My first present tense crazy notion was proposing that our Fraternity turn itself inside out in terms of what has been generally accepted as esoteric as a goodwill gesture to provide mankind a vehicle for greater achievement.
I was against and still am against any present day information that has been classified as esoteric being sold or revealed in a forceful manner.
If the esoteric information is going to be revealed, we should be the ones to keep our destiny within our hands and do it ourselves versus being forced to do so.
By choice versus by force is the essence of my proposal and I cannot foresee anything to change this perspective.
With this disclaimer being made, here is my Present Tense Crazy Notion #2. It should knock anyone out of their seat and raise individual and collective blood pressures in the short-term but not in the long-term.
Hopefully any dissenters will still see my love for the Fraternity throughout the proposal;)
As a matter of fact, the idea raised my own blood pressure before I asked myself the question "Why not?"
So here it is with one more disclaimer as to the rationale behind it.
Granted, I know that it may not work in every situation and for every individual Brother, but it may do so within some settings for sure. The situations where it could work would be worth the effort of it all.
The idea is that after the initial opening for meetings of all levels, the meeting itself should be recorded so that members can play the meetings back on devices such Apple iPods.
I would have fought this idea myself and others might be inclined to do so now as the idea reeks of potential abuse by Brothers not currently attending meetings as they currently exist.
You know how hard and impossible it is to herd cats and Kappa Brothers are no different;)
Yes, there is a certain psychographic profile that would ask themselves and others why should they pay dues and be present for a meeting when they can get it as an podcast?
But at the same time, there have been Brothers for ages that told a third party such as a spouse or girlfriend or other party that they were going to be attending a fraternity meeting and were engaging in unknown business elsewhere;)
Can I get an Amen?
I have held virtually every office of leadership within the local chapters I have been a member of. I know that the 80-20 rule is strictly adhered to by every organization mankind has witnessed on earth.
But at the same time, recording the meetings would have the impact directly on the Bond itself of directly and indirectly recognizing who is helping, leading, and pushing the chapter forward as well as who is being a hindrance, anus, and demoting chapter morale and effectiveness.
Could it be possible that everyone might take up too much time in expressing their thoughts, positions, comments, memory of the good old days on the yard, running them ****, and pontification on various issues simply because there is a recording device rolling?
But isn't this is what is happening now without recording devices being present?;))
Who has not had to endure someone slipping into a near Alzheimer moment and relive their past glorious days? Who has not burdened a meeting with such instances themselves;)
Have we progressed to the point where we are taking ourselves too seriously and failing to be able to laugh at ourselves?
Are we totally incapable of being wrong, silly, or self-deprecating?
This moment I am reminded of the various young princes within the movies "Gladiator", "Braveheart", and "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy as well as other cinematic experiences that would have preferred death versus being potentially seen as weak.
But we know from viewing them as outsiders that what they were afraid of being perceived is what they were already carrying and demonstrating as a clearly identifiable characteristic.
There was a principle that I learned as an undergraduate member and have preached and practiced it ever since as it relates to individual and organizational achievements.
Most individuals and organizations are either concerned with Image or Performance.
My undergraduate chapter Mu Theta practically slaughtered the entire campus and other BGLOs to run the yard with steel gloves with this concept.
If the supposed competition is heavily focused on their image and considers themselves untouchable as a result of their opinions about themselves, then flip the script and focus on the undeniable performance benchmarks to identify who is really number one.
Then as the performance is being certified within official and unofficial recognition, the image suddenly leapfrogs ahead at warp speed and you can then coast a little bit based upon your newly discovered and earned momentum.
This principle allows either an individual or an organization to maximize its resources versus experiencing feast or famine when implemented.
Image and Performance are essentially like two convicts chained together on a chain gang making a jail break from the prison of failure or two closely-aligned teammates running a three-legged race;)
Another reason to implement this Present Tense Crazy Notion #2 is that it would very effectively serve as a calling card for potential members (existing Brothers) to join
various chapters (if a choice is possible) when moving to a new city.
Using this concept for a noninitiated individual is a sacred cow within my own mind that I am not ready to kill yet;)
Someone has to pay some dues to sing the blues as the old beer commercial said;)
But if I were moving to a new city and the mp3 files of the various meetings of chapters were available, one could say that the listener could and would very easily identify where the action of progressive achievement (or lack of it) really is.
One could identify which chapters match my current demographic profile, lifestyle, and mindset as well as where one may potentially make the greatest impact (strong, progressive Brother joining a chapter in decline or stagnant).
