Sponsorship/Letter of Reccomendation

You find out that the chapter at your college/university or the alumnae/alumni chapter has a rush. You are beyond excited, nervous; your adrenaline kicks in on the thought of you fulfilling your dream of becoming a member of XYZ org. You attend Rush with your excitement in tow, trying your best to impress who could soon be your sorority and or fraternity sister/brother.

Then reality sets in. The fee for membership is announced at Rush, and it is a lot more than what you anticipated. You realize you have to have so many hours of RECENT community service. You need a sponsor and don't have one. You have to have a FINANCIAL member write you a letter of recommendation that can speak about your character,  your RECENT community service efforts and why they feel you would be the perfect candidate for membership.

The problem? You do not have the money. You don't have a sponsor. You can't find a financial member to write you a letter of recommendation. You realize that you are either lacking in the community service hours, or the service hours you do indeed have has been from years prior. So what do you do? Well, it appears you didn't prepare yourself for membership. Real Talk! When I found out I wanted to be a member of Delta Sigma Theta (14 years old btw), I did my research. I  have spoken to members. I was able to establish various relationships with Deltas. I also attended multiple events. The internet wasn't as popping as it now, and the only website that was available at the time was the DeltaNet founded by Sorority Sister Bonita Jackson (BeeJae, RIP Soror). I loved that website. It was filled with a wealth of Delta information. Her popular blog post entitled "So you think you want to be Delta" was VERY popular and appeared on many College and Alumnae websites. She is the reason why I decided to create this blog. Her website helped me SO much, and I wanted to pay it forward to all prospective BGLO members.

Although it wasn't publicly known HOW much it would cost, I worked my tail off during Summer months while I was in college to save at least $1100 for the initiation fee.  (It cost nowhere near that much, thank GOD)! I kept my community service hours current, and I stayed in touch with the people that was in charge of my volunteer service so I could use them as a reference. I was hoping to use my ex's sister to gain a letter of rec. from her since she is a Delta (unfortunately, that fell through) I was blessed enough to have two other Delta on standby who were willing to write me a letter. (Thank Goodness) I guess my point is, I was prepared. I was ready. I just needed for the members to take a chance on me. Thankfully they did. The competition was fierce at my University. EVERYONE wanted to be a Delta, so to be quite honest, even after putting my best foot forward, I wasn't expecting to be chosen during the first try. I was wrong. They extended an invitation to me. I was blessed enough to have received the necessary votes for me to start the process of becoming a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.

If you don't have the $, the sponsorship, or someone to write your letter, all is not lost. You need to take this time to work, work, work! Work on saving that money. Work on establishing meaningful relationships with members of the org you so desire to become a member of. My RD gave me the BEST advice. She stated that if someone asks you to write a letter of recommendation are you willing to PAY for their initiation dues? (Hint, membership in all of these orgs are NOT CHEAP). If so, write them a bomb rec. If not, then keep it moving.  I have had a quite few young ladies in applying for membership at both the College level and at the Alumnae chapter ask me for a letter of recommendation.  How many have I written? ONE! I am very particular on writing letters, and if I haven't worked with you, (and recently) and cannot honestly speak on how you can be an asset to the organization from my personal experience, then I will not be writing a letter. Some of the women I haven't heard from in a while. So the first time I hear from them was to ask for a letter of recommendation? Sorry sweetheart but Issa no. If you know me personally, you know that I am a HARD working Delta. I am very active with my chapter, so I will only be writing letters for people that I feel will work hard for the organization as well.

When people say no, don't take it personally. Just realize that you need to ask someone that you feel comfortable with, that can speak to your character, work ethic and knows you personally. This is vital. We (and by we I mean ALL members of BGLOS) have enough T-shirt wearers in our Orgs and don't need any new ones. A T-Shirt wearer is a person that wants to be a member of XYZ org, goes through the process, only to be never seen again. But trust and believe they will make random appearances at Greek Parties or will give a shout out twice a year on Social Media. (The time they crossed as well as their Founders Day). They are either only active/financial while they are in college, and never pays another DUE after graduating from college, or goes through the process as an alum member, and disappears. As I have always stated, LIFE happens. (It did for me during my first few years of getting married, and although I was a member at large while making my monthly Diamond Life Payments, I was not affiliated with an actual chapter).

I tell people all the time, membership in these organizations requires Sisterhood/Brotherhood, MONEY, TIME, and EFFORT! Without them, these orgs would not exist. Just giving you all a food for thought as Rush season is upon us. Good luck all of you, and for those of you that are currently going through the process.

J13 VS. J15 – HOW TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AKAS AND DELTAS

I came across this article this weekend, and I found it hilarious! I have a ton of AKA

 friends and they also found it funny as well. ENJOY!!!! 

