Sororities: Something of value
 

I'm working on my annual badge day column (taking advantage of the down time between semesters) and I think this year I want to focus on the fact that 150+ years after the founding of the first sororities, we are still offering something of value. I want to touch on a part of the creed/symphony of each of the 26 NPC groups so my question to you - which part of your creed/symphony/purpose/etc. do you think best represents your sorority's "something of value"? What has enabled your group to touch the lives of women from 100 - 50 - 30 years ago and today? Please understand that I may use something from your response in my column. Thank you.

The Chi Omega Symphony articulates the true ideal of a Chi Omega Sister. Every Chi Omega carries the Symphony in her heart, and most have a favorite line upon which they often reflect.

To live constantly above snobbery of word or deed; to place scholarship before social obligations and character before appearances; to be, in the best sense, democratic rather than 'exclusive', and lovable rather than 'popular'; to work earnestly, to speak kindly, to act sincerely, to choose thoughtfully that course which occasion and conscience demand; to be womanly always; to be discouraged never; in a word, to be loyal under any and all circumstances to my Fraternity and her highest teachings and to have her welfare ever at heart that she may be a symphony of high purpose and helpfulness in which there is no discordant note.

Ethel Switzer Howard, Xi Chapter, Northwestern University, 1904




A recent survey was done and here are the top results:

24% said “To be in the best sense democratic rather than exclusive and loveable rather than popular”

21% said “To be womanly always”

21% said “To be discouraged never”

SOV
 

Just a thought -- you might want to title your article something else, since "Something of Value" is an NPC program. (I thought that's what this thread was going to be about.)

http://www.npcwomen.org/college-panh...-of-value.aspx

I've always liked "and bring into living reality the sisterhood of women." I always take that as a 100+ year old way of saying "girl power!" Being that many of our sororities were founded prior to women's suffrage, and few women ever even thought of going to college, I think these women really needed each other just to get through and fight a very tough battle just to get an education and be taken seriously. Now THAT is girl power.

I know all about NPC's "Something of Value" program - I was deliberately using the same language and will reference it in my column.

I may just take an informal poll based on the quotes from the above referenced creeds, etc. that are in GCers signatures!

Thanks, y'all.

For me, my favorite line from our creed is:

I believe that our motto "We live for each other" expresses the true meaning of fraternity; and that by living this motto my life will be enriched by true friendships and by unselfish service to mankind.

AGD Purpose
 

What a great idea!

My favourite parts of the Alpha Gamma Purpose are:

To cherish friendships with but a chosen few and to study the perfecting of those friendships.

and

To welcome the opportunity of contributing to the world's work in the community where I am placed because of the joy of service thereby bestowed and the talent of leadership multiplied.

The part of the Kappa Delta creed that I most relate to is part of the first sentence: " strive each day to seek more earnestly the honorable and beautiful things."

Not only is it in our creed but it is our open motto. Choosing to do the honorable thing is difficult in many situations and this can be a universal motto. I believe with the idea of striving for the honorable and beautiful things is fulfilled with our philanthropies and helping our sisters and others in times of need.

My favourite lines of the Alpha Gamma Delta Purpose:

To gain understanding that wisdom may be vouchsafed to me.

To cherish friendships with but a chosen few and to study the perfecting of those friendships.

To possess high ideals and to attain somewhat unto them.

Phi Mu
 

There are certain parts in the Phi Mu creed that are used by many Phi Mus to explain how we are feeling or what we are thinking at that moment.

When sisters or a chapter has raised money for our philanthropy or any other charity, sisters will continously quote the part of our creed that says, "To lend to those less fortunate a helping hand."

When a sister passes away (regardless of age), sisters will continuously quote the part of our creed that says, "To keep forever sacred the memory of those we have loved and lost."
Because I believe in what Phi Mu stands for of giving and honoring those we have loved and lost, I love our creed. Those are the two parts of our creed that really stick out for me. When I lost my pledge/ chapter sister--I took it really hard. I kept saying those words out loud. Phi Mu's creed speaks to me and continuously reminds me that I am a member of something bigger than myself. That's why I have the creed framed in my office. I want the world to know that I'm an NPC woman. I want everyone to know that I am a Phi Mu.

Seems to me that the part of our creed that's quoted the most is "To joyously live each day to it's ultimate good"...probably followed by "To find dominate beauty in art, literature, nature and friendships."

Oh, okay, great. I'll be interested to see how you tie in a risk management program with the creeds. You are a good writer. I'll look forward to reading it.

