra (maybe to busy maybe not?) Like Nero watching Rome burn he doesn do much else, and finally Brother Zero he maybe pays dues maybe doesn't, always makes social always is at the party, but never has time to help the chapter he will graduate (or not) and fade into oblivian. I went on to state that its quite possible that each one reading this did not fit into a mold that maybe there descrip. was different, but that no matter what brother you are that you can tell that overall brotherhood is lacking. I know I at times am Nero, just as when I step up to do something I'm Hero, I however will never be Zero...

I went on to state that we should have a Brotherhood Retreat and focus on why we are all here, what Theta Chi stands for, what our goals are, etc. We set up a commitee or I set one up to discuss where/when we could do this. I tried to explain to those on it that this wasn't about personal recognition just about stronger brotherhood.

Anyways long story short I guess it pissed off alot of people... and at the same point I know alot wished they could have said it but did not have the nerve (including a senior). What are ways to help get these guys to realize that the main reason we are at Theta Chi is brotherhood and not just sports or social that all that should come naturally once our brotherhood is strong?

have you tried contacting other theta chi chapters to see if they hold retreats? i believe that several southern schools do-auburn for one. they might be able to tell you what they do-how it is structured, what activities are planned, etc. or ask other fraternities on your campus.

is there a ropes course near your campus? a ropes course is often used for team building purposes-even for corporations.

have you tried a road rally? brothers are divided up in such a way so that good friends are not together and people get to know each other a little better. a committee would need to set up the road rally and monitor the check points, gather prizes(if there are to be any) and a bar-b- que could be held after.

how about a crush party social where you guys hand in 2 or 3 names of young women you wouldn't mind being paired up with and one brother is responsible for securing a date for another brother from those choices.

how about a guys only poker party, skeet shooting at a range,
sitting together at a sporting event(college or pro).

find out what the sororities on your campus do to help strengthen their sisterhood and put a male spin on it. good luck to you. lisa

Thanks...

A ropes course is on our list o possibilities.... theo thers while fun, I odn't think would wokr just because they would simply view it as an activity and not a time to reflect or take seriously. Currently this is our outline.

Friday Afternoon: Leave for Event
Friday Evening: Hold first Event
Saturday morning/early afternoon: 2nd Event
Saturday eveing: Allow Alcohol and just have a party
Sunday Morning: Leave to come back to Campus

We wanted to make sure alcohol was not allowed till the last night so as to keep this from being one big drunk bash...

how about
 

how about having a brotherhood at someones house. have all your members come over and just hang out. its a starting point. or a road trip to where ever. try staying at other chapters houses to save money. Do something that requires a team effort, like paintball against a different fraternity. or go on a float trip down a river. its a blast.