If you could...
 

FIX any three problems of your organization with a wish, what would they be (if you care to share them)?

I would fix the following in the following order:

1) The homosexual invasion
2) EVERYBODY WOULD PLEDGE
3) My org would address the most pressing problems facing our neighborhoods-drugs.

.

I think everyone is going to be somewhat the same.

1. The intake process (Pledge Education;) )
2. Inactivity
3. increase of community service across the board.

I would change......

1. The "Hip-hop" mentality of many younger bruhs
2. The "Country-clubbing", "Boule' " mentality of the "grey-hairs"
3. Make intake a "rite of passage" that was only accountable to bruhs, not NPHC.

I think that we need to get back to the Scholarly-uplift "true spirit of fraternity" mentality of the Jewels.

Blackwatch!!!!!!

I liked the way this thread started out...
 

1) I say ditto to the OA's post with an extra emphasis on #1. This is an issue that has kept me out of the organized side of Alpha business for the past 2-3 years. Much like President Clinton, I don't know how to address. Unlike Pres. Clinton, I refuse to speak out of turn on the issue.


2) Everyone who did not pledge, and continues to solicit new members through intake has been robbed and is continuing to rob new members of an invaluable process that only those that have seen the light can identify with. (p.s. it's about more than grips, chants, and kicking a$$)

3) Why do we need to be affiliated with the NPHC? What have they done for the Great 8? (Yeah, I said 8 not 9). The NPHC does not cater to the needs of the African American college student or the AA frats/sororities. Just a thought. I'm starting to soungd a lil Marcus Garvey-ish.

Shall the homosexual invasion be the next topic of discussion? (fato goes off to ponder his points quietly)

1. The Membership Intake Process
2. The Membership Intake Process
3. The Membership Intake Prcocess

This is the central issue that is dividing all of the NPHC organizations. I agree that currently the NPHC has an empty role, but that doesn't mean it cannot serve a useful one. I envision an NPHC that pools together the resources of the member organization to form such institutions as schools, banks, and other staples of society.

The current M.I.P. is just a plain abomination. Period. Now I don't agree with beating people from sundown till sun up. That's the antithesis of our organizations, in my opinion. But there's needs to be something more substantial than just two weekends which everyone regards as a joke and lacks legitimacy to the majority of the fraternity.

As far as homosexuals within the frat...to consider that Alpha, being an all male organization, could be 100% free of homosexuals is just not living in reality. Period. One of the Jewels could have been gay. I will reserve my feelings on homosexuality to another forum, but anyone thinks they're going to "rid" the frat of homosexuals is smoking too much brotherhood smoke.

My question is:
What are YOU doing to change your organization? I'm trying to push the issue of membership intake where and when I can. If we don't address this issue Alpha will not last another century. No NPHC org will. Period.

...We have work to do.
 

It's good to see the brothers here are aware of our fraternity's problems. It shows we all keep it high in our hearts. But just because our task is immense doesn't mean we should give up; it only means that the sooner we get to work on them, the sooner we'll get rid of them.

I like the point you (Enlightenment06) and some of the others made on the NPHC. It(The NPHC) has potential; but your application of surreality should be applied to the NPHC moreso than ridding our frat of homosexuals. We can do this easier than congress can eliminate our nation's debt; and like congress, it's merely a question of will.

I also agree with your point on MIP. It's clear that some more meaningful type of process is needed; and that's why I feel it is imperative that we bring back The SPHINX CLUB and its purpose. Or like you said, we wont be around for another century.

I will pm you with my last question on your post.

As has been said earlier, we need to restore pledging (minus hazing) for several reasons. There's the basic "they weren't 'made right'" take. I believe this to a certain degree, but nationally our matriculation rate from college to alumni is less than 35 percent (pm me and I'll give you the actual number), so even those that pledged aren't activiating into alumni chapters as we should...so, to be fair, we can't say it's only about how much wood you took.

