[23269] in APO-L
Re: [APO-L] Fraternity History (was Pre-convention greetings)
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (John Grossi)
Wed Dec 11 07:42:40 2002
Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2002 12:42:25 +0000
Reply-To: jgrossi@attbi.com
From: John Grossi <jgrossi@attbi.com>
To: APO-L@LISTSERV.IUPUI.EDU
Let me pose a couple of observations...
> 2. While it may no longer be possible to interview
> the Founders themselves, they more than likely (I
> don't know for sure) left things like journals,
> letters, and interviews with people before their
> deaths, which are all primary sources also. Just
> because you are unable to get the information straight
> from the horses mouth does not mean that the primary
> sources have been lost.
The better question may be do you even want to know? Many
organizations develop a powerful mythology around the
reasons for their founding. If the information you find
isn't enhancing to that mythology you may be sorely
disappointed.
> It shows how the fraternity as a whole has
> matured and changed over the years. That is what
> history is all about. Learning from the past. I am a
> very firm believer in the idea that "those who forget
> the past are doomed to repeat it." If we don't learn
> what went on during earlier years, the same mistakes
> will be made and we, as a fraternity, will be
> continually reinventing the wheel. All the history
> needs to be available and taught. It would then be up
> to individuals to make the decision as to whether what
> they have learned is relevant or not.
A philosophical observation if you will. One of the
fraternities unstated goals is to develop leadership.
One must temper a knowledge of the past with innovation
and learning from ones mistakes. Which means
that extra emphasis needs to be put on Helen's last
sentence and it's implication, which is at the core of
what "advising" is.
oh and argueing history with Helen can be a fun experience :)
Just a thought...
-John
