FROM VISION TO REALITY:
Transforming Theta Delta Chi Through Strategic Leadership
A profound out-of-class experience for me was my time in the Xi Deuteron Charge of Theta Delta Chi Fraternity: my home-away-from-home during my time at the University of Washington. The Xi Deuteron Charge began as a local group called the Chalet Club, founded in the spring of 1909. That same year, the Chalet Club began petitioning Theta Delta Chi for membership. In the fall of 1912, the fraternity finally accepted the Chalet Club’s petition, and on January 4 of 1913, the Xi Deuteron Charge of Theta Delta Chi was officially installed, making it one of the oldest fraternities at the University of Washington. To me, this was one of the most fulfilling experiences during my time at UW, and I would not trade it for anything. Since joining, I was immediately motivated to improve the organization. Through my time, I created leadership positions for others to hold where needs of the organization needed to be met, such as Brotherhood Chairman; Public Relations (Journalist & Historian) Chairman; Traditions Chairman; Alumni Relations Chair; Health, Wellness, & Safety Chairman; Career, Scholar, & Mentorship Chairman; and Senior Executive. I also held positions myself, including Director of Recruitment, New Member Educator, President, Academics Chairman, Public Relations Chairman, and lastly Alumni Relations Chairman. All that I accomplished both with & without position titles was valuable to me… simply because it is an honor to serve such a grand organization. We are proud of the diversity of our brotherhood and believe that Theta Delta Chi is strengthened by the individuality of each member. We come from many different backgrounds and build friendship through mutual respect, common interests, and shared experiences. Many of our members are involved with extracurricular activities, including intramural sports, clubs, musical groups, volunteer programs, internships, and more. Theta Delta Chi provides a highly recognized philanthropy program, promotes positive growth in young men, and creates bonds of brotherhood that last a lifetime. The philanthropy program, titled ‘Bros UniteD’, is an eight-week community based mentorship program for teenage boys (age 13-18) on the autism spectrum. Offered during the fall at no cost to the family, our goal with the program is to provide each of our “little brothers” with a safe, fun environment where they can practice their social and communication skills. Each weekend during the program “big brothers” from the fraternity spend time with “little brothers,” participating in a variety of events. The motto of the fraternity comes from Homer’s The Iliad, “homophrona thumon ekontes” (Our Hearts are United); Our maxim is “Improving the Intellectual, Moral, and Social Being Through Friendship”; Our principal, that way share with prospects who seek to join our ranks, is that we are a “Friendship Founded on Mutual Esteem & Dependence”. We ensure that “through scholarship, leadership and a responsible social life, the Brothers of Theta Delta Chi prepare each other to thrive in a changing world.”
Out of all the positions I held, one of great importance was my time as the Director of Recruitment. It was never so dire since my term took place during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, where everything was done ‘at-a-distance’. No matter the circumstances, I was committed to building an inclusive community—to sign humans who wanted to take part in something bigger than themselves… to lift one another up in times of struggle. Not only did I adapt strategies in uncharted territory to recruit one of the biggest member classes in the Greek Community during ‘Zoom Summer Rush’, but I made sure to select people in an equitable way. I made sure that everyone felt welcomed and included, and that every culture they came from was honored and celebrated. After recruiting the new class, I took on the role of being their New Member Educator—teaching them from the 130+pg textbook I made to ensure I mentored them correctly to be highly engaged community members of the UW. Through being the New Member Educator, I utilized my skills in music to teach the fraternity songs at a high level, and even took initiative to provide the tools for other chapters (‘charges’) of the fraternity to teach the songs at the international level.
- Led weekly meetings with the Executive Council/Committee and Charge Members
- CEO of a half-million-dollar non-profit organization
- Oversaw all operations of the Local Fraternity
- Worked and communicated between a variety of stakeholders such as university officials, alumni, and members
- Developed improved processes for 11 executive positions and assists in managing respective projects
- Ensured that safety measures and precautions are taken throughout all deliberations
- Launched an overall culture change using proven organizational change strategies
- Advised all positions throughout the organization in order to facilitate its processes in an efficient and detailed manner
- Attended meetings with various groups, including the Xi Deuteron Housing Corporation, Grand Lodge of Theta Delta Chi, University of Washington IFC/OFSL, and many more...
