okay, this is why a new sorority is coming:

there has been a need for another sorority on campus, so panhellenic petitioned to bring a new sorority on, and not us. since we are local, and we have always expressed interest in going national, they decided to include us in the process...if i'm understanding correctly a national does not have to affiliate us unless there was an understanding that they had to pick us up in order to come. does this make sense?

as for us, i'm not sure what we'll do. the majority of our girls want to go thru national, as some still feel this is the next step. our organization has been around for a solid 8 years, but it has been full of struggles as panhellenic has never included us with open arms, but rather out of necessity. i see everyone's point in this, and i just don't know what we'll do. it is very heartbreaking, but there is still the other option of going thru as individuals. a lot of the girls see this as, organizations come and go, and those organizations are never forgotten as ours will never be forgotten. some have considered disbanding, and i'm not sure. i haven't decided what i'll do, but if i do go thru and get a bid, i can't accept it if my local is still around, as i have loyalty to my sisters.

we had an emergency meeting, and our president said that if this is what we want to do as individuals, then that is okay...it is the next step, and to be prepared for not everyone getting bids. we will be in for some upsetting times. that is pretty much what is going on...as most of us still consider this a benefit. for our alumni, we feel we can get them in as alumni of the new sorority, ut again we don't know what will happen until it gets closer. my big sister who single handedly kept this organization going a few years ago said every ending is a new beginning and every beginning has an ending...so we go from that.

I think I get what is happening. There were 4 national sororities plus Sig Lamb. Then one of the national sororities left campus and the school decided that would leave too big a hole in the Greek system, so they decided to ask another one to come in. I think the school was hoping they could kill 2 birds with one stone and that the Sig Lambs would affiliate with the new national, thus 1) giving them the national they had wanted previously and 2)keeping the Greek system at an even size.

Silly, silly administrators!! Nothing is that easy, especially in Greekland!! :rolleyes:

OK, I don't want anyone (especially the nice Sigmas on this board) to get upset by what I am going to say, but....if I was in Sig Lamb, I would tell SSS to go sh!t in their hat. I can't believe they had the balls to tell you guys to disband your org, go through the recruitment process and KNEW that you probably would not all end up in the same group. You all are not a fly by night group that started yesterday...you have been around for EIGHT YEARS (heck, that's longer than some national chapters last these days) and for them to disregard that by telling you all to go through rush, let the chips fall where they may, is one of the most disrespectful things I've ever heard. And if they DO think you all will end up in SSS anyway, why are they making you jump through hoops?

Sorry if this sounds harsh (and if there are facts I am missing please let me know), but I think you guys are getting a raw deal.

Well, to be honest I think it is probably in the national organization's best interest not to affiliate with the local group b/c that group never initiated the expansion. The national sororities were not contacted in that manner and did not look at the campus from the point of view of dissolving the local group and renaming and so on...the local group was a "perk" there if they wanted to use it.

Speaking from a formerly local group member turned national, it is sometimes easier to start from scratch especially when a group this age is invovled. We did it and it went pretty smooth, but it is daily issues that locals cannot conceptualize from a national standpoint...teaching an old dog new tricks. It can be done but is difficult.

What doesn't the local group pettition to go national itself? If they do the NPC groups contacted will know that the local group is wanting to affiliate and will be prepared and intrested in that process, not an either or situation.

Good Luck, keep us posted.

how sad
 

i don't know what to tell you. it sounds like you guys and the panhellenic bunch weren't on the same page and they didn't tell you what page that was. I'm sad for you and i don't really have a perfect solution. i guess you have to follow your heart -- if it leads you back to your sisters, then you still are.
good luck
mmcat
:eek:

Lexi, I totally get what you are saying and I don't blame SSS if they wanted to start completely fresh. However, the problem I have is with them telling the Sig Lambs to go through recruitment as individuals. As you said, especially with a group that age, it should be a package deal one way or the other....and the national group should respect that. Either "we are picking you all to be the nucleus of this chapter" or "you all stay local, have fun."

Like I said I think the admin was hoping it would all come together but it sounds like everyone had a different idea what would happen and how. The admin probably doesn't want 2 new nationals at the same time.

33-I doubt SSS said for all the members to go through Recruitment...it was more likly, if members who wish to affiliate they can go through like a normal PNM and see what happens.

Why would the local group dissolve? Nothing has changed since the start of all this, they can stay local, expansion has nothing to do with a local group not affiliating...if members have the local group blues the can leave but if the group wishes to contiune why would they not be able to?

My main question is this local group has been said to have been founded in order to affiliate one day, why did they not drive the expansion and petittion as a group instead of allowing PH to do so? If this is their goal they need to be the driving force to insure they get what they desire not what PH wants.

If the system at the school can hold another NPC group then I say go for it, I would wait to pettition after SSS colonizes but if that is the goal what is another year or so? Take the time to research and save money, it could be a HUGE learning experience watching SSS colonize, they may feel the desire to remain local after all the work SSS will put into a colony!

This is a very strange and confusing situation. Whatever you decide, good luck because it seems that you will need it! :confused:

actually, we have discussed affiliation with panhellenic several times about wanting to go national, and all they have done was discussed the process with us and not helped us with it. i personally have called nationals (delta zeta, tri delta, and phi mu) to see about getting them on campus and affiliating with us, however in order for them to come onto campus they have to be invited. panhellenic pretty much screwed us over because they have known for a very very very long time how important it was for us to be nationals, yet they did not invite the sororities on campus telling them you have to pick us up as we feel they should have. panhellenic knew for the beginning this is what we wanted, and didn't care.

also, tri sigma never told us to disband. like someone said earlier, they pretty much said if you as individuals want this then as individuals you can go through. i really don't hold that against them, as they were not forced to take us over...it is probably easier for them to start off with a clean slate...in a nut shell, tri sigma did not screw us, they didn't have a part in this, but our panhellenic did as they always have. :mad:

siglambshsu,

I know that your chapter is facing some tough issues. I truly wish your group all the best.

aopirose

Why do you necessarily have to go national? Is there something that you can't do if you are just local?

