THE EXPONENT: Volume 97, Number 4

News and Commentary for Triangle Leaders

"Brought to you by National Council"

Talk without effort is nothing. --Mary Stewart

Triangle is moving forward. There are new alumni associations, new expansion efforts, new strengthening work being done to make Triangle more relevant and important to its members. The future looks good! Are you moving forward with it?

Recently, I was asked to speak at my home chapter's Founders' Day celebration. I had a great time and want to thank those who attended. You are making Triangle stronger and making it what you need it to be. Unfortunately, one of my Brothers from my era chose not to attend because he felt that he had drifted too far away from Triangle and it wasn't important enough to him anymore. This hurts me personally to the core -- not because I am angry with the Brother for feeling as he does, but because Triangle should be strong enough so that such things just don't happen very often! Triangle is what we make it and it has the potential to be the best organization to which we can belong. Please, join together with your Brothers in making it achieve that potential.

Triangle is about personal development - Intellectually, Socially, and Professionally. By joining in to bring Triangle to the next level, you'll also be building yourself!

Triangle is what we make of it. Will you choose to cultivate it?

Contents

• Brotherhood
  • Size Matters
• Chapter Management
  • Welcome to Your New Job
  • Ten Ways to Be a Better Manager
  • Rush Chairman's Workshop
• Spotlight on Triangle Chapters
• Spotlight on Triangle
• Spotlight on Prominent Triangles
  • Meet Your National Councilmen: Mike Rogers ar79

Size Matters

Tim Eiler minn87

Maybe I'd better define what I mean by expansion. It consists of forming new opportunities for interaction and development/improvement of self and others. That is done by starting new active chapters and alumni associations where either there were none before or where we once had something which has been defunct for a while. It also involves increasing the size and strength of the chapters that are currently part of the Triangle family.

The fraternity has embarked upon a planned, scientific, and aggressive program of expanding Triangle, someday even to places outside the U.S. We intend to found only chapters that have a healthy chance of success and have created a prioritized list of approachable schools. We will contact approximately 10 schools per year with the goal of starting 3-5 new Interest Groups per year. Given that there are about 200 viable schools for us to approach, it will take a while to exhaust our pool! One last note: We also will expect very high standards from these new groups and we will give them the tools and resources required to be able to achieve those standards...just the same as we will do for our current chapters! Also, again like the situation facing our current chapters, if those groups choose not to represent Triangle well, choose not to work to overcome hurdles, choose not to offer a solid and meaningful Triangle experience to its members, we will cease to recognize them. It is not our intention to cut off our nose to spite our face, but we can ill afford a deadweight chapter any more than a chapter can afford to harbor a deadweight member or a body can afford to maintain an appendix about to rupture!

The point is that Triangle needs to grow. In order to put to bed all those questions like "you belong to what?" and in order to be able to more readily and easily find your fellow Brothers no matter where you live or travel, there must be more quality Triangles in the world. We each have a stake in it and a responsibility to make it so. Good luck. I hope to see you someday in that small town in Tennessee! Triangle is Looking For a Few Good Men

To everything there is a season. This season (well, all seasons really), it's time to recruit new members! Alumni, you too can help find new members. There are the obvious men that you can bring in to become Triangles -- the National Honoraries, etc. There are the less obvious ones, too. Did you know that you can help Triangle by recruiting active members? All it takes is a good word or two, some encouragement, and setting a good example of what Triangle men are like. If you know a student about to head off to college to study engineering, architecture, or science, for instance, don't be afraid to bring Triangle up in conversation. Tell the man what a good organization Triangle is and how it will help him in school and after he graduates. Offer to get him in contact with the chapter at the school he'll be attending. If you wish, you can write a recommendation letter to the chapter where he'll be. Let that chapter know something about the prospective member so that they'll be better able to welcome him.

Ultimately, recruitment never stops. Think of it as sales training that never ends! You'll be better for it if you do it. The prospective member will be better for knowing that Triangle exists. Everyone wins!!!

Welcome to Your New Job

excerpt from AFA Perspectives, by Brian Breittholz

I've always been a believer in the expression, "given good information, students will make the right decision." However, I believe one modification should be made and the expression should say, " given good information, students will make the right decision...unless they're busy hazing each other."

Over my nine years in the "business," (since each year in Greek advising is like a dog year, I've in essence completed 63) I've implemented every educational strategy imaginable to combat hazing. Unfortunately, I've met with little success. As I reflect upon my own career choice slouched in my dark car, wearing my Judge Ito costume, praying nobody spots me, a new analogy hits me that can be used with students. What if we compared pledging activities with the training programs students will encounter upon starting their first jobs. Just picture it now...

