Ask an AKA...Random Questions...
 

Sisterfriends, if you had the opportunity to ask an AKA a question about LIFE AS A MEMBER of Alpha Kappa Alpha, what would you ask? Remember, LIFE AS A MEMBER, NOT HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER?

SORORS, if questions are posed, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO ANSWER...(Repeat) YOU DO NOT HAVE TO ANSWER! :D


Sorors, let's see what happens. :p ;) :D



Just because a question is asked, does not guarantee you will receive an answer.

I have a feeling that people will become mute all of a sudden. Waiting to see how it unfolds.

ETA: Good question. People THINK they KNOW, but they have NO idea.

Thank you AKA2D '91 for creating this topic.

Madam, how do you deal with those who approach you simply because of your membership in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated?

How has your perception of Alpha Kappa Alpha grown through the years?

1.How do you ladies feel about members who decide the org isn't for them anymore because of the actions of their particular chapter?
2. Do you sometimes feel that all of the activities, $$$, and service can be overwhelming?
3. Do you always feel a connection with other members such as those older or younger than you? If you don't does it seem strange?

How much of your time is spent...
 

As a member, are you doing something for the community every week?

I'll bite. I'll say yes to both. Being an active (financial and physical) member of AKA is very time-consuming and costly. However, I love AKA and what we stand for. I made a pledge that I intend to keep. So, I do it willingly. Yes, I do feel a connection with my sorors. It supercedes when and where you were initiated. We have all taken a pledge to AKA and her ideals.

Due to the nature of my work, I do something for the community everyday. However, I do not necessarily have community service projects that occur weekly...about twice a month.

Re: How much of your time is spent...
 

I think for the most part, interested ladies approach my sorors at the undergraduate level. I fail to see that at the graduate level. As such, my sorority has procedures and protocols that all of my sorors pledge to follow and that is defering to what is written on the website

My perception of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. has grown through my years of my stuggle, with my main and with my might, to capture a vision fair... And I have lived my day through my Sorority and I am unable to neglect my sorors

It pains me to see some to walk out on their sorors. I guess the biggest thing to know going into my Sorority is to understand that it is Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and the chapter is secondary. However some folks disagree.


I thrive on challenges because that is how I joined my Sorority. It was challenging to wake up early in the morning and make sure positive statements on banners were posted before my "big sisters" woke up. However, that was a long time ago and times have changed... And the activities, monies and services are greatly similar to what needs to be done in my career. So, my Sorority work prepares me for what I get paid to do.


I made a pledge to refrain from ill will toward any of my Sorors and I still hold true to that pledge to this day. Do I feel connected as a soror to other sorors? Most definitely. Age is factorless. I have yet to feel uncomfortable around any of my Sorors.

Re: How much of your time is spent...
 

It depends on the chapter. Some graduate chapters have 1-2 huge fundraisers per year. My first graduate chapter works on their major fundraiser for roughly 10 months and maybe 3 weeks per month, which has yet to include chapter meetings.

Undergraduate chapters are asked to do less because most of those Sorors are still in school and we older Sorors expect high GPAs. However, many undergraduate chapters are enthusiastic about being of service to mankind. Although we graduate Sorors appreciate their energy to achieve or core targets, we still impinge upon them that they need to graduate and find suitable careers.

Re: Re: How much of your time is spent...
 

What I hear you saying is that if I become an undergraduate member, the community service aspect is secondary to academics until after graduation.
Would it be safe to say that the day to day goal for an undergraduate member is to support her sisters in making it through their college years?

The chapter on my campus is currently suspended, so I have no way of asking or watching them to see what their priorities and goals are. Because they are suspended, I am aware that I may have to wait for an invitation into a graduate chapter.

Thank you in advance for your responses.

How do you really feel about an Alpha you don't know calling you "Soror?"




Personally, I wait to be called "Frat" by an AKA first.

It really depends on that person. I personally don't mind but some do. To me it is just a greeting, someone is just trying to be nice and open the lines of communication.

