"Why Did You Decide to Join ...That?"

[BlueReign]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

It's not harsh but it's one of the most adult things I have seen come across this board in the last couple of days and for that I say "Thank You"

Now as for what is going on in the area, I am new...I just moved down here w/i the past year..so I don't have an entire handle on the community...so just as an overview...what is going on?

Can I PM you?

[DaemonSeid]

Sure...the door is always open!

[KAPital PHINUst]

Daemon, I do have a question for you that perhaps you can enlighten us with:

What is currently going on with Phi O Psi (and Phi A Psi to the extent you can)? I try to keep up with younger orgs like yours, but your orgs' websites aren't always kept up to date. I actually thought your org was dying or had died out.

So what's up with Phi O Psi?

[DaemonSeid]

I can't speak for my sorors at this time as I am not privy to thier business.

At present time, we are focusing our efforts internally to restructuring our grad and national boards so that way we can better administratively oversee not only the business of the fraternity but also oversee the reactivation of our undergrads.

It's more or less a housecleaning period that so far has taken several months to put things correct so that way we can move forward but much progress has been made.

[sigmadiva]

[QUOTE=BlueReign;1449312
So, I am here to say to you: will you please get off this forum, stop asking questions and stop explaining yourself. By doing this you are losing the respect I am sure your organization deserves.

[/QUOTE]

This has been my point to him.

[OneTimeSBX]

thank you Blue for the 411 earlier!

[RozRochelle]

I founded my organization because I feel there is a need for it. Non-traditional students really don’t have a place in the traditional NPHC sororities. Sure, older students and single parents who otherwise meet membership criteria can and do join. However, there is no place for the student who must earn her degree online because her nearest college is too expensive and/or doesn’t offer night classes and/or is too far away to commute. And what about the working student who does take campus-based classes, but can only enroll part-time? She has no place, either.

I’ve met many non-traditional women who were very interested in belonging to a sorority but couldn’t because the above (and other) reasons made them ineligible. I don’t think the opportunity should be denied by omission. I don’t have anything against the NPHC sororities, and I’ve never tried to join any of them, so my motivation is not fueled by feelings of rejection. It’s just that times have changed, and those changes have created new needs to be met. Unfortunately, I don’t see these particular needs being met by any of the established organizations.

[ladygreek]

Originally Posted by RozRochelle

I founded my organization because I feel there is a need for it. Non-traditional students really don’t have a place in the traditional NPHC sororities. Sure, older students and single parents who otherwise meet membership criteria can and do join. However, there is no place for the student who must earn her degree online because her nearest college is too expensive and/or doesn’t offer night classes and/or is too far away to commute. And what about the working student who does take campus-based classes, but can only enroll part-time? She has no place, either.

I’ve met many non-traditional women who were very interested in belonging to a sorority but couldn’t because the above (and other) reasons made them ineligible. I don’t think the opportunity should be denied by omission. I don’t have anything against the NPHC sororities, and I’ve never tried to join any of them, so my motivation is not fueled by feelings of rejection. It’s just that times have changed, and those changes have created new needs to be met. Unfortunately, I don’t see these particular needs being met by any of the established organizations.

Your reasons are very valid. The issue of online students has been discussed and I am sure will continued to be discussed as that population increases.

As for the part-time student, my view is that they are part-time for a reason--usually working full-time, or taking care of children, or just can't afford full-time enrollment. Thus I would rather they wait until alumnae chapter and put all of the energy, time, and money they have to spare into furthering their education and graduating.

[RozRochelle]

Originally Posted by ladygreek

Your reasons are very valid. The issue of online students has been discussed and I am sure will continued to be discussed as that population increases.

As for the part-time student, my view is that they are part-time for a reason--usually working full-time, or taking care of children, or just can't afford full-time enrollment. Thus I would rather they wait until alumnae chapter and put all of the energy, time, and money they have to spare into furthering their education and graduating.

