What We've Learned on the Road - Fraternity Version

Following the Sorority version of this post, it only seems appropriate to include the fraternity consultant experience. Here is some insight from five of my fellow road warriors:

Alex Carrick (Phi Delta Theta – University of Michigan)

Lessons:

1. The phone is still useful. Far too often, I find myself texting and anxiously awaiting a response that may never come. That anxiety could easily be alleviated with a simple 15 second phone call.

2. A fair number of people have no concept of what a fraternity is or what they do. One of the biggest challenges has been educating students/parents on what fraternities are and what benefits they serve. Do you think you’re a good recruiter? Try explaining the benefits of your organization to a foreign exchange student.

3. Schedule personal time! It’s easy to get overworked and stressed out in this position, especially if consultants don’t take the time to take care of themselves both physically and mentally.

4. Fail forward. Failure is an unavoidable reality in this position. Not every officer is going to “get it,” not every alumnus is going to support their national organization and not every potential new member is going to return your phone calls. The important aspect is learning from those experiences, and improving in the future.

5. Have something to look forward to. It’s easy to get lost in the mountain of work as a consultant. By having a light at the end of the tunnel, it improves focus and overall motivation.

Harrison Leibow (Sigma Alpha Mu – University of Illinois)

When I was little, I used to play Super Mario Bros all day long. I'd get so into the game that my body would tense up with each jump that mustached plumber took. The only thing that would relieve me from this anxiety of virtually getting eaten by an overgrown mushroom was the off switch. Once I flipped that switch, the game disappeared. The screen faded to black and all I would remember about the game was that I hadn't beaten it yet. Consulting doesn't have an off switch, but it definitely needs it.

When you stay at a fraternity house, you're "working" at all times. Even if you're not leading a meeting, finishing up reports or scheduling travel, you are working. The reason for that is you represent the fraternity. Every brother that you meet is going to judge the standing of the fraternity's office staff solely based on their interactions with you. It is because, let's be honest, you're the only face they'll see from the office (probably ever). They'll make up their mind about the office based on everything you do. If you run effective meetings, they think the office is professional. If you yell at someone for playing music too loud at 3AM, they think the office is no fun and rude. Even if you listen to Miley Cyrus on repeat, they're going to connect it to the fraternity office in their mind. So, turn it off.

Turn it off by doing things like going for a meal by yourself, working out, or just sitting at the library for an hour. You'll be able to sort your thoughts, relax and just represent yourself. It can be anything; just make sure you get out of the house and away from the brothers for a little bit. Just a few hours alone can really reset your mood. So, on the road, when your body gets tense from talking to all the brothers, just take a step back and flip the off switch.

Stepheno Zollos (Theta Chi – Old Dominion University)

Even in the short period of time I have been on the road, I have had numerous experiences, both memorable and distasteful. I have had the unique opportunity to work as both a consultant, and an expansion coordinator in the Southeast. One of the biggest challenges I have faced while traveling has been dealing with internal divisions within chapters. The forming of “clicks” is a natural occurrence; whether it’s by who you live with, constant interaction, common interests, or similar personalities, there are going to be people you naturally gravitate towards and get along with better than others. I know I had to deal with my fair share of these challenges in my own chapter as an undergraduate. As a consultant and unbiased observer, crushing these internal divisions has been some of the hardest but most rewarding work and has left a more unified chapter behind.

Every chapter that faces this issue is going to need a different approach: primarily because every chapter has a different background/unique structure, but also because the internal divisions are never exactly the same. More often than not, they are based in some social issue: drinkers vs. non-drinkers; smokers vs. non-smokers; nerds vs. jocks; and even night-life preferences (thank you Florida). These are just a few that I have seen and heard of. All of these divisions lead to various issues within the chapter and its external image.

The solution I have found to work best is to help close-minded and short-sited undergraduates to see the big picture. First and foremost, in any mediation, your biggest responsibility is to not take sides. Show them the damage their productivity is taking because of the lack of unity. More often than not, the rift is being caused by some trivial matter that only an undergraduate could blow out of proportion to something seemingly of life or death importance. Remind them of the foundational values of their fraternity. These values can help to remind them of the unifying purpose that they have committed to support. It can help them put minor squabbles aside to better serve the chapter and the true needs of its members. Interestingly enough, once you have gotten them to this point you have really brought them back to the real purpose of fraternity.

