Sir,I will try to the best of my ability to answer your question since you stated no one has. The difference between honorary membership and regular membership is obvious.First of all I must explain that I do not believe in the seperation of members by terms like "skaters,Paper,Slipped through",especially by people who are not members themselves.No matter how illegally you pledged,this does not give you more rights and priveledges than someone who entered the organization the proper way according to the National rules and regulations.
Honorary membership is bestowed upon a person who has been chosen by the National body for membership.My Fraternity has not initiated a Honorary member since the late sixties.The reason for membership has never been for money as you mentioned,nor has it been for fame.All the hard work is usually done by the un-song heroes.Those Men and Women who volunteer their time and effort to do things for others.Yes it's great to have a list of "Famous Members",every web site has one,but it's not the famous people who are at the soup lines or who are cleaning up the highways or tutoring our children after school.
If you were to become a member of one of these fine organizations you would see things differently,even today with the elimination of hard-core pledging it is still a task to become a member.Let us not judge each other by the negative things of the past.With the advent of Membership Intake Process,we are only just beginning to catch up with our White counterparts.
Every member of this great Organization that we belong to are Honored to be members,so in essence we are all Honorary members.Lets not try to lessen an individuals worth by implying that they are less of a member than thyself.Be a person pledged in the dark ages when the average was twenty weeks,was made an Honorary member at a National Convention,or came through the MIP,there membership is equal.
It's time we stopped trying to tear each other down,and try to bring all our organizations up.We can use these forums for the betterment of all Greeks or we can continue to assassinate each other.It will always be an honor or me to wear my letters(yes I did pledge above ground)and I will acknowledge my Brothers no matter who they can in.
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