Gamma Gamma Chi Sorority, Inc. online newsletter

April 3 has a special meaning to the sorors of Gamma Gamma Chi Sorority, Inc., as it is the anniversary of the founding of GGChi, the first Islamic-based sorority.

Now three years old, the sorority has six chapters serving eight states: Alpha Chapter is located in the Atlanta metro area. Beta Chapter serves sorors in the Washington, DC metro area (including northern Virginia and southern Maryland). Gamma Chapter's members reside in the Greensboro Triad. Delta Chapter is located in the Chicago metro area. Epsilon Chapter serves members residing in the Philadelphia metro area (including southern New Jersey).

Prospective members have been accepted for the probationary period that will establish Zeta Chapter, which will be comprised of sorors in the Indianapolis metro area, and a Gold Presentation has been set for June for residents in the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti (Michigan) metro area, with additional presentations planned for the summer months as well.

When we co-founded our sorority, we created a vision statement that said that by 2015, we will have chapters in every US region and in several international countries, insha'Allah. If we continue to move according to our strategic plan, we will achieve that vision.

Our interest, however, is on quality rather than quantity. For that reason, we have been very deliberate in establishing chapters. Our goal has been to select prospective members who will come into the sorority and help us to grow. In doing so, they grow as individuals as well.

With the benefit of three years of real-life experience, we now know that our initial statement that "Gamma is not for everyone, and everyone is not for Gamma" means so much more than we initially thought. We inducted some members who came into the sorority with unrealistic expectations. As a result, they became disillusioned and disenchanted.

During each probationary period, we spend a good deal of time reinforcing the fact that all would be integral parts of shaping and building this organization, and everyone's work is needed to turn Gamma into one that is on equal footing with other, established sororities. The opportunity and challenges are to create traditions, policies, and procedures that will enable us to endure the test of time.

Some of the inducted members are better able to grasp that premise than others. If policies and procedures did not exist, they make recommendations that fill needs, which the Board acts upon. When activities are not in line with their interests, they make suggestions on activities that will be meaningful and that can become traditions. When sorors are having difficulty meeting financial responsibilities to the sorority, sorors pitch in and help. When fundraising is needed to enable us to meet goals and objectives, they step forward either with their own funds or with funds that they raise from others. If they don't see diversity in our membership, they go out and attempt to recruit members that reflect the diversity that exists in Islam, which is one of our goals. Above all, the sorors who have held steadfast to their commitments to the sorority know that this will take time and effort.

All of these things are done for the love of Gamma. This is what is needed for our sorority. This is what sisterhood is all about. Sisterhood doesn't rain down on us; we establish the bonds of sisterhood through our efforts and ongoing relations with each other over time.

In a very few cases, some sorors have chosen to drop out rather than be a part of the solution. We believe that Allah is the best of planners and that they were not for us, nor were we for them at this time. Except for the two who permanently severed ties with Gamma, we continue to count them as sisters in our twofold sisterhood, and we hope that they will return when the time is right-perhaps after the hard work has been done by the most dedicated of sorors so that they can enjoy the benefits of our labor and live out their dreams of having a sorority experience.

Our continuing members are a delight. Without them we would not have the sorority. They remind us that our notion of establishing a national sorority was an idea whose time has come. Though they have been sometimes frustrated by the volume of work that needs to be done, our dedicated sorors have been gratified by having a group of true sisters in every sense of the word. Those who have blood sisters know that times are sometimes good, and sometimes bad; however, as Muslims we know that we cannot cut ourselves off from our families. The same is true of our sisterhood in Gamma. Though we may deal with human issues on a human level, we do not cut ourselves off from our sorors or our sorority beyond the allowed time.

By the grace and mercy of Allah, we are have a group of dedicated sorors who do not stop working for Gamma because some elements are missing. They are inspired by these gaps and see a part of their Islamic duties as building an Islamic organization that puts Islam in a good light. This group of committed sorors gets tired, overburdened with family, work, Gamma responsibilities and their own goals; however, all continue to build this sorority for ourselves, our daughters, our communities in which we live, all for the pleasure of Allah (SWT).

