Alpha Delta Phi - University of Washington

Brothers and Other Recipients, I arrived at Washington Chapter excited to be the first CSC to see their impressive new house, which they affectionately refer to as the Temple. I must admit, I was blown away. Not only by the house, which quite literally felt like home to a visitor, but by the brotherhood as well. I honestly couldn't tell if it was just the culture that the Washington Alpha Delts had cultivated over their history or if it was the Brothers themselves, but I couldn't really distinguish between those two things either; these Brothers truly embody the culture that they espouse, and it was honestly a tad overwhelming at times. The culture is that of iron sharpening iron, day in and day out, on a scale of 80 Brothers. There were a few things that stuck out to me, but none more so than Jen. She is technically their chef, but to call her a mere chef would be an outright lie. She embodies the ideals of Alpha Delta Phi just as much as any Brother that I have ever known. She left early in my visit, so I only had one chance to have a real conversation with her, but we spoke for four hours straight about what it means to be an Alpha Delt and how to cultivate that energy. Across all of my visits, it is obvious that each Chapter shares a broad sense of what it means to be men of Alpha Delta Phi, and none cultivate a clearer definition of what it means to be a 21st century Alpha Delt than the Washington Chapter. What Jen brings to the Chapter is the most differentiating factor from what I can tell. She is very loving, supportive, and even nurturing to these young men. She is the mama bear, and they her doting cubs. I didn't have a chance to meet any of their alumni, but any alumnus who fosters and supports an organization like that is excellent in my book. With that said, they run efficient and engaging Chapter meetings, and are an overwhelmingly positive influence on their Brotherhood. It was just so obvious that everyone cared deeply about what the Chapter meant on a personal level, and that they shared this openly and liberally. I have never felt more proud to be an Alpha Delt than during my visit with the Chapter. They truly and wholeheartedly embody the ideals that Samuel Eells laid out. It moved me so strongly that it made me want to be more involved in my own Chapter as an alumni Brother! Most new members are recruited in high school, signing their bids over the summer. They move in a few weeks before the school year begins to The Porch, a very large room with bunk beds where they sleep for the year. It was described to me as, "You live there a week and it feels like you've known everyone for their entire life." The Chapter, in which the alumni and Jen are present, explains the entire new member process and what is to be expected of the new members to all their parents. I mention Jen solely because I have complete confidence that she has all these young men's best interests at heart. The Chapter's process did have to be shortened due to COVID, and they recently added an event where the new members plan and execute a formal dinner as a unit. Overall, I got the impression that their new member process was balanced and very supportive of each individual. No one was asked to do more than he was capable of, and there is a prevalent "no man left behind" mentality. Freshmen and sophomores equally divide the house responsibilities, somewhat overseen by Jen, while juniors and seniors are incentivized with house points to take on Chapter leadership positions. Overall, being involved in other extracurriculars is not only encouraged but incentivized! The average Chapter time is 30 minutes, but they sing two songs, go through all their reports, and have an open discussion period. I went during my visit, and it was remarkable. The Brothers have started their own clubs/interest groups within the brotherhood that anyone is welcome to join. Overall, the culture is that of love and respect, accountability and honesty, and generally just good things. They are very respectful of all their guests, and they routinely work with local businesses for events, which requires them to be professional as well. To conclude, I think the Washington Chapter is the model Chapter. The University of Washington does have its own intricacies that would most likely not be feasible at some other schools we are at, but nonetheless, the culture of this Chapter is nothing less than excellent. I think a future Board of Governors meeting here would be beneficial for the Chapter and the board. I think the alumni are a very positive support for the Chapter, and learning from them would be mutually beneficial. As an addition to the report because he was such a good leader, I almost forgot he was even there. Nick Utgard '25, their undergraduate president, exemplifies what it means to be a leader in every aspect. Xaipe, Michael Crowe Chapter Service Consultant michael.crowe@alphadeltaphi.org (816) 898-6286 e Washington Alpha Delt 5 Washington Visit Report Washington Visit Report MICHAEL CROWE'S IMPRESSION OF OUR CHAPTER

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