Expansion 2003 and Beyond

[HONKY660]

The University of Idaho folded because you can't have a chapter there without having a house. People there rush for the house. The alumni of the Idaho chapter knew that IHQ was going to exspand there, but still renewed the lease of another fraternity living in their house, leaving the colony without a house. So they won't be going back to Idaho for three years till the lease is up. There is a SigEp colony that is bearly surviving there with 13 members without a house.

What happened to colonizations planned by IHQ and put on the expansion page that never took place like: Weber State in Utah, Eastern Washington, Christopher Newport U in Virginia, Brown U. I am aware of James Madison colony and Sam Houston St colonys happening, but haven't heard any word if we are going through with Indiana State this fall.

[lenoxxx]

Honky,

I'll top you there look at this from IHQ's old minutes on their website from June 8th 2001- this is under "general fraternity" then minutes. This was the semester when they went back to Iowa that fall...

QUOTED...

Confirmed Expansions:

University of California, Davis (Davis, CA)
California State University, Northridge (Northridge, CA)
University of Iowa (Iowa City, IA)
Marietta College (Marietta, OH)

No Confirmation Necessary, We may expand in 2001-2002:

University of Chicago (Chicago, IL)
Princeton University (Princeton, NJ)
Harvard (Cambridge, MA)

Awaiting Administration Approval for Expansion:

Pepperdine University (Malibu, CA)
Elmhurst College (Elmhurst, IL)
Rutgers State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick (New Brunswick, NJ)
John Carroll University (Cleveland, OH)

Now the first four did happen, the rest is literally 1/7 with Elmhurst the only one that occured- the other 6 NEVER happened at all. Seriously it makes you wonder does anyone read this stuff and say "what happened"- esp with the first three "NO CONFIRMATION NECESSARY"

Lenoxxx

[lifesaver]

Originally posted by Tom Earp



When I told someone about expansion posibilitys at schools that were opening up to Nationals and was told, It was not of My Business, I wondered who this dud was and why!

I was actually talking about the guy before the guy who told you that. (why I said 3-5 years ago).

But that guy never should have said that to you either.

[Tom Earp]

Originally posted by lifesaver
I was actually talking about the guy before the guy who told you that. (why I said 3-5 years ago).

But that guy never should have said that to you either.

No He shouldnt have but, He did.

Hopefully With The Biff in there, things might change.

Using a shot gun blast approach to openings just isnt working.

At least We had a 50 % with Un. Alaska, ( am saddened about them) and NC A & T who are thriving

Hopefully The Ego dosnt get in the way of having Zetas at "The Major Un." where it cost a pot of gold to get open and keep functioning. While it is nice, as in the case of Un Idaho mo House, no go. That one really sounded like a cluster F U by The Alum?

Sad that there arent more Zetas in Ks. (3) but all of the Major State Schools have more Greeks than My School which is 4 th in the State.

Schools in Mo. not at:

Mo State Un. (Old SWMo) where charter was taken and NWMo. where there is a strong Greek prescense. Other than that, Mo. has a great showing!

Maybe, the True Alum Base is the answer where they are more than willing to strive for a certain Zeta that has been closed.

Hopefully GammaZeta can work on that from His end!

[Erik P Conard]

Don't feel too bad about Alaska-Anchorage. TKE had a potful of
alums, some even wrote IHQ begging and we still declined. Sig
Ep has a chapter at Fairbanks, a distant cousin of mine, he named
Eric Conard, is a past prexy, and they are not doing well at all. The Dekes..of all ones...had a colony briefly at Anchorage and not
even the Bushes could save it, died quickly. Time will tell as to
UA-Anchorage, SAE there, Sig Ep, perhaps will survive. Tri Sig is
on both campuses, but 15-20 size not too cost effective...duh
The TKE badge...origin in obscurity and I do not feel secure enuf to project, but would guess ca 1908, certainly Illinois Wesleyan,
and has never been changed. I never saw a "founders' badge"
nor do I think there ever was one, as some groups have a huge
one for the president.
The first TKE Colony was called Eta Colony (after TKE's only dead
chapter, Eta, U of Chicago) at the University of Kansas in 1939.
A second colony was at Fort Hays State, also in Kansas, and they
became Alpha Upsilon and Alpha Phi chapters. Both still active.
The Hays one was in 1940, and these were the last groups prior
to World War II. U of Louisville, still active, was a local, '46. and
became Alpha Chi chapter. So far as I know KU was the first one
to ever have a colony anywhere (source: NIC & University Daily
Kansan). The rest is history; much difference--colony vs affiliate.
There are lots of good schools who'd make great systems, and we are at several with 1 or 2 rivals, and desperately need more.
We all need that "spark plug", that Tom Earp...I mean it.
There's lots to do out there. I hate orphaned alumni in that we
ought to revive them...we promised...and failed in many cases.
No reason why TKE & LXA, both HQ in Indy, cannot work together
in fraternal harmony. Regards, Erik P Conard -- Denver

[JonoBN41]

1908 for the badge; 1939 first colony.

