Phi Kappa Tau Blog

[modorney]

Grab a Cup of Coffee and Recruit a Board of Governors •December 1, 2011 • Leave a Comment
By: Coordinator of Volunteer Development Tyler Wash, Georgetown ’06

“I would like a venti, caramel, iced mocha, latte coffee with three sugars, two pumps of peppermint flavoring and whipped cream … and could you make that fat free?”

Have you ever gone to Starbucks and heard someone order that? I, myself, enjoy coffee … black. Now, sometimes I do enjoy iced coffee, but I try to stick with plain and simple (now, to be honest, a lot of that derives from my inability to pronounce many of the words found on the menu).

The fact is that people have so many options when it comes to coffee that they now have the ability to make their coffee taste just about any way they want. While I do not partake in many of the options available to me at Starbucks, I do find comfort in knowing that there are options out there, if I ever do decide to try something new.

As a result of the implementation of the Board of Governors Certification Policy, a majority of Phi Kappa Tau’s Boards of Governors will need to start the process of volunteer recruitment. Whether the objective is to find one volunteer to serve as the alumni advisor or to recruit and train an entire board, some recruitment will be occurring and I can guarantee that a different strategy will be needed for every board because each board is different and each group of alumni (chapter and area) is different. But don’t worry, there are options!

Some board recruitment plans will resemble black coffee while others will resemble an iced, caramel, peppermint latte with whipped cream. Others will look so different, they will resemble green tea. The good news is that we have been preparing for this day. From the addition of Marty Dunning, Kentucky ’07, as the volunteer development consultant to the creation of the Board of Governors A.I.D. program (Appeal, Identify, Develop) to stock recruitment letters and e-mails, we are ready to take on any order, regardless of how many extra pumps of peppermint flavoring we will need.

When you walk into Starbucks, you have to be ready to order or else you will get confused. So, to make Board of Governors recruitment simple, just follow this short process:

Identify the need
Contact your Domain Director
The Domain Director will develop a plan
Work through the plan with your Domain Director
*If your area does not currently have a Domain Director, don’t worry. The Executive Offices staff is currently in a heavy recruitment phase to staff each domain. In lieu of a Domain Director, contact the Executive Offices staff directly ([e-mail]).

Now how much simpler can this be? As soon as you identify the need for board recruitment, simply contact your Domain Director and he will contact the Executive Offices. We will develop the recruitment plan and everyone will work through it together. We can’t do it for you (sorry), but we will be there working with you each step of the way.

Grab a cup of coffee (any way you like it) and let’s all get to work recruiting fully staffed Boards of Governors!

Posted in Board of Governors
Tags: Domain Director, Volunteer Recruitment
Get Mad •November 9, 2011 • Leave a Comment
By: Expansion Coordinator Alex Koehler, Mount Union ’07

If you haven’t already done so, go out and pick up the November 2011 issue of SPIN magazine. Not only because brother Patton Oswalt, William & Mary ’89, is the guest editor of the issue, but because on the final page he details what leadership is really all about.

To close the issue, Patton writes an encore titled “Get Mad, Get Even.” In it he talks about how early in his career it would enrage him to see which comedians and musicians were featured in the the magazines he read, while he and his friends were left out.

Without the desire to do something about it, he never would have done anything. I repeat: Without the desire to do something, he never would have done anything.

It amazes me how many people over the past few months have talked about getting frustrated with what they are doing and quitting. Whether that is Phi Tau, sports, a project for work or school, or even a relationship, a leader challenges themselves to conquer the mountains that arise in their life. They challenge themselves to rise to the top.

So the next time you are pissed off about something, instead of quitting, try doing something about it. You may overcome the greatest obstacle in your life thus far, and reap rewards far greater than you ever imagined. Within Phi Tau, when you start challenging yourself and conquering obstacles, accolades will present themselves–scholarships, awards and authentic brotherhood, just to name a few.

Patton Oswalt has a new movie coming out in December. He stars alongside Charlize Theron.

Without the desire to do something, he never would have done anything.

Resources:
Scholarships
Awards

[modorney]

Who’s on the Court? •December 13, 2011 • 1 Comment
By: Resource and Expansion Consultant Jason Sweet, Saginaw Valley State ’09

“Jordan, Jordan, a drive, hangs … fires … SCORES! HE SCORES! The Bulls lead 87-86 with five and two-tenths left, and now they’re one stop away!”

