Legacy Dilemma

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by rhoyaltempest

To add to this, Alumnae/Grad membership is expected of all NPHC members so continuing to honor your lifetime committment by being active in your org after college is not taken lightly and although some members don't remain active after college, the idea is for potential members to understand fully what they're getting into so that they will indeed strive to remain active once they become members. Hence the need for all the research and reflection. Just to give you an idea of how important Alumnae/Grad membership is in NPHC orgs, some of the NPHC orgs have more Alumnae/Grad active members than they do undergrads; in some cases as much as 70%-75% Alumnae/Grad. The NPC and other councils cannot say that about their Alumni participation or even come close.

I don't think that NPC will ever have a larger active alum population than undergraduate. Our organizations are designed primarily as college based groups with alumnae status as an afterthought. In fact, the object of AOII includes "college loyalty" implying that our main purpose is to support women during the college years. The lifetime commitment likely was originally to continue to values of the organization after graduation rather than remain a t-shirt wearing active alumna. Now, however, we realize that we need more alumnae support to keep the organization strong. We also have discovered that for some women going through recruitment, having a strong alumnae programming initiative is an important factor. Lifetime commitment doesn't have to mean monthly attendance at an alum meeting, but it would be nice if everyone found at least some way to give back to their fraternity once they go alum.

[rhoyaltempest]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

I don't think that NPC will ever have a larger active alum population than undergraduate. Our organizations are designed primarily as college based groups with alumnae status as an afterthought. In fact, the object of AOII includes "college loyalty" implying that our main purpose is to support women during the college years. The lifetime commitment likely was originally to continue to values of the organization after graduation rather than remain a t-shirt wearing active alumna. Now, however, we realize that we need more alumnae support to keep the organization strong. We also have discovered that for some women going through recruitment, having a strong alumnae programming initiative is an important factor. Lifetime commitment doesn't have to mean monthly attendance at an alum meeting, but it would be nice if everyone found at least some way to give back to their fraternity once they go alum.

Exactly. But I could tell that the OP was having a hard time understanding why the NPHC orgs stress the importance of researching, observing, and taking time to find the right org to pursue.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

I don't think that NPC will ever have a larger active alum population than undergraduate. Our organizations are designed primarily as college based groups with alumnae status as an afterthought. In fact, the object of AOII includes "college loyalty" implying that our main purpose is to support women during the college years. The lifetime commitment likely was originally to continue to values of the organization after graduation rather than remain a t-shirt wearing active alumna. Now, however, we realize that we need more alumnae support to keep the organization strong. We also have discovered that for some women going through recruitment, having a strong alumnae programming initiative is an important factor. Lifetime commitment doesn't have to mean monthly attendance at an alum meeting, but it would be nice if everyone found at least some way to give back to their fraternity once they go alum.

Well, I think part of it too is the way NPC vs NPHC rush. It's been said on here that for NPHC, undergraduate and graduate chapter rush are more alike than different. Can you imagine taking a collegiate NPC rush and transplanting it to the alumnae arena?

I don't think the NPC sororities are ever going to be able to develop as distinct of "identities" as the NPHC groups are...simply because there are 6 times as many of them.

For NPC to have the kind of alum participation that NPHC groups do, we would have to radically rethink the way we rush and choose members, and groups would probably die in the process.

[sigmadiva]

Originally Posted by rhoyaltempest

Exactly. But I could tell that the OP was having a hard time understanding why the NPHC orgs stress the importance of researching, observing, and taking time to find the right org to pursue.

Maybe not so much today, but in my mom's day when she joined SGR in the early 1960's, joining a NPHC org also meant entree' (?sp) into Black High Society. It was a lot of the NPHC orgs back then that gave the swanky dances, fashion shows, parties, cotillions and beautillions for the Black community.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Well, I think part of it too is the way NPC vs NPHC rush. It's been said on here that for NPHC, undergraduate and graduate chapter rush are more alike than different. Can you imagine taking a collegiate NPC rush and transplanting it to the alumnae arena?

I don't think the NPC sororities are ever going to be able to develop as distinct of "identities" as the NPHC groups are...simply because there are 6 times as many of them.

For NPC to have the kind of alum participation that NPHC groups do, we would have to radically rethink the way we rush and choose members, and groups would probably die in the process.

I agree. You would also lose sorority houses since filling them would become a problem is you switched to the NPHC system of recruitment. In many ways, though, I like the way that NPC does it because there are often women who join that would not have gone through the trouble of researching and waiting to join a group that have ended up highly active alumnae and have contributed a lot to our organizations. NPC needs to find a way to convince the women that do go through our system that there is more to membership than just 4 years. Maybe recruiting our seniors into our alum groups and advisory councils like you recruit NMs would be feasible.

