Quote:
Originally posted by dzrose93
Just wanted to clarify something that I believe to be a misconception about NPC groups. I've heard NPHC members state many times the fact that they continue the purpose of their organization after they finish their undergraduate days at school. And, sometimes, the way that the NPHC members state this fact seems to imply that they feel that NPC members do not continue to be involved with their GLOs after graduation.
I just want to point out that joining an NPC group is for life -- the same as joining an NPHC group is for life. I'm just as active now as a Delta Zeta alumna as when I was a collegiate. My philanthropy work and my social activities did not halt when I graduated. In fact, they have increased because I now am a member of 3 alumnae chapters and am an advisor to a DZ collegiate chapter (as opposed to being a member of a single chapter in college). My membership in these alumnae chapters has increased the opportunities for me to get involved in charitable, as well as social, events.
Anyway, I just wanted to clarify that NPC members don't stop striving to live up to their organization's standards after they leave school. I think some NPHC members may feel that they do, and I hope that my note clears up any misconceptions of that nature.
Greek Love to All,
dzrose93 
|
With all due respect dzrose, I don't think the alumni level of NPC/IFC orgs and the NPHC is the same thing at all, or even particularly similar.
I have a number of friends who joined IFC and NPC orgs in college(I was actually a sweetheart and knew a lot of the NPC/IFC sorority members fairly well) , and when they hit graduation, they were gone. There was not even an expectation of them continuing their affiliation, and certainly no pressure on them to do so. The most contact they have with their respective orgs now is going back to school for a party now and then, or they might have lunch with fellow alumns every once in a while. One friend is in fact joining the grad chapter of his org, and about all it really involved was him buying a new hat and having lunch with people.
It does not IMHO even begin to compare with the level of activity that BGLO members who affiliate with grad chapters maintain. Biweekly meetings, weekly service, monthly events, it is just a whole different ball game. And affiliation is something that is really really expected, at least when you reach a certain level of income it is. I don't think I can even convey to someone not in our community what it means.
Even if you are NOT active, being in a BGLO means something. THere are so many IFC and NPC orgs that even keeping the names straight can be difficult (Chi O, A Chi O? Alpha Sig, ASA?) but we have nine (major), and EVERYONE in the black community knows them. Any African-American watching the Cosby show (for good example) knows this one's an AKA, this one's a Delta, he's an Omega, etc. because it's a part of the organization of our communities, at social and at community service levels and has been for years. NPHC orgs are a big part of black history. Damn near ALL prominent Black Americans (except for Clarence THomas and Condoleeza Rice) are members.
I am not trying to minimize the impact of your orgs at all, my perspective is probably a result of my community, but I grew up in a mostly white school, with a lot of white friends and never saw fraternity or sorority life as much of a part of their culture as it is of ours.
This is also not to say that in your area there is not something similar to the NPHC alumni level for NPC or IFC groups, but in my experience, and the experience of well..everyone that I know... there is no equivalent.