Grand Prytanis Term Limit

[HimAreMe]

Looking at some history I see that Don Becker who served as Grand Prytanis from 1966 to 1971 (the remainder of Russ Salsbury's term when Russ died in office and then two terms of his own) was the last Grand Prytanis to serve in that office for more than one term.

Does anyone know what the rationale was for limiting the GP to one term? Apparently the one term limit was passed at either the 1969 or 1971 Conclave. Can someone shed some light on this matter?

[hoosier]

At that time, there was a Grand Council member who was a nice guy, but not GP material. At that time, every two years (or four yrs.), the GP left office and everybody (who hadn't annoyed the conspirators) moved up one spot.

The solution, and it seems strange, was a rule eliminating this annoying GC guy by making the GP term two years, and limiting GC service to XX years (I forget the number). The guy was off the GC, since he had served the number of years allowed. I think he knew, but he was gracious.

Salisbury (retired) and Becker (self-employed marriage counselor) had made the GP position into nearly a full-time job, and I suspect the conspirators and staff feared this.

This was sold to the voters as a way to give more people a chance to serve on the GC (and since TKE is so large we need to give more chances to move up the ladder).

One of the conspiracy members from those days still lives on the nominating committee.

[HimAreMe]

That's very interesting Hoosier, thanks for the information.

When I was an undergraduate, we were fortunate to have Russ Salsbury about 80 miles away (he was Grand Epiprytanis at the time). Russ was a wonderful person and the chapter always benefited when he visited us, which he did once or twice a year.

I've always remembered one day that we were dealing with a pledge who wanted to leave us and I called Russ for advice. He agreed to talk to the young man in question, and on a Sunday afternoon took time away from his wife to spend about two hours on the phone with the kid. In the end we were not able to retain him, but I've never forgotten the Grand Officer who was willing to spend two hours of his time in that way.

Russ was truely a jewel!

[Erik P Conard]

This was kinda a sore spot with me, and without revealing the
name of the gracious Teke who stepped aside and voluntarily
left the council, I have had mixed emotions...and subsequent
Grand Prytani have certainly not been the epitome of an Adonis!
Having served two times on the Norminating Commitee mostly as
a hatchet man, I can justify this in that the applicant had not been
a good councilor and was, simply, a weenie...and we shipped him
off to mystery mountain or somewhere. Through the years others
have taken my place...that's okay. Many times I was asked to run
but always declined in that I figured there was a lot of talent out there who'd do a good (or better) job.
In ensuing years TKE has made a lot of bad choices and have been guilty of sleeping during their watch. But, like Bill Quallich
said, in his iniminitable way, "when you see 'em heading towards
the rapids, you intervene, pull 'em out, and set them asail again"
So, some of us hung on in spite of our disappointments. I yet grieve for this rejected frater, but know he is planting the most
beautiful tulips in the Chapter Eternal.

[hoosier]

"he is planting the most
beautiful tulips in the Chapter Eternal."

Are we talking about somebody with the initials DL? Is he dead?

---------------

"when you see 'em heading towards
the rapids, you intervene, pull 'em out, and set them asail again"

Melchert always said, I think, give them "The opportunity to fail ... and hopefully learn from it."

[Erik P Conard]

I am not even sure I have met DL, but a lot of good men have
been silenced thru Conclaves, taped conversations, and in
general discussion. Some it was not fair, downright mean.
Many messages were stifled by an old HQ staff...things which might have meant prosperity...and ended up in dismal failure.
But, had we asked to be born, permission might have been denied.
There's still a lot of good Greeks out there. This is a flat period
for TKE and we are digging ourselves out of a hole..one that need
not have been created, but we have had a good many of fraters
on the Council who did not mind the store on their watch.
So, like Quallich said, we set the boat back into the water and
hope that we will not head for the rapids, anew.
No, not DL...it is interesting, though, I have gotten several e-mails
with several names mentioned...and I shall never reveal them. I
grieve for that era. Let us move ahead.
We miss you Dick Hall. Booze is cruel-er to some of us than to others. And it took our beloved Hall, R.I.P., frater.