I can still hear Neil Funk of the Bulls’ radio network yelling with elation as the Chicago Bulls took the one-point lead in Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals over the Utah Jazz and capped off (at that time) Michael Jordan’s illustrious career in the NBA, with his sixth and final NBA Championship.

Jordan is arguably the greatest person to ever play the game of basketball, however, his championships did not come until the last six years of a 14-year career (which eventually became 17 years after a brief comeback with the Washington Wizards). So why then did he fail to win more championships? After all, he was the best.

I would argue, though I’m sure some would disagree with me, that this is because he did not have the right people on the court with him, and he did not have the correct coach to lead the team.

Fraternity has the same dynamic.

Every chapter has a leader, whether that is the president or another member, there is someone who sets the tone for the rest of the group. In successful situations, this person is just like Michael Jordan. On his own he can be extremely good, but without the right supporting cast, he can never be great and the team can never reach its pinnacle.

What role do you play?

Are you Michael Jordan, the superstar? Scottie Pippen, the always dependable No. 2? Dennis Rodman, the grinder? Steve Kerr, the court general? Or are you Phil Jackson, the mastermind and coach?

While an undergraduate, you affect what happens on the court. As an alumnus, possibly even as a member of the BOG, you are the one who puts the game plan in place and coaches our young men to success, because you can no longer dictate success from the front lines.

In fraternity, as in basketball, it’s necessary to have all the right people. It begins with recruitment (drafting, trades and free agency), continues through membership orientation (coaching) and is enhanced through our alumni dedication (mentoring and practice).

Put all of these pieces together and you have put your fraternity on track to succeed … to be the best.

Take a hard look, does your fraternity have the right people on the court?

No?

I challenge you to make it happen.

Resources:
Member Orientation
Good to Great Retreats
Volunteer Certification

[modorney]

On Family •December 21, 2011 • 1 Comment
By: Resource and Recruitment Coordinator Ray Sophie, Southern Illinois ’08


The Phi Kappa Tau Executive Offices staff after the 2011 Conclave.
As the holiday season kicks into high gear, I thought it pertinent to talk about family. As someone who is lucky enough to have two loving parents, a great brother, two sets of grandparents, a beautiful girlfriend, and a whole host of wonderful cousins, aunts, and uncles, I am excited to relax, re-energize, and re-engage with the people in my life whom I love most.

What makes these holidays even more special is the ability to spend time with my immediate family, as well as my extended family. You see, I have been blessed with the gifts of brotherhood and fellowship, gifts that have continued to keep on giving.

I am excited to see my brothers from high school. Although communication has been sporadic since graduation, I know that as soon as we are all together, we will reforge the bonds that we created over so many years. In our high school swim team’s creed, which we repeated before every meet, we affirmed that “we are committed to each other, we are a family.” These men are my brothers in the truest of forms.

I am excited to see my high school coach, who has made me the man I am today because he pushed me to be the best individual I could be, to reach my potential no matter how hard the path, because he cared enough to tell me to shut up and work harder.

I am excited to see my chapter brothers, who gave me the gift of family when I struck out on my own. They helped me figure out how to be myself at a time when I didn’t know that answer to that question. Without them, I don’t know where I would be today. I relish every moment I get to to spend with them, whether it’s telling war stories or creating new memories when reunited.

I am excited to see my co-workers at the Phi Kappa Tau Executive Offices. Their passion for making this Fraternity reach its maximum potential everyday is a daily inspiration for me, especially now that I live thousands of miles away and miss out on those daily interactions that drive me to be the best possible version of myself.

As you approach the holidays, I hope you can take some time over egg nog and turkey to reflect on not only how special your immediate family is, but also those extended family members who are impacting your life in a positive way. Whether it’s fraternity brothers, high school coaches and friends, or other people that have guided you in your journey that is life, I hope you get a chance to appreciate what they have done for you.

To all those immediate and extended family members, thank you for being awesome and taking your time to be a part of my life.

To me, family is the greatest gift a person can give.

Resources:
Ritual Retreats
phikappatau.org/programs/good-to-great-retreats/ritual-retreats.html
Mark of Distinction Facilitator Guide
phikappatau.org/images/stories/Mark_of_Distinction/FACILITATOR_GUIDE--FINAL.pdf
Phi Kappa Tau Foundation

[modorney]

To New Beginnings •January 4, 2012 • 1 Comment
By: Expansion Coordinator Alex Koehler, Mount Union ’07

“What are you going to do when you get to the real world?”

