Lambda Chi Business Network
 

As most chapters, many of my brothers from Gamma Zeta have gone on to become successful in their chosen career path. My taxes were a little more complicated than a 1040 this year, so the first person I called up was my brother from GZ that specialized in taxes and hired him to do them.

That got me thinking. There are probably 100's, if not 1,000's of LXA's all around me not from my chapter who run small business or specialize in their careers or offer goods or services that may be of use to me.

How am I to find these brothers? I would much rather give my money to a brother than some random company. After all, you can usually find another brother to say if the brother is any good at what he does (or to stay away from him).

Now, I know we have the C + C and separate chapter updates, etc. But say I needed a plumber quickly. Or maybe I need a will drawn up. Or my office needs a network specialist for a week. I don't have the time to browse years worth of C + C.

What would be great is if there was a LXA Business Directory. Maybe like a yellow pages for our organization available online. Something where I could type in the occupation or service needed, and the state, and a list come up.

GammaZeta, that is very interesting and being a total PC Dummy there should be a way for it to be done!

It is one heck of an idea! A+++ Idea in fact!

If a set up for mentoring then maybe this can be set up the same way!

I know many Brothers deal with a Dentist and Oral Surgeon and some who do Legal work, CPA, home improvement.

I have used a Brother for work on my will and he had the nerve to charge $75.00!:D

Well, if anyone knows, a will costs more than that to be done!;)

Maybe it will be heeded as an excellent idea!

Really, if I have the choice between giving my money to a stranger, or a stranger in LXA, I'll chose the stranger from LXA.

I'm thinking it could be a very easy website to navigate and would be maintained by the members. A LXA who is a plumber could simply upload his info: place of business, number, address, specialty, etc., and just post it online himself.

Keep the categories simple: Legal, Electrical, C.P.A/Accounting, Food, Advertising, Plumbing, and on and on.

I think we can do a better job networking our skills and occupations on a national level. For instance, I know that if I need electrical, legal, taxes, buying a used car, making a retirement account, buying stock, need a mortgage, I know at least one brother from GZ that can do that. However, if I needed a plumber, I would have no clue since I don't know a GZ brother that does plumbing.

I think it would also be a chance to market LXA as a true network that can help when you are an alumni. Being a LXA puts you into that easily accessible network.

You should organize (or join) an area/regional/sectional/city alumni association and assemble a local professional directory. Contact Josh Lodolo to get started.

It will be a lot of work, but in the end you might be able to find a plumber with a "crescent" wrench (I couldn't resist).

Well Jono, where I live there aren't any organizations like that.

Something like this may be better on a national level, in one directory.

The 2003 Lambda Chi Alpha Alumni Directory has "Career Networking" (professional listings) beginning on page 1649.

Yeah...

I'm going to guess that over 95% of our alumni do not have the LXA Alumni Directory. And even then, it's probably not up to date.

I'm talking about an up to date website that is easy to navigate. Not a 2,000page book from 4 years ago.

It still amazes me that someone as good looking as I am can be so damn smart.

I absolutely love this idea...

Put me down for toxicology or Drug Information...

In the 2003 Alumni Directory, it indeed does have career information. In the CD version, you could search brothers by (for instance) dropping down a few windows: Dallas, Texas, Advertising. Hit "Search" and it provides you with Mark Lee (a '93 initiate from SMSU) and Harry Thompson (a '52 Georgetown graduate)'s contact information (both of whom are in the advertising field). It's a really handy tool, but also potentially dangerous. Of course, it's up to the individual brother what he wants to be included in that directory, but it's also up to him to keep his information up to date. Whether or not Harry Thompson is still in the business and could help me design a billboard ad for my company I couldn't tell you...he might have closed up his ad shop in 1989 or be deceased...It's all up to how current his information is with Headquarters. The problem is alumni who don’t update their information and chapters that don't report updates they have. The guys that are going to be most willing to keep that info up-to-date are the brothers in a chapter's Alumni Association or Area Alumni Association (if available), because they obviously stay in touch with the fraternity and are more likely to provide new contact and business information as it comes along. I think that's a good suggestion to have that information in an area alumni database (because you're probably going to be looking for local contractors), and to use a local chapter's alumni database as a second choice. But then again, that begs the question: Should alumni be spending the chapter's time and resources asking them for a local advertiser's contact info? Should that even be the job of the staff at Headquarters, or maybe of the Foundation? The Alumni Directory (print and CD) was a pretty good answer to that question, I feel. The only problem is, it's only produced once every few years, and the information isn't 100% reliable. Also, it's my understanding that the CD was a rare occasion, and it probably won't be produced in electronic form again in the future. The online database sounds like a good idea, but if it got in the wrong hands...?

