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NOT looking to go National!
Hey, no offense to those locals that are looking to go national out there, but isn't anybody just proud to be a local chapter anymore? I just get the feeling that locals are a dying breed, and I don't know why that is. Is it hard to sustain a local chapter on some campuses? Do you have problems with your colleges IFC and PHC? I mean, I was taught during the affiliation process to be proud of being local, and was taught specific reasons why. Our money stays with us and we can do with it want we want. If I see someone wearing my letters somewhere, I KNOW they went to the same school as me, and went through the same affiliation process as I. Our chapter is run strictly by alumnae and the chapter itself. We are in charge of us, we decide our rules, we have no nationals to answer to. I love my chapter, and all my sisters to death, and wouldn't go national for the world!
So... my question to all of you is... why does you chapter want to go national? or... why does your chapter choose to stay local? [This message has been edited by prdlocal (edited March 18, 2001).] |
I just recently started a local fraternity here because we were having difficulties in establishing a colony of an international. Our campus has a very weak greek system and thus we needed to get some direction before starting a colony.
There are benefits of staying local, but I feel going International has better resources to help their chapters. In my opinion, Locals aren't given much respect either http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/frown.gif |
Can an NPC sister put in her 2.5 cents? http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif
I don't think it's so much a pride issue, as much as many colleges are forcing locals to go national. At my school, the only way a local can be approved is with a goal to chartering with a national organization within a certain period of time. The last local to start at my alma mater had 2 years from the time of their recognition date to be either chartered or colonized by a national sorority. When that deadline came and went, without their achieving national affiliation, they were instantly derecognized. There are good things about being local, like the autonomy and lower dues. But it's an indescribable feeling to connect with a sister from across the country and just have that instant bond, even though you went to different schools. There are good things and bad things about nationals and locals. One thing that pi$$es me off when I see it is derision on the part of NIC or NPC members toward locals. There are locals out there that are every bit as strong, if not stronger, than nationals. Tri-Kappa at Dartmouth has been around since 1842!!! That's longer than ANY national sorority - they must be doing something right. I also hate to go to a Greek org's web page and see nothing about their local beginnings. Yes, you're a LXA or KD or whatever now, and you should be proud, but as our parents say, don't forget where you came from!! My sorority was local on our campus for 10 years before we went national. We may have worn different letters and practiced different rituals, but I consider those women every single bit as much my sisters as those who were initiated through the national organization. I will never stop being grateful to those women for taking the step of birthing a new organization. They laid the foundation that my sisterhood stands on. [This message has been edited by 33girl (edited May 13, 2001).] |
LOL--here comes another NPC sister adding her $0.02!
The two eldest local GLOs on my campus were founded at the turn of the century, which was around the time many NPC womens fraternities were founded. The remaining locals were established soon after World War II ended as cultural interest societies. They've been approached by many nationals before, but each time they've turned them down because they're not willing to give up their rich traditions. One thing that makes me feel uneasy is the fact that the locals welcome anyone to join them. By anyone I mean some of them DON'T EVEN ATTEND A COLLEGE and they still are allowed to join! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/mad.gif Unfortunately, these "rich traditions" have included incidents of hazing during the pledge periods, and because of this they've been having tough times with retaining new members. They have no problems with recruitment, but once the pledging started the members dropped like flies. We don't have Panhellenic on campus because we're the only NPC sorority here, but they do have an Inter-Fraternity/Sorority council that's pretty weak. In recent reports, campus administration has had many problems with the locals because, to be honest, these locals have no guidelines regarding alcohol and other things that affect Greek and campus relations. My campus administration is trying to urge these locals to go national primarily because they feel that a national GLO can provide these locals with more organization. I'm not implying that all locals are bad. I know that there are a lot of succesful and noteworthy local GLOs out there!!! My opinions are based on what I see on my campus. After DP-ing from a local sorority, I had lost all respect for them. The NIC fraternities, past and present, and us AGDs found their way to campus through the hard work and determination of wonderful alumni who took it upon themselves to get a bunch of college students together and colonize. Our chapters started from scratch because none of the locals on my campus wanted to go national. Prdlocal, I commend you for having pride in your GLO. I have the utmost respect for orgs like yours, but I wish that I could feel the same about the ones on my campus. ------------------ *I'm an Alpha Gam...Yes I am, Yes I am!* |
I'm proud to be in a local!!!!!