I know that there would also be some extremely clever jokes or lines about various statements made within various chapters such as "this statement is going to be off the record", "I move to strike the previous comment", and/or "don't tell anyone that I said" etc.
But isn't this what technology can do for the Bond overall?
Isn't it possible that more Brothers might become more interested within individual Brothers, Chapters, and/or Provinces other than their own?
Who as a responsible chapter officer would not listen to sound recordings of other chapters possessing a reputation of both image and performance worthy of emulation?
Although the crazy notion could be expanded to video, I am not sure if one could drive safely and look at Kappa-Span at the same time:D
I just discovered the phrase for this concept and have entered it within the subject line as a result. C-Span is essentially the model while the concept initially proposes audio recording only.
Brothers who dip into meetings and slip out would have a grace period still in effect with audio that would totally expire with video;))
But who knows whether someone would go as far as to digitally use CGI effects to make Brothers active, inactive, present, or absent;)
We can have fun with the concept as well!!!
The concept in its present form suggests that we could reclaim and retain more contributors than we have historically done so.
I wonder if it will become possible for another organization to beat us to the punch in implementing such an idea.
But as it relates to Grand Chapter and the IHQ, this concept would be a significant, paradigm-shifting, and raison d'etre for individuals to remain financial AND active members.
It could be said that such recordings might be a such source of both revenue and enjoyment just like songs are for record labels. The Fraternity should immediately seek to be the central and exclusive source for such content and chapters would upload their meetings to a secure server owned or leased by GC accessible to IHQ.
Financial Members would be able to download their own chapter's files free while having to pay a small fee to obtain content from other chapters.
This concept is already expanding while creating this post alone!!!
There is nothing that should prevent this idea from being implemented in the course of a year or less!
The idea could be now expanded to video now as it relates to various events, fundraisers, Guide Right programs, etc.
We would have Kappa TV as a technology and concept currently being tossed around as IPTV (Internet Protocol Television). Here are the Google results for the acronym and phrase for more links!
Who knows how many photo-opportunity seeking Bruhs would rejoin and become more active (financially and otherwise) after they consistently saw the Bond in video;D
Better yet, this crazy notion would serve to reduce the short and long-term strain on Brothers in reading the official publication known as The Journal.
Since The Journal is sent to financial members, receiving highlights or limited access could be granted to unfinancial members.
The editors and contributors of The Journal would be able to use their skills in video format and other Brothers with experience in producing audio, video, and textual content would have a magnetic forum that would effectively provide a call to arms for them to utilize their skills and talents.
Granted, not every Brother or level of organization would be able to be as effective in using multiple multimedia formats. But starting with one and expanding their effectiveness to other formats would be a great reason to stay Bonded.
No struggle, no progress.
This concept would also serve to document a lot of the history that we are missing at the micro levels of Kappa. Because we miss the fine details, we suffer the consequences at the macro level and vice versa.
We could also seek to quickly recover any tangible and intangible assets upon Brothers joining the Chapter Invisible and prevent situations like the recent copy of the Ritual on eBay.
Furthermore, the idea and present-tense crazy notion #2 heavily leans on the notion and question of why are we tying down multiple Brothers and lifestyles with the mundane processes found within present-day meetings anyway? Is it not possible that the concept of fraternity meetings could be revamped and made more productive by conducting business faster than the speed of light via e-mails, conference calls, and other technology and leave the meetings to a low-tech concept of focusing exclusively on pure Brotherhood?
Isn't that what the word Fraternity is all about anyway?
Would impact would this have on reclamation? Are present-day meetings too much of a sacred cow to be considered as a reason for a great BBQ cookout (there is a book entitled Sacred Cows Make Great Hamburgers)?
I'm looking forward to either comments on the original and derivative forms of the Present Tense Crazy Notion #2.
If there are no comments, then regardless I will know that there will be a day where Kappa-Span or Kappa TV will come to pass in one form or another.
To this end, I shall be satisfied with the incremental steps of achievement witnessed as a result of this blog entry.
Here is a link to a blog entry that I created on my personal blog on why organizations and the upper echelons of government such as Grand Chapter and IHQ should not overlook how and why individuals are using technology to create disturbing change within society.
Yours in the Bond!
Saturday, May 28, 2005
Friday, May 27, 2005
Thank God for An Official Response....Finally!!!
There has been a breakthrough and the esoteric information is no longer available for sale on ebay.
An e-mail from the Grand Polemarch Samuel Hamilton has been forwarded to several mailing lists where the subscribers are predominantly Kappas.
