Expansion Manual

HOW MUCH TIME WILL IT TAKE?

A productive member of FarmHouse is expected to contribute to the wholesome development of the other members, as well as maintaining the physical structure once common housing is procured. Yet FarmHouse has always recognized that the student's main reason for attending college is to get an education. A well-rounded education includes more than just the classroom, of course. FarmHouse chapters encourage extracurricular participation only to the point that it does not hamper learning and performance in the classroom.

While working their way through college, many FarmHouse members are consistently on the academic "Dean's List", are officers of their chapters, and actively participate in their major-related student organization. One of the major learning experiences that every chapter should provide is to help its members learn to budget their time.

The amount of time spent in the formation and establishment of a FarmHouse interest group, then colony, and finally chapter, is directly related to the quality of the group, the individual's commitment to the group, and his willingness to work together with other members. All too often, though, undergraduate students dismiss fraternity membership because they overestimate time requirements.

The precise amount of time needed by each individual to get a FarmHouse interest group or colony functioning then will vary. Each person should plan on spending one to two hours each week in a group meeting, one hour per week in social activities, one hour per week in personal and Colony development activities (such as rushing new members, committee work, contacting area alumni, etc) and three to five hours per month in some kind of community service, recreational, or other group activities. Thus, on an average, each student should probably expect to spend five hours per week in support of the Fraternity's needs. This may be higher for some, but each student is encouraged to remember that he probably won't be spending much more (if any) time on social and recreational activities than he did before he joined FarmHouse. As a FarmHouse man, though, he is now participating in a different manner, as part of a larger, close-knit group.

ALUMNI AND FACULTY:

For alumni and faculty members working with the colony, the amount of time will be even less, but will vary with the extent to which the individual wishes to be involved. Examine these comments by Randy Weaver, Founder of the Texas Tech University FarmHouse Chapter:

"The thought crossed my mind... that the time required of me might be prohibitive. After all, I had a very demanding job, and I was very active in the Lubbock Jaycees. I decided that it was worth a try.

To my pleasant surprise, my efforts required very little time. Most of the previsit work was by telephone to university officials or by letter to other alumni. I suppose that the most time I spent at any one point was a one-hour meeting with the Agriculture Student Council.

After formation of the group, I attended one-hour meetings each week in a sponsor capacity. Soon afterward, however, the group elected another sponsor in addition to the two of us serving. Thereafter, we alternated meetings. The alumni also met for lunch on a monthly basis. Let me stress at this point, that I spent as much, and in some cases more time on a weekly basis, than the other alumni. Many other alumni helped meaningfully on a much smaller scale as far as time is concerned. All in all, the time involved may have totaled 40 hours over a year's time. Very little for the return receive, a new colony of FarmHouse."

Your experience may differ slightly from Randy's. Even if it does, you will still have the satisfaction of knowing that you have helped to build men by allowing them to enjoy the FarmHouse experience. Consider these comments by a member of a FarmHouse colony:

"My school life as well as social life have grown tremendously due to FarmHouse. It has given me more strength, compassion, patience, and brotherly love for my fellow man and brothers of FarmHouse. We have formed a bond that will never be broken... I surely wish I would have had FarmHouse during my first years of college life. What a difference it would have made! My own personal goals for FarmHouse are to do my best to see that the freshmen... will not miss this opportunity, as I did until now."