[17553] in APO-L
Re: Please assist
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Scott Begin)
Thu Nov 13 22:14:35 1997
Date: Thu, 13 Nov 1997 22:13:56 -0500
Reply-To: Scott Begin <sbegin@MCS.NET>
From: Scott Begin <sbegin@MCS.NET>
To: Multiple recipients of list APO-L <APO-L@VM.CC.PURDUE.EDU>
In-Reply-To: <199711131630.KAA19905@Mailbox.mcs.net>
At 11:26 AM 11/13/97 -0500, smith_jb@ACADMN.MERCER.EDU wrote about a
proposal for accepting transfers into the chapter.
As an advisor for almost 3 years (in two different chapters, both diffrent
from my initiate chapter), and as a brother for almost 10 years, I'm not
too fond of your plan (my opinion).
To me, it seems very much like I would be pledging again. In it's I see
three main requirements: 1) learn the chapter history from a chapter big
brother, 2) take a history test, and 3) Organize a service project.
Part one sounds fine. Giving a person a big brother in the chapter helps
the person get to know people in the chapter/school and helps the person
learn about chapter.
Part 2 could be insulting to some people. This might not be so bad if the
history test specified Chapter history. Personally, I like learning about
history, be it a chapter history, campus history, local history, etc...,
but some people may not be as thrilled about this. Some people want to do
service, did what was required when pledging and may not want to do this
again. Having the person learn about the chapter history is fine, but
testing on it may be too much for some people.
Part 3 bothers me (and my wife, who has been a brother longer than I).
This sounds like it could be a very tough requirement. Unless this is also
part of your pledging requirements, I think this would turn off potential
transferees. A transferee probably is new to the area and may not be
familiar with where to go for project sources. Organizing a project is
hard enough when you have lots of contacts in the campus and community. It
has to be harder when you don't know very many people yet.
I also know that organizing projects isn't everyone's forte. The first
project I organized was 8 years after I pledged (and because of it I became
an advisor to my girlfriend's chapter. Dawn is now my wife and we aren't
close enough to that chapter to be Advisors). My wife has never organized
a service project. Are we less brothers because of it? I don't think so.
Between APO and Scouts, I have discovered that everyone gives leadership in
their own way. Some people organize projects or serve as president.
Others show leadership by being there to have tasks delegated to them.
Now that I have finished destructive critisizm, let me offer some
constructive critisizm: [I know I have that spelled incorrectly. The
Eudora Pro with spell checker has waited 4 weeks to be installed and I
might get time tonight]
If I were to develop a transfer membership admission policy, it would
involve:
1) Checking with the National office and the transferee's initiate chapter
to verify membership is in good standing. This is something you might want
to add to your requirements regardless.
2) Transferee attendence at a minimum number of chapter events, probably
suggest at least one meeting, service project, and fellowship event. How
much you want to require should depend on how often you have meetings,
fellowship, and projects. If your chapter requires Active members to spend
time each week in the chapter office (or something similar like a lost and
found office run by the chapter), spend some time doing this for 1-2 weeks.
This gives the chapter a chance to meet the person.
3) If the chapter votes on pledges, approval by the same majority as a
pledge. If your chapter doesn't vote on pledges, approval by simple
majority of Executive board.
4) Transfer membership granted to any undergraduate or graduate student
enrolled in the school.
Keep in mind that a transfer member is already a brother no mater what you
decide, and no matter how easy the pledge program was at the initate
chapter. I have encountered very few transfer members, but you can get a
lot from a transfer member because different ideas, outlooks, and
experiences they bring to the chapter. How many of your pledges have 1-8+
semesters experience in APO when they join your chapter?
Scott Begin Epsilon Beta Alumni, Central Michigan University
sbegin@mcs.net Gamma Sigma Scouting Advisor, U. of Chicago
formerly 5555440@mcimail.com
