Phi Kappa Tau Blog

[modorney]

You Can Do This •February 29, 2012 • 1 Comment
By: Expansion Coordinator Alex Koehler, Mount Union ’07

Right vs. Wrong. Good vs. Evil. Batman vs. Joker. Captain Jack Sparrow vs. … well, everyone at some point.

How many times in our lives are we in a position to exemplify ethical leadership? To do the right thing? How often do we stand in the position of making the right choice versus the popular choice?

In fraternity, the desire to belong often outweighs the desire to do the right thing. You know what I’m talking about. That moment where you stand up a little bit taller, your stomach gets a little heavy, your mind starts racing. Then the voices in your head start to battle …

“Do the right thing!”

“Everyone will hate you.”

“It doesn’t matter … you need to do something about this!”

“You’re not the president … it isn’t your responsibility.”

“You’re a leader. Aren’t you?”

“Are you, really? You can’t make a difference.”

“Yes, you can.”

“Even if you could, imagine how much hard work it would take.”

“You can do this.”

The next time this happens to you, think about the fact that there are more people who believe in the right choice then you initially imagine. Read the Phi Kappa Tau Constitution. Read the Phi Kappa Tau Risk Management Policy. Thousands of your brothers around the nation have helped develop these items that shape who we are as an organization. Thousands of men believe in doing what is right vs. what is popular.

Read your chapter bylaws. FIND your chapter bylaws. Is there something missing? Something wrong? You, as a brother of Phi Kappa Tau, have the power to diplomatically make changes to the governing documents that each of us should be following as our code.

Host a Response Ability Retreat. Host a Ritual Retreat. Engage your chapter in a discussion based around where your values and actions mesh.

The triumphant attitude of a leader assertively stands with the final voice of “YOU CAN DO THIS.”

Guess what? You can. You should. Be the one who chooses to tackle the issue. Do it civilly. Do it for the good of the order. Do it because you believe in ethical leadership and exemplary character. Next time you are in a position where you have to choose between right and what’s popular, say to yourself “YOU CAN DO THIS” over and over again until you believe it.

If you still doubt yourself, call [phone]. Ask for Alex. I’d love to hear what’s going on. Know what my response will probably be?

YOU CAN DO THIS.

(This blog was inspired by Seth Godin’s article “How Much Are You Going to Tip?”)
sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2012/01/how-much-are-you-going-to-tip.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+typepad%2Fsethsmainblog+%28Seth%27s+Blog%29


Resources:
Response Ability
Ritual Retreat
Constitution and Bylaws
Risk Management Policy

[modorney]

What If … ? •March 7, 2012 • Leave a Comment
By: Volunteer Development Consultant Marty Dunning, Kentucky ’07

I’m sure you’ve seen this … if not I’ll catch you up really quick.

Rush Limbaugh recently talked on his show about a law student, Sandra Fluke, who testified before Congress about insurance coverage of contraception. He got carried away and called the woman a few choice slurs that don’t have a place in our blog. Limbaugh has since apologized to Fluke both on his website and on his show.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rush_Limbaugh%E2%80%93Sandra_Fluke_controversy
Even though this is an appealing topic and has probably caught your attention (if not, stick with me), it gets even better.

As of 6:11 p.m. on March 6, 22 companies have pulled their ads from Limbaugh’s show. 22! The list includes companies such as Geico, Netflix, Goodwill, Bonobos clothing company, AOL, Quicken Loans, Sleep Number, Vitacost vitamin supplier and many more!

Here’s what Vitacost had to say of the situation in a recent Facebook post: “To put it frankly, Mr. Limbaugh’s recent comments have been unsettling, and many of our fans have voiced concern that Vitacost endorses these views. These comments are definitely not in line with our brand values, and in listening to our fans we’ve decided to remove our advertising from the program.”

In a world driven by values and public opinion, these companies have answered the call to stick to their beliefs.

How does this relate to you?

Fraternity men and Sorority women are a part of are a part of premiere values-based organizations for not only their time as undergraduates, but for life.

Sure it’s easy to get concerned about planning the date party or putting on a big event, but where do you stand as a Phi Tau man? How about your brothers? Are you men of value?

