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Alpha Kappa Lambda

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Alpha Kappa Lambda (ΑΚΛ) is a national social fraternity founded in 1914. It has the distinction of being the first fraternity founded on the West Coast.

Contents

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.

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, Berkeley, 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 Berg, Charles Booth, Gail Cleland, Leonard Harrington Day, Alan Holmes Kimball, Harry Levi Osborn, Charles Oscar Oscar Perrine, Ludwig Rehfuse, Harold Alonzo Hal Savage, and Joseph Leon Joe Taylor.

Shortly thereafter, in 1922, Alpha Kappa Lamba spread to the Midwest, opening Gamma chapter at the University of Illinois. Gamma Chapter is the oldest continously existing chapter of AKL. The founding members were Pete Brant, Jeffrey Chevalier, Nicolas Halper, Joseph Leone, Martin McGrath, James O'Malley and Daniel Vaughan.

The founding chapter of Alpha Kappa Lambda at Berkeley has been rechartered as Alpha Xi Omega.

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."

Fraternity Badge

The official badge of the fraternity is made of ten carat (42 %) gold, and is set with eleven whole pearls. Among other principles, 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.

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.

National Service Projects

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 this wall they make a promise that their hand will not be used to harm others.

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.

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.

Chapter and Colony List

External links


North-American Interfraternity Conference
Acacia | Alpha Chi Rho | Alpha Delta Gamma | Alpha Delta Phi | Alpha Epsilon Pi | Alpha Gamma Rho | Alpha Gamma Sigma | Alpha Kappa Lambda | Alpha Phi Alpha | Alpha Phi Delta | Alpha Sigma Phi | Alpha Tau Omega | Beta Chi Theta | Beta Sigma Psi | Beta Theta Pi | Chi Phi | Chi Psi | Delta Chi | Delta Phi | Delta Psi | Delta Sigma Phi | Delta Tau Delta | Delta Upsilon | FarmHouse | Iota Phi Theta | Kappa Alpha Order | Kappa Alpha Psi | Kappa Alpha Society | Kappa Delta Phi | Kappa Delta Rho | Lambda Chi Alpha | Lambda Phi Epsilon | Lambda Sigma Upsilon | Lambda Theta Phi | Order of Omega | Phi Gamma Delta | Phi Iota Alpha | Phi Kappa Psi | Phi Kappa Sigma | Phi Kappa Tau | Phi Kappa Theta | Phi Lambda Chi | Phi Mu Delta | Phi Sigma Phi | Pi Kappa Alpha | Pi Kappa Phi | Pi Lambda Phi | Psi Upsilon | Sigma Alpha Mu | Sigma Chi | Sigma Nu | Sigma Phi Delta | Sigma Phi Epsilon | Sigma Phi Society | Sigma Tau Gamma | Tau Delta Phi | Tau Epsilon Phi | Tau Kappa Epsilon | Theta Chi | Theta Delta Chi | Theta Xi | Triangle | Zeta Beta Tau | Zeta Psi

 

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