I'm glad to hear that there is ongoing dialogue regarding distance learning students (not all students are in "online" programs, some degree programs are 100% guided independent study). But, I have to say that the online student population is growing exponentially. Distance learning is in full effect and going strong, especially now that it's been proven that a classroom environment is not always necessary for a quality education.

Having been both a full-time and part-time student, and having known others who were doing the same, I can say from my experience that there really is not that much difference between the two groups. I don't think part-timers should have to wait and join an alumnae chapter for the reasons you mentioned because, if that's the case, the same can be said for the non-traditionals who are attending full-time. They do a balancing act, if not moreso, too.

Yes, some balance better than others, but the bottom line is that these women are ADULTS (my sorority is for women over 24 years old, btw) and it is not my place to tell them what they need to focus on in their lives outside of the sorority. That would be condescending. :(

You make waiting and joining an alumnae chapter sound like a punishment. In the NPHC it isn't. Our members have the rest of their lifetime to be involved in their sorority. The collegiate years are few, the alumnae years are many.

Oh and btw, being an adult in age does not always translate to being an adult in mind.

I didn't make it sound like anything. That's just the way you chose to interpret what I wrote. But, that's fine. Now, in the context in which I was speaking, I would understand why a woman in this situation would feel as if she were being punished or penalized for not being a full-time student.

Generally speaking; however, waiting to join an alumnae chapter is not a punishment and may actually be a better option for older women. But, the point I'm trying to make is that if someone has genuine interest in an org, and but for them being a part-time or online student, they would be accepted into the organization, GET THEM WHILE THEY ARE GUNG-HO.

Give that enthusiasm time to wane, due to life changes and et cetera, and you may never get them back. No matter how much admiration and interest a woman may have in any particular org, the sacrifices she is willing to make to become a part of that organization will change or fluctuate over time, depending on what is going on in her life. If someone is made to wait to join an alumnae chapter, there may come a point where even though her interest is still strong, the re-arrangements she would have to make in her life to join, X number of years later, may not be worth it. Many women get to the point where they say, "bump it", and toss that dream into the "dried up like a raisin in the sun" pile. That would be a needless loss for an organization that needs new members to perpetuate itself.

Edited to add: But, if that's the route the established orgs decide to go, more power to them. Theta Gamma Pi will be here to accept those women - if they meet our criteria - that don't want to wait to join an alumnae chapter. There's room for everybody.

Yes, I know that being an adult in age does not translate to being mature. However, I chose a minimum age of 24 years old for a reason that had nothing to do with mental maturity level. I was trying to be fair by staying in line with the age cutoff most colleges and universities use to identify non-traditional students. My personal preference is an older minimum age, but this is not a "vanity" project and it's not all about me. Principle won over preference.

I am going to have to disagree with you here. If a person has the desire to join an org, they will still have the desire when/if the time comes for them to join. True desire does not wax or wane.

Also, some of my NPHC sister orgs have affiliates of women who do not have a college degree so that is always an option as well. I am not sure if these affiliates extend to distance or part-time students, though. If someone from one of said orgs wishes to speak further on this, they will.

If you are enrolled in a 4 year degree program you are not eligible for Philo affiliate membership.

Wait a minute, I should have addressed the poster above you McCoy Red, cause her statements are getting on my nerves. If you have a desire to be a part of SOMETHING GREAT, that should never wax or wane. I did not become a member until I was 36 years old AND I had children. But it works out well for us because my sorority has functions and service opportunities that my children participate in since several of our national programs are youth-based.

For the new groups that have been posting on here I don't understand their founding and focus. Please don't get me wrong and and begin a barrage of attacks for my statements here because I would love to help. I tried to help the originator of this thread with real live opportunities and people I could connect him with and through PM I didn't see his real desire to do so. It just seems that these groups are started with an antagonistic purpose and an insecurity about not being part of the D9. As my fellow greeks and Sorors have stated in this thread, it takes years to build. I can understand the new groups members' defensiveness cause you do get tired of explaining yourself but some of us would like to genuinely be of assistance.

