Triangle - 2000 June

Home

2000 June

THE EXPONENT: Volume 00, Number 5

"Be distinct or become extinct"--Peter Drucker

When I was an active, we didn't have new-fangled technology like pencils so we had to write in our own blood AND WE LIKED IT. Oh, sorry, wrong story...

When I was an active, we often said about Triangle that it was "Greek but unique." It was meant to tell ourselves and the world that our Fraternity captured the best parts of what Greek Letter Organizations offered, at the same time we offered more, including some things that few, if any, GLO's could ever offer. That's as important a concept today as it was a decade ago. Are you giving a Triangle Fraternity to the world that captures the best of what fraternity should be about? Do you and others think of your Fraternity as distinct?

By the way, Br. Jason Moulden marq95 has volunteered to be an associate editor of this newsletter. Jason will be writing articles and coordinating an issue or two in the future, so look for his stuff. I'm sure he'll bring a fresh perspective and some creative ideas! Thanks and welcome, Jason! Dave Prentice tamu87 also remains an associate editor, so we now have a great team!!!

Contents

The Boys of Summer: Tim Eiler minn87

Is your chapter and chapter house prepared to weather another summer?

Ensure that door locks, on both external and internal doors, are functioning properly.: No matter who's living in the chapter property during the summer, it's a safe bet that they want protection for themselves and their property during their stay. Summer's a time when the chapter house will have fewer folks around, thus fewer deterrents for the immoral members of society who think "community property" applies to your stuff. Give 'em the privacy they deserve (of course, having properly functioning locks won't hurt you during the school year either).
Make certain your Brotherhood levels are "topped off" prior starting on the summer.: At least some of the Brothers won't be as physically close together during the summer. That means it's a good idea to leave each other with the proverbial "goodbye hug." Do something fun together before you all go off in different directions, increase the hours you each spend at work, etc. It'll make coming back together in the Fall a lot easier. If you don't use "having fun" as a euphemism for "get sh**faced" (we really think you'll have more fun if you don't), then you may actually remember it as one of your most fond memories of your time in the chapter, too.
Hide your valuables.: If you can't figure out the reason for this one on your own, well, here are some instructions for you: Breathe in...Breathe out...Repeat.
Close all the windows.: Someone should inspect the property to ensure that all its openings to the world are closed to weather and burglars, as well as to identify any physical plant problems that need repair.
Take good notes.: If your chapter house will be accepting boarders, even Brotherly boarders, over the summer, it's a good idea to ensure that the boarders each sign a lease agreement. No one should just draft such an agreement "on the back of a dirty table napkin", though. Ensure that the alumni board runs it by an attorney first.

Don't Know Much 'Bout Geography...: American Counsel on Education, The American Freshman, National Norms for Fall 1995

Every year the American Counsel on Education studies entering college freshmen and establishes a series of national norms that characterize the entering class. The norms for Fall 1995 offer some insight into the career plans of the freshman class. These are some of the findings:

The highest percentage of college freshman in any career-plans category was `undecided' (11.9 %).
Of those who had decided on a career, the largest group hoped to become business execs (7.3 %).
The third highest career objective was engineer (6.4 %), and the fourth was physician (5.7 %).
5.5 % aspired to become elementary teachers, and 4.4 % chose physical, occupational, or speech therapist.

A quick overview of the entering freshmen's education plans:

Over 27 % of college freshman plan to complete a baccalaureate degree.
More than half that number project themselves earning a Ph.D. or Ed.D.
More than a third of all entering freshman believe they will earn a master's degree.

It is informative to compare the entering college freshmen's educational aspirations with the levels of education they are likely to achieve. According to The Condition of Education, 1995:

The proportion of the total population 18 years old and older that holds bachelor's degrees is 12.5 percent; and the highest percent of any age group holding bachelor's degrees is the 25 to 34 years old age group - 17.4 percent hold bachelor's degrees.
Only six tenths of 1 percent of the population holds doctoral degrees - eight-tenths of the 35 to 44 years old age group.
And 4.2 percent of the total population holds a masters degree - 7.6 percent of those ages 35 to 44 years old.

Stop Your Fearful Braying in Six Easy Steps: Jim DeBrabander tsu90

This parable is told of a farmer who owned an old mule.

The mule fell into the farmer's well. The farmer heard the mule 'praying' or- whatever mules do when they fall into wells. After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer sympathized with the mule, but decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth the trouble of saving.

Instead,he called his neighbors together, told them what had happened...and enlisted them to help haul dirt to bury the old mule in the well and put him out of his misery.

Initially, the old mule was hysterical! But as the farmer and his neighbors continued shoveling and the dirt hit his back...a thought struck him. It suddenly dawned on him that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back...

HE WOULD SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP!

This he did, blow after blow. "Shake it off and step up...shake it off and step up...shake it off and step up!" He repeated to encourage himself. No matter how painful the blows, or how distressing the situation seemed the old mule fought "panic" and just kept right on SHAKING IT OFF AND STEPPING UP!

It wasn't long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, STEPPED TRIUMPHANTLY OVER THE WALL OF THAT WELL! What seemed like It would bury him actually helped him...all because of the manner in which He handled his adversity.

