News and Commentary for Triangle Leaders Brought to you by the Fraternity Strengthening Committee of National Council

"If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours." - Henry David Thoreau

This issue follows closely on the heels of the previous. That is primarily due to a need of volunteers! Like the R.A.F. pilots in the Battle of Britain, your National Service Volunteers are working above and beyond the call of duty to make Triangle even more successful and rarely have so few done so much! Uncle Artie needs you! We apologize for the delays and hope you'll bear with us.

Brotherhood never ends, unless a man desires himself to cancel it. Once a Triangle, always a Triangle. If you recently graduated, stay involved; locally or nationally won't matter. If you've been an alumnus for a while, get back involved. There are some really terrific Brothers waiting to socialize with you and your Fraternity will always need your special skills and expertise.

Remember, this is the year of Triangle's Renaissance! Be the next DaVinci...

TRIANGLE FRATERNITY

Is Serious about Scholarship

Sets and Demonstrates High Standards

Celebrates Achievement

• Brotherhood
  • Let's Get Serious
• Chapter Management
  • Why Go Greek?
  • Harvey's Aphorisms
  • Making Positive Change Happen in Your Organization
  • Ten Responsibilities of the Rush Chairman
  • Sixteen Ways to Improve the Rush Committee
  • Twelve Key Elements of Successful Recruiting
  • Thirty Rush Event Tips
  • Don't Blow Your Cash on First-Class Mail!
• Spotlight on Triangle Chapters
• Spotlight on Triangle
• Spotlight on Prominent Triangles
  • Meet Your Councilmen: Tim Eiler minn87

Let's Get Serious

unknown origin

It is the purpose of this article to first help the participants become aware of the nature of Ritual and how it ought to be used in an informal and personal way; and second, to be able to assist the undergraduate chapters in using the Fraternity Ritual in the same way.

There are some fundamental questions we must attempt to answer:

1. How can we motivate our fraternity Brothers to seriously read the Ritual?
2. How can we motivate our fraternity Brothers to seriously discuss the Ritual?
3. How can we motivate the active chapter to seriously perform the Ritual?

We must do a better job of explaining this relationship in (a) the pledge or membership development program, (b) the pre-initiation program, and (c) the post- initiation program. Ultimately, by better understanding the Ritual, we should do a better job of living it.

RITUAL DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. How did I feel during my initiation?
2. How do I feel now when I am participating in or observing the initiation?
3. What part of the Ritual is most significant to me and why?
4. What have I learned from the Ritual that I can use in my daily life?

My chapter performs the Ritual at a chapter meeting __________ time(s) per term.

I feel that this is
______too frequent
______just right
______too infrequent

Please rate your chapter's efforts in all remaining questions on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 = poor, 10 = excellent)

1. My chapter's general respect for Ritual is ______
2. The post-initiation program for new initiates is ______
3. My own rating of respect for the Ritual is ______
4. My chapter's understanding of the purpose of the Ritual is ______
5. My chapter's implementation of the Ritual in chapter meetings is ______
6. My chapter's knowledge of the symbolism and secret works of the Fraternity is ______
7. My chapter's Ritual initiations are ______
8. My chapter's Associate Member initiations are ______
9. My chapter's member's conduct and dress for Ritual ceremonies is ______
10. My chapter's alumni advisor's participation in the Ritual ceremonies is ______

(Editor's Note: The above discussion questions and questionnaire can be used by the chapter's leaders to survey the Brothers of that chapter and cause some discussion to occur. All chapters are encouraged to assess how the Ritual is viewed, conducted, and used. As the Ritual contains the majority of our precepts, that's a good thing to do often!)

Product

Why Go Greek?

excerpt from the World Wide Web: http://www.ualberta.ca/~ifc/ifcadv.htm

We've listed seven, and this is just a handful.

