Is YOUR NPHC Sorority Enough?

[Conskeeted7]

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

Personally, IMHO, I think that folks should have a minimum community service hours requirement before, during and perpetually for membership. I know that the university I work for is considering a community service hour requirement to graduate...

One way to do it is require attendance to all functions prior to membership. Mentorship with Golden/Diamond members. Allow interests to assist in the planning and implementation of some public programs at the graduate level. Etc.

Not all chapters do that. Most that I have seen in my area, like to look cute... And we are talking GRADUATES/ALUMNI--undergrads are trying to graduate...

I agree that attending planning sessions with the graduate chapter before initiation will give a prospective graduate initiate a realistic idea of the tasks and time needed to accomplish the goals of the chapter, region, and organization as a whole. However, if they have been watching the chapter in the community and are truly connecting with sorors in a proper way to make their interest known, they will have some insight to the time it takes and the variety of programs to coordinate within the chapter.

Unfortunately, I don't think that mandatory community service will help. Those who are already doing community service and who joined their orgs to support their founders' vision are going to continue, whether its required or not. Those are the people who are going to work for their organizations no matter how many other memberships they hold.

There are some people who might become more active if service was mandatory. However, there are several categories of people who will not change their behavior. The fact is that once you get your letters, you can do whatever you want with them. If you want to wear nalia and never serve a day in your life, it's really up to you. I'm not in favor of that, but some people are ok with not going to regionals or knowing who the new President of their org is or what the national programs are. They just want letters and status. And these people will join whatever organization they can to attain that.

[AKA2D '91]

Originally Posted by Conskeeted7

I agree that attending planning sessions with the graduate chapter before initiation will give a prospective graduate initiate a realistic idea of the tasks and time needed to accomplish the goals of the chapter, region, and organization as a whole. However, if they have been watching the chapter in the community and are truly connecting with sorors in a proper way to make their interest known, they will have some insight to the time it takes and the variety of programs to coordinate within the chapter.

AND FINANCIALLY support. :smirk:

[neosoul]

Originally Posted by Conskeeted7

Unfortunately, I don't think that mandatory community service will help. Those who are already doing community service and who joined their orgs to support their founders' vision are going to continue, whether its required or not. Those are the people who are going to work for their organizations no matter how many other memberships they hold.

true story

[Little32]

I am a neo and Alpha Kappa Alpha is enough for me. Doing sorority work, in addition to my job, my other service activities, and so forth, is more than enough to fill my time--and I don't even have a family yet.

Not to mention that, more than anything else, I joined Alpha Kappa Alpha for the sisterhood. As I have said elsewhere, I served my community before I became a soror, and I would have continued to serve my community even if I never become a soror. So it was not that I was looking for a way to serve in joining Alpha Kappa Alpha; it is that my sorority offers me more avenues to be of service as a perk of the sisterhood.

I can say that right now that I have no plans to pursue membership in any of the other organizations mentioned. I am not much of a joiner anyway, and as others have said, I enjoy my down time.

[AKA_Monet]

Yes, Soror Conskeeted, even if there was a mandatory service requirement, folks will weasel their way out of it. All I am saying is if sorors do not want to do it upon joining our Sorority whose motto is "By merit and culture to be of service to ALL mankind", then refrain from submitting your name into the applicant pool. Moreover, if you just cannot serve, because your a neurosurgeon, an astronaut or part of the CIA, Secret Service, Homeland Security, special forces Black ops mission specialist, then, hey, PAY to the Educational Advancement Foundation whatever hours you are unable to serve.

Hayle, if you have served consistently for 25 years and have the requirements for Life Membership, I would even give you a break.

But if you just joined and dropped out after 3 years because you say "it is not for you", then the concept of "living your day after your locks are grey" says to me, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. was NEVER in your heart. And I doubt any other NPHC sorority for that matter can fulfill your needs. And you will always be in that first circle of Hell in Dante's Inferno as a T-shirt wearer.

