For what are you proudest of your GLO? AND what should your GLO be proud of you for?
 

Let's celebrate our pride in our GLOs by stating something about them that makes us proud, and then something that our GLOs can take pride in us for doing. Please keep this a positive thread - no need to disparge any other GLO.

1. Gamma Phi Beta - I love the term "sorority", and am proud that it was coined for us.

2. I formed the local alumnae panhellenic and a crescent circle.

1. Nu Sigma Chi- We are the only recognized local on my campus, our house was built for us and we own it, and have been around since 1928. We are also the only ones :)

2. I revived nu sig after we almost died out and saved our house from being sold... twice. (I did these things with the help and support of my sisters but I was the lead person on it)

p.s. good thread swtxbelle! :)

That's really great - on both counts!

1. Being a trailblazer eversince her inception.
2. Being a trailblazer eversince my inception.

1. Kappa Delta does a lot to make me proud. I guess my current proud-to-be-KD stance is due (in part) to KD's association with Dove's Campaign for Real Beauty.

2. I don't do enough, unfortunately. When I was in school, I was the VP-Pledge Ed (I'm sure that title has changed!). I saw that office as my opportunity to impact the future of KD in as positive a way as possible. I really poured my heart into that position, and it was during that year that I truly understood the meaning of dedication.

Sigma Alpha Iota
1) I am proud that, nationally, we are the strongest all female music fraternity-and I believe the only one to remain single sexed after title IX.
2) I am so proud of my little and the triumphant sister she has become. She's currently in charge of service and she is working so hard to start us some legacy based service projects!

Phi Sigma Pi
1) I am proud of our diversity. Even Nationally, we are a very diverse group of brothers who bond together in our strife for scholarship, leadership, and fellowship.
2) I am proud of the fact that I won my chapter a prestigious award last year and am helping to build our reputation as an organization that creates leaders.

I am proud of AOII because our ritual was written solely by our founders with every symbol, color, letter etc having specific and special meaning elicited from our ritual. Also, it has not changed a single bit since it was written in 1897. Not many sororities can claim this having letters chosen randomly, having rituals written by outside sources and colors picked because they were someones favorites. Nothing wrong with that, but I'm proud of the job our founders did.

I hope AOII is proud of me for achieving every goal I set forth for myself educationally and professionally. Also, I recently found nearly my entire pledge class for our 50th chapter reunion...5 months of work with only 2 women unfound!!

Here is my edited sentence to prove to you I had no intention of ripping any NPC group:
Other NPC sororities chose their emblems for specific reasons as well, but some had help from professors to write their rituals, some picked their colors because they just liked them, some picked their letters because they thought they looked good together and many have changed their names, rituals, colors and symbols over the years for reasons that are apparently important to them. AOII has been able to stay the same from it's inception, which I think is incredible given that it was written by very young, sheltered girls over 110 years ago.

Of course, the "some" is not really correct because some of these examples only occured in one NPC group.
Sorry if I offended you, it wasn't intentional, but I do get testy when someone puts words into my mouth.

Just curious -- unless you know the rituals and ritual histories of other sororities, how can you be so sure that the symbols of other sororities aren't just as intentional as your own?

That's news to me.

Proud to be an SDT
 

I am so proud that Sigma Delta Tau has chosen to align itself with preventing child abuse as its philanthropy. In a related subject, we joined with Jewish Women International in recent years for its Mother's Day project. Funds are raised to send flowers to women in shelters across the country who have been victims of abuse, bringing some beauty into their lives and that of their children.

I hope that my sorority is proud that I used the leadership skills I learned as an active to serve my community. I am a past president of a Jewish Women International chapter and a past officer of the local board.

Paula M.
Sigma Delta Tau
ΣΔT
Patriae Multi Spes Una
One Hope of Many People

I know this stuff not because I know their rituals, but because they advertise it in their own histories. Some NPC groups chose colors that they just liked and added significance later, picked letters they thought looked good together, had professors write their rituals, changed their rituals over time, changed their colors (whether or not they have significance I don't know.) I know that every aspect of AOII was chosen after the ritual was written and not written into the ritual for another purpose. I like that. I'm not saying doing it the other way is wrong or bad. I just think it's special that AOII's founders did it this way!

Goodness knows, our colors are signficant and not chosen because they are pretty!

I know they have significance, but they have changed from the time your sorority was started. That is my point.