My chapter chooses to stay local for many reasons. We are the oldest sorority on campus, we govern ourselves, lower dues, and mostly because our sorority was founded with the intention of staying permanently local!! Why do you think that locals can't connect with sisters across the country? Even though we are only at one school doesn't mean that everyone stays in the same city...we have girls all over the world...Australia, Saudi Arabia, Nevada, California, Arizona, Indiana, Illinois, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Ohio and in many, many more places. Also, just because we are local doesn't mean that we are the only one. We have found other sororities and fraternities that share our name. Sororities University of Michigan, Flint, Michigan Vincennes University, Vincennes, Indiana Hamilton College, Clinton, New York Bethany College, Lindsborg, Kansas Fraternities Hope College, Holland, Michigan Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas There is also an honorary society named Alpha Theta Chi...I guess it is big in the south. I have also done research and found national groups who started locally as Alpha Theta Chi before affiliating. Since we are local we think that it is neat that others share our letters. We have been in contact with a couple of the other organizations and will probably meet up with them soon. And NO, we don't allow anyone to just join our sorority. We are even more picky during rush than the other sororities (we rush with them) And for you information if you are not in school then you cannot participate in sorority events. Sorry, our "rich traditions" don't include incidents of hazing. And we have absolutely no probelm retaining members. Unlike other sororities at our school who have girls join and then drop out the following semester, our girls usually stick around until graduation and are very active as alumni. We also have very strict risk management and alcohol guidelines so it is probably just the locals at your school who are slacking off on that. I think that is kind of stupid to assume that a national would give a local more organization!!! Come to my school...WRONG!!!! All of the nationals that are there were once local...let me say...NOT ORGANIZED at all!!! We've got it together more than they do. There is always someone who accepts a bid from a sorority to come to find that it is the wrong sorority for her. In the past year that has happened many times at our school. We have had girls disaffiliate from their national in hope of joining our sorority. This has happened FOUR times within the past year!!!! Also, just to add my two cents...there are a lot of colleges out there who are forcing nationals to go local or do not even allow nationals!! So it works both ways. I'm sorry if my comments seem pretty heated but I don't like it when people generalize and stereotype different organizations. Have a nice day http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif |
Ummm... thanks for everyone's comments.
Hey AOX! LOL! Calm down darlin! You know I'm with you! Don't worry so much http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif I guess it's different on my campus, perhaps because we were founded over 100 years ago, but we in no way have to ever go national. We are the oldest sorority in Wisconsin, and I would like to say the most respected on our campus. I suppose part of it with our campus is that the oldest fraternity and sorority (mine) on campus are both the only locals. Our university is in a small town, and a lot of town and university officials are alumnae of our two chapters. E.G. The landlords, lawyers, town jugde, policemen and women, principal of high school, local brewery, pubs, and resturant owners, and the old chancellor! So, perhaps, that's why we don't get crap from our university or the nationals. I guess locals vary from campus to campus. Also, we share many of the same ideas, and practices of nationals (not to say hazing http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif ). Also, my sorority is part of NPC! I'm actually a member of the panhellenic e-board on my campus. So, perhaps every campus runs differently. Also, I didn't mean to diss nationals if I did! Sorry guys! I realize the stong points behind being part of a national organization. But I am also proud to say I am part of an organization that is one of a kind - the only chapter in the world. And when I run into someone wearing my letters, I KNOW they know the same songs as me, sat in the same house as me, and went through the same rituals as me. I am D*MN PROUD!!! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif |
Hey localsororities! Get in here and say something! I need an opinion from you! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif
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Hey prdlocal....
did you see my post in the "rose by any other name" thread? http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif |
No, where is it?
