I believe that there must be something in the water lately. This morning a full swarm of present tense crazy notions for Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. came to mind.
During a recent phone conversation with a Sands of mine (someone with whom we were both initiated into fraternity membership at the same time), I mentioned something about several realizations and effects of turning 40 has had on me.
One of them is realizing that I tend to look at things primarily from a systemic perspective versus looking at certain events as if they are isolated.
If there is a problem with the system of anything, my line of eyesight, understanding, and experiences will pick up on it faster than anything else. My value for the endeavor becomes more enlightened or disillusioned as a result. Typically I will desire to change or see a change occur at that point.
Bottom line is that I recognize where we can construct positive change versus getting bogged down in the traditions and values that are deconstructive.
From the various literature, sermons heard, and perspective changing television and multimedia recently experienced, I have been able to somewhat create a perfect storm in finding jedi-like leverage and precision to come up with multiple present-tense crazy notions.
All of the present-tense crazy notions cannot be posted within this blog entry and some will require revisitation to fully go deeper for the real golden opportunities buried beneath the surface.
So let's get started with Present Tense Crazy Notion #4 while realizing that there is not a hierarchy or stronger priority or greater weight given to any of these. The number just reflects the order in which they were received in my mind.
The recent rash of crazy notions to be posted here will have a tremendous, positive financial impact upon the Fraternity as well as for any other organization that implements such ideas and concepts that would be considered heresy today or any other time period without a significant paradigm shift within its leadership and membership.
I do know without a doubt that this blog has appeared on the radar of my Fraternity at its current highest level and I must continue onward without regard to risk, sacrifice, or lack of possible reward or recognition.
On some level, it does serve a purpose even if it is to be used externally to my Fraternity.
Present Tense Crazy Notion #4 is a proposal that there should be both Micro and Super Chapters within Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Although there have been multiple meetings and sessions of Grand Conclaves, Grand Board of Directors, provincial, and local chapter (and various boards) meetings that have yielded either proposals and/or direct amendments to the constitutions and statutes of the Fraternity, most of them that I have witnessed within my 21 years of membership have not had as their direct intent to synergistically combine legislation with internal revenue growth and fundraising simultaneously.
Sure the proposed and implemented amendments have served us on various levels, but there have not been any paradigm-shifts other than the avoidance of lawsuits involving hazing for the most part.
Let's crack open the safe of what we thought was holy and move some things around (even if within a trial period or limited experiment within a province or certain span of the International Headquarters(IHQ)).
For heaven's sake, even this deserves its own number as a Present Tense Crazy Notion and I will number it here.
Present Tense Crazy Notion #5 created immediately and spontaneously is to allow trial periods or limited experiments within a various province or certain span of International Headquarters (IHQ).
I will come back to Present Tense Crazy Notion #4 before I lose this current train of thought. Present Tense Crazy Notions will become the acronym PTCN as well.
Most of the decisions inacted have been on a permanent basis and never temporary or for a known trial period. We have typically required that heaven and earth must move as well as the current phrase "boil the ocean" in order to get anything passed or rescinded. It has been an all-or-none proposition in most cases altogether.
Why not state up front that a certain decision may be revoked, amended, or revisited at a later date? Why not allow certain decisions to be put into effect within various provinces, chapters, or even individual members as a limited trial test as done by every pharmaceutical company known to man (as well as within the alleys or street corners mind you)?
Can an organization of human beings really ever consider itself as having made permanent decisions? Democracy evolves whereas a theocracy is infinite and permanent (it does not have to change for it is already perfect).
By not having this flexibility without requiring 2/3 of members present at a Grand Chapter for a sufficient quorum, we have limited the effectiveness of an entire organization based upon how many Brothers were typically physically present every two years within a city on a revolving chart--known as Grand Chapter Grand Conclaves.
Even when the Grand Board of Directors have had to make constitutional and statutes amendments, the decisions were supposedly on a permanent basis until the next Grand Conclave and never on a trial basis.
As you might can tell, the geographical and time-based restraints upon organizations is becoming (or has become) a huge pet peeve of mine within this or any organization that is supposedly global in nature.
By having such trial periods or experiments, we can obtain the best of both worlds in working out any organizational or single individual behavioral kinks, idiosyncracies, and unforeseen effects of potentially bad legislation while expanding to the entire Bond only those changes that will be truly (and proven) beneficial.
We should not have the mindset at any time that any legislation enacted will stay in place forever when living in a changing world and/or shield a party or individual(s) or idea or concept until the next Grand Conclave takes place.
Now let's revisit PTCN #4.
PTCN #4 is an attempt to 'play with' (for the lack of a better phrase at this moment) or better yet 'experiment' with the notion of the constitutional membership requirements of our organization.
Where has it been recorded of the rationale and proven minimum required load of membership? What is the dollar cost of administration upon IHQ for having a chapter of 7 undergraduate members and 10 alumni members?
What is the significance of such a constitutional requirement? I just realized that the 10 alumni members might be a historical reference to our 10 Founders, but even this has to be placed on the table as we know that only 9 returned to the yard the following semester due the family needs of one, and the inner workings were mostly created by 3 to 5 Founders altogether.
Most of these PTCNs that are coming down the pipe will tie my favorite leadership principle of M&M together. One M is money and the other M is for members although they can be reversed at any time on demand as needed.
