I know plenty of NPHCers who don't associate with frat or sorors outside of their chapter and they have no financial or philanthropic involvement outside of what their home chapter is doing. That goes for people who pledged decades ago, too.
It's good to have chapter-only things that identify you. But some people go too far. One saying I've heard is "(name of fraternity) chapter of (chapter designation), Inc." And one of my pet peeves is "chapter shirts" where you see a big chapter designation and a tiny organizational designation, if it's on the shirt at all. I also hate chapter handsigns and chapters that have policies that they think override or negate national policies. It can't be part of your chapter's culture or policies if it isn't in-line with the national organization.
So it isn't enough to still wear 'nalia and occasionally speak to a frat or soror in passing (many members don't speak because "they aren't from MY chapter so they aren't like WE are"). If you aren't doing anything except going back to the yard for homecoming or initiation ceremonies, you don't really place the national above your chapter.
I love my home chapter and the women in that chapter drew me to Delta in combination with what I saw from Delta at a local and national level. I didn't end my activity with my home chapter because there is so much to be done at the alumnae (local, regional, national) level. Lifetime commitment implies to me that my membership superceeds chapter boundaries and goes on even if my chapter of initiation is no longer.
Although, the women of my chapter who I bonded with before Delta and because of Delta will always be.
