Joining Another Organization

[Senusret I]

^^^ Gotcha.

Although I sympathize with the original poster's frustrations, I can't say that it's happened to me (I pledged APO and wore para, etc -- no problems) and several of my friends pledged a foreign service fraternity. I've also seen DSP, AKPsi, and Phi Sigma Pi on other campuses. It really just all depends.

Also, I think that African Americans who pledge these organizations tend to introduce our own flair into them. And it's okay to have soul. But you also have to be wise about it. If you're the only one in your chapter wearing a jacket, then maybe you want to tone it down a little, just to reflect the values of your chapter more closely AND to recognize that the NPHC members on your campus would question it.

If you don't care, that's fine too, because it's all rather trivial. But remember that you have to be selected to be a member of an NPHC organization -- it's a lot more about the intangibles than it is merit.

[mccoyred]

I want to know why a business or other professional organization has a 'process' where you 'pledge'? I have never been in one, although I am considering joining a business/entreprenure-focused org because of my career direction. I will probably join NBMBAA or NAWBO or something like that but I don't understand why a FRATERNITY?

*shrugs* maybe its jut me....

As I was pledging I asked the same thing.
The girl replied with "Because this is a fraternity, we do what any other fraternity would do. If you have a problem or don't like it you night want to join AMA or CBA which are just organizations"

[Senusret I]

Why a sorority? Why not a service club?

[Little32]

Her response just sounds like faulty logic to me.

If your process is not organic and intrinsic to your organization but rather an attempt to "do what any other fraternity would do"....

[Senusret I]

The correct answer should have included the words fellowship, close association, and brotherhood.

[Senusret I]

DSpi, what do you guys sell in your store?

My school was the home of Mu Chapter, which I recently learned was dechartered.

[ree-Xi]

I think that you are questioning you own intentions.

I can only speak from my own experience regarding being in more than one organization with Greek letters.

I pledged Alpha Xi Delta, an NPC sorority, at my first college for the entire semester, but had to leave school due to health reasons, the week before final exams. I ended up not initiating. I had to leave my school after my sophmore year financial reasons. Two years later, when I matriculated at one of my state schools, I pledged and initiated at Gamma Sigma Sigma, a national service sorority. GSS is a service organization - it exists for different reasons, and although we pledged and wore letters, our existence was very different than that of NPC sororities. We didn't have formal rush, mixers or formal dances. I have been an active alumna of GSS. Two months ago, many years later, I was bestowed the honor to initiate into Alpha Xi Delta as an alumnae member. Becoming a sister of AXiD does not and will not change what GSS is to me.

I plan to be an active alumnae member of both Gamma Sig and AXiD. (Although this past year I have been very ill and have not been able to do a lot of extra stuff). What is amazing, is that I recently found out that a few founding mothers of Gamma Sig were actually also members of social sororities!
So to sum up my long post - people can belong to different groups, and it is commonly accepted. However, you have to make clear the reasons why you exist in each one. Blurring the lines in either organization may be what is confusing people. The thing is, if you are "repping" your Business GLO in the same sense that one would a social GLO, people may wonder where your allegiance lies. If you make them both equal in your eyes, then how are others supposed to see you?

Originally Posted by Senusret I

DSpi, what do you guys sell in your store?

My school was the home of Mu Chapter, which I recently learned was dechartered.

Yes that was the Georgetown University Chapter. We mainly sell food like pizza,coffee, hot dogs and snacks in general but we also sell tickets to various sporting events basketball and football games to help out the sports teams, we sell cd's for the different choirs. I came up with an idea to sell bracelets which all proceeds go to the American Cancer Association, so they will implement that next year.

[DSTCHAOS]

I agree with much that has been typed.

I want to add that I do and always have found it funny that professional organizations try to carry on like NPHC orgs (I am not including service orgs like APO in this, although it is interesting how that also varies by campus). I was in Phi Alpha Delta in college but never knew it was supposed to be something so heartfilled and important until I saw other schools having lines and stuff. Reppin' it HARD like "Phi Alpha Delta 'til the day I diiiiiiie" type stuff. But at some schools, the band is a frat with a crossing ceremony and "line names." LOL.

You might need to distinguish between your professional goals and your organizational goals. You also need to know what "lifetime commitment" means to you. What happens if you change your career goals (like I did, which is why I stopped being active in Phi Alpha Delta my senior year--still have my pin and probably my decorative paddle--college memories I guess)? Are you no longer wearing your business fraternity 'nalia and reppin' it to the fullest?

You won't be clowned if you aren't clownable. If you pursue an NPHC org just don't walk around like you've had the "NPHC experience" because you're in a business frat that cared enough to have line jackets and stuff. That business frat doesn't really mean anything as far as many NPHCers are concerned. Don't disown your business frat associations or respect for your business frat, though, just understand the different levels.

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

I agree with much that has been typed.

I want to add that I do and always have found it funny that professional organizations try to carry on like NPHC orgs (I am not including service orgs like APO in this, although it is interesting how that also varies by campus). I was in Phi Alpha Delta in college but never knew it was supposed to be something so heartfilled and important until I saw other schools having lines and stuff. Reppin' it HARD like "Phi Alpha Delta 'til the day I diiiiiiie" type stuff. But at some schools, the band is a frat with a crossing ceremony and "line names." LOL.

I would find that funny as well but know that we are not trying to be like BGLO's. We were established before every single BGLO and founded before every single BGLO except for Alpha Phi Alpha. We have carried out all our traditions the same. So know that you have it twisted and flip flopped we do not in any way shape or form try to carry on like NPHC, I can truly say that about mt chapter. If anything BGLO's carry after the white fraternities, how can somebody who has done all of there traditions way before your time copy you. Any organization reppin till I die, why the LOL, unless you are in it you have no idea what they went through and all they are just letting you know that they love their organization that much. People in BGLO's do the same; do you LOL them.

