Applause!!!! :)

That's MY exact feeling.

I just wanted to point out that that is a very false statement.
For instance, my own NPC sorority has 5 (national) philanthropies: Girl Scouts of the USA, Prevent Child Abuse America, Orthopaedic Research Awards, Children's Hospital of Richmond Virginia, and the Georgia O'Keefe Museum. Not to mention the hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarship money that we raise.

Not only that, but each chapter adopts at least one local philanthropy. This is also IN ADDITION to the local panhellenic/IFC charities that receive the proceeds of Greek Week.

I agree 100%.

My chapter tries to use our "diversity" as a selling point during recruitment. We are considered the most "diverse" chapter on campus.

Where does our diversity come from? One African American, two Indians, one Egyptian, and four Asian Americans. When you're using the fact that 8 out of 190 girls are non-whites as an example of diversity, you're way off base.

Re: Re: Keeping it real...
 

Honestly, it wasn't until I joined this site that I heard NPC/NIC members consider their commitment as "life long." I can't tell you the number of times I have heard people in NPC/NIC orgs. say "I USED to be a XYZ" or "I WAS an ABC in college." Many of them are surprised when I talk about attending meetings and service projects with my Alumnae Sorors. They feel as if I should have let go of my sorority involvement at graduation.

I also have several African American friends who are members of Phi Mu, Alpha Phi and ADPi. While we were in college, they had a great time in their organizations. However, I have had a few mention to me that they wished they joined an NPHC organization because *in their opinion* they didn't see it as a life long commitment. But now I can encourage my friends to get active in their orgs. as alumnae members.

I have to agree with my Soror! Sisterhood is what you make it!

Re: Re: Re: Keeping it real...
 

I'm glad :)
While I can't speak for all chapters. I'm glad to say that about 70-80% of my chapter remains active and financial as alumnae.

okay...
 

this is for all the individuals who wanted to quote me and elaborate on my initial post:

I am in no way implying the IFC/PC organizations do not have a lifelong commitment; however, I PERSONALLY was speaking from the perspective of an NPHC member and was mentioning why NPHC appealed to ME. that is MY OPINION and i am aptly entitled to it. FURTHER MORE, what Dedicated2Delta stated very accurately summarizes my understanding of PC/IFC greek membership; i have almost always heard them say, "I was a member of XYZ when I was an undergrad"... however, my understanding of it isn't the gospel, so there isn't any need to get up in arms... SIGMA DIVA--thank you for understanding where i am coming from and posting your reply.

And I am entitled to MY opinion, so no need to get defensive.

With regards to your Phi Mu/ADPi/other NPC friends...

I could tell tales about ladies I know in NPHC who aren't involved in their groups after graduation, too.

I wholeheartedly agree with Red Angel -- Sisterhood IS what you make it, no matter the group.

So what are we discussing again?

actually....

Jill started this thread because she was considering AI and wanted to hear about the experiences of women of color who had joined NPC orgs.

she has since joined an NPC org and is a proud sister of Alpha Phi.

Absolutely!

I know there are NPC women who look upon their membership as a college/university thing and after they graduate were done with it.
But when I hear things like "the different between NPHC and NPC is the NPHC's lifelong commitment to their org" well that just bothers me and I now it bothers a lot of us because there are so many active alum members of NPC orgs and we do care. I just don't like to see that used as a comparison between NPC and NPHC orgs.

Oooh right!! Congrads Jill! We recently got a chapter of Alpha Phi at my university.

TheEpitome1920...what school do you go to?

DePaul University in Chicago.

I don't know you personally, but you seem like a nice person. The Zeta's @ your school are quite lucky :)

I was thinking about this over lunch as I was walking our dog. I feel that some people perceive NPHC orgs to have the life-long commitment they do because members can join at any age whereas for NPC the majority of their members join during ther 4 or so years of college.

Of course, this is changing with the increasing popularity of Alumnae Initiation for many NPC orgs. And, again, it is up to our organization to educate its members that membership is a lifetime commitment, something I feel the NPHC orgs do very well. Then, it is up to the individual member to take it as she may.

I think it's great you're going to encourage your friends to become more active alumnae. I think, most of the time, members aren't aware of the opportunities that exist after they graduate.