I just checked the Official website for Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and there are no direct links to the e-mail itself.
But upon doing a search for the e-mail with the word "eBay", the link and URL of the message does appear.
What point am I leading to or trying to reference as subtle as I possibly can?
The point is that if you did not know of the situation through other means or somehow witness the issue being raised in your online or offline presence, then you are the kind of person that the concept policy of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is supposed to protect.
I congratulate our leadership for doing the right thing in making the request of eBay to remove the item from the eBay marketplace. I know that the process was not a simple one as the maze of corporate America can be a death-trap laced with all kinds of boobies of misinformation and speaking to the wrong personnel.
What is still missing from the situation is the applied foresight and wisdom to recognize the system that brought the issue to the table in the first place.
The issue was raised by a very alert Kappa Brother on the internet mailing list called NupeNet. The issue was not raised within a formal meeting of any kind. It did not require the approval of a quorum. It was not sanctioned as an official Kappa means of communications.
Our top tiers of leadership have been extremely reluctant to give any recognition to the NupeNet other than as a nuisance or a group of renegade, trash-talking, but inactive and unfinancial group of Kappas with a internet connection since the NupeNet was in its embryonic years in 1994.
The former opinion is totally subjective by the infected bureaucrats within our Bond and the latter opinion is farthest from the truth as any congregation of members is possible.
Granted, no one would normally and formally recognize the telephone system or the fax machine as being vital for bringing such an issue to IHQ's attention, but we're not talking about inanimate objects here--we're talking about living, walking, and talking human being members!
This is the lesson and motivation that has been missing within the upper and larger levels of our organization.
I do not know if the Brother who first saw the auction and information is active or financial. But I do know that he felt more comfortable in using the wisdom of a crowd such as the NupeNet versus determining whether or not his observation would be victorious after running the gauntlet of a committee, board of directors, chapter, etc.
The moment the NupeNet and internet were identified as additional venues for the Bond, they should have been fully embraced versus being identified as a potential threat.
Instead of worrying whether or not an opinion of an elected position might be misconstrued and placed on the internet, the NupeNet should have been used as a platform and microphone to express the thoughts and visions that all Kappa men should aspire to.
Such forums should be aggressively used at all costs and even to the potential cost of being misunderstood, underappreciated, and totally ignored.
Who knows how many incidents of hazing and other inappropriate activities on both an individual or collective level could be prevented, corrected, and repaired versus until waiting after the fact to do damage control within the media and with attorneys present.
Here is what I want to see:
Every Kappa Brother who feels that they are qualified to be recognized as a Man of Achievement and/or seek higher roles within our Grand Fraternity should have a blog at a minimum.
I want to know your thoughts, opinions, history, and other information about your life before and since joining Kappa prior to hearing your name upon the lips of other Brothers affiliated with your Chapter and Province who are suddenly pushing you as a candidate for office.
Cream does rise to the top and it should not take the years that many have paid their dues to get the placements that they have. I know that many will want the current system to remain in place, but there are ideas and concepts that will truly take us to the next level but are going unnoticed, unnutured, and kicked out like food poisoning just because a certain individual or group has not endorsed them.
The proposal and request for more individual Kappa blogs also should work to identify and forewarn the membership of those who are more interested in giving their resumes a shot of steroids while not being sincerely and totally concerned for the greater welfare of the Bond and the communities in which we inhabit.
The parade of resume and photo-opportunity seeking card carrying members have reverberated throughout the years in the physical forms of hazing, and other nonproductive activities less than the noble cause of achievement.
You may think that they are not connected, but these dots really are.
I will call this concept Kappas Who Blog and it does not mean that every Kappa man who has a blog is interested in later being a candidate for an office, but that each and every Kappa Man does indeed have a voice whether or not the voice is popular and accepted within various levels of our organization.
I will create a link on this blog if and when I am notified of your blog's existence.
There are proposals that will be just as paradigm shifting and initially viewed as heresy just as the statements of noted scientists, philosophers, and theologians have been. But without seeking the wisdom of the crowd of Kappa, we are reduced to suffer the benefit of the legislations and guidance of the short-term focused and true-degenerative concept called "The Coalition".
There is a mailing list of Kappas entitled "Jobs for Kappas" (I think) that has been just as successful as the NupeNet (or possibly more financially lucrative).
I do not know whether this list has been given an official status, but as the past has indicated, such usages to connect the masses have been given the cold shoulder.