I'm glad to hear that there is ongoing dialogue regarding distance learning students (not all students are in "online" programs, some degree programs are 100% guided independent study). But, I have to say that the online student population is growing exponentially. Distance learning is in full effect and going strong, especially now that it's been proven that a classroom environment is not always necessary for a quality education.

Having been both a full-time and part-time student, and having known others who were doing the same, I can say from my experience that there really is not that much difference between the two groups. I don't think part-timers should have to wait and join an alumnae chapter for the reasons you mentioned because, if that's the case, the same can be said for the non-traditionals who are attending full-time. They do a balancing act, if not moreso, too.

Yes, some balance better than others, but the bottom line is that these women are ADULTS (my sorority is for women over 24 years old, btw) and it is not my place to tell them what they need to focus on in their lives outside of the sorority. That would be condescending.

[ladygreek]

Originally Posted by RozRochelle

I'm glad to hear that there is ongoing dialogue regarding distance learning students (not all students are in "online" programs, some degree programs are 100% guided independent study). But, I have to say that the online student population is growing exponentially. Distance learning is in full effect and going strong, especially now that it's been proven that a classroom environment is not always necessary for a quality education.

Having been both a full-time and part-time student, and having known others who were doing the same, I can say from my experience that there really is not that much difference between the two groups. I don't think part-timers should have to wait and join an alumnae chapter for the reasons you mentioned because, if that's the case, the same can be said for the non-traditionals who are attending full-time. They do a balancing act, if not moreso, too.

Yes, some balance better than others, but the bottom line is that these women are ADULTS (my sorority is for women over 24 years old, btw) and it is not my place to tell them what they need to focus on in their lives outside of the sorority. That would be condescending.

You make waiting and joining an alumnae chapter sound like a punishment. In the NPHC it isn't. Our members have the rest of their lifetime to be involved in their sorority. The collegiate years are few, the alumnae years are many.

Oh and btw, being an adult in age does not always translate to being an adult in mind.

[RozRochelle]

Originally Posted by ladygreek

You make waiting and joining an alumnae chapter sound like a punishment. In the NPHC it isn't. Our members have the rest of their lifetime to be involved in their sorority. The collegiate years are few, the alumnae years are many.

I didn't make it sound like anything. That's just the way you chose to interpret what I wrote. But, that's fine. Now, in the context in which I was speaking, I would understand why a woman in this situation would feel as if she were being punished or penalized for not being a full-time student.

Generally speaking; however, waiting to join an alumnae chapter is not a punishment and may actually be a better option for older women. But, the point I'm trying to make is that if someone has genuine interest in an org, and but for them being a part-time or online student, they would be accepted into the organization, GET THEM WHILE THEY ARE GUNG-HO.

Give that enthusiasm time to wane, due to life changes and et cetera, and you may never get them back. No matter how much admiration and interest a woman may have in any particular org, the sacrifices she is willing to make to become a part of that organization will change or fluctuate over time, depending on what is going on in her life. If someone is made to wait to join an alumnae chapter, there may come a point where even though her interest is still strong, the re-arrangements she would have to make in her life to join, X number of years later, may not be worth it. Many women get to the point where they say, "bump it", and toss that dream into the "dried up like a raisin in the sun" pile. That would be a needless loss for an organization that needs new members to perpetuate itself.

Edited to add: But, if that's the route the established orgs decide to go, more power to them. Theta Gamma Pi will be here to accept those women - if they meet our criteria - that don't want to wait to join an alumnae chapter. There's room for everybody.

Oh and btw, being an adult in age does not always translate to being an adult in mind.

Yes, I know that being an adult in age does not translate to being mature. However, I chose a minimum age of 24 years old for a reason that had nothing to do with mental maturity level. I was trying to be fair by staying in line with the age cutoff most colleges and universities use to identify non-traditional students. My personal preference is an older minimum age, but this is not a "vanity" project and it's not all about me. Principle won over preference.