Why do you LOVE being GREEK?

[recruit_2011]

This one's simple.....
What makes you love being Greek and representing your organization?

[katydidKD]

I don't even know where I'd begin

[AlwaysSAI]

Alright, I'll bite.

I love being an SAI because the ritual really speaks to me. It is also one of the best known and well respected women's music fraternities. (There are others, but they are smaller and co-ed.) SAI fought to remain single sexed and I am very proud of that. It speaks for the type of women that are SAI.

Alpha Gam is a different story all together. Some posters here know my path to AGD was a long and sometimes difficult (and unique) one. I am proud and thankful to call myself a member of this wonderful fraternity. Everything in our Purpose reflects how I have tried to live in my life long before I was ever a member.

[als463]

As a Phi Mu, I'm proud of our beginning and I look forward to our future.

Philanthropy
I take much pride in the fact that we are the first NPC group to establish a National Philanthropy Day. Annually, Phi Mus gather and dedicate themselves to "hands on" local community service on the third Monday in October.

I also take pride in the fact that my collegiate chapter raises the most of all the other Phi Mu chapters, in regards to Children's Miracle Network (our national philanthropy).

THON
Though this is special only to Penn State, we have a major philanthropy (the largest student-run philanthropy in the WORLD) where we raise money for Pediatric Cancer. Want to guess who started it? That's right-the Greeks! Also, want to guess who usually earns the most money for it? You're right-if you guessed Greeks, again! Every member of the Greek community (even if they don't attend Penn State) can take pride in the fact that their brothers and sisters are doing something worthwhile for a cause. It truly makes you proud to be a Greek!

Home Away from hFMe
When I graduated from college, I moved to a totally different state. It was foreign to me. Oddly enough, one of the sisters from my other alumna chapter (that I joined straight out of undergrad) had moved 'back' to the same city I was moving to. She is now one of my best friends. I know that, should I get into a certain degree program in another state, I will have sisters waiting for me (with open arms).


Honoring Those We have Loved and Lost
When I graduated, I was devastated to hear that one of my pledge sisters had passed away. It was such horrible news. The sisters from my chapter returned to Penn State and had a memorial service for her with the brothers of another fraternity (which we used to party with, while in school-who knew her). Sisters came from all over the U.S. to show how much she meant to us. We then sent her family flowers and I think we dedicated a brick at Headquarters to her. I bought one of those wooden cutouts of the HQ building, while at Convention, and I sent it to her family to show them where their brick for their daughter was laid to rest. It meant so much to me to see how incredible the collegians were when they invited us back to our suite and how much the Alumnae really cared about her. We also dedicated something to this sister, which now hangs in the suite back at PSU. The chapter even mentioned this sister on their webpage (and it may still be up). It really shows you that this is for a LIFETIME and NOT just 4 years.

Also, Penn State uses your Greek affiliation when mentioning you in the section of Alums doing great things. They also place your Greek affiliation next to your name in the memory section. Both of these things are usually in the back of the "Penn Stater" our Alumni magazine. It's obviously important to so many people.

Scholarship
We give so much money back to our sisters in scholarships. In fact, I was just awarded a scholarship for the 2011-2012 school year, from my sorority. I'm so thankful to be a member of such an incredible organization that cares about me doing well and living my dreams! Many other Greek Letter Organizations (GLOs) care about this and it's great to see so many Greek members doing well in school!

Homecoming
I LOVE to go home for Homecoming to see what float my chapter did and who they chose to pair with. It's great! Even though I am no longer in college, pomping floats, I still love to see my sisters have fun on their floats!

I could go on and on, for days. I love meeting so many people that are Greek. It's a great conversation-starter. I also love wearing my badge and representing my sorority. I wouldn't change my choice to go Greek, for the world!

[AnotherKD]

@als463, trying to get her to join Phi Mu???

[DrPhil]

Is this a nonGreek asking this question?

[excelblue]

It's really quite simple: We have values and strive to live up to them. As a result, my brothers and I share a very tight bond.

[als463]

Originally Posted by AnotherKD

@als463, trying to get her to join Phi Mu???

Awww...Come on now (lol). I admit that I'm a bit biased about it but, to be honest--all three organizations represented at that campus are incredible and I hope the OP gives every chapter a fair shake. In fact, the THON thing also pertains to both Delta Zeta and Sigma Sigma Sigma because Penn State has a chapter of both of those organizations. I believe if the OP joins any of the three, she will be proud to know that her sorority participates in such a great cause (even if it is at another school).

OP, good luck!

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Is this a nonGreek asking this question?

It definitely looks that way.

[*winter*]

Hijack.

als...so PSU Phi Mu raises more money than any other Phi Mu chapter in the US? That is really impressive! I know PSU chapters are small compared to other states' chapters. Great job (but I'm obviously biased since I love PSU!)

And THON is amazing! I always give

[DubaiSis]

As a collegiate what I loved was living with my friends in a great house and all the activities we had, both as a chapter and a Greek system.