________________________________________________________________

Visit our website
Gamma Gamma Chi Sorority, Inc.
P O Box 15283
Alexandria, VA 22309
571.257.6732

Newsletter provided compliments of


		April 2008 Online Newsletter
				Co-founders Imani Canty and Dr. Althia F. Ali
				As salamu alaikum- April 3 has a special meaning to the sorors of Gamma Gamma Chi Sorority, Inc., as it is the anniversary of the founding of GGChi, the first Islamic-based sorority. Now three years old, the sorority has six chapters serving eight states: Alpha Chapter is located in the Atlanta metro area. Beta Chapter serves sorors in the Washington, DC metro area (including northern Virginia and southern Maryland). Gamma Chapter's members reside in the Greensboro Triad. Delta Chapter is located in the Chicago metro area. Epsilon Chapter serves members residing in the Philadelphia metro area (including southern New Jersey). Prospective members have been accepted for the probationary period that will establish Zeta Chapter, which will be comprised of sorors in the Indianapolis metro area, and a Gold Presentation has been set for June for residents in the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti (Michigan) metro area, with additional presentations planned for the summer months as well. When we co-founded our sorority, we created a vision statement that said that by 2015, we will have chapters in every US region and in several international countries, insha'Allah. If we continue to move according to our strategic plan, we will achieve that vision. Our interest, however, is on quality rather than quantity. For that reason, we have been very deliberate in establishing chapters. Our goal has been to select prospective members who will come into the sorority and help us to grow. In doing so, they grow as individuals as well. With the benefit of three years of real-life experience, we now know that our initial statement that "Gamma is not for everyone, and everyone is not for Gamma" means so much more than we initially thought. We inducted some members who came into the sorority with unrealistic expectations. As a result, they became disillusioned and disenchanted. During each probationary period, we spend a good deal of time reinforcing the fact that all would be integral parts of shaping and building this organization, and everyone's work is needed to turn Gamma into one that is on equal footing with other, established sororities. The opportunity and challenges are to create traditions, policies, and procedures that will enable us to endure the test of time. Some of the inducted members are better able to grasp that premise than others. If policies and procedures did not exist, they make recommendations that fill needs, which the Board acts upon. When activities are not in line with their interests, they make suggestions on activities that will be meaningful and that can become traditions. When sorors are having difficulty meeting financial responsibilities to the sorority, sorors pitch in and help. When fundraising is needed to enable us to meet goals and objectives, they step forward either with their own funds or with funds that they raise from others. If they don't see diversity in our membership, they go out and attempt to recruit members that reflect the diversity that exists in Islam, which is one of our goals. Above all, the sorors who have held steadfast to their commitments to the sorority know that this will take time and effort. All of these things are done for the love of Gamma. This is what is needed for our sorority. This is what sisterhood is all about. Sisterhood doesn't rain down on us; we establish the bonds of sisterhood through our efforts and ongoing relations with each other over time. In a very few cases, some sorors have chosen to drop out rather than be a part of the solution. We believe that Allah is the best of planners and that they were not for us, nor were we for them at this time. Except for the two who permanently severed ties with Gamma, we continue to count them as sisters in our twofold sisterhood, and we hope that they will return when the time is right-perhaps after the hard work has been done by the most dedicated of sorors so that they can enjoy the benefits of our labor and live out their dreams of having a sorority experience. Our continuing members are a delight. Without them we would not have the sorority. They remind us that our notion of establishing a national sorority was an idea whose time has come. Though they have been sometimes frustrated by the volume of work that needs to be done, our dedicated sorors have been gratified by having a group of true sisters in every sense of the word. Those who have blood sisters know that times are sometimes good, and sometimes bad; however, as Muslims we know that we cannot cut ourselves off from our families. The same is true of our sisterhood in Gamma. Though we may deal with human issues on a human level, we do not cut ourselves off from our sorors or our sorority beyond the allowed time. By the grace and mercy of Allah, we are have a group of dedicated sorors who do not stop working for Gamma because some elements are missing. They are inspired by these gaps and see a part of their Islamic duties as building an Islamic organization that puts Islam in a good light. This group of committed sorors gets tired, overburdened with family, work, Gamma responsibilities and their own goals; however, all continue to build this sorority for ourselves, our daughters, our communities in which we live, all for the pleasure of Allah (SWT). ________________________________________________________________ Visit our website Gamma Gamma Chi Sorority, Inc. P O Box 15283 Alexandria, VA 22309 571.257.6732 Newsletter provided compliments of