Brother(Sister)friends.....

[AKA2D '91]

What can YOUR ORGANIZATION of choice do for YOU?

[Diva7401]

..I just love "open-ended" questions. I will get creative with this one. This would be my "personal ad" for the prospective organization...

"Seeking to become affiliated with a positive, proactive bglo that would afford me the opportunity to "CONTINUE" serving my community~exploring critical issues like: Family Strengths, Economic Indepedence, Quality Education, Health Education and Enrichment in the Arts. In addition I seek the possibility of building life-long relationships/sisterhood with women that share same vision.

In return I offer...

A Educated, Dedicated, Motivated women who is conscious of the committment and geared for WORK that needs to be done!

[NYMinute]

That is a tough one,

In my opinion, the organizatin of MY choosing has already DONE enough for me...I can go on for days. In short, it has mobilized well over 150,000 college-educated women of like mind who are committed to improving the lives of "mankind" through education and service. So now the question is, will the organization of my choice, allow me to "do for them?"

[exquizit]

I just recently have a conversation about this......

Honestly I feel that the org I'm interested in would give me longer arms. By that I mean longer arms to reach my goals, people,and excellence.

Let me try to explain.

I really enjoy my work with teenaged girls. They really look up to me and I love them to death, but alone I can only help or reach out to so many.With a soroity's aide the possiblities in my area as well as many others would be endless. I want to see this happen for those girls so bad that I've often thought about mentioning it to the Org eventhough I may never be a member. I just haven't figured out how yet......

I've been a sisterfriend for a while and through visiting various sites(yall know I'm a net junkie)I've seen just how members network. They reach out to eachother through times of happiness , need, and sorrow.That's a strong backbone and I both need and want that.

I've seen so many friends go over to the other side and undergo such a positive transformation....They really became business women. I may never understand "Alpha Kappa Alpha is a business and we run it as such" all I know is that I love the outcome and I could learn alot from it.

I posted this once and deleted it because I didn't know how it would be recieved, but I was simply speaking from my heart. This isn't the sterotypical "Oh it's so good to be such positive women" or "the sisterhood "blah blah blah. I'm speaking from personal observation and experiences.

[This message has been edited by exquizit (edited May 06, 2001).]

[112Soul]

That's a DEEP ?

To answer HONESTLY would require giving positive and negative replies so I will do my best not to offend.

My organization of choice could do many things. I could receive brotherly love, a job, some hook ups on the side, the priviledge to wear phat para, a chance to work with young African American men, leadership, a since of belonging, the bond. All of which have a positive and or a negative impact.

But I am not choosing my organization of choice for what I THINK I can get out of it or for what it could do for me. My intentions are to give my all to my organization of choice, and to contribute positively to what the organization is all about. In some ways, my organization of choice has done for me in providing role models and for being influencial in my life in other ways. And not saying that I WANT all of the things in the 2nd paragraph, I will be happy just to be affiliated with like minded brothas whom I can have heartfelt discussions with...

112

[AKA2D '91]

Um! ONLY 4 RESPONSES, HERE!

[MarvyG]

By joining an organization, the organization would be able to help me reach further out to the community, reach greater heights, enhance networking and give me a bond with people that is unbreakable. As an indivudual you can do all these things, but the cliche says, that four hands are better than two. How many times, have I said to myself if I only had two more hands? The organization could be those "extra two hands."

[buterscotch1]

My organization of choice can assist me in maintaining overall positivity, the opportunity to teambuild for a lifetime with women who share & support identical missions and develop/maintain community ties.

[lastpoetnsite]

much respect...

i have been sitting back and watching this question to see if it will grow and of course it hasn't.

there may be a reason and with all respect i submit this to AKA2D '91 for her and others interest.

maybe one of the reasons why people have refrained from answering this question is because it can be slightly loaded. no one wants to hear that their reasons are "not good enough" (although this has not been done i'm sure the fear is there). also there have been times where i have seen when interests in XYZ organization express why they are interested they are told that they have said too much. And it is true that although the web is World Wide just a few small bits and pieces of your personal life can track an individual down very quickly.

i have read each persons reasons for wanting to be a member of their organization of longing and it is quite clear that people thought long and hard about how to clean up the phrasing on what is quite obvious and in plain english may not seem appealing.

there are a few things that people will say. and of course in my search for the perfect fit i have said them too:

