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

[L.O.C.K.]

Yea, age is huge.

Maybe I am just cynical, but when you are 100 years old (or almost) and have 10s of thousands of members, its a LOT easier to be picky about membership.

While I like the fact that NPHC orgs are highly selective, it's VERY difficult for a younger org to do the same thing because they will have no members. And without people, you can't do your programs.

For us, it's incredibly hard to dispell the stereotypes of "frat" life to kids. Many are the children of immigrants who want their kids to go to school to study and that is it. This is why our marketing is SOOO important. At the same time, when filling a niche or something, you can't be like "we're better than them" because it just shows your own insecurities and in my opinion, can be a major turnoff.

[PrettyBoy]

L.O.C.K. How does your organization get members to join, with it being a fairly young organization?

[ladygreek]

RozRochelle,
Everyone can't be misinterpreting your statements. At some point you have to acknowledge that what you wrote was indeed what you meant. The biggest thing in communications is not what you think you said, but how the receiver interpreted it. And the onus to fix that falls back on the sender.

The thing I am struggling with is what will your sorority offer your members after graduation? I was in my collegiate chapter for two years. I have been in an alumnae chapter for 36 years. In other words Delta didn't go anywhere.

So serious questions: what is it that your sorority offer your members during their college years that they can't find in a support group or another such student organization? And what are your plans for the future?

Lastly, folx on here seemed to be pretty supportive of your sorority until you started coming off defensive. And don't ask how could I think that. Read what I wrote above. The onus is on you.

[PrettyBoy]

Originally Posted by ladygreek

RozRochelle,
Everyone can't be misinterpreting your statements. At some point you have to acknowledge that what you wrote was indeed what you meant. The biggest thing in communications is not what you think you said, but how the receiver interpreted it. And the onus to fix that falls back on the sender.

The thing I am struggling with is what will your sorority offer your members after graduation? I was in my collegiate chapter for two years. I have been in an alumnae chapter for 36 years. In other words Delta didn't go anywhere.

So serious questions: what is it that your sorority offer your members during their college years that they can't find in a support group or another such student organization? And what are your plans for the future?

Lastly, folx on here seemed to be pretty supportive of your sorority until you started coming off defensive. And don't ask how could I think that. Read what I wrote above. The onus is on you.

36 years? Wow!

[ladygreek]

Originally Posted by PrettyBoy

36 years? Wow!

38 altogether. Initiated May 17, 1969.

[PrettyBoy]

Originally Posted by ladygreek

38 altogether. Initiated May 17, 1969.

Wow! I wasn't even thought of. I've got mad respect for you.

[pinkies up]

Originally Posted by ladygreek

38 altogether. Initiated May 17, 1969.

38 years! That's excellent Sistergreek!!

[RozRochelle]

Originally Posted by ladygreek

RozRochelle,
Everyone can't be misinterpreting your statements. At some point you have to acknowledge that what you wrote was indeed what you meant. The biggest thing in communications is not what you think you said, but how the receiver interpreted it. And the onus to fix that falls back on the sender.

I meant what I wrote to you. But, I really was not trying to be rude or defensive when I responded. You just can't hear it how I hear it in my mind when I'm writing it. Tone and vocal inflection don't carry over to print. I would much rather someone just ASK me how I meant something rather than assuming the worst. The onus isn't just on me. People shouldn't jump to conclusions and/or put words in other people's mouths, either.

The thing I am struggling with is what will your sorority offer your members after graduation? I was in my collegiate chapter for two years. I have been in an alumnae chapter for 36 years. In other words Delta didn't go anywhere.

Theta Gamma Pi will offer the same things other sororities offer their alumnae members.

So serious questions: what is it that your sorority offer your members during their college years that they can't find in a support group or another such student organization? And what are your plans for the future?

With all due respect, I'm not going to answer those questions. Not because I don't have answers, but because I don't feel I need to justify my sorority's existence, and I feel that answering these questions would be doing just that. I will say this much: I asked myself these same questions and did some recon before going forward.

Lastly, folx on here seemed to be pretty supportive of your sorority until you started coming off defensive. And don't ask how could I think that. Read what I wrote above. The onus is on you.

