Utopia: My world My Way

I will describe my perfect world from the perspective of the point of life that am currently at. The perfect world to me would be one where people just want to help one another. Every student would not be a genius and would not receive good grades but all fellow students would want to see them do well, so they would offer they're help at any and all times. There would still be people who did not have much money but no one would ever go without food or home because as fellow humans we wouldn't allow that to happen. Everyone would have a helping spirit and would always want to see others succeed. There would still be competition such as sports but it wouldn't not caryy into the functioning of everyday life. A game would be just that and the competition would not consume one's life. Human nature would make it so that we would be able to share rather than battle so that only one side can have something. There would be less crime because with everyone helping each other there would be less motives for people to kill and still. There would be very few criminals who would only be in existence to serve as examples for wat not to be. People would sometimes make mistakes. That will always be apart of their nature but they will always hold themselves accountable and will also hold others accountable as well.

Sororities and Fraternities would play a huge role in this world. Members would have to show a great deal of candor and must display an outstanding desire to serve. Fraternal orgaizations would still maintain their exclusiveness because interests will have to display all of the fraternal values before being initiated into the organization. Joining a fraternal organization would be an ultimate goal of everyone. Having the Greek letters would be a reward for being an honorable person. Every fraternal member would take pride in their organization. These organizations would be encouragement for non-members to live better.

The basis of life in my perfect world would be helping others and diplaying the greatest amount of integrity that one can uphold.

Strengths and Weaknesses of my Chapter, Council and Community

It is always a great idea to take a step back and reflect on your organization and how it is progressing. If there is any improvement to be made you have to first identify what needs to be changed. Here are some strengths and weaknesses of my chapter, council and community.

The eXquisite Xi Gamma Chapter of ZETA PHI BETA SORORITY, INNNNNNNCORPORATED:
Weaknesses-
*As a chapter we do NOT know how to say no. We often over program in one week. We are asked to do collaborations quite often and even if we have something personal going on we always say yes. It is great that people like to work with us but we need to recognize that sometimes it is ok to say NO.
*There are times when I feel that my chapter members over extend themselves rather than delegating tasks and getting help. We all have a SuperWoman mentality (and I am very guilty of this). It is always seems easier to do something yourself and get the task completed but sometimes you need help. *Side Note* We are SuperWomen NOT SuperZetas! Difference is that we had this drive and will to succeed on our own without these letters and though some of us may be mistaken as SuperZetas due to the fact that we do wear these letters we were just as great before crossing.

Strengths-
*We are a very approachable chapter. We always here from Greeks and Non-Greeks alone about how easy it is to talk to us. People feel that they are able to be themselves and still engage in conversation with us. This is one of the main reasons why I joined this organization. We dont give off an elitist vibe.
*Another GREAT thing about my AWSOME chapter is they we are very open and honest with one another. As sisters we find it very important to keep trust in one another. We answer each others questions honestly and we hold one another accountable for our actions. We know that what one of us does reflects all of us and we make sure that we represent each other well and when one doesnt do so we call her out on it and help her make the appropriate changes.
*We find it very important to share things with one another. If one of us come accross a job or internship we send it to those who are interested and those who it applies to.

NPHC:
Weakness-
*As a council we do not get involved and engaged in council or cross council wide events. We focus more on our individual chapters than the council. We as a whole need to put more work into NPHC.
* We as a council need to raise our grades.
*Low member attendance to meetings.
*We need fund raising opportunities other than the Step Show
Strengths-
*Our members would love to see us improve.
*We are working on a scholarship task force.
*Our executive board is strong and has a desire to reach out to other councils
*We have a unified exec board who are working to increase unity amongst member chapters

Community:
Weakness-
*As a community we tend to focus on the negative and never display the good things that take place.
*On that same note we tend to encourage and instigate the negative things.
*We tend to dwell on negative events that have taken place rather than just letting them go and moving on.

Strengths-
*We keep Greek life going. Without membership intake and the constant interest in Greek life we wouldnt have sororities and fraternities.
*The community is the pulse of Greek Life
*School spirit brings us all together

The Fraternal Movement: The Gift and the Curse

Fraternalism is a gift and a curse. Our purpose is for the betterment of individuals and their surrounding communities. We are to serve and live by high standards and encourage others to do so as well. We are to provide opportunities for ourselves and others. Our actions often prohibit our opportunities from being carried out. Though nothing in life is ever truely perfect, there are some things within the fraternal movement that need to be changed so that we may come as close to perfect as possible.
Our Dilemma:

• We are supposed to uplift all people but we often bring them down. This is very evident when membership intake comes into play. People often get turned down for physical reasons when they could be an asset to Greek life. We tend to set these high standards that most of us don't even uphold ourselves.
• We often engage in activities that are not of our values. Becoming Greek did not change the fact that we are human but we must always understand that we chose these letters and with the letters came the responsibility of us being honorable citizens. We cannot expect people to take our letters and values serious if we don't take them serious ourself.
• The general body does not take serious. This goes with the previous point.

The Opportunites of the GREAT FRATERNAL MOVEMENT:

• We have a large population. There is power in numbers and if we all stand on a united front as Greeks alike, we will be able to CONQUER THE WORLD (I know that's a bit extreme but hey, why limit oursleves)
• The BLUEprint of this movement was already set by our founders. All we have to do is carry it out.
• For the most part we seem to have the desire we just need to act on it.

