Symbolism outside of our rituals
 

What other symbols (and traditions) besides those learned in rituals emphasize your organization's values and principles?

Although it's not codified in the APO ritual, there are places on campus to which we were taken (as pledges) that are special and embody our chapter's values.

New Associate Members are taken Around to the Houses that We Have Had!:)

The New Initiated Members See The Symbols and then learn it again when they see a Beautiful Ritual Again and Re-Learn wht the Meanings are.

Other than that, We dont tell anything.:) There is NO Hazing Involved at all.:cool:

Chalking. Chalking for us is a huge deal, it was basically how our sorority reformed. We chalk the campus up good every couple of weeks. Sometimes it's just letters/crazy stuff, other times it's really poignant quotes/inspiration/greek unity.

We have a brick on the memorial walkway that is dedicated to a sister who was killed in 93. She started a good number of our traditions that we still carry on, so every time I walk on that walkway I smile and think, "Hi Jen."

Thornton Stone, the founder of Mu Chapter of APO, lived in Bloomington until he died in 1997. (he had a small museum for all his Boy Scout memorabilia!) Our chapter would go to his house a couple times a semester (usually around induction and initiation) and help with yard work, etc...then sit and drink lemonade with Stoney and his wife. :)

We have great sunsets here in eastern NC, so when our brothers see pinks and blues streaking across the sky, we usually take a minute and reflect.

Our chapter is really funny about roll numbers, too.
- We call each other our roll numbers.
- When we see things with our roll number on it, we have to have it. So as I am sure you can imagine, I have quite a few items with that on it (ex: liquor bottles, mile markers, address plates, etc).

We're crazy about the number 8.
- if your roll # has an eight in it or adds up to eight
- 8's always seem to find a way into our events and stuff, by accident.

Every year on founders the undgergrads go to the fountain for our founder's day ceremony. Which is usually just some reflections, etc. since its public. But there we are standing in circle in red ties out by the fountain, everyone just walking by, some stop to look.

Candlelightings and preference ceremony

In many chapters of Alpha Sigma Phi, the Black Lantern Processional is performed. Led by the chapter marshal, robed and hooded in white, and the members (in initiation roster order) robed and hooded in black, all carry a black Diogenes lantern (a kerosene lantern works well, too) and march throughout the campus with a rhythmic stride. Many chapters use it to gather up the candidates for initiation, others use it as a memorial for brothers who entered Omega chapter.

I've had the honor of participating in 2 Black Lantern Processionals. One was at the 1987 Alpha Sigma Phi National Convention. It was a unique sight to see hundreds of Alpha Sigs robed, hooded and marching through Bethany Colleges campus in WV.

The second Processional I was in was held by my chapter at Illinois State upon our chartering. We marched through campus passing most fraternities and sororities. As we did so, each brother held up their lantern as he passed the front door of the fraternity or sorority. This was done as a sign of respect. This was alot of fun, as we had a police escort both in front of the processional and the rear with their squad cars flashing red lighs on!:)

Oye, hope you all had your hiking boots on for that march...Bethany is a hilly campus! I would really like to see that sometime, I think it'd be neat.

The other night, I was in my bedroom and all of a sudden, some sort of march went on. I couldn't figure out who it was because it was PITCH BLACK outside, but it was definitely a fraternity...the song was odd, it mentioned Omega Psi Phi, and Alpha Sigma Phi and Alpha Sigma something and a whole bunch of others. I couldn't put my finger on WHO was singing it though, but it was really neat to hear.

Well we have different things that act as symbolic links to our past and our presence on our campus, city, and state.

--From the Missouri Tiger's atheltic dept. website:
"MISSOURI-NEBRASKA BELL - Issued to the winner of the Missouri-Nebraska football game ... Originated in 1927. Laid aside in World War II years, and later resurrected in 1947 ... Bell was originally "borrowed" from a church in Seward, Neb., by two Nebraska fraternities (Phi Delta Theta and Delta Tau Delta) who shared the same house at that time... When each fraternity moved to separate living quarters, they battled for possession of the bell each year in a specified contest: athletic or academic ... When in 1927, Missouri proposed a suitable trophy be established for the MU-Nebraska football rivalry, the bell was suggested and adopted - engraved on one side with an "M" and on the other with an "N"... At Mizzou, the bell is cared for by the QEBH Society, while the Nebraska caretaker is the Innocents Society of Nebraska ..."

