True Brother Initiative

[dever860]

Originally Posted by john1082

I'd like to see the books too, but I am unsure of which level of mastership and stewardship I must attain before one can be revealed to me!

You should try Scientology, they are all about that.

[Tom Earp]

Sorry, but not needed.

[Tom Earp]

Oh, I am not into that either!

Not my thing!

[GammaZeta]

Scientology, oh man! DON'T get me started.

[JonoBN41]

Y'all should read Jon Wood's blog on the True Brother Initiative. It's damn good.

http://voices.crossandcrescent.com/

[GammaZeta]

"my ever-increasing idealism, I’ve been that one brother who’s constantly the buzzkill mentioning things like “ideals” and “practice what you preach”… therefore, I’m afraid that when I go back, I’m going to be confronted with the same brick walls I’ve always been;"

THAT'S the problem with HQ. HQ and it's policies cater to a very specific, small percentage of our general fraternity; the "ideal" brother. 99% of us don't care about "honor" and "courage". We're realists. We're in college, not some knight in some medival fairy book, or some superhero from the 50's.

I hate to say it, but there are always 2 or 3 guys in every chapter that are the same exact personality as the kid that spoke up on a Friday afternoon saying "TEACHER! You forgot to assign our homework for the weekend!"

The same guys that will go up to you while you are drinking on a Friday night and hitting on a chick to say "Remember GammaZeta, we must show true virtue as brothers, even when socializing with the opposite sex. Honor, virtue, honesty...that is a True Brother." DUDE, SHUT UP!!!! Take off you LXA Super Brother Cape for one friggin' night.

But they are the most dedicated. Since they want to continue that dedication, they usually end up working at HQ. Therefore, the programs that are made are targeted at that type of brother, since that is the type of brother that made the program.

If they want a successful program, get the guy that might owe some dues, the guy that may drink a bit too much, the guy with a C average, the guy that doesn't hold office and the guy that misses some meetings. Let the AVERAGE member develop a program for the AVERAGE brotherhood.

There is a balance in the brotherhood. You have the "ideal" brothers that are the most responsible, etc. Then you have the "total fuck-ups", they usually provide comic relief, throw good parties and bring over the girls. But then you have the "average" brother, the guys that go to meetings, help out, do their part and are pretty good guys most of the time, but DON'T go to national meetings, who can't name the members of the High Zeta, don't go and print out the C and C for the whole house the minute it's available. Those are the "True" brothers that I feel the "True Brother" program COMPLETELY excluded.

I guess I am on the bottom average of that type. If I had a choice of going out on a Friday night, getting drunk and hooking up with some bar sluts, or staying in to wake up at 9 a.m. on Saturday to participate in "True Brother".......I'll see you at the bar. You know what, if we asked 100 brothers the same question, I would see 95 brothers at the bar with me.

[GammaZeta]

Oh Honkey, you're just trying to get me going. Nice try.

What I say is the truth. Like it or not. I have been to two international conferences, several regional and I have made it to level 3. I have the certificate with the 3 shiny seals hanging right next to me. I've probably been to more conferences than most members. But what does going to international conferences mean? You traveled a long way to have a presentation? Hanging out with the other brothers was a blast, but most of the time it was just fluff.

See, your argument is to simply insult me, but you have not said one thing to prove me wrong. In fact, you have made my statement stronger. Could you be one of those "extreme" brothers no one likes? You rely on profanity and insults. That is why I will always be a superior brother to you.

And obviously you can't read. So tell me, all brothers are the same in their dedication and support? You don't think there are different levels? So every brother is as dedicated as you? Wow, I would love to see your chapter. Somehow I imagine it to be like a scene from the Stepford Wives. What are you, all zombies or robots?

Maybe your attitude is what almost completely sank HQ in the first place. Follow without question. Accept what is told to you.

You can attack my chapter all you want if it makes you feel better. Considering for the past 20 years we have scored above average on G.P.A, risk management and the North American Food Drive, as well as producing some of the most successful brothers from any chapter, you can only wish you came from the same pedigree as me.