Again, thanks for work involved to remove the esoteric information. Now just work a little harder to make a greater difference on the micro and macro levels of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
But since no formal appreciation for the NupeNet will take place, the NupeNet will have to appreciate its existence and unofficial appreciation and recognition found within the Grand Polemarch's message where he said " I call upon all of our members to forward any and all information containing esoteric material to International Headquarters for safe keeping" (bold font added).
Yours in the Bond!
Bibliography:
An e-mail from the Grand Polemarch Samuel Hamilton has been forwarded to several mailing lists where the subscribers are predominantly Kappas.
I just checked the Official website for Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and there are no direct links to the e-mail itself.
But upon doing a search for the e-mail with the word "eBay", the link and URL of the message does appear.
What point am I leading to or trying to reference as subtle as I possibly can?
The point is that if you did not know of the situation through other means or somehow witness the issue being raised in your online or offline presence, then you are the kind of person that the concept policy of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is supposed to protect.
I congratulate our leadership for doing the right thing in making the request of eBay to remove the item from the eBay marketplace. I know that the process was not a simple one as the maze of corporate America can be a death-trap laced with all kinds of boobies of misinformation and speaking to the wrong personnel.
What is still missing from the situation is the applied foresight and wisdom to recognize the system that brought the issue to the table in the first place.
The issue was raised by a very alert Kappa Brother on the internet mailing list called NupeNet. The issue was not raised within a formal meeting of any kind. It did not require the approval of a quorum. It was not sanctioned as an official Kappa means of communications.
Our top tiers of leadership have been extremely reluctant to give any recognition to the NupeNet other than as a nuisance or a group of renegade, trash-talking, but inactive and unfinancial group of Kappas with a internet connection since the NupeNet was in its embryonic years in 1994.
The former opinion is totally subjective by the infected bureaucrats within our Bond and the latter opinion is farthest from the truth as any congregation of members is possible.
Granted, no one would normally and formally recognize the telephone system or the fax machine as being vital for bringing such an issue to IHQ's attention, but we're not talking about inanimate objects here--we're talking about living, walking, and talking human being members!
This is the lesson and motivation that has been missing within the upper and larger levels of our organization.
I do not know if the Brother who first saw the auction and information is active or financial. But I do know that he felt more comfortable in using the wisdom of a crowd such as the NupeNet versus determining whether or not his observation would be victorious after running the gauntlet of a committee, board of directors, chapter, etc.
The moment the NupeNet and internet were identified as additional venues for the Bond, they should have been fully embraced versus being identified as a potential threat.
Instead of worrying whether or not an opinion of an elected position might be misconstrued and placed on the internet, the NupeNet should have been used as a platform and microphone to express the thoughts and visions that all Kappa men should aspire to.
Such forums should be aggressively used at all costs and even to the potential cost of being misunderstood, underappreciated, and totally ignored.
Who knows how many incidents of hazing and other inappropriate activities on both an individual or collective level could be prevented, corrected, and repaired versus until waiting after the fact to do damage control within the media and with attorneys present.
Here is what I want to see:
Every Kappa Brother who feels that they are qualified to be recognized as a Man of Achievement and/or seek higher roles within our Grand Fraternity should have a blog at a minimum.
I want to know your thoughts, opinions, history, and other information about your life before and since joining Kappa prior to hearing your name upon the lips of other Brothers affiliated with your Chapter and Province who are suddenly pushing you as a candidate for office.
Cream does rise to the top and it should not take the years that many have paid their dues to get the placements that they have. I know that many will want the current system to remain in place, but there are ideas and concepts that will truly take us to the next level but are going unnoticed, unnutured, and kicked out like food poisoning just because a certain individual or group has not endorsed them.
The proposal and request for more individual Kappa blogs also should work to identify and forewarn the membership of those who are more interested in giving their resumes a shot of steroids while not being sincerely and totally concerned for the greater welfare of the Bond and the communities in which we inhabit.
The parade of resume and photo-opportunity seeking card carrying members have reverberated throughout the years in the physical forms of hazing, and other nonproductive activities less than the noble cause of achievement.
You may think that they are not connected, but these dots really are.
I will call this concept Kappas Who Blog and it does not mean that every Kappa man who has a blog is interested in later being a candidate for an office, but that each and every Kappa Man does indeed have a voice whether or not the voice is popular and accepted within various levels of our organization.
I will create a link on this blog if and when I am notified of your blog's existence.
There are proposals that will be just as paradigm shifting and initially viewed as heresy just as the statements of noted scientists, philosophers, and theologians have been. But without seeking the wisdom of the crowd of Kappa, we are reduced to suffer the benefit of the legislations and guidance of the short-term focused and true-degenerative concept called "The Coalition".
