The Importance of Brotherhood

Why you should care

Note: This is part one of a two part series on brotherhood.

"A fraternity is an association of men, selected in their college days by a democratic process, because of their adherence to common ideals and aspirations."

- Newton D. Baker

This has been known as the definition of what a fraternity is. The concept is so simple - togetherness . . . brotherhood. Mr. Baker tells us that brotherhood is the foundation of your fraternity and that all else arises from it. A fraternity without brotherhood is hardly a fraternity at all, really. Having good brotherhood (or togetherness) is something that makes great chapters great. This goes for any organization/company/team out there.


Can you imagine going into a fraternity that has no common bond, no care for one another? They exist; I've seen them on my alma mater's campus even. These lost chapters do not function, and usually cease to exist at all in very short order. It is my sincere hope that your chapter has a firm grasp of its brotherhood and is not a lost chapter on its way to obscurity.

Transition to Power

Setting Your Chapter Up for Success!

Over the last few weeks we have all been witness to what the media has dubbed "the Transition to Power" of President-elect Barrack Obama. Whether you agree with his politics or not, you can surely appreciate the great care that both the incoming and outgoing administrations are taking in order to have a seamless change of power. This is very important for a country with so many complicated issues at hand, as well as for your fraternity chapter.

Why is the Transitional Period so Important to a Chapter?

The transitional period between one Executive Board/Cabinet to another is vital to the continuing success of a chapter. Greek organizations are unique in the fact that their entire undergraduate membership is completely recycled every four years. If this was a company, it would most likely go under with such a horrible turnover rate!

Make the Right Choice

Being a leader isn't always easy. Leadership can be a lonely place. The decisions you make won't always be popular. But making the right decision is always the best choice. Leaders who make the right choice are always more respected in the end than those who make the popular choice.

A Rebel Without a Title

Being a Leader in your chapter without having a Title

James Dean was a rebel without a cause, Tom Petty wrote about a rebel without a clue, and while you may have a cause and a clue - you just don't have a title! There are guys in every chapter with this problem: They want to be a leader. They know they are a leader and can do a good job. But they haven't been recognized as one yet. You may be in these shoes yourself. You've got lots of ideas, but don't feel like you can contribute or make a difference without having a fancy title like President or Vice President of blah blah blah . . .

This can be a frustrating situation for many guys, but giving up on being a leader is not the right thing to do. There are many ways to be a leader without having a title, and being one may help your cause later if you do decide to go for one of those titles.

Here are some ideas:

• Talk to people about your ideas: This works especially well one-on-one. You don't have to
  force it either, just let it come naturally.  People usually love to give their opinion, so just ask! Tell them about your idea, get their input and

Being a Successful Fraternity President

5 things that make fraternity Presidents successful

1. Use the smart people around you! I always thought I could do everything myself - wrong! The more you leverage the people around you, the more successful you will be. Find things that people are good at, and put them to work doing those things. Recognizing and using people's talent is an invaluable skill.

2. Set the tone. You need to be the ultimate advocate and enthusiast for your fraternity. Everyone looks to you for guidance. When you lose confidence, everyone else loses it too. When you exude pride and confidence in your fraternity, your chapter feels it too. Even if you don't feel like it, put a