You seniors have undoubtedly heard these words hundres of times. Maybe thousands. Throughout my undergraduate years I heard them so often that I began to wonder …

What is the major difference between college and life after graduation that everyone keeps alluding to?

People tend to overwhelmingly approach college with one of two general mindsets:

These are my last four years of freedom, OR
This is an opportunity to grow and take the necessary steps to become the best person I can be
If we approach college with the initial mentality, we are more likely to perpetuate the angst-ridden attitude of the burden that “real life” presents. I hope you look at college as a comprehensive opportunity. The opportunity to challenge yourself, have fun, try new things, meet people who will become a keystone in your life, learn about things you never knew you were interested in, and make a genuine difference through values-based leadership. Raising money for charity—that is real. Creating change through your actions—that is real. Visiting a country lacking in food and water—that is real.

The “real world” is not as scary when you use your days as an opportunity to prepare for it.

Honestly, the phitaublog contributors do not have it all figured out. Far from it. Our hope is simple: to catalyze your thoughts. I want you to challenge yourself to make every year better than your last, even while overcoming obstacles you can’t control. Never settle for the attitude of living in the past and wishing you could be back in college. Open your arms to your current life.

This new year, take this message to heart. Commit to finding your passion. Commit to living your life with higher ideals. Commit to excellence. Especially those of you who are wrapping up your undergraduate years or starting your last semester. Make this one the best. And make life after college even better.

Thank you all for reading the phitaublog in our inaugural year! We look forward to making this year even better. Without you, the words don’t matter.

So, stay tuned. Over the course of this month, all bloggers will be sharing their New Year’s resolutions!

Resources:
Leadership for Life, The Exchange
www.phikappatau.org/learning/pkt-u.html

[modorney]

A New Year’s Ambition •January 10, 2012 • Leave a Comment
By: Resource and Expansion Consultant Jason Sweet, Saginaw Valley State ’09

I want you to visualize something with me for a minute. Dig deep in your memories for a two particular images.

Visualize the workout room at your school or local gym during the FIRST week of the new year. What does it look like? I’m willing to bet it’s so packed that you have to wait 10 minutes just to get onto a machine you’ve used consistently since August.
Now I want you to visualize that same workout room or gym a month or so after the new year. Anything seem different? I’ll bet there has been quite a change. That 10-minute wait has probably turned into free reign of the place.
That visualization stresses my point. New Year’s resolutions, no matter what they are, have a tendancy to lose appeal after awhile, and individuals lose their motivation just a few short weeks or months into the new year. This is not to say that this happens to everyone, but wouldn’t you agree that you know more people (maybe even yourself) who have started and stopped a resolution than people who have committed fully to their resolution for the entire year?

I myself have never had any luck following through with my resolutions, and in recent years, I’ve given up even making one. This year however is different!

I am re-tooling the idea. No longer will I look at it as a resolution. From now on I will set a New Year’s ambition. Within the definition of “ambition” it is stated that it will take “a strong desire” and “determination and hard work.” To me, these things make a year-long achievement worth persuing, simply for the satisfaction of knowing I did my best for something I am truly passionate about.

So this year, my New Year’s ambition is to put the lives of others first and to do everything I can to bring them happiness.

This came to me when, after a hard look in the mirror, I realized that while I may be a good person, I have been selfish most of my life. It is time to dedicate myself to better serving the things and people who mean the most in my life: my friends, family and Fraternity. However, it does not stop there.

There are so many people in the world that I will never come in contact with, but through one act of kindness, I may indirectly affect someone’s life.

The ultimate act of community service comes from the deeds we do for others. It is time that I step up and face the music. One person truly can make a difference. It is my New Year’s ambition to be that difference.

Resources:
Founders Month of Service
The Association of Hole in the Wall Camps
www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-association-of-hole-in-the-wall-camps-founded-by-paul-newman-becomes-seriousfun-childrens-network-145892245.html

[modorney]

It Takes Work •January 12, 2012 • Leave a Comment
By: Volunteer Development Consultant Marty Dunning, Kentucky ’07

Last semester, I drove up to St. Cloud State University in Minnesota to attend Delta Epsilon chapter’s initiation and facilitate a Ritual Retreat. In case you haven’t checked your map lately, St. Cloud is not very close to Oxford, Ohio. In fact, it takes about 14 hours to drive there.

