At The Crossroads - My Chapter SUCKS

[DeltaSigStan]

Update

After our 4/20 party, we were put on probation by our nationals, alumni, and the university....TRIPLE SECRET PROBATAION.

With that, we have some sanctions we have to take care of before we're off. The only one I'm concerned about is alcohol on the property. We can't get guys to show up without the promise of booze, so it's hard to say what to do from this point.

On the bright side, we have a new exec board (which includes me) that is very eager to bring in some new, more quality guys. When I say quality, I mean guys that don't just want to drink all day. OUr president is our strongest ever, and he's the most positive about our chapter.

So, on one side, we have an exec board willing to do whatever it takes to make it work. On the other, we have sanctions up the ass that will hinder our operations (Try telling rushees that we can't throw any huge parties for a while).

I'm confident though that we can get some new blood into the house, especially now that the "lets drink and break everything in sight" guys are moving out of the house.

For me, it's hindsight 50/50. When I heard a bro say he'd be proud to know that he was in the house when it got kicked off, and that the ritual is lame, I decided I would stop puting my neck out for this hosue, and only do the duties given to me as secretary, alumni chair, webmaster, and greek week chair. If we lose our charter, I know it WON'T be because I didn't live up to the oath I took; it's the guys who never took the oath seriously.

You may be wondering what these type of guys are doing in my house. Well, they were recruited during our "renegade/let's not do anything the IFC frats do because that's lame" phase. Thank God we're out of that.

We can't kick any guys out, but we certainly can try to get some new guys who want to make a difference. I'm only afraid the party guys will influence them, they'll slack opff when they see how lazy a lot of the guys are, then we're back to square one.

We kid around that this year is our "Farewell Tour". I hope not, but only time will tell.

Thanks everyone for the support. I know you would like us all to be model greeks, but there's only so much one can do.

[Kevin]

Why can't you kick these guys out? I know of Sigma Nu chapters who have found themselves in similar situations and decided to "clean house". I know of one chapter that went from 80+ to 17 members and a new President appointed by the House Corporation. Is it for financial reasons that you can't do anything about the types of guys you have?

What I would be doing is trying to get my HQ involved. Maybe get the assistance of a recruitment/expansion guy that has built chapters basically from scratch before. It's an involved process. It sounds like you have the tools. But, in all likelihood, it'll take more than a year to fix your situation. Hopefully, y'all can get the votes to get similar people to yourself on Exec next year and the year after. You've definitely got to avoid a "rebel" Exec getting elected mainly as a result of unpopular things that y'all have done.

Get help. If this may indeed be your farewell tour, you'll need all the help you can get.

[DeltaSigStan]

We can't kick them out because there's only a handful of guys who care that they break stuff, but they don't care enough to do anything about it.

Our alumni calls it a "code that you guys have where none of you want to do the right thing and only want to do the popular thing." Given my status in the house and new look on life, I alone am not willing to do anything I won't get backed up on. Besides it always comes down to "He's a cool guy, he pays his dues, he drinks with us all the time, why should we get rid of him?"

Despite a core group of guys eager to do things, they still think nationals is out to get us and don't want to cooperate aside from the sanctions. Unfortunately, we're going to have to do this ourselves because everyone thinks we can do it without outside help. Hell, our prez said if we can't help him, he'd do it himself, which I know he can't. No one can.

Besides, if we have stayed at 20-25 the last four years, and haven't been able to get those numbers up despite only graduating four, what will happen if we kick everyone out and we're down to eight? NO ONE would join. That's just SDSU... it's numbers and pretty boyness.

All we need is a good pledge class and I think we'll be fine. Of course, I've heard that before, but I think we need to eliminate the party guys from the actual operations. Thing is, they believe their partying opinions are what keeps this house going.

