[24310] in APO-L
Re: [APO-L] Toast Song
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Liston Bias)
Tue May 25 13:34:54 2004
Date: Tue, 25 May 2004 10:28:28 -0400
Reply-To: Liston Bias <bias@POBOX.COM>
From: Liston Bias <bias@POBOX.COM>
To: APO-L@LISTSERV.IUPUI.EDU
In-Reply-To: <200405251233.i4PCXjnb016067@ms-smtp-02.tampabay.rr.com>
On Tue, 25 May 2004, Matt Cross wrote:
> If the song is changed, the goal of having one song for all of us to sing
> will not be fulfilled.
Individual chapters are going to make decisions to run their chapter in a
manner they believe is most appropriate. It was these decisions that
allowed women to become members in the first place when it was not
acceptable on a National level. And it is these decisions that give each
chapter a different composition with regard to recruiting and pledging
processes. I still believe it should be a desirable goal to have a toast
song that has the widest acceptance.
Although I am a few years removed from active involvement in Alpha Phi
Omega, it has always been my belief/impression that the majority is okay
with current version or making slight changes to the current version.
There are those, many of whom are on this mailing list, that look at this
issue with firmly planted belief on one side or the other.
Such as:
A) The song is not appropriate for the times and MUST be changed
B) the song was created by our founders and MUST NEVER be changed.
I like singing the song in current version, but have been in favor of
making slight changes to the song because of what I have observed. The
slight change I like is to change "Men of" to "True to". I have seen
people be very uncomfortable singing the current version. I have seen
people drop out shortly after singing it for the first time.
I hear/see the comments of those who say our founders created this song
and it would be wrong for us to change it. Along with similar comments
that include if people don't like it then don't join.
I believe our founders were more concerned with things like leadership,
fellowship, and service. I believe they were more concerned with
broadening our membership to create a massive network of brothers that
would make a positive impact in their schools and community. I believe
some change could really help with these.
> The amount of time that this Fraternity has spent debating this issue could
> have been better spent on more important issues, such as membership
> retention.
Yes, I agree. Change the song and help membership retention.
Of all the things in the fraternity, the toast song promotes our
brotherhood more than anything else. In every chapter I was involved
with, we would join hands and sing the song at the end of every
meeting/event. I can't imagine Alpha Phi Omega without it. It is
particularly enjoyable when singing it after a meeting consumed with much
disagreement.
By the way, I'm fix'in to be UNEMPLOYED in the Central Florida Area pretty
soon. If anyone knows of companies in the area hiring, or should be
hiring, Sr. Unix Systems Administrator/Engineer (particularly
Solaris/Linux), I would be very appreciative if you would let me know.
Take Care,
Liston
