Why are you NOT involved in an Alumni/ae Association?

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by 33girl

You misunderstood what I meant. Sorry I wasn't clear. I meant that even though you may want to be involved with XYZ alumnae, it will help you get much farther in your career or where you want to be socially to be an active member of the Women's Professional Alliance, or Junior League, or whatever. Some women have time and family constraints and need to make a choice. (I'm speaking completely hypothetically, not personally.) In other words, the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.

Sorry but I consider this to be a horrible excuse. The spirit isn't willing if this is the case. People need to not only claim they don't have time, they need to admit that they honestly don't want to do it because they have already ranked the organizations in their life.

Plus, it is a little anti-sisterhood/brotherhood and a bit condescending. But, I can only speak for the NPHC. In many areas with NPHC alumnae/alumni/graduate chapters, even the smallest of chapters, one of the best ways to find "who's who" and get access to some professional and social outlets is to be a member of the chapter/get to know the members of the chapter.

I know people who wanted to climb to the highest of professional and social ranks in an area and didn't realize that their sorors and frat were already in those ranks waiting to lend them a hand and lift them up. Then some of them get asked by their sorors and frat in these nonGLO organizations "are you financial and active in the sorority/fraternity?"

[33girl]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Plus, it is a little anti-sisterhood/brotherhood and a bit condescending. But, I can only speak for the NPHC. In many areas with NPHC alumnae/alumni/graduate chapters, even the smallest of chapters, one of the best ways to find "who's who" and get access to some professional and social outlets is to be a member of the chapter/get to know the members of the chapter.

I know people who wanted to climb to the highest of professional and social ranks in an area and didn't realize that their sorors and frat were already in those ranks waiting to lend them a hand and lift them up. Then some of them get asked by their sorors and frat in these nonGLO organizations "are you financial and active in the sorority/fraternity?"

For some regions, mega x ookabillion difference between NPHC and NPC/NIC.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by 33girl

For some regions, mega x ookabillion difference between NPHC and NPC/NIC.

Yeah so does this topic boil down to the difference between NPHC and NPC/NIC?

It will be kinda funny if it does.

[NinjaPoodle]

Originally Posted by rhoyaltempest

I was inactive before due to finances so I understand. The difference is that you plan to reactivate as I always did.

Yep. I try to support events when I can, which is rare these days. If I manage to even get to a greek event, I'm shooting pictures for class or a personal project.

Originally Posted by BluPhire

My main reason is finances. Grad chapter was cool and was still allowing me to come to meetings, but it felt like stealing. Raised enough money to get active again only to find out Nationals discounted the price.

Ha.

@ 1st bolded--Wish I could do that but I would have felt the same. It wouldn't be fair to my Sorors who had paid.

@ 2nd bolded-- I WISH IHQ would discount the price!

[rhoyaltempest]

Originally Posted by NinjaPoodle

Yep. I try to support events when I can, which is rare these days. If I manage to even get to a greek event, I'm shooting pictures for class or a personal project.



@ 1st bolded--Wish I could do that but I would have felt the same. It wouldn't be fair to my Sorors who had paid.

@ 2nd bolded-- I WISH IHQ would discount the price!

See your PM!

[NinjaPoodle]

Originally Posted by rhoyaltempest

See your PM!

Thank you!

[baci]

Just curious...many have said it is the money that keeps you from getting involved. How much money do you need to invest each year to be an active alum in your org? I am not asking you to name your org or anything of that sort, but I wonder how much money orgs require that it is keeping interested members from being involved.

In my org, we are asked to pay annual dues as an alum, but it is minimal. It is far less monetarily to belong to my alum org than to be involved as an undergraduate. Sure, there are dinners that involve a fee, but they are quite reasonable and I suppose if I did not have the extra money one month I would just not attend.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Yeah so does this topic boil down to the difference between NPHC and NPC/NIC?

It will be kinda funny if it does.

Originally Posted by EE-BO

I have zero personal experience with NPHC alumni/alumnae chapters, but after reading about them here over the years I agree answers to the OP's question will depend entirely on NPHC vs NPC/NIC.

Originally Posted by rhoyaltempest

I think it does indeed. People keep making excuses like our members are single, no kids, no jobs and nothing else to do...LOL! Sure everyone can't devote the same amount of time but if it means that much to you, you'll do what you can whenever you can.

I do think you have to be reared with this mentality though and clearly every org doesn't instill this in its members. I think that's the big difference.

I'm swerving out of my lane a bit here (though in this regard I think we're very much like the NIC fraternities), so anyone who thinks I'm off track about this, feel free to say so. (Not like you needed permission. )

While I do think that it boils down to a NPHC - NIC/NPC difference, I don't think it's necessarily a difference of whether some groups stress the lifetime commitment more than others. I think it's a difference in the groups to begin with.

NPHC groups, while social organizations are also service organizations. At least from what I've learned here at GC and what I've seen in real life, the social and service aspects are perhaps equally important. Thus, there is an understanding from the outset that your involvement in the fraternity or sorority will be involvement in service to the community through that fraternity or sorority.