[rhoyaltempest]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

I agree. You would also lose sorority houses since filling them would become a problem is you switched to the NPHC system of recruitment. In many ways, though, I like the way that NPC does it because there are often women who join that would not have gone through the trouble of researching and waiting to join a group that have ended up highly active alumnae and have contributed a lot to our organizations. NPC needs to find a way to convince the women that do go through our system that there is more to membership than just 4 years. Maybe recruiting our seniors into our alum groups and advisory councils like you recruit NMs would be feasible.

We also deal with this issue since not all NPHC members remain active after college, especially among the fraternities. One way to convince members to remain active is to talk to them about it early, while they're still undergrads and to reinforce the idea of life commitment throughout their college years. For example, we have retention and reactivation committees which focus on keeping members active and encouraging members that are no longer active to reactivate. While not all members will transfer into an alumnae chapter immediately following college graduation, many will reactivate at some point in their lives because they made a life commitment and they want to honor it. Also most members feel that their organization's commitment to the community and national programming is valuable and necessary. They also know that it's the alumnae members that run the organizations so without them, the organizations cannot prosper.

[33girl]

Part of the issue is that we all need to get on the stick and have stand alone alum programming that appeals to alumnae - that they are willing to pay for - alumnae involvement needs to be more than being an advisor or a volunteer to help the collegians.

[AlphaXi_Husky]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Part of the issue is that we all need to get on the stick and have stand alone alum programming that appeals to alumnae - that they are willing to pay for - alumnae involvement needs to be more than being an advisor or a volunteer to help the collegians.

Well said. I can't tell you how many times I've tried to get alumnae together for just random fun activities (movies, happy hours, trivia nights, etc) and face reluctancy from people who aren't into it and/or don't want to be asked to give up their time and money to donate to the collegians. It is sad and frustrating - however I do think nationally NPC GLOs are trying to focus more on lifelong membership.

I'll stop here, as this is a complete hijack of the OP.

[taurus0426]

Yeah when I hear about NPHC organziations I usually hear about the grad chapters.

Do more people join after college now? Many of the NPHC members I have met are graduate members or members who joined in college years ago, I havent met any undergrad members.

[AKA_Monet]

Originally Posted by taurus0426

Okay now how should she be assisting me then? I know there's a special legacy form out there. I'm a very dilgent student so that's not a problem but why is it that when it comes to D9 organzations a person must do tons of research...

When we say "research" we mean you walk into Rush knowing at minimum--and preferably the entire website of information with focus on the programs/initiatives Internationally, locally, at the undergraduate level and graduate level if that is what you have.

The answer to your follow question is below in response to Ladygreek's response:

Originally Posted by ladygreek

Her mother hasn't been active since college. I doubt there is much she can do to assist her, since she would not know the current process. In fact, a mother's "help" can be to the detriment of the daughter...

Ladygreek, some of the comments are meant for EVERYONE...

That's the thing, a mother ought not be promoting her membership in her sorority if she is not active in an NPHC sorority... That is my personal opinion. Because WE ALL PROMOTE LIFELONG MEMBERSHIP...

In my opinion it is a detriment to the daughter when she has failed to teach her right... Like what to wear at Rush, appropriate and respectful behavior toward the members while on campus. How is one going to aspire to become a member and disrespect said members by refusal to attend ANY FREE on-campus functions?

No, I am not saying that a mother "help" her daughter get into said D4 sorority--that is helicopterish--she ought not have "guaranteed" her membership like that. If she wanted her daughter to pursue membership so bad, then how come her daughter never attended a grad chapter function, talk to the UGs while in high school, go to Regional Conferences and International Meetings? Hayle, these kids apply for our scholarships, but where's the payback?

It is gotten to the point where we have to KNOW these kids and their families before they "stroll" into our Sororities--before they get into college...

[AKA_Monet]

Originally Posted by breathesgelatin

With NPHC, you are encouraged to research the orgs beforehand and choose only one to pursue. As I understand it, there are many NPHC members on these boards that pursued membership in their selected organizations for years.

What I've learned from being on these forums is that NPHC tends on the whole to view membership as more of a lifetime commitment and thus something that deserves a long period of research, education, service, and self-improvement before membership can be granted. It's also due to the fact that each NPHC has a missional identity that is very well-developed and distinct. While all kinds of women join the NPHC sororities, they are very focused on their particular values and service and developing the same ideals.

