News and Commentary for Triangle Leaders

"Brought to you by National Council"

Do not follow where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. -- Anonymous

The time is now. We can each make a difference in our own lives and in our Fraternity. We only have to choose to do so. Triangle is poised to take a major leap forward, but it will take a commitment from each and all of us to become better men before it can happen. We can't be satisfied with our own personal status quo. We must strive to be better leaders, better managers, better learners, and better developed people - intellectually, socially, and professionally. Only by the character of its members is Triangle's character determined! The best part is that there is almost no pain involved in doing this AND YOU PERSONALLY receive the rewards of your effort as Triangle does!

Contents

• Brotherhood
  • Brotherhood Building Exercies for the "Left-Brained"
• Chapter Management
  • What She Missed
  • Rush Chairman's Checklist
  • What To Do While You Are Bored This Summer
• Spotlight on Triangle Chapters
• Spotlight on Triangle

Brotherhood Building Exercises For The "Left-Brained"

Oliver Passe minn93

1. Relay Race
   Team Size 3-10
   Supplies: 1 one foot long 2x4, 1 N-2 foot long 2x4 (N=# of people on the team), 1 N foot long length of string, 2 rubber bands , 1 one foot long length of duct tape

   Object: The object is for two or more teams of N people to race a distance of 10m using the above supplies without touching the ground. If anyone touches the ground, their team must start over. Each team is given 15-20 minutes to prepare strategies.

    

2. Index Card Tower
   Team Size 3-4
   Supplies: 50 3x5 index cards, 1 six inch length of scotch (or masking) tape, 1 pair of scissors, 5 paper clips

   Object: Build the highest tower possible using the above supplies in 30min

    

3. 8.5x11 paper tower
   Team Size 2-3, N=# members on team
   Supplies: 1 8.5x11 std sheet of white copier paper , 1 six inch length of scotch (or masking) tape, N pairs of scissors or other paper cutting devices, 1 std 12 inch ruler

   Object: Build the highest tower possible using the above supplies in 30min

    

4. Egg Drop
   Team size 2-4
   Supplies: 1 Jumbo egg, Anything else that will collectively fit in a six by six by six inch cubic box costing less than $2.00

   Object: Build a device that will protect a jumbo egg from a minimum 25 foot free fall onto concrete (or other hard surface). Teams are given up to three days to prepare materials and build their device. If a majority survive, increase the drop height.

   Warning: Speaking from personal experience, a viscous flour and water slurry pressurized with three alka-selzer tablets in a plastic skippy peanut butter jar works about 33% of the time (be careful when opening the container)...and explodes into one hell of a mess about 66% of the time.

    

5. Pasta Bridge
   Team Size 3-4
   Supplies: up to 1 lb. of any style pasta, glue

   Object: Build a bridge that will span a one meter distance and support the most mass suspended from the center point of the bridge. Teams would be given up to one week to design and build their bridge.

    

6. Paper Airplane Contest
   Team Size 2-6
   Supplies: 6 8.5x11" sheets of copier paper, 1 scissors, 18 inches of scotch or masking tape

   Object: Build 6 airplanes, two for each of three categories: 1. Time aloft, 2. Greatest Distance, 3. Greatest accuracy

   Teams are given 15-30 min. to build and test their airplanes. Scores based on the average of both airplanes in each category. No single person can build or launch both airplanes for any category.

Product

What She Missed

Mike Hicks ks76
Former National Councilman

I got to thinking why had Cindy not been back and in fact hadn't really had an urge to return. Cindy lived in a residence hall during her time at college and she hadn't really enjoyed school all that much. This got me to thinking even more. I, of course, had been rushed, pledged, and initiated into Triangle. I graduated from Kansas State with a BSEE degree and remained in Manhattan to live, while working in Junction City for United Telephone. I am now in the Kansas City area and feel fortunate that Manhattan is still close enough to get back and visit.

I had enjoyed college, and was ready to graduate, and all that. I thought some more and decided one big reason I enjoyed college was Triangle, it was a catalyst in many ways. The Chapter is a big reason I am currently involved on the alumni board and why I still enjoy returning to campus on a regular basis. Triangle had provided me with something, that is hard to explain, but was vital in my growth. Brotherhood and the precepts of our Fraternity come to mind to help explain this "something". This "something" that cannot be obtained simply from having no association to a fraternity, our Fraternity, and living in a residence hall.

Maybe *that* is the difference. Cindy lived in a residence hall and had no greek ties; I lived at Triangle and had and still have Triangle ties. I never was a Triangle - I am a Triangle ! This phrase had been noted before and felt deeply inside. Sometimes seeing the other side makes one feel this even more with a new perspective.

