Does one really grow and "begin" to understand their organization's purpose?

[AKA2D '91]

Please realize that people join for many different reasons: for fame, glory, recognition, sister/brotherhood, or to actually do the WORK at hand. Regardless of the reason we are all sisters and brothers and should be treated as such. Hopefully those that joined for 'fame', 'glory', or 'recognition' would finally realize the true meaning of our organizations. Eventually they will grow and understand what our founders were fighting so hard to obtain.

This is an excerpt from daluv-n-desire's post in the "Which Side are you on?" thread. It stood out because there have been some things on my mind lately from the real world and here in cyberspace regarding the "Greek world", if you will.

My question is: Will someone or can someone grow and understand what our founders were fighting so hard to obtain? I have seen many who you would THINK have "grown" and "understand", but in actuality, THEY HAVE NOT and DO NOT! It saddens me to see certain things going on. And this doesn't have anything to do with being "young" either.

Is it possible for this "growth" and "understanding"? I guess it's up to the individual... The frightening thing is, the same people we call brother and sister, have NO earthly idea what is going on.

-A Greek only discussion, please!

[Wonderful1908]

At first I believed that the type of soror you were, was in your heart prior to actually beoming a member. Let me explain, I always knew I would work hard for Alpha Kappa Alpha from the jump, even before I made a vow to anyone. During my process I believed that the attitiude I had coming into the sorority would determine my commitment to our principles and goals. All during my time in undergrad I said "those who don't come around were never commited to Alpha Kappa Alpha", but know I think that for many it is a growing process that can be fostered and developed to uphold our beliefs. I know for me and I only speak for me, Alpha Kappa Alpha was NOT like what I had in my mind prior to becoming a member. So for some who are "shocked" by the reality, it may be a process they have to ease into. Ideally all members of all greek organizations would jump head first into the truth and understanding of their repesective organizations, but that is unreal. So I have more patience for those who are "lost" than I did before. In fact I believe for me my true understanding and personal meaning of my sororoity did not come until after I was able to not just hear and see but to actually live up to the principles of my founders. As greeks we have no choice but to continue to help those who are "misguided" back to the light, or atleast in the right direction, imagine all the inactive members of the various organizations who have the potential to contribute a great deal if they were just given the push to do so (yes nobody had to push us, but not everybody is the same) and make a difference.

[NUPE4LIFE]

I'm going to come at this from a different perspective. I wanted to post a thread related to this thread but since there's already one, I'll post my concerns here. My concern is with HAZING. I know of too many chapters NPHC wide that are on multi year suspensions due to hazing. I do not think that hazing was our founders' intent. Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. is an organization made up of men who ACHIEVEMENT is their main goal. We cannot achieve and further the other goals of the fraternity if we're all caught up in litigations and suspensions due to hazing. I believe that I can speak for all my other greeks. YES, there should be a PROCESS. I'm not here to start the paper vs. pledging debate. Yet it is that same debate, that is gonna be the ruin of us all. I've read and heard horrible stories of people being sent to the hospital or worse death. I even know of entire lines dropping because the hazing is so bad, they feel as if it's not worth it to be apart of XYZ. I know that white frats and sorors haze too, but it's up to us to fix our own house. We can't just say everybody's doing it and continue on. The BGLO has been a significant part of the African-American experience. In years not so long ago, being a member of a BGLO didn't mean how much wood you could take, or who could step the best, or who had the best stroll. It was actually about doing something for the community. We had a cause then civil rights. I feel that many in undergrad don't feel that there's still a cause out there for us to unite and fight. Instead, we go our own separate and pretend to live our founder's dream. I don't if it's me or what I'm seeing is really real. I know that most of the time, you only hear about the bad stuff. There could really be some good going on. I'm not talking about just what your chapter does alone. I mean as whole members undergrad, and grad. The undergraduate membership is the lifeline of our organizations. I would hate to see that institution someday be abolished. It is a reality though, that we must face. There must be a revival in our organizations. Like the gospel song says, "Let us all go back to the old landmark". We need that or else we're doomed to fail. Everyday, I sit and marvel at how I've been blessed and afforded the opportunity to be apart of such an illustrious organization. I will not let my founders' dream turn into a nightmare. Incidences of frats/sorors making the same foolish mistakes will continue until we have this revival. Until then, they'll never grow or truly understand their founders' purpose.

[daLuv-n-Desire]

Once again I will say that people join organizations for many different reasons. I truly believe that people can grow and learn to understand the purpose of the organization after they become members. Like your Soror (Wonderful1908) said "I know for me and I only speak for me, Alpha Kappa Alpha was NOT like what I had in my mind prior to becoming a member. So for some who are "shocked" by the reality, it may be a process they have to ease into." ---Some people really don't understand what they are getting themselves into. Truth be told none of us actually know what we are getting our selves into 100%. We assume and speculate. We only know fully when we become members. Membership has its privileges!