ADVANTAGE #1 - ACADEMICS
The academic portion of your university career is one significant determinant in your future success. The primary purposes of the fraternity system is to encourage and develop high scholastic achievement among its members. Just over 50% of students in university end up graduating. However, if you belong to a fraternity, your chances of graduating increase to over 70%! Fraternity members help each other to succeed!

ADVANTAGE #2 - COMMUNITY SERVICE
Usually, the only way a person gets involved in a philanthropic event, is to do it with a group of people. On your resume, you need volunteer experience. The fraternity is an excellent way for you to donate your time for a good cause.

ADVANTAGE #3 - ATHLETICS
Each fraternity participates in the numerous competitive sports in the Campus Recreation Intramural Leagues and in interfraternal sports like the IFC Hockey Tournament. It's difficult to get a group of people on your own to play team intramural sports, outdoor paintball, or to get a softball game together on a Sunday afternoon. Fraternities offer all of this along with the pride of sportsmanship, team spirit, and competition!

ADVANTAGE #4 - LEADERSHIP
In the fraternity, you will be "in charge" of an event or a duty. Everyone in the fraternity is a leader, whether you're an officer, an executive, on a committee, or just a participant. You will learn by doing. You'll learn how to manage a budget, run effective meetings, speak in public, motivate others ... skills that will help you in university and throughout your life. These days it takes more than just a degree to get a good job it takes leadership experience.

85% of the Fortune 500 Executives,
80% of U.S. Presidents since 1900, &
100% of Apollo 11 Astronauts
all joined a fraternity!!!

ADVANTAGE #5 - BROTHERHOOD
Brotherhood is the foundation of the fraternity experience. Every man contributes to this aspect. Brotherhood combines the concept of individualism within the framework of mutual cooperation. As a fraternity brother you will form friendships unlike any found in other organizations. Brotherhood is not conformity. No fraternity is made up of members who are exactly alike. By choosing to become a member of a fraternity, you will meet brothers who grow to become your closest friends, those who will cheer you on when you're successful and who will support you when the going gets tough.

ADVANTAGE #6 - NETWORKING
So, let's say you've graduated or are just looking for a summer job. Now what? In today's economy and job market, it's going to take more than looking at want-ads and job postings. You need to network with people. The fraternity is one of the best ways to do just that. Using the resources of fraternity members like alumni, you may find that job you're looking for - that head start in life, all because you joined a fraternity. What an investment!

ADVANTAGE #7 - TRAVELING
Now assume you're planning a trip to another city in North America. You need a place to stay, but you don't want to spend too much dough. Fraternity membership allows you to travel to other fellow chapter houses to meet brothers and have a place to stay for free! Sometimes, one chapter will get a bunch of guys together and plan a road trip and stay at several chapters along the way. And when you arrive, although you may have never met these brothers before, you have a fraternal bond, and you're more than just a guest in their home, you're instant friends. All this mushy brotherhood stuff may be hard to believe at first, but it's genuine. Leadership

Harvey's Aphorisms

excerpt from Minneapolis Star Tribune (Nov. 24, 1994)

forwarded by Paul Slack is76

• Every dog is entitled to one bite.
• If you lie down with the dogs, you get up with fleas.
• No one ever kicks a dead dog.
• There is no off switch on a tiger.
• I don't care how many pails of milk I lose, as long as I don't lose the cow.
• There are four elements to a sale: discovering the customer's needs, presenting, closing and following through. Poor salespeople skip the first and the last.
• There are two times when you are totally alone: just before you die and just before you make a five-minute speech.
• The two biggest mistakes a manager can make are a bad hire and chewing out a subordinate in front of his peers.
• Never be so dazzled by appearances that you aren't aware where the sharkskin ends and the shark begins.
• Always fight the enemy on ground of your own choosing.
• Anger is only one letter short of danger.
• It is far easier to stay out of trouble than it is to get out of trouble.
• If you can't say yes with enthusiasm, then it's no.
• It's the person who has done nothing who is sure that nothing can be done.
• While on the ladder of success, don't step back to admire your work.
• You're always most vulnerable at the moment you think you're invulnerable.
• Sometimes it's risky to not take a risk.
• Be amazed at your own success. The people who know you best are.
• Cream doesn't rise to the top. It works its way up.
• Go out on a limb -- that's where the fruit is.
• Dig your well before you're thirsty.
• Not doing more than average is what keeps the average down.
• Where you are going is more important than how fast you are going.
• A goal is a dream with a deadline.
• Knowledge does not become power until it is used.
• Quality never costs as much as the money it saves.
• The best place to find a helping hand is at the end of your arm.
• The fast lane usually moves slower than the slow lane.
• It is harder to conceal ignorance than to acquire knowledge.
• You didn't do it all by yourself.

