[22852] in APO-L
Re: [APO-L] Thoughts about the future of APO
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (J. Busby)
Thu Aug 8 15:14:09 2002
Date: Thu, 8 Aug 2002 14:14:31 -0500
Reply-To: "J. Busby" <jcb2181@TEXASONLINE.NET>
From: "J. Busby" <jcb2181@TEXASONLINE.NET>
To: APO-L@LISTSERV.IUPUI.EDU
I believe Brother Ken brings out some very good points.
Over the past few years I too have been deeply concerned with this issue as
I observe things from afar at my former Chapter, from posts on APO-L and
other sources.
Though the chapter at A&M and the Fraternity are very strong I have seen
many changes that are in line with the points Brother Ken brings up.
Here are some anecdotal examples:
For decades, the Texas A&M Chapter was the habitual leader, organizer and
headline organization for blood drives. After the Bonfire Incident and
September 11th, the blood drive literature I see in publications I get shows
student government or other high profile administration staffed groups as
the leaders, organizers and headliners. I'm sure we have it back now the
"good press" time is over... but it shows how easily things can be co-opted
by better funded, administration backed groups. I'll bet other chapters had
similar experiences.
When I left 10 years ago, the chapter had a prominent office in the student
programs building.. but now with the expansion of other administration
funded organizations into "community service" I hear we have been relegated
back to a cubicle.
When I was an undergraduate, the Student Government (administration)
sponsored "Big Event" (community wide service weekend) didn't included
leaders or input from the Chapter, though we had HUGE amounts of experience
with EVERY organization being helped out during that weekend. They staffed
their committee's with S.G. lackeys and just asked if we wanted a project
for the weekend. I looked at the "Big Event" web site at A&M and it talks
about a couple of guys who went and cleaned a cemetery and thought it was a
good idea and that everybody should do it and so became the "Big Event".
Now it's spreading to campuses across the country! I can't even name the
dozens of cemeteries in dozens of towns that have been assisted on a regular
basis (at least once every couple of years on a rotating basis, some more
frequently) by the A&M Chapter. We've even sponsored Clean up the Whole
Town weekends for some of the small communities we have supported for
YEARS.. but we get way less respect than Student Government. The "Big
Event" takes tons of resources and months of planning for ONE weekend of
service. APO chapters just plug along and do service,service, service; not
planning, one weekend and back-patting!
All this being said.....
I think the places on Campus and in the Community that directly benefit from
the works of our chapters are grateful and very supportive of APO. However,
they are always looking for more volunteers to help and welcome ANYONE who
will do anything for them. The organizations we help aren't in the business
of protecting the APO chapters that assist them.. but they might need to
think about it.
WHY?... I see this all the time in things like food banks, Boys/Girls Clubs,
etc. At A&M the chapter did projects or provided volunteers WEEKLY during
the semester to help out with these programs... however, Student Government
or other Administration supported groups may advertise a ONE WEEKEND or ONE
WEEK push project and get ton's of accolades, press and so forth... while
the chapter who helps out week after week, semester after semester gets no
coverage at all.
I recall things like the food bank director who loved us dearly because one
of our chapter members could be called at any time and we could arrange for
5-10 folks to come out and help with as little as 1 day's notice. If they
were to call the sponsors of one of the Big Push events at a time other than
when they had scheduled to help in a pinch... FORGET ABOUT IT.
Campus run community service kind of reminds me of PROBATIONERS. I see
groups calling up the campus (like the County Lock-up), asking for some
volunteers (Probationers) and the campus posts the notice and sends out the
requested number of students to the site and they do the work and move on.
In this realm I don't see the relationships with the groups, I don't see the
community building, I don't see the Commitment. I don't see Community
Service as a lifestyle and passion.. I see it as a convenient duty.
We need to AGGRESSIVELY sell those differences to our pledges,
administrators and to the groups we help. We also need to do a lot of self
promoting and maybe even some self preservation.
APO many not have the market cornered on Community Service, but we ought to
be the first thing that comes to mind when college and community service is
in the same sentence.
-James Busby
Xi Delta Alum (much removed)
Texas A&M University '92
[Original Message]
Brothers:
Below is some thoughts I have regarding our Fraternity's future. I present
them to raise thought and discussion:
The current climate regarding community service on college campuses, and its
relationship to our Fraternity, concerns me greatly.
[--SNIP--]
Kenneth Hunter
