Citizenship

I always thought of community service when I heard the word citizenship.  Working at a soup kitchen, picking up trash, cleaning up a park or singing carols at a nursing home were always the staples of citizenship for me.  I now recognize that citizenship is not just actively doing something to better the community, but it also includes simply being aware of what is happening in the community.  In the world of my chapter, I can be a more effective citizen by reading our magazine, To Dragma, and by contributing pictures or an article to the magazine.  In the world of the Greek community, I can be a better citizen by participating in other chapters' events and attending PHA and presidents' meetings.  In the world of OSU, I can be a better citizen by helping a sister with her campaign in USG.

I think members of my chapter consider citizenship to be direct service to the community, whether the community be the chapter, our national fraternity, PHA, Greek life, or OSU.  Most often, we consider helping at the animal shelter, walking in a 5K for Arthritis or raising money for Buckeyethon to be examples of citizenship, but we fail to see being a leader as citizenship.  Serving on an executive board is an example of citizenship because it allows you to be educated about the chapter or council.  You are also giving your time and services to better the community.  Citizenship does not have to be a direct service involving physical labor.  Instead, it can appear in creative ways.