Using the I Believe in Theta Chi Member Education Program

1
Using the I Believe in Theta Chi Member
Education Program

• Presented by
• Douglas Allen, Delta Beta 90
• National Secretary

2
What Is It?

• Standardized New Member Program
• Satisfies the maximum 8 week new member program
  requirement
• Can be customized to allow for initiation in less
  than 8 weeks if a chapter so desires
• Continues AFTER initiation
• Likely to continue to be developed and improved
  based on chapter suggestions

3
Why Is It?

• To satisfy a need in T? to standardize our
  members understanding of key concepts of the
  Fraternity
• To supply a model new member program
• Chapters were asking for it
• To help T? compete in recruitment
• You deserve good materials support

4
What is Required

• The Ritual requires that all new members be
  examined on the Constitution and By-Laws of Theta
  Chi Fraternity--this requirement traces its
  origins to the original Ritual
• Other than meeting the enrollment, chapter
  approval, fees/paperwork requirements of the
  By-Laws, this is the only defined requirement for
  initiation

5
What Are the Goals

• Teach the Traditions Ideals of T?
• Teach expectations of membership
• Assimilate new members into the chapter
• Provide a basic understanding how the Fraternity
  functions
• Prepare for the Ritual
• Demonstrate that leaning continues after
  initiation

6
What Material is Available

• An I Believe in Theta Chi workbook for each
  new member to be used in conjunction with The
  Manual of Theta Chi Fraternity
• (Soon) A companion Marshals Manual
• Customizable handouts
• All material available in the Manuals section at
  www.ThetaChi.org

7
How to Conduct the Program

• Make sure each member has all the materials
  preferably in a 3 ring binder
• Pass out materials as soon as possible
• Arrange for one or two meetings per week avoid
  marathon meetings
• Most sections require the new members to read
  ahead in the Guide and/or the Manual

8
How to Conduct the Program II

• The Marshals Guide will give you suggestions on
  what to review for each section, suggested
  activities and reading assignments for the next
  section
• Make your meetings interactive have discussions
• Include Brothers in the meetings buy the Marshal
  must keep control of the meeting

9
Activities Pre-Initiation

• The Marshals Guide gives lots of suggestions for
  interactive learning
• Space out activities--dont cram them all into
  the last week
• Consider shortening your PI period
• The focus needs to be on Ritual, not activities
  leading up to it

10
Exam on By-Laws

• Required by Ritual
• Make sure new members have their own copy of the
  National By-Laws
• Use the suggested written test
• Give the new members a study sheet and plenty of
  time to prepare--at least a week
• Make sure the know the time and format in
  advance--this is not supposed to be stressful

11
Ritual

• Give new members advance notice of the date and
  time
• Teach that the Ritual is the pinnacle of what
  they will learn--because it is! Build positive
  anticipation
• Discuss the use of religious text prior to
  Ritual--no surprises for those of different faiths

12
After Initiation

• Learning continues--perhaps a good opportunity
  for an Assistant Marshal to conduct the program
• Review the Ritual within a few days
• Teach more of the nuts bolts of running a
  chapter
• Good time for the entire chapter to review
  recruitment skills in a workshop/retreat

13
Points to Remember

• Academic come first--dont let T? be the reason
  your new members do poorly in school--Freshman
  year can be hard enough
• Understanding of Concepts is more important than
  memorization
• This is a lot of material, no one can possibly
  learn it all at once--the goal is to make them
  interested so the keep going back to it

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How to Be Successful

• Get help
• Big Brothers are critical--make sure it is an
  honor to be a BB and check to make sure they are
  involved
• Use alumni and Regional Counselors
• Utilize campus resources and speakers
• Dont reinvent the wheel

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Introduction

• Done right after Pledging Ceremony
• Hand out materials
• Review program
• Review calendar
• Review Expectations of Membership
• Review No Hazing policy
• Take time to answer any questions

16
Its Tradition Ideals

• Review the ideals of Theta Chi as expressed
• In the Creed
• Preamble of T? Constitution/By-Laws
• Code of Conduct/NIC Statement
• Traditions
• Founders Day
• Songs
• Etc.

