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..