You're both excited and scared at the same time about starting your new job. Throughout your senior year you interviewed with all the big firms. After receiving many offers, you land the job with the company that seemed perfect. You learned about their mission statement, their vision plan, their comprehensive training program, and the great company benefits from everyone you met during your various interviews and on-site visits. Of all companies, this one seemed to be the perfect match. Each person in the firm seemed genuinely interested in you. During each office visit you felt truly wanted and couldn't wait to start you first day...a whole new world about to begin.

Upon arriving for training, however, things began to change. You're escorted to the training room where you initially meet 25 other new staff members, all of whom remarkably resemble you in an odd way. The boss enters the room, welcomes everybody, and distributes training manuals. Before you begin, he explains, a few "rules of the road" must be reviewed. You're informed of the following:

• From now on, you will be referred to as "Trainee" or "Train" for short. Kind of catchy!
• Trains are not allowed to enter the building from the main entrance - they must earn that right. For now, Trains must enter through the service dock, as a Trainee class, dressed alike, marching in single file, while singing the company fight song.
• Although the office complex is quite spectacular, all Trains are required to work in a small room with dingy old furniture scorched with cigarette burns and windows covered with newspaper.
• Trains must answer the phone within three rings and must greet all callers with a catchy jingle.
• Tests covering training materials will take place at 0700. If one Train fails, they all fail. Make-up exams are administered the next day at 0600 with the same rules applying. If one fails, they all make-up the next exam the following day at 0500, etc. until all pass the appropriate exams.
• When not taking tests in written format, all Trains will be verbally drilled while assembled standing in lines. In addition to the management team drilling you, the janitor, receptionist, and mailroom personnel, all craving power, will take their turns firing questions at you as well.
• Trains are not entitled to the privilege of eating in the company dining room with the other employees, yet must clean everyone else's dishes. If the kitchen doesn't pass inspection, the Trainees will be "decorated" with the leftovers and must then clean themselves and the kitchen with toothbrushes.
• All Trains must interview each staff member to learn about their personal backgrounds and insignificant life experiences. Signatures verifying compliance must be kept on a piece of bark which must accompany the Trains at all times.
• To promote wellness, Trains are required to regularly do push-ups, sit-ups, run several miles, and in general, demonstrate excellent physical fitness.
• Trains are not entitled to their own opinions...after all, they're new to the firm, what would they know?
• At certain company events, Trains are required to consume large quantities of Mad Dog until they blow chunks or pass out - After all, it cleanses the system.
• To promote reflection, Trains are regularly blindfolded and forced to listen to Grateful Dead songs played over and over for hours on end. (Personally, I'd prefer the Captain and Tenille)
• Trains are never allowed to divulge any information about the company's training program to anyone...it's apparently written that way in some company ritual.

The process of being recruited for a job and recruited for a fraternity are actually quite similar. Each actively seek qualified candidates who possess certain skills and values. Graduating seniors want to find a fit, where their skills and contributions will be valued, and where advancement opportunities and growth experiences exist. Yet if they signed on to a company which delivered this form of training, they would be out the door before lunch.

I've attempted all the other educational models which most students publicly agree with but later reject in practice. Perhaps this new analogy will be one that might finally sink in. Or maybe corporate America will develop specialized training programs to meet the specific needs of Greek graduates! Leadership

Ten Ways To Be A Better Manager...

excerpt from the Phi Kappa Psi "Areopagus"

10. DO YOUR JOB. Those in major offices will be looking to see who can get the job done. These are usually few and far between, so by just doing your job, you're bound to impress.

     

9. GET IDEAS FROM OTHER CHAPTERS. Ask around; others may have a program better than yours, or at least ideas about what does and doesn't work. If not, sharing your ideas may help another chapter to survive and grow.

    

8. INVOLVE OTHER GREEK GROUPS. People who are leaders in the Greek system always know people in many different chapters and use this to their advantage. One of the best ways to meet and interact with people in different chapters is to involve them in an activity you plan.

    

7. MEET THE GREEK LIFE STAFF. Greek Life has tons of resource materials for your office and for chapter programs. Be among the few who truly take advantage of this opportunity. The staff is probably a better resource than those who held your office before you, as they have accumulated the knowledge of hundreds of chapters across the country and from years at your campus.

    

6. PUT YOURSELF IN OTHER OFFICERS' SHOES. You know how hard it is to run a meeting when people are talking. You should also know how frustrating it is to plan an event and have everyone complain about having to attend or, worse, not showing up at all. Knowing this, when another officer is having trouble, come to his aid. People will remember this.

    

5. COMMUNICATE YOUR GOALS AND INVOLVE THE MEMBERSHIP. People want to feel part of what's going on, not just blindly show up for an event. Involve them as much as possible in the planning and explain the event's benefits to them directly. Involve other committees in your event, use publicity, have the secretary send a note to the fraternity's headquarters to let them know what you're doing. The more people who feel they have a direct stake in an event and who feel its success is partially due to their efforts, the easier it is to pull it off.

