How many fraternities allow honarary initiates

[phigamucsb]

I don't know but it seems like an awful lot of fraternities allow honarary initiates. I was just wondering how many fraternities take part in this practice and if so for what purposes. I was also wondering if this might be something frowned upon by one chapter, while embraced by another (edited). I may be wrong, but in some cases it almost seems to be an attempt to add addtional famous alumni to a fraternity. What do you guys think?

[HPU PIKE]

I know that PiKA allows special initiates, but I'm not sure what the criteria is. In reference to adding more famous alumni to the list, this might be true but I think the initiate usually has some tie to the fraternity. For example, two of PiKA's special initiates are the now late "Tug" McGraw (father of Tim McGraw) and Col. Sanders (also the father of a regularly initiated member).

I don't know much about Col. Sanders because I actually just read that info in a post tonight...up till now I thought he was just a regular undergrad. initiate. I think Tug McGraw may have been initiated because towards the end of his life, he made many efforts to have a closer relationship with Tim (I'm not an expert, it was all on VH1's "Driven"). Tug was initiated into the fraternity the same year that Tim won PiKA's "Man of the Year" award.

Closer to home, my current chapter advisor started out as just a faculty member volunteer to our chapter in the early 80's. About 10 years into his tenure as advisor, the Brotherhood felt it necessary to specially initiate him because of his devotion to the chapter. Since then, he has gone on to become a National Officer within the fraternity.

I don't really feal cheated by these men becoming specially initiated, because even though they do become Brothers, they also missed out on the undergrad. experience...so to me it sort of balances itself out. Good topic...

[DeltAlum]

Delt has some alumni initiates, but no honorary ones of which I am aware.

I kind of see honorary initiations as a PR move -- unless the initiate has some connection with the group such as legacy or working in some way with the organization. My opinion is that it is a cheap way of dressing up your "famous alumni" page. On the other hand, it really isn't my business how other fraternities run their shops.

ETA after re-reading the post above, I do know of at least one Delt alum who was initiated after advising a chapter for many years, which is what I mean by "working" with the fraternity. I agree with that kind of policy.

[Erik P Conard]

Honorary, or Associate, membership has long been given by TKE,
and I recall that Lambda Chi initiated Harry Truman. I think that
someone claims JFK. Bill Clinton...well, er, perhaps got no bid....
It is, indeed, to boost your "famous" members list. Elvis Presley,
initiated by our Arkansas State chapter, was a pal of some of the
members, grew up with some...and it was a top, arguably the top chapter....then...at Jonesboro. The chapter yet today treasures the Elvis memorabilia and he visited them several times.
We took in Wilie Nelson awhile back. Several entertainment folks
were initiated by TKE and many would stop by the TKE house so it
was a mutual thing. Our list is legion, and several others have taken in honoraries...Miss Lucy...SAE's take note...Think some of
the sororities have initiated a man.
Guess we are not so exclusive after all. LOL
So, I don't know. The recent incursion into the college scene by previously non-collegiate organizations are somewhat akin in that
they have never experienced the college milieu. My mother was
a member of Epsilon Sigma Alpha...in Lyons, KS...some ninety
miles or so from a PanHel. She never attended a college, though she ended up on staff at Kansas U, and her siblings were collegians as well as her kids--and grandkids.
No, I think it is a matter of preference. BUT, sometimes it does
become an embarrassment. we used tore made fun of...having Lawrence Welk...but he'd often play our sweetheart song.

[33girl]

Bill Clinton is an alumnus of Alpha Phi Omega, which is a national co-ed service fraternity (although it would have still been all-male when he joined). Georgetown doesn't have IFC or traditional social fraternities. He was a regular initiate, not honorary.

[GeekyPenguin]

I really want to say that JFK was a Phi Kappa Theta, I think because of the Catholic thing. One of my profs is an honorary initiate of the same fraternity - he was their chapter advisor for many years and they decided he was worthy of initiation, which I agree with them on - if he was a woman, I'd want him to be a Gamma Phi Beta!

I know Bill Clinton was an Alpha Phi Omega, so he did get a bid somewhere.

