The Association tries to keep Tau Beta Pi-ese to a minimum. You've seen that we've referred throughout this manual to the national Headquarters, rather than "central office," "the national office," or "national;" the Secretary-Treasurer or Executive Director, rather than "Executive Secretary"; the Executive Council rather than a "board of directors;" and the chapter Advisor rather than a "chapter sponsor."
The only other idiosyncrasies of the lingo concern the legal name, the type of organization, and the classification of members.
The legal name of Tau Beta Pi is The Tau Beta Pi Association, Incorporated. It is recommended that pronunciation of the name be: Taw (as in raw) Bay-ta Pie.
The Association is an honor society, not a fraternity. An honor society's purpose is to encourage and recognize superior scholarship and/or leadership in education. A fraternity's purpose on the other hand, is to organize the social life of its members as a contributing factor to their educational development. These purposes are valid, but quite different! Calling Tau Beta Pi a fraternity, an honorary fraternity, an honorary society, or an "honorary" is wrong; the correct terminology is honor society.
Your local unit of the national organization is properly called a chapter, not a club. The connotation of a club includes limited activity and limited geographical scope.
Those individuals who are being considered for election to membership should be called candidates. Those individuals, or candidates, who have been elected to membership should be called electees, not pledges. Tau Beta Pi has electees; fraternities and sororities have pledges.
All Tau Beta Pi members, junior, senior, or graduate engineering students, alumni, or eminent engineers at the time of their initiation, have the same rights, privileges, and responsibilities. (See Article VI, Section 1.) There are several eligibility routes to membership, but once initiated, all are just members. There is no such thing as an honorary member of the Association — there is but one class of membership.
Tau Beta Pi is the world's largest engineering society, and all members are considered life members. Those 76,000+ members who have purchased life subscriptions to THE BENT are properly referred to as life subscribers. Leaders of committees are properly called chairs.
In accord with Constitution Article I,
the Executive Council wishes to remind the chapters that it will consider
requests for use of the insignia replica under the following guidelines:
1. Design must primarily advance the image/visibility of and not cause
embarrassment to Tau Beta Pi.
2. To maintain a uniform image, only the upright Bent defined in the
Constitution and Bylaws (proportions MUST be maintained, stylized version
are not permitted) or the new millennium logo (image AND text) may be used.
The
centennial (slanted) logo is no longer approved for use. Approved graphics
are available for download.
3. Design MUST be approved by the Executive Council in accordance
with the Tau Beta Pi Constitution & Bylaws. Submit design to Headquarters
for approval BEFORE printing.
4. Items using the insignia or name of Tau Beta Pi are for Tau
Beta Pi members ONLY.
Rev.—August 2004
Report of the Committee on Image, 1974 Convention
The 1973 Convention was concerned that Tau Beta Pi's public image, particularly on campuses, had slipped. Membership refusals by qualified students had risen in recent years. Why? A special committee of the 1974 Convention was appointed to delve into the problem. This is its report. The committee identified five general problem areas and numerous specific problems within those areas. It then suggested solutions to each. The Convention ordered that the committee report be made a part of the President's Book. (The material has been updated to reflect changes which have been made since 1973.)
General problem I.
The public does not know about Tau Beta Pi's purposes and functions.
Specific problem A.
Tau Beta Pi fails to publicize adequately its purposes and functions.
Suggested solutions :
1. Information brochures can be obtained free of charge from Headquarters. Chapters should distribute them (along with orientation material) to freshmen and sophomores, or in pre-engineering classes, or by some other effective method.
2. The local chapter should try to contribute to fairs and expositions or open houses sponsored by the university or college.
3. The chapter should use Society posters and displays effectively and conspicuously. Posters which outline the eligibility requirements are available free of charge from Headquarters. Blank announcement posters with the logo and space for chapter messages may be obtained at no charge.
4. In universities where "blue books" are required for tests, chapters could supply them with the name "Tau Beta Pi" printed on the front.
5. Publicity in local and/or campus newspapers should be sought. Chapters should issue news releases on major events. Invitations to initiation banquets could be sent to reporters. Individual members can write, or act as resource persons for, articles relating to their disciplines for the campus newspaper.
6. The Association should consider the possibility of implementing a national public relations program.
7. The Executive Council should identify nationally known engineers and recommend to the host chapters of Conventions that they be elected as eminent engineers and initiated into membership at the Convention. Appropriate national news coverage of the event should be sought.
