Being as its a beautiful day, Tie decides to take a nice long walk, to enjoy the sun. He begins thinking, as he usually does when he takes walks, and today he decided to make a speech. He finds the closest car, and jumps up on its hood, for everybody to see, and hear him.

Hello friends. Its been a little while since I've made a speech, so I've decided its about time I get my ass on it. Today, I'd like to talk about one of the more popular topics in the Streets...Made Men.

The rank of Made Man is a prestiged one. Most agree with this, or at least say they do, because that's what people want to hear. I think a lot of us just say it, because we've been bombarded with it since the day we entered this life. I'm not excluding myself, I've been thinking about it lately, and I don't think I really understood what it meant to become Made. Even when I achieved the rank myself, I still don't think I fully understood it.

As a Captain, that just wasn't going to work. After thinking about it for awhile, I've come up with what I think the rank actually means, or at least what it means to me.

First off, I don't think there's any one thing that should determine whether you give a person their button. Everybody is different, and we all have our own unique qualities and talents, so I don't get the point of trying to force everybody into the same criteria. Some of us are great earners, some of us great speakers, some of us just have a certain something that you can't really explain, but you can just listen to the person, or observe their actions, and you just know they're going somewhere. Either way, a leader should look at each of their members' individual talents, and try to make use of those inside their crew. They should also use those talents as a basis for if that member is worthy of becoming Made.

Personally, I do look for a bit more Street presence in a person. It shows me what they are all about, and makes my decision about their character a lot easier, but I certainly won't force a person to speak in the Streets, especially if they don't feel they have anything to say. Activity in the Streets, isn't the only way I can to get know my members, and if I don't take the time to at least TRY to get to know them, than I don't deserve the HQ I've been given. Don't get me wrong, I do suggest that my members be more active in the Streets, and that I want to see more out of them, especially if I can see that they have great potential, but its up to them whether they take my advice or not.

In essence, what I'm saying is you can't just pick one thing, or even a certain group of things, and say "this is what it takes to be Made." Everybody is going to have a different opinion on it anyway, so really, its up to the CL to determine it, but I urge all CLs, don't tell your members to "do this, or do that if you want to become Made." The rank is far more important than a list of requirements. If you take the time to get closer with your members, and really find out more about them, you'll know a lot better, if they're actually worthy of the rank. Take earnings, and Street Presence, and all that jazz into consideration, but don't let it be your deciding factor.

Now all of that being said, I want to let you all know about something else. The way I've decided to figure out who's worthy of the rank, and who's not is to put a system into effect in my crew, that will assist me, and Godmother Aurora, in determining who's worthy, and who's not. Actually, as of writing this speech, I've already put the system into place, and I welcome all of you to "The Maple Leaf", in Las Vegas to see it first hand.

Anyway, anytime one of my members' buttons is there, I do not hide it from them, even if I'm unsure about them yet, I let them know that its there. Upon letting them know, I then schedule a meeting between them, myself, and Godmother Aurora. These meetings take place at "The Maple Leaf", There are two reasons for this. One, because I want the meeting to be relaxed. Its going to be one of the most important meetings of the member's life, and even though I want them to feel a certain sense of nervousness and anxiety, I don't want them to have a coronary. The atmosphere is a relaxed one, where we can all have a few drinks, and talk like peers. We may all be of different ranks, and positions, but we are together in the life of crime, and together in the same crew (Family if their meeting goes well enough.)

The other reason, is because I don't feel the need to hide the meetings behind closed doors. If the meeting goes well, and the member gets their button, I want anybody to be able to see why. The person is going to become a Made member of this community, you all have the right to see why they were given that privilege. Also, if they aren't given their button, I want all of my members to be able to see why, so they can learn from it. It also allows the community to see what I look for, in a Made person.

The meeting consists of Godmother Aurora, and myself, asking a series of questions. The questions will be about what the person has accomplished, what more they want to accomplish, and there may also be questions about the person's personality and background, etc. This way we can what type of life this person comes from, and where they might fit best. The person's earnings, street presence, etc will be brought up, and will have a little bit to do with whether they are promoted or not, but mostly we'll be analyzing the answers they give us, and they way they carry themselves during the meeting. If we decide that they aren't ready for their button, we will explain why, and also go over what more we want to see from them, and what they need to work on for their next meeting, so we can go over their progress from the previous meeting, and determine if they've improved enough.

That is another thing I'd like to go over. Some leaders, in my ancestors' past, simply said "yes" or "no" to a person's promotion, or didn't even say anything at all. I think that members should be told when their button in, and given a chance to accept what is waiting for them. In the history of this community, a lot of leaders simply said "no" and left it at that No reason why, and no explanation as to what they needed to do, to improve. I understand we're all adults, and we should know what's expected of us, for the most part, but we aren't mind-readers. If we aren't doing enough to advance, we should be told what more is expected of us, so we can better serve our crews and Families.

