Groove Phi Groove
Encyclopedia
Groove Phi Groove is a social fellowship founded at Morgan State College (now known as Morgan State University
) as an alternative to mainstream Black fraternities. It is also the brother organization to Swing Phi Swing.
of pseudo-fraternal organizations. Groove is the first non-Greek organization whose purpose deals in promoting organizational growth and academic awareness
and effective leadership
; and studying and helping to alleviate the social and economic problems of society to generally improve the world.
Groove currently has tens of thousands of members and hundreds of graduate and undergraduate chapters across the United States
. Its members work in a wide variety of career areas, including accounting, education
, engineering
, human resource services, local
and state government
, medicine
, law
, protective services, information technology
, religion
, real estate
, food service, skilled crafts, music
, professional sports, the armed services, and business.
defines the verb “groove” as “to perform deftly or smoothly.” As a noun, “groove” is defined as a “fixed routine in the affairs of life.” Hence, to go against the “groove” means to work against the current establishment, and “grooving” is associated with “socializing or fellowshipping.” These combined definitions form the definiition of Groove Phi Groove.
The Fellowship's National Programs & Projects Manual includes information about the following:
Morgan State University
Morgan State University, formerly Centenary Biblical Institute , Morgan College and Morgan State College , is a historically black college in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Morgan is Maryland's designated public urban university and the largest HBCU in the state of Maryland...
) as an alternative to mainstream Black fraternities. It is also the brother organization to Swing Phi Swing.
History
Groove Phi Groove was founded on October 12, 1962 by a group of young black men who wanted an alternative to the traditionalismTraditionalism
Traditionalism may refer to:*The systematic emphasis on the value of Tradition*Traditionalism *Traditional values, those beliefs, moral codes, and mores that are passed down from generation to generation....
of pseudo-fraternal organizations. Groove is the first non-Greek organization whose purpose deals in promoting organizational growth and academic awareness
and effective leadership
Leadership
Leadership has been described as the “process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task". Other in-depth definitions of leadership have also emerged.-Theories:...
; and studying and helping to alleviate the social and economic problems of society to generally improve the world.
Groove currently has tens of thousands of members and hundreds of graduate and undergraduate chapters across the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Its members work in a wide variety of career areas, including accounting, education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
, engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
, human resource services, local
Local government
Local government refers collectively to administrative authorities over areas that are smaller than a state.The term is used to contrast with offices at nation-state level, which are referred to as the central government, national government, or federal government...
and state government
State government
A state government is the government of a subnational entity in a federal form of government, which shares political power with the federal or national government. A state government may have some level of political autonomy, or be subject to the direct control of the federal government...
, medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
, law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
, protective services, information technology
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
, religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
, real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
, food service, skilled crafts, music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
, professional sports, the armed services, and business.
Founders
These founders are referred to as the "14 Pearls":- Glen Brown
- Raymond Clark
- John Conquest
- Walter Goodwin
- Barry Hampton
- James Hill
- Charles Johnson
- Nathaniel Monroe
- David Nesbit
- Nathaniel Parham
- Harry Payne
- Barry Simms
- Robert Simpson
- Woodrow Williams
Governing structure
The governing structure of the Fellowship consists of- The Conclave
- The National Constitution & Bylaws Manual
- The National Executive Board of Directors
- The National Directorate Staff
- Regional offices
- Local chapters
Groove
During the 1960s, the word “groove” was popular among young blacks. Webster's DictionaryWebster's Dictionary
Webster's Dictionary refers to the line of dictionaries first developed by Noah Webster in the early 19th century, and also to numerous unrelated dictionaries that added Webster's name just to share his prestige. The term is a genericized trademark in the U.S.A...
defines the verb “groove” as “to perform deftly or smoothly.” As a noun, “groove” is defined as a “fixed routine in the affairs of life.” Hence, to go against the “groove” means to work against the current establishment, and “grooving” is associated with “socializing or fellowshipping.” These combined definitions form the definiition of Groove Phi Groove.
Phi
The "Phi" in Groove Phi Groove holds an alternative meaning from the Greek word "Phi." In “Secrets of the Great Pyramids” by Pete Thompkins, the Khemit people of ancient Egypt created “phi” as a symbol of the creative function of the male reproductive system and, more loosely, as “reproduction in endless series,” which is a symbolic representation of “the fire of life.” The Fellowship has incorporated this symbol of fertility into its name to stand for our continual growth and development. The “phi” symbol should not be confused with the Greek one. They look the same but have very different meanings.National Programs
The men of Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship, Inc. actively support and participate in various programs and projects which aim to serve the communities in which we live. Some of these programs and projects focus on black Americans; however, the Fellowship does not discriminate based on race, color, sex, national origin, or physical impairment. Nor do they provide a financial benefit to individual members of the Fellowship, as Groove Phi Groove is a 501(c)(7) not-for-profit entity, and the Groove Fund is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charitable entity.The Fellowship's National Programs & Projects Manual includes information about the following:
- The Groove Fund, Incorporated Scholarship Awards Program
- The Groove Fund, Incorporated Tutorial Program
- The Groove Phi Groove Mentorship Program
- Project Outreach
- Project Missing Children
- Project UNCF
- Project NAACP/Urban League
- The Boy Scouts of America
Notable Members
- Chet GrimsleyChet GrimsleyChet L. Grimsley at Crawford Long Hospital in Atlanta Georgia is notably the first White American Student Athlete from the C.I.A.A. Chet Grimsley pledged, and subsequently became a member of Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship from Johnson C. Smith University , a historically black university . ...
First White American Student Athlete from the C.I.A.A - Junkyard DogJunkyard DogSylvester Ritter was an American professional wrestler and professional football player, best known for his work in Mid-South Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation as The Junkyard Dog...
American professional wrestler and professional football player - Earl "The Pearl" Monroe Former NBA basketball player and Hall of Fame
- Douglas PalmerDouglas PalmerDouglas Harold Palmer was the first African American mayor of Trenton, New Jersey.- Biography :He was born in Trenton and attended Trenton public schools. He then graduated from the Bordentown Military Institute in Bordentown, New Jersey...
Former Mayor of Trenton NJ - Donnie ShellDonnie ShellDonnie Shell is a former American Football strong safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League between 1974 and 1987. Shell was a member of the Steelers famed Steel Curtain defense in the 1970s.Shell retired as the NFL strong safety career leader in interceptions with 51...
Former NFL Pro and Future Hall of Famer - Clarence Davis Former House of Delegates for the state of Maryland
- Richard HuntleyRichard HuntleyRichard Earl Huntley is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League. He played six seasons for the Atlanta Falcons , the Pittsburgh Steelers , the Carolina Panthers , and the Detroit Lions . He played college football at Winston-Salem State University....
Former NFL Football player