Normally, I would have taken this opportunity to crank up the stereo and sing obnoxiously at the top of my lungs. Instead, I decided to do something that might be somewhat productive, seeing as a music career isn’t on the horizon for me.

I had a total of three audiobooks sitting in my car as I began the journey to St. Cloud: Simon Sinek’s “Start with Why,” “Learn in your Car: French,” and John C. Maxwell’s “Today Matters: 12 Daily Practices to Guarantee Tomorrow’s Success.” Of these three books, the one that I actually finished was the last one by Maxwell.

In Maxwell’s book, he identifies 12 areas in life that everyone should strive to improve daily. This daily dozen consists of attitude, priorities, health, family, thinking, commitment, finances, faith, relationships, generosity, values and growth. Maxwell suggests identifying three of these areas you do well and one you really need to improve on, and working on those four in particular for daily improvement.

Being my usual self, I got really excited and decided that this was how I was going to become a better person … only to forget it after about a month.

This isn’t the first time this is has happened to me either. I get excited after reading a leadership book, going to a conference, taking a class and looking at the opportunity that lays in front of me, but the excitement usually fades. It’s the work that comes along afterwards that does me in.

This brings me to my New Year’s resolution. I know I have a long way to go to becoming the man I want to be, but I won’t get there unless I start working today.

With life in general, target the things that aren’t working and figure out a way to improve them. This may be a problem with a friend that can be resolved by talking it out. Maybe it’s an issue with weight, where you know it’s diet and exercise that is going to help you out.

Maybe the issue is within your chapter. Talk to an advisor; they’re there for you. Look to your brothers nationwide because someone else has probably encountered the same thing. It may take a conversation, a retreat or some other form of WORK, but it’s not going to get better unless someone (you) steps up to do it.

This isn’t Hogwarts. Nothing ever magically fixes itself.

We can all be happier, better individuals if we just start working today for the tomorrow we want.

Posted in Board of Governors, Bylaws, Communications, Community Service, Finance, Membership, Membership Orientation, National Participation, Philanthropy, Recruitment, Reporting, Risk Management, Ritual, Scholarship
Tags: Building Men of Character Retreat, New Year's Resolution, Work

[modorney]

Dreaming of Leadership •January 17, 2012 • Leave a Comment
By: Coordinator of Volunteer Development Tyler Wash, Georgetown ’06

In 1982, President Ronald Regan stood in the White House Rose Garden and signed a bill that created Martin Luther King Jr. Day, honoring the life of King and the values he embodied: civil rights, equality and nonviolent activism.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed every year on the third Monday of January. While that day was chosen because of King’s Jan. 15th birthday, I find the date most relevant because of its proximity to the start of a new year.

Every New Year’s Day, people’s minds turn to setting new year’s resolutions … or to put it another way: tactics to improve themselves. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is not only a day to remember the past and honor a man, but it also a time where we can refocus ourselves and dream about how we want to better ourselves, our community, our Fraternity, and our nation.

How do we better ourselves, our community, our Fraternity and our nation? Simple. Be a leader! To gain some wonderful advice, we must go back to the 1960s. The ’60s were a time of unrest in this nation—college campuses were engulfed in Anti-Vietnam protest, civil rights marches and rallies were occurring all across the country, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, and a counterculture was developing across all generations. Because of those reasons and countless more, the American people were looking for true leadership, a leader that could tackle the monumental problems of the day and provide inspiration.

While several men and women stepped up and became true leaders, I want to focus on just two—Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy—and the words they used to inspire America.

“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’” — Martin Luther King, Jr.

King was dreaming that America would stand up for the creed and mission on which it was founded. Each and every Phi Kappa Tau member, regardless of age, should dream that each member of the Fraternity would embody the creed, the Ritual and the mission of the organization. To do this, the Fraternity needs leaders to step up and lead that charge.

“Some men see things as they are and say why? I dream things that never were and say why not?”
― Robert F. Kennedy

In every aspect of life, including Phi Kappa Tau, members instinctively ask why. Why should I have to do that? Why should we do so much community service? Why is that policy in place? While I appreciate, even encourage, members to take an active role in the Fraternity and ask the hard questions, I also value the people who live up to Kennedy’s works and say why not? Why not try something new? Why not take the entire chapter to National Convention? Why not embody our Ritual each and every day? True leadership is not asking why, it is saying why not and leading your chapter and the entire Fraternity into the future.

