LCA fez on Ebay. Wow...

[Tom Earp]

Well, since I am no longer a MOD, I do want to say to much anymore!

GammaZeta, while you have had many good points at times, there are others who also have good points.

Jono usually hold back and tries to make good points and he usually does as in this case.

IHQ has the best interest at heart as many of us have seen and not as you have seen is the true bigger picture.

You and I have discussed this many times and if I did not settle your ire, then am I at fault?

I think @ 98% want to be positive towards LXA IHQ.

They may not be perfect, but, they are working with a huge amount of Members and with a buget to get us back on track.

We overall have one of the finest programs for working with Zetas.

The realization of lworking with Alumni is becoming more in vouge as it should be as we are the back bone of LXA!

Changes are in the wind and do not come easily!

[GammaZeta]

No Tom, you are right. Jono makes good points, I just love how every "point" he makes comes from the blue and is directed at me or my chapter.

Maybe I should start making some "points".

I forgot that our fraternity is perfect. Well, beside the fact that our own founder was a crook, or the rampart racism within our organization, or the incompetence that plagued our organization for decades, or the fact most other greek organizations don't respect us. There are a lot of points to be made.

I understand that some people hold it against me because I haven't swallowed the "Lambda Chi Kool-Aid".

I guess it boils down to who you are. There are two typs of brothers. There are brothers that Lambda Chi Alpha needs, and there are brothers that need Lambda Chi Alpha.

Brothers that need Lambda Chi Alpha are usually the pathetic, loser in high school and college. They were never able to fit in or develop any social skills. They join LXA in the hopes of becoming part of something, anything. Their identity becomes the fraternity, following every word. They are the sheep that follows the shepard. Unquestioning, willing to go along no matter what. A lemming. They need an organization to form their identity. When someone questions the organization, they take it personally, because they are indirectly being questioned. Many times the only friendship they ever formed was at band camp, or at the chess club, or the Science-Fiction Fair. It is their one chance at becoming something more than what they were. When they do get some power in the frat, it goes to their head. Most of the time, it is the only time in their lives where they have any power or influence.

Then there are the brothers that Lambda Chi Alpha needs, like you and me Tom. Tom, you are a great example of this. We are the leaders. We are the ones that make the image of Lambda Chi Alpha. We don't NEED the brotherhood or the feeling of community. We could get that elsewhere. We join because we WANT to be a part of it, because we agree with what it stands for. Tom, you were already in a local fraternity. You were all set, but you took the initiative to become a Lambda Chi. You never NEEDED Lambda Chi Alpha. LXA would not be around if not for this type. This type is usually more successful, the CEO's, entertainers, leaders and politicians, businessmen that donate a lot of their success to the fraternity. John G. is another great example of this type of leadership. He has experienced so much in life, has gone places most of us never imagined, and doesn't need to be part of an organization. John is a leader. I could have joined any fraternity on campus. I was actually given the choice. After finding out we were $30,000 in debt the brothers suggested I join another fraternity because it was unlikely they would have lasted another semester. I didn't give up because I am a leader.

When your existence is based on belonging, it can be dangerous. When you fail to question what you are following, or why you belong, you fail to look at who you really are. When your self esteem or confidence is based on following blindly and not wondering if something can be improved, you will not go far in life.

If you want to be a sheep, that is your choice. But I will not let the whining of the sheep keep me from doing what is right. We are the good shepards, who make a path for you sheep. If it wasn't for us, you would be a lost flock in the wild, destined to be destroyed.

So be a good sheep. Don't think. Next time our fraternity is almost bankrupt, or is run into the ground, don't come crying to us.

[Ottor 246]

Good theory. But what, exactly, have you done that makes Lambda Chi "need you?"

I'm not saying you haven't, but if you have, tell us about it. All we've read from you is how the cruel fates of school administration, townies, LCAP and IHQ conspired to take your beloved Gamma Zeta away from you.

Stop telling us about your leadership abilities and show us something.

[GammaZeta]

Ottor, I'm not saying there was a conspiracy. It actually happened. Not necessarily by LCAP and IHQ, but definately from the administration and the town. Our chapter worked very, very hard to keep it alive. It simply became too much for a group of 18-21 year olds to continuously fight safety inspectors, town groups and the school.

The town of Amherst does not want fraternities anymore. I read the local paper everyday. There has been a major movement to shut down houses for minor safety code violations (whereas no other private student residence is subject to the same standards) as well as the Planning Board taking away and refusing to give the appropriate zoning approval to improve or build any fraternity house.

Umass does not have on campus greek housing. The new $900 million spending plan just approved for the Amherst campus does not mark any of that money for greek housing. So, at the very least, it will be 20-30 years before on campus greek housing is even considered.

I'm not sure if you are aware of what exactly the town of Amherst is. It is the single most liberal town in America. Think I'm kidding? The selectman have just recently BANNED the displaying of the American flag on telephone or light poles. The United Nations flag flies HIGHER than the American flag on the town common. Umass is holding major rallies against Bush's former chief of staff and Mass. native Andrew Card from speaking at graduation. Our library is named after communist W.E.B DuBois.

John Kerry is too conservative for this town. Hillary Clinton is considered a Bush puppet. That is how liberal this town is.

Now, how do you think a town like this will treat an exclusive men's organization, such as LXA?

I guess I should clarify. It really isn't the exclusive fate of just Gamma Zeta, it is the fate of the ENTIRE greek community at Umass. I can't blame HQ or LCAP, because no matter what happened, the greek community is becoming extinct at UMass. We are dinosaurs.

Lambda Chi needs leaders. They need people to put an image on the fraternity. They need me because I show what can be accomplished. I put a positive face on our organization, just like so many of you.

I have done quite a bit of work for the chapter in the last few years. I have been an alumni leader. I don't feel the need to come on this board everyday though and boast about it, but some members know of my work. If you are an alumni of Gamma Zeta, you know what I have been doing.

I don't brag about what I'm doing. I'm not going for an Order of Merit award, or national recognition, or an article in C and C, or a presentation at some conference. I'm not doing it to spread the good word of LXA, or to promote our well-being and welfare.

I'm doing it because we have some damn good men in Gamma Zeta, some great friends and brothers, that deserve to go to an alumni bbq for once in their lives. I'm doing it because I've met some of my best friends through LXA, and I want to keep those connections alive for all 1,500 of us alumni.

Well, I'm gone till Monday. I know everyone will have a great time without me!

[Tom Earp]

GammaZeta, this sounds very much like no matter what LXA nor any other Greek Organization tries to do, it will be of not use.

As I mentioned to you in PM, I am sure LXA would love to come back to U-Mass, but from the sounds of things and the situation with the Un. and the town, it will not happen. It is sad to say the very least as many Greeks graduate from College and go on to do so many good things.

It is their lose if they cannot get beyond thier noses.

[john1082]

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v2...urrent=Fez.jpg

[dever860]

Originally Posted by john1082

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v2...urrent=Fez.jpg

Congrats! You better wear that at conference.