I read something about XXX in a post someplace else. It doesn't strike me as meaning XXX in the search engine sense: not that I would know anything about that sort of thing, you understand. You're in VA. I'm from Alexandria. T.C. Williams, class of 73, a Titan. I came over from Hammond, just like in the movie, in 71. We had fraternities at Hammond that had been there since the 40s. Kappa Psi Kappa had their own house in Seminary Valley.

No not absolutely. There was a local on my campus that associated with a national fraternity but continued to wear it's local letters and never wore the national letters.

Later the group split from the national.

Locals going National
 

We're in the same boat, actually. We started Epsilon Tau Pi, a fraternity of Eagle Scouts, at the University of Dayton in 1999. Since then, we have a colony at Ohio State and inquiries from other schools. When we explored the possibility of going national, we decided to form an alumni advisory board to oversee the expansion. The biggest challenge is to make sure that the core ideals and principles that caused your brother/sisterhood to form can be translated accurately from school to school. Having a national fraternity of any sort is worthless unless each and every member knows that, no matter where he was initiated, he went through the same experience as every other member.

Whatever process you do choose, it must be in writing. We used the Alpha Chapter to lay out a framework for Beta and future chapters, so that they had ready-made bylaws, scripts, materials for training, etc... and their job was simply getting to the business of operating a chapter. Alumni are also excellent resources.

Good luck, I know it's tough, but the rewards are worth it.

We were formed specifically for the purpose of having a NPC sorority colonize us. Nothing else much than that :)

Expansion
 

I'm glad you got that opportunity. Our situation has been quite different. We formed earlier this year and our campus has refused to acknowledge us. As a matter of fact they told us we need to form a chapter a chapter at another campus before they will do so. Never mind the fact that our members wrote the constitution and organized what is now the Multicultural Greek Coucil on the campus. This occurred when we were members of another sorority that took our money and hazed us. We decided to move on and form our own thing that was positive.

The administration constantly harrass our members and intimidate them by asking them to remove their shirts that display our greek letters. We have made several attempts to meet with them to resolve these issues but they refuse to. We really need some support and advice, we are a cultural group and an awesome group of girls. The relentless attacks becomes very difficult to bear at times.

Re: Expansion
 

Don't try to set up a sorority or fraternity. See if there are rules that govern the establishment of clubs or professional organizations (or service clubs, for that matter), and follow those. Many such clubs have national organizations with chapters on campus - being recognized as such shouldn't preclude your future expansion. When Epsilon Tau Pi formed, we were recognized not as a fraternity (which we most certainly were), but as an honor society for Eagle Scouts. Thus, we were not bound to the IFC system or the Greek Rush regulations, and could do our own thing. Talk to groups like Key Club, Habitat for Humanity, or French Club and see how they organized - then proceed as if you were a club. It might work.



Unless your campus has some sort of dress code, you should be able to wear pretty much what you like - whether it's an on-campus activity or not. Further, if there is actually harassment taking place, there should be some sort of recourse for you and your fellow sisters to take against the offending office or officers. If there is a written university policy for the creaton of extracurricular organizations, dress code, greek life, or harassment, and officials of the university are acting in direct contravention of these policies (particular harassment), then you may have legal recourse as well (though I am not a Lawyer).

We are trying to expand to other campuses. We are trying to get our Beta Chapter off the ground.

If you checked out the thread I started in Up & Coming National GLOs, you probably know the story of how I tried in vain to bring a chapter of my sorority to Arkansas. If not, the link to the thread is below.

http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...threadid=33463

http://burns.thefinaldimension.org/c...tever_anim.gif

dfran, while your usage of the American Language and punctuation are very strong, your understanding of the Greek System is not.

It is very simple:

1. You start a Local to affiliate with a National

2. You start a Local to be either a Local or try to grow to become a National. That is that you have Chapters in and at other Schools and States.

To affiliate with a National, it gives you a stronger Name, Sisterhood, Recognition around the country instead of your own little back yard. AB a Local has maybe 35 Alums, but by affiliation with ABC National, you have 1,000's of Alums from all over the world.:)

We helped a Local Soroity start at PSU, D R. They had an offer to go P M. They said NO, they were happy! Delta Rho lasted 3 years and have been gone for 32. No one remembers them but the maybe 50 ladies that were D R!:(

I started a Local wanting to affiliate with a Major National, but still ahve thoughts of what could I have done to maybe start a new National. It is Very , Very tough in this day and age.

I dont really know what other information you need or want, and if you do not understand what has been given you here, I suggest that you dont even try!:eek:

Re: Expansion
 

Thank you for those gret feedback. We are registered on our campus as a cultural and community service group that takes both greek and non-greek members. Members of this group may elected to pursue membership into our sorority. We conduct sorority business off campus and our organizatiuon is currently city-wide so any college student from any campus in the area my also pursue membership.

The chairman of our community service group was to told by the Greek Advisor that no-one was allowed to wear shirts depicting our sorority letters on campus. She also stated that our community service group discriminates because men were not members. The chairman told her that although the name of our group is 'Ladies For Diversity', men are also welcomed to participate although the purpose is largely for the enhancement of women.

We attend a state university and there are no dress code rules in the university handbook that forbids students from wearing certain types of shirts. As long as the clothing is not vulgar or obscene. You are right, this is a freedom of Speech issue as well. I never thought starting a sorority would become so political. Goodness, this is only college.

going national
 

My sorority was founded in Febuary of this year. We have already received recognition from our Greek Life Office and have done mixers with some of the national fraternities. We, however, are now in the process of going national. We don't know which sorority will fit us best or whether we want to be number 27. But anyone who has advice or anything would be greatly appreciated!! :)

LOY maybe going Nat'l now..teehee..

That would be cool
 

I think it would be great and good for my sisters left on campus if some how they could go national to go for it. If I remember right at one time we tried being national for a few years, but I don't know what happened. I think if they want to try it and do it I will support them either way as I do now. Lambda Omicron Psi and the University of Rio Grande # 1. Make me proud girls!

Re: That would be cool
 

Jen! Yeah, keep this on the down low, but yeah, Chris asked me about it (since my girls and I were in the process of going Nat'l). They had previously tried Theta Phi Alpha, but I don't know what happened, we have an activity sunday, I'll have to ask. :) And yes..we will make you proud..hehe, that is..if we don't continue to be the renegade pledge class..LOL! :D

Hey everyone! This is my first post cause i just found this forum. Anyway, my sorority is a local, Sigma Lambda Epsilon, at Sam Houston State University, in Huntsville, Texas. We are in the process of starting two colonies, hopefully next fall. I am so excited. We tried to merge with a national, but things didn't work out right, so we decided to stay independent, and are now working on getting our 13 colonies so we can become national. Anyway, i'm just excited about that. So if anyone knows any women who are looking to start a sorority, have them PM me.

thanks, have a great thanksgiving break,
stevy

hehe I started this thread in february and have a lil news to add. Our Panhellenic will be voting on December 1st....And i cant wait to hear the outcome! hopefully its all good and finally all of our 411 will be sent to the 23 other NPC sororities



WISH US LUCK!