That's a good discussion, and food for thought about alumni networking. As current chapter's information got more accessible through online linking with Headquarters, maybe that's something to think of. The program that the fraternity bought a couple of years ago (IMIS, the database that's helping out with HQ functionality, organization, and chapter communication) is successfully being rolled out in a function of helping the chapter members keep track of information (summer address, offices held, initiate status, etc). Maybe (and considering this is a HUGE undertaking) it's a good thought to make that accessible to volunteers to provide that information. I wouldn't think we should just open that info up to the public, but I also don't believe that's necessarily a function of the Office of Administration. Otherwise, it's up to you to get your hands on one of the "Alumni Directory" and do some good old-fashion page-turning.

Yours in Z A X ,

Yeah Grits, it really is up to the person to get an Alumni Directory. But is the average member going to send away to Indy for it and wait for it to come through the mail?

I was thinking of a self running website. The brother could simply update and join his information at will or when it changes, sort of like a superpages.com for LXA.

I would involve HQ as little as possible, probably only to advertise it in the C + C. Maybe a computer savy brother could set it up.

GammaZeta, I still agree with you and this and it still sounds like a tremendous idea, set up much as the way the mentoring system site is set up!

It is something that would and could be a great need for networking!

Check IHQ LXA web site and suggest this to the proper address!

As you can see, there is backing for this!:)

C & C is the network for all of us, Alumni and Actives in toto!

I do not know how to do this, but there has to be a possible way for it to be done!

If it can be done, I am in for sure!

Ok guys, I have a bit of insomnia this morning so I threw up some thing for the LCA business network. Take a look and let me know what you think. Lot of people were saying a yellow pages type site is ideal. I thought a sorta craigslist type thing might also be kinda cool. It took me about 30 mins to throw this up, so if you all don't like it no big deal. I didn't do much work on the categories or the layout, didn't want to have to put in a bunch of effort for something no one would use. Keep in mind I am a IT systems guy, not a IT web designer. Design isint my strong point.

This is a simple free classifieds system I found while cruising Google.

http://osuchoppers.com/applications/...ieds/index.php

Enjoy.

In ZAX,
John Dever

Hey that's pretty good!!!!!

Something quick, easy and simple to use.

An on-line, but, well managed (to keep spammers from crashing in) website/database is a great idea.

I've done work for a variety of brothers in a variety of areas, simply because I knew a brother who knew a brother who knew....and voila - an easy referral was made. I also believe, at least from my experience, the work done for one brother on behalf of another is going to be one notch higher than the normal level of service or quality...just because of the bond, and usually, at a "ZAX" discount of some sort.

Count me in - now, let's find "someone" that might be willing to do the work to set it up...cough, cough, Dever? cough cough....

After sleeping on it and realizing I hated what I put up this morning, I decided I couldn't live with myself having hosted something that ugly. I decided to take a new plan of action. Tentatively I am working on two things, a unified "yellopages", "classifieds", page that doesn't look like trash. Instead of having two ugly websites, I will have 1 that does the same thing. In addition I figure I can add our own web forum, not to drag people away from here, and possibly an auction system. So instead of studying for midterms I am caught up on this for a little bit. Ill post updates when I have something concrete to show.

Can someone post on the legal aspect of making this site? I don't want Nationals upset for some reason about using the LCA name on a "business" website.