Making Positive Change Happen In Your Organization

excerpt from NIC Campus Commentary (April 1996)

An effective leader constantly evaluates the organization and its programming. Are we meeting the needs of the members? Are we following the policies and guidelines established by our national organization, IFC, and university/college? Is our organization the best it can be? These questions and many more help leaders develop their vision for the organization.

Four key questions should be asked as you move through the change process: why, what, who, and how. These can help you facilitate the change process for your organization to create the best possible experience for your members.

If the organization's activities are not achieving your vision, change needs to happen. This begins to answer why a change must occur.

A need for change may come from external or internal forces. External forces, such as the campus administration, national headquarters, or local law enforcement, create a more reactive change. Internal forces, such as a chapter goal-setting retreat, will result in proactive changes. It is always best to implement proactive changes, before external forces require a change to be made. You must work through the same steps in either case; however, by implementing proactive changes your members have more input in the decisions and more time to develop an effective action plan.

The question of what is going to change is answered when the organization's members and key constituents work to identify the issues involved and the changes which will be needed. This is the time to gather relevant information and facts to make the best decisions. At this point you should begin to think about what the future may look like and what your vision is. How do you think your members will react to the change? What will your message be? What more do you need to find out?

Once the issues and needs for change are identified, you must develop a plan by setting goals and prioritizing them. However, before that process can begin, it is important to identify who will be involved and begin outreach to them. This is often very time-intensive, since it is critical to involve as many people as possible in the planning process.

All of your publics (members, nonmembers, faculty, administration, headquarters staff, community residents, campus leaders, Greek advisor, etc.) should be included in some way. They can provide valuable information, a different perspective, and support for your plans, which is the essence of collaboration and coalition-building. In addition, the expression "people support what they help to create" is very relevant to your success as this plan unfolds.

Once the people are identified, you are ready to decide how the change will take place. The constituents you have identified must be included in a goal-setting process. You may want to meet with some people one-on-one, and others, such as chapter members, you may want to work with as a large group. Also, it is important to develop a timeline at this point. The NIC's Retreat Workbook, ON TARGET!, and Motivation Video/Workbook are helpful resources for group goal-setting and prioritizing.

Remember a significant change is a result of smaller accomplishments. Kouzes and Posner use the term "small wins" in their book, The Leadership Challenge, to relay the concept of utilizing small accomplishments to achieve a larger goal. Take one step at a time. Make sure your plan has numerous small wins along the way. Your members will stay motivated if they feel they are getting closer to their goal.

You may be charting a new course that will not be achieved fully during your term of office. However, if you have taken steps to move the organization closer to your vision, then you should feel good about those successes!