Secondly, I too, think that (some) bruhs who came in w/ Intake are deprived of some of the true spirit--I've had an Intake bruh tell me this. That's on us, those already active to make it real, build that bro'hood. I pledged in 89, was truly among the last to pledge before Intake started. I'm glad I endured that (now, that is) and for retaining what the experience put in me.

As to the homosexuality issue, I just think it inteferes with the work of Alpha. I'm not homophopic or hating on anybody; it's just how I feel about it. Brotherhood, collegiality, etc.. is about a climate, and without being judgemental, the alternative lifestyle runs counter to the climate in which Alpha works best---and as OA will tell you, our chapter has has MANY discussions on this topic and what to do about it.

I can be brotherly with any man who has earned the letters and the right to stand among the ranks of the greatest Fraterity to ever exist. But there are some things that should just fall away if we truly aspire to do the work of Alpha.

And, I have to disagree that anyone with a desire to "rid" the frat of homosexuals has had too much brotherhood smoke. Perhaps, in true Alpha fashion, he sees work to be done, rather than a status quo to be accepted.

...didn't mean to write War and Peace, but this is a discussion that needs to be had.

Fraternally,
Tony

Now let's keep it going...
 

Well said TonyB. Noone ever suggested ridding the frat of gays, but I do have a problem with the acceptance of the lifestyle in our org.

I actually can't beleive I'm saying this, but there are some Bros. that have been suspect for years on this issue, but as long as they keep their preferences to themselves I don't even have a problem with that! But what my problem is is that A Phi A is soon to be known as "the" frat for gay men, and that is not the case.

A good brother is a good brother, and I would rather be surrounded by good brothers than none at all. But at what cost???

Bruh Fato,

Even though this is a discussion about Alpha, we are not alone on this. One of my best friends is a Nupe and I know they, as well as the others, are also dealing with this.

Of course, being Alphas, it falls to us to provide leadership and a solution...

I look forward to the continued disussion/debate. I just hope, whatever our respective positions on the issue(s), we remain brotherly and always remember to keep ABC....keep Alpha Business Confidential.


Goodwill is the Monarch of this House...

Greeks never die...
 

I understand what you are saying and agree. I would like to see us go back to the 'old' way of pledging without the physical and mental abuse involved. The problem is you would have to make sure EACH member of your org understands this, financial and non-finacial members, since it seems like it is the non-financial members that cause the most problems.

I came in under the 'old' way and was online for six (6) weeks. In addition to my line sisters, big sister and advisor, I had my study packet to guide me and was given assignments that helped me learn more about my Sorority. I also think that duirng a longer pledge process, it gives the pledges a chance to bond with each other and really get to know one another.

Oh, I think we will last another century. I know of members not only in my org, but in others, who will come out of the grave to help their org if necessary. But, seriously, I can definitely speak for SGR, and I asuume the other orgs are doing this too, is that we have programs and issues that we support and are passionate about and we will not let those issues die. If for nothing else, through that our orgs will survive.

Another century
 

I am not sure if the comment was meant to say that A Phi A will not exist another century; rather, the frat as we know and love it will not exist for future generations to march onward and upward toward the light!

action!
 

so what action can we take to change the membership intake process. It obviously is an NPHC issue, not just an Alpha issue. Do any elders have any suggestions on who to contact and how? I'm tired of waiting around for our "leadership" to do what we know needs to be done. We're all leaders. Any suggestions?

First we have to...
 

Identify those alphas that are gay and remove them. Secondly we have to intensify our screening process with background checks. Thirdly, any perspective must be recommended by 7 brothers in good standing-and make all bruhs recommending a dude be responsible for that dude! Finally, we should pledge the hell out of them for a three-month period.

Re: First we have to...
 

I LOVE MY A PHI A!!!! I AIN'T SEEN THAT MUCH FEELING FROM THE OA SINCE THE THREADS ABOUT HAZING THAT ALL GOT LOCKED OUT!!!