Derek Taylor (Chi Psi – North Carolina State University)

The Road I’m Home

There is a quote that has been inspirational to me since taking this job in 2009 and I think something that can help other consultants as well. In this quote, Rolf Potts talks about the “rituals, routines and possessions that give our lives meaning at home” and their importance. Likewise, it is important for us to develop these ritual and routines on the road, as we must make the road our home.

Live Small. In my job I mostly sleep on couches in undergrad rooms. I got into a routine of trying to take up as little space as possible. My goal was to not be a hindrance to the brother who was allowing me to live in his room all week. I would always fold every article of clothing after wearing it, and then place it back in my suitcase – if it was dirty I would put it in a garbage bag, which would then go in my suitcase. My suitcase stood straight up, my shoes went on top, and my suit coat rested on the handle. This allowed me to feel self-sufficient, like I was taking care of myself, instead of always being taking care of.

Exercise. Even if you do not normally do it, I encourage you to exercise on the road. Whether you are eating at the chapter house or at the airport; you will rarely have the healthiest options in front of you. Exercising on the road is tough to do; it presents many challenges. First, find the time: no matter how busy you get, or what deadline you have to meet, you cannot perform to your best if you are not taking proper care of yourself. Secondly, find the resources: gym memberships aren’t mobile and neither are a set of dumbbells. Something I always made space for in my suitcase was a pair of running shoes. I hate running; however, I found solace in it. I used it as a release, some much needed me time. Recently I ran my first half-marathon – 13.1 miles.

“Me” Time. Schedule in some “Me Time” every day. Take 30 minutes and do something for yourself with just yourself. Walk around campus, find a great place to sit and read a book, go for a run, go for a walk, sit in a closet, get a massage, explore the city, have a drink, go shopping, go hiking, do something with just you that has nothing to do with your job.

Get ready for planes, trains, busses and really long car rides. 80 new names to learn every 4 days and 80 new Starbucks that all look the same. Get ready for all of your meals to be served in a sack and for “hitting the sack” to mean curling up on a couch. If you have this job for an entire year you will most likely travel enough miles to loop the earth once (24,901 miles). You will visit around 15 chapters with average chapter size of 60 that’s 900 new names and faces plus alumni, Greek life staff, other consultants, etc. This job is fun, rewarding, and in my eyes, the best job in the world!!! But this job is crazy. Make the road your home and I promise things will seem less crazy.

Take care of yourselves, and I’ll see you out there!

“Thus, travel compels you to discover your spiritual side by simple elimination: Without all the rituals, routines, and possessions that give your life meaning at home, you’re forced to look for meaning within yourself…. this spiritual process is not always free of care. Indeed, if travel is a process that helps you “find yourself,” it’s because it leaves you with nothing to hide behind—it yanks you out from the realm of rehearsed responses and dull comforts, and forces you into the present. Here, in the fleeting moment, you are left to improvise, to come to terms with your raw, true self.” – Rolf Potts

Jeff Melando (Delta Chi – UNC Wilmington)

It is amazing what you can learn living on the road. We would struggle to find who really benefits more; the chapters you visit or yourself. This was not my first draft; in fact, I had written two pages and I realized I hadn’t actually said anything, which brings me to my first point…

1. Be concise and to the point.

Your members are full time students: many of them work part-time and are involved elsewhere on campus. If you are going to require an impromptu chapter meeting, make sure there is value in it for them. Collegiate and alumni members alike think their time is important, and in truth, as your customers, it is. Which brings me to my next point…

2. Your chapters are your customers.

Traveling consultants are the face of your organization to a group of people who refer to you as “nationals”. That understanding is key to customer service and maintaining credibility. This is true regardless of whether you work with expansion or on the chapter services side of things. Whether it is working with alumni or students, if it wasn’t for them, we would all be out of a job.

3. Don’t sweat the small stuff

My fellow consultants, I have an important news bulletin: shit happens. Many times people have approached a situation with certain expectations. Good or bad, we tend to become flustered when things don’t happen as we assume. So the chapter president is 15 minutes late for his meeting and you are locked out of the house? Enjoy your quiet personal time in the nice weather. Whether it is a schedule mix-up or the culture shock from visiting chapters in a different part of the country, the key to this is remaining flexible and not getting caught up in things outside your control.

