By: Communication Intern Kyle Rutledge, Oklahoma State ’12
All hands on deck, pool deck that is.
Summer is now in session for most students across the country. Summer usually consists of lounging by a pool all day, being with your friends, getting snow cones and catching up on Netflix.
I get it. We’ve all done it since summer vacation became the most exciting break from school for students’ way-back-when. Although summer break is full of fun times, it presents chapters across the country with challenges of staying in touch with fellow brothers and Phi Kappa Tau on a national level.
We only get one shot at the undergraduate experience with Phi Kappa Tau. Why not make it count? Why not get the most out of that experience?
The things that usually affect my chapter during summer are distance, time and priorities. It’s difficult to transition from hanging around 50 to 60 guys constantly while having opportunities to affect the chapter in a positive way to being with a handful of brothers through the summer and not being near the chapter house.
None-the-less, the challenge to remain involved is there.
How can we combat this issue?
Phi Kappa Tau has established a number of programs that can keep your chapter involved before that first fall class. Your chapter brothers can attend a Building Men of Character Retreat, Leadership Academy and the big shindig—National Convention. These are excellent opportunities to remain close with your chapter brothers and meet new brothers from across the country.
Moreover, you’ll be able to gain leadership experience and knowledge of how to better your chapter. The great thing is that for most chapters these events can be expedited by the Chapter Educational Grant (CEG) fund.
For undergrad college students, the bottom line of that means the expense is covered by chapter dues already. If it’s already paid for, you’d be crazy not to benefit from these events throughout summer.
So take this post how you will.
It’s meant to remind you about how fulfilling your membership with Phi Kappa Tau can be; during the semester and beyond. To remind you that getting the best experience possible as an undergrad is important and worthwhile. And to remind you that membership with this Fraternity doesn’t end when summertime begins. On the contrary, it’s just getting started.