Specific problem B.
Members of Tau Beta Pi have little or no contact with college freshmen and sophomores and with high-school students.
Suggested solutions
1. Members of the chapter should, with faculty approval, make brief presentations in the classroom to acquaint secondary students with the purposes and ideals of Tau Beta Pi.
2. Members of the chapter should try to persuade faculty members to give verbal support to Tau Beta Pi in the classroom.
3. Chapters should consider recognizing outstanding freshmen and sophomores as a way of acquainting them with the purpose of Tau Beta Pi.
4. Members should accompany faculty members on guidance trips to high schools.
5. Members may assist in sponsoring Junior Engineering Technical Society (JETS) chapters in local high schools.
6. Headquarters has a slide show on the national organization for a nominal charge. These slides may be added to slides of local chapter activities to present a view of Tau Beta Pi both locally and nationally.
7. Headquarters might help to establish on any campus a local society to honor promising freshmen and sophomores.
General problem II.
Prospective members misunderstand or are alienated by Tau Beta Pi's requirements for membership.
Specific problem A.
Students refuse membership because they cannot afford to pay the initiation fee.
Suggested solutions
1. The chapter should make clear to prospective members that the fee can be borrowed from either national or chapter funds.
2. The chapter should make clear that the life-long benefits of Tau Beta Pi membership are greater than the cost.
Specific problem B.
Prospective members dislike having to write an essay required of electees.
Suggested solutions
1. The national Bylaws no longer require an electee essay. Instead, emphasis is placed on electee participation in an activity fostering a spirit of liberal culture (Bylaw VII, Sec. 7.01).
2. This activity may include writing an essay, but if that requirement discourages acceptance of membership by candidates, the chapter is strongly urged to drop that requirement.
Specific problem C.
Meaningless or too time-consuming projects may keep members away.
Suggested solutions
1. The chapter should select worthy projects in which electees are asked to participate. "While duties for the electees are permissible, they shall be limited to tasks and duties that are a test of an electee's intellectuality and mentality rather than physical strength and endurance . . ." (Bylaw VII, Sec. 7.02). Projects that are not meaningful — that do not offer a service, for example, or that are insulting to the electee's mentality — will alienate prospective members.
2. Projects should not consume an inordinate amount of the electee's time "to the possible detriment of required college work" (Bylaw VII, Sec. 7.02). We recommend one day as the maximum length of time required for completion of the project.
3. A good project may be repeated every year; each electee project need not be unique. There is advantage to be gained, in fact, by associating the chapter with a particular project.
Specific problem D.
Pre-initiation activities may be degrading or too costly.
Suggested solutions
1. Chapters must not abuse or degrade their electees in any way. "Physical violence, offense to dignity or decency, and public exercises that make the electee ridiculous in any way shall not be permitted" (Bylaw VII, Sec. 7.02).
2. Costs of any electee activity should be limited. "The expense of any electee activity shall be carefully considered and not be prohibitory to the Chapter or the electee" (Bylaw VII, Sec. 7.02).
Specific problem E.
Secrecy and privacy may obscure the organization.
Suggested solutions
1. Whether Tau Beta Pi's motto should be secret has been debated often at recent Conventions. It should be emphasized that little besides the Association's motto is secret. But if the chapter feels that secrecy obscures the organization and alienates prospective members, the chapter should work through the Convention in accord with Constitutional procedures to abolish that secrecy. Some members feel, however, that secrecy lends charm to the Association.
2. Some members feel that opening the now-private initiation ceremony to the public would improve the standing of the organization on the campus. Such members should work through Constitutional channels to remove the requirement of privacy. Other members argue, however, that privacy enhances the ceremony.
General Problem III.
Many students fail to recognize the values of membership in Tau Beta Pi.
Specific problems A.
Students feel that they do not need the recognition for their academic achievements that membership confers; they regard their achievements as self-rewarding or find their grade records gratifying enough.
Suggested solutions
1. Chapters should emphasize that membership in Tau Beta Pi is more than recognition of academic achievement. It is also recognition of exemplary character.
2. Chapters should emphasize that, beyond recognizing academic achievement and exemplary character, membership in Tau Beta Pi also provides the opportunity for service, the chance to work with fellow members on worthwhile and fulfilling projects of a social and academic nature.