Once you have determined how you will make a desire change happen, the process will be on its way. Keep in mind that all good plans need constant evaluation to grow and develop. Also, enlist as much support as possible throughout the process, think often about the first question...WHY. The four questions should be cyclical, continually reminding you and others why this change is happening. It is your vision that will carry you through each challenge and accomplishment one step at a time. Management

Ten Responsibilities of the Rush Chairman

excerpt from TKE fraternity Recruitment Manual

• Elect/Appoint the rush chairman immediately after the election of the president. This makes the Rush chairman the second most important position in the chapter. Plan for top leaders to fill this position.
• The rush chairman should teach the recruitment process to all members of the committee.
• Order supplies two months in advance to make sure everything you need will be on hand.
• Send the rush chairman and all assistant rush chairmen to National and Regional Leadership Conferences to help give them the skills they'll need to design and execute a top notch program.
• Conduct a chapter rush seminar to teach chapter members the skills of rush and inform them on the details of the rush program.
• Keep a written file of rushees. Keep all quality prospects on 3 x 5 cards with name, address, phone number, and other pertinent information.
• Appoint an event chairman for each rush function who is in charge of its planning and execution. This man should be a member of the rush committee.
• Have an incentive for the rush chairman based on results (not necessarily a financial incentive...if you use $, check with an alumnus to determine tax liability to the individual and the chapter). The chapter must meet minimum goals.
• Written copies of all committee plans are passed on to the next rush chairman...get better every year.
• The rush chairman should distribute rush calendars to all chapter members.

Sixteen Ways to Improve The Rush Committee

excerpt from TKE fraternity Recruitment Manual

• Ensure that rush is organized and your results are organized.
• Establish Assistant Chairman positions within the chapter which include specific and unique duties.
• Pick three to four younger chapter members to serve on the committee. Harness the enthusiasm of new chapter members for a top effort on rush.
• Rush committee should meet every week of the year, there is always work to be done on membership recruitment.
• The rush committee should develop specific goals for each term and for the entire year.
• The rush committee should develop a written plan on how these goals will be achieved. This plan should include a publicity strategy, a calendar of events, and a budget.
• Every member of the rush committee should read the Rush Chairman's Manual, get copies for everyone on the committee if necessary.
• Ask older, more experienced rushers in the chapter to speak on effective rush techniques.
• Prepare a "fact sheet" for distribution at the Rush Seminar which lists all the chapter and international information members need to know. Chapter history, costs, structure, New Member program, and general chapter facts.
• Develop charts for use at rush functions: cost charts, giant activities calendar, athletics program, etc.
• Organize a telephone crew, call back prospects after each rush event to invite them to the next rush activity.
• Design and print a chapter rush poster for distribution around campus.
• Design and print a chapter rush brochure, tell all local chapter facts and always list important contacts within the chapter with phone numbers.
• Organize and plan a personalized written invitation to all rush functions, not necessarily fancy, it's the idea that's important.
• Hand deliver invitations to all prospectives at their home if possible.
• Use function sheets for all events, use a checklist so things are organized and thought out. Plan for Success.

Twelve Key Elements of Successful Recruiting

excerpt from TKE fraternity Recruitment Manual

• Be Organized: Assign specific duties and have a written function sheet and schedule.
• Prepare a Fact Sheet: Distribute a fact sheet which outlines the benefits of membership, cost of membership, etc. so that all members know the details of the organizations and can answer questions.
• Post a Calendar: Prepare a calendar which lists all the events for the entire term so that prospective members get a good understanding of the activities of the organization.
• Conduct a Clinic: Before your rush function, hold a meeting of the organization to practice selling the benefits of membership.
• Have a sign-in book: As prospectives enter the party or function, get their names, addresses, phone numbers, etc. so you can follow up.
• Develop a Slide Show: This will give each prospective a first hand view of all of the organizations activities. Remember the old saying...a picture is worth a thousand words.
• Have a scrapbook and awards, trophies, etc. on display at each event.
• Publish a brochure and distribute it at all events, prospective members will look these over when they get home.
• Use Name Tags: When prospectives enter, have someone provide them with name tags. This will make conversation and interaction easier. Organization members should wear name tags which distinguish them from prospectives.
• Have a written budget to plan for expenditures for each function.
• Have copies of your organization's long range plan on hand and show each prospect what the organization will be like three years from now.
• Have members on hand thirty minutes before the event to put the finishing touches on the function and so that there are plenty of members available when prospects arrive.