AGD purpose
 

I have to go with -
To welcome the opportunity of contributing to the world's work in the community where I am placed because of the joy of service thereby bestowed and the talent of leadership multiplied.

But my favorite word is vouchsafed

I thought I was the only one!!

Ok.

Irony is my bread and butter.

To quote from the NPC description of SOV - " It is a values-based approach to risk-management education for collegians." I'm choosing to focus on what those values are and how they do more than just provide an approach to dealing with risk-management; they enable members to live lives of service and integrity.

I'm fairly certain the "something" the NPC is advocating is not simply not hazing new members.

I love your idea!!

My favorite line from our creed is: "To realize, in Zeta Tau Alpha, lies the opportunity to learn those things that will ever enrich and ennoble our lives".

I love this phrase because I think it encompasses the opportunity sorority membership holds for the member. Being in a sorority enables you, and i daresay encourages you, to be a leader either on campus, in the community or within the sorority. You learn time management, how to deal with group dynamics and personalities and how to work within a group toward a common goal. Being in a sorority teaches us to think about the common good of the group, not only about ourselves. It gives us the support of sisters/family when we are far away from our own. We have networking opportunities during and after college. There are so many more attributes of sorority membership I could list, but I am preaching to the choir.

Not to be totally ignorant, but we have values and principles, however nowhere do I see (or recall learning of/about) a creed. Would it be fitting to offer what I think is the most amazing principle/value for Theta?

"Why, of course", you said (I just heard you). So it is this: Socially, the widest influence for good.

That principle guides me (when I remember it) in so many actions throughout my daily life.

Aside: kind of disappointed that "vouchsafed" isn't anywhere in our language that I could find. *sniff*

Why, AzTheta, I am so impressed by your psychic abilities! I welcome any and all principles, values - call them what you will - that speak to the truths our founders knew which still resonate today.

KD has a creed and an open motto and a purpose and an object and a mission statement. (Whew!) My favorite line from the creed is " May we each day through love of those within our circle, learn to know and understand better those without our circle."

My experience as a collegian was really a broadening experience for me. I met and learned to love a whole group of women that I wouldn't have been friends with, except for Kappa Delta. A couple of the sisters in my chapter were in ROTC. I was sort of a hippy. Other sisters were on the college softball team or in cross-country and track. I was in theater and on the college paper. I would not have become friends with most of them, except for Kappa Delta. They were some of my favorite people in college. I count myself lucky to have known them. They're all long past college and raising families of their own and having careers and I still count myself lucky to have known such fabulous women.

My favorite word from the pledging ceremony is henceforth, as in henceforth, in mutual friendship, ...

We were a small chapter and it seemed like we were doing pledging ceremonies ALL THE TIME. I don't know how many times I recited that phrase, and it has stuck with me for 25 years.

Alpha Delta Pi

"I believe that my sorority is more than a ritual or symbol: that it is a way of life"

My favorite three lines of the purpose:
To welcome the opportunity of contributing to the world's work in the community where I am placed because of the joy of service thereby bestowed and the talent of leadership multiplied.
To honor my home, my country, my religious faith. (This is probably my absolute favorite part.)
To possess high ideals and to attain somewhat unto them.

How's that column coming along?

Submitted it last night. I don't like it as well as last year's column - it ended up being a little lengthy because I didn't want to leave out any of the 26 NPC groups. It was difficult to cut down the groups' missions, creeds, symphonies, etc. to just a few lines per group.

Wow, sounds great. Do we get a preview?

I'll post the link next week. Hope my editor KEEPS HIS HANDS OFF OF IT. I told him it would be long - one reason I submitted it early was so he can make room for it!

How did I miss this thread?
 

I agree!!

Can't wait to read the outcome, SWTXBelle!

I tried to use quotations that would mean something to non-greeks. We'll see.

Though I'm still miffed about the new AGD logo (bring back the buff rose!), I really like the emphasis on "women with Purpose." Many years ago I was in a personal-exploration workshop that included an exercise on "writing your personal creed." I finished quickly because I used the Purpose.

I used to think that "to welcome the opportunity of contributing to the world's work in the community where I am placed because of the joy of service thereby bestowed and the talent of leadership multiplied" was the best phrase -- that's why I do what I do, professionally and civically. But a few years ago the lightbulb went on and I truly understood "to cultivate acquaintance with many whom I meet" which must be coupled with "to cherish friendships with but a chosen few and to study the perfecting of those friendships."