As an alumna I really appreciate what it taught me. I've mentioned before on this site, but every time to this day that I have to work a room at a cocktail party (you know, walk up to a stranger and start talking) I thank Alpha Xi Delta and rush for teaching me how to get into and out of a conversation gracefully. I've also really appreciated the great friends I made post-college through the alumnae chapters I've been honored to be a member of. I've moved around quite a bit and that was always the first thing I did, finding the local alum group.

[DeltaEmi88]

I'm still a collegiate member, but I'll go ahead and take a shot at this one.

I'm a proud member of Delta Delta Delta, and I can honestly say that it's one of the only things that has pushed me to not only stay in college, but also thrive at the same time. My sisterhood has been incredibly supportive no matter what, and if there's a sister in need, then not only do I have their backs, but they have mine.

I had the opportunity to go to Texas with around 700 other Deltas this past February for a conference that consisted of the Risk Management chair, President, Member Development Chair and New member Educator from every chapter. While I was there, I really realized that being in a sorority is much more than just hanging out with the sisters from my chapter and doing events as a chapter. Our sorority is strong in the fact that when it really comes down to it, our chapters work together to build each other up on a national level, and we provide support for each other in a way that is literally indescribable. I met so many amazing women from all over the United States (and Canada!), and we all truly connected, even though most of us had never met before and we may never see each other again.

As for our philanthropy, Tri Delta has been incredibly proud to support St. Jude, and we have done so since 1999. In that time, we have had three major fundraising campaigns. The first was to raise $1 million in 4 years to build the Tri Delta Teen Room, and we raised that money in only 3 years. The second campaign was our 10 in 10 campaign, which was set up to help us raise $10 million in 10 years. This past June, it was revealed that we raised all $10 million in just FOUR years. That money built the Tri Delta Patient Care Floor at St. Jude. Our new goal is $15 in 5, which promises to raise $15 million dollars in just 5 years. In just one year, we've already raised $4 million dollars, and that money is going to rename one of the main clinics at St. Jude. We really love St. Jude, and every year, my chapter goes on a road trip to Memphis to visit the hospital and see why we raise so much money. It's nice knowing that we're helping out a cause that doesn't charge patients a single dime for cancer treatments that could otherwise bankrupt their families and that also pay for travel and lodging during the course of their treatment. St. Jude really does create miracles every day.

Not only do we help out St. Jude, but we also help our own sisters out as well. In our purpose, it states "To assist its members in every possible way", and we try to live up to that through the Tri Delta Foundation, which provides scholarships and grants to members who are accomplished students, and to sisters in need of financial assistance. If a sister has a medical issue or some other financial crisis, then the foundation can help them out by awarding them a grant. It's just a nice reminder that if something goes wrong, Tri Delta is still there.

It's also given me an incredible respect for greek life in general, as well, because I have met so many amazing sorority and fraternity members that I consider to be lifelong friends, even though they may not be in my chapter or even in the same sorority as me. It's truly remarkable to know that greeks always stick together, because even though we may not wear the same letters, we're all there for the same main purpose. Our organizations may have entirely different rituals, symbols, and ideals, but in the end, we all went greek for a reason and we ended up where we were meant to be. If you're going through recruitment, I wish you the best of luck and I truly hope you find your home!

[summer_gphib]

I love belonging to something that is so much bigger than myself. An organization that goes so far beyond my collegiate chapter. It's a beautiful bond based on real, concrete values. A bond based in a rich history of helping women become stronger, more educated, and well rounded.

Like others have said I've met so many amazing women and men who are part of the greek system. I was lucky enough to be a part of two amazing greek organizations in college, and treasure each experience.

[als463]

Originally Posted by *winter*

Hijack.

als...so PSU Phi Mu raises more money than any other Phi Mu chapter in the US? That is really impressive! I know PSU chapters are small compared to other states' chapters. Great job (but I'm obviously biased since I love PSU!)

And THON is amazing! I always give

Yep! We raise the most for Children's Miracle Network. See, THON money goes to the Hershey Medical Center, which happens to be a Children's Miracle Network Hospital. It counts towards our CMN giving. We also do a see-saw marathon, every year. I think Phi Mu raised over $55,000+ last year for CMN. Penn State chapters usually consist of between 60-80 women but, psusue could steer me in the right direction if I'm wrong with that (I graduated a few years ago).

Did you go to PSU? I noticed it said you are from Northeast but, I wasn't sure.

As far as being a member of a sorority, I'd like to also turn the OP's attention to Facebook where Panhellenic just posted a picture of the various NPCs that got together for a leadership conference. It goes to show that it's more than just being a proud Phi Mu (for me), it's about having Panhellenic pride!

[*winter*]

I went to slippery Rock in western PA for two years (was in Gamma Sigma Sigma), then I transferred to a private school with no Greek life of any kind that is where I graduated from- Point Park. But I've ALWAYS loved Penn State! I visited while in HS and fell in love. It's funny, our annual professional conference is held there and everyone loves going! We all go out and wind up at the diner at 3AM. The college kids prob think we are pathetic old people.