Awwwww ((((JocelynC)))) Thanks!

[hijack] Okay, so AXO was started at DePauw -- so WHY in the heck is DePauL listed as our founding school in the new recruitment books?! Somebody needs to learn!!

Sorry - had to rant because I'm so mad that they don't know the difference between DePauW and DePauL and I just had to LOL when I saw your post! So how is the Alpha chapter of AXO doing there? LOL :D

[/hijack]

Yeah I often have to emphasize the 'L'. The only NPC Sororities we have are AOPi, Alpha Phi, DZ, ASA.

Either you are quoting someone else or you didn't quite get what I was saying. I wasn't getting defensive. I just state what I have experienced. I know NPHC members who aren't active in Alumnae chapters as well. I WAS HAPPY TO KNOW THAT NPCers ARE ACTIVE SO I CAN PASS THAT ON TO MY FRIENDS. Sheesh, I was trying to do a good thing.:rolleyes:

I think another reason alumna NPHC members are more vocal and active is because of the different mindset people view them with. I am sometimes afraid, and I'm sure many NPC alums are too, to go to a networking event, or grad school party and say "I was in a sorority" b/c alot of pseudo-intellectual a**holes think: "oh, you were a sorority girl..." and the ditzy stereotype surfaces. however being a member of an NPHC organization is percieved as much more service based, and an earned honor that makes you and exemplary person (especially in the african american community). NPHC orgs were founded so that people could rise above and help their communities in a time when black women were prevented from being involved in other ways. you are so blessed and I know you are proud to have that as your heritage and perception that is carried on today. There are thousands upon thousands of active NPC alums (our national orgs and chapters wouldn't run without them!!), however many women keep their alumna involvement quiet b/c they don't want to constantly be on the defense on the merit of their involvement. It is lingering stereotypes on NPC organizations that leave many of our new philanthropic endeavors overlooked. NPC orgs were also founded on ideals an meant to raise women up when they were denied fraternity and equal standing with men. however, we somehow gained this stereotype in the 70's and 80's that we are stil trying to overcome. Each of the 26 NPC groups has one to two national philanthropies, the NPC itself untertakes one or two regional philanthropies a year, and individual chapters have local philanthropies as well. It proves to me that the ENTIRE greek community (NPC and NPHC and all other orgs) is doing alot of good, much more than if there were no greeks at all. :D

I agree! Our inter/national organizations could not operate without the help of alums whose help ranges from helping local chapters during recruitment all the way to holding inter/national offices and guiding the organization that way.

I've followed this thread with interest. I'm a member of Omega Psi Phi. I pledged 24 years ago as junior in college. I'm active in my graduate chapter as an office holder and member of several committees.

Although certain stereotypes have been dispelled, there is more than a grain of truth in them. NPHC-member groups for the most part are organized differently than NPC and NIC groups. Graduate chapters are fully functional like undergraduate chapters are, and if a person is active they can serve a very important part of one's life. (I'm generally at committee meetings two to three times a week, and socialize with my brothers and DST sorors. It's like a family.) Also, NPHC organizations tend to be more involved in DOING outreach projects, rather than just philanthropy. There are chapters of my Fraternity that run day care center and get faith-based govt. grant to do mentoring and a host of other things. And there seems,to me, to be a more organic relationship between the NPHC organizations and society in terms of how we view religion and the role it plays in our lives and a host of other things.

Yes, people should join whatever organization they choose;but I'm big booster for NPHC-member groups for the things they do.

An aside:Last Sat. we had a visitation for a brother who is in a nursing home. This is one of our programs. After that event, I went to take another older brother to the doctor,and later another chapter brother joined us. The caucasian doctor was mystified when he told her that we his Fraternity brothers. her response was:"Aren't you too old to be in a fraternity?," speaking to a 70-something man with his 40- and 30-something brothers. I do think, this is how many people see NIC and NPC groups.

Re: Re: Keeping it real...
 

I have to respectfully disagree with this opinion. In the NPC life long membership is a privledge and is encouraged in some instances. In the NPHC, it is anexpectation AND a responsibility as well as a priviledge of course. I am VERY happy to see so many people on greekchat be involved in their sorority for life and I wish more of us would be! But the reality is, many people graduate and never look back. That is not as common in the NPHC.

jeez when did this happen lol i missed it lol

oh and in reference to NPC's having only a few philanthropies. i kno in my org we have 3 national philans but ALSO local philans
most chapters dont just stick to their national philans because ur service shouldnt be limited to wat is written in stone ya kno..