Based on our "official intake processes" we need to know if the person we take in will do the work and pay the money as needed or in the case of an undergraduate, continually have a superior GPA. Also to give the best representation of said organization at all times. If you review our Founders, and historical membership roster, many of these women had a crisp womanliness, yet activism to change the world.

For my Sorority, my Soror Rosa Parks--do I need to say any more... How about my Soror Coretta Scott King...

Are there others in the D9 I admire--oh yeah!!! Sistergreek Mary McLeod Bethune... My grandfather would not be employed if it was not for her...

Sistergreek Zora Neal Hurston--if it was not for her, her personal account and literary style of her books would not have been studied at Bethune-Cookman University...

Sistergreek Hattie McDaniel--if it was not for her, acting in film and television for a Black woman would have NEVER happened.

Taurus--that is what we mean by doing your research... Know great members in ALL organizations that you want to emulate. You are NOT the first person to ask these questions. And you have primary source material!!! So maybe that is why some of us are

[rhoyaltempest]

Originally Posted by taurus0426

Yeah when I hear about NPHC organziations I usually hear about the grad chapters.

Do more people join after college now? Many of the NPHC members I have met are graduate members or members who joined in college years ago, I havent met any undergrad members.

There has definitely been an increase in recent years of people joining the NPHC orgs after undergrad but I'm not sure if more people are joining after college vs. undergrad although this could be the case for some of the orgs.

[taurus0426]

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

When we say "research" we mean you walk into Rush knowing at minimum--and preferably the entire website of information with focus on the programs/initiatives Internationally, locally, at the undergraduate level and graduate level if that is what you have.

The answer to your follow question is below in response to Ladygreek's response:



Ladygreek, some of the comments are meant for EVERYONE...

That's the thing, a mother ought not be promoting her membership in her sorority if she is not active in an NPHC sorority... That is my personal opinion. Because WE ALL PROMOTE LIFELONG MEMBERSHIP...

In my opinion it is a detriment to the daughter when she has failed to teach her right... Like what to wear at Rush, appropriate and respectful behavior toward the members while on campus. How is one going to aspire to become a member and disrespect said members by refusal to attend ANY FREE on-campus functions?

No, I am not saying that a mother "help" her daughter get into said D4 sorority--that is helicopterish--she ought not have "guaranteed" her membership like that. If she wanted her daughter to pursue membership so bad, then how come her daughter never attended a grad chapter function, talk to the UGs while in high school, go to Regional Conferences and International Meetings? Hayle, these kids apply for our scholarships, but where's the payback?

It is gotten to the point where we have to KNOW these kids and their families before they "stroll" into our Sororities--before they get into college...

I have been to some of the regional events and participated in HS programs. I've also been to some grad functions as a guest of my program sponsor so I have some background. But what I dont get is why would my mother care where I joined? She hasnt been active in 30+ years yet I mention I might do some more research on the other 3 or *gasp* NPC she looks at me like I went nuts. I flat out asked her what she thought of me joining one of the NPCs and she said "why?" This goes for my friend and BF, their familes are flipping out at the thought of them not following in their footsteps when they joined at a different time period/different campus and the chapters on our campuses might not be good fits for us.

Question for legacies out there...was there ever any pressure to join by family members or was it just happenstance that it was a good fit for you too?

[33girl]

Originally Posted by taurus0426

But what I don't get is why would my mother care where I joined? She hasn't been active in 30+ years yet I mention I might do some more research on the other 3 or *gasp* NPC she looks at me like I went nuts.

This happens across the board, not just NPHC. Check out the Recruitment forum. You might think it doesn't matter to them anymore, but when your kidlets go off to college a lot of those things you experienced back then come back.

[tld221]

Originally Posted by taurus0426

I have been to some of the regional events and participated in HS programs. I've also been to some grad functions as a guest of my program sponsor so I have some background. But what I dont get is why would my mother care where I joined? She hasnt been active in 30+ years yet I mention I might do some more research on the other 3 or *gasp* NPC she looks at me like I went nuts. I flat out asked her what she thought of me joining one of the NPCs and she said "why?" This goes for my friend and BF, their familes are flipping out at the thought of them not following in their footsteps when they joined at a different time period/different campus and the chapters on our campuses might not be good fits for us.

Question for legacies out there...was there ever any pressure to join by family members or was it just happenstance that it was a good fit for you too?

Well, if you decide to rush an NPC, im sure "Why XYZ?" will come up. Wait, let me not assume.

NPCers, do you blatantly ask "Why do you want to be an XYZ?" during rush? or is that some rule infraction?