What a membership questions???

[GiggyZ]

Questions?? Can someone make a decision about an organization without ever asking membership questions? Are membership questions the same as organizational/programmatic questions? If not, then does an interested person need to have trust or use discretion when asking program questions? Does showing an interest in things not related to membership indicate a general interest in the organization? Would members of an organization be able to make some basic observations from an individual's general interest(questions and attendance) in the programs of the organization without ever answering questions directly related to actually becoming a member?



[This message has been edited by GiggyZ (edited June 16, 2001).]

[Chi_ZETABBW]

WOW! You hit us with a bunch of questions at once, LOL! I'll attempt to answer a few, keep in mind this is my humble opinion.
First off with the age of the internet, public publications, etc you can learn as much as you need to know about a particular org. you might be interested in. Back in the mid 80's when I was in college, you did not have easy access. It was no book "THE DIVINE NINE, no websites to look up. I think someone interested should always use discreton in regard to questions they may ask. Simple rule to follow, if you can't search and find the answer, then the question should not be asked.

[Shelacious]

I've written a dissertation to answer your question Giggy, but don't know if GC could handle this one...Giggy, you dun opened up a whole can of worms!

------------------
Finer Womanhood: the "Cat's Meow" Since 1920

[IotaNet]

I have to disagree with Chi_ZETABBW on this one. I personally think that we take FAR too "uppity" attitude with prospectives when they are seeking information

I realize that some things are esoteric and should not be discussed but if you aren't allowed to ask the question (without fear of reprisal), how are you supposed to know?

We need to start realizing that membership in our organizations is a choice that people make. We've all been taught that as intelligent people, we should make intelligent choices -- and one of the indicators of an intelligent choice is a well-informed one.

If we gave our prospectives a better picture of our organizations (and the realities of membership), we might not be suffering the problems of 10-20% retention that we see today.

No disrespect ... just my $19.63

------------------
IotaNet
Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.
Alpha Eta Chapter, Spring, 1980

Kappa Kappa Psi Honorary Band Fraternity
Zeta Nu Chapter, Spring, 1979

[SableCherub]

Originally posted by IotaNet:
I have to disagree with Chi_ZETABBW on this one. I personally think that we take FAR too "uppity" attitude with prospectives when they are seeking information

I realize that some things are esoteric and should not be discussed but if you aren't allowed to ask the question (without fear of reprisal), how are you supposed to know?

We need to start realizing that membership in our organizations is a choice that people make. We've all been taught that as intelligent people, we should make intelligent choices -- and one of the indicators of an intelligent choice is a well-informed one.

If we gave our prospectives a better picture of our organizations (and the realities of membership), we might not be suffering the problems of 10-20% retention that we see today.

No disrespect ... just my $19.63

some people defer in their definition of what "well-informed" is...and try to define it according to their standard of being well-informed...i think that may be where part of the problem lies...

[DOVE1920]

I agree with IotaNet that we should be a little bit more open to answering questions. Sometimes you can only learn certain things by ACTUALLY asking a person. And I would rather hear it from someone's mouth than reading it somewhere. I also agree that there are certain questions we can't answer but there's nothing wrong with telling someone that in a respectable manner. This uppity/untouchable attitude has to go...

[GiggyZ]

Originally posted by DOVE1920:
I agree with IotaNet that we should be a little bit more open to answering questions. Sometimes you can only learn certain things by ACTUALLY asking a person. And I would rather hear it from someone's mouth than reading it somewhere. I also agree that there are certain questions we can't answer but there's nothing wrong with telling someone that in a respectable manner. This uppity/untouchable attitude has to go...

My dear Soror Dove1920 and Iotanet I agree with you both regarding our treatment of prospectives who ask questions. Some questions are inappropriate and can't be answered and members of BGLOs should be sensitive and respectful when dealing with those types of questions.

I am a reader of many BGLO-specific chat forums (some of them I contribute to on a regular basis). I often see questions related to membership posted on those sites. Most of those questions are very chapter specific (when do chapters have rush) or not best answered on the 'Net (what are the fees, when should I submit fees, can I have the initiation fee layaway plan, etc.)

Frankly, I have never refused to discuss my membership in Zeta, the programs of my local chapter, Zeta Phi Beta's national initiatives, or my reasons for becoming a member of Zeta with any prospective (face-to-face or on the 'Net).