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It's in the Greek life section. I'll just repeat it here. I saw 2 other Alpha Sigma's online - one at Shippensburg U of Pennsylvania, one at the New York Institute of Technology. I think you guys are definitely the oldest though! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif
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*bowing down*
Thank you, oh wise one... http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif [This message has been edited by prdlocal (edited March 08, 2001).] |
Wow... I definitely agree with like everyone! Locals do not get a lot of respect on my campus, especially since there are only a FEW.. one being mine, we just started a month ago and are getting a lot of heat from the nationals.. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/redface.gif( I think it's cooler to be a local, especially since it opens up an option for those people who want to be greek but don't have a lot of money to blow on dues (we don't have to pay Panhell dues...)! We get put down a lot, but it is actually just more incentive for us to do better and show everyone that we are not failures and that what we're doing is just as good, if not harder, than what they've all done (the ntl.s that is)..
Sandi |
Hey Sandi -- More power to ya girl! Way to stay strong and proud!
Amanda http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif |
I personally would like nothing more than for my org to become national, but we're thinking about expanding, not affiliating. We would never really consider affiliating, because we feel we're unique from the other service sororities out there.
The main reasons that I would like us to be national are sisterhood related. I so envy the national sisterhood that I see here on GC, and also the opportunities to stay active and involved after graduation. I keep telling my sisters that my dream is to be sixty years old and hanging out with my sisters, still wearing my letters. I know that some locals have that level of sisterhood, but the possibilities seem so much greater with a national org. Anyway, just my thoughts. And BTW, to AOX81, you seem to have thought that OohTeenyWahine was commenting on all local sororites. If you read her post carefully and are familiar with her situation you will know that she was only referring to the locals at her school, and she said that she wasn't trying to indicate that all locals are bad. So no need for you to get mad about her comments. |
I did read her post. I was just expressing my opinion...isn't that what greekchat is here for???
Thank you Have a nice day http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif [This message has been edited by AOX81 (edited March 14, 2001).] |
Well here's another NPC girl putting her opinon out there.
My chapter was a local, back in the day. The reasoning behind the decision to search for a national sorority was the "times were a changing", they were the only local "social" organization, sat on Panhellenic and played by NPC rules. They began as a "little sister" group and founded their organization about 11 years ago. The campus culture at ECU was ready to expand and they took the oppurtunity to better the chapter and the campus. I personally feel that a local organization has its benifits, but a National sorority has endless oppurtunites and networking capabilities, not to mention, our KD chapter gave a scholarship to a non-KD when we came on to campus, our local could not have afforded that. And our dues are not expensive, not when you measure our lifetime membership and what we recieve from being a KD. We lucked out because at the time tons of NPC groups were looking to expand so we got to be very selective. We chose Kappa Delta and it has been the best thing that has happend in my life. We now have 125 chapters and 400 Alumnae chapters, so I have sisters EVERYWHERE! Even the idea to know that there are 170,000 other KDs out there amazes me and every day I find out something else that makes me love KD even more. I guess what I'm trying to say is, it's nice to know my chpater is a small part of a larger group and we all work for one common goal. I love Kappa Delta and would have never had the chance to be one if our local was never here, so for that I am thankful, but in our situation our local had to do someting to stay on top and KD was the right move, FOR US...not everyone! [This message has been edited by ecukd (edited March 14, 2001).] |
I appreciate everyone's opinoins, thank you so much. I guess the views on locals vary from campus to campus. I would like to stress, though, that I AM a "NPC girl", I am a member of Panhellenic Council, as my whole local sorority is. I, myself, am the philanthropy chair, and the president of our Panhel is a member of my sorority as well. We actually carry 75% of the executive board of our University's Panhellenic Council. I would like everyone to understand that locals are welcome to be part of some college's Panhellenic Councils. That it is not just an opportunity open to nationals. I respect everyone's opinions, thanks guys! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif
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------------------ "All our young lives we search for someone to love, someone who makes us complete. We choose partners and change partners. We dance to a song of heartbreak and hope, all the while wondering if somewhere and somehow there is someone searching for us." |
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Well, we've looked into Gamma Sigma Sigma and Omega Phi Alpha, the only two national service sororities that I could find that were not ethnic based. Our principles and practices are quite different from both, although I think that they are great organizations! I meant absolutely no disrespect to GSS, as I think you guys are great, but we just don't feel like we would fit in with your org. Besides, there's so many more people wanting to do service out there these days that we feel that we would be an asset to the national service scene, and we certainly don't want you to think that we would necessarily be competition for you. Anyway, if you have any other specific questions about my org that you would like me to answer, please feel free to email me! [This message has been edited by pbear19 (edited March 16, 2001).] |
I am a member of a local, and my college is bringing in a new sorority who will be looking at us. We are somewhat eager to go national. The reason for this mainly has to do with how much we are struggling.
Every semester we struggle with recruitment and retention...and we've been on campus for almost 9 years. Because of the constant struggle to survive on a campus where national greek life is fairly popular, we feel this is the next step for us. We were actually founded to become tri delt oneday. In any case, if could ever make it and have a decent membership I know all of our girls would want to stay local for the reasons you described. But the fact remains, it's a CONSTANT struggle for us. |
I think the advantages for a local organization's members are so great that going national should be a considerstion.
We never had a problem being compettive(numbers, grades...) so it was more a question of how will we survive "long term". We NEVER guessed how wonderful it was going to be. KD has opened doors and taught us so mush that I will be forever greatful! AOT |
Two ways to look at it! I started a local and became a Brother of LXA.
We helped start a local Soro who became very strong and when they had an offer from Phi Mu, they said NO. Well they are no longer on campus. They have many but short memories. Each campus is different and each is unique but the main thing is to be able to maintain and keep on campus. We as Greeks all have the same ideals in mind it is just longevity. We went up against a small National and we won and stayed on campus so far for 36 years. I do not think that National Orgs. look down thier noses as we all started out for a reason! We did not agree with what was available and looked for something that we coulod fit in and be comfortable! ------------------ Tom Earp LX Z#1 Pittsburg State U. (Kansas) |
Hello everyone,
I'm new to greekchat and just came upon this discussion. My organization is, like Pbear19's (that is if I interpreted you correctly) looking to go national through expansion, growth and time not through affiliation. I see nothing wrong with going national through affiliation if that is what you and your organization want, but as seen in this discussion there are some that aren't looking for that. What are peoples feelings about organizations that aren't quite local anymore (i.e. have multiple chapters and governmental boards) and consider themselves regional (still only in one state)? What other organizations out there see themselves in this light? My sorority is almost 6 years old (yes I know..young) and our brother fraternity is 15 years old, but between the two of us there is a unique history and foundation that represents US (as with all organizations). I guess what I'm looking for, as I asked above, is peoples thoughts on those organizations that have been around for 5+ years and aren't quite local anymore, but not at national status either. ------------------ "A coincidence is a small miracle where God prefers to remain anonymous" -Author Unknown |
Don't get me wrong, I am greatful for our old school local, but it had nothing on KD. KD was the best thing to happen to us and ECU in a long time!
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Hey there. My sorority Kappa Gamma Chi is a local... At one time there were 3 of us (in the early 1900's) but one chapter went national and the other is now defunct so we are the only one left.
