Fraternity Secrets - although we do have a Directory
 

At a convention in Las Vegas last June I saw a very nice Lambda Chi Alpha badge for sale - yellow gold with an all-diamond Lambda. I didn't have enough money with me, so I had to pass on it.

Last week the guy who had it announced he had some pins (of various GLOs) to sell so I asked if he still had that diamond LCA badge. He did, and gave me a very reasonable price, so I bought it.

As soon as it arrived I verified the inscription (zeta and #) on the back, calculating that it belonged to a brother who was only two years older than I. Quite possibly he was still alive and if so, would be ecstatic to get it back. The badge is unbelievably beautiful! Diamonds on yellow gold? Absolutely gorgeous.

Now we come to the secrecy part.

I immediately wrote to IHQ, telling them I had acquired said badge and wanted to return it to its owner. Could they put a name to the zeta number and provide me with his e-mail address?

Absolutely not. Here's the reply I received:

"It is our policy that we don’t give out contact info for our members for security purposes. I did however go ahead and email the owner of the badge with your contact information, in case he is interested. "

You did WHAT? This left me scratching my head as to how policy can change from one sentence to the next. Why is one brother's e-mail address secret and mine is not? Was it proper for him to have composed his own e-mail and written on my behalf without first securing my permission? I still don't know what he wrote

What annoys me is the apparent godlike personna with which the IT guys in Indianapolis seem to imbue themselves. They have all the data at their disposal, but apparently trust only themselves with it. They know me. They know who I am. They know I help edit the C&C. I told them why I was asking. I've been around for 34 years as a brother.

So WHY do they treat me like an outsider with some sort of malicious intent? As a brother-at-large am I not to be trusted with one e-mail address? After all, how many names, home addresses, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses are already published in the 2003 directory?

It worked out satisfactorily in a rather businesslike manner. The brother will be getting his badge back and he offered to reimburse me for what I paid for it. Fine. But I would much rather have broached the subject myself in a more brotherly way, in my own words, and I was denied the satisfaction of doing that. I have the feeling he was taken aback by the original message too.

What could have been a very nice, happy ending has resulted in general annoyance on my part and a feeling of less belonging to Lambda Chi Alpha because of it. Why do they have such a condescending attitude toward older brothers? Do they think our generation is like theirs?

Have "privacy concerns" reached a truly absurd level? Has anyone else experienced a situation similar to this?

In Z.A.X.
Jono

1. "What annoys me is the apparent godlike personna with which the IT guys in Indianapolis seem to imbue themselves."

You're dealing with IT guys, brothers or not!!!!! Would you expect anything less from them?

2. Nice job getting the badge back to the owner. It may sound stupid and trivial, but I wish to God I had my painted LXA brick back. I think we all have some item we miss dearly and hopefully you made another brothers day.

Brother Jono, first off, Huzzas to You for what You did, it is outstanding and shows what being a Brother of LXA is really all about.:cool:

As far as IHQ doing something like this, I find it appaling to say the least.:(

Your Brother and Friend.

IN ZAX,

Re: Fraternity Secrets - although we do have a Directory
 

As Gamma said - this is an "IT" thing.

Having been one myself in a previous career - IT guys make it an ART form to appear "godlike" and "in control" of situations - they don't like anyone to mess with their "stuff" as it were. They won't admit it, but, the primary reason for this is that the IT job is usually so easy, but seemingly intimidating to most. They want to keep that perception.

Besides, pocket protectors are COOL.

It's bureaucracy, and if bureaucracy ever starts making sense.... well then I'd be worried.

I Sense Wisdom Here!
 

Jono,

I don't know much about IT guys. But I think the other Brothers nailed it.

Yours in ZAX,

Mike R.

PS I re-read your Badge article today and like it very much. I think it belongs in the C&C.

MJR

Lost badge - return of same - story?
 

I wonder what kind of story that Badge could tell? Where it has been, who has held it, and how it came to be separated from it's owner / Brother.

Good question John. It's an all-too-familiar story. He put it this way:

"I went through a nasty divorce about 5 years ago and my ex wife gave all of my things away."

A similar thing happened with a brother from my chapter a few years ago. He was heartbroken so I gave him an extra badge I had. He eventually got his back, now he has two! Yea!

My thanks to everyone who has responded. Brother Mike, I believe the material you read is actually text from the display cases at IHQ that I updated, added to, and to which I applied a few corrections. It's designed to accompany the excellent badge photos that Bob took and which will be submitted to IHQ for inclusiion on the new website whenever the time is right. It's massive!

ZAX,
Jono

They may have seen your requesting information as a concession to pass your information to this brother.
It confuses me though. A couple of years ago I contacted IHQ when I was helping to plan Phi Theta Zetas 20 Year Anniversary. They willingly gave me a full contact list for my chapter, to try and return some lost sheep to the flock.

IN ZAX,
Brian

Jono,

Right you are! Here is my idea: use this material, along with a scan of an appropriate badge, as a side bar to some of the History articles that will appear in future issues of the C&C. I posted my April article earlier this week. I think a badge sidebar from you would be wonderful for this article. I think you could take the information about the earliest Lambda Chi Badges and provide our readers with something they will enjoy reading!

Take a look at the April article in the staging area and let me know what you think.

Yours in ZAX,

Mike Raymond

Brotehr Brian, it may depend on if one is asking about their own Zeta.

I can somewhat understand reluctance on IHQs to give out information, but when they know someone such as Jono, Mike, Shawn, Andy, John G. and others who are providing things and service to The Fraternity, I still find it rather sad.

We are not lurkers trying to find out secret information about Our Brothers.

Jono, granted, We do have a Directory and I think We all know how up to date it can or cannot be. A lot depends on data givren to them.

But, just taking a WAG!:)

The Badge that Brother Jono got and sent on to another Brother is beautiful as He sent a Pix to me.

We are what We are and Jono is one of The Best of The Brothers of LXA that I know!:cool:

We are Brothers of LXA and I for one am damn Proud to know so many of You!:cool:

Bro, you done found me out!

Yup, I been posing as a Lambda Chi since 1972 just to track down a guy whose name I didn't even know - just his zeta and number. I admit it. But the superheros at IHQ foiled this dastardly dog's plans to send an evil e-mail to his long-time adversary. (Thousands are killed by e-mails each year)

As a result, I had to reactivate the Balfour Company and have them make a custom diamond badge just like the one grandpa had given him when he was initiated. It cost me a fortune to maintain my cover! Oh, what a tangled web we weave...

You have a good heart too, Chip.

ZAX,
Jono
PS - The transaction is complete. That's all it was, a transaction.