Though it won't work for your column, my favorite phrase in the P.E.O. Objects & Aims:
"to aim at self-control, equipoise, and symmetry of character" -- equipoise ranks right up there with vouchsafed!

So many good words that we don't really use anymore, I agree. :D

I'm way late, but... Kappa doesn't have a creed or symphony. Our mission statement is relatively succinct in comparison:
Kappa Kappa Gamma is an organization of women, which seeks for every member throughout her life bonds of friendship, mutual support, opportunities for self-growth, respect for intellectual development, and an understanding of and an allegiance to positive ethical principles.

I like your idea about using what we have in our signatures though! One of my favorite songs in Kappa starts with: On the heart of each sister / lies one key that binds us / a badge that reminds us / of Fraternity days

And after lyrics about friendship outlasting collegehood days & not needing to be concealed, the end of the song is in my signature... And in the years after with tears or with laughter we'll always remember our dear Kappa days.

For me that last line completely sums up my collegiate- and alumnae- experience. Life isn't all about the easy, happy moments. Growth isn't always easy or fun, so there have definitely been tears shed... but I've learned from each and every one of those experiences and they've made me who I am today- hopefully a better person! But to balance those "learning opportunities", I also have some fantastic joyful moments that I will always treasure. Especially with my chapter sisters, every time we get together that spark is rekindled.

HE DIDN'T PRINT MY COLUMN! I don't know why - I've got an e-mail into him asking if it was too long - if so, I'll have him reprint last year's much shorter column. SO FINE - Here it is:
Sororities offer lasting value - Badge Day 2012

For over 150 years, women have been joining the groups of the National Panhellenic Conference. So what is it that has drawn generations of women into the bonds of sisterhood? Why will thousands of women wear their sorority badges in honor of International Badge Day this upcoming Monday, March 5? It's because some things transcend time. When sororities began members were wearing corsets and hoop skirts. Today's members may have shortened their skirts and cut their hair, but what spoke to those early members still resonates in the hearts of today's sorority women. They continue to exist because they offer something of lasting value.

My 12 year old niece Maura, perhaps a future sorority member herself, asked me what the purpose of sororities is. The quick answer is they support educating women, developing them into leaders and supporting their communities through philanthropic activities. The longer answer requires us to look at what those founders put down into the creeds, symphonies and purposes of their groups. Reading those stirring words help spell out the lofty goals which have enabled those groups to grow and thrive. They answer the question, "What do those Greek letters and badges mean?". If you thought of sorority women as flighty debutantes thinking of nothing more important than parties and shoes - prepare to have your stereotypes shattered. If you know of your own sorority's values, prepare to be inspired by your NPC cousins' core values.

In their Symphony Alpha Chi Omegas pledge "to see beauty even in the common things of life.To shed the light of love and friendship round me. To keep my life in tune with the world that I shall make no discords in the harmony of life.To strike on the lyre of the universe only the notes of happiness, of joy, of peace. To appreciate every little service rendered."



Alpha Delta Pis state in their creed that they " believe that I must strive to become a well-balanced person by following the dictates of the four points symbolized by our diamond-shaped badge: first, strengthening my own character and personality; second, watching my attitudes toward my fellow-beings; third, recognizing the value of high educational standards; and fourth, developing faith and loyalty."


Alpha Gamma Delta's purpose includes "To welcome the opportunity of contributing to the world's work in the community where I am placed because of the joy of service thereby bestowed and the talent of leadership multiplied. To honor my home, my country, my religious faith.
to hold truth inviolable, sincerity essential, kindness invaluable."


The mission of Alpha Epsilon Phi is "to inspire and support exemplary women dedicated to friendship and a lifelong commitment to Alpha Epsilon Phi while building on the vision of our Jewish founders." Alpha Omicron Pi's values include "Contributing time, talent and financial resources;Promoting integrity; Developing leaders;Striving for excellence;Encouraging innovation and creativity;Using teamwork and collaboration;Acting philanthropically;And being a living example."



Alpha Phi's creed includes these words about their sorority": I believe in its earnest drive for good scholarship, moral character, and
genuine culture. I believe in it as a shrine of international sisterhood wherein I may find love, loyalty, sympathy and understanding, inspiration
and opportunity.I believe in it as a creator of good citizenship helping me to do my work well, to live in harmony with others, and to serve my country and to trust in God."

