re: Zetas outside NA
 

re: Zeta's outside North America

I heard a "for example" while I was at GA....two exchange
students from Scotland joined LXA while in the US and thought
it would be great to have LXA back home.

FYI

Dang It! Did it again! "Post New Thread" and "Post Reply"
buttons are too close to each other....and you can't
correct your mistakes! (Delete the thread)

:(

Re: re: Zetas outside NA
 

Something like that happens alot at UofT... in fact the Sigma Nu chapter here was basically saved by a group of Brits that joined. As it is a couple of Brits living in the house for the summer (one in particular) have expressed some interest in the Fraternity, and wondered how it could be exported... should be interesting to have a chat with them now.

I don't see the point of deleting the thread as we can now begin serious discusion about this particular "challenge" to the Fraternity.. such as how to "sell" the idea of the North American Fraternity to people outsiide of the US... what would be the ideal target market, and how to aproach it.

We have almost 100 chapters inactive in Canada and the USA. Lets get alot more of them open. That being said if some guys from Scotland want to open a chapter, let them. They just cant expect the help that we are able to lend them being based out of NA.

Lenoxxx

# one, the first one brought up was 4 Colleges in the Phillipines who were interested, themn some one brought up Members from Scotland.

I agree heartily with Lenoxxx, Lets take care of the Zetas:

1. Those that are on the edge.

2. Those that are closed if interest and want to recolonize.

3. New Colleges that want to have Nationals come to campus.

There was a bill brought up for a 20n man Chapter. If this passed, it would ahve hurt many Zetas.

There "was" an individual at HDQ who wanted ALL small schools out of LXA. I did my best to get him gomne. He is gone.

Now, remember, that the majority of Chapters are having problems and not just the smaller schools.

If, the smaller Zetas are taken out of the equation, then I am guessing that at least 35-45 % will be gone.

Does it cost money to send an ELC to a Zeta, yes it does. Per Member cost goes up just as it does for per bed cost if you have a Chapter House.

So, now, where does the problem lay? That is the major question.

How do we as a Fraternity handle this?

1. Strong Zetas need less visitations.

2. Weaker Zetas need more help.

LXA is a business as I have said for Years. Needs to be run like a business, true?

So, just like the USA, the backbone of the country are people like me, a small business man. Ergo, the small Zetas.

One of the things that really pissed me off, is leaving Zetas in the Lurch.

Knowing the problem Zetas and having problems, work with them, rebuild at all costs if possible.

If International does not do this, then, this is not the Fraternity that I joined in 1967.

The other thing that really pissed me off was making plans to add to the cost of running a (OUR) Fraternity and saying Oh we figured that into the budget.

Well, they never got to me while I was standing to ask, where did that money come from?

Well, it was explained it came from so and so finances.

Well, it was robbing Peter to pay Paul. Period.

To True That, it boils down to bull shit. It still comes from The Fraterity!

You can only use the money that is available and it comes out of the same pocket!

This is my vent, and I am not done!

:mad:

ANOTHER PROBLEM IS: what happened to Regional Conferences's?

Lets get back to basics, it seems that we have lost that perspective.

I agree with alot of what was said. Lambda Chi is a business. However, we need to remember one fundamental truth; were not moving our product.

In FY1996 we recruited 4,356 associates. In FY2004 we only recruited 3,723.

In FY1996 we had 219 chapters and colonies. In FY2004 we only had 203.

If all of us, actives and undergraduates were recruiting and living up to our obligations (I'm talking about solemn oaths taken here folks) and at MINIMUM replaced ourselves, we woudlnt be in this mess. If our members arent recruiting and we are losing money, then we loose the right to play armchair quarterback and think we know how to run HQ.

Think about it. WERE the ones dropping the ball by not recruiting (as undergrads) or making sure our undergrads are recruiting (as alumni advisors) and yet its HQ's fault for having to cut back services? No way. I'm not buying it. Those guys are the ones having to make the tough choices (I wouldnt want to be on the GHZ right now for anything). Theres only so much the fraternity can do. Sure smaller zetas can use more help. But how fair is it to the chapters that are doing well, but can do better and want the help, but they cant get it because theres chapters worse off? Thats not a fair solution either. If all of us recruited, there wouldnt be these tough choices we face.

So I say instead of all of us bitching about 'the fraternity outta do this or that' lets focus on the root of THE ENTIRE PROBLEM and get numbers up across the board. When that happens, then we can resolve those other problems, but honestly, its crunch time and I think we've got to keep our eye on the main issue here. RECRUITMENT. Lets adequately fund (again, through recruitment) HQ and the programs we all want will come to us.

