Values Refresher Fraternity Value: Justice, Wisdom, Loyalty, Faith, Truth, Honor Suggested Facilitator: Leadership Consultant/National Officer Goals: Collegians will be reminded of Theta Phi Alpha s values and how to live these values throughout their lives Collegians will be reminded of Theta Phi Alpha s mission and how it relates to the values Collegians will be able to recognize Theta Phi Alpha s values being lived out by other members Room set-up/materials needed: Whiteboard/chalkboard One copy of each of the following documents for every member present o Mission and Values handout o Values Clarification worksheet Blank index cards (one for each member) Star or dot stickers Posters or flip chart paper Extra pens, pencils and markers Post-it notes (about 10 per member) Getting started: Talking points should be indicated with italicized text. Please use these as speaking guidelines, but feel free to enhance the session with your own personality. Facilitation instructions are indicated with underlined text that you may find helpful when presenting the materials. Have fun! Instructions: Welcome members and introduce presenters. (If applicable) If time permits, invite each member to briefly introduce herself and to offer a reason as to why she is there or why she thinks this event is important. It is a required event is a fair answer, but invite the member to explore briefly why she thinks the event is being required. Thank you for attending! We are often reminded of the promises we made to uphold Theta Phi Alpha s values. Our dedication and commitment to these values binds us together in what we believe. We hope you will not only be reminded of the promises you made to live our values as a member of Theta Phi Alpha but challenge yourself to discover new ways to practice these values on a daily basis. Our time together today is important, not just to the chapter and the Fraternity, but also to each individual member, as values have an impact on everyone. Not only will we be reviewing the values of Theta Phi Alpha, which you learned as a new member, but everyone will also get a chance to explore her own personal values. This workshop will allow us to consider how those values can help in making wise or positive choices, even in very stressful or difficult situations. Before we begin, can anyone offer us a reminder of Theta Phi Alpha s values by reciting them aloud?
Refer to the Values Clarification worksheet. Give members 5-10 minutes to individually pick out and list the 10 values most important to her. Then, rank those values from one to ten, with one being the most important. This should be done individually. Small group: When everyone is finished, break into small groups and spend 10-15 minutes discussing. Go through the list and see who picked which values. Discuss how you went about prioritizing/picking your top values and how you define those values. What does your number one value mean to you and how do you show others this values is important to you? Large group: Allow all members who picked the same number one value to stand together in different areas of the room. Are there any surprises in the group? Can any assumptions be made about the individuals based on the particular values they chose? Might there be any misconceptions? Are there any other values the majority of the group selected? Are there any values nobody selected? Were there values not on the list members wanted to include? Small group: Again break into small groups Briefly discuss the similarities and differences between your lists. Talk about any difficulty you experienced leaving certain values off of your list or having to prioritize values. Back to Large group Please keep your lists out as you may be referring back to them and to your personal values later in the workshop. The values or principles you choose as the most important can be defined as personal values and come into play in almost every decision or action you take, whether you realize it or not. They can also be the means by which others judge or define you. This is why I asked about assumptions and misconceptions a few minutes ago. The same holds true for Theta Phi values, for all Theta Phis, at all times. Would anyone be willing to share a situation or example in which they have had to choose between Theta Phi values and personal values? How did you resolve the situation? (If others in the room noted a conflict between a personal values and a Theta Phi value, ask if they can identify a way to resolve this conflict.) What are some unhealthy ways we deal with a conflict between our personal and Theta Phi values? What are some healthy ways we can use to deal with a conflict between our personal and Theta Phia values? (Make a list of healthy ways to deal with a conflict on large white paper) Theta Phi s expectation is you will uphold our values. This is a basic expectation of membership. During the new member ceremony and again during the Initiation ceremony, you took an oath to abide by and uphold these values.