As for the practice in general, I tend to agree with DeltAlum - it's like "Oh look, we don't have famous alumnae, let's go get some!" I do think it's acceptable in some situations. For example, Dr. Laurel Clark, one of our prominent alumnae, died in the shuttle disaster. If several of her fellow astronauts were interested in Gamma Phi Beta, I would see no problem with that - they have a connection. I think it would be wrong to just call up, say, Mandy Moore, and initiate her for the heck of it. If her best friend was a Gamma Phi, I think it'd be okay?

Does that make sense?

[Kevin]

We have no honorary members. If a non-matriculate is initiated, it is only done so with the unanimous consent of our high council. I've actually written high council and had our faculty advisor approved for initiation. However, he's a brother like any of the rest of us. There is no distinction.

[Tom Earp]

While E C is right about Harry S Truman, we do not use the term Honary Initiate.

Once they have gone through our Ritual, they are give a Number and are a life long Memer Of LXA!

We do this type of Initiation for specific reasons, Advisors or those who have proven them selves worthy through working with a Chapter.

At my Chapter, we have 5 in 40 years. Each was so ajudged by the Chapter and presented to INHQ for approval along with what They as Individuals did to feel that We thought that they deserved the Honor.

A member of EKD Local, a Founding Father was lost as He left school before LXA Affiliated with them to become BN Chapter. (Fl. In. Tech.)!

He was found and Initiated.

Becoming an AI member is not as easy as it may seem to some. Check Alum Thread and see what some have had to go through, how hard they worked for it, and what they are doing for their New Greek Organizations.!

[DeltAlum]

Originally posted by ktsnake
We have no honorary members. If a non-matriculate is initiated, it is only done so with the unanimous consent of our high council. I've actually written high council and had our faculty advisor approved for initiation. However, he's a brother like any of the rest of us. There is no distinction.

That's also the way it works in Delt. Has to be proposed by at least two members or chapters and OK'd by the Arch Chapter. It is generally a fairly long process.

[Erik P Conard]

There are countless, giving, sharing, loving, warm folks who've
advised us, led us, and contributed greatly to our organizations.
I salute the groups which endow them with membership, which I
am sure they valued highly.
Many of our national leaders have evolved through a merger, a
local, or an honorary path and they have done us proud.
I do recall a humorous side, though...back in the 50s there was
a famous group, the Four Lads....they were Tekes, and they left
us a signed photo at KU.."to the Teeks."
The Brothers Four were ALL undergrad Phi Gams...at U Washington, I believe--and not honoraries...a great group!
Ronald Reagan, a bona-fide undergrad member (Eureka College)
was an undergraduate president along with his brother Neil. And
neither EVER forgot the membership. And Reagan's visit to Ohio
State, inviting ALL chapter presidents at OSU to have lunch with
him at the Teke house...will forever be remembered by all.
He was an extremely strong supporter of the Greeks, moreso than FDR, the Bushes, etc. And Bill Clinton, the Alpha Phi Omega,
was surely pleased when they went co-ed. But I doubt he ever
got beyond Tenderfoot!
I have read since about several fraternities and sororities who've
bestowed memberships...and I do not doubt for a second that these have been cherished by all. Why not?
But, if your group decides to be exclusive, elite, or what have you
then power to you....I doubt that those who go to Union College
would have a lot in common with those at Johnson & Wales.
Good thread! Give that beloved honorary a hug--much deserved.

[PhiPsiRuss]

In Phi Psi, there is a difference between honorary initiations and alumni initiations. Honorary is when you initiate someone for prestige, even though that person has done nothing for that group. Phi Kappa Psi banned this in 1885 because we believe that this cheapens and degrades our fraternity experience.

We have initiated chapter and faculty advisors directly into alumni status. This is for a "gentleman who has rendered special service to the fraternity."

[swissmiss04]

We have different types of honorary memberships, most of them only open to women. We have in the past honored men who have contributed something great to the music profession.

I have no resentment towards these members. We are honoring them. Hence they've done something above and beyond most of us.

[fingerbang]

Originally posted by Erik P Conard
...Miss Lucy...SAE's take note...Think some of
the sororities have initiated a man.
Guess we are not so exclusive after all

i may be wrong but i dont think we ever initiated lucy patty, she is just considered part of the fraternity. but their are definetly sae's that are honorary

[Senusret I]

Alpha Phi Alpha no longer has honorary initiations. When we did have it, it was used sparingly.

Alpha Phi Omega does have honorary initiation, at the discretion of the collegiate chapters.

[breathesgelatin]

errr. nevermind.