I didn't say desire would wane. In a nutshell, I said enthusiasm and willingness to make sacrifices for membership (rearranging her and her FAMILY'S lives for however long or short a time) might wane due to life circumstances. Don't forget, I'm ONLY talking about non-traditional aged women who are interested in joining a sorority, not all women.

That affiliate thing is not the real thing. Only the real thing is the real thing, LOL. That's like when I had to quit law school due to Lupus, and was dealing with the loss of that dream, people would tell me to become a paralegal. It's NOT the same thing.

My,my,my. I started off trying to compliment you on your decision by saying your reasons were very valid, and you jumped defensive. What's that about? Just do you.

BTW: MANY non-traditional students have joined NPHC orgs while in college at all ages. Don't make it sound like your org is the great non-traditional hope.

Our organizations aren't missing out when people's enthusiasm and willingness wane for whatever reasons. They either come back around when they are a willing and able undergraduate or graduate, or they don't.

While it's a good thing that your sorority exists, your marketing technique should place more emphasis on the qualities of your organization and less on the perceived "inadequacies" of other organizations for the nontraditional student. And your eagerness to accept women who WISH they could join an NPHC organization but just don't want to wait for alumnae chapter is interesting. This is why there are some organizations that will always play the background and they are content with that.

I agree with you there. But is your organization the real thing? If not, these women aren't getting the real thing by not pursuing an NPHC sorority and they are settling for a knockoff that fits their schedule.

But they can always change their mind after they join your organization and join an NPC or NPHC sorority. There's always hope.

I thought her sorority was a good idea, too.

Reading along, it seems as though she may be a disgruntled NPHC hopeful. Will she find herself at an NPHC alumnae chapter sometime? Maybe.

I was really trying to keep from going there. Curses on you daught. :D

I put it in a nice way. :)

Just say you wanted to join because you wanted to...
 

I agree with you. What gets me is...How can you say that you started or joined a newer org because the older ones didn't have what you were looking for? I mean...I KNOW my ILLUSTRIOUS founders (as with ALL D9s) have done the gammut...are they saying that our founders missed something????:rolleyes: Give me a break. So to just piggyback what you said...Just say you joined another because you wanted to. I can accept that better then one saying, "Oh, they didn't have what I was looking for." The truth is ALL D9s have their own uniqueness and if one is "worthy" then one may be invited.

I waited years to be a Delta and NEVER once did my enthusiasm wax or waver but only intensified on the mere thought of being a member one day...I need these new orgs to respect the history of the D9 and work on building their own as oppose to trying (emphasis on "trying") to disregard ours.

I'm glad you were able to accomplish your dream and goal of membership in your organization. But, just because you did it doesn't mean everyone else can. And, just because you waited doesn't mean others should wait. All circumstances are not the same. What works for you may not work for someone else, and until now non-traditional women had no other options. They either waited or gave up the dream. Now at least they have another option.

I can't speak for the other new organizations, but my sorority's focus is clear (and clearly stated in my first post). I don't have an antagonistic purpose and I'm not insecure about not being in a D9 org, because I could have been, and still can, if that's what I wanted to do. I feel for those who are, but I'm not a D9 reject. That being said, I would love the help of someone who knows more about how to do things in GLOs.

One should NEVER give up on their dreams. If you do then you will never be successful. If it is TRUELY in your heart then keep it there and work towards it. You have to be positive and that is not just with this but it carries over into all aspects of your life.

I didn't get defensive, and if that's how I came across, I do apologize. If you could hear how I meant it, you'd know I wasn't trying to be rude. Was that barb about my org being the "great non-traditional hope" really necessary? We have the same purpose, just different membership target groups. I already said that there was enough room for everybody.

Anyway, I think you are letting your irritation get you off focus. In this thread, I am talking about online and part-time students, not campus-based, full-time non-traditionals - whom I have already addressed as being eligible to join the traditional GLOs. So, for the online and/or part-time female student who doesn't want to wait for post-grad status to join a GLO, Theta Gamma Pi just might be her great non-traditional hope. ;)