Thirty Rush Event Tips

excerpt from TKE fraternity Recruitment Manual

• Display good manners and common courtesy.
• Dress properly.
• Do not congregate in large groups by the entrance to the event.
• Welcome each guest, register them, and introduce them to others.
• Use a firm handshake and maintain eye contact.
• Do not release handshake until you are sure of the guest's name.
• Use the guest's first name at least three times during a conversation (opening, middle, and closing.)
• Make sure each guest signs in, use a guest book or some other device.
• Do not use the expression: "I don't believe we've met". You may have!
• Do not refer to a potential member as a rushee, he is a guest.
• Make sure the guest meets as many members as possible.
• Encourage every guest to join, regardless of other organizations that they may belong to.
• Make the guest feel comfortable.
• Get every guest involved.
• Show genuine interest in the guest as a member.
• Use name tags.
• Bring the guest into conversations.
• Members should not gather in groups together, involve guests.
• Each member should find one guest and put out a special effort to recruit that person.
• Have guests talk up your organization to others.
• Give your guest a publication or favor to take home.
• Try to view the events from the guest's point of view.
• Do not let a good prospect leave without a return invitation.
• Be positive when asking a prospect to return.
• Remember that guests like to:
  • feel important
  • be complimented
  • be asked for advice
  • talk about himself
  • hear his name
  • grant favors
  • relax
  • be appreciated.
• Discover all mutual interests
• Answer all questions honestly and sincerely.
• Make mental notes for future discussions.
• Ask the guest to express his opinion.
• Thank the guest for coming.

Don't Blow Your Cash on First Class Mail!

Don Hatfield msu88

If your organization is not Non-Profit (ALL Triangle chapters MUST be) you can get a Bulk Mail permit. It is done in the same fashion, but costs more to open and use. Check the Post Office for details.

How to "Stamp" the Mail
Normally, you throw your postage stamp onto the letter, but you need something else -- you actually cancel your own mail when sending Bulk Rate. When you print the mailing, simply put this graphic in place of the stamp (reasonable facsimile:)

+----------------------+
|    Non-Profit Org.   |
|     U.S. Postage     |
|         PAID         |
| E. Lansing, MI 48823 |
|    Permit No. 87     |
+----------------------+

Can You Mail It Bulk Rate?
Any mailing totaling 200 pieces or more may be mailed using bulk rate. There are a few things you need to do to meet USPS standards and save the most cash:

The mailing must be:

1. Identical except for the address on the outside.
2. Minimum of 200 pcs. for entire mailing.
3. Sorted into 5-digit, 3-digit, State and Mixed State bundles, then bagged accordingly.
4. Seal mailings shut WITHOUT a staple.

Sorting and Bundling the Paper Mountain
First, take all the mail, and sort it by 5-digit zip code, ascending or descending order doesn't matter. Note that this "does itself" if the mailing labels are sorted in order before you stick them on.

1. If you come across 10 or more letters with the same 5-digit zip code (common in mailers to the dorms or in your campus' town,) bundle them together with rubber bands both vertically and horizontally. If the pile is more than 125 pieces, break them apart into separate, more manageable bundles. I always write the number of pieces on the top piece of mail too (this helps later on.)
2. Next, repeat (1) but for the first 3 digits of zip codes. Letters in category (1) and (2) are charged ~0.12/letter -- this is the cheapest way to mail a letter there is.
3. Next, repeat (1) but for states. You must have at least 10 pieces to a single state in order to have a state bundle. Otherwise, go to step 4. Note that states include Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, Guam, and all other possessions of the United States.
4. Bundle up what is left in the Mixed States pile. You will pay the normal third class rate for category (3) and (4, but you have to process these if you want the discount for (1) and (2).