Micro chapters would be allowed to exist without having the current 7 undergraduate and 10 alumni members requirement.
Is it not possible that some campuses, small towns, and/or cities could benefit from having a chapter of two or three in order to get the ball of achievement rolling initially and lay the foundation for future success, keep the local chapter alive or for rebuilding purposes 3 to 5 years later after a membership violation incident had taken place?
Sure, there would be inherent restrictions upon the amount of activity on some micro chapters but there would also be some micro chapters that would either outperform and/or outgrow larger chapters currently in place.
The whole overarching goal of these PTCNs is to fully release growth and achievement by any means necessary and by any measureable criteria currently in place or could be created.
A micro chapter status would definitely not hurt the esteem of members who are suddenly left as the chapter of 2 members as it is currently possible. It would just change the game and flip the script for new strategies, perspectives, and activities to be implemented.
Is it also impossible to currently believe that there could be 4 to 7 members within a chapter that are right now nothing less than dead wood for no other reason that they can be?;)
If the current membership requirements were expressed as being with the intent that out of the 7 or 10 there would basically exist a core of 2 or 3 who would essentially keep the chapter on top of its paperwork, financially viable, or out of trouble with the campus administration, then I would say "Ok, leave it alone";)
But as anyone knows that there will be those individuals that will rub someone of significance (such a college or university president or administrator) or some governing council the wrong way and put everyone on their bad side.
Removing and/or adjusting the current membership requirement would serve as a way to get and/or stay on the yard while allowing room and opportunity for future growth.
Another rationale is that the current route of expanding membership to a new campus or city is full of potential opportunities for hazing or misinterpretation of the expectations of what "Good Kappas are supposed to be about".
Why allow someone or some group the opportunity to plant weeds instead of seeds?
Why put the weight of a burden on the shoulders of someone (new or inexperienced members) incapable or unable to know how to remove it?
Peer pressure has done more to kill our organization than to motivate it.
But peer pressure can be turned around if one cares enough to use it as a medium.
Micro chapters could work (please note that I said could) well for both the undergraduate and alumni levels of membership.
They also could fail miserably and possibly no worse than what was experienced in Florida recently. It was a situation that screamed out for micro chapters if I have ever heard of one.
But even in the case of failure, the failure and damage would be minimized (with a few members) while the potential upside is limitless.
Dynamic micro chapters would indeed grow and attract quality members. In fact, there would clearly be a need for micro chapters to keep an internal journal or blog (viewable by worldwide Fraternity members only--various access issues could be determined later) of some type to discuss ways of dealing with growth and decay (although this could be a PTCN, I'll fry other fish first).
There is already a paid, officially-sanctioned role regarding undergraduates within our Fraternity to handle such activity and information.
If there is a consideration that micro chapters would not be conducive environments for Brotherhood, just ask anyone that was in such an environment like a line of 2 or any other scenario imaginable.
The focus is that micro chapters would not be expected to remain micro chapters for long.
On the other end of the spectrum, super chapters would be able to extend their reach and depth all at once.
The military model for organizational structure would be used for super chapters especially and expanded throughout the Bond.
Super Chapters theoretically might cooperate, compete with, or replace provinces as they are currently called and known as. Or better yet, why not allow provinces the responsibilities and authority that I am about to suggest for super chapters?
Super Chapters would be able to organize and deploy themselves anywhere worldwide based upon actual and perceived need without requiring prior permission from Grand Chapter.
One central theme surrounding the recent PTCNs is that successful chapters and individual members should be given incentives and additional rights and privileges for positive performance and achievement than what they are used to now.
Numerical size alone would be only one criteria in determining what is a super chapter (although it is the first within this proposal).
There are several provinces that are more than capable enough already and should be encouraged to branch out beyond their current geographical boundaries.
Maybe it is the case that the boundaries are not fully enforced or even exist but that the provinces have essentially believed that they exist based upon their actions.
But a super chapter would be able to have a meeting, event, or service program comparable to a provincial meeting now within any city it desires at anytime it desires.
Such events would be open to current members regardless of their current residence or membership or chapter affiliation.
Currently, provinces are simply bloated and overweight without any incentives to improve other than the number of Grand Chapter officers and appointments they have in comparison to other provinces as well as coverage within The Journal.
Super Chapters would be able to go anywhere and do anything to elevate the status and welfare of the Fraternity.
One criteria for such a status as super chapters would be the financial contributions to Grand Chapter (versus provincial dues currently paid).
Create a license for a super chapter based upon the number of members and/or affiliated chapters as well as their payment of a super chapter fee (or license) and let them demonstrate their worth worldwide.
The super chapter would be able to receive or assess a membership fee from its individual or chapter members as well.
For example, a super chapter from Michigan would be able to hold a regional meeting in Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles, or even within the Caribbean for members to attend workshops, award ceremonies, things normally done by provinces now, and donations to charities (regardless of charity presence locally, regionally, or nationally).
Such an event would stimulate the Fraternity worldwide and offer the opportunity for more diverse opinion, strategies, and oversight of activities than current provinces would have the capability and capacity for now.
There is more to come on PTCN #4 and other PTCNs already known.
I personally like to release each blog entry as soon it reaches a point of fatigue on my part and/or potential usefulness;)
Please share your thoughts and feedback!
Yours in the Bond!
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