1. new member Education – One Week Prior
The True Pike
new member Education – One Week Prior
We will now discuss the first topic of your New Member Education Curriculum – The True PIKE. This topic will help you understand and live our Fraternity’s values.

2. Pi Kappa Alpha Preamble
Sunday evening, March 1, 1868 University of Virginia For the establishment of friendship on a firmer and more lasting basis, for the promotion of brotherly love and kind feeling; for the mutual benefit and advancement of the interests of those with whom we sympathize and deem worthy of our regard; We have resolved to form a Fraternity, believing that, thus we can most successfully accomplish our object. Robertson Howard Julian Edward Wood James Benjamin Sclater, Jr. Fredrick Southgate Taylor Littleton Waller Tazewell (Bradford) William Alexander
The first item we will discuss related to The True PIKE is the Preamble. The Preamble is the Fraternity’s oldest values statement. The Preamble was drafted by the Fraternity’s Founders during their first meeting on March 1, The Founders clearly communicated the values that were important in establishing this Fraternity in the Preamble, which is why many members place importance on these values.

3. Our Mission
Pi Kappa Alpha is dedicated to developing men of integrity, intellect, and high moral character and to fostering a truly lifelong fraternal experience. To fulfill this mission, Pi Kappa Alpha will:
Encourage all our members to live the values taught in our ritual.
Provide innovative services and programs designed to enrich the lives of our undergraduates, alumni, and communities.
Create opportunities for our undergraduate and alumni members to participate in the life of Pi Kappa Alpha on a daily basis.
Promote and foster a spirit of pride, loyalty, inclusion and respect for Pi Kappa Alpha and its rich history.
Empower our undergraduate and alumni members to help shape Pi Kappa Alpha's future by being informed ambassadors and involved advocates.
Encourage our undergraduate and alumni members to take an active role in advancing Pi Kappa Alpha's interests by volunteering their time and by contributing to the fraternity's annual giving campaign.
Communicate effectively and efficiently with our alumni, students and host institutions through various channels on a continuous basis.
Value academic achievement and practice academic integrity.
Establish positive and lasting relationships with our host institutions, alumni and communities.
Encourage our members to be of strong mind and body.
The next item we will discuss related to the True PIKE is the Mission, Vision and Creed. To better understand each of these items, we will describe each aspect in greater detail. A Mission statement tells you the fundamental purpose of the organization. It defines who is served and the critical processes. It informs you of the desired level of performance.

4. Our Vision
Pi Kappa Alpha will set the standard of integrity, intellect, and achievement for our members, host institutions, and the communities in which we live.
A Vision statement outlines what the organization wants to be, or how it wants the world in which it operates to be. It concentrates on the future. It is a source of inspiration. It provides clear decision-making criteria.

5. Our Creed
We believe in the importance of virtue and commit to living the values of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. We recognize that truth is the foundation of all lasting association, and we will seek wisdom and knowledge while serving others in modesty and dignity. Recalling that Pi Kappa Alpha is a lifelong commitment, I therefore reaffirm to live my life with honor and courage seeking the inherent worth in each person I meet; to accept all brothers of Pi Kappa Alpha in love and friendship; and to serve my faith, my family, my community, my alma mater, and my Fraternity. Only then, by living these virtues, will we realize our fullest potential.
A creed is a statement of belief—usually religious belief or faith—often recited as part of a religious service. The terms "creed" and "faith" are sometimes used to mean religion. Where "creed" appears alongside "religion" or "faith," it can also refer to a person's political or social beliefs. As you can tell from looking at page 4 in your Garnet & Gold, the Mission, Vision and Creed also publicly describe the values of the Fraternity while setting a direction for the International organization and each Chapter.

6. The True PIKE Commitment
Four Areas of commitments:
To Myself
To my Brothers
To my Fraternity
To my Community
The final item we will discuss related to the True PIKE is The True PIKE Commitment. The True PIKE Commitment is broken into four areas of personal commitments: commitments to myself, commitments to my brothers, commitments to my Fraternity, and commitments to my community. The Fraternity is committed to developing young men so the first portion of the True PIKE Commitment calls upon you to pursue these commitments.

7. Commitments to myself
To practice academic integrity and strive for academic achievement.
To meet all financial obligations on time.
To preserve a sound mind and body, rejecting abuse of alcohol or drugs.
To pursue career goals zealously, but with integrity.
To promote brotherly love and kind feeling, nurturing friendships.
To dedicate yourself to your family, your faith, and pursuit of the truth.
The responsibilities you are called to fulfill to you personally include:
To practice academic integrity and strive for academic achievement.
To meet all financial obligations on time.
To preserve a sound mind and body, rejecting abuse of alcohol or drugs.
To pursue career goals zealously, but with integrity.
To promote brotherly love and kind feeling, nurturing friendships.
To dedicate yourself to your family, your faith, and pursuit of the truth.