Starting a local, affiliating with LXA and still there after 45 years and now with a new house.:)

Well, there is an implied criticism of other GLOs in the way you worded your entry. Our colors changed, but I'm proud of the reason why - to recognize an individual who contributed to the growth and development of our sisterhood.
You might wish to edit out the bit about other sororities only because I understand why you are proud of your ritual, but it does, at first glance, seem to imply a superiority to those rituals which were changed, or had outside help in their development. You can be proud of the great job I assume your founders did with the ritual without seeming to criticize others. I know that was not your intent, and am offering up my opinion in the panhellenic spirit.
You can also be very proud of your beautiful headquarters in Tennessee - it's a gorgeous building, and everyone I met there was just as gracious and hospitable as can be.

I'm not implying superiority at all. I don't know the significance of any of the items I mentioned for these other groups. I just know that AOII's founder were four young women who were able to write our ritual without any outside help, and it hasn't changed in 100 years. I don't think it is better than any other group, but you have to admit that for young women to write something of great importance to so many women that has not changed a single bit in 110 years is fairly remarkable. I can be very proud of that. I'm sure every other sorority is also understandably proud of their founders and their ritual for their own reasons. Do I think it's less important that Gamma Phi Beta changed their original colors to honor Dr. Brown who helped so much to start your sorority? No. I'm sure he is very respected in your sorority, but I think you'd have to admit that the significance of your prior colors must have been important to your founders as well.

What you say may be true of some sororities, although of all the sorority histories I have read (which is quite a few), I don't ever recall any claiming that letter were initially chosen "randomly." Some may say the the meaning has changed, but that's different than "random." Same with color selection just because the colors were someone's favorite. SWTXBelle and you have both referred to a situation where colors were changed for good reason. What does that have to do with any colors being "someone's favorite." Its those phrases -- "letters chosen randomly, colors chosen because they were someone's favorite" -- that do indeed imply superiority.

But I really don't think that you can reliably say that any of this is true of "most" sororities, which is what your statement ("Not many sororities . . . ") certainly implied. Unless you know the rituals and ritual histories, you just don't have enough info to make such a claim, I don't think.

As far as official histories go, tread carefully. Yes, I know that there are histories out there that say something along the lines of "we originally picked the letters ABC because of ____; the deeper meaning conveyed in the ritual was added later." But when it comes to esoteric material, all such claims should perhaps be taken with a grain of salt, since some groups just aren't going to put the real info out there for public consumption. ;)

I think you've missed my point, but that's okay.

It is very remarkable that you were able to contact so many of your pledge sisters - I couldn't even find all of my chapter members from 20 years ago!

In response to both of you, SWTX and Mystic...pride is a feeling of superiority by definition. Sorry if you take offense about what I find pride in. But I take offense at being told that I should not feel pride about the stability of AOII's values over 100 years (might I add that as Americans we often find pride in the stability of the constitution!) and that I should, instead, be most proud of a generic 12 year old building that has no significance other than the fact that it houses our International Headquarters! As for the random statement, MysticCat...if you have read all of the NPC organizations histories, there is one that randomly picked their letters because they liked how they looked together. If you are sensitive that the colors changed, SWTXBelle, then get over it. I never implied that change is bad. I just implied that AOII staying the same was good!

You're being told to be proud of your sorority without ripping on others. Truly secure pride doesn't require you to disparage someone else just to make yourself sound good.
Look, I edited it for you and it shows exactly how proud you are without tearing others down.

Well, I guess there is no point in her editing it now since it's been done for her and you've all quoted it for posterity.:rolleyes: Have we ever thought that sometimes on the internet, that maybe what was meant to come across is not always a snide remark?

* I'm proud of the fact that AOII thinks all of her members are special enough to not need a famous AOIIs section of our website.

* AOII would be proud as I do my utmost to live our ritual on a daily basis. I'm also a charter member of the Life Loyal program.

I am proud that Sigma Gamma Rho was founded by women who were good friends before they founded the sorority together. They attended the same high school and all but one of them went to the same Normal school before they went to college together.

I am also proud that the founders and the first initiates were so intelligent and creative. I'm a writer and their words and poems still move me today along with the creativity they expressed in creating and defining everything from our motto, choice of mascot, flower, shield, etc. There is nothing that was an accident or that wasn't well thought out.