17
Born of Sturdy.Resolute Men

• History of T?
• Symbols
• Teamwork
• What commitment will you make to T?

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EnnobledPromoter of Knowledge

• Objectives of Theta Chi Fraternity
• Scholarship
• Help them learn how to be successful in college
  most freshman have trouble adjusting to the new
  academic environment of college verses high school

19
Culture Character

• Culture Social skills, etiquette, manners,
  dress for success as well as cultural events
  and activities
• Character
• Interfraternalism

20
True FriendshipHelping Hand

• Essentially the half way point
• High level concepts
• Good chance to re-enforce ideals of T?
• Opportunity to re-cover concepts up to this point
  and re-group

21
Alma MaterUsefulness of FraternityAccomplishment
s

• Hit scholarship again!
• Discuss schools spirit and campus involvement
• Structure of T? as an International Organization
• Fun Facts about Famous Influential members of
  Theta Chi

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All in my powerfellow man

• Leadership perpetuation our ideals
• T? awards
• Get read for any pre-initiation/brotherhood week
  activities
• Give the exam on the National By-Laws of Theta
  Chi Fraternity

23
Preparing for the Ritual

• Marshals Manual give instructions on many
  pre-initiation activities
• Focus should be on preparing for Ritual--dont
  let activities overshadow the Ritual
• No hazing
• Dont overload events and burn anyone out

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After Initiation

• Program continues AFTER initiation
• Review of the Ritual
• Teach them how to recruit/chapter recruitment
  workshop
• Chapter Operations--no need to learn how to run
  the chapter before initiation
• Risk Management
• Theta Chi for Life/Alumni Involvement

25
Questions?
26
Give Your Feedback

• Program can be updated and improved based on
  chapter feedback
• Contact IHQ
• Discuss with your LEC
• Contact Doug Allen directly!
• DAllen_at_mchsi.com

27
What was the title of Freemans 1856 Graduation
Oration

• True Liberty Freedom Subject to Law Reason
• Don Quixote the Ancient Modern
• The Americans Privileges Duties
• Manifest Destiny
• Education

28
What was the title of Freemans 1856 Graduation
Oration

• True Liberty Freedom Subject to Law Reason
• Don Quixote the Ancient Modern
• The Americans Privileges Duties
• Manifest Destiny
• Education

29
What was the name of Arthur Chases Newspaper

• The Claremont Review
• The Plainfield Gazette
• The New Hampshire Republican
• The National Eagle
• The Vermont Sentinel

30
What was the name of Arthur Chases Newspaper

• The Claremont Review
• The Plainfield Gazette
• The New Hampshire Republican
• The National Eagle
• The Vermont Sentinel

31
Freeman was the principal of which of these
military schools

• Claremont Academy
• Yonkers Military Collegiate Institute
• Eagleswood Military Collegiate Institute
• Norwich University
• Virginia Military Institute

32
Freeman was the principal of which of these
military schools

• Claremont Academy
• Yonkers Military Collegiate Institute
• Eagleswood Military Collegiate Institute
• Norwich University
• Virginia Military Institute

33
Who was the 1st National President of T?

• James Michael Holland
• Park Valentine Perkins
• J. Albert Holmes
• Robert Hoge
• George Starr Lasher

34
Who was the 1st National President of T?

• James Michael Holland
• Park Valentine Perkins
• J. Albert Holmes
• Robert Hoge
• George Starr Lasher

35
Which T? won the Nobel Prize for Physics

• Owen Chamberlain
• Alec Poitevint
• Edward Gibson
• William Fisher
• Charles Ross Greening

36
Which T? won the Nobel Prize for Physics

• Owen Chamberlain
• Alec Poitevint
• Edward Gibson
• William Fisher
• Charles Ross Greening

37
Which T? won a Pulitzer Prize

• Charles Addams
• Fran Striker
• Harry Reasoner
• Michael Sharra
• Jack Uldrich

38
Which T? won a Pulitzer Prize

• Charles Addams
• Fran Striker
• Harry Reasoner
• Michael Sharra
• Jack Uldrich