gotwoody (![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} gotwoody) wrote,@ 2007-10-31 20:29:00 |
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The long and windies
Roads, that is.
I've made a bit more effort to connect with The Fraternity. You'd think with me being on campus just about every day, I'd stop into the fraternity house. Not yet. The brothers there, they're 18, 19. I feel a connection yet a disconnect from them. They're two generations removed: I was there in 2000, 8 years is twice a full undergraduate generation. Another approach..
Splice moved. I emailed the pledge class trainer and then offered the pledge class some cash to move the stuff. The old and new offices are in neighbouring buildings, so it wasn't a huge move but there was still plenty of work. Two purposes were served: Splice got moved, and I met some of the brothers-to-be. Some fraternity brothers don't like calling pledges "brothers-to-be." I disagree. I think it's motivating and encouraging to instill within the pledges that the membership wants them to succeed, just so long as they don't think it's an automatic acceptance, an honour bestowed upon them without the work of pledgeship. I think it also reminds would-be bossy bros that these younger lads will one day be referred to as "brother" and that certain actions and words are unfit to be used towards such men.
Of the 10 or 11 pledges currently in the Dal/SMU chapter of the fraternity, one stands out exceptionally, and two sort of (don't know them well enough yet), while the remaining 8 or 9, i've yet to meet.
A friend of mine, sort of a younger brother by some kind of diffusion or association (I suppose) has also pledged Sig in Tampa. That, too, may have been catalystic in the resurgence of my interest. Or it may, more simply, be a way in which I'm endevouring to retain the spirit of youth - by keeping in touch with it.
Roads, that is.
I've made a bit more effort to connect with The Fraternity. You'd think with me being on campus just about every day, I'd stop into the fraternity house. Not yet. The brothers there, they're 18, 19. I feel a connection yet a disconnect from them. They're two generations removed: I was there in 2000, 8 years is twice a full undergraduate generation. Another approach..
Splice moved. I emailed the pledge class trainer and then offered the pledge class some cash to move the stuff. The old and new offices are in neighbouring buildings, so it wasn't a huge move but there was still plenty of work. Two purposes were served: Splice got moved, and I met some of the brothers-to-be. Some fraternity brothers don't like calling pledges "brothers-to-be." I disagree. I think it's motivating and encouraging to instill within the pledges that the membership wants them to succeed, just so long as they don't think it's an automatic acceptance, an honour bestowed upon them without the work of pledgeship. I think it also reminds would-be bossy bros that these younger lads will one day be referred to as "brother" and that certain actions and words are unfit to be used towards such men.
Of the 10 or 11 pledges currently in the Dal/SMU chapter of the fraternity, one stands out exceptionally, and two sort of (don't know them well enough yet), while the remaining 8 or 9, i've yet to meet.
A friend of mine, sort of a younger brother by some kind of diffusion or association (I suppose) has also pledged Sig in Tampa. That, too, may have been catalystic in the resurgence of my interest. Or it may, more simply, be a way in which I'm endevouring to retain the spirit of youth - by keeping in touch with it.