Unfortunately, most of what I do get are the types of questions that, in my very humble opinion, have nothing to do with the membership search. I didn't need to know the fees before I made up my mind to be a Zeta (and when I did need to know it I was told by a member face-to-face at the local chapter level). Guess what? Even with the Internet some things remain the same. Does knowing the gpa or the membership fees REALLY influence your decision to become a member of XYZ? If so, then what does that say about the organization's principles, history, programs, members?

Again, I ask what are membership questions? If I have read "The Beauty of Sorority Life according to ABC Sorority" (fictional title), observed members at Party Central University, read every BGLO chat forum on the 'Net, what more can be gained by posting questions about dues, rush dates, and local chapter practices on any chat forum that is frequented by members and prospectives? Same questions...same answers.

For more on my perspective on answering prospectives questions read the thread on The Internet Sorority Search.

[Shelacious]

Giggy, let me co-sign with my disseration that I wrote last Friday, to show how much you and I are on the same page!Oh oh...why did you get me started?

The short answers are Yes, No, No, Yes, Yes.
Valid Points all, Giggy…

The reason that people get shot down by members of an organization is usually because the questions they are asking has NOTHING to do with the organization per se. For example, rarely do folks ask: What is the genesis of Zeta's founding and how did Phi Beta Sigma play a part? What are the programs you are implementing today that support the initial goals and missions of the Sorority? What are some of Zeta's auxiliaries and how do they really interact with Zeta? These questions help a person determine whether this would be an appropriate organization for them.

Conversely, questions like: do I have to pledge to join and how long will I be on line? are you guys nicer/smarter/better than the AKAs and Deltas or SGRhos? why do you guys do that call/handsign? How high does my GPA have to be? These types of questions have NOTHING to do with the organization for an execution perspective. None of these questions can provide any illumination upon why Zeta exists today.

Folks want to be known for being popular/ smart/attractive; they love the colors; they want to step; they want to get respect by pledging hard; their moms/daddy/school teacher from back in the day is a member; they want to be a part of the biggest/oldest/one true fam/youngest and so on. These are the reasons many people select a GLO. Clearly, the same type of issues intrigued me. Yet at the same time, I joined before the popularity of the Internet. Therefore, I didn’t really know what other chapters were like; I didn’t know the latest chants or the hippest step routines. I didn’t know any of the minimum requirements for membership before I went to the Invitational. I knew that based upon what I’d seen on my campus and from those chapters around our campus, and from the Zetas who gave to me information about the Sorority, Zeta would be an organization to which I would be proud to belong, and have never regretted my decision one single day.

Folks who have access to the Internet have an even better opportunity to see Zeta and other organizations from the international, regional, state and local perspective. You would think this would go a long way in helping women to determine the best organization for them. Most times, though, it does not. Therefore, I really wonder if there is such a thing as TOO MUCH information. Joining a GLO, while an extremely important decision, is not more important than finding a suitable mate, deciding to have a child, and selecting a major in college. Yet, I see people giving more consideration and deliberation to what Sorority or Fraternity to join than many of the aforementioned items. I’m not knocking research and careful consideration, but at some point, you need to cut the umbilical cord and apply to the group that you feel will best satisfy (no group will be a perfect fit) your needs short and long-term AND the group that would best accept and utilize your own skill set and value add.

Ultimately sororities are rather similar. They all strive to encourage service, sisterhood and scholarship, among other missions. The main differences revolve around how they execute and implement strategies to accomplish their missions and goals—every group has a different way of showcasing Service, Sisterhood, Scholarship, for example. Generally, if you support the way a Sorority showcases its missions and goals, you will be happy and proud (for the most part) to be in the organization. If you fundamentally disagree with how they execute said missions; you are bound to be unhappy and disappointed.




------------------
Finer Womanhood: the "Cat's Meow" Since 1920

[SableCherub]

talk about waiting to exhale...refreshing indeed...

[This message has been edited by SableCherub (edited June 19, 2001).]

[GiggyZ]

Originally posted by SableCherub:
talk about waiting to exhale...refreshing indeed...

SableCherub...The Zetas on this forum don't play and WE ARE ALL PROUD to tell our story and to assist women in learning more about the programs and history of Zeta.

[SableCherub]

well show me what you workin' with...ya'll are crazy girl...but i think i like ya'll anyway...