Prometheus
Revitalization
Exploratory
Committee
EXECUTIVE REPORT – 3/10/15
REC Overview
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Established July 2013 at Prometheus 45th Reunion
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Mission Statement
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The goal of the Revitalization Exploratory Committee (REC) is to assess the Order
of Prometheus's options for recolonization and reactivation at SUNY Potsdam. It is
furthermore to assess the Order of Prometheus's ability and willingness of Alumni
to engage in the tasks necessary to successfully recolonize.
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The REC will present a complete recolonization plan to the Executive Board,
which will then be presented to the full Alumni Council for a vote in favor or
against proceeding. This plan will include an assessment of ability and willingness
of the Alumni to follow through on action items, determine milestones necessary
for successful recolonization, and provide feasible termination guidelines should
milestones fail to be achieved.
www.prometheusnetwork.com
REC Affiliation and Membership
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Affiliation
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The REC is compromised of 5 Prometheus Alumni and is independent of the
Executive Board and Alumni Association.
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Chairman: Ruben Watson - Spring ‘81
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Vice-Chair: Michael Schack - Spring ‘81
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Director: Tom Delaney – Spring ‘72
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Director: Michael Doe – Spring ‘04
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Director: Peter Kroth – Spring ‘91
REC Recommends
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The REC recommends to move forward with establishing an active
brotherhood.
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The Prometheus Exec Committee voted in favor of the REC
recommendation.
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Note: The vote was not unanimous as it was expected that each member vote as
an independent brother. However, each brother agreed to fully support the
outcome of the vote.
Note: The Exec Committee vote was not unanimous either.
The decision to move forward with establishing an active brotherhood
does not guarantee that we will do so. There are many activities that
the brotherhood must undertake and the college must give us
approval based upon their review of our actions and presentation.
Prometheus Active Brotherhood: Status
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The official status of the brotherhood at the college is “Unrecognized”.
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See http://www.potsdam.edu/studentlife/greeklife
As of the end of the Spring 2012 semester, the Order of Prometheus is
no longer an active fraternal organization on the SUNY Potsdam
campus. As this inactive status was not the result of a disciplinary
action on the part of college administration, we, the alumni of
Prometheus, have been given the opportunity by SUNY Potsdam to
form a new active Brotherhood on campus as of the fall of 2015.
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The REC target for an active brotherhood on campus is Fall 2015.
REC Survey & Results
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Overall Survey Results indicate that the alumni support the
establishment of an active brotherhood.
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406 known alumni and honoraries
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178 known e-mails of which 102 responded (57% response rate)
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350 surveys sent by mail of which 18 responded (5% response rate)
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Respondents via electronic means would not have responded to mailer.
Results
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Interest in seeing an active brotherhood on campus?
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80% Somewhat to Very Interested
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8% Somewhat to Very Disinterested
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12% Don’t Know
REC Survey & Results (continued)
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Ability to assist?
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34% Travel to Potsdam to assist or Mentor
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39% Willing to donate financially to assist
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13% Willing to assist in other ways
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13% Currently unable to assist
Collect dues to assist with effort to recolonize?
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35% Yes at $25 per year
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25% Yes at $50 or $100 per year
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17% Yes at $10 per year
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23% No
REC Survey & Results (continued)
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A Few Actual Comments from the survey:
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I really hope we can get this up and running.
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Let me know what you need.
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I am strongly opposed to any recolonization efforts. Waste of resources.
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Go find the best of the best to bring back our proud name.
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Definitely interested … Not certain as to how I may be able to assist.
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At this point, to attempt to start another Prometheus-type fraternity is a sadly
misguided idea.
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I … could have a local role, if things were recreated that had the character of
Prometheus.
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Although I support this venture, I also think we need to look internally into
strengthening our Alumni Association.
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I would be honored to do whatever I can now to reestablish an active
brotherhood in Potsdam.
Potsdam’s Requirements
Note that the college’s requirements are specific in nature!!!
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Sponsored by national or locally recognized affiliated group with active,
independent and incorporated Board.
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Goals consistent with mission of the college and kept current with
Coordinator of Greek life.