- Developed effective leadership programs and strategies to better engage the members of the organization
- Facilitated active discussions regarding the betterment of the organization, and quality of life in regard to the individual members
- Examined the faults of the organization's By-Laws, and drafted new legislation for the organization to implement
- Advocated for positive change wherever it is needed and improves the functions of the organization
- Inspired a collective vision that is shared between the members of the organization
- Enabled others to act in the best interest of the organization, by providing the necessary tools to accomplish various tasks and goals
- Collaborated with various leaders in order to bring forth a continual upward growth of positivity and reverence for the fraternity
- Fostered a positive and welcoming environment so that harmony may reign throughout the organization
- Provided oversight for conflict resolution strategies whenever issues arise between the members
- Responsible for the survival of the organization so that it may thrive for all future generations
- Overcame the struggles of Covid-19, organized a new & virtual rush process, and recruited the largest class of incoming members for the 2020 term
- Coordinated events to recruit from a pool of 500+ Potential New Members in order to build each new Class of brothers for Theta Delta Chi
- Handled the planning, budgeting, and carrying-out of events and gatherings that enable PNMs to join the fraternity
- Redesigned the Recruitment Process from the ground up and enacted the new methods for recruiting PNMs
- Designed and created methods for marketing and advertising the organization through the means of brochures, business cards, video/media, and other handouts
- Formulated and implemented the positions of Brotherhood Chairman; Public Relations (Journalist & Historian) Chairman; Traditions Chairman; Alumni Relations Chair; Health, Wellness, & Safety Chairman; Career, Scholar, & Mentorship Chairman; and Senior Executive... into the Fraternity
- Planned, scripted, and produced the first professional recruitment video for the fraternity, which will be used for all future years that the organization is in existence
- Learned quintessential leadership skills through the Preamble Institute Leadership Conference held in Virginia
- Built tables, worked on interior structuring, and helped aid the House Manager and Alumni Corporation President in fixing physical issues inside & outside the house
- Educated members about the values of the organization, and why it is important that they work to live such values everyday
- Provided an understanding of the local, national, & international history, traditions, programs, organization and governance structure
- Formulated activities that build a strong sense of community within the organization, that also teaches the ways and means of being a better person for the brotherhood, as well as society as a whole
- Connected the members with optimal resources that enable them to expand their support system as well as broaden their understanding of the opportunities available to them in the local, national, and international areas
- Monitored the academic endeavors of the members and coordinates with the Academic Panel of the organization in order to encourage every brother to perform at their highest level of ability
- Supported and accommodates the needs and desires of the new members and communicates their goals and visions to the rest of the organization
- Coordinated and assigned the pairing of members based on personality, academic focus, life goals and age
- Regulated the process in which new members are initiated into the lifelong brotherhood of the fraternity
- Redesigned the program at the foundational level and created new methods in which to teach material and foster a network of opportunity within and outside of the organization
- Featured in Theta Delta Chi’s International Undergraduate Newsletter, highlighting the achievements accomplished
- Redesigned the New Member Education curriculum for the 2019 Pledge Class and beyond
- Took on the endeavor of rescoring, recording, and producing all of the main songs & tunes of Theta Delta Chi at the international level
When it comes to holding leadership positions in the fraternity, especially ones that are part of the ‘Executive Council’ (EC), it is vital to the life & longevity of the organization for there to be a constant influx of fresh ideas. Ideas that are ‘outside-the-box’ ensure that the brotherhood can endeavor to improve & reform… adapting to the changing world and giving all its members tools to thrive during college and after graduation. With holding the position of Director of Recruitment during the COVID-19 pandemic, I needed to brainstorm ideas to figure out how to recruit a full new-member-class entirely through virtual means—something that has never been done in the fraternity before. Besides utilizing Zoom, I planned, scripted, and directed the fraternity’s first professional house tour video that has since garnered many views on social media.
Engraved above the fraternity’s fireplace is the statement, “Ignibus Amicitiae Incensus” (Here Burns the Fires of Friendship)... something that rings true in the sense of the relationships formed throughout the brotherhood. With the positions I held, I needed to form productive relationships to ensure that the vision of the executive council is achieved, and that everyone in the fraternity benefits. The connections I made with alumni, current members, and candidates/prospects (deemed “rushees”), created a mutual support system where meaningful exchanges could be made between the various entities. I learned how drastically important productive relationships are for the overall health of an organization, and how to ensure that no one is left behind any processes.
