Fraternity/Sorority Consultants: Tips to Not Sucking at Your Job

It’s the beginning of June and many Inter/National Headquarters have hired their National Consultants (or ELCs, CDCs, Life Savers, Crazies, insert whatever you call them) for the year. For many of these organizations, they have hired the best of the best. These consultants are the cream of the crop for their respective organization. They are young, vibrant, and ready to make a difference!

This is great and nobody appreciates what consultants do more than I do because I was one myself. I traveled for two years in my little pick-up truck all over the country. I opened chapters and I closed chapters. I saw groups thrive while others crumbled. I met amazing alumni but I also met some terrible alumni. I was inspired by some Greek Advisors while turned off by others. I learned about myself and learned more about my organization than I could have asked for in two years. Overall, it was the best experience I could have asked for as a recent graduate.

With that being said, I feel it’s only necessary to pass along a few pointers as you begin your travels in a few months specific to meeting with Greek Advisors. I am now a Greek Advisor and have met some amazing consultants and some really terrible consultants. So I figured, why not try to help you before you get on the road and meet with us. Take it or leave it...

Tip #1: Be Professional

What does being professional mean? It means setting up a meeting with the Greek Advisor before you get on campus. It means being on time to your meeting with the Greek Advisor. It means having an agenda. It means remembering we are professionals, not your drinking buddy. It means making eye contact. It means sitting up straight. It means shaking hands (some of you may need training on the proper way to do this). It means being engaged in the conversation. It means saying “thank you.” It means doing what you said you will do. It means following up (see Tip #5).

Tip #2: Dress Appropriately

1. For the Men…

a) Wear a suit or at the very least a shirt and tie - Trust me, this can become a pain but at the end of the day, I tried to tell myself that I am representing my Inter/National organization and this is my one chance to make an impression. Also, your meeting should last no longer than an hour, I think you can manage.

b) Don’t look like you got out of bed – Do your hair, brush your teeth, and shave unless you got that cool five o’clock shadow going on.

c) Make sure your clothes fit/match – Tuck in your shirt. Wear black socks with black pants. Get your suit tailored. Know how to tie a tie (Men’s Warehouse will show you how).

2. For the Ladies…

a) Keep your clothes on – I don’t need to see more cleavage from you than I would at the beach. Also, your skirt shouldn’t show your butt or anything else when you sit down. Do you want to be known as the trashy consultant?

b) Easy on the makeup/perfume – Greek Advisors don’t want to have a headache from your scent. Most of us have small offices.

c) Keep it classy – Most of you do a good job with what you wear (i.e. suit) but let’s not get overboard with the colors and accessories.

Tip #3: Be Able to Hold a Conversation

I am going to generalize but most of us Greek Advisors want to get to know you. It’s refreshing to see a new face and hear your traveling stories. So, when we ask about your life, your travels, where you are from, etc, don’t make it awkward. We will get to talking about your chapter.

Furthermore, don’t read from a script. We know you want grade reports, recruitment statistics, etc. Don’t……..talk…….like……this….or….say….umm,…well….umm….yeah. Try to think of engaging questions to ask. Ask about the campus culture. Ask about recent issues that have occurred on campus. Ask about OUR lives. Ask about how your respective organization is perceived on campus. Ask, “Can I take you to get a smoothie, coffee?” Ask, “how can my organization be better on this campus?”

Simply put…be yourself, be an adult and be human. We appreciate what you do…I promise!

Tip #4: Come With a Purpose

Nothing frustrates Greek Advisors more than consultants who don’t have any purpose. One of our questions to you will be, “What is the purpose of your visit?” Is it to check-in with the chapter? Is it because of disciplinary issues? Is it to help with recruitment? Is it because you were in the area?

Regardless, make use of our time. I had one consultant come into my office from an organization that I will not name (but is located in Indianapolis) who looked to have the day off. He was with a few of my students and introduced himself. He said he was working with a nearby chapter but he didn’t really like them so he decided he would bypass his meetings until later at night (insert red flag here).

After talking with him a bit, he confessed that he didn’t really like the job nor did he like his Executive Director. I asked, “Well, why do you keep doing it? Why not quit.” I can’t remember exactly what he said but it was something along the lines of, “I don’t know what else to do and I can tolerate it.” All I could say was “wow” and not in a good way. Needless to say, this consultant did not come with nor have a purpose. I did not like this consultant. Don’t be this consultant.