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

You might need to distinguish between your professional goals and your organizational goals. You also need to know what "lifetime commitment" means to you. What happens if you change your career goals (like I did, which is why I stopped being active in Phi Alpha Delta my senior year--still have my pin and probably my decorative paddle--college memories I guess)? Are you no longer wearing your business fraternity 'nalia and reppin' it to the fullest?

I have distinguished between them. I do also know what a lifetime commitment is. If you change your career goals you are still expected to carry on in the fraternity because we encourage the association of students for their mutual advancement by research and practice meaning that we expect people to continually change and grow within our fraternity but know that we support you still the same. So yes I will represent my fraternity to the fullest and stay active, and in doing that you have to where your naila at every event that deal with DSP.

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

You won't be clowned if you aren't clownable. If you pursue an NPHC org just don't walk around like you've had the "NPHC experience" because you're in a business frat that cared enough to have line jackets and stuff. That business frat doesn't really mean anything as far as many NPHCers are concerned. Don't disown your business frat associations or respect for your business frat, though, just understand the different levels.

So being different and stepping out of your comfort zone and putting yourself into a situation where you know that most people of your stature are too afraid to go because it is established by the man and doesn't have enough black folk in it, is clownable? Wearing a jacket that everybody in the fraternity wears, is that clownable too? Why because I am a black female? Am I clownable because I am not following the slew of African americans? Am I clownable because I follow the traditions and the expectations of my fraternity?

I understand that they are on different levels and I always have. That is not the issue, the issue is others do not and I get called a wanna be.

[DSTCHAOS]

DSpi:


Thanks for answering my question about what you'd do if you were no longer interested in business and your understanding of a lifetime commitment.

You're defending and explaining your organization here but that confidence and understanding should be saved for your in-person assocations. Just don't get cocky and tell the members of the organization you're pursuing that they have it "twisted and flip flopped."

Oh and you're clownable as far as many people are concerned because you, among other things, boast of a difficult pledge process and crossing for a business fraternity. This is why your representation of your business fraternity has gone beyond just sporting a jacket. You were quick to assert that NPHC orgs are in fact copying white fraternities, you need to scratch that cocky line of reasoning if you really want to be taken seriously as an NPHC sorority aspirant. Some of the things that you are doing with your business fraternity are more often associated with NPHC orgs and you knew that before you came to GC to ask us this question.

So don't think it's just because you're a black female who has "gone against the grain." You aren't really going against the grain in a general sense (maybe on your campus you were) as much as you are just attaching a lot of meaning to a business fraternity affiliation. Blacks do stuff like that all the time on some campuses. So don't feel too much like a unique trailblazer in that regard.

[ladygreek]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

DSpi:


Thanks for answering my question about what you'd do if you were no longer interested in business and your understanding of a lifetime commitment.

You're defending and explaining your organization here but that confidence and understanding should be saved for your in-person assocations. Just don't get cocky and tell the members of the organization you're pursuing that they have it "twisted and flip flopped."

Oh and you're clownable as far as many people are concerned because you, among other things, boast of a difficult pledge process and crossing for a business fraternity. This is why your representation of your business fraternity has gone beyond just sporting a jacket. You were quick to assert that NPHC orgs are in fact copying white fraternities, you need to scratch that cocky line of reasoning if you really want to be taken seriously as an NPHC sorority aspirant. Some of the things that you are doing with your business fraternity are more often associated with NPHC orgs and you knew that before you came to GC to ask us this question.

So don't think it's just because you're a black female who has "gone against the grain." You aren't really going against the grain in a general sense (maybe on your campus you were) as much as you are just attaching a lot of meaning to a business fraternity affiliation. Blacks do stuff like that all the time on some campuses. So don't feel too much like a unique trailblazer in that regard.

Wow! Such composure. I was fired up ready to spit out a snarky reply.

[Marie]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

I want to add that I do and always have found it funny that professional organizations try to carry on like NPHC orgs (I am not including service orgs like APO in this, although it is interesting how that also varies by campus). I was in Phi Alpha Delta in college but never knew it was supposed to be something so heartfilled and important until I saw other schools having lines and stuff. Reppin' it HARD like "Phi Alpha Delta 'til the day I diiiiiiie" type stuff. But at some schools, the band is a frat with a crossing ceremony and "line names." LOL.

Just wanted to comment on this point.

DSpi, it seems like the characteristics described above might be limited to yourself. I was a member of AKPsi in college, and I still work closely with my undergrad chapter when recruiting for my current company. Delta Sig and Phi Gamma Nu were also on our campus, and our chapter operations/customs were very similar. We NEVER mimicked NPHC tradition. Hell 98% of the membership probably wouldn't even know what they were in the 1st place. You stated that you were one of 4 AAs, so this makes me think that your chapter operates similarly...much more closely aligned with NPC/IFC customs (ex. rush, pledge classes, pledge families, initiation). The fact that you are using words like 'crossed' and speaking of wearing your jacket makes me think that you are interjecting customs and emphasis where there traditionally is none.

What I would suggest to you is that you learn to appreciate the existing culture of your business fraternity. While the customs are vastly different from those in the NPHC orgs, your years spent as an active chapter member can be very rewarding. Don't try to make this experience into something different from what it already is, and I doubt that anyone will get your intentions twisted. However if you continue to try to parallel the two experiences, then I would have to say that you most likely will not be pleased with your results.

[Senusret I]

Everything said doesn't need a response.