[15601] in APO-L
Resolutions, not Promises
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Dennis R. Hickey)
Thu Nov 14 09:05:22 1996
Date: Thu, 14 Nov 1996 09:01:54 EST
Reply-To: "Dennis R. Hickey" <71542.2142@COMPUSERVE.COM>
From: "Dennis R. Hickey" <71542.2142@COMPUSERVE.COM>
To: Multiple recipients of list APO-L <APO-L@VM.CC.PURDUE.EDU>
This is mrn, with another 2 cents (ok, maybe 4).
As Bill Rugh pointed out, the actions taken at the '74 and '76 Conventions, and
in fact in '92 and at all Conventions, are either Bylaws changes or resolutions.
There are no provisions for 'agreements' 'understandings' or 'promises'. So if
you have an image of voting delegates solemnly promising, hands over their
service pins, to preserve all-male chapters forevermore, you're off-base. Make
your own decisions now based on what's best for the Fraternity and our
principles, not on the notion of honoring a mythical promise. Roberts Rules
ain't romantic.
BTW, in case my names are confusing, * I* proposed the resolution to have
chapters review and then open their own memberships. This is based on the way
I've seen chapters go coed over many years. Often an all-male group will shrink,
and then be approached by a woman or a coed group who want to join. They all
agree to the plan, and poof - they're coed.
(OK, there can indeed be angst, but not always. Often it's the alumni, more than
the actives, with the heartburn.) It's not just the tiny chapters that do this.
I especially remember Alpha Rho (a very large, very active & strong chapter,
then & now) at the '74 Convention. The men came in with their "Alpha Phi Omega"
western shirts, the women in their "Little Sister" counterparts. They were *not*
fans of the 'coed issue'. Two years later, they came back, gender-integrated,
and all happy as clams (if that's an appropriate phrase for a Texas chapter -
I'm from New England.) They were in favor of full membership for women, and
everyone had the "APO" shirts. I know of no chapter that regrets going coed.
Actually, I don't recall any chapter failing *because* it went coed (does
anyone?). Not to make light of the matter, but chapters do change with every
pledge class, as they should.
YILFS,
mrn, AX '74
(aka M. Tomusiak, my formal APO name, and no, that's NOT what AX used to
register me in '74. In fact, they have a letterpress in their office and at that
time women just received membership cards to 'Alpha Chi Chapter of Alpha Phi
Omega'.)
