{"id":17728,"date":"2009-10-26T15:13:42","date_gmt":"2009-10-26T15:13:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/local.pdt\/2009\/10\/millers-meanderings-volume-6\/"},"modified":"2023-12-15T14:37:31","modified_gmt":"2023-12-15T14:37:31","slug":"millers-meanderings-volume-6","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phideltatheta.org\/news-stories\/millers-meanderings-volume-6\/","title":{"rendered":"Miller’s Meanderings – Volume 6"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In Search of “National”<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many, many years ago when I first became involved professionally with the Fraternity, I served in a role that is now identified as a Chapter Consultant. As I traveled across North America, many Phis, both undergraduate and alumni, would ask the question, \u201cHow are things at \u201cNational?\u201d In time, this became a bothersome question for two major reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I soon learned that there was no clear definition of \u201cnational.\u201d To some it meant the General Headquarters; to others it was the General Council. The term was used in reference to the Convention, and to some undergraduates it meant everything in the Fraternity outside the local chapter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aside from the confused meaning of the word, I was concerned that Phi Delta Theta had been an international Fraternity since 1902, and I thought reference to any part of the organization as \u201cnational\u201d would be offensive to our Canadian brothers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was easy, as a young man, to take upon my shoulders the task of changing all my Phi Delta Theta brothers if not, indeed, anyone in the human race who continued to address Phi Delta Theta as a \u201cnational.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Frankly, I felt I was doing quite well with my project. I was free with my advice while visiting undergraduate chapters and alumni clubs. I was about to shower myself with accolades until I paid a visit to one of our Canadian chapters and one of the members said to me, \u201cHow is everything at national?\u201d With that my battle came to an abrupt halt, and I chalked this subject up as a lost cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An even more haunting rendition of this same subject has developed in recent years. Someone decided to add an \u201cs\u201d to \u201cnational,\u201d so that now we hear the query, \u201cHow is everything at nationals?\u201d The term is no more clear than its predecessor and in some ways is more confusing. Is the word singular or plural? I saw it used in a column heading of a newspaper with a singular verb. This proves nothing because I have also seen members of the press treat the word \u201cmedia\u201d as a singular noun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I see another lost battle in the future if I take on the task of eliminating \u201cnationals,\u201d so I\u2019ll not try. If you wish to be proper, refrain from using either \u201cnational\u201d or \u201cnationals\u201d in reference to Phi Delta Theta. Ours is a General Fraternity, served by a General Headquarters, which was created by a General Council, elected at a General Convention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If, on the other hand, you are a casual individual who prefers to wear his loafers sans socks and dines in Five Star restaurants wearing jeans and a T-shirt, go ahead and say \u201cnational\u201d or \u201cnationals.\u201d The rest of us will attempt to understand what you mean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My personal editor and good friend, Charles Hooper, Davidson \u201955<\/em>, suggests I explain to those who do not know me, that the preceding sentence carries with it \u201ca tongue-in-cheek, twinkle-in-the-eye tone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Brother Robert J. Miller joined the General Headquarters staff in 1951 and was named Executive Secretary (later Executive Vice President) in 1955, a position from which he retired in 1991.\u00a0 He continued to serve as President of the Educational Foundation until 1997 and currently serves as the Historian of Phi Delta Theta.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n


<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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