Remember that you were hired for a reason. You have a purpose and you have talents (I hope) so make sure you are utilizing the gifts you were given and make some change in the 1, 3, 5, 30 day visit you may have.

Tip #5: Follow-up (Panhellenic organizations….PLEASE READ)

You have just finished your visit. Meeting with undergrads…check. Meeting with alums…check. Meeting with Greek Advisor…check. Went to some cool local places…double check. Had a great time…check. Follow up with Inter/National HQ…somewhat check. Follow-up with Greek Advisor in a week…NOT CHECKED.

I’m going to pick on the women’s organizations for a bit. Plain and simple, Panhellenic organizations are Terrible with follow-up (yes, a capital T). I’ll admit I haven’t worked with all 26 NPC organizations but I think I’ve worked with over 80% of the member groups. Those that I have worked with, I think I received a follow-up report from two organizations. TWO! (I like to give praise so nice work Tri-Delta and Gamma Phi Beta). Men, don’t think you are all-stars. There are a good number of you who fail to follow-up but you do a better job than the women.

Why do we want you to follow-up? It’s twofold. First, it allows us to see (by email or by actual written report) what you actually did on your visit. Secondly, it helps stimulate conversation and hold the chapter members accountable when you leave. The information you provide is invaluable to us because you are able to get a more in-depth look into the chapter that we may not be able to. Another reason is that it helps build the communication between your Inter/National organization and the Greek Advisor.

So, future consultants can you please follow-up with the Greek Advisor??? I mean, how hard is it? Most Inter/National organizations make you write a report anyways on your visit so just “CC” the Greek Advisor. Seems like a simple solution to me.

In conclusion, I hope you have an amazing experience traveling for your respective organization. I truly think it will change your life in some fashion and you will always remember your traveling days. In some ways, it’s a special “secret society” that only a select few are able to do so cherish your time. Finally, remember that we as Greek Advisors are here to help you. Read over the tips I provided and do what you were hired to do. Make a difference. Make positive change and make each chapter you work with better in some way.

Tips that Didn’t Make the Top 5:

1. Don’t sleep with the undergrads – We will find out. Trust me.

2. Don’t get drunk or party with the undergrads – What message does that send?

3. Don’t talk bad about any local chapter because you didn’t like them at your undergrad (i.e Are the Skulls douchebags here like they were at my undergrad?)

4. Use appropriate language (i.e. Don’t say “frat”, “house”, etc)

Don’t assume that because you are on campus and you didn’t schedule a meeting that we are going to stop our lives to meet with you at your beck and call. Nice Greek Advisors may meet with you but most won’t…and shouldn’t.

Seeing Double: Why National Organizations and Universities Must Improve Their Partnership

Recently, I witnessed a chapter have its charter revoked by their National organization. In our profession, this is nothing new. It’s cyclical and we all know at some point, one of our chapters will close somewhere nationwide. Was I surprised by this particular chapter losing its charter? Not really. The chapter had lost its purpose and they were on probation with their National organization. They didn’t fulfill their probationary requirements which resulted in their charter being revoked.

What did surprise me and the reason for this article is the way in which the National organization went about closing the organization. Specifically, the National organization made no effort to contact the University about its intended plan of action. Now, before I examine their rationale, I think it’s important to express a few points to consider as you read the rest of this article.

First, understand that this article is mainly focused around the partnership National organizations and institutions should have pertaining to risk management related issues or “problem” chapters. I’m fairly certain fraternity/sorority (F/S) advisors don’t care that much about how a National organization monitors the financial issues or legal issues that occur internally within a local chapter (unless the legal issues have University implications).

Second, I have been on both sides as it pertains to working for a National organization and working for a University. Therefore, I think I can relate to the common frustrations faced on both sides of the coin.

Finally, this article isn’t intended to point fingers. It is simply to provide awareness and recognize that at the end of the day we have the same intentions and purpose in mind, we just don’t communicate very well. Thus, below are some thoughts I have as to why each side gets pissed when dealing with “problem” chapters and ways to improving the communication of both National organizations and F/S advisors.

