But why are the NPHC groups so ... different???

[33girl]

Originally posted by Glitter650
I think more it has to do with the intake process they use to join. I don't know much about it... but I know it's alot tougher than register and go through a week of parties. I believe they have to feel a connection to the group/its ideals before.. NPC bases more on the people, it's devotion to the ORG that makes people continue... if you join for the people.. (as many I think do with NPC orgs) once you graduate you just keep in touch on your own with those people that you want to and the days/events of the org are a nice memory. Now I don't know how NPC can go about creating that bond to the actual org, nor do I believe it is COMPLETELY lacking in most NPC members... but if we could find a way to strengthen it I think we'd see a lot more alumni involvement. I think alot of it has to do with the fact that there are only 9 NPHC orgs. as well... their chapters I think tend to be larger as well...and most of them have more chapters than the NPC groups... more alumni means more alumini that are more likely to be involved as alumni.

This is a lot of what I was going to say. NPC and NIC groups will never have the amount of alum commitment the NPHC groups have unless we change the way we select collegiate members.

How many rush threads have there been where people have said (completely random examples) "Well I like Theta best, but Theta has been unfriendly and Kappa is really nice" and everyone said "go for Kappa!" You would pretty much NEVER see that among NPHC members. If someone said "I did not get chosen for Delta" the response would not be "look at Z Phi B" it would be "work and wait until it is your time for Delta."

When you work for years to achieve something, naturally you value it more.

[starang21]

Originally posted by 33girl

When you work for years to achieve something, naturally you value it more.

co sign to this

[Peaches-n-Cream]

Can someone please give an example of events that NPHC alumni/ grads participate in? Do you continue with the philanthropic and service events from your undergrad years? I ask because my alumnae chapter is relatively new and we are trying to figure out how to give back through community service events. Thanks.

ETA: Thank you Iota Net for starting this thread. I know it was in 2000, but I didn't discover it until today.

[Munchkin03]

Originally posted by Peaches-n-Cream
Can someone please give an example of events that NPHC alumni/ grads participate in?

My sister's chapter has sponsored a debutante ball (with scholarships), works with a mentoring program for at-risk youth, and sponsors a scholarship for an outstanding local student. Larger chapters are instrumental in organizing events for MLK's birthday, SAT prep courses in the local high schools, college fairs, and other things.

[IotaNet]

Originally posted by Peaches-n-Cream
Can someone please give an example of events that NPHC alumni/ grads participate in?

Here's an example of a national program that we recently launched. All of our Alumni chapters will participate:

BusinessKids

[Peaches-n-Cream]

Thanks Munchkin & IotaNet!

[stardusttwin]

For Psych Tau:

From what I've seen on these boards (& correct me if I am wrong) many alumnae chapters for NIC/NPC groups are connected directly to the undergrad chapter of initiation. I think that adjusting that set up would be a start for encouraging membership past college years.

Members of NPHC alumnae/alumni chapters are not all from one undergrad chapter. So if you pledged at XYZ college when you graduate and move to anytown, USA, you are expected to affiliate with the local alumnae chapter which will be made up of women from age 24-80+ who have all joined at different colleges and are in different stages of life. You may maintain a special bond with those from your undergrad (or grad) initiating chapter (and still support them), but you are expected to continue your individual membership and service for life where ever you are nationwide. When you think about it, you are a member in undergrad for 2-3 years (say 18-21). If you live to be 61 thats 50 years of service through your grad chapter. Much longer than your undergrad years (I hope). This is why its not unheard of for members to be initiated through alumnae/grad chapters...even if one is invited to membership at age 40-you have plenty of years to work hard for your organization.

As for events... there are national initiatives for all NPHC groups but it really depends on the area-what one chapter focuses on may not be a pressing need in another community. The beauty is you are always learning and when one group has a successful event/initiative there is no harm in putting the program in affect somewhere else. Who cares who set up the mentoring program first? If it works, just do it!!

To clarify, I'm not a member, but I have lots of friends who are active on the alumnae level.