    

4. WRITE EVERYTHING DOWN. Leave a legacy for the person who comes after you. Don't take it with you to the next office and force your successor to reinvent the wheel - especially if you have started something you want to keep going. Along these lines, it makes officer transition much easier when you have notes to go over, rather than struggling to remember everything you did.

    

3. CONGRATULATE PEOPLE. When people do things wrong, you're certainly going to let them know, so make sure you do the same when they do things right. Look for the things that members are doing right; find the littlest things and let them know you noticed. Also, make sure your criticisms are constructive; stop before you criticize and imagine what your reaction would be if the criticism were made to you. The way you treat people is paramount in terms of your image in the chapter. You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.

    

2. BRAINSTORM. If you have an office or are on a committee, don't confine yourself to what was done before - even if it's considered to be the best office or committee in the chapter. There's always room for improvement. Involve others in brainstorming sessions and you'll be surprised at the number of ideas that come out of it. Remember that you aren't the only one with the right answer.

    

1. STAND UP FOR YOUR BELIEFS. This may not come up in every office or committee, but when it does, do your best to smooth the waters, but don't buckle under pressure. You have to remember that not everyone is in the Greek system (or even your chapter) to make it better for everyone; some are there to have a good time and anything that gets in their way will be met with resistance or anger. Trust your instincts and stand firm.

After a membership review that removed three-fourths of the members, the chapter is stronger than ever, celebrating three terms of the largest pledge classes on campus and the highest campus GPA. It just proves that there are leaders at every campus looking for something better than the average chapter! It also goes to show how much can be accomplished once the "dead weight" is removed from the shoulders of goal-oriented members. Management

Rush Chairman's Workshop

excerpt from TKE fraternity Recruitment Manual

• we're looking for quality, not quantity
• the Interfraternity Council didn't help us
• so and so fraternity dirty rushed
• we have too many legacies
• headquarters didn't send us any help
• our best rushers graduated
• rushees aren't the quality they were last year
• with deferred rush, so many that we wanted didn't make grades for rush.
• the rush chairman didn't do his job, he just wasn't organized.
• all the other groups are talking against us
• our new house and high bills scare the rushees
• we can't drink in the house
• the alumni messed up our bid session
• the seniors didn't like the top rushees and we couldn't bid the ones we knew well
• we worked on campus activities and scholarships this year, not rush
• our goal was too high

• rush philosophy was not well defined
• weak planning in less structured rush
• total membership wasn't involved in the planning and activities
• little interest in open rush
• no plan for catch-up rush
• little concern for recruiting commuter students
• poorly organized and executed selection sessions
• no understanding of decision making process for rushees and chapter (mutual selection)
• poor image and self concept on part of members of the chapter
• little alumni support..in recommendations, local resources, leadership
• poor use of headquarters resources, manuals, procedures
• little creativity in activities, leadership, communication of "why fraternity?"
• members didn't know how to make a commitment without oral bidding, felt rushees didn't know they liked them.
• did things just like last year because they worked so well

We recently received a nice letter from the University of Kansas indicating that the KU chapter scored second most improved GPA for the Fall 95 to Fall 96 year, had the 3rd highest chapter GPA for Spring 96 and 2nd highest for Fall 96 (nice trend), and had the 2nd highest new member GPA for Fall 96. We wish them continued and improved success for the future. Congratulations, Brothers!

The MSU chapter reports that they have "moved in and taken the MSU Triangle House back from the boarders and have made it a home as it should be." They are having fun together and building strength internally, though they would like to have more recruitment success in the near future. Finally, they intend to hold a Chapter Retreat and Adventure Camp in late May/early June. We wish them continued luck! They are an example of perseverance and Brotherhood for us all!

Programs
You can now find information about Triangle's new strategic plan on Triangle's WWW site. For those of you in the active chapters, who are part of the group of National Volunteers, or who are officers in Triangle's new alumni associations, you should already have seen the details Council developed to make this plan and the plan itself. If you haven't, contact your chapter officers or the National Headquarters to get them. For everyone else, please take a look at the materials on the WWW. We think you'll find them interesting and informative. This plan belongs to all of Triangle, since it is intended to improve all of Triangle for all of us and those in the future! Part of taking ownership of the plan is to know and understand it. Triangle is about personal development of each member - Intellectually, Socially, and Professionally. Won't you take time to develop yourself? National Council would love to hear any and all feedback you can give us about the plan or anything else it has put in motion! Take part in Triangle - it is YOUR fraternity and will be what you make of it!