[Firehouse]

If you ask them, your national office will come in and clean house and leave a solid core group behind. The old guys will be placed on alumni status and forbidden to return to the property. They'll bitch but they'll go and in the end they won't care.
Here's how to do it. 1) Go to the school with evidence of your sincerity; 2) go, travel, to your National office and tell them your story and ask for immediate help.
You CANNOT be successful rushing a good class as things stand because the bad guys will not allow it. They don't want to be shown up. The only way they get attention is from bad behavior.
I've done this kind of work for our National. Trust me. Listen to the advice you're getting from KTsnake. Make a move, let National ditch the bad guys, and free yourself to be successful. A chapter of eight good men who want the right things has a much, much better chance of getting a good pledge class than a large chapter poisoned by self-destructive losers.

[CASIGKAP]

I'm glad to hear that things are looking up for you. Good-Luck & you have the support of most of us here on GC.

[DeltaSigStan]

Our Nationals will be watching us closely, and I'm thinking a house cleaning is eminent. I've been told though that at this point, no one would be kept, and we'd be expelled, not given alumni status, which would suck for me.

I have a feeling we're gonna see more of the Nationals than the guys are gonna want, but I've talked to some of the guys who used to be apathetic, and they realize our backs are against the wall, and even they're confident we'll do well because they think this time, our situation is different.

Our Prez is strong enough to handle the bad influence if we back him up.

[Rudey]

Originally posted by Firehouse
If you ask them, your national office will come in and clean house and leave a solid core group behind. The old guys will be placed on alumni status and forbidden to return to the property. They'll bitch but they'll go and in the end they won't care.
Here's how to do it. 1) Go to the school with evidence of your sincerity; 2) go, travel, to your National office and tell them your story and ask for immediate help.
You CANNOT be successful rushing a good class as things stand because the bad guys will not allow it. They don't want to be shown up. The only way they get attention is from bad behavior.
I've done this kind of work for our National. Trust me. Listen to the advice you're getting from KTsnake. Make a move, let National ditch the bad guys, and free yourself to be successful. A chapter of eight good men who want the right things has a much, much better chance of getting a good pledge class than a large chapter poisoned by self-destructive losers.

Agreeing with ktsnake and Firehouse. Strong brothers and alumni can encourage a chapter. We can come in and make you believe that impossible is really possible. When you think you have gotten more rushes than you thought you would get, we can push you for more and get you to be stronger. But there is a point where we can't. There is a point where we sorta are old guys coming around to a chapter without much help and nobody wanting to listen.

Be strong and do what you have to do. If you have a bunch of shmucks then cleaning up is the best option.

-Rudey

[CASIGKAP]

I sincerely hope that in cleaning house, they at least notice the hard work you've put into the chapter and give you the alumni status you so rightly deserve. I'll be thinking of you guys and hope that all goes well.

[AXOKatie]

I can totally understand the fear of cleaning house, that can really hurt a chapter for years. But I also agree that you can't possibly recruit a solid membership with a bunch of lazy asses who bring everyone done and influence others to be lazy too. It's you vs. them in a battle of coolness and you can't win that way because people are naturally apathetic when they think that someone else will take care of it.

I know that you might have tried this already, but have you really analyzed your assets to the chapter? Who do you know? Who are you connected to? What kind of events, besides the usual blow-out parties, can possibly interest your members? I know that this sounds kind of child psychology-oriented, but is there any way to get them involved without realizing that they're actually benefitting the chapter? Like a brother who's an art major who just wants to sit around and watch anime during spirit events could probably help you design some kick-ass banners or even fliers for your parties. Or you could host a party or barbecue at an off-site location or alum's house to benefit your national or local philanthropy? You could also seek a sorority to co-host the party - trust me, if you ask nicely and bring cookies, sororities like to help :-) The key is finding one that isn't all about the rep. and won't see it as a 'social misstep' if they host one little event with you.

I'm glad that you have an active exec board this year, leadership is really important for solid changes, obviously. You will make an AWESOME officer!

[kwazi19]

I attended the FRMT Risk Management College the other day and was able to meet with and speak to one of the Delta Sigma Phi Expansion Coordinators. Maybe he could be of some help to you.

