we have started a sorority!
 

I live in England and even though sororities and fraternities arent quite so well known here we are determined to make our new sorority Omega Zeta a brilliant one! Any suggestions on how to get things up and running now we've been formed?

Firstly I have a couple of questions:

Are you based at a UK University or are you based Online?
Will you charge for membership? If so, what do your dues include?
How will you run recruitment for your sorority?
What are your ideals, what do you stand for?
Have you got a website up and running?

Doesn't the UK have similar sorts of groups which aren't referred to as sororities?

I'm interested to learn about this. How it's the same as an American sorority, how it's uniquely English, how you came up with the answers to KKGCaroline's questions, etc. And what your goals of sisterhood are. Are you a college-based sorority (like a traditional NPC sorority), a professional sorority, or something else?

There are sororities in UK (sometimes known as Societies) but there a very few so we have spent a lot of time getting permissions to start one at our college. I am currently making a website, not quite finished yet though.

We have taken a lot from American Sororities such as ideas for philanthropies etc. but have tried to include our own English touches. An example of this having a day each year when we honour the queen and raise money for charity at the same time by doing a sponsored run through London finishing in Trafalgar Square. Generally though we are keeping the main qualities of American Sororities.

There are sororities in UK (sometimes known as Societies) but there a very few so we have spent a lot of time getting permissions to start one at our college. I am currently making a website, not quite finished yet though.

We have taken a lot from American Sororities such as ideas for philanthropies etc. but have tried to include our own English touches. An example of this having a day each year when we honour the queen and raise money for charity at the same time by doing a sponsored run through London finishing in Trafalgar Square. Generally though we are keeping the main qualities of American Sororities.

Our goals of sisterhood are to bring together a community that might otherwise not get a chance to be particularly close. Education is very important to us, as well as friendship, philanthropy and support for eachother. Hazing is NOT tolerated. Our motto is 'to grow' not just in a physical form but also within. We want to grow in understanding for the world, we want our friendships to grow and we want to grow in maturity and wisdom.

This makes me a little curious what you think the "main qualities" of American sororities are.

What about ritual? The heart of almost every American sorority and fraternity is its ritual, which for the vast majority of sororities and fraternities is esoteric -- not known to those outside the fraternity or sorority. A GLO's ritual is what encapsulates and reinforces for members the ideals of the organization; it's the common bond that unites members as sisters or brothers.

I think if you're trying to emulate the American model, ritual comes first. Everything else grows out of that.

Yes, we already have lots of rituals in place and as you said, will not be shared with non-members. We have put a lot of research into this, and last year I went to America and visited a sorority from whom I got lots of advice. This visit was what gave me the idea in the first place. I would love for sororities to catch on in England.

But isn't it interesting that the sororities have very similar rituals (from what little I've been able to ascertain over time) even though we're all secret societies? I mean, everyone has the naked pillow fight, but how did that all start? HA!

So you have colors, a flower, a symbol, a crest, a badge? Public and private meanings behind the symbols?

As the world continues to shrink, it wouldn't surprise me if some NPC sororities would expand internationally beyond the US and Canada some day. I believe there's already an alumnae panhellenic chapter in England.

Yes, baby blue and lemon yellow (may not sound very nice but looks gorgeous), our symbol is a teddy bear for friendship, in the process of designing our crest and badge. We sat down and decided on all the meanings behind our symbols... the first thing we did :)

You say "We", how many Founding Members do you currently have?

And again, have you thought about how you will recruit new members?

Did you do research at your Campus, did you ask women if they would join a GLO if one was started?

With all the hope in the world, if your class mates are not willing to take part, its going to fall flat on its feet before it starts.

Sounds lovely, and I am studying abroad right now in london and it is an amazing city!

Well there are 22 members of the sorority so far. I am the president, we also have our house mum (mom to you :D ), a secretary and a treasurer. If we are missing any roles please let me know

When recruiting new members we are going to do a traditional rush and just make sure the women pledging have the team spirit we want our house to have. We are looking into the 'big sister little sister' concept as well.

When you say GLO what do you mean? Doesn't that stand for Greek Letter Organization? if so then we are one... Omega Zeta. I apologise if I sound naive but this is still pretty new to all of us.