So, I’m not sure how many of you know that after graduating from high school and before starting college, I spent a whole year traveling around the world with an international community service organization called Up With People. It was a year like no other in terms of the experiences that I had and learned from, and the impact they made then, and continue to make now, on my life. Over the summer I attended my 10-year reunion and reconnected with Up With People alumni from my group and other Up With People alumni from many other years (there were people celebrating their 40th anniversary!). Just this past week I received the commemorative DVD from the reunion and popped it into my player. It was like doing it all again – I laughed, I cried, I jumped up and danced along with my group (and myself) and sang along with so much enthusiasm (and volume) that I’m sure my neighbors were cringing at my lack of vocal skill.
(oh yeah – Up With People is a community service and performing group – forgot to mention that part. Check it out: http://www.upwithpeople.org/)
Before the video was done I found myself jumping to my feet and exclaiming, “How do I get involved again?” And it was right at that moment that I realized which other organization played such an important and life-shaping role in my life – Delta Epsilon Chi. And so I asked another question, “How do I get today’s members as excited as I am right now about the experiences available to them through Delta Epsilon Chi?” and, “How do I find alumni to be as supportive of the organization, as supportive as I want to be for Up With People?”
For me, the true value of my time in Up With People and my time here with Delta Epsilon Chi has been both the ideology of the organizations who’s missions ring true to my heart and mind, and the community of people associated with each organization. But in both groups I learned one very important lesson, I had to put work, effort, time and energy IN to the organization – only then I was able to get so much OUT.
So I pose these questions to you – members and advisors:
1. How do we get YOU excited and able to participate in all the experiences and programs available to you as members?
2. How do we get our ALUMNI excited and ready to support Delta Epsilon Chi members and advisors?
3. What have YOU put into the organization recently and what do YOU want to get back out of it?
I’m curious to hear your thoughts! Comment here on our blog or email me!
-Kyle
(oh yeah – Up With People is a community service and performing group – forgot to mention that part. Check it out: http://www.upwithpeople.org/)
Before the video was done I found myself jumping to my feet and exclaiming, “How do I get involved again?” And it was right at that moment that I realized which other organization played such an important and life-shaping role in my life – Delta Epsilon Chi. And so I asked another question, “How do I get today’s members as excited as I am right now about the experiences available to them through Delta Epsilon Chi?” and, “How do I find alumni to be as supportive of the organization, as supportive as I want to be for Up With People?”
For me, the true value of my time in Up With People and my time here with Delta Epsilon Chi has been both the ideology of the organizations who’s missions ring true to my heart and mind, and the community of people associated with each organization. But in both groups I learned one very important lesson, I had to put work, effort, time and energy IN to the organization – only then I was able to get so much OUT.
So I pose these questions to you – members and advisors:
1. How do we get YOU excited and able to participate in all the experiences and programs available to you as members?
2. How do we get our ALUMNI excited and ready to support Delta Epsilon Chi members and advisors?
3. What have YOU put into the organization recently and what do YOU want to get back out of it?
I’m curious to hear your thoughts! Comment here on our blog or email me!
-Kyle
1 comment:
Its like "Where's Waldo?" Can you find me? Ha!!
-Kyle
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