In 2011, Mark Koepsell, Associtation of Fraternal Leadership & Values (AFLV) Executive Director received the Jack L. Anson award (named after a man who did live Phi Kappa Tau every day of his life). Below are five of the comments Mark made in his acceptance speech. He made his comments in a Tweetable format to start a trend. Visit AFLV’s website (http://aflv.blogspot.com/2011/12/in-land-of-what-if.html) to see more.

•#WHATIF we spent our undergraduate years preparing for a lifetime of membership in the org & didn’t get initiated until we graduated?
•#WHATIF we didn’t need an org like the @fraternalvaluessociety in our communities because 100% values alignment was already achieved?
•#WHATIF every chapter had the conviction, motivation, talent, and drive that we find in most colonies?
•#WHATIF new member education truly prepared men & women for a life of values based action? @preventhazing
•#WHATIF all F/S members valued making a positive global impact as much as they do the fun of brotherhood and sisterhood? #ServiceImmersion

Do you see what I’m getting at here?

•#WHATIF you took the time to learn our Ritual?
•#WHATIF everyone knew our Ritual just because of your actions and beliefs?
•#WHATIF you inspired others to be a better person just because you are an amazing Phi Tau man?
•#WHATIF you were my brother based on who you are as a man, not by the letters on your shirt?
•#WHATIF discussions of our Ritual were more common in our chapters?
•#WHATIF Ritual was our daily ritual? Not just once a semester, but every day.

In case you were too busy watching the Rush Limbaugh story or preparing for Super Tuesday, this week is known to the Greek community as National Ritual Celebration Week. It’s our chance to celebrate the words, values, oath, ceremonies and lifestyle that unite our entire national brotherhood as Phi Kappa Tau.

My challenge to you is to sit down with a Ritual book and actively think about what being a Phi Tau means. If you don’t have one, buy one. It’s your right as an initiated member to have one. Call the Executive Offices at [phone] and ask for one. Plan to pay around $10 + shipping. That’s like giving up a couple of trips to Subway to have a copy of the words that define our membership and lifelong commitment.

Challenge yourself to live our Ritual. Challenge your brothers. Be your brother’s keeper in this endeavor to live Phi, Kappa and Tau. Challenge your chapter to have a talk about the Ritual, whether that be a Ritual Retreat or a group discussion among yourselves.

•#WHATIF we each lived our Ritual?

Our world would be a better place. Let’s get out there and discharge the obligation to others which arises from the fact that we are Fraternity men!

[modorney]

A Second Chapter •March 14, 2012 • 2 Comments
By: Resource and Expansion Consultant Jason Sweet, Saginaw Valley State ’09


Beta Gamma colony participates in Anchor Splash.
It has been two months since I sat down in the chair at my desk in Oxford, Ohio. I couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day to come home to. The temperature is pushing 75 degrees, the sun is shining, and it is beginning to smell like spring! These are things I have been longing for.

Oddly enough, this isn’t where I want to be.

I flew into Spokane, Wash., in late January expecting to enjoy another expansion with Matt Marone, help rebuild the foundation of our Beta Gamma chapter at the University of Idaho, then come home to Oxford—thankful that the craziness of being so far from home was over.

But now … I would trade the perfect weather I am experiencing for the snow and 30-degree weather of Moscow, Idaho.

The first part of my assumption is pretty accurate. I had an outstanding expansion experience with Matt, we met some great people and have made amazing strides towards building an extraordinary fraternity. So why isn’t the last part true? How can it be that I am in Oxford but want to be in Moscow?

I experienced something that I wish every member could. I could feel my undergraduate experience like déjà vu. I was having fun and making moves just like I did when I was at Saginaw Valley State University starting the Zeta Beta chapter of Phi Kappa Tau.

When the natural stresses of an expansion project (long days, late nights, non-stop emotional investment) began to drag me down, I was immediately picked back up by men who had just begun to “do fraternity.” I was baffled by their commitment to being their brothers keeper.

I found myself looking at these men as friends. As brothers.

There is something different about this group of men. Something inspiring. Something that truly represents the values of Phi Kappa Tau.

Because of this outstanding group of men that will soon become the Beta Gamma colony of Phi Kappa Tau and all the other amazing people I was able to connect with in Moscow, I felt home. I have a second chapter!

