[24194] in APO-L
[APO-L] Required Knowledge for Pledges
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Mark Bransby)
Sat Mar 6 18:53:06 2004
Date: Fri, 5 Mar 2004 07:09:45 +0200
Reply-To: Mark Bransby <Mark_Bransby@BELLSOUTH.NET>
From: Mark Bransby <Mark_Bransby@BELLSOUTH.NET>
To: APO-L@LISTSERV.IUPUI.EDU
In-Reply-To: <03571EA23BF5D6119AD50002B3250D4605BAF14C@fl08exm03>
I think that the issue that really is facing many chapters is bigger than
whether to require pledges to memorize the fraternity jeweler. I would like
to suggest that having pledges learn information such as the official
jeweler, fraternity symbols (tree, bird, colors, flower, etc), founders,
chapter founders, history of scouting and so forth is not necessarily a bad
idea. Provided we have the correct information ;)
In a day and age were people are struggling for a sense of belonging, one
way that we can really provide a worthwhile organization is to teach our
potential new members as much as we can about our organization. They need to
fully understand the history behind things like the scout movement, the
fraternity's history and their chapter's history. They need to be
intimately familiar with the principles of scouting as well as the
responsibilities and expectations that this organization holds high.
I think that all too often chapter operations can slip into more of a club
scenario. Plans are not made in advance, operations become more day to day.
This can possibly be attributed to a lack of buy-in by new members into the
full membership responsibilities of being a brother in Alpha Phi Omega.
This organization was designed to hold up a standard of living that is
higher than the average and then to motivate its members to aspire to that
standard of living. Now I know that this is not an easy task to achieve. It
was never supposed to be. But I think that one of the key starting points is
to impart as much of what this fraternity is to our potential members, so
that they can become fully participating members upon activation.
It has been mentioned that the national pledge manual should be provided for
each pledge. I would challenge chapters to go one step further and develop
their own manual that contains all the chapter history and operating
procedures as well as all the information for the administration of the
pledge period. This can either be added to the national information or can
just be designed as a completely separate publication that incorporates the
national information as well.
Remember, today's pledge is tomorrow's leader. They need access to all the
information we can give them. If we truly care, we will provide them with a
pledge experience that most closely resembles the work load, and
responsibilities of being a brother.
In Leadership, Friendship, and Service,
Mark Bransby
Delta Chapter Alumnus
Former Section 69 Chair