We use the close association of Engineers, Architects, and Scientists as an advantage for study to sell Triangle to prospective pledges. We use the natural scholastic advantages and indirectly the F, S, & C, to make the prospective pledge feel welcome and wanted. The Triangle for life vs. the go to school and live unassociated in a residence hall has a place when we rush.

Leadership

Rush Chairman's Checklist

excerpt from TKE fraternity Recruitment Manual

• Appoint Membership Committee
• Get IFC Rules and Dates
• Set a GOAL
• Committee plans strategy and programs
• Budget
• Calendar
• Check and order supplies from National Headquarters
• Obtain a list of recruits -- start file
• Prepare a Rush manual
• New Member education program
• Financial breakdown
• Social Calendar
• Prepare a fact sheet and conduct a chapter Rush seminar
• Appoint event chairman for each Rush function
• Execute the program
• Sell Greek
• Sell your fraternity
• Ask him to join
• Conduct an evaluation of the Rush program
• Prepare materials for the next Rush Chairman
• Inform all members of your chapter, Alumni, Chapter Adviser, and National Office about your Rush activities.

What To Do While You Are Bored This Summer

excerpt from Entrepreneur Magazine (by J. Lynn, July 1996)

"Do things that will make your business better when the slow time is over," says James Hahn, association director of the Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. "Especially consider things that are typically disruptive of your normal operation."

Some of Hahn's suggestions:

• Upgrade your computer equipment and software
• Do necessary repairs to your facility
• Train employees
• Spruce up your facility
• Clean and organize your desk and files
• Organize storage areas
• Prepare your next marketing campaign
• Update managment tools (put financial systems of computer, for instance)

Congratulations are in order for the Oklahoma and Cincinnati chapters for their stellar performance on chapter academics this past term. They did exceedingly well and deserve all our respect, admiration, and example-following! While Triangle doesn't want each of us to sacrifice all else in a mad rush for grades, academic and intellectual performance is the major reason for going to college and you must each do well in it first and foremost! Keep up the good work!!

In honor of the 75th anniversary of the Minnesota chapter of Triangle, the following is a review of that chapter's installation, as reported in the Triangle Review of that day.

Minnesota Chapter Installed

Installation Services Held Sunday, October 29, 1922 at Minneapolis

Installation of Chi Sigma Tau, local engineering fraternity at the University of Minnesota, as Minnesota Chapter of Triangle, was held Saturday night and Sunday, October 28 and 29. The National Council and active members or Wisconsin and Iowa Chapters were represented on the installation team, while brothers from Illinois, Purdue and Ohio State Chapters also attended the ceremonies. Twenty-two active members of Chi Sigma Tau and three honoraries were installed. Ritual work was carried out at the Chapter house, 1227 Fourth Street, southeast, while the banquet was served downtown at the Curtis Hotel.

The first portion of the installation, pledging of six of the oldest members of the local fraternity, was completed Saturday night, following the arrival of National President, F. W. Vogt from Chicago. Sunday morning the Chapter room was prepared and formal installation of the chapter was completed in the afternoon between 2 and 6 p.m. The six pledges were put through the ritual, with the other members of Chi Sigma Tau auditing, when actual participation was not required.

Ritual Team. Members of the installing team were National President, Vogt of Illinois, Brothers, C. O. Bruden, A. J. Rabuck, A. J. Nerad, R. S. Phillips, R. H. Raube, and K. L. Zander, all of Wisconsin, and Brother E. F. Wilsey of Iowa.

The Banquet. The banquet, held at the attractive Curtis Hotel, called forth considerable favorable comment. An excellent menu was supplemented by a wonderful address from Dr. I. O. Baker, honorary member of the Illinois chapter and a number of other less formal speeches. The banquet opened with the singing of Minnesota's University song and proceeded to fresh crabmeat cocktail. From then on the food was passed thick and fast. Salted almonds, peppermints, chicken okra, celery, olives, radishes, roast stuffed turkey with cranberry sauce, asparagus with butter sauce Julien potatoes, sherbet, fruit salad a la Waldorf, iced parfait, assorted cakes and demi tasse were served in appropriate courses but reached the same destination.

Talks. When the inner man had been satisfied, the bunch was pepped up with songs and cheers from all of the chapters represented, after which the orchestra was dismissed and the formal program opened.

Brother Babcock, president of the infant chapter, outlined briefly the organization and development of Chi Sigma Tau, through the petitioning to Triangle, securing a house and making preparations for installation. He welcomed Triangle to Minnesota, declaring that the infant chapter was resolved to take its place in the sun with the other Triangle chapters.