4. Celebrate Small Victories

This is the dichotomy to point number three. Give yourself a break and celebrate the minor victories. Take the time and look at what parts of your day or your visit went well; if you got them to turn in paperwork on the past 3 undocumented initiations great. Most chapters that you interact with are not that bad. More than anything, they are often not “unsaveable”. Don’t expect to change to world in three days (see point five) but know that if you can make the difference in one student’s life on the road, that should be reason enough to keep going.

5. There is Still Work to be done… and that is ok.

Believe in yourself and believe in the work you are doing. Like I said, you won’t change to world in three days. Look at what can be done to take steps in the right direction. Think your chapter has a drinking problem? Don’t try and change it overnight. Focus on a smaller step towards health like not serving jungle juice at their parties. Remember that, with a few exceptions, you will not be the last person to visit that chapter. Take the chapter a step in the right direction and let the next visit take two more steps.

Now, I wanted to share a few things that I have learned in the past year and a half:

1. The Value of Five-Hour Energy

1. I’m pretty sure that Five-Hour Energy saved my life on multiple occasions. In fact, I’ve even slept in a Meijer parking lot…due to exhaustion and driving long distances. NEVER drive when tired; it’s risking too much.

1. The Unwritten Dress Code of Fraternity/Sorority Consultants

1. Whether we’d like to admit it or not, there is a lot of peer pressure to dress, “Fratty.” If you know me, you know I’m about the farthest from that and it’s been interesting to deal with.

2. The True Measure of Leadership

1. I can honestly say that I’ve learned more about being a good leader as a consultant, rather than in college.

3. Intramurals are my only form of Exercise

1. I hate running… simply put. I needed some kind of competition to keep me sane and competing with the chapter was my outlet.
   

4. The United States is Beautiful!

1. Without a doubt, my favorite part of traveling is getting a chance to go hiking or visit some national Park. I’ve seen Mt. Rushmore, Yellowstone, Crater Lake, Gettysburg, driven the Pacific Coast Highway, and been to numerous random sights. As a Fraternity consultant, getting paid to do these types of things is invaluable.
   

5. You Are Always Making a Difference…

1. …whether you know it or not. Lead by example at all times.

Thanks again to everyone for their input!

What We've Learned as Consultants - Sorority Version

In the past year and a half, I've found that we all learn some amazing things on the road as traveling consultants. But I'm generally pretty boring, so here's a perspective from five amazing sorority women who have volunteered to give a little insight on what they have learned...

Lesley Feyerherm (Alpha Gamma Delta, University of Illinois)

Over my year and a half of travel I have learned A LOT. I’ve learned about myself, our beautiful country and this thing called Fraternity Life. At this point I’m pretty sure I could write a book cataloging everything I’ve learned! Through everything, however, the most important thing I’ve learned is to be THANKFUL!

Now, I know we all spend our lives being told to be thankful but over the past year and a half this idea has completely changed for me. I have learned that if I take a moment every day to think of what I am thankful for no matter how “great” or “horrible” the day has been I can feel good about it, that LIFE IS GOOD and I am doing what I am supposed to be.

Here are some things I have learned to be thankful for: Wrinkle release spray (this has changed my life), the gate agent who changes my middle seat to a window so I can lean against it to sleep, my ability to successfully complete the airport sprint, a pillow and towel, new members who can’t wait to be leaders, a Chapter President who challenges her officers, my LC team (they keep me sane), being in the same town as another consultant, Indianapolis (especially the Beav!), tough questions, laughter with everyone and anyone and the courage to get up every day to do my job! I have also realized that I am extremely thankful for the random women who handed me a flyer about Panhellenic Sorority Recruitment my freshman year of college—that woman and that flyer changed my college career and more importantly changed my life—Thanks!

My advice to you: Be Thankful. Be thankful for anything and everything, take a moment each day to think of what you are thankful for and if you ever find you can’t think of anything change things up!