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The REC will put this in place.
Constitution and By-laws
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The REC and Exec Board will put this in place.
To be re-written by REC.
Risk management and liability reduction plans and procedures in place.
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Risk management is a key component of revitalization
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Risk management and oversight by Alumni Association is non-negotiable. If a
solid risk management policy is not in place, the college will not approve the
active membership.
Potsdam’s Requirements (continued)
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Detailed New Member Program, including goals of program,
anticipated weekly plan to achieve goals and method for assessing if
goals have been met.
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Academic Plan for members. Must include plan for what happens
when member becomes academically inactive..
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The REC will put this in place.
Certificate of Insurance for comprehensive general liability policy
naming SUNY Potsdam and State of New York as Additional Insured.
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The REC will put this in place.
The REC and Exec Board will put this in place.
No hazing or ghost pledging.
Potsdam’s Requirements (continued)
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Governance structure for chapter which addresses*:
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Chapter financial activities
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Academic standards
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Compliance with College disciplinary standards for individual students and with
other College regulations
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Recruitment, orientation, and selection of new members
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Communication with the College administration
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Participation with all Greek Council and other fraternity/sorority governance
structures
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Service to the College and surrounding community
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Academic educational program planning
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Liability and risk management.
* To be addressed by REC and Exec Board.
Potsdam’s Requirements (continued)
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Third Friday of each semester, must provide Coordinator of Greek Life
with:
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Membership Roster (names and contact info)
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Written Acknowledgment of responsibilities, consistent with FIPG guidelines and
signed by all members of the active chapter
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Statement of purpose/goals for semester
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Academic Advisor (current faculty/staff of SUNY-Potsdam)
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Contact information for at least one alumnus.
Potsdam’s Requirements (continued)
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MINIMUM EXPECTATIONS – Assessed each semester:
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House GPA – 2.0
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10 Active members
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51% of active members from SUNY – Potsdam
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President must be a full-time student at SUNY-Potsdam
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One service project per semester with at least 75% member participation
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President must meet Coordinator of Greek Life once a semester
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No more than 2 unexcused absences from all Greek/Inter-fraternity Council
meetings
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Active participation in initiatives developed by Coordinator of Greek Life.
Core Beliefs (rewritten by REC)
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The Order of Prometheus and it’s members:
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Are a social organization that is an integral part of our larger community
consisting of the college and its local community
Comprise a fraternity of brothers who are dedicated to the performance of
service projects that benefit the college and community within which the
organization exists
Will not tolerate nor permit any discrimination, hazing, or demeaning of others in
any way, shape or form
Believe that all members, new and old, are to be treated with respect
Promote brotherhood through a set of ideals including trust, respect,
philanthropy, and meeting others halfway
Shall comply with all school policies in addition to local, state, and federal laws,
and demonstrate that as a Greek organization, we can be a respected and an
appreciated contributor to our college and local community
Shall be known as the Greek letters of Theta Omega Phi and who’s colors shall be
blue and gold
Schedule
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04/26/14 Deliver initial proposal to Exec Board (Complete)
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06/25/14 Obtain Exec Board approval to move forward (Complete)
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02/16/15 Deliver Final Report to Exec Board (Complete)
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03/06/15 Obtain Exec Board approval of REC Report (Complete)
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03/16 & 17/15 Provide Recolonization Plan to 5-Year Reps
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04/10/15 Deadline to obtain feedback from 5-Year Reps
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04/27/15 Deliver revised Final Report to Exec Board, if necessary
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05/08/15 Obtain Exec Board approval, if necessary
Schedule (continued)
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01/19/15 – 05/29/15 Create documents
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Governing Documents, Policies & Procedures (see Potsdam Requirements),
Communication Plan and Organizational Structure
05/01/15 Create legal entity by May 2015
 05/29/15 Complete drafts of documents for college
 06/01/15 Submit final documentation to college
 06/01/15 – 08/01/15 Discuss approval request with college
 09/15
Obtain approval for colonization from college
 Fall 2015 Begin Prometheus recolonization
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Note that the schedule may be adjusted periodically by the REC.
