From The “AA”

Inside The Quarterly

Volume 105 Number 1 Spring/Summer 2008

2 From The “AA” 3 Featurettes 4-5 Cover Story 6-10 Featurettes 12 From the Past 13 Loyalty Fund 14 Alumni 15 Keeping in Touch 15 Farewell & Parting

Delta Chi Quarterly

(USPS 152-660) Published quarterly in Iowa City, Iowa by The Delta Chi Fraternity Editorial and Business Office P.O. Box 1817, 314 Church Street Iowa City, IA 52244 Periodicals Postage paid at Iowa City, Iowa 52244 and at additional mailing offices Printed by The Ovid Bell Press, Inc. Fulton, MO. Three-year subscription $35 Five-year subscription $50

Address Changes

Send all notices of address changes to: Delta Chi International Headquarters P.O. Box 1817, Iowa City, IA 52244-1817 319.337.4811 Fax: 319.337.5529 Editor: Raymond D. Galbreth, MO ’69 Assistant Editor: Karl Grindel, CEMO ’01 E-mail: rayg@deltachi.org Visit our website at www.deltachi.org

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Keys to Fraternity Success

Since 1990 when I joined the Fraternity staff, I have visited well over 150 college campuses and over 110 Delta Chi Chapters and Colonies. Additionally, I have been invited to speak at meetings of several other fraternities, have worked with student leaders at UIFI and other leadership programs, have been and continue to be an alumnus volunteer for my own chapter and others, and have personally experienced the best and worst of Fraternity life. In these 18 years, I have developed several conclusions as to what makes an outstanding fraternity chapter. As I am nearing the end of my time as “AA” and losing the power of the pen, I thought I had better share my thoughts on this subject.

There is no doubt in my mind that when fraternity is good, it is very good. And when it is bad, it can be very, very bad. It is my hope that all Delta Chi chapters are in search of excellence. I know many are in varying stages of that journey, but the ones that have maintained a level of excellence for some time seem to have several traits in common, and it is those traits that I think all of our chapters should try to emulate.

Following are six traits that I believe distinguish the most successful fraternity chapters from those that are less effective. Highly successful chapters: 1) Are driven by mission and values

The best chapters value the things that make them the best – academics, gentlemanly conduct, anti-hazing behavior, and leadership. If your mission is to build a chapter of campus leaders, filled with gentlemen who strive to excel academically and treat each other and guests with respect, aren’t you going to be successful?

2) Do whatever it takes to be successful without compromising their values

Those people aren’t just going to come to you, you have to reach out and find them. It takes effort to be successful, and the chapters that put forth the effort eventually reap the rewards. Yes, I believe it inevitably gets a little easier. When you get to be known for your values, people will come looking for you. Until then, you have to be relentless.

3) Work to build long-term relationships throughout their campus communities

Whether it be campus groups, the administration, potential members, local businesses, sororities, etc., the top performing chapters will develop long-term relationships that will permeate their own chapters and the campus as well. Year after year, these relationships will expect high achievement from your chapter, and if by chance you falter a little, these relationships will help pick you back up.

4) Empower others to lead

Everyone knows what is expected of him. Committee chairs are trying to build on a high level of success passed on by their predecessors. The members are encouraged by the other members to excel, and they are given the tools to do just that.

5) Engage a core group of alumni advisors and take their advice

Behind every successful chapter one often finds a committed group of alumni who enjoy working with the young men. That is because of how they are received by these members. Their advice is taken, they are respected, and their experience is valued. The result is one of the long-term relationships discussed earlier.

And finally, high achieving chapters

6) Are fiscally responsible

The approach is crucial to long-term success. Appropriate budgeting, saving money, collecting dues, and transparency are all things that high performing chapters do and do well.

It all starts with people. The first item listed above is crucial. Inanimate objects don’t have missions and don’t have values – people do. It goes without saying that the chapters that emulate these six traits often have no problem recruiting more, likeminded individuals to take up the journey. As a result, solid recruitment becomes an outcome.

The fall semester will soon be upon us, and now is a perfect time to do some soul-searching. How is your chapter doing on these six traits? If the answer is not very well and you are interested in becoming excellent and winning President’s Cups, then you know what you have to do. Delta Chi is ready to assist you in any way.

Let’s get started.

In the Bond,

Steven P. Bossart, “AA” Kent State ’90