His name is Brett Henry. He can be reached at 317-634-1899 x414
or by e-mail at henery@deltasig.org

Hope this helps!

[Tom Earp]

Stan, I am not trying to rub salt into the wound, but welcome to the real world. What is the real World, well, it is the world where a Brother cares about His Fraternity, Its Beleifs and what it stands for.

Interal Fraternity Brother, you are in a situation that many of us have found ourselves in.

It is sad when it comes home.

I can only Hope that with You and a Few Brothers and Alums that Your Chapter can be rebuilt to stature.

Sounds like a decision needs to be made, get with your National, explain the problem, see if they will work with you. Have a Strong Active Few, and Have Alums Working with you. If not?

Stan, All I can say is The Very Best of Luck, many of us have been there and it is tough as Hell!

Go, Buddy, You Are The Man of The Hour!

[GeekyPenguin]

Stan, I think no alcohol may be a strong point for you - you'll get guys who are there for the BROTHERHOOD instead of the crazy getting drunk. When you're rushing guys, tout Delta Sig as the opportunity to rebuild a chapter and turns things around: They aren't joining a fraternity, they're establishing one. That will appeal to a lot of guys who are the type of guys that you want.

[DeltaSigStan]

Originally posted by kwazi19
I attended the FRMT Risk Management College the other day and was able to meet with and speak to one of the Delta Sigma Phi Expansion Coordinators. Maybe he could be of some help to you.

His name is Brett Henry. He can be reached at 317-634-1899 x414
or by e-mail at henery@deltasig.org

Hope this helps!

Thanks. Brett and I actually talk often about my chapter. He's a lot more optimistic than I am. He's definitely given me some good ideas.

[DeltaSigStan]

Originally posted by Tom Earp
Stan, I am not trying to rub salt into the wound, but welcome to the real world. What is the real World, well, it is the world where a Brother cares about His Fraternity, Its Beleifs and what it stands for.

Interal Fraternity Brother, you are in a situation that many of us have found ourselves in.

It is sad when it comes home.

I can only Hope that with You and a Few Brothers and Alums that Your Chapter can be rebuilt to stature.

Sounds like a decision needs to be made, get with your National, explain the problem, see if they will work with you. Have a Strong Active Few, and Have Alums Working with you. If not?

Stan, All I can say is The Very Best of Luck, many of us have been there and it is tough as Hell!

Go, Buddy, You Are The Man of The Hour!

Thanks Tom, I know you mean those words; you don't want to see any chapter in bad shape. One of the things that makes me mad about the atitude of my house is the fact that there are old alums who actually care about the chapter, and the guys are disrespecting their legacy.

[TristanDSP]

BUMP

For those who care, the chapter pulled a complete 180, and the guys are poised for growth and success.

When I got back form the Delta SIgma Phi Leadership Institute in Indiana, it was if I had come back to a completely different chapter. Guys who I thought didn't care about the business side were already to start planning for the Fall.

We held one of the first Summer chapter retreats with some National alumni who are from my chapter. After some very powerful encouragement, we set out and prepared new bylaws, new pledge education program, and started doing things I've never seen before.

We managed to get rid of the problem guys, the guys who insisted that greek life is just partying. We probably have the most qualified and committed exec board I've ever seen.

Although we only got 13 pledges (short of our goal of 15), the ones we got have been champs. They're totally outgoing, social and well-rounded..

Attendance at events is WAY up, morale's at an all time high, and the prospects for the future have been laid out very, very nicely.

Which culminated into out first success this fall: We won HomeComing along with Gamma Phi Beta (and KA). The guys were completely involved with that, and we won best float and almost won the chariot race too.

As for me, I've run the course of other Seniors, and am pretty much taken a back seat and let the others guys shine. I know I've done my job, and I know I helped lay the foundation for a much successful future for our chapter, much like many of the other older actives have.

I guess if you stick around something long enough, thing work out in the end. I believe that in a couple years, we will be one of the top tier fraternities on campus. And as I get involved as an alumni, it'll be fun to watch them enjoy their success.