1. i was affected by the individuals that i met in xyz sorority
2. although my parent and many of her associates were members of ABC sorority; i was immediately put off by "new school" members
3. i want to be a part of a sisterhood with likeminded individuals
4. i am an individual that is ambitious and i like to network and make connections...within my org and the larger greek family those connections are more accessible

of course no one is expected to say...hey i love the colors, i like the calls, the handsign, the prestige i will get on campus etc. these things are frivilous...these things will get you strange looks if you say them. but the reality is...that in some cases these are the things that prompted an individual to research xyz organization.

i don't remember where i read it on this forum...i believe it was posted several times by Rain Man that there needs to be a book about prospective etiquette. and this is a question that needs to have a full chapter.

i read this question again and i am sure that it is asked somewhere between the interest meeting and the end of the process and i smile when i ask myself, "what did folx say to impress someone so much?" because there is only so much you can say without seeming too knowledgeable, aggressive, or eager.

peace

[This message has been edited by lastpoetnsite (edited May 09, 2001).]

[AKA2D '91]

You said all that to say what?

This and other questions posted the last few days are for those who are SERIOUS about their organization of choice, among other things.

I am not looking for a put together response for people to impress me. I am no longer an undergraduate (didn't like it then). I cannot VOTE for these people. It's not about that! Anyway, those that want to get themselves together can take these questions (and others which are not so CUT AND DRY)and prepare themselves accordingly.

[lastpoetnsite]

much respect...

AKA2D '91 with all due respect you kind of proved my point with this quote:

This and other questions posted the last few days are for those who are SERIOUS about their organization of choice, among other things.

what makes you think that my post was not serious? the reality is that answering such a question is loaded. you said that you did not like for people to give you a put together response to impress you. quite frankly thats what answering that question is supposed to do...maybe not for you...but for the group to whom you are interested in it is very important that you impress them. but you must also be sincere in what you say.

you asked why did only 4 people originally post...and my answer is simple:

maybe one of the reasons why people have refrained from answering this question is because it can be slightly loaded. no one wants to hear that their reasons are "not good enough" (although this has not been done i'm sure the fear is there). also there have been times where i have seen when interests in XYZ organization express why they are interested they are told that they have said too much. And it is true that although the web is World Wide just a few small bits and pieces of your personal life can track an individual down very quickly.

and in some ways your comment about this question being only for people who are SERIOUS did what i suggested. it demeaned my answer by insinuating that i am not serious in what i have written.

i merely submitted the idea that there are ways to say why you want to do something plainly and without cleaning it up and there are ways to say something that makes it sound very impressive.

for example someone who says:

"my mom (or dad as the case may be) was in XYZ organization so i want to be in it."

quite frankly if someone said that they would be looked at as if they were trying to use "legacy" as a foot in the door...instant blackball

on the other hand if they said this:

"my mom (or dad again as the case may be) is someone who i have admired all my life. she (he) has instilled in me the values of XYZ organization by helping me understand the strength of sisterhood (brotherhood), service to your fellow man, and having a conviction in what you believe in. because of that i have been interested in XYZ organization all of my life...."

now that is a piece of work. but it says the same thing...only prettier...my mom or dad was in the organization and now i want to be. same thing.

i have clearly understood that you cannot "vote" for anyone. but in some ways you have passed judgement on one individual. now if i was a weaker person i would be disheartened by your reply but i am not disheartened.

but this question has caused me to think about how i will approach it if i am fortunate enough to be asked by the organization of my choice. i realize that being honest, sincere, and succinct in my response is the only way to be.

what i have learned from this exchange and answering a question that made me think about my organization of choice is what i believe being SERIOUS about any organization is about.

peace

[This message has been edited by lastpoetnsite (edited May 09, 2001).]

[AKAtude]

Originally posted by lastpoetnsite:

for example someone who says:

"my mom (or dad as the case may be) was in XYZ organization so i want to be in it."

quite frankly if someone said that they would be looked at as if they were trying to use "legacy" as a foot in the door...instant blackball

on the other hand if they said this:

"my mom (or dad again as the case may be) is someone who i have admired all my life. she (he) has instilled in me the values of XYZ organization by helping me understand the strength of sisterhood (brotherhood), service to your fellow man, and having a conviction in what you believe in. because of that i have been interested in XYZ organization all of my life...."

now that is a piece of work. but it says the same thing...only prettier...my mom or dad was in the organization and now i want to be. same thing.

IMO, your first example is simply stating that just because mama is an AKA I want it, too. If my mother decided to jump off a bridge and leap to her death, I'm not going to do it just because my mama did it.

If my mother were a doctor, would I choose to be one just because she is a doctor? Am I trying to make her happy by following in her footsteps? Or would I do it because she is making a good income? Or would I do it because I have seen her in the act of helping people?

The second statement gives some insight into the decision. It doesn't have to be fancy or "pretty", but I do expect a good reason.

