The Internet Sorority/Fraternity Search???
 

I have noticed that many women and men are using the Internet to seek information about sororities and fraternities. Many of my sorors, along with members of other sororities and fraternities, often get emails sent to them requesting information about our particular organizations.

I ALWAYS encourage people to begin their search in their backyard, not the Internet. Get to know members on YOUR campus or in YOUR community. For some this is easy because the local chapter has a very visible local presence. In other cases, it may be more difficult to talk to members or develop close relationships with members--but you should try.

All NINE NPHC organizations have official websites which contain history, programs, committees and officers, media releases, official publications, membership information, etc. These websites are EXCELLENT places to begin if you need information. They are: www.zpb1920.org www.pbs1914.org www.apa1906.org www.aka1908.com www.kappaalphapsi.com www.omegapsiphifraternity.org www.deltasigmatheta.org www.sgr1922.org www.iotaphitheta.org

Members of these organizations may also be able to direct you to books or local chapter websites for additional information. NOT ALL NPHC organizations have public history books, so talking to active members, observing members of the organization, and going to a chapter's public events are in my opinion the best ways to learn more. It is the way most current members also found the answers to their questions. It is the way most current members made their decisions. Keep in mind that many members were initiated long before history books were made available in local bookstores or before the Internet. While younger members have had the advantage of those tools, they are still secondary to talking to and observing members, and attending public events.

The women and men you see daily, the ones who teach high school math, the ones who tutor in afterschool programs, the ones who render decisions from the bench, the ones who write our laws, the ones who head up church fundraisers, the ones who coach little league baseball, the ones who serve as student body presidents, the ones who are head cheerleaders, football captains or campus queens--these are the men and women who have the keys to the "Greek Kingdom". They are the living legacy. They are the link from the historical past (the one many folks want to read about).

In short, use technology to your advantage, but don't allow it to replace the importance of establishing relationships with members of the organization you wish to join and participating in the public events that are held on campus and in communities.

It is my wish that one day Internet queries about current local programming and national initiatives become as frequent (if not more frequent) than the thousands of queries regarding dues, grade point averages, informational dates, and historical events that happended 66 years ago.

Great Advice GiggyZ!!!

ZetaAce

**APPLAUSE**

Excellent advice!

------------------
Have nothing to do this weekend? Check out the Events Forum

Kelli
#12 Delta Nu (Savannah State University) Wtr. 1994
MAL, Southern Region

An equal opportunity grumpy person.

some people get offended and quickly dismiss you though if you ask anything other than those "basic" questions...and counter that by saying its xyz biz or it's not important to your pursuit right now or it's inapropriate or something to that affect that would leave you with a very limited range of questions to ask...case in point...once i asked an organization about one of their initiatives and started a rather in depth discussion on that particular initiative...one that each sorority partakes in to some degree or another...i got about 12 responses from prospectives...and the one response i got from a member of that particular org was "why do you respond to every post like you have a p h d behind your name"...in other words ruining the whole very positive and informative discussion...things like that probably dissuade prospectives from posing any questions related to anything other than grades, rush, etc...and it is sad because personally...i don't want to READ about an initiative...i want you to tell me what YOU are currently doing concerning that initiative...


"No person is your friend who demands your silence or denies your right to
grow."

~Alice Walker http://www.plauder-smilies.de/love/pinklove.gif




[This message has been edited by SableCherub (edited June 16, 2001).]

SableCherub...it is unfortunate that some people are unable to address more substantive issues. However, as with anything in life, some are more committed and more informed than others.

I hate to admit it but there are members of organizations who are far more informed about the next stepshow or pajama jam than they are about national programs.

We are all at different places on our BGLO journey. If you frequent BGLO-specific chat forums you may know that some posters are national officers (elected or appointed) or officers at various levels within their organizations who attend meetings where decisions are made. Others are just happy to have a chance to sport their letters on campus and rarely venture to anything that does not involve the college experience. There is nothing wrong with the later for as a 19 year old neophyte I would have been hardpressed to engage in any lengthy discussion on many of Zeta's national initiatives. Don't get me wrong I knew what they were but I had not been around long enough to see many of them in action or to participate in their design or enhancement.

These boards are full of people just like the 19 year old neophtye I was two decades ago.

Continue to ask those substantive questions about programming and about our work in the communities we serve. It is those discussions that make my eyes widen (I can't do those animated things like you folks so just imagine a bright-eyed Zeta sitting at her computer). Those are the discussions that let me know that for every "I wanna be down so I can step and get all the ____ (fill in the blank)" prospective that there are some folks that should they decide to seek membership and should membership be afforded, they will be able to carry the orgs torch in service.



[This message has been edited by GiggyZ (edited June 16, 2001).]

http://www.plauder-smilies.de/person/bandit.gif

you can get the funky smilies from http://www.plauder-smilies.de/ just click on the one you want then copy the link from the UBB-Code box at the bottom of your screen and paste it into your message...thanks for breaking it down Giggy http://www.plauder-smilies.de/sleep.gif

Preach Soror, Preach...the fact of the matter is that not all members to whom you ask questions about the organization are equiped to provide the answer to you. Don't therefore assume that all members are just resistant to answering questions. Maybe you're just asking the wrong people. And if after asking person upon person upon person for the same basic Sorority information and not getting an answer, you can only believe that it's either by design or by ignorance. Either way it becomes another tool at your disposal to determine the best organization for you.



------------------
Finer Womanhood: the "Cat's Meow" Since 1920

http://www.plauder-smilies.de/angel2.gif

I did it. Thanks SableCherub. http://www.plauder-smilies.de/jump.gif

http://www.plauder-smilies.de/yellows/king.gif

I think the internet is an extra source to use, but don't solely rely upon what information that is given. If you are interested in a particular organization, hopefully the lovely Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., that you prepare yourself like you would for a job interview. You do your homework/research. Spend time surfing the web and look at various campus sites and see the countless hours of community service we do. But most importantly, talk to members on your campus, in your community, and other campuses to make sure this is where you want to be since this a life long committment.

As for sorors, when a prospective member approaches us, we should make them feel as though we want them to be apart of our organization....as long as they are displaying the qualities of Finer Womanhood.

oh, lawd i'm bout to pass out...there is TOO much love in here...somebody fan me... http://www.plauder-smilies.de/love/hearts.gif