Alexandra Roark (Pi Beta Phi, University of New Mexico)

1. The smallest things can make your day when you’re on the road. Things like on-time arrivals, a phone call from home, Starbucks, or free laundry.
2. Just one “ah-ha” moment can make up for any number of tough chapter visits. There is nothing like the feeling of knowing you helped a member or a chapter understand the values and meaning of your organization.
3. Patience. Patience to let an officer find the answer on her own. Patience with a chapter who’s sincerely trying to improve. Patience to respectfully answer the questions like “Sooo, are you a Pi Phi?!” as you’re sitting in chapter meeting…saying the ritual…and wearing the badge.
4. Unless they themselves have done it, no one really understands what you do as a consultant.
5. I was told before I started that, “Being a consultant is the hardest job you’ll ever love.” I’ve finally learned how true it is!

Becky Wilbanks (Alpha Xi Delta, Auburn University)

Of the many things I’ve learned while traveling as a consultant, one of the most important is to not be a workaholic. Every consultant when beginning their travels is eager to work with their assigned chapters and do everything in their power to better the Greek experience of those members they meet. The nature of the job makes it easy for any consultant to get sucked into working non-stop. On the road, personal space and time do not exist. If you don’t step up and take the time you need to be physically, emotionally, and mentally healthy, then you aren’t doing yourself or your chapters any favors.

I’ve found it important to include “me” time on my schedule before I even arrive on campus. Also important is to utilize the relationships formed with other consultants on the road to maintain sanity and have an outlet away from the collegiate women. A consultant’s job can be emotionally and mentally draining if you never take the time to step away and gain some perspective and much needed personal time. Taking the time to meet up with other consultants when at the same campus made a huge difference last year! Consultants understand what you’re going through on the road and will easily relate to any stress you may need to discuss, and many of the consultants I have met this year will also be friends that I keep in touch with beyond this job.

In short, I’ve learned to value the relationships made with other consultants who can relate to the job and take time for yourself to make sure that you’re able to perform your job at an optimal level, because each chapter you visit will benefit from the knowledge and experience you have to offer.

Lauren Kelley (Sigma Kappa, University of Georgia)

"Live and learn. Discomfort means we're growing. Growing means we're learning. Learning means we're living.”

An alumna asked our team to help her with an article about the consultant experience, and this piece continues to stick with me:

Sigma Kappa alumna: What is the most valuable thing you have learned thus far?

It’s hard to pick the most valuable lesson I’ve learned; this is a learning experience like no other. I’m constantly learning (and sometimes I don’t even realize it until after the fact). Which, I think might lead me to realizing the most valuable lesson – we’re always learning.

No matter what, time heals all, life goes on, and we learn from any and every experience (again, whether we realize it or not). Life does not have a dress rehearsal and we never know where a new experience may lead us. So, I try to jump in with a smile on my face and remind myself that each experience before this moment has led me to where am I am right now, which even if I do say so myself, is a pretty amazing place to be.

Justine Rosenberg (Kappa Alpha Theta, UC-Irvine)

I learned to find home.

In life, we think that home is the first place we always know how to find. From the market, from work, from vacation - most people can manage to find their way home. Ironically, in all of my travels, home is the one place that I truly "found." Contrary to popular belief, it is not always in the same place, or even the same state, and there is no one route used to get there. In fact, home is not a place at all, but a feeling: that sense of peace that comes over you as you fly into an airport where you know someone is waiting for you, or hear the voice of a far-away friend on the other end of a phone. Home can be a cozy bed, your own bathroom, or bumping into another consultant in the airport. And most of all, I have learned that traveling so much only brings you closer to home because you find places and people along the way that become "home" to you, no matter where you really are.

Thank you all for your contributions! Keep on the lookout for the Fraternity version in the coming week…

What Facebook Developers Teach us about Change...

Attention world: all hell has broken loose!! What's the issue, you ask?!
Was there an earthquake or another natural disaster? Not quite
How about a political disaster? Far from the problem...

Young people everywhere are panicking because of one thing:
Once again, Facebook has changed their profile setup!

This isn't the first time that the Facebook team has done this; nor will it be the last. Yet, just as the last time that Facebook updated the profile layout (back in February of 2010; almost a year and a half ago), the entire Facebook membership went into a panic frenzy. If anyone remembers that update, it was much more substantial in aesthetic and functional changes (see the introduction of 'Top News'). Yet, we all slowly got over the changes and eventually, it made navigating the website much easier and much more efficient. If you took a random poll of Facebook users (including myself), I can almost guarantee you that most of the people couldn't tell you the general profile layout of the previous version(s) of Facebook. This could be due to a number of reasons, but most likely they were less functional and the new changes provided an upgrade in user experience.