I would hope that people who are interested in joining an organization realize that it is so much more than calls, hand signs, steppin', and strutting in 'nalia. Now, if that is the only things they are interested in, then I'm sure they will NOT let that be known and make up something "pretty" to mask their true intent.

Why would we want people like that? There is enough work to be done to go around. Everyone has to pull their own weight and contribute. If not, where would we be? What would be the purpose anymore?

I would hope that if I have a daughter some day, that I set a good example so that she will be inspired to follow in my footsteps. I want her to see me in action, not just being an inactive, t-shirt, letter-wearer.

[lastpoetnsite]

much respect...

i think we are saying the same thing...only missing each other in the translation.

i truly believe that saying this:

"my mom (or dad as the case may be) was in XYZ organization so i want to be in it."

and saying this:

"my mom (or dad again as the case may be) is someone who i have admired all my life. she (he) has instilled in me the values of XYZ organization by helping me understand the strength of sisterhood (brotherhood), service to your fellow man, and having a conviction in what you believe in. because of that i have been interested in XYZ organization all of my life...."

are the same things. one is a little more cleaned up than the other. but basically it is the parent who is the catalyst for joining. now adding all the other information makes it pleasant to hear but in essence it says that the reason why i'm doing this is because my parent influenced me.

If my mother were a doctor, would I choose to be one just because she is a doctor? Am I trying to make her happy by following in her footsteps? Or would I do it because she is making a good income? Or would I do it because I have seen her in the act of helping people?

i'm sure you can agree that there are lots of people who are whatever they are because of their parents. whether its because of a sense of loyalty or because they are impressed with the way the parent has done something in their lives. either way there is a sense of...legacy (in the most positive way)...*if you will permit me to use this word*...that goes into following a parents footsteps. and sometimes that also means joining an organization that they are a part of or becoming a lawyer, doctor, teacher etc. because the parent was. its something that happens in many families.

I would hope that people who are interested in joining an organization realize that it is so much more than calls, hand signs, steppin', and strutting in 'nalia. Now, if that is the only things they are interested in, then I'm sure they will NOT let that be known and make up something "pretty" to mask their true intent.

i agree the above things as i said in my post are frivilous. but some people will say that these were the very reasons *if they had no contact with greeks before* that they became interested in the organization. then on further research they came to understand that these things are the "fun stuff". the hard work is the service, sister/brotherhood, working for the betterment of the organization etc.

with my mentioning of these things being the catalyst of an interests research i was trying to say...that this question could spark memories of why interests wanted to join an organization. for some (before they researched) it was the first time they saw XYZ fraternity/sorority step on the yard. for some it was watching the members party stroll. for others it was the jackets or para. these are the sparks...the hope...*which I agree with you wholeheartedly* is that they have researched and found that those things are just the cherry on top of a very large sundae. the perks, so to speak, of membership.

but when asked this question...are interests guarded and wary about their answers? i would say yes. the fear of being told that their answer "isn't good enough" or in your fellow moderators case saying that one is not "Serious" about their interest. for someone who isn't strong in his or her convictions this could be a devastating blow even if it is over the internet.

answering any questions about a desire for membership can be tenuous at best. because you are putting yourself out there for review of all greeks those you wish to be sisters/brothers with and those you are only going to be extended sisters/brothers with.

hopefully people will continue to answer this question without fear of being put down for their answers. some interests are just beginning their journey...while others are knocking on the door of XYZ organization. either way all the posters should be comfortable enough to feel that whatever they say will be respected and even given some constructive criticism at times.

it is my hope that we can all learn something from one another both greeks and nongreeks alike.

peace

[AKAtude]

As I said before, I disagree. On to the topic at hand please...

[Ideal08]

Originally posted by lastpoetnsite:
but when asked this question...are interests guarded and wary about their answers? i would say yes. the fear of being told that their answer "isn't good enough" or in your fellow moderators case saying that one is not "Serious" about their interest. for someone who isn't strong in his or her convictions this could be a devastating blow even if it is over the internet.

answering any questions about a desire for membership can be tenuous at best. because you are putting yourself out there for review of all greeks those you wish to be sisters/brothers with and those you are only going to be extended sisters/brothers with.

I would have to say "suck it up." If someone is interested in an org, then the bottom line is they need to get the answer together. Instead of thinking that we Greeks are just waiting to jump all over someone's answers, perhaps look at it as we are trying to help/prepare them.

You prepare for job interviews, and no one ever trips over those questions. Would you have the same feelings on the topic if the thread had been "What can your occupation of choice do for you?"