Specific problem B.
Students do not appreciate the tangible immediate benefits of membership in Tau Beta Pi.
Suggested solutions
1. The chapter should emphasize the availability of undergraduate and graduate loan funds.
2. The chapter should emphasize the availability of graduate fellowships.
Specific problem C.
Students are not aware of future benefits of membership in Tau Beta Pi.
Suggested solutions
1. Chapters should emphasize the importance which employers attach to membership in Tau Beta Pi.
2. Alumnus members could help to underscore the benefits, both tangible and intangible, of membership after graduation.
Specific problem D.
Some students complain that Tau Beta Pi enshrines an elite group of academic snobs.
Suggested solutions
1. Members of the chapter who display a snobbish attitude should be tactfully reproached by the president or Advisor of the chapter.
2. Members should explain to the student body that though Tau Bates are distinguished by their superior achievements and performances, they do not regard themselves as superior people. Furthermore, membership in Tau Beta Pi charges a Tau Bate with the responsibility to live up to his or her potential as a leader in the future.
3. Members who personally deliver letters of invitation to eligible candidates will help to combat the charge of snobbishness.
General problem IV.
Members of Tau Beta Pi may not enjoy good relationships with other people on the campus.
Specific problem A.
The local chapter suffers from lack of faculty support.
Suggested solutions
1. Personal contact with the dean of engineering, who can influence and relate to most faculty members, should be made early in the year.
2. The chapter members should personally invite faculty members, especially the dean, to initiations and banquets and arrange for them to participate in the initiation ceremony as members of the team.
3. If repeated attempts to interest faculty members in the chapter fail, members should seek help from off-campus alumnus members, perhaps through a nearby Tau Beta Pi alumnus chapter, inviting them to talk to faculty members to arouse their interest in Tau Beta Pi.
4. Faculty members who are candidates for chapter Advisor should be carefully screened. The chapter should weigh each faculty member's merits and the amount of time he or she has to devote to Tau Beta Pi. Faculty members should be interviewed so that the chapter can be sure that they are in accord with Tau Beta Pi principles and have the time to participate as chapter officers.
5. Faculty members may be initiated as eminent engineers.
6. Faculty members should be personally asked for suggestions of projects and other activities.
7. Faculty members may be asked to hand out letters of invitation to eligible candidates.
Specific problem B.
The chapter may be competing with other societies.
Suggested solutions
1. The chapter should try to coordinate activities with other societies.
2. A joint calendar of activities and shared activities are two ways of establishing cooperation instead of competition.
Specific problem C.
The local chapter may be too isolated from the rest of the college community.
Suggested solutions
1. The chapter should extend its social activities to include others besides its own members to promote a closer relationship between Tau Bates and the rest of the campus.
2. The chapter's service projects should reach into the college community and perhaps beyond.
3. To show its concern for excellence beyond its own membership, the chapter may honor local engineers and politicians for achievements of engineering excellence in appropriate ways.
General problem V.
Problems within a chapter can ruin its reputation in the college community.
Specific problem A.
Poor management by chapter officers diminishes the chapter's effectiveness.
Suggested solutions
1. The application of existing policies, principles, and machinery as explained at the annual Convention will greatly reduce the possibilities of bad management.
2. Frequent reference to the President's Book and the Constitution and Bylaws will assist officers in the conduct of chapter affairs.
3. Retiring officers should present concise and detailed instructions to their successors.
4. The District Directors should offer suggestions on effective chapter management to the chapter officers.
5. The Executive Council should develop a program of assistance for chapters that are in difficulty.
Several posters and other items exist to help you make Tau Beta Pi better known on your campus, which will make your work much easier. Please order and place them on bulletin boards where students will see them. A chapter has done a good job of public relations on its campus if when offered membership a junior or senior electee replies "Tau Beta Pi? Of course I'll join!"
Three impressive new POSTERS became available in 2003. In addition, the "Information About Tau Beta Pi" poster, and blank bulletin sheet for chapter announcements are also available. More details and an on-line order form are on the website and on page C-43.
