Alpha Kappa Psi History and Its Importance Essay

One of the oldest and largest business fraternities of the world, Alpha Kappa Psi, was founded at the University of New York (5th October 1905). Now, its headquarters is situated in Indianapolis. It is recognized as a premier developer of business leaders with principals. About the works of the organization, Howard M. Jefferson said, “We were to form an organization which might find a great field of work in being of mutual assistance to each other in future business life” (Alpha Kappa Psi PEP Manual 6).

History of AKPsi

It was founded to educate the members and the public about the higher ideals in business and still now the members contribute time and money for these ideals like old times. AKPsi teams all over the world (like college chapters, alumni chapters, volunteer managers and most importantly the individual members) are working to achieve the goals of the organization. In short, AKPsi is a universal brotherhood of men and women with both individual and organizational goals. The members of the organization range from students to teachers, graduates to professors and their vision in short can be termed as “Alpha Kappa Psi is recognized as the premier developer of principled business leaders” (Alpha Kappa Psi PEP Manual 6)

The founders of AKPsi were Robert S. Douglas and others. The members used to discuss their research subjects. But they did not have a fixed address, and even they had to hold meetings in parks and beaches. In the fall of 1905, they started to meet in 28 East 11^th Street, where the committee chairman Mr. Myer lived. The meetings generally were a weekly affair, held on Saturday evenings. The first convention was held on October 6 and the second convention was held on 17^th November 1905. The organization was gaining strength (Power 35).

In the fifth convention there were thirty-six members were present and shortly after the convention a committee was formed to make a constitution of the organization. “They decided that the provision in the general constitution for the extension of the fraternity to other campuses stipulated that any six students at an American university who were working for a degree in commercial science and had passed the first year of examinations could undertake to organize a chapter of the fraternity provided that they first applied to the Executive Committee and secured its approval (Alpha Kappa Psi PEP Manual 22). During the tenth convention, the Alpha Diary was named “The Diary of Alpha Kappa Psi Fraternity” (Alpha Kappa Psi PEP Manual 22). The first constitution of the organization was started in the year 1916 and was valid until the year 1921.

The world was coming near major historical events; the whole world came on the verge of the World War I. With the onset of World War, it continued its works but with problems. In “The Diary” published in the year 1917, they wrote about the time and the overall position of the organization, “……was held in one of the most critical years in the world’s history. That it was a crisis in the affairs of our country and the life of our fraternity was not for a moment forgotten” (Alpha Kappa Psi PEP Manual 22).

But amid all the difficulties the organizations continued their works and no chapters were forced to discontinue. Only the publication of the journal was stopped between May 1918 to May 1919 and the 1918s convention was canceled. The next convention was held on June 27-28 in the year 1919 and in the convention the four vice presidents were dissolved and one national vice president was selected. In the later years Alpha Kappa PSI continued its journey successfully (Crump 78).

And the Creed of Alpha Kappa PSI is as follows:

“Alpha Kappa Psi recognizes that
We live in deeds, not years;
In thought, not breathe;
In service, not in figures on the dial.
We count time by heart-throbs,
When they beat for God, for man, for duty.
He lives most, who thinks most,
Is noblest, acts the best” (Alpha Kappa Psi PEP Manual 22).

Let us look at the governing body of the organization:

• The supreme governing body is called Chapter Congress, and the members are elected every two years.
• The Board of Directors contains nine members who are selected by the Chapter Congress members and they keep their positions for three years.
• Foundation Bard of Directors, Management team, Regional Management teams (who look after different regional works of the organization) are other very important aspects of the organization (Power 24).