My organization has 3 philanthropies. Links To Literacy, Arrowmont, and Arrow In The Arctic (a uniquely Canadian philanthropy that provides culturally relevant books and other media items to children living in the North West Territories, Yukon and Nunavut).
My chapter also participates in various projects locally depending on where the ladies interests lie. For example, my chapter has actively supported the local food bank by collecting donations, lending their services to charity AIDS functions, raking leaves for the elderly, nursing home visits, local reading circles. One year my chapter held a literacy event for the children of Guelph. Not to mention that many of my sisters spend their own time volunteering in the local elementary schools or at libraries. One of my sisters even workd at the community volunteer centre and got many of us involved in other volunteer projects.
I'm do't want to toot our own horn (but I will :) ), we're a very ACTIVE chapter.

I also have to disagree with you Glitterkitty. My chapter from day 1, before I even pledged would go on and on about how membership was a lifelong commitment.
NPC groups have some workd to do, but don't think for a minute that we don't expect commitment from our members.

Glitterkitty, I have to disagree too.

It was stressed to me from Day 1 (before I was even extended a bid!) that our sisterhood is for LIFE.

I included ALL NPCs because I know all five on our campus were this way.

I am really glad to hear that it is actually stressed that involvment and not merely membership on paper is for life. That is good to hear. That is not the case as I have experienced it. Of course all the girls know that they are life time members, but they are not really encouraged or expected to participate actively after graduation. There are tons of sorority women where I work and none of them are active at all and they do all refer to sorority in the "I was a XYZ in college" kind of way. The people I went to school with do not have anything to do with the chapter anymore except to occasionally inquire how we did at rush. And the chapter does not invite us to anything or inform us of anything either. People usually are involved a little bit as alumna if they recently graduated, but then they drop away too.

I am not saying we don't have anything to do with each other at all after graduation. My best friends are still my sisters and we still do stuff together, but it is the 8 or 10 of us, and it has nothing to do with the sorority.

I think it's just differnet in different places, but it's good to hear it is being stressed at a collegiate level now to stay involved. That can only be a good thing!:)

Okay, what the heck does color mean???:(

It is the person inside the wraping that makes the difference isnt it??:rolleyes:

If it is not a Particlar Greek Organization, then let them join where They are feeling comforatable!:cool:

What is wrong with that???!:(

wow, and I was surprised to hear you're one of my sisters!

:D glad to hear you're an active alumna too, we're lucky to have ya!

So this is what we have so far...

Most organizations stress membership is for a lifetime

Most organizations have more than one philanthropy/service program

Most if not all organizations have members of different ethnicities/races/religions/sexual orientation/economic status/political viewpoints/folks who are or aren't registered to vote

NPHC organizations were partly founded to address the racism experienced by African Americans in higher education

NPC organizations use to discriminate based upon race but times have changed

Did I miss anything??

Thanks Epitome and HotDamnPhi Mu (my fellow Virginia Girl)! MUAH!

(I had surgery and was away for a couple of days) :) Things are cool!

No, Epitome, I think you covered it very well!:)

So, is there a major point to this post?:(

It seems that you do not agree with any, many, or all of us? :eek:

It seems that your sarcasim is dripping from your lips. True or False?:confused:

If there is still that thought, then all Greeks are in trouble. Pubicity of Greeks Should have gone out of date along time ago.

lol.

:rolleyes:

Wow! How did you get ANY of that from what I posted. Will people stop with pulling assumptions out their ass?? Who said I disagreed with anything? Where was I being sarcastic?? It's just that the back and forth is getting played out. One person says something then 4-5 people come back trying to disprove that point. It's redundant and we could have these conversations for years. With no one being mature enough to say enough! I'm through.

And that is supposed to mean what?

I think that about sums it up.

Maybe we could sticky this to the top of the Greek Life thread?

Excellent idea KSigkid!

The first line of my original post:

FIRST and FOREMOST:
This is NOT a flame war and it will be a travesty if it turns into one!

damn, it was going good for a bit