ELC’s
July 27th, 2006 by John Fluharty. Popularity: 9%.I recently read a posting that really made me think about the job of the ELC. I’ve known about 4 generations of ELC’s and have talked with them, on many occasions, about their job, their feelings towards chapters and their feelings on the larger Fraternity.
The recent posting made mention of what the writer though was the poor job the ELC’s do. Referencing the time limitations on their stays with each chapter, etc. I have to say, I really don’t aggree with the author’s opinions…and I say that with respect.
While I’m sure what I am about to detail does not apply specifically to the author’s chapter, there are a few points that should be made.
Often, chapters think that the only time they should deal with (or want to deal with) an ELC is during their visit. They are viewed not as the ELC, but the “High Spy”. Many chapters suck it up and deal with a 2 days visit and then moan about the report that is issued. They fail to understand that the ELC is there as a tool to improve on those areas where they may be deficient. They are available by phone, email, etc for ideas and discussion on how a chapter can proceed. I’ll bet that if you ask the ELC’s if the “problem chapters” reach out to them for help improving, the answer would surprise you. I’m always stunned that a chapter can by under an alumni control board and still not understand that maybe, just maybe, the problem is not with everybody else, but with their chapter’s inability to use the resources available to take control and make positive change. We have chapters who not only have a visit from an ELC but also John Holloway and Tim Reuter and still fail to grasp the fact that the international office wants them to succeed.
As a fraternity, we need to cut these guys a break and work with them.
August 28th, 2006 at 11:09 am
John,
When talking about the ELC’s you can’t really throw a big blanket over them saying they are good or bad. To say that all ELC’s are bad is ridiculous, but to think they are all good is just as ridiculous. I have seen and worked with many generations of ELC’s too and we have had some real good ones come through and have had equally bad ones come through too.
The system can never be perfect as you are dealing with people. The actual system on what they are suppose to do during a visit is really good, but when you add the personality of the ELC into the mix, that is where you will hear people complain. Hey, ELC’s are people too and they can have a bad day every now and then. The chapter members need to realize that fact too.
I think as the years have gone by the ELC’s are getting better training and because of that they are getting better results in the field. The ELC’s role is to help the chapter along, not look for bad things all the time. Trust me, the bad things tend to pop out in plain view. The chapters should use the ELC’s for what they were sent there to do, help them go from one level to the next. The ELC’s want the chapter they visit to improve…which is how they are measured. However, the chapter has to want to improve too, as the ELC can only give the tools to be successful. They can’t be the one leading the charge for improvement. It is a two way street.
That is my two cents….
In ZAX,
Kevin