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 Volunteer spotlight - Dave Martin
VM:
What chapter do you advise?
DM:
Gamma Upsilon, Miami University
VM:
How long have you been advising?
DM:
About six years
VM:
What advice could you give a new chapter advisor?
DM:
It's a fine line between advising, managing, dictating and coaching.
You need to decide what style fits you and what works with your
chapter. A mix of these styles may work at different times in the
life of the chapter. For me a lot of it depends upon who the chapter
president happens to be and what his skills and gifts are. Different
styles will work with different presidents.
VM:
What do you feel your chapter excels at better than most?
DM
: I believe all chapters, and I think it's just the nature of young
men, want to do it on their own. I think Gamma Upsilon does a very
good job of managing its own affairs. While I think the members
appreciate having me around (at least most of the time), they also
appreciate it when I do not interfere in what they are doing, their
decisions and how they operate. And building on the advice question,
I believe the effectiveness of the chapter in how they manage their
affairs depends to a large extent the quality of the chapter
president. We are blessed this year, and last with a very good
president, who has a lot of skills. That is not always the case. They
excel at managing their own affairs. But, a little coaching does
help.
VM:
What has been your most rewarding Delt experience?
DM:
Perhaps my most rewarding experience happened a couple of years ago,
when one of my pledge brothers from 1967 called me out of the blue.
Tom Rothaar had read in the Rainbow
that I was now the chapter advisor of Gamma Upsilon. I
had not seen nor heard from Tom, who gave me my first set of golf
clubs, since I graduated in 1969. I'm not sure if that was a blessing
or a curse!!! Tom was struggling with some health issues. Tom and I
were very good friends in the 1960s. Anyway, Tom sent me his Delt
badge and several other Delt badges and Delt memorabilia. Those are
now on display at our Central Office. I had a chance last year to
look at the display. I am thankful for Tom's friendship and that he
felt it right to send me the memorabilia. While he said he wanted me
to have them, I thought it important for the entire Fraternity to
benefit from them. One of the badges was from the late 1800s. I think
any rewarding experience would have to involve brothers, whether they
be current undergraduates or alumni. This is just one of many
rewarding experiences I could have shared.
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