UPDATE:
I was checking the contents of the token cache in the registry, and it didn't look like that the group in question was listed in there. That group has been in AD for quite a while now, it hasn't been renamed or removed. Does anyone know why it wouldn't be up to date in the token cache?
I went ahead and ran kix32 /f to clear the cache, logged off, and back on, and the group showed up correctly this time.

Is there anything that I may be doing inadvertently that may be causing this behavior? ideas?

btw, OS is Windows XP SP3, Running AD 2003 Server mode on that particular domain. The parent domain (forest root) is currently running in 2000 Native. (sorry, should've mentioned that first thing)
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Network Specialist
Chino Unified School District