As you establish or better define your 2012 New Year’s resolution, remember these short quotes. Be sure to dream, but also add true leadership to your dreams. And then make your dreams a reality.

I leave you with a poem that was first given to me by Dr. William H. Crouch Jr., the president of my alma mater, Georgetown College. The day I received this poem, I framed it and hung it in my room in the Delta Theta chapter house. Now it hangs in my office at the Phi Kappa Tau Executive Offices. There is not a week that goes by that I do not take a few minutes and read the words. Every time I do I am re-energized and recommitted to being the best leader I can be.

People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.
If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.
The biggest men with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.
People favor underdogs, but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.
People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.
Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.

Resources:
National Convention
A Wish for Leaders
www.phikappatau.org/images/stories/Leading_for_Life/Leadership/A_Wish_for_Leaders.pdf
Leadership Academy

[Tom Earp]

Great, love to read this type of items!

Thank you modorney!

[modorney]

Not Another New Year’s Cliché •January 19, 2012 • 1 Comment
By: Expansion Consultant Matt Marone, Florida State ’08

2010 ticked its final seconds as I stood on a cramped metro train car returning from a Florida State football victory at the Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta. With no TV to watch the ball drop, my friends and I started a countdown and the entire train car followed suit. We then proceeded to hum Auld Lang Syne (because no one knows the words) to ring in 2011, and I planted one on my girlfriend-to-be.

In fulfilling all the New Year’s clichés, I pondered what my New Year’s resolution should be. In 2011, I would take girls on real dates, floss and continue my on-going resolution from 2002—get six-pack abs. I kept some of those resolutions but some fell through, just like many of mine years and years before. Just like people who sign up for gym memberships only to workout a few times, then let the gym rob them blind every month.

New Year’s resolutions go stale fast. We can all relate to striving for the lofty goal we set each Jan. 1 only to forget about it a month later, letting it fade eternally in time. Can you remember what your New Year’s resolution was in 2005? I can’t and I don’t know many people that can. I don’t remember much from 2005 in general. What was my best moment? What was my worst? I’ll probably never recall the happy and sad moments that surely took place. Come 2019, I may not remember my 2012 resolution or my best or worst moments.

So this year, I’m doing it differently. My New Year’s resolution isn’t glamorous. It isn’t to get in shape, pay off my student loans, spend more time with my family or help others. My 2012 New Year’s resolution is to have monthly resolutions and write them in my journal.

Accountability is a big deal to me, and if you’ve held a fraternity position, you know how hard it can be to hold yourself or others to do what they said they were going to do. Especially a month or two following elections. Which is why, to make sure my resolution doesn’t fall through this year, it will be SMART (Specific, Measureable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound). In the coming months, my “resolution” may be any of the things I mentioned above. However, my goal for the year isn’t those things. Separating my goals into one month segments allows me the flexibility to focus on things that become more/less important as time goes on. By writing them in my journal, I will be holding myself accountable to always improving.

Writing in a journal is something all men should do. I could talk about this all day, but I think Brett and Kate McKay say it best in the link below (I’m a huge fan of artofmanliness.com; definitely check it out!). I’ve kept a journal since August 2010, and I’m now able to go back and read about my best or worst moments, unlike 2005, of which I will never remember much. Continuing to write in my journal will ensure that my memorable moments of 2012 will not be forgotten, including the unique opportunity I am fortunate enough to experience—working for Phi Kappa Tau.

I welcome you to share my resolution and write what you’ve specifically planned for January in the comments section below or in a journal of your own.

Happy New Year. Make moves.

Resources:
Personal Goal Setting
phikappatau.org/images/stories/Leading_for_Life/Organizational_Skills_/Personal_Goal_Setting.pdf
The Art of Manliness: Start a Journal
artofmanliness.com/2009/06/07/30-days-to-a-better-man-day-8-start-a-journal

[modorney]

Building Bridges •January 24, 2012 • Leave a Comment
By: Expansion Coordinator Alex Koehler, Mount Union ’07

“Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.”
— Jim Rohn

As you leaf through the pages of your Phi Kappa Tau Membership Manual, you will come across a poem by Will Allen Dromgoogle named “The Bridge Builder.” For those of us who have been lucky enough to hear it recited by legendary Phi Taus at national events, we understand the power that the poem has as the words resonate throughout the banquet hall.

Have you thought about why this poem is so important to us? Better yet, have you decided to become a bridge builder in your own way?