The INTRODUCTORY BROCHURE is used to describe the fundamentals of Tau Beta Pi and the benefits of being a member to the general public, potential members, and supporters. Brochures may accompany mailings to students and parents and may be distributed to engineering freshmen in registration packets, orientation packets, or during engineering open houses. The DISPENSER holds 10 brochures and can be stapled to bulletin boards. Free BOOKMARKS are also available. The ELECTEE BROCHURE is designed for chapters to provide elected students with additional information about membership.
A CHAPTER VIDEO/CD, useful in explaining Tau Beta Pi to electees, parents, or freshmen, was prepared for chapter use in 2002. One CD was given to each chapter in 2002 and in 2003. The $5 replacement shipping charge for either of these items can be added to your chapter account. Use the order form on page C-43.
Many chapters have an assortment of keys and certificates which have not been distributed to members. It is the chapter's responsibility to see that each Tau Bate receives his or her membership insignia.
A excellent electee project would be the distribution of keys and certificates. The Headquarters staff will be happy to email a file of your chapter members and their addresses to you upon request.
Please give this idea consideration because all members should receive their insignia. Conversely, care should be taken that insignia are not given to those electees who were never initiated.
The Headquarters staff needs your help in locating the 125,000 "lost" members of Tau Beta Pi. Chapters that have participated in the Lost Alumni Project since 1985 have found 46,000 lost Tau Bates through their alumni offices and telephone directories. Many alumni have written to us to express their appreciation for getting in touch with them again.
If you are interested in this project, ask the staff to send the chapter file and instructions to you. This is a worthwhile project for a small group of your electees to complete, and your chapter will be credited with 10ยข for each address.
THE TAU BETA PI ASSOCIATION
Order online at www.tbp.org/chapters/resources or download .pdf version of order form
All correspondence from national Headquarters will be sent to you by first-class, priority mail, or by email. Priority mail is simply first-class mail which weighs more than 10 ounces; special rates depend upon distance. Packages are shipped by United Parcel Service.
1. First-Class Mail or Priority Mail (must use P.O. Box address)
All reports and correspondence to Headquarters should be sent by first-class mail to:
Tau Beta Pi
P.O. Box 2697
Knoxville, TN 37901-2697
First-class mail should reach the addressee within three days after it is posted. If something must reach us sooner, use express mail which is explained below.
2. Express Mail, UPS, or FedEx (must use building address)
Use express mail for any urgent correspondence. This service is available in most cities; mail taken to your post office is guaranteed to be delivered by 3:00 p.m. the next day. The cost of this service depends upon your distance from Knoxville; check your local post office for current rates. DO NOT place the P.O. Box in the address for express mail; doing so will delay your package.
The Headquarters address to use for express mail is:
Tau Beta Pi
Room 508, Dougherty Engineering Bldg.
1512 Middle Drive
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN 37996-2215
3. United Parcel Service
The Headquarters staff sends all membership materials, Bent castings, and other items to chapters by UPS. (The exceptions are Puerto Rico Alpha and Alaska Alpha, for which priority mail delivery is used.)
UPS delivery requires an address where someone will be during normal business hours to accept shipments—such as your chief Advisor's, your dean's, or departmental office. The company will not deliver to post office box addresses or dorm rooms.
Please notify Headquarters of the best address to use for UPS delivery of your chapter supplies.
4. Fax
The Headquarters facsimile number is listed below. Use it to expedite any correspondence, but realize that facsimile documents are not permanent records. Therefore any original paper membership reports must be completed, signed, dated, and mailed.
FAX: 1-865/546-4579
THE TAU BETA PI ASSOCIATION
CHAPTER SUPPLIES AVAILABLE FROM HEADQUARTERS (.pdf of order form)
1. ANNOUNCEMENT SHEETS, BLANK. Heavy paper, 8.5" x 11", Tau Beta Pi heading, with space for inserting notices of chapter meetings, etc., free.
2. AWARD CERTIFICATES. 8.5" x 11", "blank" with regulation Tau Beta Pi name and Bent at top and gold seal at lower left, for chapter awards, ready for special lettering by your chapter, $3 each.
3. BOOKMARKS. For distribution to engineering freshmen and others, free.
4. CANDIDATE PACKETS. Introductory brochure, Electee brochure, Chapter brochure, and Wallet, for distribution to electees, free.
5. CASTINGS of THE BENT. Rough bronze, flat back, 4.7" long, $4 and paperweight style with base, 4" high, $9.
Medium: 18" high, unpolished costs $180 (polished unavailable). Shipping charges average $50 and are additional. Allow 6-8 weeks for delivery.
