Beginning of a Greek Letter Organization

[Tom Earp]

Everyone asks about stating or being a part of a Greek Letter Organization.

This will be Episodic to a degree from a Founders Stand Point. Maybe it will help some.

At my first college, I became a member of a Service Fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega and enjoyed every moment of it.
Pledge under the table with a new organization because of grades. First sign.

Went to PSU Ks, and joined a Local (Second Sign)that became Sigma Chi.

Was kicked out of that Fraternity. Upset, yes but understandable.

The last two weeks of school, I was at the Library more than I ever was before. What did I study, Fraternitys!

Spent the Summer designing The Badge, Pledge Pin, Coat of Arms and Banner. Wrote Letters to what I considered the Old Line Greek Organizations who were not on Campus. Got all returned with Thank You but we are not expanding at the time.

Undaunted as being young, I forged along to the Fall Semester.

Did the normal thing, brow beat My Roommate, the two guys at the pool room at the Student Center, and went from there. Guys from Home Town brought other Guys in.

Pretty soon when it was known that there was a New Group coming on Campus, more became interested to help start something New. Oh, there was at the same time another New Group that was trying to be elected to come on campus, as Group that was Associated with Delat Sigma Phi.

There was only one Group that would be allowed to come on Campus at the time.

[Tom Earp]

1965, one person came back to PSU with an idea. With recruiting some guys and then others recruited it began to grow. No house during the first Semester, but found a rental house and everyone and I mean everyone broke contracts and we moved in and did a lot of fixing up to the way we wanted it.

The total idea was to affiliate with a National that was not represented on campus. ( I mention this manytimes on my posts, some people want to do something new and not go with the established groups).

As I mentioned, there were two groups attempting to come on campus and the College was going to allow only one. The other group heard that Beta Chi was going to be the one excepted and wanted to merge with us.
As the Founder and President, I decided that their members had to be voted on individually. They said all or nothing. So I said nothing. That was one of the dumbest things I ever did in my life and still think about that decision.

I had been turned down by all of the old line Fraterntys as they were not expanding at that time especially in State Schools.

My Law Professor suggested I talk to one Erik Conard the Teke advisor. (Yes, the Erick Conard of G C fame). He suggested Lambda Chi Alpha as a "Good Outfit" as when he was on the road for Teke, He had gotten to know a lot about LXA and had a lot of respect for them and felt it would be a good fit for PSU!

A letter was drafted and sent to LXA Headquarters.

[roqueemae]

sniff, sniff. What a beautiful story.

[Tom Earp]

Nice, very nice.

Letter to Lambda Chia Alpha was sent and We waited to hear from them.


We were informed that a T S Travelling Secretary would be at our meeting at so and so time (Today they are Educational Consultant Leaders), Hell TS to us old dawgs.

We had a great meeting of give and take and within two days, got a call from Theta Chi requesting a meeting. Dont know how they even found out about us?

Another meeting of give and take was held.

We had a 14 hour meeting to decide who to Affiliate with. None of us made our morning classes.

We notified LXA that We wanted to Associate with them.

We got a phone call one Sat Morning at the House as Pledges were doing clean up work, ah, the good old days.!!!


When I got the Phone, a voice on the line said,"Congratulations, you have been selected to be a Colony of LXA"

Figuring it was a bad joke, I ask "Who In The F**K is this"?

The VOICE said very apologetically,"Oh I am sorry, this is Duke Fladd". I about S**T, He was the Head of LXA at the time and a very respected Member of the Greek World. Talk about stepping on a weenie, Mine!

He gave me instructions about what was to take place and the time schedual.

[Tom Earp]

The time arrived for Colonization.

Everyone was on pins and needles

I was up until 4:30 in the Morning with the Gentleman who would become LXA Executive Secretary for many years discussing many things. That is when I first heard of a change from Pedge to New Associate to help change an image of Risk Management even back then.

The Chapter from Kansas State U. were the Ritual Team for the Colonization.

I had to pick a candidate to go through Ritual to represent us as it would have been to hard to do all of us.

When I went down to watch practice so I could help answer questions, little did I know, I would be Initiated into LXA. Then, I was told that I couldnt say anything to any of My Brothers of BX!

Well We were colonized and then had to start the process of fulfilling all of the recruirements for Chartering.

[Tom Earp]

Chartering was 1969.

We will be Celebrating 40 Years from being a Local till today as a Chapter of LXA!


What I guess I was saying, is if you want to start a Local for any reason, it is very hard work, time consuming, and keeping it going whether it is staying a Local or Affiliating with A National.

Never give up if that is the conviction of the People who are Your Members.

Is is the Greatest Reward you will ever have in your life.

So all I have to say is, whether you are starting a Local to Affiliate, a New Local Period, a MTGLO, or a LTGLO, never give up. If you do not find what You feel good with, look elsewhere.

I was lucky to find Mine.

With this, I say Good Bye!

[texas*princess]

awesome story Earp! Thanks for sharing it w/ us