Why University Fraternity/Sorority Advisor(s) Get Pissed:
1. It takes away from the team approach we strive for with the National organization
a. The F/S advisor is the front line of the Greek community at any institution on a day-to-day basis. Therefore, they like to be in the know of what could potentially be an issue within their community. If a National organization decides to handle matters “internally” with their local chapter, it defeats the “team” approach F/S advisors try to create as institutions and National organizations. The students then decide to take a “side” (University or National) which shouldn’t be the outcome.

2. It’s a “slap in the face” professionally
a. The F/S advisors are paid to oversee the National organizations on each campus nationwide. If the National organization tries to handle matters “internally” without their knowledge, it is perceived that the F/S advisor isn’t capable of helping or handling the situation. It results in the F/S advisor feeling upset and frustrated.

3. At the end of the day, the students are still at the F/S advisor(s) institution
a. No matter the decision a National organization makes, the F/S advisor deals with the aftermath. Sometimes, chapters know their fate has been sealed but other times, they are caught off-guard and are left wondering, “What did we do?” Typically, they turn to the F/S advisor to cope and if the F/S advisor has no background knowledge or understanding, it creates a feeling of “helplessness.”

4. It leaves a sour taste in the F/S advisor(s) mouth about that particular National organization
a. We all know our profession is small and if an organization does something behind the F/S advisors back, do you think they are going to forget it? Think about the long term implications of the perception and relationship that F/S advisor will have with that National organization.

Why National Organizations Get Pissed:
1. The University refuses to help in a risk management issue
a. When the National organization has lived up to its mission and has decided to address the issues with the local chapter, they would appreciate some help. If an F/S advisor or institution doesn’t provide help to enforce what the National organization is trying to do, that sucks. This also creates a divide when that problem chapter causes more trouble and the F/S advisor states, “HQ just slapped them on the wrist.” This also tells me the F/S advisor isn’t willing to participate in a student/chapter development opportunity. Weird because wasn’t that what we all learned when we got our Masters degree?

2. The F/S advisor didn’t pick up the phone and let us know about the previous issues that could have helped address the current issue (i.e. The “wait till AFA Fireside Chats to inform the National organization why their chapter on our campus sucks”)
a. How annoying is this for National organizations? They come to the Annual Meeting ready to learn, educate, and create productive dialogue only to be blindsided by 1, 2, or 8 campuses saying their organization sucks on XYZ campus. Why was there no heads up email or phone call? Can the National organization get a little love during Fireside Chats? I mean really, why not call it Fireside Bitch Session? F/S advisors MUST do a better job of communicating both the good and bad to the National organizations.

3. It’s a “slap in the face” professionally
a. The National organization deals with risk management issues EVERYDAY. It may not be on your campus, but I’m sure every National organization receives a phone call or voicemail every morning about an issue. If the University tries to handle matters “internally” (i.e. student conduct, judicial process) without the National organization’s knowledge, and then another issue arises with the same chapter, the University typically tends to overreact. Specifically, they expect the National organization to “know” that the chapter had issues before and then they wonder why the chapter is still getting in trouble. Well, contrary to some University’s knowledge, National organizations are not mind readers or may not have the best students/alumni that relay the “bad” news or sanctions that they received. Thus, this typically ends in a very unpleasant phone call or feeling of frustration on the National organizations end.

Listen, if we are being truthful and honest, we can all agree that there are some sucky F/S advisors and there are some sucky National organizations and/or consultants. Everyone nod their head and agree. Ok, now we need to come up with ideas to increase the communication between institutions and National organizations. Here are some helpful tips (I think) to improve relations on both sides but if you have more, let me know or comment below:

1. Pick up the phone
a. Don’t email. Pick up the phone and have a conversation. If you must email, use the email as a way to set up a phone conversation. Email leaves too much open for interpretation. Pick up the phone, discuss the struggles you’re having and engage in healthy dialogue about how each party can get the chapter back on track.

2. Acknowledge that you want to work together (i.e. Respect one another)
a. Don’t make it a pissing war. YES, it is YOUR campus and yes, it is YOUR National organization but at the end of the day, we are in the SAME PROFESSION. You’d be amazed that if you work together, you will more often than not have the same intentions in mind, you just might have to negotiate a little for what you are trying to achieve.

