The Brotherhood of Lambda Chi Alpha?

LXA1048 · #1 02-18-2002, 03:58 PM

In case you all don't know, this summer at GA, a proposal has been made to change the name of our fraternity from Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity Inc. to the Brotherhood of Lambda Chi Alpha Inc. Their goal is to eliminate the word "fraternity" from our organization. They believe that it will help eliminate the negative connotations that fraternity brings with it. They also believe that it will attract more alumni back to the organization because it is a brotherhood that lasts forever and not a fraternity that lasts four years.

Now for my opinions on the subject, I think this is one of the dumbest ideas that has ever been presented to the General Assembly. We are still going to be perceived as a fraternity if we change our name or not. Because of this, we will just look stupid without getting anything out of it.

As for the alumni issue, I feel that most of them will be outraged. They joined a fraternity, just like we joined a fraternity. I joined a fraternity because I wanted to join a fraternity, not because I wanted to join the Elks Club or Moose Lodge.

If you all were wondering where this idea came from, it was presented to the Student Advisory Committee by one of the greatest Lambda Chi's in history, Doc Dirgali (sorry about spelling Doc). I understand what he is trying to do, but this is not the way to accomplish his goal.

To put it in international's terms, their intent is not and will not equal their impact. That is for all you Impact Leadership folks out there.

IN ZAX,
Clint Hampton, High Phi
Lambda Eta 1048
Murray State University

Tom Earp · #2 02-18-2002, 04:42 PM

HMMMMM ! Clint, have to ponder on this for a bit!

I attended the Dinner at the KC Regional and nothing was said about that! Typical KNEE JERK reaction! As best as I can guess!

What are they going to do when we have to start allowing women in?

LXAAlum · #3 02-18-2002, 08:15 PM

Hey...no dissing the Moose! I am a member, as was Brother Warren Cole......

The name will not change the perception...it is the behavior and examples we set that will change perception.

chopper816 · #4 02-19-2002, 01:27 AM

honestly, this was hotly debated at the leadership conference. the concensus (sp?) was that this was a bad idea. the reasons pointed out were that one, in the deep south, brotherhood is related to a klan, and therefore would make us look worse than being a fraternity. Also, some points were brought up about merchandising, and what that would do to that. I believe that changing the name is putting a band aid on a broken leg. this is meant to change the opinion of "outsiders" and they will see us a a fraternity no matter what. and even if it corrects the problem for a while, then others start doing the same, then its no longer fraternity that sounds bad, but brotherhood, then what do we change the name to next? this solves nothing. to "outsiders", LXA is the same as SAE. the way to change that is through good philanthropy and pr, not a name change. personally, i dont care what non greeks think about fraternities, i really could care less.

p.s. sorry about the rant, but this one really gets to me

lifesaver · #5 02-19-2002, 02:07 AM

Agreed with what everyones said. I have THE UTMOST respect for Doc, whom I think is the greatest living lambda Chi, but I think he is making assumptions that just arent going to play out. Alums get involved because they have a need/desire for a connection to the bond, and something to contribuite. NOT because of a name change.

If we want to change perceptions...close the low performing chapters and drop some serious coin on public relations campaigns.

Anyone heard of the creation of an alum ceremony? Like the idea, but have two concerns. First the name. I think it violates the "symmetry" of things. PM me for that if you dont know. And is that REALLY when they expect us to do it? My chap. wouldnt do it then. Secondly, you cant just "create" a new ceremony outta thin air. Our Rit was researched for months and draws on many sources. The AM ceremony is the condensed TKN init ceremony. I just believe you cant "write" a new ritual. It must be carefully crafted.

Tom Earp · #6 02-19-2002, 05:45 PM

Please PM me as have not heard of any of this!

I can voice my say and they do know me at Hdqs!

Of course it may end up as the same discussion that Brother George Spasyk and I had until about 4:30 in the morning before I was Initiated about Associate Members instead of Pledges!

In the Words of George, " Well Tom you made some good points but that is the way it is going to be". That was 1966, and the rest is History!

What 1972? Assoc. Member came into being?

UTAustinGreek · #7 02-21-2002, 03:59 AM

Hey guys

Well, as you guys know I am just a mere associate, but my two cents on the mater are that it is a pretty assinine idea. As LXA1048 stated we joined a fraternity, not a Moose Lodge and I completely agree. Even though my tenure with the alpha-mu zeta of LXA has just begun, I KNOW that I have joined the most outstanding and well rounded fraternity/brotherhood imaginable and altering the word fraternity with brotherhood is not going to change that in any way.

David

LXAAlum · #8 02-21-2002, 01:18 PM

Sigh....OK, brothers, we are all becoming guilty of name association - again - the changing of the name is meaningless - it is what is contained WITHIN that matters.

When we speak of "joining a fraternity to join a fraternity, not the Moose or Elks..." please keep in the mind that the Elks and Moose are also fraternal organizations in their own right, and have longer histories and larger organizations than LXA respectively. When we speak like this, we are making the same assumptions about organizations you may no little about, as are the people outside LXA making assumptions of us....just be careful.

Many LXA members are also Moose, Elks, Eagles, OddFellows, Foresters and/or Masons. Warren Cole was a Moose, and Elk, and a Mason. Jack Mason was a Masonic member.

lifesaver · #9 02-21-2002, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by UTAustinGreek
Hey guys

Well, as you guys know I am just a mere associate, but my two cents on the mater are that it is a pretty assinine idea. As LXA1048 stated we joined a fraternity, not a Moose Lodge and I completely agree. Even though my tenure with the alpha-mu zeta of LXA has just begun, I KNOW that I have joined the most outstanding and well rounded fraternity/brotherhood imaginable and altering the word fraternity with brotherhood is not going to change that in any way.

