Beta Theta Pi - Oklahoma State University

Recruitment Recommendations Needed! Big Red Island NEWS 5 Gamma Lambdas support the flag football team for the annual Football Frenzy tournament. Members enjoy the beautiful weather by playing basketball at the house. Betas gather to take a picture before a sorority formal. General Fraternity no. 1 in academics in the United states B eta Theta Pi has 137 chapters and colonies, has a 3.199 GPA, and is ranked No. 1 among all national fraternities in the United States. A logical question that can be asked is, "How can we do that?" In the mid-1990s, fraternities were hemorrhaging from all aspects of Greek life and in many respects, Beta was no exception. At the end of the 1990s, our organization embarked on a culture-reversing initiative of epic proportions that would be very difficult in terms of achievability. At the 1999 General Convention, Beta launched its Men of Principle initiative, which would require the buy-in, involvement, and leadership of undergraduates. The process would be slow and painful for some along the way, and would ultimately take some years and updates of the process for chapters to embrace the expectations of Men of Principle. Today, the established Men of Principle can also be referred to as our business model. Non-negotiables for chapters include an active advisory team, alcohol-free recruiting, and a 100% commitment to a hazing-free pledge program. Accountability is now huge in chapter houses. Chapters have standards for the explicit commitment to academic performance and self-enforcing the Code of Conduct. Monitoring committees and entire chapter involvement on violations of conduct are part of this process. Broad opportunities for leadership training are encouraged. Approximately 67 chapters were closed in this culture-changing movement. The effectiveness of increased accountability and discipline is now present at both the local chapter and General Fraternity levels. Couple the chapter requirements with solid alumni support, and we experience the favorable outcomes and absolute excellence we are striving for. Beta has received 10 international honors for its Men of Principle initiative. There are indications that other fraternities have already or are studying our business model because of its outstanding success. We would hope that a version of this model be used as a process to continually strengthen other fraternities as we all benefit from a stronger Greek community. This is how it is done. In _kai_, Jody Vivion '09 Chapter Counselor All-Era Reunion and Incredible Excellence at the National Convention T he all-era reunion and the 177th Beta General Convention weekend were multi-activity brotherhood days for our chapter. Forty-five brothers, sweethearts, and friends attended the Saturday night banquet and others attended the John Reily Knox Friday evening dinner for their generous giving to the Foundation. The all-era reunion attendees were treated to the magnificent harmony of our own Beta Four. There were other pledge class reunions, tee times on Sunday morning, and a large group of brothers who explored the nightlife of Bricktown on Friday and Saturday evenings. Five brothers, who were initiated in the 1950s, were recognized at our reunion: Roger Allsbaugh '53, Jack Sellers '55, Ed Voorhees '56, Dan Strong '56, and Mick Zaloudek '60. That is certainly testimony that Betas are brothers for life. While the chapter earned many awards at the convention for leadership, recruitment, and academics as enumerated by our president, the high point of the grand finale banquet was receiving the highest and coveted Knox Award, which is given for a combination of academics, advisors, membership education, leadership development, financial health, and chapter standing and operations. The weekend was truly a grandeur Beta experience. Do you know someone who would be a promising candidate for Beta membership? We look hard for the best and brightest to join the Gamma Lambda Chapter in both the fall and spring. Please contact me with their information. In _kai_, Sam Endicott '18, Recruitment Chariman (405) 513-1575 | sam.endicott@okstate.edu

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