As for me, I hope Sigma is proud that I never shy away from being a leader. If something needs to be done, I will gladly volunteer.

quote - I am proud of AOII because our ritual was written solely by our founders with every symbol, color, letter etc having specific and special meaning elicited from our ritual. Also, it has not changed a single bit since it was written in 1897. Not many sororities can claim this having letters chosen randomly, having rituals written by outside sources and colors picked because they were someones favorites. Nothing wrong with that, but I'm proud of the job our founders did. - unquote

My letters were not chosen randomly, my ritual was not written by outside sources, and my colors were not picked because they were someone's favorite. But even if they were, that wouldn't change whether or not I should take pride in it. However it has evolved, I am sure every GLO's ritual, letters, colors, etc. now mean a great deal to the members. The how and why of a ritual is not nearly as important as the what.
You state that you are proud that nothing has changed, but I find it telling that don't take pride in the ritual itself - in the founder's beliefs or the meaning of the ritual. You state that you are proud that it hasn't changed. You mention nothing in your original posting about unchanging values, which have nothing to do with whether or not the ritual has changed. In fact, it may be that a ritual was changed to better reflect the values of the GLO.
Why should you be proud of your headquarters? How about because of the effort on the part of hundreds of women that it undoubtly took to build? I assure you, those who work there are very (and justly) proud of it.
No one has told you that you shouldn't take pride in whatever you wish. We just think it is not necessary to do so at the expense of any other GLO.
And pride is not related to superiority - from Webster's -" Pride - dignity and self-respect. satisfaction in something done or owned." That is what I meant when I said what are you proudest of - but I think you took it to mean the alternative meanings "an unduly high opinion of oneself" and "haughtiness. arrogance."
Please note - nothing about superiority! I love my sorority, but I also am proud to belong to the NPC. I started this thread to enable others to post what they took pride in, so that we could all learn and celebrate each other.
The LAST thing I wanted was petty one-upmanship. If that's what you need in order to feel good about your GLO, then okay. But don't get on your high horse when you are very politely told that you are coming across as snotty and self-satisfied. Instead of saying "Oh! That's not what I meant" you defend your original post. I can only assume that what we thought was an unintentional slighting of other GLOs was not a mistake.
Drolefille, I'm so impressed. Not only can you translate the incomprehensible, you can rewrite the snarky. Thanks!
I'm not interested in generating conflict, so I'd like this to drop so the thread can get back on track.

eta - AOII LB 93 - THAT is how it done. I think the fact that you take pride in living your ritual every day is great - something we should all emulate. And I wish Gamma Phi Beta would start a Life Loyal program.

This is what I mean about defensive. My post stated that some organizations state in their histories that they may have picked letters that they thought looked good together, changed colors for any reason, changed their name from an original non-greek name, the list can go on and on. In no way did I rip on any other group. Does Phi Mu care that they used to be known as the Philomathean (sorry if I spelled this wrong) Society...no, they actually are quite proud of it. Does Gamma Phi Beta feel less "proud" because they had the help of Dr. Brown? I don't think so...in fact, y'all seem to honor him as he deserves. Did I say that other groups don't have a meaningful ritual? Did I say that every group picked letters, colors, names, flowers, etc for no reason other than their inherent loveliness? No, I most certainly did not. I said that from its inception, AOII picked symbols to represent the ideals or "values" of our sorority that have not changed over time. Did I say there was a problem with changing things that may have needed updating? No, I simply pointed out that it is very hard for a 100 year old organization to stay unchanged for 100 years, very hard for a group of very young women to plan ahead without any help. I was merely suggesting that our founders did a good job. If you want to take offense to that, then you're reading something into my statements that simply aren't there. If other groups are embarrassed about the way they chose their emblems and rituals, then why do they publicize them? I am surprised that anyone would be offended by mentioning a difference from what other organizations are proud of in their own histories. If you still find offense at may statements, then :p! Lastly, I am a greek life scholar...I enjoy reading the histories of the organizations. I find it fascinating that these women were so creative and insightful. If you think I was insulting these groups that I highly respect, you are indeed wrong. I suggest you actually go back and read some of the organizations' history pages, which I periodically do on a regular basis. I'm not going to tell an organization that needed to change it's name because someone else was using the name first that they are less than AOII because we didn't have to. I'm just proud that the same things my founders first put on paper are the same things AOIIs are doing today. And in no way is that haughty or self-satisfied.

Please refer to my original post...I updated it to hopefully clarify my point. I do not mean to be haughty, and if you go back and read what I wrote without assuming that I have any intention of trashing any other group, then I think you'll see my point. I do see your points as well, but they are based on an incorrect assumption.

And SWTXBelle...I didn't say I was proudest about my ritual because it is implied. Everyone believes in their own ritual. By saying I was most proud of our beautiful ritual, I am sure the next second I'd be accused of saying that AOIIs ritual is superior to all others, which I obviously don't believe. For all I know, your ritual could be the most profound and wonderful ritual ever conceived by man (er...woman)...I'll never know because it's not mine.