Your chances are honestly very low for going national now. In order for another sorority to come to campus, you have to have the numbers going through rush to necessitate another one and since your school now has an "empty" sorority, you are at a disadvantage...I seriously doubt it will happen while any of you are still in school.

Why don't y'all just focus on how awesome you are and try to be successful with your local? Maybe I just don't understand since I am in a national, but still, I would love my sorority even if we were local.

Good luck with whatever ends up happening :)

Good luck, siglamb...to you and all of your sisters. When does recruitment start? And maybe I missed this, but have you decided (in your local chapter) what is going to be done?

IMHO, I say stay local. When you don't disband, maybe Panhell will see what a mistake they made by not keeping you informed. I don't want the new SSS chapter to be a failure, but I think you should stand your ground! Good luck!:D

Sigmalambshsu-you don't need PH to help you, you need them to vote yes.

Your chapter needs to get your numbers and grades up then you pettition PH to search for affiliation. You physically take a vote in your chapter, bring the minutes to PH, write a letter to PH pettitioning the search, you also present a letter from your group to all NPC groups explaining your desire to expand. PH will send that letter to NPC and all 26 groups will receive that letter and then information will follow from intrested groups to your PH and sent to your group.

PH doesn't help until after they vote yes to search. PH is the governing body not a medium of assitance. Your group needs to take a stand for itself, PH cannot tell you what to do, they guide you. I suggest getting your hands on a copy of the Green Book and reading it with your President and future leaders.

This process takes time and EFFORT, it will not just fall in your lap. A national organization wants to see the effort and determination of the local group, not the group waiting to see what PH does next for you.

If you feel your PH is being hurtful to your search, as in way of refusing to help, contact NPC. The largest issue I see now for you is that your campus will not want to expand again so soon unless you have a HUGE increase in membership this year. I assume this process will take some time after SSS colonizes.

Like I said after SSS colonizes your group may see the advantage of remaining local!

Keep us posted!

Hang in there
 

Siglambshu-

Please know that Sigma will help you out as much as possible-some my recent posts have been in praise of our International Executive Officers.

arrrrrrrgh
 

Oh OK, this is a Panhel @$*&wittage issue. That I understand. If that's the case, then I'm sure SSS was somewhat, shall I say, taken aback when they came in and met Sig Lamb and saw that you were a unified group with history.

I think that you CAN be a full member of Panhellenic even though you are a local - it's done at Dartmouth and many other schools. If you stand your ground, and PH sees that you are not going away even with the new sorority (affiliation or not), they might decide it's in their best interests to include you instead of keeping you half in, half out.

Tri Sigma Colonizing at SHSU
 

Hello all! What a very interesting thread to read about my sorority and our new expansion at Sam Houston! I'd like to introduce myself. I am the new colony coordinator at Sam Houston. I was on the expansion team and had a wonderful time meeting all of the Sig Lambs on campus. They are a great group of women. Thank you to those of you trying to answer questions on Tri Sigma's goals with this colonization. We will be going in late January or early February to gain new members to form a colony. Formal recruitment for Sam Houston is in the Fall semester and after we have an installation, we will go through recruitment just like everyone else. Tri Sigma is not making anyone go through another recruitment process, however, we are doing a colonization and it will be very exciting.

If anyone has questions, please ask me. I am leading this colonization and would be happy to help. Good luck to everyone!

Interfraternally,

Hi Tracie!

On behalf of Greek Chat, welcome!

I do not think we were answering on SSS's behalf, please do not think we would try to assume that we know what a national organization's goals are. We were trying to help SigLamSHSU make heads or tails of what was going on.

Good Luck with the colonization, coming from a charter member I know what fun is instore!

By the way, Laura Sweet, SSS NPC delegate was my Panhellenic Advisor....I love that woman!

Keep us posted on your progress, it seems like SSS is colonizing everywhere, you must have a great colonization team! One new colony is in my town at Methodist College...I cannot wait to see Greeks back on that campus!

SHSU
 

Lexi,
Thanks so much for your responses and information. Laura Sweet is great! She's such a great role model for all Sigma's and Greek women alike.

By the way, one of my best friends is a KD in Texas! Thanks for the good wishes. We are working hard on taking Tri Sigma to that next level. My great friend Courtney is in charge of colonization at Methodist and we are all so excited about that one as well! It's about time we start growing like wildfire.

KD's and Sigma's are great!

Interfraternally,

Tracie!

I know what you mean, Laura Sweet is great! If it were not for her and her support my KD chapter would never have been back at ECU and I would have never been a KD! She is a role modle for sure.

If your colonization team needs help we have a 16 member KD Alumnae Association in town that would love to assist. Since we are from the area we may be able to direct your team on locations and such or even some R&R!

We hope to start an alumnae panhellenic soon...I haven't looked to see how many Sigmas are in town, I assume a lot since SSS wanted to colonize.

I cannot wait to see Sigma rise to the top at Methodist, I have a warm place in my heart for colonies...babies!

Sam Houston :)
 

Lexi,

That would be great to have an alumnae panhellenic in town. Houston is so close, however it's quite a drive. We're working on the alumnae situation there. There are many, but we're working on initiating more (we have a huge interest from Houston to help but more help is always needed). My friend Kim from Sam Houston (she's a recent alumna) was just initiated into Sigma under our alumnae intiate program. She's great!

Thanks for all of the kind words and offer for help, gotta love those KD's too!

Interfraternally,

That's great!