Quick Question

a.e.B.O.T. · #1 08-10-2005, 03:59 PM

What new colonies are we picking up this year?
I know Eastern Kentucky in the spring, but thats it

Coramoor · #2 08-10-2005, 05:47 PM

I'm pretty sure Bethany is re-opening.

They have a house and a huge alumni base. I think they were shut down like...maybe five years ago.

sdbeta1 · #3 09-01-2005, 12:16 AM

iowa, florida international, bethany, eastern kentucky
usc (fall 06), iowa state

UCF Beta · #4 09-01-2005, 09:47 AM

i'm looking forward to see FIU's colony, i went there for 2 years (born & raised in miami) before transferring to UCF and rushing Beta. btw, hope everyone's having a great rush so far. We already had 6 guys accept their bids before rush started, and then by the end of the first night, we boosted our total to 15 guys (now at 22 after the 2nd day, we're on pace for 30 guys). This is the best rush the Zeta Psi chapter's ever had (we were founded in 2000, so it's easy to track when we've had good rushes still lol)

ECUJacob · #5 09-08-2005, 11:04 AM

taking 30 pledges would more than double our current #'s... the pledge class could conceivably outvote the entire chapter on legislation if/when they got initiated. It's always a crazy thing for me to see how other chapters are doing.

Coramoor · #6 09-08-2005, 11:54 AM

I can't stress the importance of having continous rush. It's the best thing you can do as a chapter to bring in quality guys and to make your chapter stronger.

ECUJacob · #7 09-08-2005, 11:56 AM

^ I completely agree. We hold "rush" events throughout the semester to attract guys for the upcoming pledge class(es).

Coramoor · #8 10-31-2005, 08:32 PM

I would like to see Beta break 200 chapters by 2010. There is no reason we cant do that. I personally don't like Beta being mentioned as a tier two frat nationally.

I know numbers are not the most important thing, but Beta needs to get a little more active in expansion and catch up with frats that are years behind us in being founded. It would also give us a larger safety net and bring in more quality guys that don't have the opportunity to be a Beta b/c we are not at their school.

ECUJacob · #9 11-02-2005, 12:03 PM

Quote:

I would like to see Beta break 200 chapters by 2010. There is no reason we cant do that. I personally don't like Beta being mentioned as a tier two frat nationally.

I completely agree!

furmanbeta · #10 11-02-2005, 12:41 PM

I think that 200 chapters nationally is going to be just a bit too ambitious at least by 2010. Beta Theta Pi doesn't have a tendency to expand quickly, we have a tendency to expand effectively. There are also so many chapters around the country that could really use the help of General that we shouldn't overlook them before being on such an expansionist mindset. Universities all around the nation are virtually begging Beta to come to their campus, but we need to make sure that we expand in the right way, and to the right places.

ZZ-kai- · #11 11-02-2005, 01:19 PM

200 by 2020 would be a good theme!

I agree, expansion is key to our fraternity. It's like Rush for your chapter, but on a national level. We SHOULD be competing for that 'interest group' at XYZ university that is currently interviewing with Pike.

But, 200 chapters by 2010 is a little ambitious, but I love the thought.

About 5-10 years ago, General had a campaign of (I think) like 150 chapters by 2000 (or something like that), but that campaign was quickly axed.

Anyway, I agree, expansion is key to our fraternity. Afterall, we claim to be the 'pioneering' fraternity.

PS, I'd LOVE to see us get back to some of our closed-chapter campuses, as well as going to new campuses.....

Coramoor · #12 11-02-2005, 04:54 PM

I did a count one time (I was really bored) and we have had 198 or 199 chapters ever.

When I was at convention the point was brought up that nationals needs to help chapters already in existence and concentrate less on expansion...

I do not see how our GF can help individual chapters, nor do I see that as their job. The GF needs to concentrate on the larger issues and expansion. Chapters already in existence need to concentrate on their own improvement. Beta lets us have self-governing chapters but if we start running to them everything there is a problem soon they will have too much say in day to day issues of a chapter.

a.e.B.O.T. · #13 11-02-2005, 05:37 PM

I actually dont understand the NEED to up their in the chapters... I understand the importance of expansion, and I especially think we need to revive the fallen chapters... but our first thing should be 'to make good men better' and make sure the fraternity is in a good place first.

DoctorThursday · #14 11-02-2005, 06:38 PM

This topic of expansion has been debated - sometimes quite ludicrously - for a very long time.

One of things you ought to bear in mind is that it USED TO BE the active chapters which concerned themselves over expansion.

It is the same reasoning as the idea of initiation. The active chapter (note the singular) selects her own members; the active chapters (note the plural) selects the schools where we are to grow our new chapters. That is why the alumni do NOT have a vote on granting/revoking charters! (Unless that was changed; I have not seen any recent versions of the Code, if such still exists.) It is a good and right thing.

Another interesting point: it was the first duty of the "assistant general secretaries" which we now call "district chiefs" to assist their chapters by doing the preliminary chores in preparation for the consideration of a new chapter. (Without examining the current methodology in detail I cannot comment whether such chores are useful or pointless; broadly, I think that far too much can be made of numerical measures. But this is going too far into details for my purposes now.)

I think it is a good thing to consider our inactive chapters, and try to restore them to life. It is also a good thing to look for other places... that is what our original founders did, and they went to Cincinnati, and if they hadn't we would not be here to talk about it (remember the snowfall in 1848!!!)

In any case it is most important that we seek those who will be good brothers. And I would let the other "frats" argue, and brag, about their counts. Better that we are good, according to our ancient lore.

(Please note that this is not an argument to be small - it is definitely an argument to be GOOD.)

And what do I mean by good? I often write it "3&7"... but this is where the hard questions come in.

a.e.B.O.T. · #15 11-02-2005, 09:10 PM

Thinking about it, I believe both sides are necessary for effective expansion. There is a large negative conotation at universities about fraternities which far to often attract the men who relish in those negative spirits while turning away those who good men we are looking for. Our AO working on both sides will allows to spread Beta's initiative, while killing the negative cloud that rains on the greek world. I think it is necessary for the AO to work on both so that in the future we can be 200 chapters strong and be proud of all 200 chapters.

well, atleast its my humble opinion