Make sure to have a count of the total number of 5-digit, 3-digit, state, and mixed state pieces you have. That's why I write the number of each bundle on top as I make it, so you don't have to recount the mail after just counting it for sorting. You just add the numbers on each pile and voila! Easy.

Finally, you can bag the mail. You will need bags from the Post Office, they are free and they reuse them.

Separate each of your 5-digit piles of mail by its zip code. If any of the piles have 125 pieces or more, put them into a Post Office mail bag (available @ post office for free.) Put the remaining 5-digit piles with corresponding 3-digit piles if they don't total 125+ pieces on its own.

Ex: I have 285 pcs. of mail for Zip 48825, and 89 for zip 48823. I also have 100 pcs. for zip code 488xx that I couldn't put into 5-digit bundles. The mail for 48825 goes into its own mailbag, but 48823 gets thrown into the 488xx pile because it is not enough to put into a mailbag on its own. Now, the 488xx can be put into a bag because there are enough pieces now. All of these qualify for the discouted rate. Only the 3/5 digit sorted bags get the lower rate.

Then you do the same for the 3-digit mail, then states. All mail left over goes into the Mixed States bag (even if there's not 125 pcs.)

There are tags on the closure of each bag; the best thing is to just mark the contents on there until you get to the Post Office and have the mail man help you with them -- they can be cryptic to fill out and understand.

Actually Mailing Them
Then just carry it to the Post Office and they'll take care of the rest. You will need your Permit account number (on the upper corner of the mailings) to fill out the form, and the mailmen can help you fill it out. You will have to pay the postage at the time you present the letters for mailing unless you already have a deposit account with the USPS. Congratulations! You have mailed by bulk rate/non-profit status! Hooray! Remember to get your receipt and give it to your treasurer to account for it correctly.

Things You CANNOT DO with Bulk Rate:
You cannot personalize the message within your mailer beyond having a different address. That means you cannot send out Xmas cards and write down special notes for each person, expecting to pay a cheaper amount. All mailers must be identical to be mailed in this way, except the address. If they find out, they will charge your account for the full cost of mailing first class. Trust me, I have seen it happen.

Also, you CANNOT STAPLE FOLDED MAILINGS SHUT. That doesn't mean that you cannot staple a multi-page letter together at the corner, just that a staple cannot be exposed on the outside that can snag in the machinery. You can use some of those 1" round multi-purpose labels to label them shut instead.

There you go! Don't blow your hard-earned chapter money, you can think of a thousand better ways to spend that money. It's not really hard, and it pays for all its costs very quickly when compared with First Class rates. If you have any questions, there are a few resources: The Post Office is the best -- give 'em a call, they're the ones who you have to deal with! Your local Post Office may offer free seminars on using third class bulk rates for mailings. Get one of your alumni officers to go with you! Also, OfficeMax and Staples and other office supply stores have the things you need, such as bulk mail stickers and posters with the mail sorting directions.

Brother Joe "Squatch" Dewhirst reports that in the never-ending pursuit of perfection, the executive officers of the MTU chapter have held their ninth annual Executive Retreat to set goals for the upcoming year. Some of their goals include:

• Improve Rush
• Improve in all areas of scholarship
• Reduction of alumni debt to the chapter
• Work toward the purchase of a new house

Come to the upcoming Herb Scobie Leadership School! Win prizes, see fabulous people, learn exciting new things!

People
Don't forget to vote in the National Council elections. The deadline is June 25th (ballot must be received by that day)!

Reminders
Where have all the newsletters gone?

One of the simplest, yet best ways of keeping your alumni, and all of Triangle, informed about your chapter (and don't forget that a well-informed alumnus is a happy alumnus) is your chapter newsletter. It may just be perception, but we don't recall getting very many recently. I hope more are on their way since I really enjoy reading them!

Yes, you can have your very own Triangle tie clip. It is available in three metals and with a plain Coat of Arms or an enameled Coat of Arms.