There is a mailing list of Kappas entitled "Jobs for Kappas" (I think) that has been just as successful as the NupeNet (or possibly more financially lucrative).
I do not know whether this list has been given an official status, but as the past has indicated, such usages to connect the masses have been given the cold shoulder.
Again, thanks for work involved to remove the esoteric information. Now just work a little harder to make a greater difference on the micro and macro levels of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
But since no formal appreciation for the NupeNet will take place, the NupeNet will have to appreciate its existence and unofficial appreciation and recognition found within the Grand Polemarch's message where he said " I call upon all of our members to forward any and all information containing esoteric material to International Headquarters for safe keeping" (bold font added).
Yours in the Bond!
Bibliography:
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Neophyte Fever: Wishful Thinking or Simple Maturity?
At times it seems that I wish that I could regain the neophyte fever that I was infected with upon crossing the Burning Sands back in 1984.
I wish that I could find the enthusiasm to drive for multiple hours on end in a simple search for others who shared a rich and glorious history with me in our Founders, innermost secrets, and methods of operating and undeniable victories.
I wish that I could be just as proud of another chapter's flyers for a dance, Guide Right programs, and attractions of a huge crowd for an event as I was for my own chapter.
But those days are gone with the era of a Sony cassette walkman;(
Those days were quietly ushered away moment by moment when I witnessed the transactions of smoke-filled rooms loaded with plenty of mirrors.
When I saw that another Brother would not be allowed to run for provincial office when the nominating chairman had his credentials in plenty of time, those days were taken away.
When I saw that regardless of what had successfully passed within a committee would create a sudden emergency and rapid transactions of scratch my chapter's back and we'll get yours in return, those days were taken away.
When I saw that in spite of what politically may have been legitimate and serve an actual purpose for a greater good at another time and place within the same closed door, backdoor and hallway moments become tainted, corrupt, and laced with envy, jealousy, and illwill, those days were taken away.
When I saw a former national officer insist on being elevated to a near-Founder status, those days were taken away.
When I saw that it was more proper for silence to speak lies and imply truth instead, those days were taken away.
When I saw the repeated excuse for nonattending members to steal moments with another lover while leaving the organizational burden upon others, those days were taken away.
When I saw the utter humanity being exposed within a group that I held in esteem of superheroes, those days were taken away.
In light of the fact that we are all human and all make mistakes, one may wonder why do I still extend the courtesies of brotherhood, goodwill, and esprit de corps?
The simple answer is that I cannot leave knowing that Christ Jesus did not turn away from mankind when we were mired in the same miry sinking sand.
I am here to minister, not to run for office, not to seek higher position, and not to endorse any candidate other than the best candidate that I have found to assist us in fulfilling who we say we are, what we say we are going to do, who we are going to become, and what we say we are going to have. His name is Jesus Christ.
Yes, there are those that say that they are believers and have more years of membership within earthly and heavenly bonds than I. But when I witness anything less than achievement in all human endeavors, believe me I am going to approach the mike.
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. has been proven to me since my ministry began in 1996 to be one of the fishing holes as an avenue to advance the Kingdom of God.
Some others have not been called to such a mission and both they and I must respect each other's mission, capabilities, and desire to fulfill our individual and collective Kingdom missions regardless of where we must fish and win souls.
Inside the house or outside on the street, we must return to being on our knees in humility if we are the achievers born and bred since 1911.
Yours in the Bond
I wish that I could find the enthusiasm to drive for multiple hours on end in a simple search for others who shared a rich and glorious history with me in our Founders, innermost secrets, and methods of operating and undeniable victories.
I wish that I could be just as proud of another chapter's flyers for a dance, Guide Right programs, and attractions of a huge crowd for an event as I was for my own chapter.
But those days are gone with the era of a Sony cassette walkman;(
Those days were quietly ushered away moment by moment when I witnessed the transactions of smoke-filled rooms loaded with plenty of mirrors.
When I saw that another Brother would not be allowed to run for provincial office when the nominating chairman had his credentials in plenty of time, those days were taken away.
When I saw that regardless of what had successfully passed within a committee would create a sudden emergency and rapid transactions of scratch my chapter's back and we'll get yours in return, those days were taken away.
When I saw that in spite of what politically may have been legitimate and serve an actual purpose for a greater good at another time and place within the same closed door, backdoor and hallway moments become tainted, corrupt, and laced with envy, jealousy, and illwill, those days were taken away.