And let that Alpha be FINE, then I really don't mind...your included Senusret.

Thanks, ladies. Here is my question:

What misconceptions about sorority life were disproved after gaining membership?

Re: Re: Re: How much of your time is spent...
 

You just have to find a balance between the two and that is when organization comes in. Academics should be your focus, but finding that time to partake in community programs that the sorority sponsors is also important. This is my opinion because my new job participates in a lot of community service projects and they look for employees who have that background and are willing to participate when the time comes.

REMEMBER, I ASKED SISTERFRIENDS. Please refer to the intital post. Thanks.

:D

Even though you aren't a Sisterfriend, I'll let this one slide.

I do not have any feelings about it at all. When I met my sweetie, he was one of the first Alpha since college to call me "soror", no it was "sis". So, I :D and took it in stride and was like "okay". We know we both share a bond, but... :confused:

I didn't and still don't call him or any other Alpha frat.

I haven't used that term in person since college.
Maybe it's an age thing.
:confused:

We both share a bond, but... LOL. That had me crackin up....

Re: Re: Re: How much of your time is spent...
 

This is what I know. Sorors on the undergraduate campuses are like SuperAKAs. They have their lives, their academics, and their extra activites/memberships. Sorors are balancing it out! Sorors are doing things. There efforts are highlighted at our conferences. Undergraduate sorors are rewarded and awarded annually for their community service and academic efforts. They both have their place. :D

Priorities are determined individually.

Quote:

The chapter on my campus is currently suspended, so I have no way of asking or watching them to see what their priorities and goals are. Because they are suspended, I am aware that I may have to wait for an invitation into a graduate chapter.

That info is TMI. It has nothing to do with the life of a CURRENT member of AKA. But, since you have mentioned it, I'd say get out and do your service while you get your degree.

Dang, you're a newbie. See what one thread will do. Who's the next newbie to come out? LOL

I'm humbled by your graciousness.

Re: Re: Re: Re: How much of your time is spent...
 

You didn't know. When they have their AKA week, it's like, "When do you have the time and where did you all get the energy from?" That's why undergrads deserve those awards.

I have to admit it, but I didn't have any misconceptions. When I came through we didn't have all of these discussion boards/internet, etc. So, we didn't know who was interested in ANY organization, if they were interested at all. IT WAS NOT DISCUSSED! I didn't hear about this organization and that organization, nor Alpha Kappa Alpha. What I knew about AKA came from my mother. I knew she left to go meetings, activities, etc. I knew I had to wear this dress or that dress when I was in the Fashionetta, Or, I had to wear this to that activity. I knew that we had to stop by this nursing home as my mother did this that and the other. I knew that the "Honey Don'ts (kids of her chapter members) got together to do different things. So, I had no misconception about sorority life.

I knew I would be joining ladies with common goals. I knew that I would be around many ladies. I have friends (females) and I knew that we didn't always agree, so why when I gained new friends/sisters would I think that things would be different. :confused:

I think the problem lies with folks thinking that organizations are perfect. They put the members and the org on this great pedestal where they expect a certain life or something (I really don't know). I guess I'm just a nonchalant kind of girl, so I don't get "excited" by many things (unless it's Maxwell or other recording artists/celebrites etc.) LOL

How do you handle family members/close friends that are interested and feel that private information will just be freely given to them? Do you ever give them a little more info than the "average" interest would receive or do you prompt them to research like everyone else?

What's good for the goose...

ETA: I think we have a thread on it...

This is how I feel... Go to the nearest store and purchase a bubble envelope. Get your card, pin, etc etc and mail it to 5656, ahem I mean Chi-town, Illinois.

'nuff said! :D
If you know someone like that, make that suggestion to them, see what they say. :p

I'm all about the Phrist Pham love. I don't mind at all. Like my soror said, if he's cute, he can call me anything. LOL!! Yeah, I get "sis" more than soror.

Co-sign on the sending of materials to Chi-town. That problem can be solved right away. Again, AKA is bigger than a chapter.

Re: Re: Re: How much of your time is spent...
 