Thanks Erik!

Jono

[Tom Earp]

Funny Erik, but Some May Remeber there was discussion about a Merger Back When!

Thank You for Your Post as insightful as always.

Many times trying to Be In Ego Mode and being on the Major Uns is way to much expensive when much more can be derived in many others.

No, I can understand why Un Alaska did not last and that is a shame. Not that it was there, but the reasoning it was placed there.

[lenoxxx]

Thanks for hijacking this thread.

If you know of Lambda Chi Alpha Expansions or other related news, place it here. If you want to talk TKE trivia, take it to the TKE board, get it out of this thread.

Lenoxxx

[Tom Earp]

Sorry LENOXXX but very UNBrotherly of You!

If You are Refering to Erik, He is a Big Fan of LXA as He was the one Who pointed Me there. He and I have known each other for many Years and I respect Him as You Should!

His knowledge is greater than many on this site and he is more than willing to be of aid!

He has been invited on this thread as I have on TKE Thread and have never gotten this kind of disrespect from them!

I think if it is He You were refering to, I am very disappointed in You for Your response!

[VandalSquirrel]

As an alum at Idaho I noticed that there are some things in this thread that are incorrect. At the end of last spring the 18 fraternities ranged in membership from 23 to 89, according to grade reports, and new grade reports and numbers will be out after finals. Sigma Phi Epsilon has more members than 13, and it is correct that they are living in the dorms. However, the Sigma Nus are also living in on campus housing until their remodel is complete, hopefully with a move in date next January. It is not impossible to be successful without housing, it just takes a different approach. The Sig Eps have only had an assigned area in the dorms for three semesters, and don't require the people to live there to be members, so many live off campus which is popular for a majority of students here, greek and nonaffiliated. For those of you that aren't aware, the last chapter to close here was TKE in spring of 2003, and the house is still sitting empty with rumors every few weeks about some group moving into it.

It is also true that the lease on the house was extended to the AGRs. I was not here when the LXA chapter closed, but I have seen the pictures of what the house looked like before the AGRs moved in and made the repairs. I am speculating here, but perhaps the alums also remember that incident, and it was a factor in allowing the AGRs to renew their lease. According to the campus paper, The Argonaut, as of September 24th, 2004 the lease with the AGRs had already been extended until 2009. Included in that article are also some quotes from the Dean of Students about why the chapter closed. Numbers have been declining in the past few years, which is a factor beyond LXA control. There are other campus issues that I have previously discussed with lifesaver.

If you're interested in our campus please go to the website here, or PM me and I will be happy to answer your questions.

[preppy550535]

Tom,

I have to say, the brothers in Alaska worked their asses off and are EXTREMELY disappointed in the decision of the High Zeta to shut us down (NOT the chapter review board, who voted to keep us open). Unfortunately, I believe many of our brothers have decided to disaffiliate from Lambda Chi.

It was never explained to us what "financial burdon" there was on maintaining a Colony in Alaska. Our debt was paid off, we had 20 members with 7 ready for initiation, and only on occasion did we see an ELC. In fact, my initiating class never even saw their certificates. So...what money was being spent on us?

Unfortunately, I think nationals has lost touch with what a fraternity should be about and in doing so, shortchanged some great brothers...but hey? Why not screw a few guys here and there to gain a little prestige right?

Lenoxxx....

"an ice locked wasteland that has no greek life...?" You show your ignorance so well!

[john1082]

I, too, am disappointed. I was the High Pi at North Dakota and can appreciate the feeling of isolation. We were not as far away as Alaska, but the feeling was there nevertheless.

I think the cost issue was based upon the cost of getting an ELC up to Anchorage twice a year. A colony needs greater attention from Indy and that cost may have been the straw that broek the camel's back. Had the colony been in the lower 48 it might well still be around. Little comfort to you, I know, but economics are going to drive the process for the next couple of years.

Perhaps I can run away to Alaska and be the Pi should we recolonize.

[lifesaver]

Originally posted by preppy550535
Tom,

I have to say, the brothers in Alaska worked their asses off and are EXTREMELY disappointed in the decision of the High Zeta to shut us down (NOT the chapter review board, who voted to keep us open). Unfortunately, I believe many of our brothers have decided to disaffiliate from Lambda Chi.

It was never explained to us what "financial burdon" there was on maintaining a Colony in Alaska. Our debt was paid off, we had 20 members with 7 ready for initiation, and only on occasion did we see an ELC. In fact, my initiating class never even saw their certificates. So...what money was being spent on us?

Unfortunately, I think nationals has lost touch with what a fraternity should be about and in doing so, shortchanged some great brothers...but hey? Why not screw a few guys here and there to gain a little prestige right?

Lenoxxx....

"an ice locked wasteland that has no greek life...?" You show your ignorance so well!

