Is there such thing as cheesy community service?

[sigmadiva]

Originally Posted by Sen's Revenge

I am bumping this because I have some different opinions as an NPHC/BGLO member.

I have a friend who is interested in alumni/graduate membership in a sorority. She does not have any family connections to the sorority or any close friends who are members. I would also say that she is not particularly close to any members who went to college with us. So she is starting out from scratch.

She enjoys philanthropic activities that involve the arts. I believe she has served on boards of theater groups and orchestras, or perhaps a museum. She is often the only person of color on such boards.

Personally, I think people should do the service which makes them happy.

Strategically, if you are pursuing membership in an organization of women of color, you need to be able to network with other women of color. Performing service in your community which assures that you will meet other women of color is a start.

Same with men, although I think it's easier to become a member of a black fraternity than it is to become a member of a black sorority.

To sum it up, I think doing service which involves interaction with your peers is good service to further along your pursuit.

I don't know if you are asking a question, or making a statement?

If you are asking a question, and I assume the question is how this young lady can place herself to be seen by the members of this org, then my advice would be for her to start getting involved in activities where Black women in this org can see her.

Church is always a good place to start.

She should find out the event calendar of this org and attend their events. These activities are usually published in the newspaper's society / social section. And, if she can get to know some of the members of this org, she could volunteer her time to them to be a speaker or panelist for one of their events.

If she's on the board of an art museum, then can she use her influence to coordinate an inner city / urban event for youth? For example, the summer is a great time to have a one day or one week summer camp where inner city kids can come in and learn basic art / drawing skills.

Or, are there AfAm specific community groups that she can join? For example, here in Houston we have the Ensemble Theater, which is one of the oldest theater groups founded, run, and managed by AfAm. They always present plays by AfAm artists and play writers. We also have an AfAm operatic organization called the Houston Ebony Opera Guild. These are just two well know AfAm specific artistic orgs in Houston where one can become a member and in the process get to know women in NPHC sororities.

If you are making a statement, then I think members of her org of interest would find her activities an asset to their chapter.