3. Communicate Year-Round
a. Don’t wait until AFA. Don’t wait for one of the regional conferences. Don’t wait until the National consultant is in town. Figure out a way to establish consistent communication with the institution or National organization. Maybe it’s a monthly newsletter. Maybe it’s a Skype meeting. Maybe it’s a phone call. You determine the best method for communicating with the National organization or institution you want to work with more.

4. See it from the other perspective
a. If you question an F/S advisor or the National organizations recent decision, take a step back and ask yourself, “What lead them to this decision.” For F/S advisors, remember that National organizations think “big” picture and may not be as “emotionally” invested as you may be. For National organizations, remember the impact of your decisions will directly affect not only the chapter but also the F/S advisor in their day-to-day work. We teach our students this concept when we are dealing with conflict resolution issues so why not practice what we preach.

In the words of Big from Rob and Big, it is time to “DO WORK.” Or, as a person I admire would say, “friends, we have work to do.” This will take time and I can only hope this article sheds some light on the different perspectives each party has on a frequent basis. I can do better. You can do better. We can all do better. Let’s get to work.

p.s.
A personal shout out to those that offered their insight on this article. Gracias amigos!

7 Great Principles for Dealing with Haters

I have neglected this blog for some time. Quite simply, I had a lot of fraternal thoughts but couldn't express them in words until recently.

Finally, I have found clarity in my words. I have new ideas, new thoughts and new perspectives. However, sometimes no matter how hard you try to say something or express a thought, someone is able to do it better. This is why I have posted the article below. Entitled "The 7 Great Principles for Dealing with Haters," I couldn't help but think how these 7 Principles relate to being a Greek Advisor. Even though the context of the article is catered towards social media, I think it is easily transferable to being a Greek Advisor. So, as you read below, think about how each principle relates to being a Greek Advisor and how you can continue to challenge the status quo and make a difference.

Here is the link for the article: http://mashable.com/2010/04/29/deal-with-haters-tim-ferriss/

Tim Ferriss: 7 Great Principles for Dealing with Haters

Dealing with negativity online can be tough, which was why we were all ears when Tim Ferriss, author of The Four Hour Work Week, took the stage at The Next Web ‘10 event in Amsterdam to discuss how to learn to love haters.

While Mashable recently offered you advice on how to deal with negative feedback specifically in the social media realm, Ferriss takes the concept a step further with advice on how to contend with — and benefit from — criticism across all platforms.

We caught up with Ferriss backstage at the event to find out more about his seven principles for dealing with haters.

Read on for some interesting ideas and let us know which work for you — as well as your own strategies — in the comments below.

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1. It doesn’t matter how many people don’t get it. What matters is how many people do.

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“It’s critical in social media, as in life, to have a clear objective and not to lose sight of that,” Ferriss says. He argues that if your objective is to do the greatest good for the greatest number of people or to change the world in some small way (be it through a product or service), you only need to pick your first 1,000 fans — and carefully. “As long as you’re accomplishing your objectives, that 1,000 will lead to a cascading effect,” Ferriss explains. “The 10 million that don’t get it don’t matter.”

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2. 10% of people will find a way to take anything personally. Expect it.

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“People are least productive in reactive mode,” Ferriss states, before explaining that if you are expecting resistance and attackers, you can choose your response in advance, as opposed to reacting inappropriately. This, Ferriss says, will only multiply the problem. “Online I see people committing ’social media suicide’ all the time by one of two ways. Firstly by responding to all criticism, meaning you’re never going to find time to complete important milestones of your own, and by responding to things that don’t warrant a response.” This, says Ferriss, lends more credibility by driving traffic.

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3. “Trying to get everyone to like you is a sign of mediocrity.” (Colin Powell)

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“If you treat everyone the same and respond to everyone by apologizing or agreeing, you’re not going to be recognizing the best performers, and you’re not going to be improving the worst performers,” Ferriss says. “That guarantees you’ll get more behavior you don’t want and less you do.” That doesn’t mean never respond, Ferriss goes on to say, but be “tactical and strategic” when you do.

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4. “If you are really effective at what you do, 95% of the things said about you will be negative.” (Scott Boras)

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“This principle goes hand-in-hand with number two,” Ferriss says. “I actually keep this quote in my wallet because it is a reminder that the best people in almost any field are almost always the people who get the most criticism.” The bigger your impact, explains Ferriss (whose book is a New York Times, WSJ and BusinessWeek bestseller), and the larger the ambition and scale of your project, the more negativity you’ll encounter. Ferriss jokes he has haters “in about 35 languages.”

