Phi Kappa Tau

Creed

Phi Kappa Tau, by admitting me to membership, has conferred upon me a mark of distinction in which I take just pride. I believe in the spirit of brotherhood for which it stands. I shall strive to attain its ideals, and by so doing to bring to it honor and credit. I shall be loyal to my college and my chapter and shall keep strong my ties to them that I may ever retain the spirit of youth. I shall be a good and loyal citizen. I shall try always to discharge the obligation to others which arises from the fact that I am a fraternity man.

Mission Statement

The mission of Phi Kappa Tau is to champion a lifelong commitment to brotherhood, learning, ethical leadership and exemplary character.

Vision of Phi Kappa Tau

The vision of Phi Kappa Tau is to be recognized as a leadership organization that binds men together and challenges them to improve their campuses and the world.

When was Phi Kappa Tau founded

March 17, 1906

What was Phi Kappa Tau’s Alpha chapter (where was it started)?

University of Miami at Ohio

Who are the four founding fathers?

Taylor Albert Borradaile, Clint Dewitt Boyd, Dwight Ireneus Douglass, William Henry Shideler

Who were the opps?

The Ring: Beta Theta Pi, Phi Delta Theta, Sigma Chi

3 Founding Principles

Innate Worth as an Individual, Democratic Nature of the Organization, Christian Ideals

Local Organizations (2)

Resident Council and Executive Council

Resident Council Function

Consists of all of the active brothers, vote on all matters. Appointed positions are also included.

Executive Council

Elected by the resident council, serve on one year terms. Leaders of specific groups within the chapter and plan certain events

Requirements

Nine interview minimum by February 26th, two library hours a week. No more than two unexcused absences.

PKT exam pass rate

above 80%

Information about William Henry Shideler

Nicknamed Doc, member of track team, Ph. D in Geology, built Geology Department at Miami and served as Janitor, has 13 species, 3 genera, one family, and one mountain in Antartica named after him. President 1913-1914

Board of Governors (BOG)

Group of 5 alumni and 2 executive officers, who supervise chapter over scholarship and finances. Also hear appeals disciplinary actions, delinquency, and membership status, and reviewing chapter progress on Borradaile challenge

Domains

a group of chapters in a region under the watch of a domain director. We are part of the Mississippi Valley Domain, with Tennessee-Martin, and Murray state. Domain director: Steven Duke, he monitors chapter operational status.

Roberts Rules

way to running meetings, rules to speaking. Rules: Address the chair, refer to previous speakers, refer to chair as brother, cannot turn around when addressing chair, cannot look around when voting.

5 points of Roberts Rules

Information, Order, Inquiry, Personal Privilege, Parliamentary Inquiry

Taylor Albert Borradaile Information

First president of the non-fraternity association and created it to have good of a fraternity without the bad, attended very national convention, nickname Boss, passed BAR exam in Florida without going to law school, lived 20 years longer than any other founder

Borradaile Challenge

Minimum standards set that each chapter was required to meet - has a tier system: Maxwell, Order of the Star, and Basic

Borradaile challenge - Finance section

Dues not getting paid causes the brotherhood to suffer. Maxwell: must submit annual budget and be in good standing at the end of the year (with monthly updates)

Borradaile Challenge - BOG section

Maxwell: BOG is active and sends reports to VPAR (Vice President of Alumni Relations), tracks progress of challenge

Borradaile Challenge - Risk Management section

Maxwell: No risk management violations and all seminars and reports take place on time

Non-Fraternity Organization

March 17, 1906. Founded in protest to “The Ring.” Dr. Edgar Ewing Brandon - Non fraternity faculty member, fraternities first faculty advisor, considered a foundation member, called The Architect of Phi Kappa Tau

Phrenocon

Name changed March 6, 1909. Mixture of Miami Friends and Miami Comrades, foundation of rituals today. 1911 - Phrenocon went National, merged with Union at Ohio, kept it ritual, adopted Union’s Journal “Side Lights.”