A brief description: 1/4 to 3/8 inch wide bar, about 2 inches long with the Coat of Arms located 1/4 inch from the left end of the bar as you are wearing it, so the C-o-A is in the center of your tie. It is an "alligator clip" so it should not slide down while being worn.

The prices are as follows:

Delivery time is about 6 weeks as the jeweler makes them as they are ordered. Shipping is $3.00 additional.

To order, send your order and a check for payment (including $3.00 for shipping) to Rhonda Halcomb at the National Office. Note that she will not place orders to our jeweler for these without payment in advance.

Meet Your Councilmen: Tim Eiler minn87

EXP: Tell us about yourself.

Br. Eiler: I came from a small town (about 400 people total) in rural Southwestern Minnesota. I went on from there to play college football at a four-year liberal arts college in Western Iowa and then on the University of Minnesota. It was there that I decided that I'd join Triangle since I had applied late to the U and there were no dorms or cheap apartments by the time I started looking. I was sure I'd be gone by the end of the first couple of months when I found somewhere else to live...after all, I wasn't looking for a "fraternity experience." I finally graduated in 1990 with a BS in ME with emphasis in IE (contrary to what most people say, the "I" doesn't stand for imaginary...it does stand for "Intelligent," as in "MOST intelligent" :-) I am currently employed by United Space Alliance (formerly Rockwell Space Operations Company) in Houston, TX as an Astronaut instructor.

EXP: How have you been involved with Triangle over the years?

Br. Eiler: While at the University, I was elected Vice President Membership of my chapter within just a couple months of my initiation. Then I served as President for two terms. Right after graduation, I volunteered to be a Field Director and did that for about a year before being elected to National Council. I've been learning how to do that job since 1991.

EXP: What do you see Triangle doing nationally in the future?

Br. Eiler: There are three main areas that we are beginning to address that I think are the "must do" areas for Triangle. We've got to do them all and all at the same time if we intend to thrive!

The first is getting help to our chapters so that they will have the resources to grow and thrive. We have developed a Resource Library that chapters can access to help get ideas about leadership, management, and Brotherhood. We have increased marketing for things such as Herb Scobie Leadership School and UIFI (I think we have something like 14 Brothers going to this in 1996). Finally, though there are several other areas, we are working on a revamp of our chapter consultation process and have begun development of a new Member Development Program. The National Organization can't decide to make a chapter grow and thrive, nor can it pay the price of honest effort for a chapter, but it CAN and WILL offer the necessary support.

The second is expansion. Triangle's Founders expanded in the early years of the Fraternity so that the chances of one Brother being able to find others no matter where he was would be increased. The same holds true today. We are only about 25,000 members strong. That's pretty good, but there are several times as many schools where we could be represented with a chapter than those where we do exist. I'd like to be able to find 500 or 1000 Triangles in Houston rather than the 200 we do have. Also, much like a small chapter has less chance of survival in the long run, a small fraternity will have long run problems. We have to grow to survive. We've begun to lay plans for some significant expansion in the next few years.

The third area is alumni support. Triangle is growing stronger in this area. First and foremost, there has to be a reason or "product" that's good enough for alumni Brothers to stay involved. Second, there must be an exciting, acceptable opportunity for them to participate. Third, alumni have to know of the product and the opportunity. We have begun helping to establish alumni associations for the first time in years and have had some extremely good success at it. This past year alone, we've started three and revved up an existing one. We also have at least three more on the way! It was a long time ago that an alumni association actually voted at National Convention (the 40s or 50s), but next year you should see at least one of the new associations cast a vote...that's pretty exciting! You'll continue to see more marketing done to alumni. Those Brothers just graduating need to keep their feet wet and Brothers who have been "away" for a while need to just jump right back in. We'll give them the reason and the opportunity!

TRIANGLE FRATERNITY

Is Serious about Scholarship

Sets and Demonstrates High Standards

Celebrates Achievement