Beta’s Journey

In the book, Inter Fratres, a collection of messages by Dr. Seth R. Brooks, St. Lawrence ’22, there appears a story entitled The Rear View Mirror. This story resonated with me as we look beyond this anniversary year for the Men of Principle initiative. One of the lines reads, “Man is a person who in a figurative sense is dependent upon, if he is wise, a rear-view mirror.”

There is no doubt that our past, and the recognition of the importance of our past, has helped us re-energize and redirect our beloved fraternity. That story went on to say, “Looking in the rear-view mirror there is a past. The present moment does not appear out of nowhere. It is the latest moment in an unfolding process called the passage of time. The present stands upon all the foundations laid and the strata of history . . .” Our ritual provides that foundation and the journey we have been on this past decade helped us return to our roots.

But what’s on the road ahead? What will happen around the next curve of the road? That is the exciting part of our fraternity’s journey. We know we
will always end up on the road because we are using the past to chart our future destination.

This year has been incredibly eventful. Director of Expansion Phil Fernandez, Miami ’06, and the chapter operations team, drove three incredibly successful expansions for the Fraternity at Furman University, the University of Maryland and Southern Methodist University. This coming year we will see our return to St. Lawrence University and the University of South Carolina, and a new Beta home at Northeastern University. 

Our chapters are blessed to have a chapter operations department with one mission in mind: to help the chapters and colonies they assist be the best that they can be, and to challenge the norm on their respective campuses. Beta Theta Pi does not, at least from what I can see talking to chapter presidents, believe in status quo.

It was incredibly disappointing to lose our chapters at South Florida, Penn State, Denver and Florida Atlantic. It is never easy to lose a chapter, but sometimes those decisions must be made. Beta Theta Pi continues to believe in and allow our chapters to practice self-governance. There are times when we, the General Fraternity, must correct the course of a chapter. Unless we do, that chapter will undoubtedly run off the road, and I feel very strongly that every chapter must be given every chance to succeed. There are times that chapters just cannot be steered from the edge and we have to make the decision to close the doors.

Our leadership programs continue to be incredibly successful with our predictions of shattering previous records by having close to 1,800 leadership participants for the year. Our alumni and Friends of Beta continue to assist us in innumerable ways through their advising to our chapters. We are blessed to have some of the finest volunteers in the fraternity world with our district chiefs, assistant district chiefs and regional directors. SCOE (Standard Chapter Operating Expectations) continues to provide valuable feedback on the health of our chapters.

Dr. Brooks stated, “The rear-view mirror enables one to look back into his heritage. One has ancestors.” Our ancestors are the men that came before us. They left us an incredible legacy. Do you want to help us continue this journey? Beta Theta Pi is filled with undergraduates, Friends of Beta and alumni, all who believe in this journey we are on.

The Men of Principle initiative has indeed served as a great road map. I can only envision that the next decade will be even better as we continue on our drive toward greatness. This journey would be much better with you, our alumni brothers, on board as advisors.

For the past two years, I have been privileged to serve as your general secretary. I look forward to my third year as we drive together to explore what is around the next curve. — General Secretary Charlie Warner, Lynchburg '87