A fraternity that establishes impressive culture cannot function properly and maintain its course without its leaders being able to engage in effective verbal communication. Outside of the non-verbal written & typed communication aspects of emails & media messaging, verbal communication is the medium in which all meetings are engaged, announcements are made, speeches given, and friendships forged. As Director of Recruitment, I needed to be able to inform prospects throughout their entire ‘rush’ process. As someone who held the position of President, I was presented many opportunities to give motivational talks to the brotherhood: whether that was to rally support, overcome internal conflict, or discuss goals for the future, I needed to communicate clearly, firmly, and with love. At times, I needed to counsel & negotiate; at other times, I needed to influence & inspire!
The fraternity itself is an international organization, with local organizations (charges) located internationally at collegiate institutions. Due to the grand size of the organization, it requires a lot of ‘organization’ to function at the highest level that it can. Within each position I held, I created a transition manual (guide) to ensure that every person that would succeed me would be able to fully understand the plethora of responsibilities, and be able to carry all the requirements regardless of the tedious intricacies and nuances. As Director of Recruitment, I had to use spreadsheets and elaborate software systems in order to keep track of over 500 prospects and their journey throughout the recruitment process. From digital resources to physical marketing brochures, my recruitment process was thorough, professional, and sought to never let someone slip through the cracks. Although many numbers were involved, to me the prospects were always more than just a number… and they deserved the best from us!
A fraternity is only as great as its brotherhood is strong. All the organizational strategies in the world would not save a fraternity from failing unless its members each contribute and earnestly seek after a brighter future. Ever since I joined, the zeal I have has never changed—I have always given my ‘all’ by putting my best foot forward in every situation. Although having a title is not required for someone to contribute to a greater cause, those who serve loyally tend to receive leadership positions. I find that although all contributions are equally important, not all are equally prominent; sometimes taking initiative and contributing towards something that needs major improvement does not seem as impactful as something that only needs minor tweaking. In the fraternity environment, the little details matter! Taking any organization from 50% to 90% is tough, but that last ten percent from ninety to one hundred is the hardest. It takes personal contributions of high caliber with care and detail to really make a difference.
A fraternity in and of itself is an organization that is based around the notion of connections—socialization of humans with common goals through shared ideals & overarching purpose. With Theta Delta Chi’s vision being “Improving the Intellectual, Moral, and Social Being Through Friendship”, it is clear that social responsibility is one of the utmost facets of the brotherhood. Through the fraternity, I encountered many situations that required differing levels of social responsibility; some events casual, some semi-formal, and some requiring paramount professionalism. Each situation caused me to grow in more ways than one, and now I can read cues very clearly and can adapt my behavior in ways that benefit others in the environment.
In a collegiate social fraternity, change is constant! How the brotherhood responds to each change is of unparalleled importance for the longevity and quality of the organization. Every year, there are new members in the brotherhood, and there are graduates who move to alumni status… leading to new perspectives, desires, and goals coming into the picture and old ones fading away. The one unchanging constant is the shared belief in the mission & vision of the fraternity as a whole. As a member who held many positions of leading during turbulent times in our world (changing societal norms, worldly circumstances, etc), I needed to be able to hold tight to optimistic notions and seek to respond to new things in the best way I could—for the benefit of all members of the organization. With many knowns & unknowns, the ability to be resilient, adaptable, and positive was of great importance to be able to continue steering the fraternity in the right direction… to maintain course to a better and brighter future for all involved.
Through holding positions in the fraternity, I garnered many skills I was not able to learn in a classroom environment. In a way, the fraternity could be seen like a ‘lab’ class where experimentation, discovery, and putting learned skills into practice was of great importance for growth and knowledge acquisition. Overtime, all my leadership competencies were in constant flux—some improvement here and less improvement there. The one thing for certain was that in one way or another I was always progressing and refining myself; my character was being forged through difficult times, hard conversations, and situations that would ask me to pour from an empty cup. Looking back, it really was the cliche phrase “it was the best of times; it was the worst of times”. No matter, the ‘worst’ times seemed to be the moments that caused me to grow the most! At the end of the day, I learned interpersonal skills, how to recruit, how to teach and mentor, how to steer an organization, and how to create & maintain a positive culture.. all necessary skills for being a music educator!
2020 Theta Delta Chi (ΘΔΧ) Xi Deuteron (ΞΔ) Charge Recruitment Video
2018 Bros UniteD Recap Video