Among resources available to fraternity advisors is a network of professional communicators intimately acquainted with the needs of others in the Greek community. The College Fraternity Editors Association (CFEA) is perhaps one of the best-kept secrets in the Greek world. Members have worked tirelessly and interfraternally to promote the positive aspects of Greek life for close to 75 years. Assocation of Fraternity Advisors has been an affiliate CFEA member for many of those years.

CFEA History

The impetus for CFEA goes back to 1883 when editors from 14 men's fraternity magazines met in Philadelphia to promote the concept of interfraternal cooperation. In the ensuing years, the editors of NIC member groups met at an annual dinner before officially organizing in 1923. In the late 1960s, discussions with editors of professional and women's fraternal publications brought about the realization that all editors would benefit from belonging to a single association.

Since 1969, CFEA has actively sought the participation of all Greek-letter society editors and their staffs in a spirit of interfraternalism that today encompasses more than 300 members including a virtual "alphabet soup" of Greeks: North American Interfraternity Confernece (NIC), National Panhellenic (NPC), National Pan Hellenic Conference (NPHC) and Professional Fraternity Assocation (PFA) member groups. That makes CFEA the oldest and most inclusive interfraternal organization. CFEA will officially celebrate its 75th anniversary in 1998.

Who We Are

A diverse group, CFEA editors were initially involved primarily in magazine production for their respective groups. Today, their editorial role has expanded to embrace all formats of written and verbal communication including public relations, promotional pieces, video projects, annual reports and maintenance of web sites.

Members also represent a variety of workplace environments. Some are full-time, paid staff members with myriad responsibilities (including executive directors who are also editors) and offices in their group's national headquarters.

Some are part-time staffers; some are volunteers who assemble their magazines on their kitchen tables. Some editors are retired professionals who may have enjoyed another career in a related field; some are recent graduates. All are united in a common bond to inform and educate their membership and to promote the positive and unique aspects of the Greek experience.

What We Do

With their magazines still the most visible vehicle for communicating, CFEA editors today routinely address virtually every topic of interest to undergraduate and alumni members. Articles singled out for excellence in writing have explored living with AIDS, overcoming breast cancer, early detection of prostate cancer and eliminating hazing. Profiles of outstanding alumni/alumnae inspire and inform. Practical tips such as "Ten Tips to a Better Substance-Free Party" give undergraduate readers tangible information they can use at the chapter level. Other topics include promoting community service projects, philanthropy highlights and news from alumni/alumnae.

A common denominator is that all articles focus on the Greek point of view, reinforcing the unique aspects of being part of a larger community.

What We Offer

CFEA provides many services and benefits to member groups. Groups fall into three categories: regular, representing any fraternal organization that operates student chapters at colleges and universities; affiliate, made up of interfraternal organizations like AFA, NIC, NPC and others; and associate, open to commercial suppliers, vendors and others with a genuine interest in the fraternity publishing industry. (Membership is free to affiliate members).

CFEA is governed by a volunteer board consisting of four officers, four directors and the immediate past president. Major decisions affecting CFEA as a whole are voted on by the full membership during annual meetings.

Committees are the lifeblood of CFEA, proving services including:

• a lively quarterly newsletter full of news and how-tos
• mailings with up-to-date information on techniques and technology
• a library of reprints and tapes for professional development
• an awards program that recognizes journalistic excellence
• a speakers bureau offering experts on various topics of interest to the Greek community
• public relations help and guides for general use
• Annual Conference
• Midyear Conference
• a directory of all members
• a comprehensive web site with resources for public use

The Annual Conference is CFEA's major benefit. The conference offers networking, outstanding speakers and workshops on topics of special interest to members The annual meeting directs future activities of the group including election of officers and directors, provides members with one-on-one critiques of magazines and an awards program recognizing excellence in writing and design.

A service of special interest to Greek organization members is CFEA's magazine exchange. CFEA members mail their magazines to each other and have an agreement allowing other groups to reprint interesting articles free of charge (though do ask for permission).

CFEA members also regularly participate in fraternal and interfraternal workshops and seminars, both regionally and nationally, presenting talks on topics related to communications. These experts have appeared at gatherings of the NIC, NPC and FEA, and are available to member organizations.

By Elizabeth Runyon