Phi Tau is a bridge-building organization. By building a comprehensive human network, providing opportunities for hands-on learning or utilizing fraternal bonds as a means of professional development, we build a bridge from classrooms to careers. By our philanthropic and hands-on community service efforts, we build bridges for the Association of Hole in the Wall Camps to fill its cabins with campers. By contributing to our newest partnership with the United Service Organization’s (USO) “United Through Reading,” we can help build virtual bridges between 0ur soldiers and their families. Our membership orientation officers implementing the Mark of Distinction Program build bridges for our newest associates to enter into the full brotherhood that lies beyond.

With much of my interactions taking place with expansion, I have come to believe that our colony leaders (both BOG and Resident Council) are the purest of all bridge builders. As a result of their efforts, men will have the chance to enjoy the benefits of Phi Kappa Tau where they previously could not.

My 2012 Phi Tau resolution is to be a bridge builder. From starting new colonies to just being the best friend and brother that I can be, I commit to building the highest quantity of highest quality bridges that I can.

So, how can I help you?

Resources:
Mark of Distinction Membership Orientation Program

[modorney]

On New Year’s Resolutions •January 26, 2012 • Leave a Comment
By: Resource and Development Coordinator Ray Sophie, Southern Illinois ’08

I had a wildly difficult time writing this blog. Why? I hate New Year’s resolutions. I like the concept of resolutions, but this New Year’s resolution business has diluted the meaning and power of a personal resolution.

In its most universal sense, a resolution is a conclusion or end to some kind of conflict or debate.

Let’s look at the root of “resolution” for a second. Dictionary.com defines resolution as “a resolve or determination.” How many people in today’s America set their New Year’s resolution with resolve or determination? Very few.

Why? Because it requires baby steps, hard work and incredible perseverance to achieve a resolution … especially over exactly 365 days. People have to use that incredibly unsexy but insanely important word “discipline” when they cut back the calories and add foods that may not taste as delicious as a double baconator from Wendy’s (Believe me, I know).

You have to get outside your comfort zone in order to achieve your resolution. Period. Sorry, but thems the breaks.

Don’t get me wrong. I think setting goals is imperative, but not utilized correctly in today’s society. As an athlete, I learned over the course of my career that major goals cannot be achieved overnight. In many cases, it would take years of grinding and overcoming thousands of failures to even approach what I thought to be my potential.

So, here is my advice to you before I address my resolutions. DON’T GIVE UP. If it hasn’t happened right away, it’s never going to if you quit.

My New Year’s resolution is to see less than 10 of our groups below basic in the Borradaile Challenge by the end of the year.

Will this be hard? Yes.

Will this be fun? Maybe.

Do I have direct control over this goal? Absolutely not. But as a member of the Executive Offices staff, I will do everything I can to help groups achieve their potential.

The reason we love New Year’s is that it signifies an opportunity to start over, begin anew free from the bonds of whatever weighed us down over the course of the previous year. For our chapters and colonies, it represents a time to start fresh without the issues from last year’s leaders hanging over them.

To the new chapter leaders, I say congratulations. I hope your New Year’s resolution is to make this year’s chapter experience the best in your group’s history.

Oh, and help me with my resolution by filing your reports on time.

Resources:
Required Reports
The Exchange
Borradaile Challenge
Dashboard

[modorney]

Philosophy and Zelda •February 1, 2012 • Leave a Comment
By: Volunteer Development Consultant Marty Dunning, Kentucky ’07

Just recently, I went “retro” and purchased a Gameboy Color so I could play Pokémon, Mario Tennis and yes, even Harry Potter games.

I very recently finished “Zelda- Link’s Awakening,” an accomplishment that always thwarted me while I was growing up.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Zelda franchise of games, they all pretty much deal with the same thing. The main character, Link, fights all sorts of monsters to save the world. (Click on video for more backstory: youtu.be/yM_E_nJvsyc)

It isn’t until now, at the age of 22, that I see that there may be more to this game than I thought.

The first thing I would like to point out is as Link grows older, he becomes stronger. A shield that he would duck under as a child now becomes something he can actually hold with one hand. This allows him to utilize a new array of weapons to conquer the baddies.

There’s also the recurrence of “courage, wisdom and power.” These may be the three pieces of the tri-force, but these are also what ultimately define our hero. And to him, they were more than just words, but they were also seen in his actions on each level. He exemplified these qualities even from a young age as he went through puzzling mazes, challenging the odds and (if you were good) ultimately winning the game with a sword, boomerang and slingshot in hand.

