Hit The Road!

By Rex Martin

SPRING AND FALL ARE MY FAVORITE seasons. With both, they allow the opportunity to see brothers across the nation. Spring semester traditionally brings Founder’s Day celebrations and Pink Rose events among many others. This is “prime time” for me to reach out and see how things are going at our chapters, hear from other brothers and perhaps provide a helping hand.

In the months of March and April, I was able to join chapters celebrating celebrations of 50 (Alpha Epsilon, Arkansas State University), 60 (Alpha Tau, Western Illinois University), and 100 (Phi, University of California-Davis) years. These are amazing milestones. Each chapter showcased similarities and differences. What a pleasure it was to meet the actual founders at Alpha Epsilon and Alpha Tau. I wondered if they could have imagined, all those years ago, the positive changes that occurred over the years. However, think about it from a collegiate member’s perspective, they are living in the moment but soon, some very soon, will be also viewing the chapter from the lens of an alumnus.

What was the underlying connection between these three chapters that allowed them to survive and thrive over the many years? It was continued leadership both at the chapter and with their alumni. Each chapter struggled with recruitment and fi nances with their houses during COVID-19. Some are facing headwinds with dwindling male vibrant for the next generation of AGR’s. You have read and heard about Local Chapter Excellence and why it is so important for our future. We must continue to fi nd ways to work together toward fraternity-wide excellence. If you have not been engaged with your initiate chapter in a while, please reach out to them. I am sure they could use your help. If you live too far away, help an AGR chapter that might be down the road. To fi nd local chapters in your area, please reach out to the AGR Home Office. enrollment in the agriculture college and college wide. I have read in our archives how many chapters struggled during World War II when many of our brothers went to defend our country. Again, it was strong consistent leadership during World War II and especially afterward that kept our brotherhood

By the time you read this, I will have visited three more chapters including my home chapter, Alpha Iota (University of Arkansas) for their Founders Day. I have not been to their Founders Day since 2018. I look forward to seeing my brothers and my good friends. I will arrive just as they will, another alumnus that only wants to help Alpha Iota be the best that they can be. I wish your chapter all the very best and hope you take the opportunity to share your bonds of brotherhood.