Because, I know sorors who have zero time that make it on time to adjudicate Sorority Meetings as presidents. And I know sorors who actually do a triple bypass surgery with the anesthesiology for the patient, and still show up for the walks. Then I actually do know Rocket Scientist Sorors, that drive over 100 miles to attend a grad chapter meeting, with 4 babies. And I hear NARY a peep from them. They just serve.

Hayle, I know a sorors right now who moderates this board and lost EVERYTHING over some craziness, but STILL shows up for her beloved Sorority with a smile...

This is what it takes to do "things that are worthwhile"... And outright full hazing with pledging is not going to do it. Our current MIP is not yet there. But if the major universities are starting to require a minimum 300 hours of community service to graduate, then how come we cannot incorporate those rules?

If you commit a low level felony, you still get some level of community service...

And from my viewpoint of the cities, we NEED people to serve... And from my chapter, some sorors who need to be out there serving--either walking a walk give too much talk about what Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. is not... They show up to all the hoity-toity stuff or they come outta the wood works for MIP, but when we need to feed the homeless, or when we need to see the sick and infirmed--that's another story.

We can either make them do it or make them pay for it. Especially, if they are under 25 years...

We can say we join for sisterhood, and that's cool. But, realistically, it is the service to ALL mankind which is what we are about. One of the largest perks is Sisterhood. Can you serve without AKA--or another sorority? Certainly! People do it with their church all the time. But IMHO, "pushing the clods of dirt aside..." with your sorors makes the heart-wrenching work more meaningful to me, rather than arguing with people about what the communion drink should actually be--grape/cranberry juice vs. red wine.

When we work together to fulfill the true vision of our Founders, we solidify our bonds of sister to brighten our lights and heighten our flames. When we serve our character is strengthened and we become closer to envisioning His true meaning for our lives. An isolated soror cannot get that feeling if she is hurt, alienated, or choses to only where T-shirts for the accolades. An isolated soror must be reclaimed!

Let's be honest: Haft the crap that is said to me on GC affects me somewhat. But it has no comparision of the fury inflicted on my by own "co-initiates" (linesisters) and current chapter sorors. I get told all kind of craziness by these women. And I am one of the few that has a buffer zone with soror-family members. And sometimes, my sister and brother greeks come into the fold when craziness happens. Oh, I have vented. But that is a part of family. At the same time, we have decorum, and if it is not about the best interests of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. then it is not right. Let's avoid making this a history lesson. As members, we have to be realistic about our expectations of people. My experience as a professor, has taught me, that I just can randomly organize a quiz without giving all students a fair chance. The same must be done with our sorors. What is the minimum basic requirement for ALL sorors?

That is why we are to KNOW our documents.

The public sees us an exacts judgment by our actions. So, if we say we are about service, then shut up and start walking...

[Little32]

Soror AKA_Monet, I have been feeling all of your posts in this thread. This part especially.

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

But IMHO, "pushing the clods of dirt aside..." with your sorors makes the heart-wrenching work more meaningful to me...

When we work together to fulfill the true vision of our Founders, we solidify our bonds of sister to brighten our lights and heighten our flames. When we serve our character is strengthened and we become closer to envisioning His true meaning for our lives. An isolated soror cannot get that feeling if she is hurt, alienated, or choses to only where T-shirts for the accolades. An isolated soror must be reclaimed!

Skee-Wee Soror!

[Conskeeted7]

I do think that community service helps to solidify the bonds that we share as a sisterhood. It should be something that members want to do simply to better themselves and represent the programs of their beloved sorority. Realistically, there are sorors who do not participate much (or at all), for whatever reason.

If community service is added to the membership requirements, people will just find a way to get enough done to submit the application. People have been doing that for years.

I don't just want to be the dissenter here, I just think that with the variety of reasons that people join it is difficult to mandate what they are going to make of their membership.