Documentation
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Core Beliefs (Complete)
Ideals – Do we need this? (1 person / 2 weeks)
Code of Conduct/Membership Policy (1 person / 2 weeks – In progress)
Constitution – Active and Alumni? (2 people / 4 weeks)
By-Laws Active and Alumni? (2 people / 4 weeks)
Fraternity Goals (1 person / 2 weeks – In progress)
New Member Program (2 people / 3 weeks)
Risk Management, Liability Reduction Plan, Procedures and Forms (3 people / 4 weeks)
Academic Plan (1 person / 2 weeks)
Service Plan (2 people / 3 weeks)
Communication Plan (1 person / 2 weeks)
Financial Procedures and Reporting (1 person / 2 weeks)
Organizational Structure (1 person / 1 week – In progress)
Contingency Plan (1 person / 2 weeks – In progress)
Website Build and Maintenance (On-going)
REC Recommendations
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The REC recommends the following:
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The name and colors of the fraternity will remain the same.
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The brotherhood will abide by all rules / regulations set by the college and may
exceed the university standard.
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The organization will be chartered as a social entity but the organization will
maintain a significant service focus.
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The organization will participate in an Anchor Service Project as required by the
college (directed as annually either in the community or on campus). We
envision a project outside of the suggestions from the college, as a project other
than a fund-raiser. The project must be holistic in nature, include "sweat equity"
and be different than the typical short-term project, so as to attract the type of
members that we seek.
REC Recommendations (continued)
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The current standard for the college is 12 credit hours per semester, a 2.0 GPA
average with no academic warning. The REC recommends that the
standard for the brothers will be as defined by the college but for officers, a
higher GPA is suggested. GPA is TBD.
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Should the alumni be unwilling or unable to fulfill the requirements for
recolonization, the Contingency Plan will be enacted.
Next Steps / Action Items
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5-year Reps Review Report with Alumni, poll and obtain feedback.
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REC may provide the names of alumni within each rep’s years of responsibility and
most recent contact information, where possible. As an alternative, the alumni will be
notified of the REC actions and the alumni themselves will reach out to their 5-year
reps.
5-Year Reps provide vote totals to Tom Delaney
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Send to: [email protected]
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Send vote totals (Yes / No / Abstain) and pertinent feedback
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Send updated e-mails and addresses for alumni in your group
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The REC has now completed its mission and we now move into the
implementation stage. Therefore, the REC will become the Colonization
Committee (CC).
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CC obtain and assign sub-committees for documentation and other subcommittees on an as-needed basis.
Alumni Action Items
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What can I, as an Alumni, do to help?
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Documentation: Many documents need to be written over the next few months.
Reach out to Tom Delaney and let us know which documents you’d like to assist
with.
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Financials: The alumni association will need 2 accountants, bank account and
financial reporting.
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Mentoring: Presence in Potsdam to monitor New Member program, Academic
Plan, Risk Management Plan, Service Plan and represent the alumni. 1-on-1
mentoring of active brothers (Big Brother) which can be done from outside of
Potsdam.
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All Alumni directly involved with the active brothers or college must abide by
all policies set forth by the alumni association and college. There will be no
exceptions.
► Organization:
Serve in the Prometheus leadership organization. There will
be multiple positions that will carry actionable responsibilities.
Contacts
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Your 5-Year Reps
Starting
Ending
5-Year Rep
5-Year Rep
Core
Spring ‘73
Wes Bradley
Tim Rybinski
Fall ’73
Spring ’78
John Vence
Phil Shatraw
Fall ’78
Spring ’83
Dan Cromie
Ruben Watson
Fall ’83
Spring ’88
Stephen O’Leary
Bob Jones
Fall ’88
Spring ’93
Joel Radford
David Hogle
Fall ’93
Spring ’98
Mike Klugger
David Barnaba
Fall ’98
Spring ’03
Ryan Carrol
Joseph Gross
Fall ’03
Spring ’08
Michael Doe
Scott Totten
Fall ’08
Current
Peter Kroth
Ruben Watson – REC / CC Chairman [email protected]