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

[sbx_six_eye]

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

I understand that other groups outside the D9 have a "pledging process" as the older members of the D9 experienced.

But, the way I read SBX's comments were "other people" who were not a part of her organization are "pledging her" trying to "justify" her sorority's legitimacy. Why? That's my questions, hence my comment.

Then, there is a very good reason why the D9 abandoned full official above ground pledging processes. We all know this reason. Does every single member follow it? Probably not. But it does not make it right according to our rules and regulations...

Other groups see us doing things and think that is the standard. Then, they take our "creations" and personify or capture it as their own. Then we become upset by it because we find it a mockery of us and our systems. But for us to even get to that level of thinking, we must already be feeling inadequate about ourselves and our own organizations and think we are in system failure...

These "young people"--young meaning in respect to the newness of their organizations question our intent initially as a retort or an afront to us. That is just how some people are--they have chronic hurt and unleash it in general. But, if we were all to really read past and through their pain, we will see they are begging for assistance and help. They no nothing of the struggles we have in our course of history. They know nothing that there are books that exist everywhere. And if you read demographics on the youth today, where do you think they get half their information--most of which is inaccurate to begin with?

The question from me is: do you all want the D9's experience and help? Because you all will never be at our level it took some of us at least 100 years to get where we are today. The only way to experience the D9 is to be a part of it or wait. In the meantime, gear your organizations up so that you can do that... If that is not your aim, fine. We, of the D9, are fine with that and we will keep going on with that. But, what you interpret on your campuses and communities of our actions (or inactions in some cases) may not be because of what you think initially. There is always something beyond it and it usually has to do with system governance.

I can say this, visit my International Foundation's website. It will tell you some aspects of our inner workings as an organization:

AKA EAF

This post hit on a few areas I think are very important for members of all orgs to consider. There is a lot of history to be learned and knowledge to be shared among members of ALL greek organizations. We (members of newer orgs) should take advantage of what is in front of us and seek the help we need. There are hundreds of books out there...and then some lessons can be learned by talking personally with those who have 10 or 15 or 20+ years of experience with their organization. I have many family members (of various orgs) who have reached out with their suggestions and insight on what to expect and things to avoid. To me, it would be crazy for "us" to overlook the progress that has been made and the opportunities that are out there now.

[rhoyaltempest]

Originally Posted by sbx_six_eye

This post hit on a few areas I think are very important for members of all orgs to consider. There is a lot of history to be learned and knowledge to be shared among members of ALL greek organizations. We (members of newer orgs) should take advantage of what is in front of us and seek the help we need. There are hundreds of books out there...and then some lessons can be learned by talking personally with those who have 10 or 15 or 20+ years of experience with their organization. I have many family members (of various orgs) who have reached out with their suggestions and insight on what to expect and things to avoid. To me, it would be crazy for "us" to overlook the progress that has been made and the opportunities that are out there now.

Does your organization have a Grand chapter in place? I'm assuming that you are not a member of your sorority's grand chapter or leadership group. The things you want to work on such as securing national programs, event planning, recruitment, etc. are things that should be systematically aligned across the board within your organization. In a well established organization, the training and guidance in how to run the chapters with regard to the things mentioned above are already in place but in your case everything is still being created. If your Grand chapter, executive board, or founders have not yet contacted your chapter about these things, you should contact them. You are a young sorority so I'm sure it's nice to know that all of your members can have great input in the development of your organization, but leadership is essential to every organization and to your ability to progress and reach your goals. Everyone's advice here on how to move forward in securing your sorority's future is great but again, these things should be systematic within your organization so that different chapters aren't doing entirely different things. Everyone should be following (for the most part) the same processes and procedures within the organization to achieve the same goals. So I suggest that you contact your leadership with your questions prepared...maybe you can even become a part of your leadership group and play a vital role in organizing and creating the processes and procedures that your organization needs.

[sbx_six_eye]

You are right about being organized across the board. I can only imagine how complicated things can get if each chapter is trying to do their "own thing." What I can do is pass on some of the things here to our national board and see what happens from there.

[rhoyaltempest]

Originally Posted by sbx_six_eye

You are right about being organized across the board. I can only imagine how complicated things can get if each chapter is trying to do their "own thing." What I can do is pass on some of the things here to our national board and see what happens from there.

The easiest (although it's not easy) and less time consuming way to go about the creation of processes, policies, and procedures within an organization (and I'm speaking not only as a member of Sigma Gamma Rho, but also as a specialist in the field of Corporate Communications and Marketing, and a creator of policies and procedures) is to form committees and have these groups take on the responsibility of certain tasks. Everything does not have to be left up to the national board; there is a lot of work to be done and it is too time consuming to allow one group to do all the leg work. Establish several committees for various tasks. You might have a committee for recruitment/membership/chapter expansion, one for the intake or "pledge" process, one for National projects and programming (and later one for each project or program), one for rituals and ceremonies, etc. etc. etc. Once the committees are in place, the presidents of each committee should meet with the national or executive board to align ideas and specific tasks. The national or executive board should then set deadlines for rough drafts and the final submission of ideas and documentation (which should be reflective of the feedback provided after rough draft submissions). Ultimately feedback (which should be taken VERY seriously) should be received from the greater community (revisions should be made if necessary after receiving the feedback) and the national board should review and approve all processes, policies, and procedures and sign off on them (after someone legal looks over them first ofcourse to make sure no laws are being broken). There is a great deal more to be done thereafter but I think this is a great starting structure and it's the way most organizations (corporate and otherwise) get things done. Keep in mind too that everything is a work in progress so many revisions will be made as the organization matures and grows.

The next challenge is in getting your members to follow the established processes and procedures and implement things correctly in each chapter but that's a whole different thing that has a great deal to do with the COMMUNICATION that takes place within the organization. The Communication piece is something that even the most successful and biggest organizations have a hard time with...but that's why I'll always have a job.

[AKA_Monet]

^^^And that's why most of the D9's have massive meetings in one place each year or every other year.

And people have to trust the folks who join that particular committee with choose the best choice for the National organization and what is best for the organization.

You all still have to understand that it took many of us in the D9 >25 years to formalize half of what we do in our respective organizations. So, when new members are inducted into our organizations they inherit this distinct heirarchial structures that were in place.

Essentially, it will take time and one must have a lot of patience...