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5. “If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid.” (Epictetus)

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“Another way to phrase this is through a more recent quote from Elbert Hubbard,” Ferriss says. “‘To avoid criticism, do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing.” Ferriss, who holds a Guinness World Record for the most consecutive tango spins, says he has learned to enjoy criticism over the years. Ferriss, using Roman philosophy to expand on his point, says: “Cato, who Seneca believed to be the perfect stoic, practiced this by wearing darker robes than was customary and by wearing no tunic. He expected to be ridiculed and he was, he did this to train himself to only be ashamed of those things that are truly worth being ashamed of. To do anything remotely interesting you need to train yourself to be effective at dealing with, responding to, even enjoying criticism… In fact, I would take the quote a step further and encourage people to actively pursue being thought foolish and stupid.”

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6. “Living well is the best revenge.” (George Herbert)

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“The best way to counter-attack a hater is to make it blatantly obvious that their attack has had no impact on you,” Ferriss advises. “That, and [show] how much fun you’re having!” Ferriss goes on to say that the best revenge is letting haters continue to live with their own resentment and anger, which most of the time has nothing to do with you in particular. “If a vessel contains acid and you pour some on an object, it’s still the vessel that sustains the most damage,” Ferriss says. “Don’t get angry, don’t get even — focus on living well and that will eat at them more than anything you can do.”

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7. Keep calm and carry on.

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The slogan “Keep Calm and Carry On” was originally produced by the British government during the Second World War as a propaganda message to comfort people in the face of Nazi invasion. Ferriss takes the message and applies it to today’s world. “Focus on impact, not approval. If you believe you can change the world, which I hope you do, do what you believe is right and expect resistance and expect attackers,” Ferriss concludes. “Keep calm and carry on!”

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Five Wishes for the 2009 AFA Annual Meeting

As we approach the Annual Meeting, I thought I'd list the 5 things I'd like to see in Jacksonville this year. Hopefully, you have a sense of humor as you read below...

1. Comedic skits by various individuals with the following shows as the premise:

• Dating in the Dark: The AFA Volunteer version
• Extreme Makeover: The Fraternity House Edition
• The Office: Showcasing the AFA Exec. Board
• The Bachelor: Rose Ceremony during Employment Exchange
• Dancing with the Stars: Starring past NPC/NIC/NPHC/AFA leadership

2. A red carpet and live feed as people walk into the Closing Banquet

• Can you imagine if there was an obnoxious interviewer asking pressing questions to our various fraternal leaders? Where is Kathy Griffin when you need her?!?

3. Live, on-time tweets during educational programming.

• Instant feedback in a 140 characters....perfect.

4. Fireside Chats in a room with an open bar.

• Honest conversations are sure to be had with a little help from Jack, Jim, and Jose.

5. Live, on-screen betting during the Closing Banquet of when the Banquet will end

• I mean, if $1000 were on the line, you bet your ass people would be into what was next on the agenda.

Those are my five wishes, what are yours? It's all in good fun people!

Disappointment: A Hidden Teaching

Disappointment: A Hidden Teaching

As fraternity/sorority professionals and educators, we observe, and are attentive to students’ emotions on a daily basis. In these daily encounters, we see students who exhibit various emotions such as being happy, sad, excited, inquisitive, as well as students who are disappointed. It is this last emotion I’d like to discuss…disappointment.

How do we deal with disappointment? Surely we have all experienced disappointment at some point in our lives. Whether it was the birthday gift we didn’t receive or those frustrating claw machines that never gave us the stuffed animal we wanted, disappointment is a part of life. So how have we been trained to deal with disappointment? Furthermore, how have we taught our students to deal with disappointment? This article looks at the emotion of disappointment and how we as professionals can aid students when the feeling of disappointment appears.

If you look online and find Merriam-Webster’s dictionary definition, disappointment’s adjective disappointed means, “defeated in expectation or hope.” Read that again…defeated in expectation or hope, not a very pleasant feeling to have at any point in life. For our student leaders, their lives are dependent on creating expectations and goals that they hope will have a positive outcome. However, positive outcomes aren’t always the reality. At some point, disappointment will appear and as educators, we need to be ready.