EDIT: Seems that someone has decided to take down Honky's post with foul and filthy language in it. Oh well, I thought it was a great representation of what type of a "true" brother Honky really is, using such disgusting language. It makes me sad that such people are allowed to represent LXA using such horrible language.

[boz130]

Okay, I'm going to get blasted by somebody for this, but here goes: one of the phrases that came out of last week's conference was "beer monkeys". What IHQ is trying to do w/this new initiative is to set us apart from the organizations that attract this type of guy.

This isn't to say that the residents @ 8741 expect us to have a totally alcohol-free organization--they're realists, too. However, there are many men who've used fraternities simply for the fact that it's an automatic outlet for hooking up & getting hammered...not necessarily in that order.

Take this for what it's worth...my alma mater's alumni have no problem attracting 40 guys for a pub crawl. However, when we try to have a meeting for the betterment of the alumni assn., we wind up w/the same 6-8 guys. Where are the others???

What IHQ's trying to do is attract men who are willing to live up to the core ideals set forth by our Rx. Why should this be a problem? We all took the same oaths when we were initiated...seeing the exemplification last week helped to remind us all of what TBI stands for.

Sincerely yours in ZAX,
BF

[GammaZeta]

I never really thought LXA ever had a problem with attracting the "beer monkeys" before. I've been to 7 different houses, and none of them were made up of "beer monkeys". Sure, every chapter is going to have a couple guys that are in that classification, but I never thought of the type of person we attract as any problem.

I always though LXA was considered to be on the more tame, mild side of fraternity life.

Has our national reputation really become a fraternity of "beer monkeys"???

[Ottor 246]

Originally Posted by GammaZeta

If they want a successful program, get the guy that might owe some dues, the guy that may drink a bit too much, the guy with a C average, the guy that doesn't hold office and the guy that misses some meetings. Let the AVERAGE member develop a program for the AVERAGE brotherhood.

If you want a fraternity full of guys who don't pay dues, drink too much, get bad grades, won't hold office, and miss meetings, that's exactly what you should do. If I had wanted an "AVERAGE brotherhood," I wouldn't have joined Lambda Chi. Try coming up with some party chants that emphasise how average we are. One of my goals as an alumni advisor is to show the undergraduates in our chapter that there is a standard of quality higher than "good enough."

The comments I've been reading on this board (from guys who don't have all the info yet) only serve to remind me how much we really do need TBI. Thank you for that.

[GammaZeta]

Ok, take the time and actually read what I wrote. Did I say that LXA was an average brotherhood? No.....

Now if you read what I said, there are different types of brothers within our fraternity.

Jon Wood is not your average brother, as he even admitted. Within our brotherhood, there are different levels of dedication, willingness, etc. Like I said, there is a small percentage of brothers (maybe 1% - 5%) that are insane with LXA spirit. The kind of guy that goes nuts if one thing is not up to code or within the standards of LXA. Call them the above average brothers. Then there is the average member of LXA (80% - 90%). They take LXA seriously, but they aren't carving the words for 3rd into their chest with a dull butterknife. They are well rounded in grades, socially and have good goals. They are involved with other organizations. They know how to have a good time and not let LXA become a buzzkill. Then there are the below averages. They probably drink too much, miss meetings, but are generally still good people.

The problem is that these programs are made by and for the above average brotherhood. We need something aimed at the average brother. A very simple program, easy to start and a program where everyone can see and realize at least a success. Once they see that initial success, then you move on to the next phase, and so on. Instead of forcing seven values at once, work in 2 or 3 into the regular functions of the chapter. For instance, use DUTY and PERSONAL COURAGE as the theme for Fall 2007 Rush.

DUTY; to enforce the existing members obligations to LXA to fulfill recruitment goals. For new members, establish and gauge that they will in the future uphold those duties.

