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Date: Tue, 9 Aug 2005 13:36:52 -0400 Reply-To: Brown Michael-EMB021 <Michael.R.Brown@motorola.com> From: Brown Michael-EMB021 <Michael.R.Brown@motorola.com> To: APO-L@LISTSERV.IUPUI.EDU All- Our Fall 2005 Pledge Class Namesake, Brother Jerry Schroeder, has issued his challenge to the Fall 2005 Pledge Class. Its available on the National website, but here it is also: "Many years ago during a speech to a National Convention, I said that 'Our Fraternity will continue to offer America what it most needs - future leaders who care, who want to become part of the solution, who know they can make a difference, and who realize that service to others is a value worth sharing.' I challenge this year's pledges to help fulfill that promise and to serve the nation by sharing Alpha Phi Omega with more students on their campuses. Specifically, I urge each pledge to replace himself or herself by recruiting another student for next spring's pledge class. And I ask that each pledge do this in addition to any other recruiting efforts they or their chapter may otherwise plan or undertake. I can think of no greater service to the nation than to have more college students providing more service to their communities, to the homeless, to disadvantaged students -- and eventually becoming participating citizens who continue to exemplify our cardinal principles in! their adult lives. The young men and young women of Alpha Phi Omega are, in the words of the 2004 Pledge Class Namesake, Togo West, 'wonderful people who can set positive examples.' What better gift to our nation than thousands more such wonderful people?" Personally, I think this is a great and important challenge, not just for pledges, but for all Brothers. But I have to wonder. Are we as an organization, both the chapters and our National organization, doing all it can to KEEP the people we recruit? Do we have a problem that once we get people on board, they quickly leave? Are we loosing new Brothers from Chapters, or loosing alumni from being involved with chapters, alumni associations or the Fraternity in general. On another list I am on, a poster forwarded the following that came from a sermon at his church. I think some of the points that were made are important. Replace "church" with "chapter" or "Fraternity" and think about what is really being said: <begin quote> Westminster is a large church, especially among Presbyterians, and the larger we become, the more difficult it is for us to increase our net membership. Some of the newer members never get really involved in our life here. Other members feel like they don't know anyone anymore. A crisis arises, and the church doesn't seem to pay any attention, and so they quietly exit through the back door. And that is not unusual at all. The experts say that 50 to 70% of new members will drop out in a year or two. And that is primarily because they never get into the church. Oh, they get on the rolls, but they never get involved in any of our ministries, and they feel alone and not important. Those same experts say that in order to fully assimilate members and to keep them on their faith journeys as part of this congregation, the members must feel like at least 5 of the following 7 things: 1. Acceptance. somebody loves me. 2. Security. I belong, a feeling that I fit in and am included. 3. Self-esteem. I am somebody 4. Influence. what I say or think counts. I can have some impact on what the church does. 5. Meaning. I enjoy worshipping here. I am personally enriched. 6. Opportunity. I feel like there are many opportunities for me to serve or be involved in this church. 7. Service. I feel like I am helping someone. I am making a positive contribution to the lives of others. Acceptance. Security. Self-Esteem. Influence. Meaning. Opportunity. Service? How many of us have those feelings? Herb Miller suggests that each of these seven is very important, and that fully assimilated and committed members will feel at least 5 of them. Your officers and staff are very concerned about these matters. We have concluded that we need to work smarter about getting every single member connected with a small group of other members. To make sure that when any member comes to worship, there will be at least three or four other members who can call her or him by name. that each member will feel important and needed and spiritually enriched. that each member will feel that there are opportunities here to serve and that sooner or later he or she will make a positive difference in someone else's life. Last month on the Session retreat, we went through the names of adults who have joined our church in the last 3 years and discovered that over 80% . not the 30 to 50% norm . that over 80% of our most recent members have become involved in some small group here at Westminster: a class, a team, a committee, a choir, a supper club, whatever. Therefore we feel like we have a good chance of holding on to them unless they move out of town, which is what many of them will do. But 80% is not good enough. And there is no way that the staff can do it all. It will take every single one of us to make this happen and to keep it happening. Those who are deeply involved in small groups have the opportunity of inviting others to join them. And those who have not yet found a niche here, are invited to speak with one of the staff. Let us know that you would like to be more involved. I realize that this can be deep water stuff, and much more difficult for some than for others. But if we all work on it together we can be a big church that feels like a small church. It can happen. But it takes initiative. Somebody has to do the asking. <end quote> YiLFS Michael Brown APO LM & TB
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