The only paid members of the organization are the Heritage Centre Staffs and 45%of the budget of the organization is spend on them. The CEO has similar duties to other corporate bodies and they have to look after the day-to-day operations of the organization. Their duties are as follows:

• Maintain the financial and membership records of the fraternity and the Alpha Kappa Psi Foundation;
• Receive and disburse all fraternity funds;
• Maintain addresses and records for all members and chapters;
• Issue all certificates and membership cards;
• Edit and distribute all fraternity publications;
• Purchase and distribute chapter supplies, emblems and insignia;
• Administer the performance evaluation of chapters;
• Handle all general correspondence for fraternity activities;
• Aid in arranging and publicizing all fraternity and foundation’s educational programs;
• Keep the minutes of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee;
• Conduct expansion activities and arranges for installations;
• Distribute ritual supplies and official jewelry;
• Prepare reports for fraternity meetings;
• Conduct public relations for the fraternity;
• Process applications for honorary and faculty memberships and

Distinguished Service Awards:

• Follow up on all past due accounts;
• Perform the directives of the Board of Directors and the Executive

Committee:

• Supervise chapters when necessary (Crump 198).

There are also some documents in the organizations that help to run it smoothly like Constitution and Statutory Code (they are two sets of laws but stored together in one document and it is the highest governing document of the organization. The Constitution outlines the structure of the fraternity and the governing bodies, the rights of membership and other rights and while the Statutory Code discusses specified chapter structures, disciplines and financial policies of the organization), Board of Directors Statement of Policy( outlines the policies set by the directors), The Ritual of Alpha Kappa Psi and Chapter Bylaws (they incorporate policies from the other three codes and any change in any law will always reflect in the chapter by-laws). The Ritual of Alpha Kappa Psi contains all necessary rituals for students and alumni and is one of the very important parts of the organization. They help the organization to bond strongly and they are suggested by the Rituals, Emblems and Awards Committee and before being absorbed in the organization they must be approved by the Chapter Congress by voting process.

Importance

The family of Alpha Kappa Psi is vast and it contains an “unlimited network” of businessmen and women from all the business sectors of the world. The members are acquiring prominence in their personal sectors every day. What is more appealing than more than 4500 students who are studying business management in colleges are taking a prominent part in the organization and other business professionals spend throughout the world (Power 22).

For a student of business and economics, the importance of joining an organization like this is immense. Here one can find students of the same stream and discuss their studies. Moreover, there is an intermingling with professionals that makes them ready for the professional world later in life. The most important part is that every student in the chapter has dual responsibility, one for his gains and the other one of the chapter’s, and the responsibilities are as follows:

• Attendance at every chapter meeting and function;
• Membership work: each member should recruit at least one new member per semester to ensure stability of the chapter;
• Assume responsibility, be reliable and complete every task assigned;
• Assist other members in their tasks;
• Cooperate with the president other officers;
• Make every effort to maintain at least a “B” average;
• Continue in school, support the chapter and secure a degree;
• Prepare for professional and business success;
• Meet financial obligations promptly;
• Be loyal, friendly, sympathetic, honest, and dependable;
• Support, abide by, and enforce the fraternity’s Constitution and Statutory Code, Board of Directors Statement of Policy as well as all other fraternity policies and directives;
• Honor and support your Regional Management Team volunteers; and Solemnly avow The Ritual of Alpha Kappa Psi.
• The fraternity jewel, the blue sapphire is an acronym of the objectives of the organization. That is:

1. B – Brotherhood – To develop and maintain strong fraternal relationships.
2. L – Leadership – To manifest in ourselves and demand in others professional competency and ethical practices in business and community.
3. U – Unity – To actively promote the aims and ideals of Alpha Kappa Psi.
4. E – Education – To initiate and support activities that will develop self and others (Crump 54).

The organization is nothing but a boon to students. It focuses on the wholesome development of the students, not only in their professional lives but also in their personal lives by incorporating the values of friendship, sharing and loyalty to the work. Also, the organization is a place where one can meet with different professionals and as a student, it is really helpful to know the in and outs of any business before plunging into that field. The Organization is one of the very best things that happened in modern American society.

Works Cited

Alpha Kappa Psi PEP Manual. Alpha Kappa Psi – Shaping People, Shaping Business. Indianapolis: Alpha Kappa Psi Heritage Center, 2009.

Crump, William L. The story of Kappa Alpha Psi: a history of the beginning and development of a college Greek letter organization : 1911-1971. Boston: Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, 1972.

Power, Ralph. Alpha Kappa Psi Handbook. NY: Books LLC, 2009.