My Son is a Fraternity Man

My son, Nick Mrasek, is a member of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity at The University of Oklahoma. I am proud that he is associated with such a fine group of men on the OU campus. He was attracted to this Lambda Chi chapter because of the strong reputation and active participation of the members on campus. Lambda Chi has won the OU President's Trophy several times since it was introduced by OU President David Boren. The chapter has several campus leaders, including IFC president, the student body (SGA) president, and Campus Activities Council (CAC) chair. And the chapter has a dedicated chapter advisor, Rodger Lalli.

Nick has enjoyed learning the symbolism revealed in the ritual and the highest teachings of Lambda Chi. He likes how the ritual encourages the members to be better men in their daily lives. Recently he served on the chapter's ritual team. This was quite an honor that he took seriously. He was excited to welcome the associate members into the brotherhood circle of Lambda Chi. His "ritual high" was evident in his text to me after initiation: "It was a fun experience."

As I reflect on Nick's experience, I am reminded that our fraternity and sorority rituals challenge all of us to live up to our full potential. Lessons taught at NIC's Undergraduate Interfraternity Institute (UIFI) reiterate that ritual is what we do. Learn it; live it; teach it; expect it. We are asked to put values into action. Perhaps that is why the Lambda Chi chapter at OU continues to thrive. We should all take note from this chapter's success.

NPC Executive Committee: Hand in Hand

This past weekend, the NPC Executive Committee met in Memphis, Tenn., at the Chi Omega Fraternity headquarters for our winter retreat. It was wonderful to spend time with Vice Chairman Donna King, Sigma Kappa; Panhellenics Committee Chairman Julie Johnson, Kappa Delta; Advocacy Committee Chairman Mary Jane Beach, Kappa Alpha Theta; and Budget and Finance Committee Chairman Lynnda Hoefler, Delta Zeta. Our Executive Director Nicki Meneley, Alpha Chi Omega, monitored our schedule and provided tremendous support to our meeting. 

The weekend included a Friday evening reception held at the nearby Kappa Delta headquarters for Panhellenic women from the University of Memphis, Christian Brothers University and Rhodes College. We spent Saturday morning in the realm of "big picture thinking" facilitated by Dawn Watkins, Delta Delta Delta, from Plaid Strategies. Dawn shared trends in higher education and trends related to today's college students. We talked about opportunities to educate, to collaborate and strategies to encourage broad thinking. The afternoon included updates from Erin Nemenoff, Theta Phi Alpha, NPC Measurable Outcomes Committee chairman. NPC is embarking on two research projects this year, one on retention and one on well-being related to fraternal membership. The latter is in conjunction with Gallup.

We discussed ways for NPC to move from "good to great," with some inspirational quotes from Jim Collins' monograph designed for social sectors to accompany his notable book. Among many things, the NPC Executive Committee brainstormed possibilities on how we can continue to raise the bar and deliver on our mission. There is no doubt that we are on course to move forward together to advance sorority. With a steady hand on the wheel, the NPC Executive Committee will guide our organization toward positive outcomes during the coming months. We will achieve this by maintaining our core values and implementing solid operating strategies and practices as a unified coalition of women -- hand in hand.  

From Good to Great: Mission, Vision and Goals

Goal setting is nothing new for boards or executive committees. It requires vision and communicating that vision to motivate others to follow.

Jaclyn Rosenthal, Delta Delta Delta, University of Pennsylvania Panhellenic Council president, shared her goals for the upcoming term. For one, she wants to increase communication with sororities on campus. You can read more about her goals online.

Like Jaclyn and all the leaders in College and Alumnae Panhellenics, the NPC Executive Committee has established goals for the biennium:

1. Execute the 2013-15 strategic plan.
2. Review our tenets and affirm our standards.
3. Enhance advocacy efforts.
4. Foster relationships and education among stakeholders.
5. Share our truth/shape our message.
6. Encourage exemplary Panhellenic communities.

During the coming months, we will work toward these goals using new initiatives and new approaches. The Executive Committee looks forward to updating our constituents on the progress that we make along the way. Ultimately, we envision elevating NPC to yet another level of importance and significance. This means shaping our message and enlisting those in our NPC family, College and Alumnae Panhellenic leaders and campus colleagues as our brand ambassadors to spread the word.

Our Executive Committee and board meetings begin with reading the NPC mission and vision. Many Panhellenics recite the Panhellenic creed as the first agenda item. This provides focus for our work. It allows us to direct our efforts along the continuum of good to great, or from a large women’s organization to “the premier advocacy and support organization for the advancement of the sorority experience.”

“Good to Great” author Jim Collins addresses the essence of leadership as it pertains to greatness. He says, “Greatness is not a function of circumstance. Greatness, it turns out, is largely a matter of conscious choice, and discipline.”

In NPC, we have opportunities to make an impact this year. It starts here and now with our mission, vision and goals.