Brother E. O. Korsmo, Illinois '11, a resident of St. Paul, and one of the Twin City alumni who had been interested in securing a charter for the local organization, replied, telling something more of the difficulties which had been overcome at Minnesota and of the pleasure with which Triangle installed the new chapter.

The great address of the evening was delivered by Brother Baker of Illinois, a graduate of the class of '74, the first honorary member of Triangle, and a member of the faculty of the Civil Engineering Department at Illinois for 48 years, during the last 39 of which he was head of the department. Brother Baker was called the "Grand Old Man of Triangle" and proved his right to the loving tribute. His subject was "Factors Necessary for Highest Engineering Success." He spoke freely from his wealth of experience as an instructor and as an engineer - outlining the subject with rare clearness and hitting the many points which the engineering student should strive to develop. Brother Baker's address was applauded and cheered for several minutes - noisy but sincere appreciation of his journey to Minneapolis and his careful preparation for the address.

Brother "Happy" Burgess, Illinois '09, one of the first Triangle initiates, a Twin City man at present, who was largely responsible for the first ritual, spoke on Triangle's history and traditions.

Brother Vogt spoke on "The New Area," expressing his pleasure at the installation of the infant chapter, charting a safe course to follow and calling attention to the possible dangers. Brother Vogt completed his address with presentation of the new chapter's charter to Brother Babcock in the name of the National Council.

Following the formal addresses, Brother Peckham, who had acted as toastmaster, turned the program over to Brother R. S. Durrell, Ohio State '13, who had been chosen by other alumni present. Brother Durrell called upon a number of alumni members, among them being Brothers Wilson, Purdue '15, Schustedt, Wisconsin, and Lord, Illinois, with Brother Wilsey of the Iowa chapter, Brother Brooke, Nebraska '92, honorary member of the Minnesota chapter, and Brother Hibbard, Minnesota '23. Singing of the Triangle song finished the evening at the hotel, but activities merely were transferred to the chapter house. The Wisconsin delegation managed to gather their tents together and departed at about midnight, homeward bound in "Bess," their good old Jeffry. Brother Wilsey missed his train and delayed his departure to Iowa City until Monday morning. Brother Vogt had left the banquet at the early hour of 10:30 p.m., to return to Chicago; other men drifted in and out during the night.

And Minnesota had donned the swaddling clothes.

Notes. Brother Brossard distinguished himself in the installation, taking to ritual like a co-ed takes to food. He wins a prominent part on the team.

Brother Thorne, in charge of the banquet and entertainment of visitors put on lots of dog. Visitors at the hotel before the banquet almost mistook the hunch for Academics.

The Minnesota Chapter took advantage of Brother Baker's presence at the University and his generous nature to gain good advertising. Brother Hosmer, president of the Minnesota chapter of the A. S. C. E., arranged a special meeting, at which Brother Baker delivered a second excellent address and mentioned he had been fed so well at the Triangle house that he could hardly speak.

Minnesota chapter went into the installation with spirits high, in celebration of the victory over the Ohio State's highly touted football aggregation. Wisconsin rejoiced with Minnesota chapter, but Brother Durrell defended his loved Ohio.

Brother Wilsey sprung a new stunt, originated at the Iowa chapter. He presented a beribboned, highly painted rattle, suggesting that the future pledges at the Minnesota chapter be required to kiss the pacifier and that it be passed along to the next chapter of Triangle to be installed. Brother Babcock accepted joyfully, and placed the first kiss on the rattle, on behalf of the chapter.

Minnesota's chapter house registered favorably. The interior has been redecorated, floors refinished and the entire house attractively furnished. Cordial invitation has been issued to all Triangle men to avail themselves of every opportunity to prove the infant chapter's hospitality.

Cider was served at the chapter house immediately following the completion of the ritual work Sunday afternoon. But it wasn't hard cider.

Remember that National Convention is just around the corner -- if you've not registered yet, please do so immediately -- alumni, this means you, too!

The National Office has tons of resources on hand to help you with chapter retreats, officer retreats, making your chapter stronger, recruitment, and many, many other topics. We can't do "it" for you, but we can provide you with the resources to make "it" happen at your chapter. Take the opportunity to learn, to lead, and to follow -- this kind of thing will benefit you more than you can ever guess in "real" life after graduation!

Please take a look at the Triangle WWW site for details about the Fraternity's strategic plan, which National Council has put together in order to better understand and capitalize on our current situation.

Note that the plan is intended to be a living document. If you have any questions or comments for us to use in continuing its development, please don't hesitate to contact one of your National Councilmen. We look forward to joining you in making Triangle's success a near-term reality!

TRIANGLE FRATERNITY

Is Serious about Scholarship

Sets and Demonstrates High Standards

Celebrates Achievement