[AKA_Monet]

Originally Posted by Conskeeted7

I do think that community service helps to solidify the bonds that we share as a sisterhood. It should be something that members want to do simply to better themselves and represent the programs of their beloved sorority. Realistically, there are sorors who do not participate much (or at all), for whatever reason.

If community service is added to the membership requirements, people will just find a way to get enough done to submit the application. People have been doing that for years.

I don't just want to be the dissenter here, I just think that with the variety of reasons that people join it is difficult to mandate what they are going to make of their membership.

Soror,

You are right. We all know what people will do. Alpha Kappa Alpha still has rules, standards and ethics. Every member goes through the same vows upon initiation. We all sign our names and state our names to what we will uphold. Moreover, we pledge our hearts to the teachings of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Yes, you are right, sorors will finagle their way out of doing what they promised themselves to do. Don't you now think that after 100 years, we need to hold each member to loyalty?

And if all they can manage to do is the bare minimum, that is sufficient enough for me. At least they serve or they pay. But at least each chapter is stabilized in its programming because Every Soror Participates...

Some members can view us as a "volunteer organization". But I find that a lame excuse to not be of service to all mankind. And it gives fodder to those people that hate what we stand for...

And one's minimum service requirement continues upon membership until one becomes Silver and Goldens/Diamonds are exempt. Attendance to Sorority Meetings does not count toward service to the community. Moreover, the Directorate has these passports for attendance to Clusters/Regional Conferences/Boules/Leadership.

I think it should be 1000 hours for 25 years, pro-rated, grandfathered. Now, if that is not easy, I don't know what is...

[Confucius]

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

Hayle, I know a sorors right now who moderates this board and lost EVERYTHING over some craziness, but STILL shows up for her beloved Sorority with a smile...

Even though you are not speaking/referencing me......I am still one of the above mentioned sorors...but I make it do it what it do b/c I have this organization in my heart and it means so much to me. Plus, serving the community always heals the heart, no matter what you are going through.

[ladygreek]

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

Yes, Soror Conskeeted, even if there was a mandatory service requirement, folks will weasel their way out of it. All I am saying is if sorors do not want to do it upon joining our Sorority whose motto is "By merit and culture to be of service to ALL mankind", then refrain from submitting your name into the applicant pool. Moreover, if you just cannot serve, because your a neurosurgeon, an astronaut or part of the CIA, Secret Service, Homeland Security, special forces Black ops mission specialist, then, hey, PAY to the Educational Advancement Foundation whatever hours you are unable to serve.

..

This statement resonates with me. How many times do we invite alumnae prospects, because they have the above credentials knowing full well they will not have the time to attend chapter meetings or service activities? But we want to say that they are a member. So yeah pay the org's charitable foundation the hours you cannot personally contribute. This could also be applied to honorary members. Sounds like a plan.

[Senusret I]

Wait, so when I get famous will I have to pay MY hourly rate to the Education Foundation? Shooooot, it's cheaper to just go to chapter meeting.

[AKA_Monet]

Originally Posted by ladygreek

This statement resonates with me. How many times do we invite alumnae prospects, because they have the above credentials knowing full well they will not have the time to attend chapter meetings or service activities? But we want to say that they are a member. So yeah pay the org's charitable foundation the hours you cannot personally contribute. This could also be applied to honorary members. Sounds like a plan.

Wait!!! How many times we invite these interests and we know they do not have time, but we would NEVER choose an interest that may not have all the accomplishments or accolades, but are willing to make a difference in the projects we serve?

Like I tell my chapter sorors, I am not voting on someone I have not seen attend any--preferably ALL--our functions... It is unfair to me.

Originally Posted by Senusret I

Wait, so when I get famous will I have to pay MY hourly rate to the Education Foundation? Shooooot, it's cheaper to just go to chapter meeting.

You don't get credit for attending chapter meetings. You have to attend functions or pay...