There's an old saying, "if you want to know how something will end, look at how it began."

I think elements of that apply here. I agree w/ CT4, Ideal08 and others on what seems like "copying" to me, but whatever. Camaradarie, tenacity and impact are the D9 marks of success. We'll see about these new groups.

If these "pop-up" orgs last and do the work which honors their founding commitment/s, then great. That's one less community problem the rest of us have to tackle. If, as I suspect usually happens, they fall by the wayside relatively soon after formation, what truly has been lost except, perhaps the disillusionment of a few of their members?

For all of our shortcomings, the D9 has made qualitative differences in the lives of members and our community for 90+ plus years now, a fact no reasonable person can argue. That tradition, whether folks acknowledge it or not, is what leads them to form their own groups. Hey, if kicking it down at Krispy Kreme with their "founders" is tradition for them, I'm glad for 'em.

As for me, the time invested and the lives the D9 has helped to change on behalf of the Creator, is the real answer to this question.

peace.

No more so than BirthaBlue posting here, and she expressed my thoughts perfectly.

But I guess she (or anyone who has a similar opinion) isn't a hypocrite b/c she's NPHC :rolleyes:

Your issues with the NPHC are so apparent in your posts. If you would take a step back, it wasn't personal and/or anti-nonNPHC. If BirthaBlue had posted about picking your battles and so forth, then my question applies to her as well. However, you posted that in BOLD letters, so I directed my question to you. Anyone, MY SORORS included, who would say that to discuss this is a waste of energy while they are discussing it, yes, that would make them just as hypocritical as you are.

Happy? :rolleyes:

Exactly!
 

I'm glad that the came out about why people found these organizations! If a BGLO member had said this, the "copycats" would deny it vehemently. These folks couldn't make the cut in BGLO's so they made up their own. Bottom Line.
Is there anything wrong with it. I guess not. I don't think that it is anything to get miffed about. These orgs never last long anyway, because people see them for what they are.

Re: Exactly!
 

It would be a shame if you were generaling based on one person's experience.

You're right it would be.

I'm glad we agree.

TonyB06 always on point! LOL @ Krispy Kreme with the founders.

Re: Exactly!
 

That's a rather hasty generalization there, Skee. As far as non-NPHC sororities go, there MAY be some merit (I don't know of any such orgs being founded in the 60s, 70s, 80s, or even early 90s, with the exception of Alpha Nu Omega Sorority, founded 1988). But as far as fraternities goes, that's another story altogether. Some non-NPHC fraternities that have been around for a while include:

Phi Eta Psi (1965)
Delta Psi Chi (1985)
Beta Phi Pi (1986)
Alpha Nu Omega (Christian fraternity & sorority--1988)
Gamma Alpha Chi (1989?)

Hope this helps.

Re: Re-inventing the D9 sororities?
 

I recognize the second one. The pictures look like Dillard University's campus. The last line looks like a lineup for NOPD. I wonder how they are recieved on the yard...
I don't necessarily think that anything is wrong with doing your own thing as long as your thing is original. If they don't see the purpose or if THEY think the purpose of the D9 sororities is flawed, then power to them in doing their own thing.;)

Re: Re: Exactly!
 

So you don't think NPHC members are picking on you...you're totally missing the point. The thread is NOT about non NPHC organizations...its about these random groups that keep popping up with greek letters on various campuses and last no longer than the founders or first two lines graduation dates (or last semester of classes as students). They come up spouting goals and aspirations with traditions that mimic those of D9 & then fade away soon after the first step show (if they were even allowed to participate). They ususally have step shows dissing other groups and while it may sound like a generalization 9 times out of 10 one of the founders was unable to make it into an NPHC org thus the "sudden need" for a new one on the yard.

We can only judge peoples organizations by what they put out there - copying artwork and mimicing signs doesn't say much about their original vision. What happened to their alumnae outreach? Shouldn't they be developing other ave's for members to stay active after graduation? They were so dedicated that they let the organization die after 2-3 years?