Alpha Sigma Alpha states they will " promote{s) high ideals and standards for its members throughout their lives by emphasizing balance among our four aims of intellectual, physical, social and spiritual development." Alpha Sigma Tau's purpose " is to promote the ethical, cultural, and social development of its members, specifically:to develop the character of each member through a study of ethics so that she will show in all her relationships sincerity, honesty, love and understanding."

Alpha Xi Delta has a Symphony which affirms " These things do we earnestly desire: A clear vision of life, that with gracious and kindly hearts we may share both joy and sorrow, and bring into living reality the sisterhood of women, An appreciation of real merit and worth, steadfastness of soul, that without bitterness or defeat we may encounter misfortunes and with humility meet success." Chi Omega's Symphony aspires "To live constantly above snobbery of word or deed; to place scholarship before social obligations and character before appearances; to be, in the best sense, democratic rather than "exclusive", and loveable rather than "popular"; to work earnestly, to speak kindly, to act sincerely, to choose thoughtfully that course which occasion and conscience demands; to be womanly always; to be discouraged never."

Delta Delta Delta's purpose is " to establish a perpetual bond of friendship among its members, to develop a stronger and more womanly character, to broaden the moral and intellectual life, and to assist its members in every possible way. " Delta Gamma's motto is short, but incredibly powerful - "Do Good." In their creed Delta Zetas pledge " to the world, I promise temperance and insight and courage, to crusade for justice, to seek the truth and defend it always." Delta Phi Epsilon's mission "is to develop in women a social consciousness and a commitment to think and act for the greater good."

My beloved Gamma Phi Beta has as its mission"To inspire the highest type of womanhood."The vision of Gamma Phi Beta is "We will build confident women of character who celebrate sisterhood and make a difference in the world around us." I aspire to live my creed of love, labor, learning and loyalty. Kappa Alpha Theta's purpose is " to support members to learn, grow, and excel, and our core values are personal excellence, friendship/sisterhood, scholarship, service, and leadership."

Kappa Delta's object " is the formation and perpetuation of good fellowship, friendship and sisterly love among its members; the encouragement of literature and education; the promotion of social interest; and the furtherance of charitable and benevolent purposes. Kappa Kappa Gamma affirms that "at its core is about an arc of qualities:leadership, scholarship and friendship." Phi Mu's creed is "Love, honor and truth." Phi Sigma Sigma asks its members to "Aim high" and has as its twin ideals " the brotherhood of man and the alleviation of the world’s pain."

Pi Beta Phi's core values are" Integrity, Lifelong Commitment, Honor and Respect, Personal and Intellectual Growth, Philanthropic Service to Others and Sincere Friendship." Sigma Delta Tau strives "to foster, maintain and instill such ideals in the hearts of its members as will result in actions worthy of the highest precepts of true womanhood, democracy and humanity." Sigma Kappa offers " time, ideas or resources to support the common good". Sigma Sigma Sigma "reaffirms its long standing core values of wisdom, power, faith, hope and love." Theta Phi Alpha's creed includes "Justice to each fellow man.Wisdom in each deed and plan, Loyalty to every friend. Faith that sorrow can transcend.Truth to God and truth to self.Honor valued over wealth."

Finally, Zeta Tau Alpha's members state in their creed " to think in terms of all mankind and our service in the world; to be steadfast, strong, and clean of heart and mind, remembering that since the thought is father to the deed, only that which we would have manifested in our experience should be entertained in thought; to find satisfaction in being, rather than seeming, thus strengthening in us the higher qualities of the spirit; to prepare for service and learn the nobility of serving,"

This International Badge Day when you see those badges being worn I hope you will reflect on the meaning behind those little bits of gold and silver. For over a century the world has been a better place because of those women striving to live their values, to incorporate their creeds in their day to day lives.

Wow. What a beautiful and inspiring article! Very well-written!

Heard from my editor - yep, it was too long. He said he would print it tomorrow "at least, most of it!" - and I told him if I didn't have all 26 groups I would be strung up. :eek:We'll see . . .

HE CUT IT HIMSELF - he only included the Alphas and Gamma Phi. :mad:

Oh well - I tried. http://parispi.net/articles/2012/02/...c326289526.txt

Whew! We just made the cut. Lovely article, congratulations.

SWTXBelle, who is your target market for this article? Non-Greeks? Potential new members? Sorority alumnae? John and Mary Everybody?

Anyone who reads my column and might be interested. I cover all kinds of topics in my columns, so from week to week I probably interest different groups.