I think one huge advantage of allowing groups outside of the D-9, such as LGLOs, into the NPHC is that it would really promote unity amongst diverse cultures. People would not only learn about the culture that their organization focuses on, but they would also gain exposure to other cultures, as well as a valuable network with a diverse group of people. (NPHC already has a great network, but adding orgs that focus on other cultures would diversify this network even further.)

Many LGLOs do have similar principals and goals to the D-9 organizations. HOWEVER, not all LGLOs do--some consider themselves to be "social" organizations rather than "service" organizations. Here are the goals of Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, Inc. so that those reading this thread can see an example of the types of things LGLOs stand for:

Goals
Our organization's most important commitment is providing service to our community and educating all about the many diverse Latino cultures.

Our goals are:

(1) To constantly strive towards increased
awareness of Latino cultures.
(2) To promote sisterhood and leadership amongst
ourselves and others.
(3) To serve as models of excellence in academics and achievements among women.

We encourage all women, whether they are in the Hermandad or not, to promote a diverse cultural and social environment. Our endeavor is to work as sisters united in these common goals; however, we value personal identity and individualism highly.

Through the bonds of sisterhood, we develop leadership, scholarship, sportsmanship and friendship.


I think one reason that many LGLOs would not consider seeking membership into the NPHC is that many (but not all) LGLOs have a membership process that goes beyond the standard "Membership Intake Process", and these organizations would probably not be willing to give up their established process in order to join the NPHC.

Lastly, I think many members of LGLOs probably think of the NPHC as a council for "Black Greeks" that would understand or be able to meet the needs of an organization that focuses on another culture. [This is not my personal feeling, but I know a lot of people that do feel this way].

Anyway, we can talk about the advantages and disadvantages all day, but the truth of the matter is that, at least with LGLOs, almost all of the organizations that have similar goals and principles as the D-9 are not even CLOSE to the required number of chapters or age of chapters. So those opposed to the NPHC expanding outside of current members, fear not, because it probably won't be happening anytime soon. :)

SIAsensacion,

I was thinking about something slightly off topic. What are your feelings about the number of LGO's. Do you think there are too many? Not enough? Do you think that with so many, that at one point in the future there will be a period of merging? A lot of the websites I’ve looked at of these orgs have very similar goals [to each other] if not the same goals. I thought about this because I was looking into the history of NPC and found that a few of their orgs had merged and absorbed other orgs. At one point, there was more than the current 26 orgs.

Greek friends,

Please enlighten a fellow greek and reveal the number of LGOs that are currently around.

Do LGOs have graduate membership? I'm just wondering if they are like the D-9.


Serioussigma22:cool:

Hmmm...I don't know an accurate number but I know there are a lot. I'd say at least 20+. The oldest claims to have been established in 1931(?).

I'm only particularly familiar with Sigma Lambda Gamma and Sigma Lambda Beta and I know they have membership on graduate and honorary levels.

Soror,
Some do, some dont. Based on the info I've gathered, the LGO's (gennerally speaking) are run similar to NPHC's

(from the website)
http://www.nalfo.org/
"NALFO is an umbrella council for Latino Greek Letter Organizations. The purpose of NALFO is to promote and foster positive interfraternal relations, communication, and development of all Latino Fraternal organizations through mutual respect, leadership, honesty, professionalism and education.Established in 1998, NALFO has 24 member organizations from across the United States. We meet bi-annually for Conventions and to conduct Business Meetings."

THere are more than 24 LGO's but these came under organization through NALFO:

Sororities

Alpha Pi Sigma Sorority

Alpha Rho Lambda Sorority, Inc.

Gamma Alpha Omega Sorority, Inc.

Gamma Phi Omega International Sorority, Inc.

Kappa Delta Chi Sorority, Inc.

Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc.

Lambda Theta Nu Sorority, Inc.

Lambda Pi Upsilon Sorority, Latinas Poderosas Unidas, Inc.

Latinas Promoviendo Comunidad/Lambda Pi Chi Sorority, Inc.

Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, Inc.

Sigma Lambda Gamma Sorority, Inc.

Sigma Lambda Upsilon/Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc.

Corazones Unidos Siempre
Chi Upsilon Sigma National Latin Sorority, Inc.

Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.

Fraternities

Alpha Psi Lambda-National, Inc.

Lambda Alpha Upsilon Fraternity, Inc.

Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc.

Lambda Sigma Upsilon Latino Fraternity, Inc.

La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc.

Nu Alpha Kappa Fraternity, Inc.

Sigma Delta Alpha Fraternity, Inc. - Associate Member

Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity, Inc.

Omega Delta Phi Fraternity, Inc.



