Services of the Fraternity

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SERVICES OF THE FRATERNITY

The International Fraternity Headquarters has a wide range of services available to chapters, colonies, alumni associations and individual members. All of the services and programming of FarmHouse are designed to help each group achieve its full potential.

The listing below is just a brief synopsis of the many services and programs available through your International Fraternity. The International Fraternity is constantly attempting to improve and expand the services to individual chapters and members, so please feel free to share your suggestions on how FarmHouse International Fraternity can more effectively assist your chapter, association or colony.

Consultation Visits - Visits from the professional staff as well as past and present members of the International Executive Board are regularly scheduled (1 per year for chapters, and 2 per year for colonies and first year chapters) to assist in chapter development. The staff and volunteers are available to help chapters and colonies in all facets of chapter life and operation, including organization, motivation, and leadership development.

Expansion Program - The Fraternity, because of its commitment to expansion, has employed a full-time staff person whose major responsibilities include the establishment of FarmHouse colonies and chapters throughout North America. He is aided by expansion brochures, manuals, videotapes, and various other resources. Please contact the International Office if you have any information on possible expansion sites.

Conclave - The FarmHouse biennial Conclave is the gathering of all chapter and alumni association delegates from throughout North America. The legislative portion of the Conclave sets policy and gives direction to the Fraternity for the next two years. In addition to the many educational seminars that are held throughout the Conclave, there is a positive growth of brotherhood and networking beyond the local chapter.

Leadership Academy - The LA is held annually to orient chapter presidents and recruitment chairs on the responsibilities and duties of their office. The Conference focuses on teaching value based leadership, orienting chapter presidents and recruitment chaors to the service of the International Fraternity, sharing ideas and improving communication between the Chapters and International Fraternity. Chapters are encouraged to bring bring along a mentor from their local association or advisory council.

Regional Leadership Conference - The primary goal of the RLC is to explore leadership. The annual regional conferences are sponsored to assist chapters and members in general leadership skills and chapter development; informally, it also develops a broader sense of brotherhood and networking beyond the local chapter.

Officer Packets - At the beginning of each year "New Officer Packets" are sent to each chapter president, the packets include chapter officer manuals, individual officer manuals, reference guides, chapter supplies, catalogs, samples and important information pertaining to the International Fraternity.

Annual Awards - Every year the International Office makes available certificates for each chapters' recipient of the Doane Award (outstanding senior), the Snyder Award (outstanding Alumnus), and the Joan "Chad" Skinner Award (honoring the contributions women make to the Fraternity). The International Fraternity also sponsors the annual Summa Cum Laude Award for those chapters with an average GPA of 30% above the all men's average on their respective campuses and the Chapter Award of Excellence for chapters that excel in their performance of their chapter operations.

The Chapter Awards Program honors chapters annually and is comprised of two separate sets of programs: 1. The Chapter Achievement Awards and 2. Programs for Building Men. Commendable performance is noted in each individual area with the Outstanding Chapter Award presented each year to the one chapter achieving the most accumulative points.

At every Conclave a Master Builder of Men Award, the highest honor that FarmHouse can bestow on an alumnus, is presented in recognition of the member's unselfish leadership and service to his fellow man, both within the Fraternity and beyond; in addition, Honorary Membership is bestowed on outstanding individuals whose lives fulfill the objectives and high standards of Farmhouse Fraternity.

Educational Foundation - The FarmHouse Foundation makes money available to chapters and the International Fraternity for educational projects and programs, examples include: RLC's, PLC, CONCLAVE, SCHOLARSHIPS, and CHAPTER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM GRANTS.

Pledge Education Program - Suggested pledge programs, model informal initiations, pledge educators references and ideas for programming are sent to every chapter.

Recruitment Program - Rush manuals, videotapes and brochures are available through the International Office; in addition Rush workshops and help sessions are available dependent on staff availability. Please contact the International Office for more information.

Exhibit Display - The International Fraternity has two table top, fold out display units that describes FarmHouse through photographs and titles for colonies, chapters and associations to use for expansion, rush and alumni events. The display is available at no cost except shipping by writing to the International Office.

Alumni Relations Program - The International Office sends each initiate, upon graduation, an alumni packet to help acquaint the graduating member with alumni membership. Each chapter is provided with materials and resources to assist the Alumni Relations Coordinator in programming for alumni activities.

Financial Guidance - A suggested financial management plan and several publications dealing directly with Chapter Finances are available. In addition, the International Fraternity provides chapters with a blanket exemption from paying Federal Income Taxes as well as instructions for filing Federal Tax Reports. It is recommended that each chapter and association treasurer be bonded through the International Fraternity's blanket insurance policy.

Financial Assistance - Direct financial assistance is available to chapters and/or associations through 'Housing Loans', 'Furniture Loans', 'Foundation Education Grants', and travel grants and reimbursements. In addition, 'Expansion Assistance Grants' and 'Installation Assistance Grants' are available for establishing groups. Please contact the International Office for further details.

Special Chapter Assistance Program - A program that enables the Fraternity to lend special assistance to those chapters experiencing a particular problem. For more information contact the International Office.

Jewelry - Pledge pins, monogram lapel pins and several styles of membership badges are available and described in the jewelry brochure along with chapter letter guards and officer dangles.

Film & Videotape Library - Over forty-five different videotapes dealing with topics ranging from FarmHouse Rush to Alcohol Awareness, and from time management to communications and leadership skills are available through the International Office at no charge, except postage.

Planning Calendar - Each chapter/colony is supplied with an academic year calendar complete with notes concerning special dates and deadlines to assist in chapter organization and planning.

Membership Records - Maintaining accurate and up-to-date addresses and other alumni information is an on-going project of the International Office. The Office makes available to chapters and associations, computer print-outs and/or adhesive labels of alumni addresses sorted by chapter, geographical location, initiation year, etc. In addition, alumni directories are also made available to chapters and individual alumni.

Newsletters -

A monthly newsletter is sent to all colony, chapter, and association presidents to keep them up-to-date with the happenings within the International Fraternity.
Also,copies of individual chapter newsletters and assistance in preparing a chapter newsletter are available from the International Office upon request.

Alumni Association - The International Fraternity authorizes, recognizes and supports FarmHouse Alumni Associations by:

Assisting in their establishment,
providing manuals on the organization and duties of an association and its board, model bylaws and operating agreements,
making available all services and supplies that are available to the undergraduates.

Constitution, Bylaws & Operating Agreements - The International Fraternity publishes and makes available, biennially, the current Bylaws and has available for chapters and associations model Bylaws and operating agreements.

Publicity - Free publicity is available for chapters through the Pearls and Rubies' "Chapter Mail-Bag" and, for special occasions and activities, in the monthly newsletter. Send all information to the International Office.

Reference Library - The International Fraternity's as well as individual chapters' history are kept on file, as well as memorabilia, past award winners, chapter newsletters, Pearls and Rubies, interfraternity publications, copies of recent Chapter Achievement and Programs for Building Men Award winner's entries and other numerous documents are available, or a photocopy of them, upon request.