There have been 2-3 times where I truly have been defensive. However, in those instances, I was approached first by persons who were disrespectful. Any other times anyone thinks I've been defensive is probably because tone and vocal inflection don't carry over to print.

I didn't come to GC looking for support for Theta Gamma Pi. So, while GC support is welcome, it's not required or necessary. The world is bigger than GC. I think that point of view is what angers people. It's funny, GCers say don't justify your org and just do you and yadda yadda yadda. But when someone actually does that, especially unapologetically, they catch hell.

Oh well, such is life.

[RedefinedDiva]

What I don't understand is how can members of newer orgs. decide NOT to answer questions asked about your orgs.? How else is someone to find out about your org. and what it does? The same way that you feel people are taking your words out of context is the same way you may be taking the responses/questions of others.

Some of our questions are NOT meant to have you "justify" your orgs., but merely to get to the root of their existence. While some orgs. are boasting that they offer all of these great things to your members, no one is willing to EXPLAIN what they are. All I keep reading is that the D9 or "traditional" orgs. don't offer this and don't offer that, yet no one can really tell us what that is. I haven't heard any mention of programs, initiatives, recruitment objectives, retention efforts, etc. As soon as those questions are asked, you either can't answer because you DON'T KNOW or the ever-confusing "I'm not going to 'justify' my org. to you...." BS. WTH?

I just hope that these orgs. REALLY have solid plans instead of the thoughts of "glitz and glamour" that comes with being in a "sorority" or "fraternity."

[Sugar08]

Originally Posted by RedefinedDiva

What I don't understand is how can members of newer orgs. decide NOT to answer questions asked about your orgs.? How else is someone to find out about your org. and what it does? The same way that you feel people are taking your words out of context is the same way you may be taking the responses/questions of others.

Some of our questions are NOT meant to have you "justify" your orgs., but merely to get to the root of their existence. While some orgs. are boasting that they offer all of these great things to your members, no one is willing to EXPLAIN what they are. All I keep reading is that the D9 or "traditional" orgs. don't offer this and don't offer that, yet no one can really tell us what that is. I haven't heard any mention of programs, initiatives, recruitment objectives, retention efforts, etc. As soon as those questions are asked, you either can't answer because you DON'T KNOW or the ever-confusing "I'm not going to 'justify' my org. to you...." BS. WTH?

I just hope that these orgs. REALLY have solid plans instead of the thoughts of "glitz and glamour" that comes with being in a "sorority" or "fraternity."

YES! to your entire post!!

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by RedefinedDiva

Some of our questions are NOT meant to have you "justify" your orgs., but merely to get to the root of their existence. While some orgs. are boasting that they offer all of these great things to your members, no one is willing to EXPLAIN what they are. All I keep reading is that the D9 or "traditional" orgs. don't offer this and don't offer that, yet no one can really tell us what that is. I haven't heard any mention of programs, initiatives, recruitment objectives, retention efforts, etc. As soon as those questions are asked, you either can't answer because you DON'T KNOW or the ever-confusing "I'm not going to 'justify' my org. to you...." BS. WTH?

Exactly.

I have to be honest and say I don't care what the newer orgs are about. That's for them to work out on their own so they can get their members. I think her org is a good idea but they need to make sure they know what they're about--besides nontraditional students.

[RozRochelle]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

Exactly.

I have to be honest and say I don't care what the newer orgs are about. That's for them to work out on their own so they can get their members. I think her org is a good idea but they need to make sure they know what they're about--besides nontraditional students.

I do know. I just hadn't shared it on here. There must have been a whole bunch of fly by night orgs that were not well thought out, and talked big noise, repped on GC just to fade into obscurity or even die. I say that because I feel like I walked up into something that somebody else FUBAR'd before my arrival, and I'm paying the price for what they did. I just don't understand some of these attitudes.

Anyhoo, I'm not going to pretend that I have all my bases covered. But, I wouldn't have gone forward with Theta Gamma Pi if I wasn't committed to doing my best to make it a success.

