These are exciting times for Beta Theta Pi. Our Men of Principle Initiative is receiving recognition throughout the fraternity world. Currently we have 35 (of 130) chapters that are partnered with the General Fraternity for the initiative. Partnering means that the General Fraternity commits resources (mostly manpower) each year to assist the chapters to set goals for improvement. These resources include facilitators, scholarships, recruitment guidance, a planning structure and Beta versions of the Franklin-Covey planner for each member. In return, the chapters agree to abide by all the standards of the fraternity (alcohol free rush, no hazing, and scholarship). They also agree to maintain 5 active advisers in key areas—chapter counselor, financial adviser, risk management adviser, pledge adviser, scholarship adviser.
The adviser piece is the most challenging for us nationally. As the initiative grows in number of chapters, the need for advisers grows 5 times as fast. Consequently, the General Fraternity is putting a large effort into recruiting and training prospective advisers. We are having quite a bit of success in having alumni advise chapters that are not their alma mater and using non-Betas (FOB’s—Friends of Betas). FOB’s are proving to be a fascinating resource. They are stimulated and enthusiastic about the Men of Principle Initiative and become very committed to helping our chapters. Of course, they are excluded from ritual events but otherwise their counsel has been excellent.
Men of Principle chapters are winners on their respective campuses. They typically rank high in scholarship, campus leadership and intramural sports. Men of Principle chapters are growing in membership year-on-year while the General Fraternity (and the collegiate fraternity system in general) is experiencing declining membership. New colonies (and thus new chapters) of Beta Theta Pi are started only as Men of Principle chapters. When Theta returns to OWU, it will be as a Men of Principle chapter. One of the prerequisites will be to find a core of 5 advisers to get it started. So as we look to that day, we need to be identifying and training potential advisers.
This year’s Beta Convention will be in Oxford on the Miami campus. One of the activities offered is adviser training for which expenses are paid. If you are interested in becoming an adviser for Beta, either for Theta in the future or for a chapter near you, please contact me at martyh@fortemgt.com.
Yours in –kai-, Marty
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