Large Monument: 4-foot hollow and assembled costs:
Unpolished $1,090
Polished Unavailable
Shipping charges by truck average $275 and are additional. Allow 4-6 weeks for delivery.
6. CHAPTER BROCHURE. Blank brochure for chapter use, free.
7. CHAPTER ROLL BOOK. Gold stamped with chapter name, space for 1,000 signatures, used in initiation ceremony, $50.
8. CHAPTER STATIONERY. Generic included. Price list available upon request.
9. CONSTITUTION & BYLAWS & ELIGIBILITY CODE BOOKLET, INFORMATION BOOKLET, ETHICS BROCHURE, & LIFE SUBSCRIPTION CARD. Supplied in sufficient number for electees, free.
10. CREED CARDS. Available as needed, free.
11. ELECTEE BROCHURE. Informational brochure ("Decision") about Tau Beta Pi, for distribution to electees, free.
12. ENGINEERING ETHICS. Informational sheet with code of ethics of engineers, for distribution to electees, free.
13. ENGINEERING FUTURES BROCHURE. Descriptive brochure about the Engineering Futures Program for distribution to interested members, free.
14. FILM PRINTS of THE BENT, TAU BETA PI SEAL, or GREEK LETTERS of TAU BETA PI (on website). Suitable for making any size engraving or negative for printing programs, etc., $3 each.
15. CHAPTER PROJECT IDEAS (only on website). Details of recent projects conducted by chaptersare available only on-line.
16. INTRODUCTORY BROCHURE. Descriptive brochure about Tau Beta Pi, for distribution to engineering freshmen and others, free.
17. INTRODUCTORY BROCHURE DISPENSER. To be filled with
Introductory brochures and hung on a wall or bulletin board, free.
18. INVITATION to ORIENTATION, w/envelope (We found the best in you), free.
19. INVITATION to ELECTEES, w/response card & envelope (You are invited),
free.
20. MEMBERSHIP CERTIFICATE, replacement for active members, $13.
21. MEMBERSHIP KEY, replacement for active members. Gold-finish, $12.
22. MEMBERSHIP KEYS and CERTIFICATES, REPLACEMENT for ALUMNI. Price list and order form printed in THE BENT and on the website.
23. MEMBERSHIP INSIGNIA. Price list & order form are printed in THE BENT and on the website.
24. MOTTO SLIPS. Available as needed, free.
25. POSTERS, INFORMATIONAL. Series of three individual, for bulletin board(s), free.
26. PRESIDENT'S BOOK. 3-ring binder, for 8.5" x 11" paper, $25.
27. PRESIDENT'S BOOK PAGES. Complete set, to replace damaged or worn sets, free.
28. REPORTS SETS, BLANK. Graduate-student Eligibility, Election, Final Action reports, and catalog cards are sent regularly as needed. Extras free.
29. RIBBON. For tying keys, brown or white, 100-yard roll — $15.
30. RITUAL. May be checked for correctness at any time if sent to the Secretary-Treasurer. Replacement free.
31. SECRETARY'S BOOK. 3-ring binder, for 8.5" x 11" paper, $35.
32. SECRETARY'S-BOOK PAGES. Blank, reinforced, 8.5" x 11", 50 for $3.
33. STOLE. White satin graduation collar embroidered with Bent, $18
34. TREASURER'S BOOK. Loose-leaf covers, 0.5" rings $10.
35. TREASURER'S BOOKKEEPING PAGES. Forms 1 & 2, fit Treasurer's Book, free.
36. VIDEO/CD. A new CD or VHS-format video with information about Tau Beta Pi (2002) and with 1985 Historical Slide Show, $5 shipping.
_______________________________
NOTES:
• All items may be charged to chapter accounts.
• Delivery will be by United Parcel Service.
• Insert this list into your President's
Book.
Rev.—August 2004
| ©2008 The Tau Beta Pi Association, Inc. All rights reserved. All individual email addresses on Tau Beta Pi national or chapter websites are exclusively for use in the conduct of Tau Beta Pi related business. Any other use, including recruiting and marketing, is strictly prohibited. Founding member of the Association of College Honor Societies. Contact Us | Address Change | Links | Discussion Board | Site Map |
 |
|