Page 43 - 1911 February - To Dragma

114 TO DRAG MA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

Fraternity greatness does not happen; it comes f r o m clear-eyed conception
of an ideal. Fraternity effectiveness does not happen, but comes f r o m the
out-pouring of energy toward reaching that ideal. For a fraternity to have a
goal is not enough; a f r a t e r n i t y must be reaching its goal.—Lyre o f Alpha
Chi Omega.

Is the individual chapter one composed of its active members alone, and
are its alumni to be regarded as an a d j u n c t ; or is the chapter composed of
its entire alumni and undergraduate body? A correct solution of this question
w i l l perhaps bring to the realization of every member of the fraternity his
proper location and sphere of duty toward his individual chapter and the
f r a t e r n i t y as a whole.

Our experience and observation has led us to believe that i f the under-
graduates of any chapter were asked this question, the reply would be
decidedly that they, the undergraduates, were the chapter—it is they who
sustain i t , i t is they who are grouped together i n one body and bear its name,
and that without them the chapter would cease to exist. The alumnus i f asked
about his chapter would i n most cases consider i t as composed of the active
men l i v i n g in the chapter house and i n attendance at his university, regarding
i f i n about the same light as do the active men themselves.

But how about i t ? A r e they both not wrong, and does not their mistake
account in a large measure f o r the exaggerated independence of the active
man of the chapter toward the alumnus, and f o r the indifference o f many o f
the alumni toward the active chapter?

We believe i t does; and therefore that i f the theory o f what constitutes a
chapter were better understood by both undergraduates and alumni, great
advantages and benefits would accrue to both.

As we perceive i t , the chapter is composed of all o f its initiates, whether
they are now alumni or undergraduates, i n residence at the chapter house or
not, in the university or out o f i t ; or wherever they may be. The chapter name
is borne by all of these; they each contributed toward obtaining and sustaining
the chapter house; and i t is they who own i t . The active members are part
of this body, but they have the additional duty of acting also as the trustees
of the chapter as a whole, and of serving as an executive body elected by
those members of the chapter who are now o f the alumni. I t is the duty of
this executive body to fake care of the chapter's property, guard, uphold, and
further its good name, and in obedience to the rules of the fraternity and
chapter, to elect to membership new men who are to serve w i t h them in the
maintainence and guardship of the chapter's possessions. The simile of a
corporation may be used to advantage—the stockholders being the entire
initiate body, and the directors being the active members, responsible directly
to the stockholders.

So do we regard the constitution of our chapters. The duties devolving
therefore upon each member are apparent. I t is f o r the alumnus at all times
to take an active interest in his chapter, to aid and encourage the active men
in every way, to see to i t that they p e r f o r m their tasks well and uphold the
good name of the chapter.

Upon the undergraduates, the fact that they are not the sole owners but
only the trustees of the entire chapter should make them keenly sensitive
toward their duties as such. They should keep their alumni continuously
i n f o r m e d in regard to the current affairs o f the chapter; they should ask f o r
and consider carefully the advice and suggestions offered by the a l u m n i ; but