Question??
 

Hi!
I have been reading these boards for awhile now and enjoy them. I have a question. I know that one can not join a different national sorority other than the one they are initiated to. My question is I want to know does that prevent one from starting a local and then trying to go national or affiliating with a national?? I am moving to the Southwest next June and I am thinking about starting a sorority at the school I am transferring to. I would like to know if I can and if I can not then why? I do not understand why I can not just pledge a new sorority when I change schools?? It was never explained to me in my national sorority so I was left wondering. Thanks ahead of time for answering my questions.

Hi Daves Girl,

NPC is most emphatic in insisting that no woman may be initiated into 2 NPC sororities. I can see what they mean, as there might be women who would join sororities on 5 different campuses and there would be issues about ritual secrecy, etc.

You can of course start a local, but you'd likely be long gone by the time that a national thought the group was developed enough to join them--it really does take awhile. And then they'd check to see if any of your members had been initiated into a national.

Why don't you just try to start a chapter of your first sorority?

It is plain and simple, once you are a member of a NPC you are a member for life!

If you go to another school, why not start a group so as to affiliate with YOUR National?
If you de activate, Why I do not know, then you can go with another National. If You just start a local with no idea of going National then you can, but why!

Hey Tom, maybe men can deactivate and then pledge another national, but women are prohibited from doing so!!;)

A woman's membership in a national sorority is intended to be for life. Women have a certain degree of loyalty to the sorority she is initiated into, and it is for that reason that no NPC sorority woman can be a member of more than one group.

I agree with carnation. Look into the specifics of how you should go about setting up a chapter of your sorority at your new school. Your sorority's national headquarters and your school's Greek Life office should be able to help you in your endeavor. Good luck.

another option
 

I have also heard of women becoming "social members" of an new NPC group when they trasfer. If your GLO is not on your new campus, you may be able to do this. Social members pay dues and participate in social events, philanthropy events, etc. Of course, they can not attend chapter, vote, hold office, or participate in ritual, but they still get to make friends and experience some aspects of sorority life.

Other Area Sisters
 

Transfering schools isn't uncommon. You might contact your National office and find out if other sisters are enrolled at the university. Not knowing where you are transfering to, you might also see where the closest chapter to your new school is. If it is within a reasonable drive you may be able to participate.

Good Luck

Re: another option
 

There is no such thing as a 'social-only' member from a different NPC group. You are either a member of an NPC fraternity or you are not. If there are 'social-only' members, they are initiated members of that fraternity, not another.

Once you have been initiated into an NPC fraternity, you are a member for life. Even if there is not a collegiate chapter of your fraternity on your new campus, you can become involved in the local alumnae chapter. Chances are there are other collegiate-aged alumnae in the chapter and you can probably work together to bring your fraternity to campus. In the interim, you can enjoy much sisterhood and fun being a part of your alumnae chapter.

Barbara