Lastly, I would like to point out the title of the franchise. Zelda. The princess throughout the majority of the games that doesn’t do a whole lot more than talk and help out once or twice more than that. Yet, the story is known by her name. Even my parents referred to Link as Zelda. Why is that?

Let’s look at this through a “Phi Tau” lens, if you will.

We are constantly developing as individuals, especially in college is when we begin to realize who we are. I like to think that most of us who are involved in a greek organization, especially Phi Tau, become stronger men morally, emotionally and mentally because our organizations are so driven on improvement of our members and our values.

Our Ritual helps define our values and who we are. Our mission, creed, vision and even brand of “Learning. Leading. Serving.” define us. It’s about living those daily. I know Phi Tau’s Ritual, but I also think I know some of other organizations’ rituals just by looking at other greeks living their values. It’s more than words. It is action.

And lastly, it’s not always about being recognized for your name. It’s not even necessarily accomplishing great tasks. It’s about doing what you think is right and living your values daily.

I like to think of Link as a brother of Phi Kappa Tau. He is a morally upright man who lives his values, and doesn’t care that my mom and dad were among many who thought his name was Zelda.

Live the Ritual. Be a man of value. Don’t worry about what others might think, just stay true to you. If you do that, you can conquer anything…even a dark wizard named Ganondorf.

Posted in Membership, Ritual
Tags: Be a Man of Value, Living the Ritual, Philosophy and Zelda, Zelda

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The Big, Inflatable Gorilla •February 8, 2012 • Leave a Comment
By: Expansion Coordinator Alex Koehler, Mount Union ’07

One of the most rewarding aspects of my position at the Executive Offices is being able to travel and meet face to face with the men who lead their daily lives as one of the thousands who call themselves Phi Kappa Tau. You cannot predict the ridiculous gamut of personalities you encounter and the experiences that come as a result of your time together. In every sense of the word, this is brotherhood.

There are other things that would seem monotonous to some. Imagine packing a suitcase, some hanging clothes, and, in my case, a guitar into your vehicle and leaving everything you know … uncertain of when you’ll return. A nomad. A vagabond. Jack Kerouac. Driving. Driving. More driving. When you are on the road for a long haul, you have a lot of time to think.

Recently, while on my way back into Oxford, I had one of the moments where that time to think led to an epiphany (which is rare and should be celebrated).

This epiphany dates back to the week prior when I was working with one of our up-and-coming colonies. These men are SHARP. I was impressed in every moment I spent with them … but even these men fell into the trap where many fraternity men find themselves captured.

In one meeting they went from talking about allowing their values to guide them, to philanthropy and service, to where they can focus on efforts on improving as a colony … to discussing the need to build 3-feet-tall Harvard Red letters. This was what was going to determine their success in recruitment.

Back to the drive. At one point, near a car dealership, a 30-feet-tall gorilla dominated the horizon. He was blue. I still can’t figure out why.

What makes you want to buy a car? The need. The ability. A deal. The check your insurance company gave you after you totaled your Chevy Blazer you drove for a decade. (I still miss her.) Whatever makes you buy a new car, I can promise you that you will NEVER drive off a lot in a wet-black Impala because of a big, inflatable gorilla.

That gorilla may get you to look over and think, “I do need a new car. I do have the ability to buy one. I wonder what deals they have?” The PEOPLE … the PRODUCT. A great salesman who helps you understand the purchase. That is what will get you to buy it.

Are you a leader? You have the choice to help take your members down the right path. Are you going to spend more time, energy and money talking about (or buying!) your big, inflatable gorilla? Or are you going to spend those resources on something that will produce dramatic results? Like helping your “salesmen” develop their abilities—a technique, a message, a passion.

The organizations and companies that are confident in their ability to grow and be successful have stopped using random exploits to try to be successful. Some have even been able to stop using their name. When is the last time you saw a Nike store or product that said “Nike” on it?

We have an uphill battle. People “get” cars. They “get” shoes. Many people don’t “get” fraternity. If you are a leader, you will be able to help those people learn and understand. If your product is valuable, and you are able to communicate it, people will invest in it.

P.S. It is February. Recruitment isn’t over. If you are good, it has only just begun.