That's pretty much all I have today. I'd like to hear your opinions and feedback, as well as what YOU think it means to be Made. I want to know if there's any flaws in my ideas, that I didn't notice, and I'm always willing to learn from others. If you think my system needs improved upon, tell me, I'll listen. I may not agree with you, but I might, and even change up a few things. A good leader is always a student of the game, in ANY way of life. If you aren't constantly learning from others, you are doomed to be left in the dust.

I think you ideas are grate, and Im not saying this because it is what you what to hear. Each person is uniqu, and although a family needs some structure for a reason of getting your button, not everyone is going to fallow the same path. Let one man be a strong earner for the family, but only have a small part in the streets, others may be real active in the streets and but have weak assests somewere else,  I well agree with your opinoin on how to raise your family, and even being able to see it from the inside, you have done no less than an amazing job.

Boss Tie I have listened to your speech and I like some parts and dislike others. The main part I totally disagree with is that you are going to present your Made ceremonies for all to see. Of course this is your choice and you can do whatever you wish with your family.

In my eyes and my beliefs that I was brought up on and the tradition of the Made ceremony is one that should be a private ceremony with the only people attending and being apart of this thing is those in the family and the ones participating in the ceremony itself. Its not for others to see and be able to take part in. Specially those not already in this thing of ours. Basically you are breaking a very long standing tradition and this bothers me some.

Like I said earlier though it is your family and you of course can do what you wish.

Getting Made is the biggest day in a mafiosi's life. Before getting the button, you are an employee of the Family. Afterwards, you are a member, one of the Family's Qualified Men.

I agree that each person brings different skills to the table and should be judged individually and not on some artificial criteria. Still, just as people have different talents, bosses have different ideas about which skills are the most important for getting Made. What may make you a golden boy in one Family may be overlooked in another. It's just a matter of priorities.

That's why it's nice to get feedback from your boss. Being told that the Family values Talent A over Talent B gives you impetus to develope those skills that your organization most values.

Achieving the position of made man is very much a priveledge, and not a right.  You do not earn made man just because you have paid your dues to the family.  Any thug and goomba can do that.   You need to prove your worth and usefulness to your family.

If Tie is looking for street presence in his men, then that is what he's looking for.  Each boss is different, and those who do not approve of this practice may buy out at any time.

I however, think it's marvelous that Tie has standards.

Mr. Walker, I understand where you're coming from. But its not really the Made Man ceremony that I'm doing in public. Their ceremony is still held in the confines of my HQ. The only thing that is done in public, is giving them an interview, to determine if they are worthy or not. The decision will not be made in public,it will be made between Godmother Aurora and myself in private.

The only thing that will be done in plain view, will be the asking, and answering, of the questions. I see no problem with it at all, but I can see where you're coming from with tradition. The only problem I have, is that people are afraid to shake things up, and do something new because of "tradition", when they don't really even understand it in the first place. Sometimes we need a change, and I personally want a bit of change in this. I don't expect every family to follow my lead, nor do I want them to. This is just something I want to try, if it doesn't work out, I'll nix it, and admit that my idea was wrong. If at anytime Godmother Aurora feels that this is a bad way to go, once again I'll nix it, and take it in stride.

I think a lot of us are afraid to try new things, because we don't want to stir the pot. I have no problem stirring the pot, if there's a chance I can do something that sticks out. This isn't any one person's community, we all share it. We shouldn't know every little thing about each other, and our Families, but if I'm going to bring about a new Made into this community, I think others have the right to know my reasoning behind it. Once again, this is just my view on it, and I respect all other views about it. I have no problem letting my business be shown in public though, I have nothing to hide, and if I ever do, it will be something I'll keep in private.

But as I was saying, its really not the actual ceremony that will be conducted in public, its just the questioning, that will help Aurora and myself, determine if the person is worthy or not. And even that isn't in broad daylight, I'm only doing it at one place, in one city. If there's any question that I feel shouldn't be seen in public, that question would be asked in private, but most of the questioning only has to do with a person's background, and how well they are doing currently, something that can be determined by anybody as it is. If a person doesn't want to share their background in public, they can let me know and we can go over that in private, but if they can't even trust me with their background, then why should I trust them to be Made?

I do see your point though, Mr. Walker, and I respect it. I actually would have a problem doing the ceremony itself in public view, as that's something that should be a bit more..."intimate" if you will. It is the beginning of the bond formed between CL, and Family Member. But as for just the questioning, I really do not see why there should be any problem at all.