J13 VS. J15 – HOW TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AKAS 

AND DELTAS

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While no group of people is a monolith, and we do not wish to stereotype the hundreds of thousands of women in these organizations, we thought we would give you a primer on how to distinguish your friends who pledged…

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Not only is it the launch day of NegusWhoRead, but two of the most illustrious and noted organizations in the world also celebrate more than one hundred years of service this week.

Although every human being is unique, there are distinct characteristics that many members of sororities or fraternities share among the members of their respective organizations. 
While no group of people is a monolith, and we do not wish to stereotype the hundreds
 of thousands of women in these organizations, we thought we would give you a primer 
on how to distinguish your friends who pledged Alpha Kappa Alpha from those who are sisters of Delta Sigma Theta.

1. AKAs always remind you that they were first.Deltas always remind you that most great creations had a first draft.
2. The Delta was the president of the Black Student Council, Pan-Hell, the Student Government Association and The Sisterhood of Feminists.The AKA was on the dance team, the school welcoming committee, and planned the annual fashion show for the Black Student Council, Pan-Hell and the Student Government Association. When she approached the Sisterhood of Feminists about a fashion show fundraiser, they refused to take part in an activity that objectifies women’s bodies, even though they all walked the runway in the Black Student Council’s fashion show.
3. Both went natural, but:
   The AKA gets hers blown out and straightened every week, although for special occasions she will get a shoulder-length sew-in, but only if the hairdresser uses Remy #9 hair.
4. The Delta grew dreadlocks.
5. The AKA dated the star of the Basketball team.
   The Delta tutored the star of the Basketball team — until she got tired of him trying to holla at her during every study session–even though she kept reminding him that his AKA girlfriend was her bestie.
6. When when you go out for drinks, the AKA will order a fruity drink with so much sugar so she can’t taste the alcohol.
7. The Delta will be taking shots.
8. The AKA has a set of nice earrings with emeralds and pink diamonds that perfectly match an embroidered AKA sweater she bought at nationals.The Delta has 2,934 t-shirts, 563 hoodies, and 114 red dresses that match her fortitude necklace, her elephant charm bracelet, pyramid ring, DST watch and Delta shoulder tattoo…But she needs some more paraphernalia.
9. Even when there are no other AKAs present in the room, an AKA will still represent with a “skee-wee” if called upon.
   There is no such thing as one Delta in a room.
10. If you date a Delta, you will always be a half hour late because you had to wait for her to get ready so she can look perfect.
    If you date an AKA, you will always be a half hour late because you have to change clothes. You know she’s not going anywhere with you looking like that.
11. AKA’s pronounce it “soar-roarrr.”Deltas pronounce it “saw-rah”
12. Your sweet third-grade teacher was an AKA who always made you feel smart, beautiful and special… Except for that one time you acted up in class and she sent you to the principal’s office and the principal called your mama. When your mama came to the school you could swear that sweet lady was about to cry.That principal was a Delta.
13. The AKA is a third generation legacy. Her mom was an AKA. Her grandmother was an AKA. Her great grandmother was an AKA.The Delta is a third generation legacy. Her mom was gonna be a Delta but she didn’t have the grades. Her grandmother was gonna be a Delta but she didn’t go to college. She doesn’t even know if her great grandmother wanted to be in a sorority. All she knows is that during her freshman year in college, just before her great-nana died, she whispered in her ear:“Don’t you pledge no damn AKA.”
14. AKAs collect frogs.
    Deltas don’t actually collect elephants. It’s just that whenever a Delta has a birthday, anniversary, graduation or her auntie goes to a flea market — everyone buys her an elephant.

So there you have it. Take this information with a grain of salt, and AS A JOKE. 
Happy 108th Birthday to the women of Alpha Kappa Alpha.

And a happy 103 years of sisterhood and service to the women of Delta Sigma Theta.

Roo.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michael Harriot

Michael Harriot is a renowned spoken word poet, the host of The Black One podcast and the editor-in-chief of NegusWhoRead. He is perpetually just getting warmed up because he has no chill.

 J13 vs. J15 – How to Tell the Difference between AKAs and Deltas

A Little Greek Humor!

I love how we can make fun of each other every now and then. I found these videos hilarious! Enjoy!!!


PS: I can't wait to see the video he makes for Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.

{Different Types Of Akas}
Happy Founders Day To The Beautiful Women of Alpha Kappa Alpha {Different Types Of Akas} Dukk2
Posted by Dre Dukk Corder on Thursday, 14 January 2016

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.

Different Types Of Deltas
Happy Founders Day Delta Sigma Theta { Different Types Of Deltas } Dukk2
Posted by Dre Dukk Corder on Tuesday, 12 January 2016

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc.

{Different Types OF Zetas}
Happy Founders Day To The Beautiful Women OF ZETA PHI BETA {Different Types OF Zetas} Love You Girls :) Every body Got it so just enjoy and laugh :) k ? k :) Dukk2
Posted by Dre Dukk Corder on Friday, 15 January 2016