Some brothers believe that Alumni involvement in undergraduate affairs should be limited - I agree.
I agree to the extent that - regarding social issues, governance, policy, and anything having to do with politics, Alumni should participate on a consultative basis only. To be clear, Alumni should actively consult and confer with undergraduates from a non-partisan position. Such is a means of fostering lasting relationships between brothers old and young while creating an environment where undergraduates can gain valuable insight from the experiences of alumn.
However, we must acknowledge the fine line between fraternal relationships and excessive involvement in undergraduate affairs. With that said, it's important not to sway too far from undergraduate affairs creating a detachment between alumni and undergraduates nor create a culture that exhibits a dichotomy of elitist alumni and struggling undergraduates.
So where can alumni and undergrads confer on sensitive policy based issues?
PAY ATTENTION!!! --> Project Management... Fund raising... Money.
It is essential for undergrads to solicit valuable bits of advice regarding project management. Experience is the single most valuable component of event planning. Our most valuable resource as a fraternity is our older brothers. They've been there, they've done that, and even if they haven't they've probably seen how to make it better and how it flopped. Successful events transcend into successful fund raising. If the undergrad chapter has successful events, people will come. It does not matter whether it's a philanthropy, cultural awareness, or community service event. It could even be a party. The key is to be able to define success and then achieve it according to however you have defined it. Others will notice your success; the more people who notice, the more money you will be able to raise for the future and the more money alumni will be willing to invest in the future of the fraternity.
At this point, it's also important to mention that if alumni donate money, they are entitled to have a word or two in the way that it is spent! They are further entitled to full disclosure of the disbursements of their contributions, the transparency of operations, and due diligence. So what does all that mean?
If alumni are giving back to the fraternity, they should be able to see how much of it is going where, when it is being spent, and ultimately - how it contributes to the viability of the chapter! Due diligence is the culmination of efforts by the undergraduate chapter to ensure that nothing could possibly go wrong with the funds such as theft, fraud, litigation, etc.
If alumni get their full disclosure and undergrads actively seek to maintain these relationships, the viability of the fraternity could never be threatened. Just think, how many of you joined because alumni were dedicated? How many other fraternities have this irreplaceable facet of culture?
Think about it... that's my 86 cents.
Brother for life,
#29 Chris "Tu Bi" Nguyen