Now to reply to Jayne. Very good point, leaders differ, just as their members differ. One leader might hold earnings to be the most important thing, whereas another may find a Street presence to be most important. Neither one is necessarily wrong, or right, they have opinions based on what they most want, and need, for their Family to succeed. As you said about getting feedback from your boss, I completely agree. My members are free to ask me whatever they want, and they will get some type of feedback, letting them know what I want from them. I won't give them any specific answers, as I kind of want them to figure things out on their own, using their talents, but at the same time I don't leave them with nothing. I give them a basic idea of what I'm looking for.

Ah okay I misunderstood what it was you were doing then. My mistake.

I'm for change myself depending on what it is being changed. However that is one tradition I will never like to see broken.
Your idea of holding a public interview I see no problem with really. In a way it is already done but not so formal. As some have their requirements that people speak often in the streets or bars and make their self known and show that they are a respectable person. Along with many other standards they must meet. That probably go right along with what you require plus or minus a few things. You are just making yours a bit more formal and laid out in front of them.

In closing I am very eager to see how this all folds out. I will keep my eye open for the first interview to take place. Best of luck with this.

Probably my fault for the misunderstanding, I get a bit excited when speaking, and tend to get ahead of myself, and start jumping around all over the place. I do tend to get a bit confusing at times.

Tie laughs, smiling at Paul

But indeed, I do agree with you. The actual ceremony has no place being in public. As I said, that is something that should be done in a private setting, as its not just a ceremony, its the forming of a bond.

I look forward to your audience though. I am kind of in the middle of one at the moment, something just came up for the Family member. I know, it would see that this being the most important meeting in their lives, that the member wouldn't just run out, but I assure you this was an emergency, and he really needed to go. There should be quite a few in the coming days though, I would love to hear your input on them.

Speaking from a position where I know absolutely nothing about running a family, I want to come out in support of this. While I find myself areeing with Paul_Walker on privacy issue's. I also think everyone universally agrees that wise-guys and lower are not in the family so why not have meetings in public. They're associates. It would be nice to overhear some low level mob talk at dinner.

Being Made is not only a great honor bestowed upon you and grant of trust given in light of your deeds to the family. It is yet another increase in your own abilities and what you can do for your Family in war or peace. Only a truly loyal mind looks the the latter as more important...

I for one would greatly enjoy watching a pubic interview. It seems like a great way for people to show what they are exactly made of.

I would like to point out that with the somewhat still new changes that have occured in this Thing of Ours, an observant person will know when his or her button is in whether or not his or her Captain tells him so. Even so, it still must be earned through effort and dedication.

This is a topic spoken a lot, so I'll give my piece on this.

Myself, being a Wise Guy, has the chances of becoming Made. Now, I filled out all the stuff needed for the promotion to be cleared by the Godmother. But does that make me 'ready' for it?

I myself, dislike requirements because it doesn't put out a person's true talent. In some cases, you'll just get people who do the requirements and leave it at that. I think to become Made, you need to start to form your own special talent that can be used for the Family.

If you are the top earner of the Wise Guys, maybe give them a set amount to earn? If your active in the streets, maybe have them write a speech. Etc.

Those are my thoughts on this matter.

Captain, your idea is a different one from the mainstream and that in itself is a good thing. I like this idea of interviewing the candidates to make sure they fit in with your views of who should be a Made. This system would give you a far better idea of who you should bring into the Family and allow you to understand a said persons motives and dreams a bit better.

I have only just recently been given the honor of being invited into my family.  Becoming mMade was the most special event in my career, and I will be surprised if I surpass the rush of emotions I felt when it finally happened.  I am not active int he streets.  I find that I generally lack anything new to add to conversations, but this thread is very interestin to me.  I am certain that my button was avaliable well before I finally earned the privilege.  If I had been told straight away that I was up for consideration, I think that I would have lost the ability to make genuine efforts to prove my worth and loyalty.  I believe I would have attended the meeting, and recieved feedback on why I was not ready, and then I would have focused specifically on promoting my cause.  I wouldnt have the opprotunity to take initiative and prove myself in my own right with my own thougths and actions. 

That being said, I imagine that your method will be interesting at least.  Maybe it will work better than I think.  Good luck to you sir.

Thank you all for your input. I completely agree with you McKnighter. Requirements just generalize people. If you want a Family that works, you can't just have cutouts of the same exact person, you need to use their skills to your advantage.

And Apollonia, from my point of view, letting a person know that their button is in, is just to show them that I have trust in them. Trust goes both ways, and I want to show them that I trust them enough to give them a chance to earn my complete trust. The meeting itself, even if they don't do well, at least gives them a point to work from. They will then find out what more it is that I would like to see in them, and show me they are willing to work for it. Its working pretty well so far though, the next meeting should be sometime within the next day or so, for anybody interested.