When I saw a former national officer insist on being elevated to a near-Founder status, those days were taken away.
When I saw that it was more proper for silence to speak lies and imply truth instead, those days were taken away.
When I saw the repeated excuse for nonattending members to steal moments with another lover while leaving the organizational burden upon others, those days were taken away.
When I saw the utter humanity being exposed within a group that I held in esteem of superheroes, those days were taken away.
In light of the fact that we are all human and all make mistakes, one may wonder why do I still extend the courtesies of brotherhood, goodwill, and esprit de corps?
The simple answer is that I cannot leave knowing that Christ Jesus did not turn away from mankind when we were mired in the same miry sinking sand.
I am here to minister, not to run for office, not to seek higher position, and not to endorse any candidate other than the best candidate that I have found to assist us in fulfilling who we say we are, what we say we are going to do, who we are going to become, and what we say we are going to have. His name is Jesus Christ.
Yes, there are those that say that they are believers and have more years of membership within earthly and heavenly bonds than I. But when I witness anything less than achievement in all human endeavors, believe me I am going to approach the mike.
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. has been proven to me since my ministry began in 1996 to be one of the fishing holes as an avenue to advance the Kingdom of God.
Some others have not been called to such a mission and both they and I must respect each other's mission, capabilities, and desire to fulfill our individual and collective Kingdom missions regardless of where we must fish and win souls.
Inside the house or outside on the street, we must return to being on our knees in humility if we are the achievers born and bred since 1911.
Yours in the Bond
Ritual Resale on eBay: Rape or Consensual?
Since the buyer of the esoteric ritual has read all of the pages to his or her heart's delight, they are looking to flip the item and move on in full confidence of our innermost collective identity.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=976226390
To foolishly send signals towards our highest levels at IHQ for a call to arms is a proverbial waste of time.
The first buyer got away with a successful transaction and we cannot seem to think that this one will be any different.
If there was a market for the contents of the ritual to be placed on t-shirts and successfully sold, then the proper coalition might contact an attorney on how we could obtain damages since the entrepreneur did not pay a vendor's fee.
The truth is that the actions of a truly curious and serious collector like this now reseller may actually work for the good of Kappa versus the further demise and end of our Noble Clan.
The drum has been sounded far too long for reformation to granted access into our dynamic organization and for the public release of critical information (esoteric wisdom) for the greater good of society.
Such calls have gone noticed but without any activity.
While whispers, nudges, and nods to watch certain individuals (Brothers) among us have proceeded at the speed of light via e-mails, high signs, and telephone calls, nothing has been done of notice for individual chapters, provinces, and at the Grand Chapter level to witness.
Have we now reached the thresholds of witnessing what we have not seen done through organized effort is actually being performed through inactivity?
I dare say that we have.
As long as the current and future resellers do not protest actively at our provincial and Grand Chapter meetings or upon the individual campuses with signs and banners bearing single phrases or sentences held by most as our secret treasure, then we shall not witness any acts to retain anything held of value by previous generations of Kappas.
We only had one single opportunity to remain a virgin and we witnessed that nothing was done. To seek to regain virgin status upon the pending birth of a second child requires immaculate self-disception indeed.
Yours in the Bond
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=976226390
To foolishly send signals towards our highest levels at IHQ for a call to arms is a proverbial waste of time.
The first buyer got away with a successful transaction and we cannot seem to think that this one will be any different.
If there was a market for the contents of the ritual to be placed on t-shirts and successfully sold, then the proper coalition might contact an attorney on how we could obtain damages since the entrepreneur did not pay a vendor's fee.
The truth is that the actions of a truly curious and serious collector like this now reseller may actually work for the good of Kappa versus the further demise and end of our Noble Clan.
The drum has been sounded far too long for reformation to granted access into our dynamic organization and for the public release of critical information (esoteric wisdom) for the greater good of society.
Such calls have gone noticed but without any activity.
While whispers, nudges, and nods to watch certain individuals (Brothers) among us have proceeded at the speed of light via e-mails, high signs, and telephone calls, nothing has been done of notice for individual chapters, provinces, and at the Grand Chapter level to witness.
Have we now reached the thresholds of witnessing what we have not seen done through organized effort is actually being performed through inactivity?
I dare say that we have.
As long as the current and future resellers do not protest actively at our provincial and Grand Chapter meetings or upon the individual campuses with signs and banners bearing single phrases or sentences held by most as our secret treasure, then we shall not witness any acts to retain anything held of value by previous generations of Kappas.