PERSONAL COURAGE; for existing members, to do something during recruitment that you have never done before. Maybe go up to a group of freshman eating at a table. Or go to your school's orientation and sneak some material to potential members. Expand your boudaries. For new members, try something new, LXA will have a lot of new experiencesk, personal courage will allow you to participate in them.

See, we don't need a whole new inner, outer, seven principle system. That is overload for the average member. We need to focus on 1 or 2 things at a time, apply them to everyday chapter functions.

[justaflaneur]

I have resisted posting anything on this subject, but the True Brother Initiative deserves better than it is getting on this message board. We run the risk of misinforming the Associate Members and prospective members who read these posts.

I have watched over the last two years as some of the best and brightest in our Fraternity have devoted countless hours and untold sums of their own funds to a selfless effort – an attempt to develop programming that will set our Fraternity apart. Wayne Gossard, Drew Hunter, Mike Smith, Elgan Baker, and all the others are among our most experienced High Pi’s and each has vast experience in working with undergraduate programming. They aren’t idealists – they’re realists who deal with our above average, average, and below average brothers every day. Each has experience with LEAP and Impact and all the other efforts that have met with limited success in the past, and they have resolved to get it right this time. This initiative is based on some of the most successful character and leadership development programs in existence today, but it focuses on the real individuals who are really joining our Fraternity today. When previewed for senior university administration at some of our test chapters we have received reactions like “Finally, a fraternity that gets it.”

True Brother is not about homogenizing our membership. It isn’t about black or white, rich or poor, gay or straight, useful or useless, drunk or sober. It is about finding men with a commitment to ideals like honor and integrity and helping them find ways to develop and demonstrate them, but only if they want to. These are characteristics that transcend superficial distinctions of race or class, and they apply just as much to the party animals as to the bookish types. Indeed, if the initiative is truly successful we may find that we have the most diverse membership of any organization in the Greek world, but all still committed in their own way to the same lofty ideals we have already sworn to pursue.

As many of you know, I serve as a volunteer at the National level. Any volunteer or staff member who shows up at IHQ with an idealistic notion that Lambda Chi Alpha is, as Jack Mason envisioned, an “Order of Knighthood,” is quickly disabused of that belief. They are exposed every day to thousands of undergrads who will find every way possible to press the edge of the envelope. I’ve got a son who just graduated from University of Denver, and his experiences as a brother at Alpha-Pi Zeta warmed my heart as I heard stories that reminded me of my own quasi-criminal behavior in the early 70’s. But having said that, our Fraternity is and should be more than partying all night and commiserating with each other the following day. For those members who are looking for that something more, True Brother will help them find it.

This last Leadership Seminar had the largest attendance of any Lambda Chi Alpha event in the last 20 years and the most consistently upbeat mood I have seen in a long time. Something is working. Be patient as the information is more broadly disseminated, and make every effort to understand every aspect of this initiative. You may complain about the pace and format of the roll-out, but there comes a time when we have to stop planning and start doing. We have 9,800 undergrads we have to touch before we roll it out to the rest of our alumni membership. If it doesn’t work I’ll be the first to apologize publicly for my misplaced faith in the talent and good intentions of the brothers who put it together. In the meantime, I will offer them my complete support and my thanks for stepping into the arena to do something positive for our Fraternity and its members. If they fail, they will have failed greatly.

With that, I will retreat back behind the curtain and allow the conversation on these boards to continue. Thanks for letting me interrupt.

In ZAX,
Lynn Chipperfield

[dever860]

Originally Posted by justaflaneur

With that, I will retreat back behind the curtain and allow the conversation on these boards to continue. Thanks for letting me interrupt.

In ZAX,
Lynn Chipperfield

First off I would like to say thank you for adding one of the most thoughtful and balanced posts I have seen in quite a while.