As my Sorors have pointed out, you MUST (and that is a very important and critical word) strike a balance... The sooner you learn that, the better off you will be. Now, you can go through life, living with excuses as the rules of the incompetent and build mountains to nowhere... You can be quite happy just going to class, doing the bare minimum and become mediocre... You can lack aspiration, see little use for extending yourself and expanding your understanding in your life... But at the end of your life, what will your dash mean between the year of your birth and year of your death? (ponder that question for yourself, discreetly)...

To bluntly answer your question, you have to do both, do well in school and do all voted and approved activities for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. if you become a member. How do most of my younger sorors do that while in school, with a parttime job to pay for school and sorority activities? That is amazed me the most when I was a graduate advisor. I think my younger sorors were very eager and energetic to be of service to all mankind. My job, as graduate advisor (and on the NPHC graduate advisor's board) was to slow their roll a bit and make sure they are doing their work. Just to let you know, my undergraduate sorors constantly work with the graduate sorors, that is the rule in my Sorority (I am unable to speak for other NPHC Sororities or other Sororities in general).

The other issue is academic success and maintain our mantra of supremacy in service... Like my Sorors said, the undergraduate sorors are given academic internships to Pillsbury and Daimler-Chrysler for the summer. That was negotiated at least 10 years ago through the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Educational Advancement Foundation (EAF). When I was a graduate advisor, I determined through working with my younger sorors and then other NPHC members, that many who attended non-HBCUs where encountering overt and institutionalized racism from their fellow classmates and professors in their major. Although, I myself was a graduate student, I was given access to the professors and started asking questions regarding my younger sorors and other NPHC members academic records--basically was their truly a learning problem or absences to class. Those incidences turned out to be completely falsified, that in fact my younger sorors and NPHC members were being outright biased against for whatever reason. I reported my findings to both my Regional Director and my graduate chapter--who sponsors my younger soror's undergraduate chapter. I also reported that to the NPHC graduate advisory board. Within a few months, some of the incidences encountered were minimized simply because a few of my graduate sorors, who are lawyers, judges, city council and federal national party committee members made some phone calls for me asking stronger questions I had yet to consider. But that took a concerted effort with all parties involved.

How do you know they are suspended? Did you go to the Student Affairs office (or whatever you call it on your campus) and ask? You have yet to know what suspension entails or what lengths it takes to have a chapter suspended--and you have yet to be privy to that kind of information. The best you can do is to send a physical letter to the National Office of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and request membership information as it becomes relevant. You can also participate in a public graduate chapter event as much as you would like. My graduate sorors always welcome those who have a seriousss interesting in my Sorority.

Re: Re: Re: Re: How much of your time is spent...
 

How do you know they are suspended? Did you go to the Student Affairs office (or whatever you call it on your campus) and ask? You have yet to know what suspension entails or what lengths it takes to have a chapter suspended--and you have yet to be privy to that kind of information. The best you can do is to send a physical letter to the National Office of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and request membership information as it becomes relevant. You can also participate in a public graduate chapter event as much as you would like. My graduate sorors always welcome those who have a seriousss interesting in my Sorority. [/B][/QUOTE]

So true Soror, so true. I love this reply.

I had yet to have any misconceptions about my Sorority life. Hardly anything shocks me. I was initiated in 1989. Other sorors were initiated earlier than I. Our process was different in those days and you have yet to ask questions regarding the details. However, we had endured one premise, lack of misconception of the reality of being active in the Sorority...

Since some of my youthful sorors had a different process than mine, you would have to ask them about any misconception they may have had.

However, I have encountered MANY NUMEROUS misconceptions from outsiders and interests. MANY and NUMEROUS!!! It is disheartening to hear those kinds of utterances of ignorance by children and silly adults that have done little to effectively and broadly change their communities for almost 98 years.

Re: Re: Re: Re: How much of your time is spent...
 

To answer your question, I first called the National Headquarters to see if they would provide info and I was directed to the Student office on campus. I contacted the student office and was told that the chapter is indeed suspended, and they didn't know when they would return. The office told me that it would be up to the sorority to request permission to return to campus.