Addressing Disappointment:

The first step in dealing with disappointment is addressing it with our students. More often than not, students tend to think of disappointment as a bad emotion that needs to be hidden. Students don’t want to let disappointment affect them and they try to console themselves so they won’t be embarrassed in front of others. Sometimes, students won’t tell us what they’re hoping for because they don’t want to have to tell us that they failed. Disappointment can be embarrassing and humiliating.

As professionals, we need to be able to acknowledge disappointment once it has hit one of our students. This can happen in two different ways. For some students, they will acknowledge their disappointment on their own and come to you for support. It is important for you as a professional to really listen to what has upset the student, not necessarily because the issue itself is important but because you have been given an opening to teach the student how to deal with disappointment.

The other way to acknowledge disappointment is to ask open-ended questions to a student who seems disappointed. It is important to address the student in a private setting in which you try to identify what has upset them. In this role, you need to actively listen to the student as they express their disappointment while reassuring them that failing at something does not mean they are a failure.

Share Small Disappointments:

Once you or the student has acknowledged the disappointment and you have identified some of the reasons why the student is disappointed, it would be a good idea to share some of your own disappointments and how you handled them. By sharing a disappointment experience of your own with your student you let them know its okay to be disappointed and that disappointment is a part of life. Discussing how you handle your disappointment gives students a window into the reasoning process that keeps you from overreacting, which they may then craft to fit their own situations. Seeing the fraternity/sorority professional throw the NPC Manual of Information across the room when a rule has been broken teaches one lesson. Seeing the fraternity/sorority professional sit down and talk about the problem calmly and reasonably teaches another.

Teach Students to Recover and Risk Disappointment Again:

Once we have addressed disappointment and have shared genuine disappointment stories, we must then teach our students to move on from the disappointing experience. Chapter elections, relationships with a significant other, a bad grade on a test, a rejection from a potential job employer or graduate school application; each of these are potential disappointments students could face (particularly in the near future).

Recognizing that these potential disappointment “boobie traps” are coming, teaching students how to recover from potential disappointment needs to be a priority. For some students, the thought of possible disappointment stops them from stepping out and trying something new. However, we must be able to challenge their mindset by expressing the thought that if they only try for things that are guaranteed, won’t they be missing out on developing their full capacity? I’m in firm belief that you learn more from your failures than your successes and whatever way works best for you to convey that message to your student should be the focus of the discussion.

For other students, they will recognize that disappointment occurs and they will naturally try again. In that situation, we as professionals must encourage the student in their attempt but also provide critical and constructive feedback to ensure the student understands that being disappointed again is a possibility. Again, depending on the student’s personality and your advisory style, this may look different to various advisors. However at the end of the day, just because a student is willing to risk disappointment again doesn’t limit their anxiety level and fear of perceived failure anymore than a student facing disappointment for the first time. I’d venture to guess that risking disappointment a second or third time might greatly increase anxiety and have more of a lasting effect on a student’s perceived failure if they did in fact be disappointed again.

Thus, we as professionals must be ready to teach disappointment because at any moment, disappointment will rear its unpredictable face and we need to be ready to address it.

Risk Management for Dummies

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2009

Risk Management for Dummies

Risk Management for Dummies:

The Checklist – The New Policy

• You can drink every night of the week, of age or not, with the intent to get blackout drunk.

Disclaimer: By agreeing to this bullet, you cannot hold anyone accountable for any injuries, hospital visits or death claims in the event you do not wake up from one of your nights out. 


• You may haze every member, new or active, in the hopes of creating a unified force that stimulates stronger brotherhood/sisterhood.

Disclaimer: By agreeing to this bullet, you agree that you cannot use any excuse that would put blame on any member, new or old, for your actions in the court of law. Furthermore, you cannot file a lawsuit or ask for money if you are found guilty in the court of law and sent to jail for your actions. You also agree to demonstrate your hazing activities to your family, friends, and the victims family and friends as well. 


• You are more than happy to degrade members of your organization as well as members of other organizations. It will boost your self-worth.

Disclaimer: By agreeing to this bullet, you agree to showcase your actions to your friends, parents, alumni, and national headquarters. Heck, showcase it to the media and news outlets. 


• You are more than welcome to get shitfaced at philanthropies and service events. Why not serve yourself first before you give back to the community?

Disclaimer: By agreeing to this bullet, you acknowledge that philanthropic endeavors are worthless and that helping others is a waste of time. 


