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Brothers,
I have been a member of our fraternity for forty years. I have been involved in my Zeta since I graduated in 1967. I have spent an enormous amount of time working with the members of my chapter. It has been a great experience, so much so that I hope to continue my involvement with them for as long as they want me and I can do a good job of supporting them.
I have held various opinions over the years about the leadership of of International Fraternity. Three years ago, unknown to most of us, our organization was spending its self to death. New leadership has taken control, through the Grand High Zeta, that has done the hard things, like firing people and cutting budgets, that were long over due. Read the "State of the Fraternity" address on the IHQ webpage to see where we are going. I support our IHQ and its progressive leadership. As I become more involved with some of them I become more impressed with them. Yes, Lambda Chi Alpha needs to be run like a business. There is no excuse for Zetas or Brothers to not meet their sworn obligations to our fraternity. But running Lambda Chi like a business is not incompatible with Brotherhood. Brotherhood does not mean you allow members to violate house rules, not pay their bills, or treat their Brothers with disrespect. We expect more from Lambda Chis than other people because of our common bond through our fantastic ritualistic experience. My point being, that I sincerely believe that the people I know at IHQ are honorable men, men of integrity, and men I know would look out for my back....
I am currently the President of Zeta Upsilon's House Corporation at Maimi University in Oxford, Ohio. After experiencing much trouble, focused on financial and recruiting problems, the Undergaduates and our Alumni determined that we should exit gracefully, in a good relationship with the University and IHQ, and start fresh. I am extremely proud of the young men of my Zeta who struggled for years to make it work for us. I respect them, they are my friend and Brothers, and I will do anything I can to help them in the future. It is possible to go through a terrible situation like this with dignity, honor, and respect. We didn't lose our Charter either. IHQ said keep it so we can put back up in our Chapter House as soon as possible. I am looking at it right now....
Twenty-two months ago, we signed an agreement with LCAP. Unlike the experience related here, LCAP has kept every commitment and ever promise made to us. Right now about $400,000 of improvements are being finished; they got us a three year lease with another Farternity; and when "black mold" was discovered, they put an additional $30,000 into the project to make it work. We have a contract with them that will allow us to take back ownership in the future. Certain conditions need to be meet. We agreed to the terms and they are delivering on their promises. I realize conditions and situations can differ; but, in my opinion, LCAP is best thing to come along since we went to the Associate Membership program. Housing is a major problem for our fraternity and LCAP is an inovative solution. I am sure they are not perfect. But our experience really stands in stark contrast to what has been said here about Gamma Zeta. Maybe someone should invite LCAP to respond to these comments so that we can "hear the other side of the story."
With respecct to all,
Yours in ZAX,
Mike Raymond, ZUZ
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