Exactly what I was just thinking, ree. "I" "I" "I" "I" - there's a lot of "I's" for someone who wants to form something for a group of women.

I 100% agree. It was years before I was able to not-even-openly discuss my experience and I doubt I'll ever be at the point where I'd be willing to be a walking billboard for a group built of survivors like I would for my GLO. In fact, as a survivor I'm mega uncomfortable wearing t-shirts associated with any group or event with a similar mission, and I don't do it.

Not that sorority membership is all about t-shirts, but it seems like many people who found groups (in this day and age) consider things like t-shirts way before considering things like ritual.

If you want to borrow some "sorority" elements, that could be fine...like, we trust each other enough to have a secret motto or something like that. I see how that could be useful, if applied correctly.

I also feel that writing a ritual about survivorship and the power of the human spirit could be quite moving. However I do think that this is sort of a backwards approach to it, unless you already have friends who are survivors (which you may well have).

I guess I just don't understand how selective membership and pledging will help these women though. Also would there be opportunities for friends/relatives/partners to participate in elements of the group? Because I feel that would be useful in supporting them.

Many of the times the people who are quick to point out founderitis belong to orgs whose founders suffered from the same disease.

No.

Most of our organizations were founded in a very different time, and for very different purposes. Communication was limited, as were social opportunities for college students. Especially in the case of women's fraternities they created a support system at a time when women were a minority in higher education. Our founders did not have founderitis; they had less options, and had a void to fill on college campuses and in their communities. Your answer shows very little knowledge of the origins of the fraternal movement.

The case of the OP is not the same, and though her cause is worthy, it devalues the fraternal experience by making everything and anything worthy of a fraternity or sorority.

I didn't realize that a formal definition or age limit existed. Where would I find such information?

Second, what is the litmus test for "something cool"? I don' think that the OP perceives an organization for victims of Domestic Violence as "something cool".

As for being misguided, dear, you should look in the mirror. The rationale that you've spewed is coming from somewhere in that head.

People like who?

I believe ree-Xi is a member of Alpha Xi Delta. Please enlighten us on how this group's founders suffered from founderitis in 1893.

Bingo. People like Splash need to shut the hell up.

Somehow I don't think so.

It's the "I" mentality that is a dead giveaway of Founderitis.

"I" picked "our" letters.
"I" made "our" crest.
"I" created "our" ritual.

"I" when it should be "We" = Founderitis.

PhD, huh?

WHOA HOW TOTALLY OUT OF LINE YOU ARE WITH THAT OBSERVATION.

Wait for it...

I'm not subtle tonight, sorry -.-

Still waiting for someone to come in and jump on your comment. lol