• Go to class only when you feel necessary. Academics are only a small portion of your collegiate experience.

Disclaimer: By agreeing to this bullet, you agree not to hold your friends, fraternity/sorority brothers, alumni, University administrators (faculty or staff), significant others, etc. accountable for your poor academic performance. 


• In your chapter, don’t worry about others, worry about yourself. It is your experience that is important.

Disclaimer: By agreeing to this bullet, you agree that you are more important than your pledge class, the chapter, and the national organization. 


• When throwing parties, don’t have any rules. Anything goes at your events. No lists, no security, no laws to follow…you are invincible. 

Disclaimer: By agreeing to this bullet, you agree to be held accountable for any policies broken, you agree to be arrested, you agree to be sued, you agree to go to jail, you agree to go to a funeral in the event of a victim’s death, you agree to speak to the media, you agree to inform news outlets of your “no rules” policy. Finally, you agree to not hold anyone else accountable except for yourself.

This policy was created to provide you as a student with what you wanted. If you agree with these bullet points & disclaimers, please sign below. 



_________________________________ 

Signature

____________
Date




*Disclaimer: This is not a real policy. This is for idiots.

Questions for my fraternal friends

Hello friends! I took me a little while to think of some compelling purpose driven reflection questions as it pertains to fraternity/sorority life but I think these questions will at least get your head thinking a little bit. In this blog, I ask a series of questions and I hope you will respond with some thoughts and answers to these questions…

1. Applied Futurist

I recently listened to Steve Farber’s (upcoming AFA keynote speaker) free email podcasts series and found them very interesting. Specifically, his simplistic view of business and ability to articulate his viewpoints were very easy to translate to the fraternal world. One podcast that stood out to me was discussing this notion of the “applied futurist.” Farber went on to describe applied futurist as follows:

a. Applied futurists looks at trends, make observations, and makes predictions about what will happen in the future. Applied futurists start acting today, creates things today that will anticipate what that future state of the company (in our case fraternity/sorority life) is.

As Farber went on to explain, he quoted a fellow business man who stated, “companies fail not because they fail to predict it, but because they fail to imagine it.” Farber went on to explain that being an applied futurist is imagining the future and actively engaging in creating that imagination and bringing that imagination into the world of reality.

So my question is who are the applied futurists’ in the fraternity/sorority world? What makes them an applied futurist? Are we, as a profession, encouraging and promoting applied futurists’ thoughts?

To learn more about Steve Farber go here (http://www.stevefarber.com/)

My second question deals with risk management…

2. Risk Management & Suduko: One in the Same?

For those that have never played Suduko, Wikipedia describes Suduko as, “logic-based, combinatorial number-placement puzzle. The objective is to fill a 9×9 grid so that each column, each row, and each of the nine 3×3 boxes (also called blocks or regions) contains the digits from 1 to 9 only one time each. The puzzle setter provides a partially completed grid.”

Is risk management, our fraternal version of Suduko? We know the problems, but yet we can’t seem to figure out the proper “arrangement” for these constant problems to go away? What do you think? I mean, we know alcohol, hazing, eating disorders, underage drinking, binge drinking, etc are the problems, but why can’t we seem to figure out the Suduko puzzle?

3. Neglected Students?

The next question is a pretty basic question that I think is often times neglected…just like I think our sophomore leaders are! Read and respond…

As it pertains to our undergraduate members, have we become so focused on our new members joining, that our sophomore members are being neglected? How are we creating “emerging” leaders and setting up our sophomores and juniors for success?

4. Are you a Seagull advisor?

The final question for today’s blog deals with management. In the February edition of Fast Company magazine, I came across an article that struck me pertaining to management. You can find the article here (http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/133/made-to-stick-time-to-aim-lower.html). My question is…

Have you ever taken a step back and ask yourself if you are a “seagull manager/advisor?” In what the Fast Company article describes as, “Managers who fly in, make a lot of noise, dump on everyone, and then fly out.”

If you’re not, is your direct supervisor or boss? If they are, have you talked to him/her about it?


I look forward to hearing some responses to one of the questions I asked. In the following days, i will be asking particular questions to some of our umbrella organizations (i.e. NPC, NPHC, NIC) so be on the lookout. They may be questions you've been wanting to ask but never have!