Have BGLO's out grown their purpose?

[Japera1920]

Greetings to all,
I just recently had a convo with a GDI and he was explaining to me that BGLO are not vocal in the community or in the political arena. He also stated that we as organizations have out lived our purpose. I went on and explain to him that alot of BGLO involovment in the community area. (I can only speak my organization.) He had valid points (sp).

Have we lost our edge in the community? Have we out live our purpose? Our founders had laid the foundation for us to continue but what legacy have we set forth? Just think about it.

Japera1920
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority

[ManndingoNUPE]

First let me say no!!!!

I don't believe that we have outlived our usefulness if that's how you want to put it. I can only speak for my own frat, but if there was total parity between the races, and no one was ever the victim of housing discrimination, or the victim of racial profiling, was shot at because he reached for his wallet (sorry I had to go there), and there were two positive role-models to each young black man and woman, and everyone who wanted an education could get one, and we all just held hands and sung "cum by ya" then I would say part of our mission was done, but we still shouldn't call it quits, because although we are service organizations we are also brotherhoods and sisterhoods.

Now after we take care of the community aspect, you still have to promote the wellbeing of your members. I think that the brotherhood that I feel with every other Kappa in the world is something that I would never trade for anything.

This brotherhood is something that can never be understood by someone who is not a
member. I won't fault them for that, but at the same time, don't try and tear down
something that has been so positive and such a vital part of American History (not just
Black History.)

Each org to this day continues to be a positive force within their community. Whenever I see other Greeks out doing something in the community, I don't care if they are Omega, Sigma, Alpha, Iota whatever, I am going to support them, because they are doing something positive in my community.

The answer to your question is no. We have not.

Peace
MN



[This message has been edited by ManndingoNUPE (edited October 18, 2000).]

[ahhkbah]

Some people just will never learn. Just as recently as 1998 there were six BGLO members divided between the congress and senate. Other members serve as mayors and city council members in varioous regions. Because we are not pioneering original legislation like our older brothers and sisters does not mean that we have lost our edge.

[MIDWESTDIVA]

From what I have read on the international websites, all BGLO's have the same basic purpose, the uplift of the Black Community. Does your GDI friend think that the Black community no longer needs help? Does he/she know of a better way to accomplish this goal?

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We often give our enemies the means for our own destruction.

Aesop c550 BC

[33girl]

ANY organization that continues to attract members and enrich their lives and the lives of the people those members touch has not outgrown its purpose.

I think ALL Greek organizations are doing just fine on that score.

[DirectorDST99]

I think that we could be doing more. There's never too much service to be done.

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Director #2
LMAC
Spr 99

[BlueReign]

Originally posted by DirectorDST99:
I think that we could be doing more. There's never too much service to be done.

Thank you. I feel the same way. I think that there are way too many people with good educations, money, and influence who are just sporting letters and not doing the grass roots work!!

[Japera1920]

I do not thunk that we have out live our purpose but from a pan-hell view, we aree not as vocal as we can be. I am only speaking about the state of NY. People in my community knows my organization and the things we do.

But we need that same strive as we did the sixites. We are too comfrontable. JMO

[SapphireSensation]

Peace & Blessings

In my travels, I've found that many politicians are members of BGLOs, but their political duties are so overwhelming, that they are, more often than not, active.
It's unfortunate but, true.
We have not outlived our usefullness.
However, I think that we need to reevaluate the needs of our communities (in some cases) and that will help us to serve more effectively.
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SapphireSensation
RoyalBlueDivaDivine
The Epitome of Finerwomanhood

I'm not greek, but maybe at your respective local, regional, and national conventions some strategic planning needs to be done to address issues of importance, set goals and objectives and map out a course to meet those goals and objectives and follow through and each year (or every other year) or as needed reevaluate those goals and see if they have been met. If not, re-evaluate your plan of action.

[DirectorDST99]

Japera, interesting comment on your last post about the Pan Hellenic viewpoint.

Recently I went to hear Lawrence Ross, Jr. (author of The Divine Nine) speak about his book and Greek life in general. During the question and answer portion, the topic of the NPHC surfaced. I could not believe how some of the audience were against the NPHC. I think I know/see what the problem is. They think that the NPHC is a governing body of all 9 organizations and that the NPHC can dictate to the other organizations. This is ludicrous and I wish that people would do their research about the NPHC. No one organization can dictate to the others on how to run their respective organization. The NPHC is a united front and if utilized properly, it can be - no, we will be the most powerful unified organization out there.

If we could get past this idea of dictating then we could get some things done. I think alot of it has to do with who the advisors are on some of these campuses (for those of you who are still in school). If your advisor is not an active member of a respective organization or of the Pan, I think they need to either get active or take a step back.

I said all of that to say this: We need to recognize our potential in the community as a unified organization and act accordingly.

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Director #2
LMAC
Spr 99

[Japera1920]

DirectorDST99,
I agree. I think that we need to take an more active stand in the community. Our present is there but not strong enough.

[Ghostface-Killah]

Thanks all of you for your views. Although I do not believe we no longer serve a purpose in the community, I couldn't have express myself as well as many of you. WELL SAID MANDINGONUPE. YOU DID IT AGAIN.

Sisterly,
No Limit Soldier
SIGMA GAMMA RHO Sorority, Inc.

[PositivelyAKA]

as mentioned before many greeks are leaders in their communities but people do not know because we do not often represent the organizations we are a part of on a day to day basis. letting the community know who is working for them is as simple as wearing your colors whenever you are doing public service with XYZ or not. let people see that we are out there. how wonderful for the mayor, congressman/woman, business person, shop owner, secretary, school teacher, librarian to wear their colors while they are out doing community service or speaking on important issues. we are doing alot, we should do more, we just need to make ourselves more visible. just a suggestion my chapter is trying to ultilize. oh and there are times when you are susposed to represent the organized event sponsor but you can always throw on a hat with that sponsors t-shirt or a pin to represent cause you are always XYZ.

[This message has been edited by PositivelyAKA (edited October 31, 2000).]

[misssgrho]

I agree with many of you. Though our organizations are doing a lot. There is still alot we could be doing. I also think that it's time for BGLO's to reexamine our focus so that we can move into the 21st century making continual strides for the Black community.

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and yes it took
4 times to get it right.