I think there is a valuable lesson to be recognized here: Facebook changes their "identity" every couple years and initially, there's always backlash from the users. But almost always, people find the changes to be beneficial in nature after the initial "shock."
...Isn't this how we approach most of the changes in our organizations?

For instance, when we are told that our new member education practices are not up-to-par, we tend to fight the changes because they are new to us and uncomfortable in nature. Regardless if it's very, very clear that the changes are beneficial, we always tend to fight them (naturally). I'd be willing to bet that if you adopted controversial/modern new member education changes in your chapter, at first it will be very different/awkward, but in a couple years, not many will remember or even know what it was like before (just like Facebook layouts). Plus, this doesn't end with NME: it could involve drastic changes in recruitment theory, committee involvement, general expectations/accountability or other organizational initiatives.

For many different reasons, people will always speak out about changes. Yet, Facebook developers have taught us a valuable lesson: no matter the change; over time, people tend to forget about earlier traditions/standards if the new changes are more functional to the individual and especially constructive to the group!

A Public Outcry: A Turning Point for our Organizations?

With all of the recent articles bringing poor/less than ideal PR to fraternity/sorority life, including...

-Cornell University's President eliminating new member education because of a death last year: http://bit.ly/nm0QYH
-The tragic death of a freshman member of a sorority at UCF: http://abcn.ws/niiFPI
-The hazing lawsuit at 'Bama, after a member of a fraternity was treated very poorly by his "brothers": http://bit.ly/oBYOXH
-Princeton putting restrictions forth on freshmen joining Greek organizations due to their capacity for increasing health risks: http://bit.ly/nzwL2J
-The University of South Carolina completely shutting down fall recruitment due to alcohol violations across the board: http://bit.ly/oJ0OSl

Although there are some positive things seen about our organizations, the majority of articles/announcements results in a negative image that makes me less than excited to proudly sport my letters in public. As Greeks, what does it tell us when someone in public sees our letters and immediately looks at us in a negative fashion? What descriptors do you think they use? Leaders? Role Models? Or... alcoholics? Disrespectful? Dangerous? Shall I go on...

There needs to be a day when we can walk through our communities with letters on and be seen without the "Frat boy" mentality and be proud to be Greek! It's more important than ever for each one of us to change the Greek stereotype and each one of us (alumni and undergraduates) has a role in that transformation. Thousands of men and women work every day towards improving our image through the modern "Greek Movement," but it isn't enough. If you want these experiences to be taken seriously; if you want the public, your family and your friends to respect your decision to join a fraternity or sorority, we need to make a significant transition to a culture of respect, integrity, honor and improvement.

Let me make this clear: this isn't a new idea and therefore, the solutions to our problems are right in front of us. But in the light of so much bad PR for our organizations, simply take some time to get to know what your organization stands for and embrace the challenge of living up to your organization's purpose/values. Trust me, we'll all be better off for it and one day, we may be able to wear our letters in public without facing scrutiny!

Anthropology as a Network of Philosophies: No Lifestyle is "Better" than Another!

"Whether that genius is placed into technological wizardry (which has been the great achievement of the West) or by contrast, in unraveling the complex threads of memory, inherent in a myth, it is simply a matter of choice and cultural orientation. There is no progression of affairs in human experience; there's no trajectory of progress; there's no pyramid that conveniently places Victorian England at the apex and descends down the flanks to the so-called "primitives" of the world. All people's are simply, cultural options; different visions of life itself." -Wade Davis

To the people in our modern-day society who believe that our way of life is the peak of human progress; to the people who feel that cultures, whom do not have the same technologies as us or live in conditions/locales that would seem unreasonable for a modern individual, are somehow inferior, you may have a severely jaded view of reality. Each and every person in this fine network of humanity finds their own individual beauty within the realm of life around them. What is beautiful to one, may not be very beautiful to another, and that is the immeasurable value of human experience. Our iPads, GPS systems, and other luxuries which make everyday life so easy to navigate, although amazing technological advancements, (for the sake of an anthropological argument) they are not "important" and are not a necessity to live life productively and live it with significant individual/cultural purpose.

