"Why Did You Decide to Join ...That?"

[DaemonSeid]

This is for anyone that is part of an independent BGLO, MCGLO etc.

And if this topic has been discussed, forgive me, but I cannot take the time to dig thru 100s of older posts to pull this up.

On a slight tangent from the "Why do multicultural GLOs/organizations exist?" thread, my comments and question is this:

Within the past 20 plus years, many people have opted to not join the traditional orgs that have have historical roots on collge campuses for many reasons:

Chapters may not have been active or what the person was looking for vs what they saw were incompatible or many other reasons.

Thus for any of a number of reasons, newer GLOs were created.

For those of you here, why did you decide to create or join a new GLO as opposed to what was already in place and be a part of tradition?

My story:

I took a long hard look at fraternities when I was an undergrad at Morgan State Univ. in the early 90's. This was a time when at that point anyone would see the last above ground lines for the NPHC were being pledged on campus because at that point new rules for intake were being set in place. This was also a time where just about all of the BGLOs on the yard were very active in community service and their presence was felt.

My issue was finding something the I liked where I could give and get something back. The problem however was after really researching the two orgs I wanted to join, I wasn't comfortable with what I was getting back.

In one of the orgs, the brothers that I met I wasn't very comfortable around and let's face it, if you and the people that you hope to call 'frat' one day aren't seeing eye to eye on the level, can only get worse after you become a member.

The other org, I felt very comfortable around the members and in fact 3 of them we are all very tight to this very day. However, right when I was about to try to be a part of the intake class, I found out that they were suspended.

Funny thing tho, they still wanted me to go thru the process because my qualifications and recommendations were on point and they made all kinds of guarantees that once the line crossed they would get it straightened out with nationals.....common sense says that guarantees are never that so I decided not to. My room mate continued on and after he was done, he found out it was all for naught. Nationals found out about the line and 4 of the guys involved didn't have the right credentials to be a part, thus a suspension was handed down....so I woulda took part went thru all that madness and for what....?

At that point, I simply decided that it just wasn't meant for me to be a part, until a year or so later, I met a brother from the frat I became a part of. One of the things that I was given to opportunity to do was, not only to become a brother in something new (only 7 years old at that point) but to be a focal point to branching out in MD.

It was a chance to create something new and trust...it's never been easy.
The challenge wasn't going thru intake, but AFTER.

People are not used to seeing something new and I have many first hand accounts...and after some get over the inital shock of seeing something new, they begin to realize there is more to who I am than just my letters.

We have had more than my fair shakes of ribbing, and arguments and funny stares.

We have had more than enough people who have tried to figure out 'just exactly who am I' because I was in a different org.

We have been told 'no' more than enough times that we can't partake in certain events because 'your org isn't part of the older tradition'

We have in many ways have earned respect

We have in many ways have bonded with others in other frats and sororities because they have looked past the colors and letters see that we all are working our way towards the same goals.

People believe that if you join a 'newer GLO' you weren't good enough to join the older more established orgs. That is not the case. A lot of us that have started / joined newer orgs prefer the alternative vs the obvious.

Prefer to create unique traditions rather that be another name in an ever evolving one.

Some of us are just happy to be around like minded folk who are simply looking to making thier corner of world a better place......

So...what is your story?