If you must copy then copy a successful program and make it work in your area-earn respect by your deeds-don't expect it from a fly website or bootleg nalia.

Re: Re: Re: Exactly!
 

I swore that I was done with this, but I have to CTFU at your reference of a "fly website" and "bootleg nalia." I will take my org.'s 96-year history of service and sisterhood any day.

Re: Re: Re: Exactly!
 

My apologies if what you just said is the case; however, that was NEVER made clear in the initial post or with subsequent posts; thus you had to read into what the original poster was trying to convey. In other words, the thread started with, "Look at these new GLOs starting up; whaddya think?", the initial responses went along the lines of, "Why everythang gotta be a Greek letter sorority?" I was responding along the general vibe(s) the thread originally conveyed. Skeephistakate's post on new orgs starting and fading w/in one to two years was the first post that even remotely touched upon what you are saying here. So even now I am not 100% sure that that was the general message the original poster was trying to convey, but for the sake of peace in this thread, I will take your word for it.

If this is the true spirit of the thread, I have a question: What "new" GLOs do you know (other than Xi Gamma Phi) have sprouted up and died w/in, say 5 years? IMHO responses of this nature will give those who dissent of these new GLOs more merit with their views and give this thread a better sense of direction as far as the overall messages being conveyed.

ummm..
 

This is funny that this thread was posted.....because I was thinking of asking the same questions....however, i even thought of starting a sorority..one that was philanthropical and professional in nature...I even came up with a name, purpose, colors, and the likes...those things that were important to me...For this particular organization, I had no interest in it being apart of the NPHC or IFC or others. More along the lines of a sorority like Eta Phi Beta, etc. it is something that i have seriously thought about....and still thinking... Don't get me wrong I really would like to be apart of one particular org that exemplifies all of these things...yes I feel that I could accomplish some of the same goals but with limits....and that's where the lines are blurry. For instance, in my org i wanted to have undivided chapters meaning no undergrad or grad chapters just chapters .... certain requirements for membership beyond ethical/moral character, gpa and sorts (although to get in the D9 you need more than that, so i hope you understand what i mean...) and the lists goes on. I do feel from a GDI perspective, that there needs to be a reassessment of how AA org's are addressing the needs of the AA community. So I guess the greater question to ask is are those needs being met? if so then why do people feel the need to start new orgs when they can just work through what we already have than just starting their own....once again JMGDI perspective.

Re: ummm..
 

Miss Priss,
This is not targeted to you personally but all those who have the view of inadequacy in the current organizations that is expressed above in your statement.

I have heard this question of whether the needs of our community are being met by the D9 posed over and over by non-members so b/c I KNOW how hard I work in my chapter and how hard my chapter and sorority works, I am curious to know what this "reassessment" that non-members are always talking about would find. Do you have specific ideas of how the D-9 is not serving the African-American community based on your standpoint?

Please do tell b/c I am just baffled at how we are not addressing the needs of the community when my sorority is addressing everything from Education to Economics to the Black Family to the Arts to Health. Alot falls under those areas.

I know that you are not privy to knowing of everything that we are doing in our communities (b/c it is alot and much is not publicized in a newspaper for all to see) and this may actually be the problem - that non-members do not KNOW how we are affecting the community and therefore do not understand the impact that we are having, but from your perspective, exactly what would a "reassessment" yield as an answer? You can pm me if you are apprehensive about giving a public critique but I must know - I am just dying to hear SPECIFICALLY what need in the community that none of the D9 is addressing.

I ask this b/c everyone is quick to yell about a reassessment but I'm baffled b/c me and my Sorors are working HARD to provide service to all mankind and we ARE making change in our communities. What else do you want us to do? What is it that another organization can come in and do that is not covered under Education, Economics, the Black Family, Arts and Health (the current targets for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated)?