Our societies have complex systems of etiquette, incredibly varied social norms about fashion, luxury, social interactions and many other institutions that seem to dictate the "right" way to go about a human life. But... do those things make us any better than the inuit tribe in Northern Greenland who have different variations of each of those descriptors? Naivety may tell you yes... but Anthropology tells us that we all exist in the same portal of existence with simple differences of interpretation. The study of anthropology has unlocked some of the most amazing achievements of our ancestor's past, in cultures that would seem, on the surface, incapable of such academic innovations. Furthermore, there are many ways to survive successfully on this planet, although contemporary society may not agree with certain methods. For an example of what I'm speaking about, check out the un-contacted tribes on the border of Brazil and Peru, one of the last uncontacted tribes left in the known-world, proving that life can sustain itself without a Blackberry or a Starbucks and simply the bare necessities: http://www.uncontactedtribes.org/

Every culture has a distinct view of the reality of life and it's unavoidable end. Some reflect seemingly complicated stories of myth, religious belief, and time-honored traditions, while others simply choose to rely upon the stars and other celestial beings for guidance . We may not all agree with certain interpretations and I can definitely speak that sentiment to some of the beliefs in our modern religious philosophies, such as Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. The inconsistencies and illogical beliefs that bring about doubt to age-old or isolated religions and philosophical systems, are found in similar forms consistently through popularly-held modern religious philosophies. Therefore, we cannot allow our modern thirst for knowledge of human origins and fundamental existence to fall into the realm of a superiority complex, under-valuing the thoughts of yesterday's people; but rather, we must allow it to help us to understand the complexities and depth of human perception, within a microcosm of culture, diversity, and time.

At the core of the complexity of culture, language, religion, myth, and spirituality, it is well-documented that humans can survive in many different capacities and no way of life is a higher achievement than another. The sooner we all realize that, the better off we are and the more harmonious our world will ultimately be.

"These myriad voices of humanity are not failed attempts at being you; not failed attempts at being modern; they're unique facets of the human imagination; they're unique answers to a fundamental question: what does it mean to be human and alive?"

Wade Davis - On the worldwide web of belief and ritual

Preparing for a Second Lap...

I want to take a few minutes to give everyone a bird's eye view of what this summer has brought to the consultant program of Phi Kappa Psi:

-We have three new consultants on Staff: Warren Hicks (Indiana Delta, Purdue '05), Mark Rigby (Iowa Alpha, Iowa '08), and Andrew Wallentine (Indiana Delta, Purdue '07). We are still in the pursuit of a fifth consultant to join us and we should have a great idea of where we are headed this fall in the next week or so. At the least, we know that we are working at least three expansions this upcoming school year: Vanderbilt, Ball State, and Akron.

-Currently, we are in the sixth week of the summer consultant training program. As we approach a few weeks of extensive training in expansion and chapter operations, we have covered topics such as: meetings with undergraduates, prepping for a visit, proper facilitation, public speaking, fraternity systems (Patriot, Phi Psi Connect), Ritual training, writing reports, and professionalism, just to name a few topics.

-We've also had the opportunity to read Dale Carnegie's, "How to Win Friends and Influence People" periodically throughout the summer and coordinate subsequent facilitated conversations on the text. We did this primarily to help us understand how to best connect with undergraduates, alumni and other professionals and make the best impact that we can possible. Alongside that reading, we've watched a TEDTalks video every week to provide a different way to learn about being successful on the road and appeal to the visual and audio learners. Here's an example of a video that we've watched:


-We've had the opportunity to give breakout session presentations at our Woodrow Wilson Leadership School and spend individual time with undergraduates as a small group facilitator, which were incredibly helpful for our training program. Also, we recently attended the FEA Field Staff conference in Indianapolis with 175 other fraternity and sorority consultants and among various other topics, discussed strategies for making an impact on the road. At the least, it was a great opportunity to connect with other first and second year consultants who will be sharing many of the same experiences with us.