[ChaosDST]

Originally posted by 33girl
How many rush threads have there been where people have said (completely random examples) "Well I like Theta best, but Theta has been unfriendly and Kappa is really nice" and everyone said "go for Kappa!" You would pretty much NEVER see that among NPHC members. If someone said "I did not get chosen for Delta" the response would not be "look at Z Phi B" it would be "work and wait until it is your time for Delta."

When you work for years to achieve something, naturally you value it more.

You're very observant!

[AGDAlum]

Another difference is REAL ESTATE.

NIC/NPC chapters on many campuses have houses that are very expensive to acquire and to maintain. Although some campuses have Greek dorms or provide chapter suites, the traditional idea of Greek housing is a house or lodge with meeting and dining space and sleeping quarters for some or many of the members.

I'm sure that some NPHC chapters have houses, but not to the extent that NIC/NPC groups do.

[Rain Man]

....NIC/NPC GLO members tend to pledge and recognize themselves as affiliated with a CHAPTER of their GLO rather than the org as a whole. NPHC orgs tend to pledge and recognize themselves as affiliated with the org as a whole, with their chapter affiliation being merely happenstance. Thus, there is much less issues dealing with transfer brothers/sister in an NPHC org than with a NIC/NPC org.

[NinjaPoodle]

YES!! Right on point.

Originally posted by stardusttwin
For Psych Tau:

From what I've seen on these boards (& correct me if I am wrong) many alumnae chapters for NIC/NPC groups are connected directly to the undergrad chapter of initiation. I think that adjusting that set up would be a start for encouraging membership past college years.

Members of NPHC alumnae/alumni chapters are not all from one undergrad chapter. So if you pledged at XYZ college when you graduate and move to anytown, USA, you are expected to affiliate with the local alumnae chapter which will be made up of women from age 24-80+ who have all joined at different colleges and are in different stages of life. You may maintain a special bond with those from your undergrad (or grad) initiating chapter (and still support them), but you are expected to continue your individual membership and service for life where ever you are nationwide. When you think about it, you are a member in undergrad for 2-3 years (say 18-21). If you live to be 61 thats 50 years of service through your grad chapter. Much longer than your undergrad years (I hope). This is why its not unheard of for members to be initiated through alumnae/grad chapters...even if one is invited to membership at age 40-you have plenty of years to work hard for your organization.

As for events... there are national initiatives for all NPHC groups but it really depends on the area-what one chapter focuses on may not be a pressing need in another community. The beauty is you are always learning and when one group has a successful event/initiative there is no harm in putting the program in affect somewhere else. Who cares who set up the mentoring program first? If it works, just do it!!

To clarify, I'm not a member, but I have lots of friends who are active on the alumnae level.

[MelodyCat]

Originally posted by Taualumna
Yes, you're right, it is recent.

It isn't recent for all NPC groups, though. Alpha Phi's first AI was Frances Willard in the early 1900's, if I've gotten my date correct. It may well have been earlier than that.

One more edit, and this one's to thank all the NPHC members for this thread. I've learned a lot about your groups from reading it.

[Jill1228]

Frances Williard became an AI for Alpha Phi in 1875

Originally posted by MelodyCat
It isn't recent for all NPC groups, though. Alpha Phi's first AI was Frances Willard in the early 1900's, if I've gotten my date correct. It may well have been earlier than that.

One more edit, and this one's to thank all the NPHC members for this thread. I've learned a lot about your groups from reading it.

[DGMarie]

Originally posted by MelodyCat
It isn't recent for all NPC groups, though. Alpha Phi's first AI was Frances Willard in the early 1900's, if I've gotten my date correct. It may well have been earlier than that.

One more edit, and this one's to thank all the NPHC members for this thread. I've learned a lot about your groups from reading it.

Delta Gamma has also had this from early years. But to the point, it is uncommon.

[MelodyCat]

That's true. It is uncommon, but it's not a recent development.

Thanks for correcting my date, Jill.