THE TRIANGLE GROWTH INITIATIVE
Struggling Smaller Chapters Get Needed Support

Growth is important to our Fraternity. As a National Organization, we are continuing to evaluate opportunities to restart closed chapters and open chapters at places where we have not been before.

At a local level, we want our members in each and every chapter to:

• Increase the likelihood of meeting one another after graduation
• Grow Triangle
• Help create in my chapter home an environment in which enduring friendships may be formed
• Pay the price of success in honest effort
• Develop themselves personally and professionally
• Have enough brothers to build and sustain the Triangle experience at each and every chapter

While we look ahead to expand to new campuses, we're also taking a hard look at our existing "footprint." We recognize that it has been particularly difficult for our smaller chapters over the last few years to sustain themselves. Over this past summer alone, two of our chapters - the Northern Illinois University Chapter and the Colorado State University Chapter - have had to close the doors of their chapter homes and sell or contemplate the sale of these houses. Both of these chapters are still operating but with a small number of men. Three other chapters over the past two years have had to have similar conversations - the Ohio State University Chapter of Triangle, the University of Minnesota Chapter Of Triangle, and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Chapter of Triangle.

These chapters are hurting in two ways:

1. The chapter and its members cannot carry the financial burden of operating a fraternity chapter and/or chapter home because of the lack of members to share the costs;
2. They are losing out on the many benefits of brotherhood because of a lack of members.

The leadership of Triangle, the National Council, is concerned and wants to prevent other chapters and brothers from suffering the same fate. In response, the National Council adopted the Chapter Growth Policy. In implementing the Policy, the National Council and staff desire to partner with our struggling chapters and help them grow, versus simply setting standards and watching chapters either sink or swim. Here’s what we’re providing to help Triangle meet the challenges:

• Now through the spring of 2007 (our 100th Anniversary), it is of paramount importance that we help our struggling chapters. We currently have 14 chapters who have less than 25 brothers. The National Fraternity will be assisting each of these chapters tackle their recruitment challenges and help them reach the goal of having 25 men by February 30, 2007.
• A challenge has been issued to the active chapters:  grow the organization 100 new members (pledges) by our 100th birthday on April 15, 2007.
• Our National Council will evaluate the progress of each chapter during the spring of 2007, assess the viability of maintaining the chapter, and determine our next course of action.

We are dedicated to helping our smaller chapters build their membership and reap the benefits that come from maintaining a healthy chapter size. If you share the same commitment and would like to get involved in the Triangle Growth Initiative, please contact Brian Tenclinger at brian@triangle.org.