8. Commitments to my Brothers
To challenge all brothers to uphold this code and hold accountable those who do not.
To respect the dignity of all; not to tolerate physical or mental abuse of any human being.
To seek and fulfill leadership roles and participate energetically in Fraternity activities.
To encourage your Chapter to establish and enforce rigorous academic standards.
To urge your Chapter not to tolerate abuse of alcohol or drugs.
To actively recruit new members who you believe will uphold the Fraternity’s values.
To participate enthusiastically in an education program to inculcate our values.
The second portion of the True PIKE Commitment pertains to commitments to your Brothers. One of the biggest differences between the Fraternity and a social club is that we care for and help our brothers. You may have been attracted to Pi Kappa Alpha for a different reason, but as a brother you learn that the greatest rewards come from what you do for your brothers. We should take responsibility for ourselves, but we should take responsibility for our brothers as well. The responsibilities you are called to fulfill to your brothers include:
To challenge all brothers to uphold this code and hold accountable those who do not.
To respect the dignity of all; not to tolerate physical or mental abuse of any human being.
To seek and fulfill leadership roles and participate energetically in Fraternity activities.
To encourage your Chapter to establish and enforce rigorous academic standards.
To urge your Chapter not to tolerate abuse of alcohol or drugs.
To actively recruit new members who you believe will uphold the Fraternity’s values.
To participate enthusiastically in an education program to inculcate our values.

9. Commitments to my Fraternity
To act at all events and activities in a manner that reflects Pi Kappa Alpha in a positive light.
To reach out to Brothers beyond your own Chapter, and to welcome those who reach out to you.
To participate actively in Fraternity-sponsored educational and leadership conferences.
To volunteer my time as an alumnus to an area Chapter or Alumni Association or to the Fraternity.
To provide financial support to Pi Kappa Alpha Foundation.
To respect the Chapter’s property and the Fraternity’s symbols.
To leave the Fraternity and your Chapter better than they were when you arrived.
The third portion of the True PIKE Commitment pertains to commitments to your Fraternity. You are now a member of this Fraternity that has a great longevity that can be attributed to the work and sacrifice of countless brothers throughout its history. As a member, you should understand the incredible effort by those brothers who came before you and recognize the debt you owe to past and future Pi Kappa Alpha members. All Pikes must strive to meet this obligation to the Fraternity. The responsibilities you are called to fulfill to your Fraternity include:
To act at all events and activities in a manner that reflects Pi Kappa Alpha in a positive light.
To reach out to Brothers beyond your own Chapter, and to welcome those who reach out to you.
To participate actively in Fraternity-sponsored educational and leadership conferences.
To volunteer my time as an alumnus to an area Chapter or Alumni Association or to the Fraternity.
To provide financial support to Pi Kappa Alpha Foundation.
To respect the Chapter’s property and the Fraternity’s symbols.
To leave the Fraternity and your Chapter better than they were when you arrived.

10. Commitments to my Community
To respect the health and safety of others.
To participate in campus activities and stay involved with my alma mater beyond my graduation.
To foster good relationships with the University faculty and administration.
To serve my community through participation in civic organizations and events.
The final portion of the True PIKE Commitment pertains to commitments to your Community. All of us are members of many communities. We have spoken about some but there are many more including neighborhoods, cities, civic organizations, businesses, etc. Pi Kappa Alpha exists to make us better men and, through our service, to make the world a better place. The responsibilities you are called to fulfill to your community include:
To respect the health and safety of others.
To participate in campus activities and stay involved with my alma mater beyond my graduation.
To foster good relationships with the University faculty and administration.
To serve my community through participation in civic organizations and events.
Only by so doing can I fulfill my commitment to Pi Kappa Alpha and be worthy to count myself a True PIKE.

11. More Information In Chapter 1 of Garnet & Gold
Questions?
Hopefully this discussion and the further reading of Chapter 1 in the Garnet & Gold will help you understand how you can fulfill this commitment. These commitments that are made apply throughout your life, but many of them have special relevance during your undergraduate years. I hope that this has inspired you to count yourself a True PIKE. This includes the overview of the first New Member Education Session. Do you have any questions?
(Answer any questions the new member may have).
Again, make sure that you read Chapter 1 in your Garnet & Gold and be prepared to discuss this material more in-depth next week. That concludes the New Member Education Session for this week. See you next week!