Let s list other expectations of membership. (adherence to National Constitution and Bylaws, Policies, chapter bylaws, adherence to University and Panhellenic policies, adherence to all local/state/federal laws). Write all answers on the whiteboard. Remember these as they will be needed for future reference. Discuss how each expectation reinforces a value or values and which ones. Write the expectation and values discussed on large white paper. IDEAL PNM Purpose: To establish a clear understanding of whom the chapter is looking for during recruitment. It can be most effective during pre-recruitment activities. Reinforcing the outcome of the workshop just before the actual start of recruitment serves to remind the chapter of their goals, reinforce the characteristics you are looking for in a new member, and serves to resolve any disputes over who your chapter chooses to select for membership. Set-up: Five dot/star stickers for each member Posters or flipchart paper divided into quadrants with one of the values from the Values Clarification worksheet written with a marker in each quadrant Example: Achievement Advancement Adventure Affection After members have completed the Values Clarification worksheet, provide each member with colored stickers for each of her top values. Take your five stickers and for each of your top five values, place one sticker in the corresponding quadrant. Again reflect on your individual values and how they correspond to the values as a chapter. Break the chapter into small groups. Now, I d like you to think of famous individuals locally or nationally or even internationally famous. Which ones exemplify each of Theta Phis values? Would you put them on your bid list? Why or why not? Identify famous people that are the antithesis of Theta Phis values. Why would you release them? Bring the chapter back together as a large group. We are now, as a chapter going to create an ideal new member by stating the values we feel all new members should have to fit into the chapter. (You can have a life size cutout of a woman and write the values on it)
We are now going to solicit pro and con adjectives and write them on separate poster boards at the front of the room. (These adjectives can be used again during membership selection sessions in the future and can be reiterated during voting during conversations on PNMs.) The goal is to gain buy-in from the chapter. In using their own words, the chapter feels this is their recruitment and have a personal stake in the outcome. By giving them this option to be personally accountable, the membership takes a much more active role in the recruitment activities. Sticky Note Activity: Attach each of the values pages to a different piece of flip chart paper and hang these around the room in different places. You can hang each flip chart to avoid confusion. Have enough sticky notes to give about 8-10 to each member. We have reviewed our Theta Phi Alpha values and you now have approximately 10 sticky notes. Take the next ten minutes to write on separate sticky notes: Ways you expect your sisters to uphold a particular learning outcomes Ways you have observed your sisters living according to one of the learning outcomes or Things you would look for in PNMs who might practice one of the learning outcomes. After you have written your response, place them under the appropriate learning outcome. After all members have placed their sticky notes around the room, ask for volunteers to share what they wrote. Discussion questions: Which learning outcome had the most notes and why? Which had the least? What does this say about the focus, emphasis or importance the chapter puts on certain values? Are you surprised at how the results turned out? Mission and Values: It is important to remember why most fraternities and sororities have mission statements and values. Given what we know about Theta Phi Alpha s founding, why might it have been important to have a mission statement and values? When you were a new member, your learned Theta Phi has a mission statement and core values. Can anyone remember any part of the mission statement? Write the answers on the board/flip chart. Pass out mission statement and values handout. Advise members if they don t have these already, they should hang on to them as a reference for the future. Does anyone know the purpose of a mission statement? A mission statement is a brief description of an organization s fundamental purpose. It answers the question why do we exist? Let s take a look at our mission statement:
The mission of Theta Phi Alpha is to create close comradeship, to advance educational, social and philanthropic interests and leadership training; to encourage spiritual development and adherence to the highest moral standards; and to promote lifelong bonds of friendship. What do you think this means? What are some examples of Theta Phi offering these things? How do you see yourself contributing to or being impacted by this statement? What are some ways your chapter supports the Fraternity in fulfilling the mission? Have the members takes a few minutes to write about why they think the mission statement is important for Theta Phi Alpha today. Have a few members share their thoughts. Let s take another look at Theta Phi Alpha s core values: Justice Truth Wisdom Loyalty Faith Honor Break everyone into small groups. Have the members discuss the question Why do values matters?. Have them write key points from their discussion on large sheets of white paper to share with the large group. Then, have a spokesperson from each group share why they think values matter. Do you see the values reflected in our mission statement? In what ways? Can you list specific activities or requirements of membership (Chapter events, programming, etc.) that illustrate or connect to each of the core values? Why would these values matter to Theta Phi? Values matter in general because they drive our action or reaction, when faced with a choice and they send a message to the world about who we are. What do our core values say about Theta Phi Alpha? Values reflect who we are and why we act the way we do. They reflect what we stand for and are the standards by which we choose to live our lives. Theta Phi Alpha, like many group, is a values based organization. The more positive and well-defined the value system, the stronger the organization. How can the chapter better adhere to Theta Phi s core values? Write the ideas on flip chart/board. What are some ways Theta Phi Alpha can strengthen its organization by adhering to core values? Final Thoughts, Going Forward: The situations we ve been discussing today are true examples of the kinds of decisions and choices you ve probably already had to make and will continue to make during college and throughout your life. As members of values based organizations, we must hold each other accountable to Theta Phi Alpha s values, even when it is not easy. When we notice our sisters not upholding our values and stand by without saying anything, this is called being a bystander. Are there times that you have been a bystander and allowed a friend to do or participate in things that do not hold true to your values?
What statements have you heard before that illustrate Theta Phi Alpha s feelings about accountability? Promise to do all that you can by your personal life to reflect credit on the Fraternity? Promise to employ your energies, abilities and talents to the maintenance of the high standards of the Fraternity? No one is perfect all of the time. The goal is to give your most earnest endeavor to try your best and to understand when you fall short, one of your sisters will be there to help you back up. Pass out index cards Since no one is perfect, a good way to end today, is by identifying at least one action each of you is doing that does not reflect the values shared by you and by Theta Phi Alpha. Individually, write down on your card an action that you will stop. Next identify a behavior that might be helpful of conducive to promoting Theta Phi Alpha s core values. Write down that action on your card, which you will now begin to start doing. Finally, identify and write down an action you will continue something positive that is already in support of the chapter and/or Theta Phi s values. Give members the last five minutes to write down what each of them will stop, start and continue on the index card. Please hang on to these cards as a reminder of your personal goals as well as a reminder to continue discussing and committing to values. Every now and then, ask yourself if you are continuing to live up to the commitment you made when you were initiated into Theta Phi Alpha and the commitments you made today. End the workshop with a favorite chapter song.
Values Clarification Worksheet Take 5-10 minutes to individually pick out and list the 10 values most important to you and then rank those values from one to ten, with one being the most important. This should be done individually. Achievement Growth Power Advancement Happiness Prestige Adventure Health Quality Affection Honesty Recognition Authority Independence Relationships Balance Integrity Religion Comfort Intelligence Respect Community Justice Responsibility Contribution Knowledge Security Country Learning Self-Actualization Creativity Loyalty Service Enjoyment Money Spirituality Excitement Order Stability Fame Peace Teamship Family Performance Wealth Freedom Pleasure Winning Friendships Popularity Wisdom
Theta Phi Alpha Fraternity Mission Statement and Core Values Mission Statement: The Mission of Theta Phi Alpha is to create close comradeship, to advance educational, social and philanthropic interests and leadership training; to encourage spiritual development and adherence to the highest moral standards; and to promote lifelong bonds of friendship. Core Values: Justice - the quality of being just; righteousness, equitableness, or moral rightness Wisdom - the quality or state of being wise; knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action Loyalty - faithfulness to commitments or obligations Faith - confidence or trust in a person or thing Truth - the state of character of being true Honor - honesty, fairness, or integrity in one's beliefs and actions
Justice The quality of being just; righteousness, equitableness, or moral rightness
Wisdom The quality or state of being wise; knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action
Loyalty Faithfulness to commitments or obligations
Faith Confidence or trust in a person or thing
Truth The state of character of being true
Honor Honesty, fairness, or integrity in one's beliefs and actions