Member-at-What?

Many things have changed since I decided to run for District Council last semester. I’ve met a ton of new people, I have a broader view of our Fraternity and how it functions on a District and National level, and I’ve gotten a more in-depth view of my own Chapter serving as an ex-officio member of the Executive Board. Yet all these months later, one question seems to stand the test of time:

What exactly does the Member-at-Large do?

As defined by our District Constitution, the primary duties of the Member-at-Large (MAL) are, “encouraging intra-district communication, including correspondence and visitations.”

And, well, that’s about it.

The section goes on to detail some administrative duties such as gathering contact information from the Exec Board members in the NED and handling award applications, but as far as a day-to-day/this-is-why-your-position-exists, “encouraging intra-district communication” is pretty much all the MAL has to go on.

I remember going through the MC process and learning the names and faces of the District officers to pass the week’s quiz, and that was the end of it. The Council was this far-off entity and the District was a vast collection of states, neither of which held much significance in my mind. As MAL, I hope to bridge the gap between the District and the Chapters, to act as a liaison and connect with individuals.

There is so much we can learn from one another. Heads of committees can talk to their counterparts (as many as 42 of them!) at other Chapters to share ideas. This is also a perfect way to learn how other bands across the East Coast function. We can gain further insight into leadership techniques, pick up some new visuals for next season, or learn how to act as a Brother on and off the field.

Our thoughts may be limited and restricted by the status quo. We spend so much time engulfed in the workings of our own Chapters and band programs that we can be lulled into complacency and stick with what works. Because, you know, it just works. But what could we be missing? We have the opportunity to access a massive breadth of experience from Chapters as old as Omicron and as new as Nu Gamma. These Chapters may do things in ways we never considered, and making these connections affords us the opportunity to bring an entirely new dimension to our own Chapters.

I hope that we take advantage of the opportunities presented to us as we begin to truly appreciate what it means to be a National Fraternity. Never hesitate to reach out, you never know what you’ll find.

Seth Sacher
Kappa Kappa Psi- Beta Chi
University of Virginia
NED Member-at-Large 2012-2013