BGLO/GLO-Honorary..Good or Bad........

[blackbird]

Bill Cosby did not become a member at Temple as an undergrad. He became a member at Beta Alpha Alpha Chapter of White Plains New York in 1988.

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by blackbird

Bill Cosby did not become a member at Temple as an undergrad. He became a member at Beta Alpha Alpha Chapter of White Plains New York in 1988.

You learn something new every day.

[rhoyaltempest]

I think there are a lot of misconceptions around honorary membership in the NPHC. Yes, these members are invited to join because they are extraordinary in their professional fields (and yes, they are really initiated as members), but becoming an honorary member does not mean that you are not involved in your organization. We've had honoraries for years and many of them (past and present) are active in grad chapters and really come to love the sorority just as much as those who aren't honoraries. And the bottom line is that we're all equal in the sorority. Many also represent their organizations on their own while working with other organizations and projects that they're involved in. So being an honorary does not necessarily mean that you are just a billboard for an organization. If your organization doesn't have honorary members and you're okay with that, great...but don't knock others especially when you really don't know the extent of which these members are involved in their organizations.

[ladygreek]

Since I have seen many women of great achievement cry during their ceremony, and deliver heartfelt speeches of what it means to them, I am glad we initiate honorary members. I will say though, that I do prefer it when the initiate is not a "celebrity", but rather a woman of great achievement in other fields other than entertainment that positively impact people's lives.

Both Sheryl Lee Ralph and Suzanne Douglas were invited, not because they are actors, but because of the personal work they have been doing for years for the disenfranchised.

[Wolfman]

For my Fraternity, honorary membership was the desire and policy of the undergaduate founders from the very start. In fact, Founder, Dr. Ernest E. Just was an honorary member! The problem I have is that sometimes, in the contemporary context, people confuse celebrity with the true stature gained by lifelong achievement which would merit someone being accorded honorary membership.

[ChildoftheHorn]

Well,

IDK if anyone else has seen Sheryl Underwood's comedy special for Starz..

She does a whole thing towards teh end of her show where she gives a shout-out to all the BGLO's and makes a point that she is a MADE "ZPhi" and not an honorary. I think that her views on it are more evident.

Personally, I think that honoraries are a good thing for a very small and very select membership. I know that one more recent initiate is the author of "Why I wore Lipstick to my Mastectomy". In her case, I encourage it. The org had been working with her for years and she was already treated that way without being official. As far as I have heard, they still have to pass the same things that the college members do. Its really just a situation of making it official in most cases as far as I know.

[rhoyaltempest]

Originally Posted by ChildoftheHorn

Well,

IDK if anyone else has seen Sheryl Underwood's comedy special for Starz..

She does a whole thing towards teh end of her show where she gives a shout-out to all the BGLO's and makes a point that she is a MADE "ZPhi" and not an honorary. I think that her views on it are more evident.

Personally, I think that honoraries are a good thing for a very small and very select membership. I know that one more recent initiate is the author of "Why I wore Lipstick to my Mastectomy". In her case, I encourage it. The org had been working with her for years and she was already treated that way without being official. As far as I have heard, they still have to pass the same things that the college members do. Its really just a situation of making it official in most cases as far as I know.

I think it depends on the organization also and how they feel about it. In my org for example, we see honoraries as simply sorors like everyone else and the only time their honorary status is mentioned, is when we are talking about how the person came into the organization; undergrad, alumni, or honorary. But we don't normally refer to these members as honoraries to make any distinction between them and us. I also know that our honorary members are encouraged to get involved and stay involved just like the rest of us. So when we ask them to join, we actually expect them to join their nearest alumni chapter and get involved. The nearest alumni chapter or chapters in their residential area are also usually present at their induction.

[mccoyred]

Originally Posted by rhoyaltempest

I think it depends on the organization also and how they feel about it. In my org for example, we see honoraries as simply sorors like everyone else and the only time their honorary status is mentioned, is when we are talking about how the person came into the organization; undergrad, alumni, or honorary. But we don't normally refer to these members as honoraries to make any distinction between them and us. I also know that our honorary members are encouraged to get involved and stay involved just like the rest of us. So when we ask them to join, we actually expect them to join their nearest alumni chapter and get involved. The nearest alumni chapter or chapters in their residential area are also usually present at their induction.

We specifically recognize honorary members and accord them special honor as such. However, there are certain priviledges and rights that they do not have.

[mccoyred]

Originally Posted by Wolfman

For my Fraternity, honorary membership was the desire and policy of the undergaduate founders from the very start. In fact, Founder, Dr. Ernest E. Just was an honorary member! The problem I have is that sometimes, in the contemporary context, people confuse celebrity with the true stature gained by lifelong achievement which would merit someone being accorded honorary membership.

With Delta, honorary membership was present at the inception of the organization as well in the person of Mary Church Terrell.

[ladygreek]

Originally Posted by mccoyred

With Delta, honorary membership was present at the inception of the organization as well in the person of Mary Church Terrell.

Exactly! In the beginning they had a different title, which was later changed to honorary. But the concept was the same.