From Sam Centellas' second term presidential campaign:
"Be PERSONAL... the fraternity while it is a business this is most importantly a family. We end board calls talking about our personal lives, our kids, our hobbies, weekend plans... this is because above all else we are Brothers. Our titles give us more responsibility and we take that seriously, but I believe to lead you have to be personal. Brothers know I am always here to listen, to give feedback, to listen to a Brother vent, and to be a good Brother. On that note, I have posted on my Campaign Blog (http://2010slb- president. blogspot. com) the Brother profile that was on the national site when I was in graduate school as away for Brothers to get to know me better and some other information about myself."
Text in red is my point of interest. It's important for brothers to understand that the fraternity is a business, hence SLB Frat. INC. - which stands for incorporated.
We've had many debates about whether or not the fraternity should be run like a business. Many said "No, the fraternity on the chapter level should not be run like a business." such mentality led to the financial debacle we are in now. Feel free to comment. Some food for thought.
#29 Chris "Tu Bi" Nguyen
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Alumni Involvement - Connecting the Dots
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
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
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Brothers who were on the conference call re: financial status of the undergrad chapter:
Carlos Delgado
Keith Trevino
Juan Martinez
B.C. Carreon
Chris Ybarra
Hector Hernandez
Tim Hall
Chris Nguyen
Nick Carreon
Jeff White
Alex Rivera
Brother Contact Information:
Download*
When you finish downloading the file, click on it. You will be asked for a password.
Complete this sentence to get the password -> Do you just ____
*Mac users: The file is a simple zip file. Extract it with your favorite zip file extractor.
Please call each other when you're in each others towns respectively! It's always good to hear from a brother. Don't forget our conference call at 7p.m. 6/16/10. Same number, if you don't have it call a brother up!!
#29 Chris "Tu Bi" Nguyen
Carlos Delgado
Keith Trevino
Juan Martinez
B.C. Carreon
Chris Ybarra
Hector Hernandez
Tim Hall
Chris Nguyen
Nick Carreon
Jeff White
Alex Rivera
Brother Contact Information:
Download*
When you finish downloading the file, click on it. You will be asked for a password.
Complete this sentence to get the password -> Do you just ____
*Mac users: The file is a simple zip file. Extract it with your favorite zip file extractor.
Please call each other when you're in each others towns respectively! It's always good to hear from a brother. Don't forget our conference call at 7p.m. 6/16/10. Same number, if you don't have it call a brother up!!
#29 Chris "Tu Bi" Nguyen
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