I have to defend the GHZ here. A decision to close a colony isnt done all willy nilly. The GHZ dosent just give up. They make decisions based on reccomendations from staff. Staff makes its decision by looking at the progress a group makes each month when it sends in it's monthly colony report. The MCR lists 15 criteria that need to be met in order to charter. If regular progress isnt made, or if a colony cant handle the most basic of tasks (sending in the form monthly) then a favorable rec wont be given to the GHZ.

I went to my files and pulled the 'Alaska' file i got when I was on the Status of Chapters and Colonies this summer at Leadership Seminar in Maryland. Some of the materials in the packet we recieved from staff actually read somewhat favoravbly. Dave Segan had written a glowing report after his visit in early 2005. But the other materials werent so favorable. The MCR that was included indicated the colony was not sending in their MCR's each month, they had not secured three letters of recomendation, their GPA was below the all-mens average, their membership numbers were low, in addition to not having a reserve fund, or an instilation fund. This many deficiencies are to be expected in a group that had been a colony for only a few months or a year. Alaska had been a colony for four years.

When the group came before Status of Chapters and Colonies in 2004 in Indy (Tom Earp and I were there as well, and went to bat for them - more Tom then me) the almost unanimous rec of the committee was that we'd give them another year to charter. They recieved a letter from Kip dated August 13, 2004 notifying them of this. Ultimately, they were not able to meet the standard chartering requirements.

As a committee member, I'll gladly let a colony slide on some of the requirements, (give them extra time) if needed. Specifically, if a group needs extra time to collect all its rit equip, or raise the money for the chartering banquet, or reserve fund, I am cool with that (the requirements that have a hefty financial tag to them). The stuff I have NO TOLERANCE for is the mundane stuff that can be handeled by a few phone calls or good bookeeping; sending in the MCR each month (which the colony in Alaska hadn't) or securing the three letters of rec (which they also hadn't). As the High Pi of a chapter that was chartered a scant 10 months ago this week, I have seen the process first hand and KNOW that failure to submit the MCR or secure the letters of rec are amature mistakes. If I should continue to serve on the committee, I'll continue to voice the same opinion.

It boiled down to not having supportive alums in the area and low recruitment numbers. They were told the terms of the deal in the letter from Kip. I hate to see any chapter or colony close, but they tied the committee's hands by not meeting the terms of the letter.

[Tom Earp]

lifesaver is correct. We did go to bat for them and an extension was given. I know He and I hoped like Hell that they would make it. It does sound like there was some struggleing there to get the Colony up to snuff and grow.

But the two edged sword comes into play here.

They did not have the supervision from IHQ for the fact of cost to get there. Very expensive has to be a factor.

They did not do what was required of them.

Who can really say which side was at fault if there really was one.

I am just sad as having been in contact with one of the Members who was on GC for awhile that they had to be closed.

I hate to see the Brothers there dissafiliate from LXA as it is not just a Chapter Fraternity, but one that lasts for ever and there are many Brothers out in the world who they may just hook up with in the future after graduation.

preppy550535, I can truely feel Your Pain in having tried to work and get The Colony going. It was a truely hard road to run down on both sides.

[lenoxxx]

Since nobody has any expansion gossip I figured I'd throw this at you all!

Lenoxxx

Fraternity purchases historic home

By KAYLA STEWART, Gazette Writer


HOUGHTON - The fraternity members moving into Helen Sullivan's former three-story lakeside bed and breakfast mansion on College Avenue made her one promise: They will take their shoes off when they enter.

The Georgian-style home, built in 1900 and most widely known as the Charleston House Historic Inn, was recently purchased for about $330,000 by the Phi Phi Zeta House Corp., which is the alumni of the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity at Michigan Tech University.
"It's a huge step forward for us," said James Holden, vice president and secretary of Phi Phi Zeta House Corp. "We're really excited to be moving into that house."

The house, now in its fifth hands of ownership, began with Allen Rees' construction in 1900 where it stayed with the family until 1962, when MTU professor Lawrence Remington purchased it. The Sullivans bought it from the Remington family in 1995. John Sullivan said he and wife Helen ran it as a bed and breakfast until May 2004. The house was then purchased by Priti Cholan of New York, who put it back on the market after a year when plans to move to Houghton changed. The fraternity then purchased it.

Helen said when they owned it, they restored the interior, including new plumbing and electricity, four new bathrooms and phone lines and cable connections to the rooms.

"It was a big undertaking," she said. "It is a beautiful home and it hadn't seen a lot of TLC over the years."

The Sullivans aren't concerned that a fraternity will be moving in.

"We would have sold it to a fraternity," John said, although he preferred it to have been a sorority. "We've been in frat houses and we've been in sorority houses. The sorority ones seem to be more well-kept."

Which might be true right now if comparing Lambda Chi's current 1202 College Ave. residence to surrounding sororities, thanks to its failing foundation, leaking roof and holes in the wall from a windstorm that blew the drywall off.


Kayla Stewart/Daily Mining Gazette

A sign in front of 918 College Ave. announces the plans for Michigan Tech University's Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity to move into the house, which is the former Charleston House Historic Inn bed and breakfast.