Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
Subscribe: RSS
Show Notes:
Why are fraternities and sororities important to college and future life?
One way to revive those past relationships
What goes into designing a fraternity house
Product highlight: Discuss the hidden features of the house
Hidden door hinge system. Hinges made for secret doors. Supports up to 250 lbs
Can be used on a book shelf or panelized door. Inswing or outswing
The instructions are lacking in information, but you can figure it out. Made by murphy door
Robot Check
Why are fraternities and sororities important to college and future life?
When was the last time you met someone, really got to know them, then formed that bond that seems almost as strong as a brother or sister. Someone you could rely on. When was the last time you were able to walk up to a complete stranger offer out your hand to shake and immediately form a connection with that person. A connection that has decades of history and tradition backing it.
To people that were not or have not yet been in an organization such as a fraternity or sorority it might be hard to imagine how that feels. but i can guarantee that you have had some similar experience where you can relate. Perhaps meeting a distant relative that you just immediately feel a connection to.
The connections you form during the college years of your life stay with you. As with any important and life changing time, college might be one of the most influential times in your life. It is the years when most start to really discover their own independence you start to develop your own strong opinions. It is during this time in your life when you are meeting large amounts of people. Attending social engagements on a regular basis.
If you are through those years, as i am, you are probably looking back on those days and imagining all the crazy things you did. If you were part of a greek house you are probably imagining the brothers or sisters that you formed those tight bonds with and some of you are wondering where those people are now. What is that guy up to now.
There are many levels of involvement that you can have a member. You can be the die hard type where everything is fraternity, or you can be the opposite extreme where you just enjoy the group. What ever the case may be you cannot deny that being a member of the greek life has most likely opened some doors for your career and probably given you some amazing connection to many individuals that you would not otherwise had had you not joined.
Think about all the positive work fraternities and sororities have done over the years. according to the north american inter fraternity conference between the years of 2011 and 2012 fraternities raised 21.1 million dollars for charity. And that is just the men.
For many as we advance in our careers it is a time to give back to the younger generation. the up and coming professionals. To mentor those Men and women in our unique organization that is the fraternity.
Have you given back yet?
Now I’m not saying that you need to go donate a bunch of money to your chapter. but you might want to start to donate your time when you can, and if you can. The alumni are the backbone of any chapter. they are the guides that help to mold the next generation of undergraduates into the professionals of tomorrow.
To sum up what i have been trying to say- there are a multitude of positives that revolve around fraternities.
the first being brotherhood / sisterhood
fraternity is not a four year college experience, it is a lifetime involvement
charitable work
Greek members typically higher grade-point average and retention rates.
As with anything there are pros and cons the list of cons include
Financial and time commitments
balance of social and study
hazing – 59 students died in fraternity incidents since 2005. Maybe more since this is from a 2012 report
you may not be accepted
You may not be accepted. Wow. That is a hard one. Some people have this fear so why try. No matter who you are there are lots of organizations out there. Get involved, you will find that there are some great people. If you have gotten disconnected from those past relationships perhaps it is time to revive them.
One way to revive those lost relationships.
Get involved with the chapter. Reconnect with those classmates. Designing fraternities and sororities is a fun experience. We get to connect with those undergraduates and alumni that have great vision for where the chapter is going and remembrance for where it came from. You get to hear some of the greatest and wildest stories.
The last chapter house i went to was in Michigan. our structural engineer had to crawl under the main floor into the crawlspace to look at foundations and stumbled upon a coffin. not what you want to be running into while crawling in a dark hole.
But like i was saying, visit the chapter, see if there is anything you can help with. Does the house need repairs, can you fix it. Are you looking to renovate or even build a new house. When looking to build or renovate these are the elements and factors you need to take into consideration.
Who uses a fraternity house?
Various functions
Various users
Steps before you even start designing.
National Committee
role
Alumni Committee
role
Process
Alumni request national help or not
Nationals works with local chapter
one designated coordinator housing committee
Design Charette
Fundraising Documents
% educational
alumni interest
goals and next stage
Pennington @ penningtonco.com
Construction Documents
Bidding and Negotiation
Construction
Occupation
How many members
live in verse out of house
Growth potential
how many beds
don’t over build
rent fees increase
easier to fill
Items to consider when designing your house.
meal service
Educational areas and donations for tax purposes
key to maximize educational space to entice alumni with tax deductions
classrooms, study, library – no bedroom
Elements of fraternity house
Foyer
Library
Restrooms – public
Living room
Dining
meal plan
Commercial Kitchen
Dish wash room
Outdoor patio off dining
Table and chair storage
House director apartment
Dedicated Chapter room
Suite layout and mix of rooms
student housing market
new needs of the generation
apartment style student housing
personal space 8×12
Historical fraternity
large cold air dorms
Common Space
kitchenette
tv space and study conference table space
kitchen and dining as well as late plates and meal plan
coffee shop
dining layout – soft seating various mix of tables
Levels of Study
Study habits
Library with smart devices
Common space
Bedroom
School Library
Security
Durability
chief burning down house
motorcycle exhaust
less doors
materials
blocking
metal jambs
Unique features to each chapter
Theater
Bike training room
Music room
Incorporating History of chapter into the design
columns, crest, dome, stone carving above entry, rain leader, hand carved stone lions.
look for areas where you can take advantage of the history and make it unique to your chapter
Shoutouts for this weeks show goes to:
collectablefinds on ebay – thanks for the great mic and words of encouragement
to my wife for everything she does for me and my daughter
to pat flynn, jack spirko, and cliff ravenscraft – you guys have helped me more than you will ever know. Thank you!
Take action:
This might not be the project type that you are interested in today, but I want you to take something from this podcast.
My best advice would be to get reconnected with those people you have lost touch with. Share your stories, mentor the next generation. Organizations that you once were a part of are a continuing reflection of you. If you have ideas or ability to help jump in and get going.
Start your project today
Don’t wait any longer. If you have that idea for a project and just can’t get it off the ground just get started. If you need some help getting going, want to discuss some ideas, give me a call or shoot me an email. I will be more than happy to give you a hand.
I wanted to end this show with a great quote from Walt Disney and this might be for me to get going on this show more than anything else but you can also take this and apply it to your life or project. he said:
“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.”