Past National President, Jay McCann, Spring Hill ’74, always speaks about the importance of our second chapter. Through attendance at (and active participation in) the variety of national events that Phi Kappa Tau offers, we will undoubtedly meet people who will be a part of our lives forever. Just like the founding fathers of Beta Gamma colony will be a part of mine.

So to all of you out there reading this thinking, this guy is a nut job, I challenge you to start building your own second chapter.

This Fraternity provides opportunities for all of us to make these connections and enjoy similar experiences with men outside of our own chapter. You have opportunities year-round to attend these events—this summer we will be hosting one of the biggest, and honestly one of the most fun. You have an opportunity to build your own second chapter and enjoy the benefits of our National Fraternity!

We hope to see you in Nashville, Tenn., for our 60th National Convention July 25-29, 2012. It is an experience you won’t regret!

[modorney]

Project X-coriate •March 21, 2012 • Leave a Comment
By: Resource and Development Coordinator Ray Sophie, Southern Illinois ’08

Last week I read an article about a student who was killed at a Project X-inspired party.

At the party, which took place in a Houston mansion and attracted between 500 and 1,000 guests, a random person just walked in and started shooting. After the fact, an article stated, “While party-goers in the [Project X] movie were left with a damaged house and a bad hangover, this party caused $100,000 worth of damage and a life.”

You may be thinking that this is just one incident of ridiculousness gone awry, but these copycat parties are popping up all over the country, causing injury and death, tens of thousands of dollars in damage, and jail time for those throwing the parties.

I’m not going to be Captain No-Fun here, but I will gladly be Lieutenant Don’t-be-an-Idiot.

Project X, The Hangover and Superbad are all movies. Like fiction, man. Someone made them up. In real life, people get arrested and deal with the consequences for their nights of debauchery.

Do you really think you can drive around the Las Vegas strip blacked-out drunk in a stolen police car and not run into another car, person, or police officer? That’s a rhetorical question.

So why am I writing about this? I am sure no one wants another lecture and overview of Phi Kappa Tau’s Risk Management Policy (that report is due in October, by the way). I’m writing this because I have a sneaking suspicion of the following: There is probably at least one person in your chapter, maybe several, who went to see Project X (or a movie like it) and thought it would be awesome for your chapter to re-create that party.

Don’t let these people make your decisions, especially regarding parties. After all, they’re not the ones that will get in trouble, which is what makes them so bold in the first place. When the shiatsu hits the fan from your chapter’s decisions, the university and Fraternity won’t be looking for answers from your the people who pushed the party idea. They will be looking at you, the leaders, and why you allowed, or worse, condoned, such actions.

Protect your chapter.

Heck, protect yourself.

Use our risk management, BYOB and third-party vendor policies to assist you in making smart decisions. Otherwise, dumb decisions will come back to cost you greatly. If you’re lucky, it might just be serious fines. But as we see every year in fraternities, it may cost one of your members their life.

Lieutenant Don’t-be-an-Idiot, over and out.

[modorney]

Make your Appreciation Known •March 28, 2012 • Leave a Comment
By: Programming Coordinator Dustin Brown, Georgetown ’05

What a year 2012 has already been for Phi Kappa Tau! It is only spring, and we’ve held our third annual Presidents Academy, eight Regional Conferences, hosted three Building Men of Character Retreats, we’re near completing an exceedingly successful Founders Month of Service, we will hold our second National Service Event in a few days, and by April 15 we will have chartered two chapters!

Reflecting back on the last few months, I know that not even one of these events would have been possible without the efforts of our alumni volunteers and staff. Phi Taus everywhere, join me in offering our deepest thanks to those who have contributed their hard work and dedication to our Fraternity. I can’t say it often enough:

Thank you.

Do we offer our thanks enough? Do the words do justice to the actual gratitude that our hearts cherish?

If there’s someone in your life who has gone the extra mile for you, take a moment out of your day to make your appreciation known. Over the last few months, I’ve really understood what it means to lean on others, and we shouldn’t take those people for granted. Every day someone is making an impact in our lives and they deserve to know it.