SC

Re: Re: Re: Re: Exactly!
 

If you want to know specifically then do a search of past threads - I don't have the time or care that much to look it up. If one must know the actual names there are plenty threads discussing new orgs that had websites touting "the newest playa on the yard" yet if you check closely the site hasn't been updated since 97, 98, 2001...check further with current students at the school and the group doesn't exist anymore. Most never made it past their one campus or were ever legitimately registered as an organization (even as a campus group).

I also think we are all smart enough not to assume that only 9 organizations can serve all or that there isn't room for more or that all sororities/fraternities have to belong to NPHC. I also don't see anyone downing legitimate new efforts to form a new sororitiy/fraternity...you seem to be reading more into people's posts and want to keep sticking to that premise.

Like I said- copy a national program and make it work in your local community. Once you have enough members and are making real contributions then worry about getting some art that has meaning specific to your org commissioned.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Exactly!
 

I don't think the frequency of website updates is a good indicator of whether or not an org still exists, so merely doing a search of past threads is pointless.

That is why I am asking those here on GC who know for a fact and can vouch for the continuing existence of any given org.

We may have to mutually disagree, but when I hear folk questioning why others are forming a sorority, that can easily be construed as downing new efforts to form a new GLO. Read Birtha Blue's and Eclipse's posts on pages 1 & 2 of this thread.

I am merely taking the posts at face value, and I am obviously not the only one doing so.

Agreed. Good point. ;)

Re: Re: ummm..
 

Oh No offense taken...this is an intellectual conversation...right? ;)
1.) Do you have specific ideas of how the D-9 is not serving the African-American community based on your standpoint?

2.) but from your perspective, exactly what would a "reassessment" yield as an answer? You can pm me if you are apprehensive about giving a public critique but I must know - I am just dying to hear SPECIFICALLY what need in the community that none of the D9 is addressing.

3.) I ask this b/c everyone is quick to yell about a reassessment but I'm baffled b/c me and my Sorors are working HARD to provide service to all mankind and we ARE making change in our communities. What else do you want us to do? What is it that another organization can come in and do that is not covered under Education, Economics, the Black Family, Arts and Health (the current targets for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated)?

Because this is a tri-part question, I'll address them separately....

1.) and 2.) In fairness the D-9, gives heavily to the community and, in some cases, work actively in them; however, unfortunately, (this has been discussed before somewhere) the D-9 is regarded as a bourgeois group of people who attack needs when deemed for media purposes...just because it sounds/looks good.....now we all know that's not true for all the D-9. But some people feel that they are not taking a more active role in the political infrastructure of (Black) America, not making full commitments to community charity not just giving to them like they did in the sixties/seventies, and the persistent crutch of approaching the new millennial problems with the old millennial ways. These are only a few that I hear....For me ideally, I would love to see a communal interaction occur with people in the D-9....like they do with Habitat for Humanity.....In my community, for instance, most of the Black/Latino community has trash and dilapidated homes everywhere...who's going to take the first step in seeing that these things are done? I personally take part in yearly clean-up...but we have a (Greek) mayor who has the power to say Hey let's get to work...and although he has made some initiative...the work must be continuous not just one weekend...and this is what poor Black folks see....it may not be true but that's what they say they see. The premise is that the D-9 only dedicates a weekend to (that) communities needs, but only a premise, and unjustifiably so!
2.) We need to empower our people with understanding the true definition of wealth, making a impact on how we address health; also, creating jobs for the jobless, issues like gay marriage and its impact on the Afro-American community, addressing the social ills of welfare, black on black crime, warfare involving the Tutsis in Rowanda, take back our urban schools by insisting that we have quality schools in neighborhoods and the presence of (professional) role models for our young Black men and women to name a few…The reassessment needs to take a hard look at how the needs are being addressed to the culture of that community. We (volunteers) tend to take a more global approach when addressing those needs. See I think that the issue is in the question, "specifically addressing the need"…the specifics are the need itself…I like this phrase "It’s more than just a grip of hands, it’s an idea conceived." (quoted from a source:0) )