We only had one single opportunity to remain a virgin and we witnessed that nothing was done. To seek to regain virgin status upon the pending birth of a second child requires immaculate self-disception indeed.
Yours in the Bond
Thursday, May 05, 2005
The Next Level Is Actually Kappa 4.0
If I had to write the message again, I would say that the next level of Kappa mentioned within my post is actually Kappa 4.0 versus Kappa 2.0.
Here are the following stages in my opinion with the starting dates for each phase.
Kappa 1.0: January 5, 1911 Founders starting our Grand Fraternity
Kappa 2.0 January 1994 Brothers actively begin to locate one another via e-mail and mailing lists
Kappa 3.0 April 28, 2005 Authentic Kappa Alpha Psi's Ritual placed up for sale to general public on ebay
Kappa 4.0 Date unknown occurs when Kappa Alpha Psi either allows virtual chapters and/or Phi Nu Pi is publicly revealed on IHQ's website.
The revelation of Phi Nu Pi then has an immediate multiple impact on several organizational pillars of the Fraternity while allowing a remnant to individually and collectively practice the ideals of the Fraternity without the threat of lawsuits, destructive internal politics, and coercive acts of manipulation for the sake of an unified front.
Responsibility for Achievement and Brotherhood then is fully expected and required at the local level versus being further held hostage by upper levels as it is now.
I am sure that the upheaval within the Fraternity is debatable while certain events mark unquestionable milestones. Hazing did not and will not ever produce another progressive benchmark within the Fraternity.
I'll end this message now as I could and will go on otherwise for the rest of my life;)
But one more comment I will say for the record: the truly disgruntled want reformation back to the days and spirit of our Founding and its ideals versus hazing at will.
Anyone of the belief within the status quo has already taken the blue pill.
Here are the following stages in my opinion with the starting dates for each phase.
Kappa 1.0: January 5, 1911 Founders starting our Grand Fraternity
Kappa 2.0 January 1994 Brothers actively begin to locate one another via e-mail and mailing lists
Kappa 3.0 April 28, 2005 Authentic Kappa Alpha Psi's Ritual placed up for sale to general public on ebay
Kappa 4.0 Date unknown occurs when Kappa Alpha Psi either allows virtual chapters and/or Phi Nu Pi is publicly revealed on IHQ's website.
The revelation of Phi Nu Pi then has an immediate multiple impact on several organizational pillars of the Fraternity while allowing a remnant to individually and collectively practice the ideals of the Fraternity without the threat of lawsuits, destructive internal politics, and coercive acts of manipulation for the sake of an unified front.
Responsibility for Achievement and Brotherhood then is fully expected and required at the local level versus being further held hostage by upper levels as it is now.
I am sure that the upheaval within the Fraternity is debatable while certain events mark unquestionable milestones. Hazing did not and will not ever produce another progressive benchmark within the Fraternity.
I'll end this message now as I could and will go on otherwise for the rest of my life;)
But one more comment I will say for the record: the truly disgruntled want reformation back to the days and spirit of our Founding and its ideals versus hazing at will.
Anyone of the belief within the status quo has already taken the blue pill.
Review of Kappa Ritual Sale on eBay
Brothers All,
I have just conducted my own review of the esoteric Ritual that was recently sold on eBay at:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3972178181&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1
In reviewing the winning buyer's history, it appears to me that the individual is a collector of rituals from various fraternities.
I will further say that the person is someone who is a private collector of esoteric materials or possibly an author or reporter who is gathering items for a future book.
Therefore at this point in time, our information will not be shared in a wholesale manner.
Years ago and possibly even more now in light of the heated commentary shared by Brothers on the matter, I proposed releasing Phi Nu Pi to the world if our secrets really had any power to them.
Now on the eve of my rapidly approaching 40th birthday, I now say that it really does not matter since the world does not recognize us as a collective force but more of a group of individuals centered around a common theme.
Never in my life before or during Kappa, I would never imagine seeing our Ritual sold on eBay or through any other means. It has put a bad taste in my mouth to know that it got out of our hands and control somehow.
But this failure occurred on the local level undoubtedly. Until it is revealed that IHQ did not seek to end the auction or purchase the item itself, blame cannot be placed anywhere else.
The sale of esoteric material will be placed up for auction again since the winning bid in this auction was $3,250.00. I believe that a negative precedent has now been firmly established that we cannot walk away from.
Before I would see us potentially held hostage due to someone's extortion to expose us on any level, I would say that we would take matters into our own hands and reveal who we really are as well as the words and statements once held in complete confidence. This is and was the essence of my position always.