I have a friend and past co-worker who was there for me every day. Whether it be a smile in the morning when I arrived to work or always making herself available for a phone call in the evening, she made it possible for me to do my best work. Yes, I have told her “thanks” several times, but have I told her what I was thankful for?

Her friendship. Time. Advice. That she is very special to me and a very important part of my life.

Have I done more than told her? Have I shown her how deeply grateful I really am?

Think of someone who has impacted you as a Fraternity man:

Your Board of Governors
Your Domain Director
Your campus greek life professional
A facilitator at a Men of Character Program
Our loyal Phi Kappa Tau Foundation donors
Let them know how they have made a difference in your life. Without these folks, Phi Kappa Tau wouldn’t be possible.

Guess what. One day it will be your turn. Are you going to help Phi Tau continue to be possible? Will you be a Phi Tau volunteer? A donor? There will be a time when it is YOU that Phi Tau needs to step up. It will be YOU that deserves our thanks.

Make your appreciation known!

[modorney]

For the Good of the Order •April 4, 2012 • Leave a Comment
By: Expansion Coordinator Alex Koehler, Mount Union ’07

Let’s play out a scenario.

You’re an upperclassman. You’re not only a chapter leader, but a campus leader, as well. You joined Phi Tau as a freshman or a sophomore. Why did you join?

Each of us can still point back to the moment when we went from interested to associated. For those of us who didn’t think we would join a fraternity (like me!), that was a really bizarre moment, wasn’t it? For me, it was standing in my dorm room, talking to Andrew Youtz, Mount Union ’06. Then it was Ryan Shannon, Mount Union ’06, welcoming me into what would become one of the most influential phases of my life. It was the opportunity I saw to be a champion—not in a sport, but in life.

So why did you join?

People—Someone addressed your concerns through word or deed; someone showed you what it really means to be a fraternity man
Experience—The chapter you joined offered an experience that you found attractive
Opportunity—The opportunity you saw in joining was too good to pass up; maybe you were even a founding father
Values—The values of the other men were so strong and upstanding that you thought yourself blessed to have a common bond; they were the best men you had ever met
What happens when the “why you joined” changes in your chapter? Here’s what I mean:

New officers have been elected. The dynamics change. The chapter starts to lose the demeanor that made you want to join in the first place. Part of the chapter (hopefully your part) wants to fulfill Phi Kappa Tau’s purpose. Another part wants to focus on throwing the biggest and most outrageous parties on campus. Yet another part wants the associates to “earn” their place in the chapter. There is another group of members who just don’t seem to care. It seems that everything you believe in is being violated by people who, frankly, just don’t get it. You know deep down that their actions, without being addressed, are grounds for corrective action—possibly a chapter closure or membership review, but the worst case scenario is someone getting hurt.

What would you do? You’ve really only got two options:

Do something about it. Or don’t.

The mission of Phi Kappa Tau is to champion a lifelong commitment to brotherhood, learning, ethical leadership and exemplary character. This statement is the essence of everything that we do.

Does throwing the most outrageous parties fit into our mission? I’m a huge advocate of social events, but how does “ethical leadership” apply to breaking risk management policies? Or laws for that matter?
Do members skipping class because they are hung over or just lazy demonstrate the “learning” we so highly value?
Does making the associate members “earn” their initiation promote
“exemplary character?” (As a side note, “making them earn it” is the easy way of saying “I can’t connect with our members on a deeper level or inspire them through words or actions, so let’s haze them.”)
Better yet, does demeaning or physically abusing people align with “brotherhood?”
For the good of the order, when these situations that require ethical leadership arise—DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. Here are some ways you can make positive change, even when making change is hard.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a freshman, if you’re graduating in May or if you’re an alumnus. When we accepted that bid, it became our problem to address. The best news is that there are allies all around you. Who are they? Other undergraduates? Alumni? Board of Governors members? Domain Directors? Campus professionals? Identify the people with similar ideals and engage them in a conversation. Be leaders. Create a plan of action. Address the need that exists. Together, figure out how to effectively tackle the issues. For the good of the order, step up.

Phi Kappa Tau needs you.

