Friday, October 14, 2016

Why Pledge? (PART I)


Pledging a Greek Letter Organization was one of the best decisions I ever made. Some may ask me why? What is "so special" about becoming a member of one of the Divine Nine? Well first off, although I am a member of the Divine Nine, I must also note (as I have done before) that I am a member of other Greek Letter Organizations. Several of them mind you. So here are a few reasons why I enjoy being a member.

1. The bond that I have between my line sisters. When I first met my line sisters I didn't know them. NONE of them. We were all strangers put together, with different backgrounds, majoring in various subjects in college,  but we all had one common goal. To become members of the same sorority. It was scary at first. Well at least for me it was scary.  I am also VERY cautious of who I allow in my personal space. I didn't know these women from Eve, yet I knew that was about to change. I realized after being chosen that I had to let my guard down for me to get to know these women. We grew to not only know each other but respect and LOVE each other. It was beautiful. The experience that I had with these women, I would NEVER trade for anything else. They had my back, they dried my tears, held me down, encouraged me, and they were, and still are my support system.

2. The bond that I had with other Greeks. When you become a member of an organization, it's more than just the "Three" Letter across your chest. You now have this AMAZING Divine 9 community to bond with.  The love you are shown from the Greek community is fantastic! We support each other including going to each other events, participating in community service projects together, going on road trips as well as bonding together.

3. Becoming a member allowed me to have Leadership opportunities. I  have held various offices with my sorority including President, Vice President, Chaplain, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, and Chapter Photographer. It was a joy working with other members in the chapter. These qualities have helped me after college, in my career, and different facets of my life.

4. Shopping! Okay, so this is like a shallow answer, but hey, I can't talk about being a member of a BGLO and not talk about Paraphernalia! As a young girl, there was this cute little Store in Evergreen Plaza (Chicago, on 95th and Western) and my mom would shop at one of her favorite stores called "Montgomery Ward." Right across from Montgomery Ward there was a these cute Black Store that sold Greek Items. While my mom would shop in MW, I ask her if I could go across the aisle to the store. They had the CUTEST things in there — elephants, Plaques, Shirts, Jewelry, Books, Artwork, etc. When I FINALLY crossed, my oldest sister bought me an elephant from that store. The reason why I TREASURE that elephant so much is for two reasons. ONE because my sister purchased it for me, and two that store no longer exist (Evergreen also doesn't exist anymore), and it brings back so many memories of when I would go to the store and daydream about purchasing items from there.  Since crossing, I have bought SO much Pari it's ridiculous. LOL! But truth be told all of my treasures have a story behind them, and each story is precious and unique. The story ranges from my first elephant, my first jewelry, my first shirt, etc.

5. Connections! When I first moved to Arizona for school reasons I first became a member at large.  This meant that I was no longer affiliated with a chapter, but I am financial with the National Chapter. After a year I found a chapter and transferred my membership from being a Membership at Large to a member of my local chapter. While I was in the last semester of my graduate degree, another local chapter of my sorority invited me to sing at our Joint Founders Day event. I performed, and a few weeks later a soror from the chapter contacted me to see if I taught music. I thought she was asking because she wanted to know if she wanted me to go to a job fair with her. It turns out, she was a brand new principal with a brand new school opening up in the Valley and wanted me to apply. Nevertheless, I  applied, interview and was given the job. She was a fantastic boss. The only thing we had in common before she hired me was we were sorority sisters. After hearing me sing she contacted me to see if I also taught music. After working for her for a year, we grew very close to the point of traveling to South Korea with each other for a Sorority International Sisterhood event together.

That's all I will list for now. Watch out for Part II!

Ciao for now!


V

10 comments:

  1. I made a comment on another post you created you alumnae membership. I am having a hard time finding information on the local alumnae chapter. The website does not contain any information on public events or membership intake. It's hard to go out and get to know the group if there are no open forums available.

    A few questions if I may:
    1. Do you have to join the grad chapter in the city you live in or could you show interest in a neighboring city?
    2. How soon before membership intake is notice usually given?
    3. If you become familiar with a member could you be invited even if there is not a public membership intake process happening?

    Any help on this matter would be greatly appreciated.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope that this helps:

      1. Most Alumnae Chapters are usually pretty strict on you have to live in the city or county that that Chapter resides in. The Chapter’s website should state their servicing area.
      2. Timing may vary but a RUSH (informational meeting) will be held if a Chapter has voted to have membership intake.
      3. You will have to go through membership intake.

      Your local Alumnae Chapter should have an email address or a Contact Us section on their website. If you don’t know anyone personally then I would submit my information to them via email or their website and state that you are interested in finding out more about their programs and what they are doing in the community & that way you can be put on their distribution list.

      Delete
  2. I have a question. I was a transfer student. I have attended the school I have transferred to for a year. Do they calculate cumulative gpas with current and past college gpas or the cumulative from the school I am currently attending?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hello, I'm currently untreated interested in Delta Sigma Theta sorority incorporated. I've gone to all of the events they have had and verbally express my intrest to one of the members. She even gave me her number. What do I do with the number? Do I text her and say something or no???. I'm also nervous that they don't like me. My friend who wants to be one, I feel like they like her more than me. I might be overreacting but it's something i can feel. I want to be one so bad, but i don't want to keep showing up and showing intrest if thry don't like me and don't even want me in their organization?

    ReplyDelete
  4. HI Anonymous,

    It's great that you would like to join DST. You may need to revisit numbers 1 and 2 of Vicki's post. Those two paragraphs alone tells you what sisterhood is about. You may feel that they show more interest in your friend but I wouldnt rely on just what you're feeling. Girlfriend you need to be sure of yourself and take some action if you haven't done so by now. If you're not accepted, don't feel dicouraged. Hold your head up and search for other chapters. You will feel that sisterhood chemistry when you've found your chapter. I wish you the best...

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hello,

    I have been doing research on the National Pan-Hellenic Council and came across a little bit about each fraternity. At first, I was on thinking about Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated. I went to their events and I was getting to know the members on my campus. Long story short, I truly did not want to join. What truly caught my interest was Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. I checked to see if there were any chapters in my area, and unfortunately there is not a chapter at my school. I don't want to transfer schools, but I really want an opportunity to possibly join. I personally do not know any members, I am not sure what to do.




    ReplyDelete
  6. Hello,

    I have been doing research on the National Pan-Hellenic Council and came across a little bit about each fraternity. At first, I was on thinking about Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated. I went to their events and I was getting to know the members on my campus. Long story short, I truly did not want to join. What truly caught my interest was Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. I checked to see if there were any chapters in my area, and unfortunately there is not a chapter at my school. I don't want to transfer schools, but I really want an opportunity to possibly join. I personally do not know any members, I am not sure what to do.




    ReplyDelete
  7. Tell me all about joining a fraternity?
    EDM

    ReplyDelete
  8. It can change you as well. The spotlight can change people in positive and negative ways.

    ReplyDelete