By the time National Convention rolls around this year, there is a distinct probability that Triangle will once again own its own headquarters building. This is intended to increase the stability of Triangle and to reduce our operating overhead costs so that we can direct the money saved into more programming for our members. We believe the property that has been chosen is one that Triangles everywhere can have a sense of pride about. This, our new National Chapter house, is a former library building of the arts and crafts style and was built in 1913. It's a beautiful building that easily accomplishes all the objectives we set forth for it! We hope to have moved in by mid-summer and there are only two more small hurdles in our way -- the seller has already accepted our offer!

Have you ever wondered what NIC is? In many ways, NIC is the National Fraternity of National Fraternities. Since 1909, the North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) has been serving the men's college fraternity community in Canada and the US. Through 63 member Fraternities (Triangle is a senior member), the NIC represents almost 4.5 million alumni and 400,000 college students in over 5,500 chapter on more than 800 college campuses. The NIC advocates the needs of fraternity through the enrichment of the Greek experience, advancement and growth of the fraternities, and enhancement of the educational mission of the host institutions. The NIC provides numerous resources and services to member fraternities and college campuses. The resources NIC provides are designed to be used by alumni, fraternity, staff members, campus professionals, and students in the development of strong undergraduate chapters and individual leaders. For a comprehensive list of the resources available, please contact the National Headquarters. PeopleTriangle is always in a recruitment mode. First, we recruit prospective members. Next, we recruit men who wish to be chapter leaders. From among the alumni, we also need to recruit men to be chapter board members, alumni association members and officers, and National Volunteers. If you'd like to be one of those, please contact Brother This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , chairman of this year's National Council Recruitment Committee. He'll be happy to hear from you and can point you in the right direction! RemindersNational Convention will be held in Minneapolis from August 9-12 this year. If you haven't done so already, won't you please register? This is going to be one of the best Triangle Conventions in anyone's memory! We think you'll want to be there. For more information about the programming, events, and costs for Convention, please check out Triangle's WWW site at http://www.triangle.org/ -- you'll find much more information about this excellent opportunity there.

Meet Your National Councilmen: Mike Rogers ar79
Greetings to my fellow brothers in Triangle Fraternity. My name is Mike Rogers (Ar79) and I currently serve the Fraternity as a national volunteer and as an elected member of your National Council.

I am 36 years old and I live in beautiful downtown Burbank, California with my wife Kristin. Far from my hometown of Chicago, I'm learning to enjoy this town of unseasonably good weather and bad air quality which, I'm sure, will never truly be considered my home. From my first marriage, I have two children - Sara (11) and Daniel (8) - who live in Chicago with their mother.

I have worked for Harza Engineering Company since 1979 when I joined the firm through the cooperative education program at Illinois Institute of Technology. I am a civil engineer working for a company that specializes in dams and water resource projects, including hydroelectric power. My specialty is the safety assessment of existing dams and preparation of emergency action plans. I've traveled quite a bit, including a year-long assignment in Cairo, Egypt and several short term assignments in Russia, Taiwan, and Mexico. I enjoy working on the design and rehabilitation of dams and I get my thrill in seeing projects go from the drawing board to a constructed project.

I moved to California in May, 1995, after Harza acquired a small earthquake engineering company in Los Angeles which we are using to expand our corporate influence to southern California, Arizona, and Mexico. My current position is Branch Office Manager for the Los Angeles office and our new San Diego office which officially opened up April 1st (no fooling:). I am also in charge of corporate business development in California and I manage several ongoing engineering projects for clients such as Southern California Edison, Los Angeles County and the Irvine Ranch Water District.

Triangle has been a constant thread of stability through the many ups and downs in my personal and professional lives. The people of best character whom I know are all Triangles and many of them are my friends. I feel that I have learned much through my years as part of the Triangle family, especially as an officer at the undergraduate, alumni board, and national levels. Many situations which have arisen in my professional career, including people, business and management challenges were situations which I had first encountered in the Triangle environment. This has allowed me to continue to learn and to be comfortable in the business environment.

I stay involved in the Fraternity because the best people I know are truly Triangles and I enjoy being associated with them. I work for the Fraternity in an effort to maintain the Triangle environment for our countless brothers - current and future - which I feel has helped me to maintain a sense of stability in my life.

As I continue to learn from Triangle and enjoy my participation, I can truly say that Triangle offers much more as an alumnus than as an undergraduate. Therefore, I encourage those brothers who are preparing to graduate to remain close to Triangle and look for chances to tap our shared resource of friends, opportunities and good times. I offer my best wishes to you all in F.S. & C.

RELENTLESS pursuit of EXCELLENCE!!!

TRIANGLE FRATERNITY

Is Serious about Scholarship

Sets and Demonstrates High Standards

Celebrates Achievement