I realize that I don't know anything about the inner workings of sorority life, but I wanted to see if I would have a chance at joining during my undergraduate years or wait until after graduation.

I have no intentions of asking any membership related questions. I can respect the rules of this forum.

In my initial post I was trying to let you know that I had no way of witnessing first hand how members of your sorority conduct themselves on a daily basis, so that anyone responding would know why I ask the question I ask.

I mean no disrespect to anyone and I greatly appreciate the intellegent and kind replies I have received.

ok here's a few....
 

1. Do you think that some of your sister's get too carried away with wearing their sororities pari or colors? How do you address that for yourself?

2. What's the one thing you get a kick out of doing when you know there is an interest around?

3. Could you deal with the fact should you have a daughter, she does not want to be an AKA but something else? OR if your daughter is rejected, after you have spent countless years working for the sorority, for no apparent "good" reason given?

4. Do you believe in nepotism within the organization? If not/so, how would that affect your views on the direction of the organization and your involvement?

5. Do you think in anyway that you fit the sororities "typical" stereotype given? OR feel that people think that you should fit the stereotype?

6. How do you deal with sister's you just don't like?

3 and 4 kinda go together.....

1. I dunoo. Maybe a younger soror could answer that. I cannot control what she wears. I cannot control what you wear. I don't wear T-shirts that much...never really did as an UG nor as a graduate member. I don't wear my jackets that much either. Now my jewelry, that's another story. :D

2. WITH??!?!? :confused: IT TAIN'T THAT SERIOUS!

3. Yes..there is a thread regarding this..

4. Again...WITH?!?!?! :confused:

5. (IMO) Some of our founders don't fit the "typical stereotype"others have placed on the organization. So that ya- ya has always seemed crazy to me. LOL

6. That's just like asking how do you deal with your momma when she gets on your nerves. How do you deal with your biological brother or sister you just don't get along with... WITH for the 3rd time!

Thank you for your questions thus far, but please THINK about what you are asking BEFORE you ask. And please make sure you cannot find the answer from one of our previous threads.

:cool:

Re: ok here's a few....
 

I'll take a stab at some of these. . .

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: How much of your time is spent...
 

Firstly, I am going to give you a break because I suspect you are young and lack patience and understanding. However, let me ask you this question, is there a graduate chapter in your current city or location and have you tried to find their activities and attend them? My Sorority is a "global" organization, it would behoove you to find nearby chapters, somehow, someway. Moreover, are you just willing to give up on one try at your Student Affairs office? I would think there is some leverage in the phonebook or better yet, aka1908.com... This is what we mean when we talk about doing your research... What you are doing is stepping up to us with half a deck and trying to call somebody's bluff...

(Y'all can tell I'm excited to go the Las Vega$)

The best you can do now is to pursue the graduate chapter and participate in some of the public events that you are allowed to attend. That would be the best way one could go about it and see my sorors in action. Now you have been told how to go about doing that...

Re: ok here's a few....
 

Now miss priss, I expected more out of you than that!!! You know better than to ask those kind of questions. They are unrelated to the initial comment made by my Soror AKA2D'91... And she did say that we, the ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. had a choice to answer. But you laid it out there. And since I like folks to learn from ill-advised choices they make, I will try very hard to maintain my respectfulness toward you, unlike what you have displayed toward my sorors on GC. Besides, what you are asking is "hazing related"... Just to forewarn you and since my pearls are highly intact, then I have yet to worry about sorrow later on...

Why hate on AKA love with the 'nalia? Especially for those who just joined? That is just plain hurtful... This is what I am talking about with misconceptions and casting aspersions. Once you get there, if you get there in any sorority, you will know ALL about wearing 'nalia with pride... And there has yet to be anything inaccurate with being P and G'ed out

What do you think? Have you seen anything? Was that your interpretation or blatantly obvious based on what you saw? Would you report it to the authorities if you saw someone being inappropriate to another--with anything, generally?

