Of course now, we as active chapters have no say in where we expand to next. I was at the last convention and nothing was brought up about expansion...besides raising our dues.:rolleyes:

It used to be that if a Beta transfered to a school without a Beta chapter he could start a colony there-but no longer. I don't understand the rhyme or reason behind Beta's expansion and I certainly don't get a say.

I think that there is some room to manuever, from where we are now, to where I would like to see us be.

What I mean is that it is widely recognized that we baby our colonies. The typical colony process is usually at 2-3 year process from founding fathers to charter. As far as I know we are the only organization that takes that long (might be an interesting poll in Greek Life forum). I know from UIFI and talking with the equivalents of our Leadership consultants found that some other orgs grant charters within as little as 8-12 weeks of colonization. I'm NOT arguing for such a policy, but I think that we could continue to expand that the 4-5 chapters annually AND help our struggling chapters more, if we were to sped up the process of our chartering. However, I realize that I came into a chapter that won a Knox the summer before I pledged, and have no idea what it's like to charter a chapter, so I could be wrong. I have a ton of respect for the amount of work that must be done to get a chapter off the ground. Also, I do realize that we have a much higher success rate for colonies sticking around as chapters and success in new chapters (Miami as an extreme example) after recolonization. For those guys who are parts of colonies/new chapters, you're perspective might be more appropriate.

But either way, expansion is important. The 3 and 7 have meant the world to me and I hope that as many as possible who deserve to know them, get that oppurtunity.

How can the undergrads not have a say about it? You guys are front line, you should be the ones gathering your old high school buddies at the University 30 miles down the street, and getting him interested in Beta. He can then start an interest group with your chapters help.

I find it funny that people think the A.O. isn't doing 'enough' to expand, when it's all of our jobs. How many local's have you contacted in your state, to see if they'd be interested in being a Beta chapter? I have contacted probably 6 myself, a chapter brother of mine is recruiting locals all over the U.S.

So, yes, the A.O. could be doing 'more' to get more colonies, but so can you and I.

As for the 2-3 year period for getting a charter, I say 'god bless'em'. I don't want to be like TKE and SPE, if we handed out charters like candy, nobody would want them. Its just like your chapter's rush, do you hand bids to just anyone and initiate them after 3 weeks? I doubt it.

Beta is highly respected in the GLO community. We'd lose that respect if we just opened our doors to just anyone.

When I was checking into that, I was told that Beta doesn't do that anymore.

A brother from my chapter transfered to another school and was interested in starting a Beta chapter there. If one guy could start a chapter fresh it would be him, but he was told no it couldn't happen.

Wow, I find that very interesting. I don't think our A.O. would ever turn a blind eye to a GOOD interest group. I'd love to see that rejection in writing......but then again, I am sure they are turning away from interest groups all the time, just because they don't fit the mold we call Beta Theta Pi. I can understand the A.O. turning bad interest groups away, but not a good one.

There was no interest group yet.

My brother, Mike, was interested in getting one started and to eventually apply to be a colony. However our EC said that was a no go, that Beta doesn't colonize like that.

ECs are great resources, but they dont know everything... try to find out first hand... try contacting JB Scherpelz, he is the director of Recruitment and Expansion... he is an excellent guy and responds to emails very rapidly... jscherpelz@wooglin.com

It will be intersting to see how the Betas will do at EKU. The chapter had gotten a bad rep. The new class of Men will need to take steps to over come the old image and rep. I from that area. I know the rep had gotten bad on and off campus.

Its pretty much the same with any reconolization, alot of back peddling because clearly the chapter did something stupid to get kicked off. Its just one of the many challenges being a Founding Father