-Perhaps the best part about this past summer (and the job, in general) has been the consultant connections within the Indianapolis Greek community. As a second year consultant, I made it a point to connect our new consultants with the other fraternity/sorority consultants in the area and it has made for a wonderful summer. For example, we've had semi-formal dinners with the consultants of Theta Chi, Kappa Alpha Theta, Alpha Chi Omega, Delta Upsilon, Phi Sigma Kappa and Alpha Xi Delta at some point this summer. We got a chance to tour 13 different fraternity/sorority headquarters in the local Indianapolis area, which gave us a good view of what is contemporary in the current Greek community. We play basketball with the consultants of Delta Sigma Phi, Zeta Beta Tau and some former Theta Chi consultants every week and had consultants of Kappa Delta Rho and Chi Psi stay at Laurel Hall for a night. Every Wednesday, we enjoy karaoke with a great number of interfraternal friends and that is always a blast. Plus, we have organized our annual consultant fantasy football league, which should be very entertaining (to say the least). I can confidently say that the consultant class of 2011 is a very connected, friendly group who will ultimately lean on each other to develop meaningful friendships to last beyond their current positions.

Dave Stollman of Campuspeak states one important concept very clearly: "Buy in or Get out!" As a fraternity or sorority consultant, if you do not invest yourself 100% into the position, you are likely to hate it and burn out very quickly. I absolutely enjoyed my first year as a consultant for Phi Kappa Psi because it provided so much value to me in developing as a professional and as a more well-rounded fraternity man. Because of this, I am extremely anxious to work with the chapters that I've already visited and looking to develop new relationships with others in the next year. At the least, the members of Phi Kappa Psi can fully expect that I've honed in on my craft as a consultant and my interactions will only improve in effectiveness for our undergraduate chapters.

2011 Final NFL Mock Draft

This is my final 2011 NFL mock draft. With the draft 2 days away, it will be interesting to see what happens with the potential picks.

1) Carolina Panthers: Cam Newton - QB (Auburn)

2) Denver Broncos: Marcell Dareus - DT (Alabama)

3) Buffalo Bills: Von Miller - OLB (Texas A&M)

4) Cincinnati Bengals: A.J. Green - WR (Georgia)

5) Arizona Cardinals: Patrick Peterson - CB (LSU)

6) Cleveland Browns: Julio Jones - WR (Alabama)

7) San Francisco 49ers: Blaine Gabbert - QB (Mizzou)

8) Tennessee Titans: Nick Fairley - DT (Auburn)
*This seems like a place where Tennessee may trade down. The Eagles may move up to this spot so they can grab Amukamara (trading Kolb will probably have to be the bait).

9) Dallas Cowboys: Tyron Smith - OT (USC)

10) Washington Redskins: Robert Quinn - DE (UNC)

11) Houston Texans: Aldon Smith - DE/OLB (Mizzou)

12) Minnesota Vikings: Prince Amukamara - CB (Nebraska)

13) Detroit Lions: Ryan Kerrigan - DE (Purdue)
*I see this pick because Schwartz and company love high-motor/high-character players (see KVB) and he's one of the best still on the board.

14) St. Louis Rams: Corey Liuget - DT (Illinois)

15) Miami Dolphins: Mark Ingram - RB (Alabama)

16) Jacksonville Jaguars: Cameron Jordan - DE (California)

17) New England Patriots: Anthony Castonzo - OT (Boston College)

18) San Diego Chargers: Gabe Carimi - OT (Wisconsin)

19) New York Giants: Mike Pouncey - C/G (Florida)

20) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Adrian Clayborn - DE (Iowa)

21) Kansas City Chiefs: Marvin Austin - DT (UNC)

22) Indianapolis Colts: Nate Solder - OT (Colorado)

23) Philadelphia Eagles: Jimmy Smith - CB (Colorado)

24) New Orleans Saints: J.J. Watt - DE (Wisconsin)

25) Seattle Seahawks: Muhammad Wilkerson - DT (Temple)

26) Baltimore Ravens: Da'Quan Bowers - DE (Clemson)

27) Atlanta Falcons: Kyle Rudolph - TE (Notre Dame)

28) New England Patriots: Cameron Heyward - DE (Ohio State)

29) Chicago Bears: Derek Sherrod - OT (Miss. St.)

30) New York Jets: Phil Taylor - NT (Baylor)

31) Pittsburgh Steelers: Aaron Williams - CB (Texas)

32) Green Bay Packers: Akeem Ayers - OLB (UCLA)

Let me know your thoughts!! Debate it out.