I cannot agree with everything being posted about this topic, I will attest as an undergrad that myself and others are slightly confused on the broad implications and specifics of the program. I did not go to LC, I had signed up and was very excited to go but had to cancel due to a new job. I have talked to several people that did, from my zeta and others. I have also read a good portion of the material provided to them. I commend the effort and initiative that went into the creation and I am well aware that a lot of people gave a lot of their free time to help accomplish this feat. I have faith in the program in the sense that because I, as the High Kappa, has to implement it and will try and keep a positive outlook on it. I am well aware that if I do not do my job because of any skepticism about the program that many of my brothers will miss out on potentially an amazing thing. I contend that there are a lot of people who are older and wiser than I, who have been doing this whole thing for a long time, and who just might know what they are talking about, created this program for us to give a go at. To attempt to destroy it before it even sees fall quarter would be an insult to those involved in its creation.

With that said I am just confused with the distribution of the information. I know we cannot ask HQ have it out to everyone as soon as it’s published and I understand the logistical nightmare that it must be. I wish that the information would have been released to everyone at the same time however. I know that some feel that this board is a small sect of LCA that likes to moan and bitch about things they do not like. However true that is, which it is sometimes, these conversations are going on everywhere and not just this board.

From what I understand after talking to the people who were at LC, some were disappointed that the program wasn't presented in its entirety. I guess a lot of it has to wait until the ELC comes to visit us. I am not sure when ours is coming again, but I think it’s around October or November. I apologize if this information is inaccurate but it was relayed to me this way, meaning there was a misunderstand at some point. I am not patient at all, I like having all of the information when I want it, and I hate waiting.

All of this is not to say that those who went had anything bad to say, quite the opposite. Everyone was impressed with how it was presented and the level of optimism and enthusiasm that the brothers from HQ and company showed towards the new program.

I am looking forward to this program because it is really the first I have seen since I have been in college. IMPACT existed but unless you went to LC no one else knew what it was, and didn't care. Before this all anyone had to rely on was the decade old manuals for recruiting and education. I was doing kappa for spring quarter last year, and it was really difficult to come up with things to talk about. I was trying on my own to turn our program around into something people actually enjoyed. In short, it’s nice to have some help in the form of ideas and not commandments.

I have to work graveyard shift tonight, so I am going to steal one of the guys set of books they got from LC and study them tonight.

Peace be with you, good night, have a pleasant tomorrow, and please do not forget who built this city on rock and roll.

In ZAX.

[Tom Earp]

Brother Lynn, as A Brother and I hope a good friend of yours, I will defer to your explanation as being better and more knowledgeable than most of us.

No, we are not "beer monkeys", I never heard that before, LOL.

We are trying to be more followers of ideals that were set out at the very beginning of LXA and even more so with the merger of LXA and TKN.

I think a lot of feelings stem from the fact of ignoring Alumni except for getting donations that you and I have discussed before.

We as Alumni have gotten promises before and are still waiting. Granted it does move slowly with amount of people who have to be contacted and included in all of the proposals that have been introduced over the years that I have been inolved as a Brother of LXA.

We are not the "Grand Knighthood", but young men who continually come to LXA for a reason for what we professed from time one.

We have our ups and downs, but we as Alumni would like to see more ups for a change instead of the downs. Whether this new program will change things, I cannot say. Whether it changes things for the Alumni, I have no clue.

I only know that the Brothers who post on this site and others do so for a reason, not to argue, but discuss our feelings.

While I have had good relations with IHQ, others have not and no one can deny their feelings or mine.

But, one of my main worries has been and will always be the fact that when some Brothers graduate, they are lost and gone from us and LXA.

So if this Program is instituted, is this supposed to help in the future alone? Can it or will it help for those in the past that ahvfe been lost?

Maybe Yes, maybe No.

I guess time will tell is all I can say.

Dever, when you read all of the info, please let me know and lets discuss it.

In ZAX,

[GammaZeta]

"We run the risk of misinforming the Associate Members and prospective members who read these posts."

I think that fault lies on HQ. Everything we have read about True Brother tells nothing about the program, how it will work, dates, times, places, initiatives.......

HQ should have came out with a nice, simple 2-3 page outline of the program. Nothing fancy, just the basics. How hard is that?

So far we have only had hearsay and buzzwords. Where's the beef!!!!!