Our sorority has been around since 1902 and is still going strong! As for one girls comment... "One thing that makes me feel uneasy is the fact that the locals welcome anyone to join them. By anyone I mean some of them DON'T EVEN ATTEND A COLLEGE and they still are allowed to join!" That is SO NOT TRUE for us. To be a sister of KRX you must be a student at Emerson College and you must go through the pledge process! In the end I don't think it matters if you're local or national, just as long as you love the sorority you represent. -Meri www.geocities.com/kappagammachi |
Hi Vixenradio,
When I made my comment about the locals, I was doing so about the locals on my campus. I understand that the Recruitment/Rush process of Locals aren't the same across the country. The Locals' Rush programs on my campus is a very disorganized one, IMO...and I know this because I pledged a local prior to joining AGD. During my brief pledgeship with the local, I inquired about the students who didn't attend UH. One sister admitted that they extend bids to non-UH students to boost their numbers. Apparently their UH student membership has been low in recent years. It's ironic, however, that despite this, their numbers haven't improved at all. All local fraternities and sororities are recognized by our school, but many of us are afraid that their actions might spell the end of Greek Life on campus. |
I glad to see my topic is still raising h#ll! It's always good to know people are expressing their opinions. Also, hello to all you new greekchatters, and what's up to you oldheads! Sorry I haven't been around. I'll try and visit a little more often!
------------------ "For every lie I unlearn I learn something new..." Ani Difranco |
I am a member of a national sorority (Kappa Delta!), and very proud to be a part of such a wonderful, strong organization.
However, if there is every any question about the strength of local greek organizations, I suggest that you take a look at the Greek system at Heidelberg Colleg in Ohio. A male friend of mine transferred to Bethany from there, but he took me with him when he went back up for his Greek Sing and a party at his fraternity house afterwards. I got the chance to talk to some of the fraternity members and girls from different sororities on their campus. It was amazing! Their Greek system was very strong, existing with all local organizations. They had so much pride, tradition, and spirit in what they stood for. And when a sorority member from there saw my lavalier and said, "Kappa Delta? Is that National?" I knew that we were not the be-all-end-all in the Greek world! Being in a sorority at a school where 80% of the population is Greek (and sometimes a bit apathetic about PHC & IFC), it was very refreshing to see the Greeks at Heidelberg. To all of you locals who are planning on going National, best of luck to you. To all of those who are planning on staying local...rock on! You are something special!! [This message has been edited by MoxieGrrl (edited August 03, 2001).] |
prdlocal - You asked why some chapters wanted to go national, and others stay local...well this is kind of like a mix between the two...in a way...I think you'll understand in a minute.
I attend Southern Illinois University, and I rushed for a sorority, Alpha Chi Omega, a nationally linked sorority. Well a few weeks before initiation, nationals sent 2 representatives to us to tell our sorority that they were taking our charter, and at the end of the semester we would no longer be an active sorority. That's just about every sorority\fraternity's nightmare...even if they don't know it. After what felt like being ripped apart from something that we all held so dear to us, we were devistated, and it felt like we had lost everything. Maybe it was the name...Alpha Chi Omega...that held us together. That's how we met, that's how we became friends. That's how we are sisters. Then again, maybe not. After realizing what nationals can do, and what little power we had when they came to deliver to us the news, I think it actually made us stronger. Here we are....most of us, that is...trying to form a local sorority. I'm not trying to bash national sororitys, but I think more credit should be given to the locals. It may be just a name...but the name makes many bright, wonderful individuals part of something much stronger and gives a chance to be more than they ever imagined. Locals wanting to be part of nationals? It's something to strive for, and a goal some want to reach. Nationals becoming locals? They want individuality...no big name that people may associate with others...it could mean cheaper fees, more freedom, a chance to form something bigger and better than what they could be under restrictions from nationals. It's just a choice. |
I think it boils down to type of member.
Being local has advantages and being National has advantages. It may have to deal with rules and regulations and your campus. For me KD was the answer, maybe not everyone's answer, but it is mine. AOT |
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