[16327] in APO-L
Re: Question about Post-chartering
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Jeremy Gagliardi)
Mon Mar 3 11:08:08 1997
Date: Mon, 3 Mar 1997 10:28:25 -0500
Reply-To: Jeremy.Gagliardi@cpmx.saic.com
From: Jeremy Gagliardi <Jeremy.Gagliardi@cpmx.saic.com>
To: Multiple recipients of list APO-L <APO-L@VM.CC.PURDUE.EDU>
Howard P. Wolf wrote:
> Dave Bujak's post about his decision to go inactive has struck a familiar chord
> with me. If I remember correctly, Dave was President of his Petitioning Group,
> yet now less than a year after activation, he is going inactive with his
> chapter. This makes me wonder because I have been involved with two chapters
> as they have gone through the Petitioning Group process, plus one chapter saved
> from complete inactivity which was able to save the charter without going
> through the Petitioning Group process, and in all three cases the
> President of the group during its formation has ended up having had severe
> problems with the group after Chartering/revival. One went inactive, one has
> remained active (the chapter is just about a year old now) but is struggling
> and is starting to drift away from the chapter (but is getting involved on a
> staff level helping support/start other chapters), and the third just received
> the charter in January but has been replaced as President and is quickly
> drifting away (and I suspect will be inactive very soon).
>
> My questions: Is this a common phenomenon???
Unfortunately, it is more common than a lot of us would like it to be.
> If so, WHY??? (while I have my own thoughts, I'm curious about
> what others think)
From personal experience, I can tell you that starting a chapter is a
thousand-fold more stressful than pledging. You not only have to worry
about what to do to become a brother, you also have to motivate and
organize your people to build an organization, while at the same time
building democracy and preventing yourself from getting power-hungry.
If you don't run into revolts over how the constitution should be worded
or how the officers should be motivated or how best to build traditions
in your chapter than the "brotherhood problems" or "cliques" will get
you instead.
As my chapter's petitioning group president, I can tell you I had to
endure a veritable mountain of stress and personal anguish. I faced all
of the above and more. I developed into a person with no shame. If I
had had shame during that period, I'd be a pile of pureed Jell-O
(mentally) by now.
Instead, however, I endured it, and I became a brother and graduated.
Today, my chapter is in it's fourth active year (anniversary early next
month). They are still small and struggling a bit, but they are still
growing and continuing the tradition.
The only thing that can save a hurting start-up chapter is tenacity and
strength and a lot of patience. Sure there will be a lot of yelling,
and in-fighting as democracy struggles to take hold and committees
struggle to work together. But, backing down when others come on strong
is the worst thing that can happen. A wise man by the name of Jeff Case
(one of the forefathers of the Internet) once said, "In a committee
decision, he who yells loudest gets his way."
New chapters struggle. I have yet to see a new chapter that hasn't had
problems. I also have yet to see a new chapter that hasn't had key
officials quit or threaten to quit over seemingly insurmountable
situtations.
In my humble opinion, the "Starting a New Chapter" guide book should
focus 90% on crisis management and 10% on requirements, standards, and
brotherhood.
> What can be done in an attempt to prevent this???
It is a common catch phrase in APhiO that "if a chapter doesn't survive
in the first five years, it won't survive at all". Watching my
chapter's ups and downs since activation gives truth to that statement.
The first five years are not only tough, they are crucial to the future
of the chapter. It is within those short years that the chapter's first
traditions and most common operating procedures are established. If
they fail, then they will not continue.
...and, as I said above, the only thing that can save a hurting start-up
chapter is tenacity and strength and a lot of patience. Strength of
character, strength of will, and mental strength are all required.
Patience is absolutely necessary. Without patience, you will never be
able to endure the yelling and "my opinion is always right" attitude.
Take it from someone who knows first hand how in-fighting can ruin an
entire executive board and cause a coup, how little cliques can ruin
your chances of acheiving cohesive brotherhood for all, how trying to
establish bylaws for the first time can cause dozens to become
completely disinterested in staying with the chapter, and more. All
that and more happened to me and my chapter...it wasn't the first
chapter...and it won't be the last.
Hopefully my post sheds _some_ light through the thick, gray clouds.
PS: I just read Randy's post. He makes some very good points and sheds
more light. His is from an impartial, outside view, rather than my
insider point of view.
Sincerely,
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