There is nothing within our private knowledge that distinctly states "This is what *** means and this is what to do when *** is done".
The presence of brothers is needed for the real transfer of knowledge to occur. This is where the Bond truly comes alive. No one is truly initiated in an one-on-one manner.
The slogans and publicly shared phrases created by an ad and PR agency say:
Training for Leadership: It's who we are. It's what we do.
Have we fallen to a level of being no more than a traveling road show convening every two years for the hundreds of thousands of dollars we can spend within conclaves and annual provincial meetings?
I fully respect the positions of Brothers who brought the sale to our attention and their personal words on the State of the Fraternity that bring us to this point in time.
Overall, we must return to the days of fulfilling our Bond within Brother-to-Brother interactions since our larger assemblies have gotten drunk with the power of unbalanced budgets, trivial politics, and short-term poisons.
Chapters (local and virtual--eventually) are the best place for the Bond to come alive.
Until desired change begins to appear on the horizon that we all can agree upon, I would not worry about the sale of the esoteric document on eBay at this time since there are bigger fish to fry, bake, and cook elsewhere within our lives.
We need an internal revolution before the external revolution can really occur. Right now we are still treading water professionally.
My prediction is that there is indeed a new day of Kappa coming (before or after our 100 year anniversary) as the dynamics are occurring elsewhere within society. It will be a destiny of Kappa 2.0 indeed. The difference will be the exit from the glass house we have been collectively forced to dwell within.
Viva Le Kappa!
Yours in the Bond,
Roney Smith
http://www.yoursinthebond.com
I have just conducted my own review of the esoteric Ritual that was recently sold on eBay at:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3972178181&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1
In reviewing the winning buyer's history, it appears to me that the individual is a collector of rituals from various fraternities.
I will further say that the person is someone who is a private collector of esoteric materials or possibly an author or reporter who is gathering items for a future book.
Therefore at this point in time, our information will not be shared in a wholesale manner.
Years ago and possibly even more now in light of the heated commentary shared by Brothers on the matter, I proposed releasing Phi Nu Pi to the world if our secrets really had any power to them.
Now on the eve of my rapidly approaching 40th birthday, I now say that it really does not matter since the world does not recognize us as a collective force but more of a group of individuals centered around a common theme.
Never in my life before or during Kappa, I would never imagine seeing our Ritual sold on eBay or through any other means. It has put a bad taste in my mouth to know that it got out of our hands and control somehow.
But this failure occurred on the local level undoubtedly. Until it is revealed that IHQ did not seek to end the auction or purchase the item itself, blame cannot be placed anywhere else.
The sale of esoteric material will be placed up for auction again since the winning bid in this auction was $3,250.00. I believe that a negative precedent has now been firmly established that we cannot walk away from.
Before I would see us potentially held hostage due to someone's extortion to expose us on any level, I would say that we would take matters into our own hands and reveal who we really are as well as the words and statements once held in complete confidence. This is and was the essence of my position always.
There is nothing within our private knowledge that distinctly states "This is what *** means and this is what to do when *** is done".
The presence of brothers is needed for the real transfer of knowledge to occur. This is where the Bond truly comes alive. No one is truly initiated in an one-on-one manner.
The slogans and publicly shared phrases created by an ad and PR agency say:
Training for Leadership: It's who we are. It's what we do.
Have we fallen to a level of being no more than a traveling road show convening every two years for the hundreds of thousands of dollars we can spend within conclaves and annual provincial meetings?
I fully respect the positions of Brothers who brought the sale to our attention and their personal words on the State of the Fraternity that bring us to this point in time.
Overall, we must return to the days of fulfilling our Bond within Brother-to-Brother interactions since our larger assemblies have gotten drunk with the power of unbalanced budgets, trivial politics, and short-term poisons.
Chapters (local and virtual--eventually) are the best place for the Bond to come alive.
Until desired change begins to appear on the horizon that we all can agree upon, I would not worry about the sale of the esoteric document on eBay at this time since there are bigger fish to fry, bake, and cook elsewhere within our lives.
We need an internal revolution before the external revolution can really occur. Right now we are still treading water professionally.
My prediction is that there is indeed a new day of Kappa coming (before or after our 100 year anniversary) as the dynamics are occurring elsewhere within society. It will be a destiny of Kappa 2.0 indeed. The difference will be the exit from the glass house we have been collectively forced to dwell within.
Viva Le Kappa!
Yours in the Bond,
Roney Smith
http://www.yoursinthebond.com
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