David

Hey Dave, I saw in your profile that you are from Sugar Land. My family lives there. My mom lives off of 6 and my sister and brotherin law lives at New Terretory. They all moved there about 4 years ago. I never thought my family would live in Houston. Its cool tho. enjoy it. Jsut hate the drive from San Antonio. Wish to hell Texas had 1/2 the infrastructure the Northeast US does. I'd kill to drop $50 and just hop on a train to go there. Save me from driving, miles, wear and tear. Southworst flies there, for $60 roound trip, but it takes as long as the drive ( 1hour to arrive at the airport early, 1 hour flight, Hobby is 1 hour from Sugar Land) so I might as well drive. Its too much of a hastle to gert them to come get me from Hobby. Anyway. Trains would be cool. So where did you go to HS? Dulles? Just wonderin.

lifesaver

PS: Alpha Mu is lucky to have a kid who is as well grounded and humble as you. Lambda Chi is luck to have a kick ass potential brother. BTW, there is nothing mere about being an AM. Its a hell step above being a new member of any other GLO.

UTAustinGreek · #10 02-21-2002, 01:28 PM

Hey Bro,

I went to Austin High School. Its a pretty new high school thats right down the street from New Territory. A lot of my friends live over there, but as for me I live about 3 mins away on Hwy 6. I Fell you on the driving thing. It takes an hour to get to the airport and in the era of post 9/11 the wait and confusion at the airport is another 1 - 2 hours, so it often takes longer to fly than to drive for me as well.

Later

David

LXA1048 · #11 02-22-2002, 02:05 PM

I would like to apologize about the Moose lodge statement, but in my opinion the two are completely different. With the exception of the Mason's (which I am fascinated with) I don't feel like the Elks Club or the Moose lodge has any deep meaning behind anything that they do. It looks to me like they are just places where old (sorry Tom) people go to drink away from their wives. But my opinions are one sided. If you are a member of Lambda Chi Alpha, I don't believe that you should join any other organization. When you join Lambda Chi you are a member until you die, not until you graduate. I believe that it is against the ethics of Lambda Chi to join any other local or general institution on your campus or elsewhere. Although I am fascinated with the Masons, I will never attempt to gain membership. I am a life long member of the only brotherhood that I will need for the rest of my life.

Don't even get me started on the alum. ritual crap. I may throw my computer out the window.

Talk to you all later,
IN ZAX
Clint

LXAAlum · #12 02-22-2002, 02:20 PM

Clint, I sent you a PM.

Thanks. No offense taken.

ZAX

EM1843 · #13 02-22-2002, 02:54 PM

What is wrong with changing our name to reflect what we trully are? I spent two nights this week talking to Doc, EM 270, about all kinds of issues, this beinging one of them. There is a trypical "frat" image which I want nothing to do with. We are a brotherhood and we have something special that no one else has. Why not make it know? It is easier to make changes when you change somethings name.

Don't join a fraternity, join a Brotherhood.

LXA1048 · #14 02-22-2002, 04:46 PM

In my opinion, a simple name change will not do any good. To speak in Lambda Chi Headquarters terms, our intent will not equal our impact. We will change our name to attempt to redefine what our organization stands for, when we really need to define what we stand for through action. In my opinion, I don't care if we call associate members pledges. The name doesn't make a difference; it is what we do with our associate members that make a difference. A name is only as good as what is under it.
The removal of the word fraternity from our name will be the first step in a domino effect.

Do you all realize that the idea of going co-ed has been debated on the floor of General Assembly? Do you realize that the idea of opening our ritual to the public has been debated at General Assembly? And these ideas have both been brought up on more that one occasion.

Lambda Chi Alpha means more to me than almost anything else in my life. I have learned more in one night’s time than I could ever imagine. I love everything I have learned in Lambda Chi and the bond that I share with all of you and with the rest of our brothers is the most important thing I have. But do you know what, we are still a fraternity. I still like to do stupid stuff. I still like to streak sorority houses. I still like to stay up until 4:00 am shooting paintballs at the ATO’s (no offence to the ATO’s, we have a friendly little war going on). I still like to have FUN mixers. I still like to have a few beverages on occasion. We are a social organization. Our organizations was created to allow fellowship with each other and our nationals and everyone else’s nationals is going to squeeze us all so tight that we lose sight of some important facts. We are in collage. These are supposed to be the best years of our life and we are two concentrated on pleasing the ELCs than actually enjoying ourselves.

I honestly do not care what other people think of us (meaning those not in Greek organizations). They can criticize all they want to. Those who are interested will come out. Those who realize what being Greek can do for you will rush. Those who don't understand, never will.

My chapter has about 100 active brothers right now and I am completely satisfied with them as my brothers. Our rush strategy is if you want to join the best we will be more that willing to allow you a chance, but we don't need you to survive.

I have a feeling that the Greek system that we joined will not be the Greek system that our children will join and that truly saddens me.

If I pissed anyone off, please don't be offended. I am just stating what I believe. But feel free to respond with pure emotion. That is all that really counts anyway.

IN ZAX
Clint

Tom Earp · #15 02-22-2002, 05:35 PM

Clint, I do not think anyone could have said it any better!

I still have Purple Green and Gold in my Veins after this many years!

A big nod to you!