As far as I can tell, Lambda Theta Alpha Sorority and Lambda Theta Phi Fraternity both founded in 1975, are the oldest LGO orgs. In the book Black Greek101, our NPHC Alpha brother Walter Kimborough has another fraternity listed as being the oldest but I don’t have the book in front of me and can’t remember the name of it. Also, I don't know it said org is still active.

Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity was founded in 1931. They had no undergraduate members when Lambda Theta Phi was established, but they came back in the early 80's. and has been active ever since

PERSONALLY, I consider them the first. Anytime you had Greek letters, documentation establishing yourself as a fraternity, and all your members had "spanish" last names....hey, looks like a Latino fraternity to me. But there is a lot of debate about that for some reason. I've got Phiota friends, and the evidence seems pretty un-disputable to me.

I stand corrected
;) Thanks Senusret

Oh not a correction! More like a blank that's been filled in, that's all. :D


Plus I had some other stuff I have to add, but your PM box was full, so PM me when you clean it out, thanks!

VERY interesting questions NinjaPoodle, questions that I have definitely thought about and formed firm opinions on LONG ago. :D

Disclaimer: The following statements are PERSONAL OPINIONS and do not reflect the opinions or beliefs of any national organization with which I am affiliated.

NP--My feeling on the number of LGLOs is that there are WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY too many. I personally think it is NUTS that there are so many orgs with such a similar focus. And 24 is only considering the orgs that are members of NALFO. If you go to Latinogreeks.com, there are TWENTY NINE SORORITES, THIRTEEN FRATERNITIES, and SIX CO-ED orgs listed. :eek: :eek: :eek:
In my humble opinion, that is just crazy. To me, it seems like every time a Latin college student started thinking about Greek life, they went ahead and founded their own organization rather than researching what was out there and becoming a part of, and even strengthening, an already established foundation. People could say the same thing about SIA because we were founded on the later end of the spectrum (1990, when a lot of the orgs were founded in mid to late 80s), but we have grown to become the third largest sorority (SLG and LTA are larger), and one of the few Latin sororities that is truly national (we have chapters on both coasts as well as mid-west and south).

As for the merging question, I don't know if any LGLOs will ever merge with each other. One similarity between LGLOs and D9 is that we HIGHLY revere all symbols of our orgs--letters, colors, crest, founders, flowers, jewels, "mascots", etc. I REALLY can't see a smaller LGLO, with all the love for the symbols of their org and the meanings behind them, giving all that up to become part of a larger organization. And the larger organizations are DEFINITELY not giving up any of their symbols or adding new symbols in order to absorb smaller orgs. On top of this, most LGLOs have a unique membership process which is very important to the org. Most of the larger orgs would not want to let people in that had not gone through the same process, which would basically mean that members of the smaller orgs, who may have already gone through one membership process, would have to go through a second (and my guess is that most would not be willing to do that). So these are the reasons that I do not see mergers happening at this point. Maybe it could have worked if we had all these orgs around 70-90 years ago, but at this point I really doubt it.

What I do think will happen for many of the LGLOs is one of two things: 1) dying out 2) never expanding beyond the region where the org was founded and, essentially, remaining a "local" (many of the LGLOs consider themselves "national", but do not have chapters outside of one or two specific regions). I think in the end, a select few number of the LGLOs will come into the forefront as the large, national fraternities and sororities, while the rest fade out or remain strong on a local level. I definitely think in the end that there will be a larger number of large sororities and a VERY small number of large fraternities (this is already pretty much the case). I already have my theories of which orgs will last and which will fade off into the sunset, but this opinion I will keep to myself. ;)

Anyways, thanks for asking interesting questions and reading my EXTRA long response. :)

Thanks for your honest opinion. :) I find the topic vey interesting and intriguing.

This is a very interesting topic. Quick question, do you all even think its possible to have a 100 chapters in 15 years? Has any orgnaization ever expanded this rapidly? Just wondering, and yes that was 2, sorry about the hijack?

I'm not sure if 100 in 15 is a possibility but maybe some number close to it? Don't quote me but I'm aware of some of the Asian Interest (that's what they call themselves) orgs have gotten a large number of chapters in a short period of time and also the LGO's. I have to research and check my numbers before I can say for sure. I'll come back.

I believe it can be done. Gammas have about 80some odd chapters and they are 14yrs old.

I think that if you work hard and have some very strong members that you can achieve the goal of 100 chapters in 15 years.


Serioussigma22:cool:

Not greek but...


Why not form a coalition with the other groups? Sort of like the various associations for journalists: AAJA, NABJ, NAHJ, NAJA. These groups represent Asian, Black, Hispanic and Native American interests. They come together on the unity council.


This could foster unity amongst people of color as well as serve as a catalyst for change w/in the NPHC. When you have someone to compare yourself to sometimes it helps you improve. The NPHC hasn't really had anyone who's interests reflect the issues of people of color to "compete" with in the positive sense. A unity council could be useful on several levels.