The smell of burning waffles changes my focus from chocolate sauce to what's on the stove. I’ve been trying to mix any ingredients I can find to create the perfect concoction to go on top of ice cream, adding syrup, marshmallows, and chocolate chips. We have to win this round to secure the points for the final. Every year, my chapter, Tzavah AZA, hosts an Iron Chef competition in the middle of second semester. Iron Chef is a cooking competition where two teams compete against each other to see who can make the best dish with a theme and secret ingredient. We host this event at the same time every year for a reason. It brings in 8th grade prospects and gets them excited about BBYO and for members, it brings everyone back together and restarts the excitement of BBYO right as events are starting to slow down and people stop showing up.

Besides Iron Chef, another tradition my chapter does is the paperclip challenge. If you don’t know what that is, you go around a commercial area, like a mall or a shopping center, and try to trade a paperclip with people for better items. I’ve seen people get a whole rug for free just from starting with a paperclip.  We do this every chapter retreat or chapter convention as a way to build confidence to be able to communicate with our community.

Chapter traditions can range from annual events to inside jokes, and can start anytime. They keep members engaged and remind them of a fun time in the past that they had. I have heard of all sorts of random things, including a 5 minute monologue at every board meeting, a moo-off, and even a chicken wing eating contest. Traditions don’t have to be big though. They can be having certain foods, listening to music, just getting together at someone's house, as long as they reoccur. 

Traditions don't have to be in a chapter. You can do them regionally or with friends from other chapters.  Whenever I saw my friend Ethan, whose initials were E.T., at CLTC, we would touch index fingers as a reference to the classic Spielberg movie. When I see him at International Convention, that is the first thing I plan to do. International traditions include jello jousting, spooey, top ten lists, and big/little. These all build lasting friendships and connections between members.

When thinking about traditions, you might think they have to be started by someone a while ago and be done for a long time. This is not true. You can start a tradition. In fact, I urge you to, for if you don’t, who will? At your next chapter event, meeting, convention, or anytime you see your fellow Alephs or BBGs, do, say, eat, watch, listen, or create something that will become a memory and a tradition that will be carried on for generations.