Stop Re-writing Your Bylaws

According to my extremely technical personal research findings I have discovered the difference that is made by re-writing your bylaws is absolutely minimal, and truly a waste of time. 

Please don’t re-write your constitution and bylaws.  If you want to re-do it then just call the NIC and say “Can you please send me the Model Constitution”.  That’s all, just ask us and we’ll send it to you.  It’s a document that works and that I guarantee if fully implemented will lead to higher functioning councils and chapters.  But wait, if you email the NIC (www.nicindy.org or me at Pendry@nicindy.org) and ask for the constitution and then you get it, what are you going to do with the other 11 months, 3 weeks, and 6 days of your office?  Well Sir, that is where you have to look to a couple of other documents; your ritual, and your job description.

I would submit to you that your bylaws are fine.  An amendment here and there or a striking down of a couple of the 17 officers you have may be in order but a leader who spends ¾ of his term re-writing the damn bylaws is NOT a leader.  This is someone who is scared to look at the hazing, the alcohol abuse, the lack of engagement at the IFC/chapter meeting, and call it for what it is…CANCER.

If you have identified problems in your chapter then you have discovered cancer and you have several options at your disposal for getting rid of it.  One of these options is NOT a fine or an amendment to the officer position requirements.  The problems in your chapter are manifested in and by the humans in your chapter and you, as a member who wants your chapter to live past this semester have a duty to respond to the cancer.  Confrontation.  Accountability.  Responsibility.  These words are not ones that you need a constitution to uphold.  These words are about who you are as a fraternity man and what is expected of you by your organization.  There are many folks who are very sick of the inaction.  And I think you are one of those people.  Don’t do nothing & don’t think that a revision of your by-laws is going to solve your recruitment, education, initiation, accountability, financial, alcohol-soaked problems.

The resources are your disposal are too numerous to count.  You have an entire inter/national fraternity that exists to provide YOU with support.  You have a campus based fraternity/sorority professional who exists to provide you with support, AND you have the NIC, the entire internet, alumni, parents, and on and on and on.  The folks that surround you want your chapters to be successful!

SO…Succeed!