3.) You are right what more can they do? I read this, "Groups such as Nun Phi Nun, Hound Phi Hound and Vash Na Ha were short-lived groups formed to parody NPHC organizations," ….."Other organizations saw themselves more as reflections of the Black Power ideology espoused…. and saw their purpose on campus as challenging the status quo of the more conservative Greeks." Individuals finding a home that reflects their current value system, thoughts, and search for acceptance which causes people to form other orgs. We all know that the D-9 are considered as elitist organizations that separate the wealthier middle/upper class from poor black folks…So people tend to fight that "elitist" system by forming these new orgs. How effective they are determines longevity and that's why the D-9 continues to survive. Alpha Kappa Alpha does wonderful things in the community as well as the others …But personally for me, I look at my surroundings and ask myself am I making the difference? Has these orgs. empowered me to want to make one(a difference)? Do I feel important to them? Are they impacting me? Do I have take ownership by what they (the D-9) have given me? These are all personal accountability questions. Can the D-9 implement a desire for the AA community to be (socially) accountable? Keep in mind they are the same questions being asked intuitively and individually by many communities…so I guess (political/social) activeness/accountability is decided by where you are and what the D-9 does in that community. (which depends on chapter involvement/numbers, assumably)
Sorry so long….
BTW , a list of interesting websites…..

www.playahata.com/pages/morpheus/blackfrats.html
www.newsavanna.com/meanderings/me94/me6.
www.kappabetasigma.org/Are_Frats_Relevant.html

These are some good questions.

And I also agree with a lot of what you said in your post. It just saddens me the message that I'm getting, and perhaps I'm misinterpreting what's being said; you tell me if I have it right or wrong.

The assumption (I realize that it's an assumption and perhaps not everyone's) is that we are stuck up snobs who only do good to get noticed by the media. We do a little service here and there but we are neither social nor political activists. It is our responsibilty to inspire civic duty with the rest of the African-American community. Do I have this assumption correct? If I do, that saddens me, for real. All the work all 9 of these orgs have done over the years has gone completely and totally unnoticed. :(

I have a question for the GDI's (or whoever, really). Do you think that the work that is done must be done by the organization as a WHOLE or by it's members? Because it seems as if all of the questions (though they may be rhetorical) are addressed to the D9 and not individual members of those organizations. What does the D9 do or what has the D9 done? Because if I get drunk and act a fool, then I represent Alpha Kappa Alpha. But when I go to Ethiopia to study famine and drought and come back and work on trying to get to the root of that problem and solve it, I represent Monique. Is this what people think? If ONE member is a social and/or political activist, does it reflect on that person's organization? What about chapters? Does it make a difference if there is a chapter that is boycotting something? Or a chapter is having a voters registration drive? Of if chapter members are writing their senators and representatives to lobby for one cause or another? Does that make a difference? What if the senator or representative IS a member of an org; does that make a difference? Or are we only seen as a collective, and all the good that we do has to be done as a group. Because if that is how we are seen, then we have already failed (in the eyes of our communities, and will continue to do so). Am I making sense?

Re: Re: Re: ummm..
 

http://www.geocities.com/jmadindian/mgpromo3.jpg

WAYLE! read: well
CAN I GET AN AMEN?

http://www.geocities.com/jmadindian/mg80tickets.JPG

AAAAAAAAAAAAMENNNNNN!!

**ARGHHH**
 

As my soror previously stated, everything we do is not printed in the mass media. As for sorors, I can proudly say that we have donated over 1 million hours of community service in the past two years.

However, my question (that has not been answered), is what do people expect for us to do. Are 9 organizations expected to solve the all of the problems that affect the community? If so, our charge is greater than the government's or our political leaders.
It's not OUR responsibility alone, it's EVERYONE'S responsibility. Stop accusing the D9 of being aristocratic and ineffective...it "just ain't so."