(This blog was inspired by Seth Godin’s article “Speechless”)
sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2012/03/speechless.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+typepad%2Fsethsmainblog+%28Seth%27s+Blog%29

Resources:
Introducing Change
www.phikappatau.org/images/stories/Lead_your_Chapter/President/The_Challenge_of_Introducing_Change_in_the_Chapter.pdf
Risk Management Policy
www.phikappatau.org/learning/chapter-management/risk-management.html
Purpose Statements
www.phikappatau.org/about-pkt/purpose-statements.html

[Tom Earp]

Mike, this is very interesting and sounds like they have a great deal going on for them

But in checking thier web site out, they seem like a many old GLOs, they have lost a lot of chapters and not really trying to grow that much.

[modorney]

I hear ya. They seem to have a lot going for themselves - regional leadership (domain directors),
a strong foundation - $9 mil (3k per undergrad)
and good expansion plans -
Lambda colony, Purdue
Psi colony, Colorado
Upsilon, Nebraska Wesleyan
Beta Alpha colony, Texas-Austin
Beta Gamma colony, Idaho
Epsilon Epsilon colony, William Paterson
Charleston colony
North Texas colony
San Jose colony

But no national director of Alumni coordination, and no mentor program to link alums and undergrads.

All in all a great national that doesn't seem to get into trouble, and pretty stable at 80 chapters, or so.

[modorney]

Success Without Integrity •April 11, 2012 • Leave a Comment
By: Resource and Development Coordinator Ray Sophie, Southern Illinois ’08

“Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.” —Albert Einstein

Success without a set of core values that are pure and virtuous in nature can only be short-term. Whatever your politics, whatever your beliefs, I am happy Bobby Petrino has been fired from Arkansas as their head football coach. Why?

Because he has no loyalty, no honesty, and no set of values other than personal gain. This isn’t the first time he has lied about something, and I am guessing it won’t be the last. From denying secretly meeting with a slew of universities while coaching at Louisville, to quitting the Atlanta Falcons before a Monday night game without anything more than a tersely worded letter to his players, to misleading the man who hired him at Arkansas, I think Bobby Petrino represents everything that is wrong with winning at all costs.

And that is why he can’t maintain sustained success at one place. He has no values. That’s why, even though he has a track record of success and the potential to lead Arkansas to a national title this year, he has been fired from Arkansas by the man who hired him.

This, to me, is what makes Phi Kappa Tau the greatest gift you can give someone.

Our organization gives the gift of values. We give the gift of a powerful mission. We reveal the Star of Phi Kappa Tau, which lights the road to success that will last, not just flash in the pan.

Too often I see men, young and old, sacrifice their values and what they know to be right to achieve immediate and easy success. This is a lesson I learned in high school: Winning isn’t easy. If it were, everyone would be a winner. Living a life of value isn’t easy. Mostly because it goes unrecognized.

For every Bobby Petrino there are probably five coaches who take the job of developing young men seriously and with great responsibility. For every Bobby Petrino there are five coaches living the values of Phi Kappa Tau, probably all of them without even knowing it. For every Bobby Petrino, there are five coaches doing it the right way, win or lose.

That’s why, for every Bobby Petrino there are five coaches that haven’t been sacked for lying to the men that hired them, even though each of those five are probably less “successful” than Bobby Petrino.

That’s why, even though chapter’s need membership to survive, every year our chapters make the difficult choice to expel brothers who have consistently made choices that ignore the values and beliefs of our brotherhood.

That’s why, even though we cannot survive without a national network of chapters, every year our National Council has to make the difficult choice to close chapters that have consciously decided to ignore the Cardinal Principles and mission of the organization.

Follow the Star of Phi Kappa Tau and I guarantee you will never find yourself out of work for “pulling a Petrino.”

Resources:
Ritual Retreat
Purpose Statements
The Art of Manliness: Define your Core Values
artofmanliness.com/2009/05/31/30-days-to-a-better-man-day-1-define-your-core-values/

[modorney]

Pushing Through •April 18, 2012 • Leave a Comment
By: Volunteer Development Consultant Marty Dunning, Kentucky ’07

This past weekend I accomplished a longtime goal of mine: I ran a marathon for Team SeriousFun. I’ll be honest, I didn’t have the discipline in training that you would expect, and I probably ate more of Mrs. Koehler’s ginger snaps than I should have, but who could blame me?