I don't see why everyone is getting up in arms about AOII's post.

This coming from someone whose group was *GASP* not originally greek letters!!!

OH TEH HORROR!!!!!!!!

The greek letters in my groups name still stand for something very special.

I think some people need to stop taking the internet so seriously :rolleyes:

Thanks texas*princess...I didn't think it was so terribly offensive. Actually, I enjoy the Macon tradition of Society names. It's pretty. But, I think it is very interesting to see the thought process behind some of the groups in the NPC. By the way, I'm not offended that you implied that Phi Mu and Alpha Delta Pi are superior to other NPC groups by saying that y'all are the "first and finest!"

Just as an Fyi, Sigma Kappa's rituals were all written by our founders, I sort of thought that was the norm?:confused:

I'm proud of the fact that my sorority was founded by the first 5 women to enter Colby College. They were trailblazers indeed, and what a world that must have been, to be the only 5 women amongst men that did not want you there?

I am proudest of Alpha Phi Alpha for being the architects of the Black Greek letter movement. We mixed brotherhood with service and social action and gave birth to a new paradigm of fraternalism.

I hope my fraternity is proud of me for living up to the objective "to destroy all prejudices" by living my life openly and proudly.

Delta Sigma Pi is the biggest, most bad-ass business co-ed fraternity ever!!!!! :p

God willing, my last post on this subject
 

AOII Angel - I was quite careful to say I did not think you meant to insult other GLOs. My point was that it was written in such a way that it came across that way - a point proven by the fact that several other posters agreed with me, and interpreted the same way. If anyone was defensive, I believe it was you. However, in the interest of peace and harmony please let me apologize if you felt you were being attacked. That was not my intention.

Texas Princess - it's not a case of taking the internets too seriously. It's a case of trying to keep things in a panhellenic spirit - the same spirit which inspired me to start this thread. I hate the stereotype of catty, competitive sorority women. While we certainly can compete, I'd like to think that we can rise above it and applaud each other, especially once we are no longer collegians and can see "the big picture".

I too enjoy reading sorority histories, and I really like the fact that these incredible organizations all had such different beginnings. When I tour headquarters I am always amazed. How could those founders so long ago have ever imagined what their little groups would grow to become? The reason this is the general GLO thread and not the Gamma Phi thread is because I sincerely love finding out what other sorority women take pride in in their sisterhood, and think that too often we find a media focus on the negative.

I think it fair to say that if you look up the threads and posts I have put on this site, you will find that I am a big proponent of panhellenic unity. That doesn't mean that I don't love Gamma Phi best - but it does mean that I try to cultivate an appreciation for all GLOs. With that in mind, may I humbly ask that we go back to a discussion of those things we can take pride in, and what we have done for our GLOs to take pride in us?

I accept your apology and offer one if you misunderstood my intent due to poor wording. I hope you find my recent update of the original post to clarify the topic. As, MellySK pointed out, AOII is not the only organization with similar beginnings, but it's one of the few that has not changed. Again...I don't think change is bad, I think it's remarkable when it does not occur. Truce accepted. I am truly a panhellenic minded person, since I think all of our organizations are essentially the same at heart with tiny differences in details.

I'll make the valiant attempt to get this thread back on track:

Part 1) I am proudest of Alpha Delta Pi's tradition of leadership without sacrificing the values embraced by our founders.

Part 2) I would hope that Alpha Delta Pi would be proudest of me for helping where I am able, accomplishing all that I have accomplished, and by living our Creed on a daily, personal basis.

I'm proud that my sorority was founded in a New England college.

I hope they would be proud of me for reaching out to sisters I've never met through good times and bad.

I also like MellySK's answers :)

I am proud my GLO was founded by 3 remarkably strong willed young women. I am also proud to know our first president was roommates and friends with ADPis first president. Truly making us "sisters" in the greek spirit in so many ways, other than just the location.

I am proud I was able to develop the very first Phi Mu national website, getting us on the web in 1994. (ok it was rudimentary, but the web was pretty new then too!)

Sigma Nu was founded in opposition to hazing at a military institute. It makes me proud. Took some real men with guts to stand up.

That's impressive even if the web was rudimentary...it was harder to do at that point! They've got it easy now!!

Lambda Chi Alpha has the largest National food drive=The Great North American Food Drive.

This does not count of course the many charities that each chapter is dealing with.

What I am proud of is the fact that I was awarded The Outstanding Alumni of The Decade and have a beautiful award sitting on my TV in the family room!