As a new school year gets under way, most chapters will be conducting rush and pledge programs. Now is a good time to think about the way your Chapter brings in members.

The framework of the bylaws provides the boundaries of the membership program of our Fraternity. Within this framework is included such defined phrases as "fellowship of the principles," "satisfaction of their chapter," and "successfully completed."

Often a discussion about refusing pledge members active membership will center around the last of the three items broken out above: "successfully completed." With that thought in mind, chapters need to ask themselves what exactly do the other two mean and how do we implement them? While doing this, we must ensure that our standards of Leadership, Friendship, and Service are not compromised or cheapened by our actions.

The mission of membership in Alpha Phi Omega can be summarized as something special. That special something is love. Love of humanity. Love of doing. Love of making things better in our worlds of service. Think about our beginnings and why we were founded and why we are still here.

If denying active membership to an individual can be tied to the provisions of our bylaws and, in my opinion, can be justified that such actions further the membership mission of our fraternity, then by all means, go ahead.

Chapters have the right to determine their membership. That's what the bylaws say. Just make sure the Fraternity comes first and that our principles are not being compromised.

Remember that when a pledge member is denied activation, he/she may go to the university to complain (or to your Sectional Chair, your Regional Director, or the National President). When this happens, and it has, chapters need to be able to specify exactly where the pledge member failed in one of the three areas. Statements like, "he/she doesn't fit in" do not give the chapter much, if any, cover and wiII cause you more problems in the long run.

I would suggest that chapters having problems with this talk with your Sectional Chair, Regional Director and/or your advisors.

Your Chapter needs a well defined pledge program so that all parties understand the process of Pledgeship Membership and what is expected of everyone for it to be carried out. As a new school year gets under way, let's begin the school year right!