All of us who have been blogging with more or less regularity have been asked to note the passing of the 50,000 visit mark with some appropriately pithy post. OK, sure.
Has this blog thing made any difference?
We have been here for a year and some months. Wordjunky has done yeoman's work trolling for anything in the news that was even remotely related to Sig Ep and tossing it up like overcooked spagetti to see if it sticks to the wall. Others of us have chimed in from time to time - each with our own thoughs and ideas about the Fraternity and why it is or (mostly) isn't on the right track and what should be done about it. Have we been catalysts for change at HQ or at the national leadership level? What about at local chapters?
I can see one or two small things that have changed. The HQ web site was redesigned. Of course that was in the works before the blog was even a gleam in the Junksters eye. The NBD and committees do have email contact information now where they did not before. By an odd coincidence that happened right after a rant here about how hidden they were. Likewise, HQ all of a sudden decided to be more forthcoming with NBD minutes shortly after anoter op-ed piec here. Coincidence? Inluence? You can be the judge, but it is good to be open in any case. In the words of Zig Ziglar "you can get a lot done if you don't worry over who gets the credit."
My personal opinion is that while specific actions are wonderful, the more important opportunity is a potential watershed in communication potential. When a chapter in Kentucky has a YouthAids event that is so well done that Ashley Judd shows up to thank them the rest of the chapters need to know about it so they can use the ideas for their own local events. TN Kappa has had a number of very culturally interesting events - Like the "Wall of Hate" that was honored recently. Those successes need to be shared to give chapters in California, Minnesota, and New Hampshire seeds to do their "cultural outreach" - or at least to remind us that it is OK to be thoughtful.
On the other hand when chapters or members do dumb stuff - like posting drunken braggadocio over exploits that would make "Bluto" blush - that needs to be exposed as a bad example. Hopefully at least one or two members have read the negative stories and decided to find a different kind of 'fun".
I'll wrap up this love note by just saying although you have not heard from me a lot in the last few months that may be about to change. We have been waiting to see how well the new "alumni focused" Grand Prez slid into his post. Still waiting, but not very patiently.
From an undisclosed location - I am Diogenes, and I approved this message.