To me, it's a case of someone from the outside looking. Before, I was granted membership in AKA, I was critical of D9 groups. I felt they were not doing enough. HOWEVER, when I got in, I realized that people see the FUN and the "glamour" but not the hard work that goes into it.

So what I am hearing is that people expect the D-9 to be the Saviors of the entire African American community and no matter what we do it will never be enough. My sorors are correct when they say that we don't publish nearly the amount of service that we do. But herein lies the rub, if we don't publish all of it people think that we don't do anything. On the other hand if we do publish it, people think we are doing it just for good press. It baffles the mind how black people always find something bad to say (usually quite publicly) about organizations who's focus is on doing good for the community. People are always talking about what we don't do or are focusing on isolated incidents that give us bad press. It is sickening.
"The D-9 are elitist so we will form our own group". To me that sounds the same as " I couldn't get in, so I will form my own group". That has nothing to do with us not taking care of business in the community. "Poor blacks" as you say, will be to some extent excluded from membership in our orgs as they are COLLEGE-BASED organizations. That doesn't mean that we are estranged from the community. Members and non members (educated and not) can do a part in helping the community.
Prior to joining AKA, I was extremely active in the community and continue my activism IN ADDITION to the work I do as a function of my membership. People act like they have to be in a sorority to serve the community. You can volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, the Urban League or whomever and still do service without being in a sorority.
I've got class. I'll come back to this later.

Re: **ARGHHH**
 

And THAT is (at least for some of these new orgs) the reason why some of these new orgs are popping up; to pick up the slack that the NPHC orgs cannot do due to limited resources. You're right, it is everyone's responsibility. And I would think that the NPHC would adopt the mentality of GLOs who want to serve the community, that "we need all the help that we can get." But IMHO it's that very aristocratic attitude is what creates needless chasms b/t NPHC orgs and non-NPHC orgs.

You're also right that 9 orgs cannot possibly solve or even seek to solve every issue(s) that affect the community. But the question is: are these orgs humble enough to admit this and would welcome non-member orgs to discuss, address, delegate, and execute plans that all orgs involved would tackle certain issues and problems?

Now let's face it, I know that there are some orgs that just want to be a Greek letter clique. If you know and they know that they are not about anything, then their fruits (or lack thereof) will speak for themselves, and either their growth will be stunted, they will die out, or they will find a meaningful purpose for their org and take on a new direction.

But let's not get high and mighty here. I am not naive to believe that every NPHC org was originally founded to "set out and change the world". There were necessary social components needed to create a sense of solidarity, comeraderie, and fellowship. A strong social bond is critical in the first 5-10 years of ANY org to insure its future survival. There's nothing wrong with that and that's not at all disgraceful. So if you see these orgs being a little cliqueish and they are only a year or two old, let them have their fun now. They have the rest of their natural lives to get down to business and to seek which community service venues they wish to venture into. But for right now, leave them alone and let them have their fun. Believe it or not, that's the best way for them to strengthen their orgs and insure their survival.

They need your support, not your criticism.

Re: Exactly!
 

MY statement was more because I graduated College, I would never be in a BGLO. I got false information about how to get in a BGLO after graduation. That is why I joined these organizations--again mistakes of my youth and lack of information from people who are in a D9 sorority.

I should have put that in my original post.

Is it "I couldn't get in", or I don't want to get in? It is an unfair assumption to make by saying those who start these new orgs are only those that couldn't join NPHC orgs, as opposed to those who start orgs because certain elements of the NPHC turned them off. It unfairly puts the whole burden of responsibility and accountability on the individual and none of it on the orgs. Let's not get hasty here, Skee.

That begs the main question in this thread: Why does it have to be an NPHC org or nothing at all? Nobody is addressing this key issue which is in part why these orgs are starting up; to go against the "norm" the NPHC has created.

