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.