Quote:
Originally posted by EM1843
Having heard what was going on at this chapter I agree with it's closing but I will NEVER believe that INT looks long and hard at each chapter before it closes it or that they are personally saddened by a chapter closing...individual members may be sad that a chapter had to close but INT couldn't careless in my opinion. My own chapter was in danger of closing and we still cannot get INT to help us most of the time...they would rather recolonize a chapter than fix the problems that are there...
|
I hate to admitt it but I have to agree with you....
But look at it from another perspective:
How much easier is it to (hopefully) build something from scratch, using resources and talents that you know and trust; than it is to come in and try an change deep or entrenched problems? Which is more cost-effective?
Now I'll admit that I have seen both sides of this issue (within my chapter). We were down to 9 actives after some slashing and burning of some deadwood; we went all out in recruitment, targeting only first-year students, with help from some supportive recent-alumni. Now with 24 new members inducted into the brotherhood we could, from scratch, try and build a solid base for the future of the chapter...... problem is that some of the old bad-habits have crept in to education of these new members..... it's very hard to isolate them from these influences, particularlly if you don't have a very effective membership education program (IHQ let us down on this one... no publications from them in 2 1/2 years). Now while the chapter will be stronger it still has some of the same problems that brought it to it's knees in the first place.....
Now a colony or re-colonization will be more isolated from these bad influences for the most part, because (ideally) IHQ can pick-and-chose who will lead the effort, and can to a large extent ensure that the education of these new members will be a blank slate free of any bad habits. Unfortunately this is also problamatic because IHQ must commit time and resources to this as well...... meaning that they don't have enough to commit to repairing established chapters.
Personally I believe that IHQ needs to reform its management methods and structure to be more effective. 1) Run the IHQ more effectively by ensure proper customer support (ie. the chapters), by responding to any and all contacts quickly. 2) Decentralizing the education somewhat; a return to regionals with a more localized meeting between advisors and chapters. 3) Assigning a regional branch office of the IHQ; maybe one permanent manager, and administrator, with 2 ELCs reporting to that "branch office", this would allow both the chapters, alumni and HQ to maintain more effective communication. 4) Establishing a "trouble-shooter team" of advisors and staff that can be called in to help chapters in trouble; this should be done for the most part at the chapters request.