The answer to your first question will be the same my Soror Mother told me: I could pledge anything I wanted to, but I am only paying for ONE... As far as my daughter, if I had one, desiring membership into another organization, well it would hurt, but then she could do it, if she wanted to however she would have to pay for intake and membership...

The answer to your second question, I think it has been posted on another topic before. I would refer to the POW and do a search... What is that called again when I leave something to my daughter? Hmmmmmm? :rolleyes:

See answer as above...

Pursuit in the membership of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. is ALWAYS a SERIOUSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS matter.... Does that work for you?


They are always my sorors and I have pledge my heart and fidelity to uphold their simplicity and grace, thick and thin. We just agree to disagree. Do you have a sibling? If so, do your dislike him or her? Would you hate him or her ever? Why is it wrong to hate your brother or sister? Because I am trying to achieve a higher goal and mentality (or as a Christian, God says that you are unable to love God and hate your brother--or fellow man), so therefore, I will just agree to disagree...

yes I went there.....
 

Again yes I went there because I knew SOMEBODY reading this forum would (or wanted to) ask......I knew I would get "shut" down---- just playing the devil's advocate.....but you know it's those crazy questions that most interest are scared to ask maybe I should have prefaced my questions:confused:.....I know, I know somethings you just don't ask but sometimes ya just wanna know!:cool:

Do any of you plan to run for an office higher than what you are now?

Re: yes I went there.....
 

Aside from all the gibberish you were spewing, here is a true and very good Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. interest question... It gives those seriousssssly interested details regarding how in fact my sorority is truly organized. Moreover, our city, county, regional and international meetings, both the Boule and the Leadership conferences offer 2-3 day intenstive Continuing Education lectures regarding "So You Want To Run For Office", along with compendium literature. However, one must be a member to obtain those documents...

Currently in my new graduate chapter, I have yet to be an officer simply because I am new to the area and would like better business and networking opportunities than what I currently have. However in my previous graduate chapter, I had two position, Corresponding Secretary and the highly coveted position, Graduate Advisor. As corresponding secretary, I had to organize and send out the newsletter (chapter bylaws). This duty was before they had "yahoogroups". I also had to check and gather the mail before the monthly chapter meeting, then read pertinent mailing information. I saw a lot of paperwork go through... I will just leave it at that. But being that one little position in a relatively small chapter (I apologize Soror Steeltrap--but 1996, the chapter was small), it taught me a lot about the policies and procedures of my Sorority.

As a former Graduate Advisor, I was the one who organized the graduate advisory council for my graduate chapter. I implemented the communication between the younger undergraduate sorors and the Golden (50 year) and Diamond (75 year) sorors. My undergraduate sorors truly enjoyed the older sorors, learned many things... I also implemented the "Back To School Tea and Luncheon" for the undergraduate sorors and graduate advisory council sorors. By my position, I was enabled to connect with other graduate advisors in my region and discuss plans for undergraduates, generally. Then I moved away to another region due to a new job.

Currently, I aspire to a higher position. However the kind of position I desire takes diligence, planning and full chapter support--also attending a lot of Regional and National meeting--there are other meetings that are outside of the Boule and Leadership Conference. It also take developing an active curricula with proper implementation and numerous support from my own chapter sorors--Something that I need to improve upon right now since I am new to my current area. I think within 3-5 years, I will be close or at my goal.

Re: Re: yes I went there.....
 

[color=deeppink][b]As a former Graduate Advisor, I was the one who organized the graduate advisory council for my graduate chapter. I implemented the communication between the younger undergraduate sorors and the Golden (50 year) and Diamond (75 year) sorors. My undergraduate sorors truly enjoyed the older sorors, learned many things...

1.What is the most profound thing you learned from one of your older sisters? Has that influenced your pursuit for a greater leadership role?

2.You mentioned developing/implementing new curricula, what is an area within the targets that you feel you would like to continue more emphasis in and why?

3.Do you think a new target/program should be created? If so what and how would that help Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated affect changes in the AA community/world?