[AKA_Monet]

Roz-

What if TOMORROW, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. changed it policies on membership intake and stated we will now induct non-traditional, online, and part time students because they can become valued members to my Sorority?

How would your sorority "compete" against our years of inducting (spelled marketing, membership information and recruitment) of members?

I think sistahgreeks, Ladylike and DSTChaos are trying to help you. Along with BlueReign and my soror, RefinedDiva... They are PROFESSIONALS in various fields that KNOW how something in life works... I know my Soror Refined is in the law and there are several legal things you need to be following so that when someone sues you, you are not asking your membership to pay...

By statements like: "Asking how to run a GLO, then stating that you don't have to "justify" your organization...Well, that sounds too much like biting the hand that fed you...

[BlueReign]

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

Roz-

What if TOMORROW, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. changed it policies on membership intake and stated we will now induct non-traditional, online, and part time students because they can become valued members to my Sorority?

How would your sorority "compete" against our years of inducting (spelled marketing, membership information and recruitment) of members?

I think sistahgreeks, Ladylike and DSTChaos are trying to help you. Along with BlueReign and my soror, RefinedDiva... They are PROFESSIONALS in various fields that KNOW how something in life works... I know my Soror Refined is in the law and there are several legal things you need to be following so that when someone sues you, you are not asking your membership to pay...

By statements like: "Asking how to run a GLO, then stating that you don't have to "justify" your organization...Well, that sounds too much like biting the hand that fed you...

Hey, I can see this happening. The field of education is changing rapidly and we have got to change along with it. This is not a hard thing to imagine happening, "a grand chapter for non-traditional students"!

You know, AKAMonet, these new people on here really don't want our advice or anything. They came on greekchat to play. Like I told the originator of this thread to get off and go do something to building his fraternity and he kept posting nonsense anyway. The time spent on here could be better spent on her building a superb web site that would answer some questions. Since this sorority should cater to on-line students I would be trying to link up or partner with those on-line universities. Does that make too much sense?

[RozRochelle]

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

Roz-

What if TOMORROW, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. changed it policies on membership intake and stated we will now induct non-traditional, online, and part time students because they can become valued members to my Sorority?

How would your sorority "compete" against our years of inducting (spelled marketing, membership information and recruitment) of members?

I think sistahgreeks, Ladylike and DSTChaos are trying to help you. Along with BlueReign and my soror, RefinedDiva... They are PROFESSIONALS in various fields that KNOW how something in life works... I know my Soror Refined is in the law and there are several legal things you need to be following so that when someone sues you, you are not asking your membership to pay...

By statements like: "Asking how to run a GLO, then stating that you don't have to "justify" your organization...Well, that sounds too much like biting the hand that fed you...

I'm truly not being a smart-aleck when I say this, but that was helping? It felt like being targeted, to me. Other than that, I see what you are saying. And, maybe these ladies are trying to help me. If they are trying to help, I would like to be able to receive it in the right spirit. But, I can't receive it if it is sandwiched between smart-aleck barbs, and backhanded insults subtlely disguised in wordplay. I'm good, but I ain't that good.

I welcome help. But, please, can all the attitude be left out of it?

As to the first part you wrote, I think it would be fantastic if AKA did that! My whole thing is that everyone has a place they can belong, if they want to belong. How would AKAs (or the NPHCs) decision affect my org? Well, there will be some (or maybe even a lot of) women we won't get, but as I stated earlier, I'm okay with being a small org, or even a local or regional one.

However, there will always be those women who, for whatever reasons, don't feel they are a "fit" for AKA or the other D9 sororities. I know that might be hard for you all to consider, but people have all kinds of reasons only privy to themselves, about why they feel the way they feel or do what they do. It is inevitable that there will still be (non-dysfunctional) women who don't click with the D9, but who still want to be a part of a Greek letter sisterhood. They should have a place. There are only 4 of y'all, and you're not everywhere, and you can't be everything to everybody.

There's no guarantee that these women will want to join Theta Gamma Pi, but at least there will be another option available to them. I'm not trying to compete. Theta Gamma Pi will have who it is supposed to have.

Thanks for your input.