Re: Re: **ARGHHH**
 

I'm still waiting for the first post that said a) these groups couldn't form or b) if they were effective, more power wasn't due to them. But this D9 "aristocratic attitude" charge is largely hollow, IMO.

Recent case in point: a new chapter of 100 Black Men is forming in my city. Last month they sought out my chapter for discussions and to discuss some possible future partnerships. We welcomed them. A lot of their initiatives are things we, and others, are already doing but cool...if they can join in and hit the problem from their angle and bring more resources to the fight, then welcome to the battle! (Besides, knowing Alpha, we'll have 40 percent membership in 100BM within a year and will probably be running it in two anyway).

I can take reasoned criticism from anybody, but I respect it more when it comes from those with some "skin in the game." If you want to form x, y, or z org., go ahead. But save the holla for me until we can shake glad hands over how many kids "WE'VE" helped go to college, or how many at-risk boys/girls "WE'VE" redirected and shown a better way.


Skee, I feel your holla. Shake the rest off.

Additional Consideration
 

I have read through (well I sorta skimmed ;) ) but I didn't see a particular challenge stated.

Our organizations are NON-PROFIT SERVICE groups. By law, we must refrain from any type of partisan acitivity as a group else we risk our tax-exempt status and all of the other benefits to our status. For example, we can register people to vote but we cannot pick and choose which people we want to register. We can disseminate information on candidates but we must do it for ALL and not just particular ones who go along with our agenda; we are NOT a PAC.

To a previous poster's point, just because the group cannot be a political voice, it doesn't mean that it's individual members are not activist. Most of our Black elected and appointed public officials in Maryland are Greek so we are active! DST has regular social action meetings with legislators at the national, state AND local level.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Counter questions for you, CT4
 

Who is battling? All I have seen in this thread is a bunch of folks expressing their different opinions. No movements to block the way of these orgs, no plan a foot to keep them down. If I want to say that most of the ones I see are silly to me, seem fly by night and few show any long term sustainability because once their so called founders graduate the chapter is done- that is my opinion. Just because that opinion ruffles some feathers hardly makes it a battle. In reality, even those who have expressed some mild opposition give these groups little thought and are only talking about them because that was the topic of the thread. Let's not over dramatize the situation- kay?

I do have a great deal of respect for those orgs who have been able to sustain themselves over time and develop a mission and goal they adhere to. I think that when the common theme is uplifting the community people are sometimes too quick to reinvent the wheel just to say they did rather than join an existing group. Not that there is not room for others. There certainly is. I am just reserved in my assessment of a group until I can see what they are really about. And that is not just Af Am orgs. I feel the same about LGLO, MCGLO’s etc. I have a great deal of respect for the men of Lambda Upsilon Lambda, probably because they were founded at my alma mater and I got to see them in action and what they were about first hand for 4 years. (as an example)

1. This is the same discussion that the American Heart Association would have about a new group created focusing on heart education for women. All our organizations get our money to implement programs from membership dues, government grants and private and charitable organization contributions. There is not an unlimited amount of money, and if group A gets a grant, there might not be enough left over for group B to execute its programs--so the more crowded the playing field, the more it can effect an organization's programmatic success. If only for that reason, it is a topic worthy of discussion.

2. I would daresay that most of the D9 groups do partner with a variety of other organizations--there is strength in numbers, and a need to collaborate using each’s core competencies. I don't know if that translates to individual chapters partnering with brand new sororities and fraternities, but it could if that made sense for the chapter. Certainly we have allied with organizations that might be considered "competitors" to the D9, like 100 Black Men/Women and others of that ilk as well as organizations like the March of Dimes.