Come race day, I was overly excited. My friends and I were in our corral awaiting the start, and the next thing I knew my nerves had set in. But then the sounds of the crowd cheering took all of that away, and I knew I just had to run.

For the entire first mile, there were people crowded along our street. Miles two and three were the same …

… as were 4-26. There was no chance the population of St. Louis was going to miss out on any part of this run, and it was hard for me to slow down with all of them watching.

I could have finished the race without all of those people watching—I probably would’ve walked more, maybe even stopped completely for a break—but with everyone cheering us on, I couldn’t help but run. I performed better because of all these people who took their Sunday to cheer for the runners.

Much like how the runners had the crowd cheering them on, our chapters have volunteers to encourage them along their way. Without our volunteers, chapters may or may not be able to get by, but it’s thanks to these people that a chapter experience is of higher caliber. Volunteers help provide an undergraduate experience that truly makes the difference in the lives of our members.

Our volunteers are men and women who give of their time and energy to help advise and mentor our brothers. They could very well be spending their time with their families, working on their careers or even just relaxing, but instead they offer themselves to help our brotherhood. They volunteer because they believe so deeply in what Phi Kappa Tau is and what we do.

This week is National Volunteer Appreciation Week. If you’re an undergraduate member, an alumnus or other, I ask that you thank those volunteers who have impacted you. I also hope you consider your lifelong commitment to brotherhood, learning, ethical leadership and exemplary character when it is your turn to impact the lives of our undergraduate members!

Looking back on my race, I can’t imagine finishing without the crowd. On the same token, I also can’t imagine my Phi Tau experience without the people who have helped me along the way.

[modorney]

Opening Eyes •April 25, 2012 • Leave a Comment
By: Resource and Expansion Consultant Jason Sweet, Saginaw Valley State ’09

Flying is nothing new for me. When I was younger my family would take one big vacation every year. On several occasions it required us to fly to our destination.

As I got older the chances to fly became less and less with a busier schedule, but thanks to taking this job with the Executive Offices I have now flown more in the past year than I have in the last 10 years. And still, all the same excitement hits me as soon as I step foot inside the airport to check my bags.

There is one difference though …

When I was a child, it wasn’t easy, or encouraged, to talk to strangers at an airport. I always sat next to one of my parents or my little brother on the flight.

Now, however, it adds to the experience to sit down and talk with someone new. I have found that the people I sit next to on the plane have resulted in some of the most interesting conversations I’ve ever experienced.

My most recent flight was no exception. The woman I sat next to politely took her seat and began making small talk. As per my usual routine I masked what I do (work for a fraternity) until I knew the time was right. It’s a fun game I like to play.

I generally say I am a consultant working with universities to help develop student groups across the nation that serve as an opportunity for students to do something extraordinary with their college experience. After a little more detail, people are generally very impressed and intrigued and tend to ask what group I work for. I give a small smile and answer that I actually work for my Fraternity, and we have made it our responsibility to provide groups on college campuses the opportunity to challenge the status quo of the stereotypical “frat” and live a life based on living our values and Ritual, not just talking about it.

This catches most people off guard, and this woman was no exception. She began to hammer me with questions that I happily answered. To spare all the details, by the time the flight landed in Dayton, Ohio, this woman looked at me and said:

“Thank you, young man, for doing what you do. You have given me a new hope that there are truly people in your generation who stand for the right things and want to have a positive impact on the world. You have opened my eyes to something new today and I feel I am a better person because of it.”

I use this story to emphasize two points.

1) Recruitment is meant to be done in this same fashion. It is OK to talk about being in a fraternity, but you sometimes need to find a way to present yourself and the values of the group before you say what exactly your group is. It will help people who hate “frats” see them in a slightly different light. It will also help them see the reality of what fraternity can be.

2) Inadvertently, I performed a certain level of community service through that conversation. It is nothing I could count toward the Borradaile Challenge or Founders Month of Service, but I did serve my community by opening someone up to a new perspective and inspiring them to learn more about it.

My point? Talk about your fraternity and your experience with pride. Also, live it. Your actions will always speak louder than words. You never know when you might be able to recruit an amazing new member or even just open someone’s eyes to the power of what fraternity can really be.

