An Associate Member doesn't have to wait for initiation to make a real difference in the chapter. The badge changes on Initiation Day, but the ability to contribute doesn't — that starts the day someone accepts a bid. This article gives the Membership Orientation Officer a straightforward way to help Associate Members see, and act on, the impact they can have right now.
The myth: "I can't really contribute until I'm initiated"
Most Associate Members quietly believe their job right now is to watch, learn, and wait. That belief feels respectful — but it's wrong, and it costs the chapter real energy and ideas. Initiation changes status, not capability. An Associate Member can show up, work hard, and shape the chapter's culture immediately.
⚠️ Watch out — If you hear an AM say "I'll help more once I'm a brother," don't just nod along. That's the exact moment to correct the record.
What immediate impact actually looks like
Impact right now doesn't mean an Associate Member should run a committee or vote on chapter business. It means showing up in ways that are available to them today:
Fresh energy and ideas. New members notice things veteran brothers stopped seeing — an event that's gone stale, a process that's more complicated than it needs to be. Their outside perspective is a genuine asset, not a liability.
Setting the tone for their own class. How one Associate Member shows up — on time, engaged, reliable — sets a bar the rest of the AM class measures itself against.
Representing the chapter well, publicly. On campus, at philanthropy events, in classes — an Associate Member is already representing Phi Kappa Tau's reputation, whether they've been initiated or not.
💡 Tip — Ask Associate Members directly: "What's one thing about how we do things that you'd do differently?" Most brothers never ask new members this. It signals their input matters now, not just eventually.
How MOOs enable this, not just describe it
Telling AMs they can contribute isn't enough — they need real openings to do it. That's the MOO's job.
Give Associate Members real openings to contribute:
Ask for their input on AM-program decisions (an activity, a schedule, a format)
Give AMs actual tasks at chapter events — not just attendance
Publicly acknowledge specific effort or ideas from AMs in front of the chapter
Connect at least one AM idea to a real change, however small, so the loop closes
✅ Best practice — When an Associate Member's idea or effort leads to an actual change, say so out loud at a chapter meeting. Nothing reinforces "you matter now" like a visible result.
FAQ
Isn't it disrespectful for an Associate Member to speak up before they've earned it?
Contributing effort and ideas isn't the same as claiming authority. An AM can work hard and offer a perspective without overstepping — that distinction is worth making explicit so AMs don't confuse humility with silence.
What if an Associate Member's idea isn't realistic?
Take the idea seriously even if the answer is no. Explain why, rather than dismissing it — that keeps the door open for the next idea, which matters more than any single suggestion.
How do I get quieter Associate Members to actually engage, not just the confident ones?
Ask them directly and privately, rather than in a group setting. A one-on-one question like "what's one thing you'd change?" often gets a real answer that a group discussion never would.
Last reviewed: August 2026.