3. I'm guessing that new sororities and fraternities have been being created for many years. The advent of the Internet has made them more visible to the general public, but they have always been there. Personally I have no challenge with their creation. If someone wants to form a social group and call it a sorority, so be it. If someone takes a service group and calls it a fraternity, I think that’s cool. I do take a bit of personal umbrage when the rationale is because "D9 groups are not doing enough, visible enough, down-to-earth enough..." but that's because I strongly disagree, not because you have no right to say it. As many have said on here, it will be time that tells.

Re: Re: Re: **ARGHHH**
 

Me too!

Can someone start a different thread about this?????

I don't know how to start a thread!

:eek: You don't? THere is a new thread button at the top of every page in every forum. That's all. :)

Let's be open-minded....
 

It would be unfair to assume that everybody starting a greek org. couldn't get in to the D-9 but it is the social ills of classism and divisiveness that exist in the AA community hat plagues us. Ideal, truly and clearly no one expects you to be Captain Sav-the Whole-World.....It's just that we live in a classist society where po' black folks look at middle/upper class black folks and say "they aint doin' sh@# for me' and these are the main people that you help.

You said, "The assumption (I realize that it's an assumption and perhaps not everyone's) is that we are stuck up snobs who only do good to get noticed by the media. " You see there are folks who see you as snobs who snub good folks who give too and they ain't greek. Now coming from a mostly greek family I know better....but once again it's my own level of personal accountability. It's not so much as what the D-9 has done/doing, it's what being seen that's done. If you read one of the articles I posted (I think i did) one guy said people see parties/balls and don't see community service projects. You don't have to be greek to work for your community we all know this....but look at our communities they are a direct reflection of what we don't do COLLECTIVELY! Right now the D-9 is viewed as a collectively body in itself. So it doesn't matter if Monique, the AKA, went to Africa and fed the poor. All they see is Monique, the AKA, who hazed girls in Florida. You are unfortunately defined by your association. Once again (community) activism only means something to the person who is involved/doing them; I don't think anyone is disputing that the D-9 IS doing something. It's just that it has been questioned about how much they do do.
It doesn't have to be publish in (print) media to be recognized ,right? But whatever you do in the AA community has to have meaning to why you are doing it. Take MLK he did alot of things but he was martyred in death because (AA) took some personal accountability and he was an Alpha!
Forming sisterhoods/brotherhoods has simply now become a matter of affiliation. Those that chose to have new groups great for them....

For me, this is certainly not a battle of "i do more than you". It's about making EVERYONE have some type of accountability for our communities that look like a tornado hit them and black folxs(in these communities) to stop using the excuse "they ain't gon' do nuthin"...People, just do something!

Re: Let's be open-minded....
 

Miss Priss, I take your comments in the sincere spirit in which I think they're given. But to me it just represents an ever-moving target. To some the D9 will always be seen as too elitist, too self-serving, too-whatever else. As to community, ultimately people see and hear what they want to see and hear.

I spoke earlier on this thread trying to shed some light, but will have to let it go knowing that some (not speaking of you specifically) are just not going to get it---and that'll have to be ok. What we do, and more importantly the spirit in which we do it, will go forward; no matter who joins or doesn't join us, and no matter what anyone else thinks.

peace to errrybody.......

Re: Re: Let's be open-minded....
 

TIA. :cool:

Re: Re: Let's be open-minded....
 

I'm ready for the benediction...are you? :cool:

Re: Re: Re: Let's be open-minded....
 

thanks Tony...I guess you never really understand until you are a member, and it was really meant sincerely without trying to offend. It wasn't meant to be targeted at the D-9 but all of US. That's why we are here to learn from each other right? But I got one question ....steeltrap what is TIA?

Re: Re: Re: Re: Let's be open-minded....
 

Totally in agreement.

Re: Re: Re: Let's be open-minded....
 

thanks Tony...I guess you never really understand until you are a member, and it was really meant sincerely without trying to offend. It wasn't meant to be targeted at the D-9 but all of US. That's why we are here to learn from each other right? But I got one question ....steeltrap what is TIA?