Actually, I would think that we would want our members to grow once they are on the other side. Do you really want prospectives to proclaim that they know everything about our organizations? If this were the case then what would be the purpose of intake/traditions/secrets? As a community, if we stay stagnant we will never have the opportunity to affect, effect, and impact the community. We will not be such strong forces that we are.

As for me, I see Delta as an enhancement. Although, I am a neo (coming up on a year on Thursday ), I can truly say that I have grown a lot within this last year. I am just starting to understand the true meaning behind those letters that I wear so proudly across my HEART. I plan to grow, grow and GROW in DELTA. And with that growth I expect more understanding/ a greater understanding. My line name is "Ascension" -- the big sister that named me said that she saw me reaching and conquering heights/plateaus in DELTA! I plan to live up to that.

Back to the original question -- can someone or will someone grow? Well that's an individual thing. I have seen both sides of the coin. I have been surrounded by the 'greek world' for a long time --- I have seen those who HAVE IT TOGETHER before those letters come in to place just loose it and themselves once they are recognized with some type of. 'status'. I have also seen those who weren't 'shyt' before make a 360- and actually have some value/worth.

Growth is possible, if it is something within -- a desire/ want, but as brothers/sisters we should never turn our backs on our members. We should be willing to hold each other down, make them accountable for what they pledged their lives to and help them 'grow' and 'understand'. Sister AKA2d said "The frightening thing is, the same people we call brother and sister, have NO earthly idea what is going on." Well isn't it our responsibility to foster that idea in them? Can you truly claim that you are your sister's/brother's keeper?

~daLuv

[The Original Ape]

If the "process" is well thought out, well planned, well executed, and incorporates the principles of the founders; THE MEMBERS SHOULD EXPECT GROWTH because the process PROMOTES growth. It(growth)would then be a natural phenomenon of being a member.

Organizations should recruit prospects that are mature, have a real concern for the uplift of our people, intelligent, and perservering; and prospects should have a proven concern for their community.

If you don't really care about your people, you have no place in bglos.

[AKA_Monet]

Originally posted by The Original Ape
If the "process" is well thought out, well planned, well executed, and incorporates the principles of the founders; THE MEMBERS SHOULD EXPECT GROWTH because the process PROMOTES growth. It(growth)would then be a natural phenomenon of being a member.

Organizations should recruit prospects that are mature, have a real concern for the uplift of our people, intelligent, and perservering; and prospects should have a proven concern for their community.

If you don't really care about your people, you have no place in bglos.

I concur, 1908%

The deal is, there is sooooo much to learn and one cannot quite possibly learn AND experience all that is fathomable regarding their respective organization without active participation--even if that means going to just the one National event. All NPHC BGLOs are well over 70 years old with the exception of one that's still over 35 years old, so all that history used to develop our rituals, our symbols, our hymns, our standard operating procedures, whatever takes time to learn. Your first National convention is not gonna make you get it anymore than your conceptual understanding of your organization.

I DO know that I had accelerated learning for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. when I ACTIVELY PARTICIPATED in committees--even when I was supposed to be focussing on my graduate school work... My accelerated learning was only gleaned when I took on responsibilities, such as a small chairmanships, officer's role and just by being in the presence of my Directorate. That active pursuance took me at least 5-7 years after my initiation into Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. No way would I have been able to be at my level right after my crossing--even though I was highly trained to do so--when I first introduced the idea of domestic violence to my college back in 1990...

One has to be trained to be a leader. For Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. the directorate is going to force leadership development on chapters... It will lack prettiness when chapters are asked to do so. My graduate chapter is filled with leaders. So I have numerous sorors to emulate.

However, sometimes, we all just don't get along, just like in church. And I have seen sorors disenfranchised and leave, never to be seen again. I am currently MIA in my chapter and my chapter is sponsoring my Regional Conference in a week! My love has not changed for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. There are many reasons for my MIA-ness. One main reason is, I'm relocating to another state at the end of May. Another is, dammit, I have SERVED my terms!!! Let some fresh blood take over the reins!!! What the hell ARE we having INTAKE for??? Just 'cuz girls wanna wear the PINK and GREEN??? So what if alla dem don't work as hard as I did. I'm not the Basileus or the MIP chair and my responsibilities to God and myself are just as important...

My view is, because I have obtained a basic working knowledge of chapter operations within my chapter, I can take my knowledge and apply that to ANY chapter if I watch their "culture". My feeling is, I am a devout believer that Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. perpetuity has strength and endurance and she will be there for me when I renew and reclaim my commitment to her. That is my humble opinion, on all degrees, especially when I know my "heart is loyal and my heart is true" for "things that are worthwhile"...

[Happydaysf91]

I would hope so...... Just as I grow and mature in life, I'm growing and learning each and everyday in the sorority. As I join different committees, hold different offices and/or etc....I grow and understand our unique, wonderful organization and its purpose!But like many have stated, in order to grow...the individual must decide that they want to 'grow'.

I urge all undergrads to cross that bridge into a graduate chapter ASAP after graduation. Get involved and be like an 'ivy'!