Clinton Dewitt Boyd

Helped Borradaile organize non fraternity organization, first person elected as national organizer, most aggressive for expansion, a lawyer and later became a judge, represented fraternity as moral authority

Ewing T. Boles

National President 1916-1917, persuaded Alpha chapter to remain a part of the organization, built the Phi Kappa Tau Foundation, large financial contribution, was on foundation board, created Boles challenge in 1982- would match any donation to the foundation up to $1 million, largest donation at the time to any fraternity. Donated more than 3 million to Phi Tau

Elements from WW2 that still remain for Phrenocon

Oath of membership, rituals, expansion, sidelights (original name of the Laurel), cardinal principles, red carnation

First six chapters to adopt phi kappa tau

Miami (OH) - alpha chapter

Ohio university - Beta chapter

Ohio state university - Gamma chapter

Centre college - Delta chapter

Mount union - epsilon chapter

Illinois - zeta chapter

1917 National Convention

Most important convention in phi tau history, hosted by zeta chapter at Illinois

What did 1917 national convention give us?

Residence council, executive council, alumni associations, the laurel (journal exclusive for phi tau that highlights education and articles for alumni), first executive staff at national level, and rituals used today

How many chapters did phi tau charter from 1917 - WW2?

38 chapters

1947 Victory Convention

Coat of arms updated with a gold shield to cover up previous symbols depicted on the shield, President Roland Maxwell set a goal of chartering 25 chapters in less than 10 years before our Golden Jubilee (1956)

1949 Significance

Constitution amended to allow African American members for the first time, first would not be initiated until 5 years later

1950 significance

Maxwell wrote creed on a cocktail napkin on an airplane

1968

first IMPACT program was created

GI Bill impact

on # of chapters and number of people in each chapter

Phi Tau Foundation

supports mission through managing charitable gifts, governed by a volunteer board of 15 trustees, serve staggered 3 year terms, guided by executive committee which is elected by board - Chairman, vice chairman, treasurer, secretary, and PKT CEO

Phi Tau Foundation funds which programs

SeriousFun

Leadership Academy

Regional Conference

President’s Academy

Building Men of Character Retreats

Scholarships

Programs of Phi Tau

Conclave - off-convention-year event that brings brothers together from across the country to discuss fraternity issues

President’s Academy - training designed for newly elected students who have been elected to run the undergraduate council

Founders Month of Service - Fraternity participates in service events each march to honor its founders

Regional Conference - one and two day conference curriculum combines practical chapter management and officer training

National Council

primary guide to fraternity through strategic planning, policy setting, and serving as the governing body when national convention is not in session

National President and Vice President serve 4 year term

National Counselors serve a 6 year term

Councilors are the ones who review and pass or deny policies

Dwight Ireneus Douglass

oldest founder, working towards a non fraternity organization for over a year before NFA took off, took minutes at very first NFA meeting, most instrumental in uniting NFA and delta rho, role in founding, not much known about him after WW1

Roland Maxwell

longest tenured national president of phi tau, penned the creed in 1950

Jack Anson

Mr Fraternity, lobbied to keep fraternities same-sex organizations

1974 Convention

Postponed due to budget issues, gas shortage, and ability to celebrate Diamond Jubilee which was on an odd year

1977 Borradaile Challenge

educate members on individual level and teach them tools to become effective leaders in chapter and in life, involves people nationally

SeriousFun

creates opportunities for children and families to reach beyond serious illness and discover joy, confidence, and a new world of possibilities, free of charge, founded by Paul Newman in 1988, camps called hole in the wall

National Convention

national officers elected, national constitution and statute changes, no limit and any member can attend. Each chapter elects 1 delegate for debate and voting purposes

Online Resources

The planner - monthly e-newsletter sent to all undergraduate members and volunteers

The exchange - Phi Tau’s comprehensive library online of resources

Programs

Hole in wall experience - hundreds of men volunteer as cabin counselors, activity specialists, unit leaders, and other camp staff during a week or summer as a camp counselor

Good to great retreats - assist students with specific issues or needs and is scheduled at a chapters request

Building men of character retreat - two day program that focuses on internal communications, strengthening brotherhood, and operations at the chapter level

Jubilees

Golden Jubilee - 1956, 50 year celebration

Diamond Jubilee - 1981, 75 year celebration

Centennial - 2006, 100 year celebration