So, while we don't always get a chance to visit the bell, [like when Mizzou wins :(] This year the bell was placed in our shelter for a while, for safe keeping before the game as we won last seasons' game and a brother of mine who is an Innocents member was in charge of taking it down to Mizzou to this years game (which sadly we lost-but there's always next year!!!)

We have a few others:

-We have the Delt badge of my chapter's first pledge back in 1894: Mr. Robert Manley, proudly displayed in our trophy room. We also give an award in his name to the outstanding pledge of each class at their initation banquet.

-The portraits of two of my chapter's founders hang in the state capitol (where I work) here in Lincoln as they were Governors of Nebraska as it was still a young state. (they were elected one right after another...so that's cool!)

-The cornerstone of Memorial Stadium at Nebraska has a Delt brother's name on it as he was a big part of it's construction.

-The most recent one will soon be under construction as there will be a new fountain constructed at the Alumni Center on campus in memorial and tribute to a pledge brother of mine, Bob Foehlinger. Who was taken from us far too soon during our undergraduate years. He was a great guy and an amazing person, leader, and brother who did so much for the University in so many ways (as well as for all of us who were lucky enough to know him). That will be a fitting and important monument to him and something that brother's can see and respect.

-There are more, but I always make my post too long so I'll cut it off there. We're lucky as in we have lots of these things to utilize in building pride and a since of history in our fraternity...pledge classes and active brothers go on "hunts" to take photos of their class at these different spots so they can see them an appreciate the impact our fraternity has made...

We have a few traditions in BSP that we use.

When a member has a "hot thing" going with a guy, she brings a box of red hots to the meeting. If they break up, she brings lemon drops. If they get married, she brings chocolate to a meeting. Stuff like that.

i recently aquired a 1924 printing of "A History of Sigma Kappa" and a lot of the chapters mentioned recently engaged girls bringing the traditional 5lb box of chocolate to meeting. although my chapter itself doesn't do that, it's cool to see the tradition in other places.

Traditions that emphasize your organization's values and principles:

We have the Mills Music Mission, which is our national philanthropy. The following information is taken from our national website:

The Mills Music Mission has its origin in the work of the Sinfonia’s founder, Ossian Everett Mills [Burser of the New England Conservatory of Music]. Mills and other early members of the Fraternity understood the true purpose of their art as the enrichment of the human spirit. They also recognized that music in America can be advanced only when men in the field of music have a true appreciation for the power of their art. Music lacks its power when the musician regards it not as a tool for the uplift of others, but instead as a means to his personal success and happiness. To help Sinfonians in the attainment of this goal, the Fraternity teaches sacrifice. For a man to focus on uplifting others, he must first understand that it is others who are important. Otherwise, he will view his art solely as a means of enriching himself.

Mills himself devoted significant amounts of his time to uplifting the souls of the less fortunate with the beauty and power of music. By 1886 he had originated the idea of visiting the residents of the Boston hospitals on Easter and Christmas day, and he carried on this charity for nearly thirty years (near his death in 1920). Mills' "Flower Mission," as it came to be known, was awaited by the patients in the wards with much expectancy. As one of nurses commented, "What would Easter be without Mr. Mills, the music and the flowers?"

Mills was usually accompanied on his Mission by ten to twenty conservatory students who would provide vocal solos and quartets, strolling mandolin and guitar players, a small orchestra (usually the Euterpe Club of Boston which consisted of two mandolins, violin, cello and bells), and readers who would give recitations. The many hours spent at the bedside of the unfortunates brought returning hope and confidence to all. As the singers walked through the wards singing carols and hymns, each room which was the scene of silent suffering so many weary days of the year was changed into a place of good cheer and happiness.

Mills was also joined by assistants who gathered flowers used in the morning Easter and Christmas church services and distributed them throughout the hospitals.

Newspaper reports tell of Mills' efforts to take his Flower Mission to "nearly every hospital cot in the city."

Chapters and alumni groups continue this tradition by carrying out Mills Music Missions (MMM) in hospitals and nursing homes. A MMM is part of every National Assembly, and many chapters will include a MMM as part of their Founder's Day or Chapter Day (anniversary of chartering) observances. Plans are underway to have every chapter, colony and alumni association conduct a MMM during the week of Feb. 11-18, 2006, to mark the 150th anniversary of Father Mills' birth.

While our national philanthropy differs from that of many other GLOs in that we're not raising money or donations, I like that we have a philanthropy so directly related to the values we stand for.