As Greeks I feel that we a lot going for us. There will always be some type of criticism for everything. We have the power to make a change. We shall use the constructive criticism and take all others with a grain of salt.

OATHING Around....

In previous blogs I have mentioned that values are only words until they are put into action and carried out into everyday life. One of the first steps to carrying out these values is stating what the values are and becoming well aware of them and making an OATH or promise to uphold them throughout life. An OATH is not only a formal promise to others, but it is more importantly a promise to YOURSELF. When you dont live what you have committed to live in your OATH you are tarnishing your character. A lot can be said about a person who is able to WALK THE TALK. I believe that integrity is one of the most admirable qualities for a person to have. It is easy for anyone to say that they will live by certain rules and do certain things but it takes a mature adult to actually do so.
I remind my sorors of the concept of an OATH quite often. There were many oaths and promises we made when we became members. Our OATH was a verbal version of us signing our organizations contract. It is part of our OATH to live out our values and to hold each other accountable for doing so.
I have been making OATHs for most of my life. As a chlid I was a member of Girl Scouts. We had what was called the "Girl Scout Promise". It went as so: "On my honor I will try to serve God and my country, to help people at all times and to live by the Girl Scout Law(see clip below)". (AWWWW I still remember it. Ha I sometimes find myself saying it. Man this really brings back many great memories. I think it says a lot that I can still recite that and not only that but that I recite it often.). Though I have not been an active member in Girl Scouts since the end of my junior year in high school, I find it very important to still live by this promise that I have made (and would recite at our weekly meetings that I miss dearly) on my honor.
There are some things that I will always be : Evelyn Ward, a Zeta and a Girl Scout. Every OATH that I have made through these associations should be upheld throughout the remainder of my life.





*Side note: I am now in a state of nostalgia. Girl Scouts was a huge part of my life. It was and will always be what Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. is for me today. I feel that the values that I uphold now were instilled in me early through my membershp in this wonderful organization. I still have friends today that I met through Girl Scouts and memories that will last forever. One of my most favorite parts of Girl Scouts were the songs that we would sing. I will close out with one of my favorite songs "Make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other's gold...." (see clip below).....

my SECRET thoughts on ritual...

I would first like to make the disclaimer that if I have any thoughts that I feel are so sacred that I need to keep them SECRET they will remain as so. I have no problem speaking my mind but what ever I feel should be private will stay that way. So with that said I would like to reword the question of this blog to "What are your thoughts on SECRET ritual?" rather than " What are your SECRET thoughts on ritual?"

Now, I will start by expressing what I feel a SECRET ritual is. A SECRET ritual is one that you share only with your organization. Only members of your organization should know and take part in these things. It is a way to bond with one another and it is something that you all know makes your organization different from others. They are practices that you all not only memorize but LIVE, LEARN and UNDERSTAND. These SECRET rituals do become a way of life. You and members of your organization know what they are and should hold you accountable for upholding these rituals.
There are rituals that organizations have that are not SECRET. These things include upholding your personal and organizations values. As a member of the NPHC I feel that we do a great job of educating the public on what our values are. Now whether or not we do a good job of upholding these values is a whole other topic. We should all hold ourselves and each other accountable for upholding these values set up by our founders.

Our SECRET rituals only become a problem when they go against our values and public rituals. I hold my SECRET rituals near and dear to my heart but if they were to ever go against Scholarship, Service, Sisterly Love and Finer Womanhood, they are no longer sacred and just SECRET. It is very important to me to carry out the goals of my founders and to carry out my personal goals while never letting go of my values.

Another problem arises when a non-member tells me or someone else that our SECRET rituals are inteferring or going against our values and all our rituals should be laid out for everyone to see (and yes this has been said to me). I would first like to say that if my SECRET rituals are truly SECRET then a non-member does not know what they truely are and cannot judge whether or not they go against my values or not. I strongly feel that everything about your organization should NOT be laid out for everyone to see. There are always incentives to joining an organization and learning our secrets is one of them.

Having secrets does NOT mean that you are being SECRETIVE. There is a huge difference. SECRETIVE, implies that you are keeping something away from people in a sneaky manner to hide something. I can speak on my chapters behalf by saying Xi Gamma has nothing to hide. There are always the fun a friendly secrets like who may be the newest members of your organization or even if you will be having new members any time soon. This just adds to the thrill and excitement of revealing the new memebers. Its like when you go to get your hair done you dont want anyone to see you until you are fully polished and complete. That is how joining NPHC organizations are. You dont want anyone to know that you are joining an organization and not be able to tell them anything about it. Joining these organizations is a lifelong committment and therefore you should devote the time needed to learn about them because you cannot live out rituals and values that you do not know.

*As another dislaimer I would like to say that I am not making any excuses for Hazing because well Hazing is Hazing and Rituals are Rituals. They are cut from a different cloth and there are different intentions behind them.

So in a nut shell I feel that there is nothing wrong with SECRET rituals. I love mine and I live mine everyday.

It's Gone, Gone...All Gone!!!

Hey! This song was on my heart so I thought I'd share it!!!! Enjoy!

Are You Listening?