You see...that's where I think we tend to oversimplify the problem: it's not the YEARS we've been around, it largely boils down to being discredited. It's a respect issue. To a great extent, people still talk about BGLOs as if there are only TWO sororities and and FOUR fraternities. If you aren't a part of whichever group has the most notoriety or the most members, people pretend as if you don't exist or as if your existence has meant very little...not just in the paraphernalia shops, but also in the scholarly literature concerning African American organizational history, and on campuses around the country. And it's not because we all aren't doing AMAZING things in our communities just like everybody else...

Somebody tell me I'm lying: you can have a campus with a chapter of five SGRho's and a chapter of three Omegas; nobody will ever think twice about the size or "strength" on campus of the Ques, but everybody and their mama will talk about "all two of them" SGRhos! (Lawd, I'm venting my undergrad frustrations!)

I totally agree with you soror! I meant that since it's been 85 years (and that's a long enough time in my book), you'd think we wouldn't still have these issues but we do although things have gotten better with time, so Iota has lots of years still to look forward to dealing with the mess.

Exactly. It's all about a popularity contest when it comes down to it.

I think in terms of the random greek store vendor / owner we are mixing apples with oranges. I honestly don't think the vendors really care about discrediting a group per se. I think for them it is really all about numbers. The more members a group may have the more likely that vendor can sell more stuff to that group. For him / her it is just supply and demand - the more demand, the more he will supply.

For our case here in Houston with the Kappa store owner - he should have known better. But he flat out said that he would not do anything to ensure he has current para for us, so we said buh-bye!! And when I talked to him personally and expressed my feelings, he gave me the same attitude, then I told him I'd order my para on-line, he was like :eek:. I was like 'yeah, I really don't need your store. I was just trying to support a Black owned business, but since you won't support us, we won't support you.'

Now this is another issue. I was talking to this ug and I told her I was a SGRho. She was like, 'oh, is that one of those non-greek greek orgs?' I said no, we are part of the NPHC. I thought her response was kinda sad considering she was pressed to try to join this other NPHC org. She should have done her research about all of the D9 orgs. :rolleyes:

That's because people would rather believe hype than fact.

brought this over from the "you know youre a neo when..." thread, as it was more appropriate.

i think the awesomest part of that exchange was when a seasoned soror (and a well-known/respected one at that) walked past and, without stopping, said "let's not waste our time sorors, he has nothing to offer us" with 7-10 sorors following suit.

he DEFINITELY missed the boat on this one.

Sorhors,

Stick with the Aurora Magazine and get on "For Sorhors only section" of the website to find nice nalia. Also usually at Boule, regionals, area meetings, and the Midwinter meeting for Northeast Region Sorhors the vendors carry nice things.

When I used to go to the Greek Picnic in Philly(80s and early 90s it was called the Greek Picnic) - the vendors were always good to Sigma -I used to come home from Philly with tea shirts, bags, hats, pins, cups, etc for future members.

I've been a Sigma for a while - Yes, I pledged Sigma my freshmen year in the Spr. of 83' and I can truly say that the vendors have come a long way. However, there's always going to be room for improvement but I can't let them hold me down.

My final advice for sorhors: plan ahead, use approved vendors, shop online, but don't spend all of your money on nalia.

Serioussigma22;)

Thank you.

That's my Soror! Say it again Serioussigma22! :)

Maybe more of your sorors need to do that. Maybe some have already. You can look to their success and judge whether that would be a good business move; probably not because volume is key for a retail business. Your authorized vendors would probably have better items anyway.

We have the opposite problem - everybody and their mother paints something red and white then tries to sell it to us. There is so much junk out there that we really have to pick and choose what we buy because 80% of it is junk.

You know I have seen some things that made me say "what is that and why would they think anybody would want to buy it?

New neos are usually eager to buy dumb stuff so these companies get a lot of business particularly in the Spring. :( Unless these new neos' prophytes teach them that "cheap crap is still crap even if our wonderful symbols and beautiful colors are on it."