Resources:
365-Day Recruitment
www.phikappatau.org/images/stories/Lead_your_Chapter/RecruitmentRetention_Advisor/Open_Informal_365_Recruitment.pdf
Innovative Recruitment Ideas
www.phikappatau.org/images/stories/Lead_your_Chapter/RecruitmentRetention_Advisor/Innovative_Recruitment_Ideas.pdf
The Recruitment Team
www.phikappatau.org/images/stories/Lead_your_Chapter/RecruitmentRetention_Advisor/The_Recruitment_Team.pdf
Conversation Tips
www.phikappatau.org/images/stories/Lead_your_Chapter/RecruitmentRetention_Advisor/Conversation_Tips.pdf

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Amos •February 16, 2012 • 2 Comments
By: Resource and Development Coordinator Ray Sophie, Southern Illinois ’08

Amos is a trolley driver.

Most people would have been content to leave it at that. Most people would have sat patiently in the trolley waiting for the ambulance to move so that they could get home and go to sleep. Most people would have avoided forming a short-term relationship with a patriot.

Phi Tau has called me to step outside of “most people” and be someone different. Let me explain …

On my way back from a great meeting with a BOG member, I hopped a trolley home due to the piercing cold of the Mississippi wind. I couldn’t have asked for a better trolley driver.

Amos and I sat in the trolley for more than 30 minutes waiting for the ambulance in front of us to make a move and clear the tracks. During that time, I learned that Amos served our country as a naval officer for more than 20 years and was in Biloxi and southern Mississippi for both Hurricane Katrina AND the BP oil spill. Amos also served two terms in Iraq, including a stint in Fallujah during the worst parts of the war, living in a bunker and building landing strips for our planes.

Hopping off the trolley, my thoughts turned to Amos and the thousands of veterans like him who live quiet lives of heroes and go unnoticed in the fabric of American society. My respect for veterans has always run deep and after meeting Amos, those thoughts have only solidified into awe.

I guess my point in this story is that the people we pass by every day are some of the most extraordinary people in American history. Who do you pass every day? Is he a war hero? Is she a high school phenom? Maybe that person has experienced the greatest hardships life has to offer.

Unfortunately, “most people” will never know of a stranger’s exploits.

As you all head into the thick of spring recruitment, take some time to get to know regular people. Whether it’s someone new in your class or your neighbor in the dorm or apartment complex, I challenge you to learn more about him.

He may be just another ordinary guy living an ordinary life. Or his ordinary might be extraordinary. You won’t know until you ask.

Resources:
Social Excellence, Phired Up
Recruitment Chairman
Get Out of the Middle!, Phired Up

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Danger, Will Robinson! Information Overload! •February 23, 2012 • Leave a Comment
By: Coordinator of Volunteer Development Tyler Wash, Georgetown ’06

As you probably know, you are currently reading the phitaublog. Throughout the past day, week or month, you have most likely read resources on The Exchange, skimmed news stories on the Phi Tau website, and clicked on several Facebook posts from the Fraternity. You may be thinking, “Wow, this is a lot of information.”

If you’re thinking that, you’re right! But just breathe!

There is a lot of information that we try to squeeze into one e-mail or news story or onto The Exchange and Facebook, and although it may seem daunting at first, this stuff is important. It is important for you as an officer, volunteer and, moreover, a brother.

I understand that this information overload can be seen as a problem, and I know that information is being received from every aspect of life—your university, church, work, professors and friends.

Here are two thoughts from my desk:

The Fraternity and Foundation continuously work on updating their communication plans to get information to all stakeholders in the most effective way. Your voices have been heard and we are working on tweaking these plans.
(Now, I am being brutally honest here.) As a officer, volunteer and engaged brother, you are expected to hold a lot of knowledge about the Fraternity and relay that knowledge to your chapters. Because you are not siloed into one area of operation, from time to time you may receive more than the average amount of communication from the Executive Offices.
It is important that you read a majority of the e-mails and resources you receive so that you are “in the know.” At times it will feel like you are in Phi Tau information overload … believe me, I understand. We just want to make sure our members are informed about their Fraternity and Foundation.

Phi Kappa Tau offers countless resources for you to use, these resources exist on The Exchange, in the Planner, in Men of Character Programs and in our volunteers. We can offer you the resources and the tools to be successful, but we CANNOT do the work for you. Please take the time to read Phi Tau newsletters, explore The Exchange, attend a Men of Character Program … just don’t get Lost in Space!

Resources:
The Exchange
Building Men of Character Retreats
Domain Director Contact Page
Phi Kappa Tau Facebook Page