Alpha Kappa Lambda

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ΑΚΛ - Alpha Kappa Lambda

Motto	"Alethia Kai Logos" ("The Truth and the Word")
Colors	Purple and Gold
Symbol	Coat of Arms
Flower	Yellow Rose
Founded	April 22, 1914 at University of California, Berkeley
Type	Social fraternity
Headquarters	4735 Statesmen Drive Suite F. Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Factoid	First fraternity founded on the west coast
Homepage	http://www.akl.org

Alpha Kappa Lambda (ΑΚΛ) is a national collegiate fraternity founded at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1914. It currently has 30 active chapters and colonies located throughout the United States.

1 Philosophy
2 History and Tradition
3 National Service Projects
4 Chapter and Colony List
5 Trivia
6 External links

[edit] Philosophy

Alpha Kappa Lambda's ideals are centered around its five cornerstones: Judeo-Christian Principles, Leadership, Scholarship, Loyalty, and Self-Support. Alpha Kappa Lambda teaches men that the commitments outlined in the Fraternity's Ritual are not merely remote ideals, but areas of discipline for daily life. AKΛs support, and in turn have the support of, their brothers in living these principles. Through Alpha Kappa Lambda, men with different backgrounds but similar ideals unite with a common purpose: to foster excellence in scholarship, leadership, individual growth, and involvement in community service. AKΛ is Men of Character, Committed to Making A Difference.

[edit] History and Tradition

The Fraternity of Alpha Kappa Lambda (AKΛ) was founded on April 22, 1914 by a group of outstanding young men attending the University of California, Berkeley. Its birth, however, dates back to 1906 when a group of friends discussed the "need of Christian men for a place to live and study that was within their (financial) means."

After assisting in the cleanup of the Great 1906 San Francisco Earthquake, four students re-addressed their desire to organize a house club during a YMCA conference in Pacific Grove, California. It was decided to form "Los Amigos" in 1907, which was a house club named from the Spanish translation of "The Friends." Shortly after, seven more men joined Los Amigos.

Rev. "Serious Minded" Gail Cleland, one of the original eleven members of Los Amigos, recalled, "When we organized Los Amigos as a house club...house clubs and fraternities were dime a dozen. They came, they lived for a few months or a few years, then they went out of existence again. But Los Amigos did not go out of existence."

He continues, "And seven years later...in response to the suggestion of Benjamin Ide Wheeler, the president of the University of California, we organized our house club as a national fraternity of one chapter."

The founders of Los Amigos were a diverse group, but they shared a common desire for studious living in a college environment and continued integrity after their formal education concluded.

The original founding fathers of the Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity were William Floyd Barnum, Herman "Richie" "Dickie" Bergh, Charles Junius "Charlie" Booth,"Serious Minded" Gail Cleland, Leonard Harrington Day, Alan Holmes Kimball, Harry Levi Osborn, Charles Oscar "Oscar" Perrine, Ludwig Rehfuess, Harold Alonzo Hal Savage, Joseph Leon "Joe" Taylor.

Shortly thereafter, in 1921, Alpha Kappa Lambda spread to the Midwest, opening Gamma chapter at the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana. Gamma is the oldest continuously active chapter. The founding members were Michael Argao, Pete Brant, Jeffrey Chevalier, Nicolas Halper, Joseph Leone, Martin McGrath, James O'Malley and Daniel Vaughan.

[edit] Fraternity Motto

The motto of The Fraternity of Alpha Kappa Lambda is "Alethia Kai Logos," which in Classical Greek means "The Truth and the Word."Former AKΛ National President William B. Herms explains "The motto is a symbolic statement of our Ideals. We are seekers after Truth, the highest Truth, if you please . . . And the Word, which again lends itself to interpretation."

[edit] Fraternity Creed

I believe in the Five Ideals of Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity and subscribe to an emphasis on Judeo-Christian Principles, Leadership, Scholarship, Loyalty, and Self-Support.

I believe in brotherhood as friendship of the highest calling.

I accept membership in Alpha Kappa Lambda as an affiliation that is binding for life.

I pledge myself to treat others as I would have them treat me.

I shall respect the opinion of others.

I shall commit myself to a style of membership in Alpha Kappa Lambda that is an educationally and socially maturing process. The goal of this process is achieving a wholeness of manhood that is prepared to assume leadership responsility in fulfilling the obligations of life.

[edit] Fraternity Badge

The official badge of the fraternity is made of ten carat (42%) gold. An Alpha and a Lambda rest in the background (covered with the flowers of a dogwood, representing Christian Principles) and the Kappa is raised, set with eleven whole pearls. The eleven pearls represent the original founders of the Los Amigos Club. The badge is worn only on collared shirts, sweaters, or suit vests, and in the traditional position over the heart. The badge may only be worn by initiated members of the Fraternity.

[edit] The Yellow Rose

The Souvenir de Claudis Pernet, described as a tantalizing yellow rose, was adopted as the Fraternity's Official Flower at the 6th National Conclave in 1927, because "it was not expensive, and its deep golden color matched well with the colors of AKΛ." The flower was a popular rose in early 1900s. While the Souvenir de Claudis Pernet itself is no longer widely grown, it has many hybridized descendants. The rose was originally bred by a famous French rose-breeder, Joseph Pernet-Ducher, who named the rose after one of his sons who died in World War I.

[edit] National Service Projects

[edit] These Hands Don't Hurt

Alpha Kappa Lambda realizes that sexual assault is a serious problem on college campuses and believes that it can be fought through education, service, and philanthropic projects. The philanthropic fundraising aspect is the most visible of the three. The fundraising is performed via a “Promise Wall.” The Promise Wall is displayed prominently in a high traffic area of campus. Students, faculty, and members of the community are asked to add their “hand” to the Promise Wall for a contribution of $1. By placing their “hand” on the wall they make a promise that their hand will not be used to harm others.

[edit] Cystic Fibrosis

The fraternity adopted cystic fibrosis as a national philanthropy at the 1990 National Conclave. Chapters support the fight against Cystic Fibrosis in many ways. Chapter fundraisers provide financial support to local organizations, research, and individuals. Chapters provide manpower to help local organizations' events. Members can have holiday or birthday parties for children suffering from CF. There are countless ways to touch the lives of CF sufferers and their families.

[edit] Adopt-A-School

The Adopt-A-School program was endorsed by the National Executive Council during their 1994 Winter meeting. The goal of the program is to provide for the formation of one-on-one relationships between local college students and local elementary students. This program provides an opportunity for college students to give something back to their host communities while devoting time and energy to be a role model for young children.

[edit] Chapter and Colony List

[edit] Trivia

The founder's of Alpha Kappa Lambda intended for the fraternity to grow no larger than 100 chapters. The intention was to establish only two chapters of AKL in each state; one chapter at the most prestigious public university and another chapter at the most prestigious private university. Therefore, the first chapter was established at the University of California-Berkeley and the second chapter was established at Stanford University.
Alpha Kappa Lambda has the distinction of being the first fraternity founded on the West Coast.
The original "Alpha" Chapter at the University of California - Berkeley de-affilaited from the fraternity in 1997 to form the local asian-interest fraternity Alpha Xi Omega.