North American?
 

So will we be changing the name of the food drive as well?

lifesaver, where did you find those numbers. If they are true they are very interessting. there is one thing you forgot, our recruitment numbers have been going up in the last 2 years, correct? At least thats what i've heard for the last two years from HDQ.

Re: North American?
 

Billy,

The numbers I got came from Ed Leonard (Grand High Tau) in a presentation they gave to the Alumni at GA. I have the handout right here. I can also tell you that the numbers I gave above are some of the less shocking from the presentation. Simply put, we need to recruit. All of us.

Our numbers have not gone up in the last two years. (Through FY2004). Asa matter of fact, we bottomed out in FY2000 rose and peaked in FY2002 and then bottomed out again in FY2004. Projections for FY2005 show a modest increase, but thats just a projection.

re: small schools
 

Who has the idea that just because a chapter is at a small
school that it is a small chapter? My chapter's at a small
school....in the 1970s we had over 120 actives and helped
start chapters at two large schools (West KY and East KY U's)

Our numbers are down now (about 40 returning, which
is slightly above average for all chapters if I remember the stats
from GA correctly), but in the 1990s we had 50-70
members, and won Grand High Alpha award in
1993, 96, 99 and 2002.

We don't have a chapter at Centre College in Danville, KY,
but they are a VERY small school (still less than 1000
students I believe) and have a very strong and very
old Greek system (most chapters chartered in the 1800's)...
they are about 75% Greek there.

I think LXA can have a strong chapter whether there
are 4 competitors on campus or 40.

Whoever was "anti small school" was wrong, and I'm glad
he's "gone", whoever he was.


Kevin

re: The Phillipines
 

Some of you may have heard of Alpha Phi Omega. They are
an "International Service Fraternity" They went co-ed in
the 70's, but still have a few old chapters which operate
practically as social fraternities on some campuses (still
all male, and in a house). They are the largest GLO out
there, with over 600 chapters chartered (they've used
up all the two-letter chapter names, and are now into
the three-letter ones).

Anyway, they went to the Phillipines several years ago
and have apparently been very successful (they don't
count the Phillipine chapters in their chapter roll though).
Apparently Phillipine Universities have enough of an
American-style college system (Phil. were an American
"colony" at one time) that the Greek system could
work well there.

FYI

I hear ya. thanks for the correction. I know Phi-Delta is getting ready to break 40 members for the first time in over 10 yrs.

Interesting how the threads come together.

The anti-small school guy at HQ who left approx 1999 - Bob London.

Alpha Phi Omega co-ed service fraternity - the current VP of Operations is Bob London.

Interesting how everything is all related.

Andy, I did not want to bring up the name, but on the table. I was agahst at that move as I am a member of ALpha Phi Omega.

Maybe I get to adament about the small Chapter size thing, Andy, you know how I feel about that for certain.

As you said in a previous post, the whole ball of wax boils down to recruitment and this has to start at the Chapter level.

The hardest job in LXA is for the GHZ and International Staff to "Try" to juggle finances.

I was told By T H that All National Greeks are in financial straits.

While it looked like a whole bunch of people from Staff on the stage, we have more than any other National Greek Organization. We get more for our money than all of the rest.

I will guarentee you everyone of them worked their rears off. All of the fine Ladies who were there, stayed at the Hotel with us and worked 15 hour days. Most are family folks so it was as tuff on them as it was on us if not more so.

As I understand it, this is the first time that they were recognized in front of the toatal G A Brother Hood.

So what it boils down to as Andy Said, Recruitment and growth are the Key To The Futuer.

From what I have read on G C and the PMs that I have gotten since being back if any indication, this will happen.:cool:

Well said brother Tom. No matter the challenges facing the fraternity, one thing its not lacking from is the support of its members. When it comes down to it, all of us really do "have faith in Lambda Chi Alpha and,' a 'passion for its welfare."

re: coincidence
 

It's a small world isn't it?? Well I know APO doesn't have a
problem with chapters at small schools...they'll open just
about anywhere! They've been trying to start one here at
GC for the past year (I've been the advisor)...still very
shaky though. I think most of APO's expansion efforts are
at the regional level instead of the national level.

Just got a notice that the Vanderbilt Alumni Club of Lexington
is having a party for Lex-area students who will be new frosh
at Vandy this semester.....maybe I should go and pass
out "check out Lambda Chi" info??? Would that be
too blatant?? Maybe not! ;)