THAT'S LIFE! If we face our problems and respond to them positively, and refuse to give in to panic, bitterness, or self-pity THE ADVERSITIES THAT COME ALONG TO BURY US USUALLY HAVE WITHIN THEM THE VERY REAL POTENTIAL TO BENEFIT US!

"Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that amateurs built the ark, while professionals built the Titanic."

Brotherhood: George Griffin ok78

There are a number of things that I find unsettling about the communiques coming from [chapter x]. It is unfortunate that there appears to be a less than optimal climate in which to operate a fraternity. [this article addresses an email sent to the Triangle mailing list. The names have been anonymized to protect the guilty. ;-) ed]

If the problems are outside the realm of what the active organization can resolve, ask council of your alumni or of your National representatives. Do this before it is too late.

What I read between the lines here is that there is a rift in the active organization, with the pledges demonstrating a large degree of unity while the same cannot be said for the initiated. Team building and a sense of unity is a large part of the Triangle experience.

You are not supposed to agree on everything, but everything should be done on a consensus basis. Even the dissenters on an issue must take ownership of the results of the decision of the majority or you have no consensus. You are going to have to work through your differences or you will have a ruling faction and one or more oppressed factions. This is not good.

What is in danger of happening is this: you will wake up one day to find that Triangle isn't fun anymore. It is too much like a duty. That becomes the attitude of you and of your brothers, who cease to act much like brothers. You still hold up hope that things will be better some day so you continue to have social events and you continue to rush. The problem is, the social events become more an excuse to drink than a festive occasion and few recruits sign their bid cards. And most of those who do eventually change their minds.

It's happened to my chapter at least twice. It can (and has been) be turned around. It can be fixed NOW if you want it to be.

First, raise Triangle to a level of something higher than self. Make it fun again. Genuinely enjoy the people whom you live with. No scapegoats; no excuses. Work out your differences -- no open flames. What does an open flame buy you but criticism? It doesn't solve anything. It drives an existing wedge deeper.

I will tell you that before I let that happen to my chapter again, the alumni board would take swift action to get to the roots of any rift. That could mean that somebody walks. It could mean that everybody walks.

Are You My Leader?: Fast Company, June 1999

This article introduces the "Company of Leaders" approach to grassroots leadership. This model stresses the need to have leaders at all levels & in all functions of the organization; focuses on the need for learning, listening, coaching, & experimenting; & emphasizes the need for leaders who can network with other leaders - so that they can create more leaders. What follows are the 12 instructions that were provided.

LEADERS ARE BOTH CONFIDENT & MODEST. Sure, you need a healthy ego to lead--but you also need to be strong enough to check it at the door. Being a leader is not about making yourself more powerful. It's about making the people around you more powerful.
LEADERS ARE AUTHENTIC. You earn the trust & respect of the people you work with when you know who you are--and when you walk your talk. Who believes in leaders who don't believe in themselves?
LEADERS ARE LISTENERS. & great listening is fueled by curiosity. It's hard to be a great listener if you're not curious about other people. What's the enemy of curiosity. Grandiosity--the belief that you have all the answers.
LEADERS ARE GOOD AT GIVING ENCOURAGEMENT, & THEY ARE NEVER SATISFIED. Leaders are always raising the stakes of the game for themselves & for their people. That means that they're always testing & building both courage & stamina throughout the organization.
LEADERS MAKE UNEXPECTED CONNECTIONS. They organize & lead conversations among people who don't normally interact with each other, & they see the kinds of patterns that allow for small innovations & breakthrough ideas.
LEADERS PROVIDE DIRECTION. But that's different from providing answers. No single leader is smart enough to know everything about where markets are going, how technology is changing, what competitors are plotting. But smart leaders do know to pose revealing questions. Important reminder: You're not in control, & you're not really in charge--but you are in touch, & you are out front.
LEADERS PROTECT THEIR PEOPLE FROM DANGER--& EXPOSE THEM TO REALITY. The dirty little secret of life in organizations: Most people want leaders to insulate them from change, rather than mobilize them to face it. That's why leadership is so dangerous.
LEADERS MAKE CHANGE--& STAND FOR VALUES THAT DON'T CHANGE. One job of a leader is to help people identify what habits & assumptions must be changed for the company to prosper--& to ask, "Which values & operations are so central to our core that if we lose them, we lose ourselves?"
LEADERS LEAD BY EXAMPLE. They use small gestures to send big messages. Leaders have a fundamental obligation to live their lives according to the principles they espouse. Remember: As a leader, are always under a microscope.
LEADERS DON'T BLAME--THEY LEARN. Even the smartest businesspeople around make mistakes. Remember when Bill Gates decided that the Internet wouldn't have a big impact on Microsoft's business? These days, the right mind-set is an experimental mind-set: Try, fail, learn, & try again.
LEADERS LOOK FOR & NETWORK WITH OTHER LEADERS. Want to make yourself even more effective as a leader? Want to heighten your influence & deepen your impact? Stop playing the role of the Lone Ranger! Look for allies, network with like-minded colleagues--& help those people to become better leaders. Remember: It's lonely at the top only if you place yourself on a pedestal.
THE JOB OF THE LEADER: MAKE MORE LEADERS. After you use this kit to make yourself a leader, look around your organization. Do you see enough leaders at all levels to keep you company changing & charging into the future? Remember: The team with the most & best leaders wins! Your ultimate task is not just to be a leader--it's to make more leaders.