NIC (and similar) fraternities and NPC sororities, on the other hand, are primarily social organizations. True, most have in the last few decades adopted official philanthropies and most have always had some degree of service to the community, but that is secondary (or tertairy) in their reasons for being. The lifetime expectations in NIC/NPC-type groups is that you will continue to cherish and foster the bonds of brotherhood or sisterhood for life, that you will live the values of the organization for life and that you will continue to be involved by supporting the organization and its chapters in whatever way you can. That, I think, is why some NPC-people here have talked about joining other groups (Junior League, Jaycees, Rotary) over alumnae groups. If you want to do community service, you join a group that does that. In my experience, NIC/NPC-type alumni/ae groups exist primarily if not exclusively for social purposes and to support nearby chapters, not to do community service (although they may do some). Often, participating in particular community service groups or activities can be seen as an effective way of living out the values of one's GLO.

It seems to me that the difference, then, is not whether membership is for a lifetime. That's a red herring. It's what lifetime membership entails, which in turn depends on the nature of the fraternity or sorority to begin with.

[EE-BO]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

NPHC groups, while social organizations are also service organizations. At least from what I've learned here at GC and what I've seen in real life, the social and service aspects are perhaps equally important. Thus, there is an understanding from the outset that your involvement in the fraternity or sorority will be involvement in service to the community through that fraternity or sorority.

NIC (and similar) fraternities and NPC sororities, on the other hand, are primarily social organizations. True, most have in the last few decades adopted official philanthropies and most have always had some degree of service to the community, but that is secondary (or tertairy) in their reasons for being.

I think you have hit on the crux of the matter quite brilliantly.

Let me please go a step further and make a very painful point about life in the United States many seem to want to avoid discussing.

Simply put- NPC and NIC philanthropy involvement is far different than that for NPHC involvement for the same reasons that exist for non-Greeks. We white folks often do care to some extent, but there is also an element of "doing a greater service" that makes us look better as compared to the demands on successful African-Americans which expect a far more personal and real aid to a community that does go unnoticed, and which does not often generate a society-wide approbation (and thus "prestige") when assistance is provided.

For my part, I was actively involved in philanthropy as an active- served as chair during all of my time as an active member perhaps just as much because I cared as because noone else wanted the job. As an alumnus, I still felt it was important- but I promoted to the chapter on the basis of the social benefits it could confer. The results were positive, but the reasons were still superficial.

This is not true in NPHC organizations because I think the pressure on those who have gone to college and secured good careers is significant- moreso than I could ever truly comprehend.

That pressure not only makes for active graduate chapters- but I suspect it also places a burden on potential active alumnae/alumni many are not able or prepared to meet.

This is where there is some similarity with the NIC situation. Just as an NIC or NPC alumnus may not want to get involved knowing he/she will have to write big checks as I discuss above, perhaps an NPHC alumus may also feel the burden of the social expectations of the role?

I really hope the OP comes back to confirm which side is being researched. Anecdotal evidence certainly suggests the NPHC wins in a landslide when it comes to what really motivates alumnus/alumna involvement. And given the interest in this thread, I think it would really help to know where the OP is coming from.

PS- LOVE the Mikado reference in your signature! I have seen it many times. The best was when Eric Idle came to do it in Houston when Sarah Ferguson was in attendance back when she was Duchess of York. Idle pulled no punches with the "List" song, and lo and behold- the story of Sarah and Steven Wyatt (the toe sucker) broke soon after. Oh how prophetic Idle was that night!

[EE-BO]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Yeah so does this topic boil down to the difference between NPHC and NPC/NIC?

It will be kinda funny if it does.

I have zero personal experience with NPHC alumni/alumnae chapters, but after reading about them here over the years I agree answers to the OP's question will depend entirely on NPHC vs NPC/NIC. Reading the thread so far, I have not determined which is the subject of the research- and someone please advise if there is an answer I missed in the posts.

With regards to NPC- 33girl is quite correct when it comes to Texas. Alumnae who are just in it for the prestige and not willing to work are sniffed out pretty quickly, so the ladies do work hard. But there is no doubt a lot of prestige can be conferred. In certain cities for certain sororities, specific annual fundraising events can provide opportunities that are socially very important.

On the NIC side- I have not ever observed the level of organization one would see with NPHC or NPC. The closest you get is the Housing Corporation which tends to be a catchall for fundraising, managing the house and working with the chapter to put on alumni events. Chapter advisors representing national fraternity's interests are also often folded into this collective group of active alumni.

Getting NIC alumni interested poses challenges I know all too well- anyone who gets involved and has half a brain knows that much work and a whole lot of donating lies ahead.

My time as a housing corporation officer and chapter advisor has been great- and I would not trade it for anything. But I was single, worked from home allowing me to do a lot of work for the chapter plus be available on short notice- plus able to spend the money at the time. The financial donations were substantial. At a big southern school when you have guys living in 7 figure properties with alumni who expect a good time at alumni events, even funding a small gesture can be jawdropping. And they all expect it- especially the ones who would never give away a nickel.

This is what NIC alumni face when asked to get involved. It ends up being a lot more money and time than is promised- and not out of any preconceived plan. It is just how it works. And the more money and organization a few put out there- figure 5x that in alumni are going to partake of the fun and parties along with the undergrads at your expense.

I loved doing it- and I would do it again. But as I said, I was in the very rare position of being able to do a good job of it for a time. With the new economic realities out there and me back in an office working for someone else, I could never do now what I did then.

[rhoyaltempest]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Yeah so does this topic boil down to the difference between NPHC and NPC/NIC?

It will be kinda funny if it does.

I think it does indeed. People keep making excuses like our members are single, no kids, no jobs and nothing else to do...LOL! Sure everyone can't devote the same amount of time but if it means that much to you, you'll do what you can whenever you can.

I do think you have to be reared with this mentality though and clearly every org doesn't instill this in its members. I think that's the big difference.