[modorney]

Take No Days Off •May 1, 2012 • Leave a Comment
By: Expansion Coordinator Alex Koehler, Mount Union ’07

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.” —Aristotle

With the NFL draft behind us, wouldn’t it be easy for the recent draftees to take a break? After all that hard work, they finally made it. Don’t they deserve some time off?

But this is the show. The league. This is for real. Getting drafted was only the beginning.

I recently stumbled upon the below video. Simple, solemn and true. Take no days off. Like the title suggests, it is likely that the draftees are working harder today than they ever were before.
Someone asked me recently, “What is Phi Kappa Tau?”

After I thought about it for a moment, the answer hit me like a thousand trains of clarity simultaneously converging.

Phi Kappa Tau is a fraternity of champions. Whatever your playing field, a true Phi Tau man is a champion. Whether that is by catching touchdown passes, getting the audience in stitches with your standup comedy, becoming the publisher of Forbes Magazine, running our government from the senate floor, winning Academy Awards or starting a worldwide philanthropic powerhouse—a Phi Tau man is a champion.

For our undergraduate men, I am begging you to use every day in college as a set of starting blocks. Don’t stop when you find success on campus. Don’t stop when you win the Maxwell. Don’t stop when you associate the highest quantity of the highest quality members your chapter has ever recruited. Those things are only the beginning. Give every day your absolute best. Your absolute best. When you have done that, you are a champion. Take no days off.

I’m sure Andrew Luck isn’t wasting today’s opportunities to become a champion. And when the Indianapolis Colts hoist the Lombardi Trophy again, he won’t stop then either.

Resources:
Take No Days Off (video)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoEb69guTEU&feature=player_embedded

[Tom Earp]

In our many talks, I wonder if some Nationals are not happy with that many @ chapter numbers?

Many are not in the LXA, TKE, SPE,etc. catagory for expansion as we have discussed. But, I wonder why and am confused? Why would they not want to grow?
Is it complacientcy(sic) or laziness? I guess that would be the question?

Of course, there is a cost spector that is involved, that may be the bottem line!

I like you my friend would work to grow for what we beleive in!

[petehsiung]

“Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.” —Albert Einstein

totally agree TJ. I know some of you, including you Tom haven't seen me in like ages. But at least Im alive here.

Otherwise I think you are spot on with that. Ive always emphasized it to not only myself but to other people about it as well. Too often when we get caught up with success, we miss out on the value and end up compromising the right thing to acheive what we want. That coach is a good example but I also could think of other people like Hitler. He achieved success by expanding his empire and ruling by law and order. However was there any value to the massacre he did?

Of course focusing on values don't guarantee success without commitment or hard work. But it does guarantee that you maintain the while integrity throughout the process. Yet In the long run, success can and does last with value then the other way around.

[modorney]

Growth is a good question. When I look at fraternities, I see half a dozen "types" of fraternities.

There are general fraternities - LXA, TKE, Sig Ep, Delts, etc.
Then there are a number of specific nationals -
Religious (like ZBT)
Major or profession (Triangle, Theta Tau)
HBGLO's
Music
Service (APO, and a host of non-greek letter)

Each type is different. Not bad, just different. Growing a Theta tau or a Sinfonia is different than growing a Phi Kappa Tau.

But when you really look at how the general fraternities think and work, there is a definite mindset among those with 80 or more chapters, and those with less than 50 chapters. Not bad, just different. Once you reach 80 chapters (or 3000 undergrads), you have enough dues and foundation revenue to support a regional alumni and governance structure. To support a frequent paper (or online) newsletter or magazine. To have leadership training that is for all the brothers, not just the house president, rush chairman and treasurer. Grand chapter is inclusive. There is something for all alumni, and their wives and their kids. Grand chapter rotates to family-friendly cities like Orlando, Chicago, Atlanta, and rotates around the country. It is practical for every alum to attend, maybe not every Grand Chapter, but maybe every third one. Everyone has time and money constraints, and if dad gets to go to grand chapter every six years, when there's something for mom and the kids to do, it will happen.

Alpha Sigma Phi and Pi Kappa Phi are notable as nationals that have made a concerted effort to grow.