Classification: social, service, professional, etc.
 

Ok, with all the issues of "aren't we all Greek together?" and "is NPHC service or social?" I wanted to lay it all out from what I see. Mods, please delete this thread if you feel that it's pointless or if there's another like it. My point is to get it out once and for all.

Levels of Classification

I. Two overall types of orgs:

Open Membership and Selective Membership

Open Membership: aspirants are able to join without the "approval" of the current members as long as the aspirants meet basic qualifications (GPA, good standing, etc; for music and pro glos, the aspirant, of course, needs to meet additional criteria)

Selective Membership: aspirants may join ONLY upon the approval of current members and may be turned away for any reason; most often, a secret process of voting or judging is employed

II. Objectives
(note: all orgs are social because of human nature, but objectives may vary)

Service, Social, Professional

Service: primary mission is uplifting a particular community by giving time in service and, often, activism

Social: primary mission is networking, building relationships, teaching organizational/leadership skills

Professional (I'm including music, academic, etc.): primary mission is to hone skills, honor achievement and gain footing in a particular field

Obviously, most organizations fulfill each of these objectives, but organizations ALSO have a primary function.

I think people generally confuse the classification "service" with the type "open membership." And, people also consider "social" organizations to be lacking in community involvement, which is certainly not the case.

I'm so very sure this has been discussed somewhere recently... but anyway. I just want to remark on a few things.

Many professional/service GLOs require majority votes in fact. Members are expected to vote based on acceptable criteria of course (e.g. not on veteran status or whatever).

There are GLOs in fields which are predominantly academic, but 'academic GLOs' are commonly honor societies rather than Professional in the sense of having an orient toward one profession or area of study and being a member of the PFA.

ETA: I go back to the index and suddenly there are three threads on this?!

Precisely my point! That's why I said there is a "I" and a "II." The reason I mentioned "music and pro glos" was the cover my bases. I didn't say that ALL these glos were open membership.

Which is why I said to delete it, if need be. I didn't check. Other people probably didn't either, since there is still an issue.

I prefer using the Baird's classifications:

General
Professional
Recognition
Honor Societies