Why do colonies fizzle out?
 

The thread started by DeltaSigStan spurred this thought. I mean, right now (as you all know) I'm apart of a group of girls starting a sorority in which we hope to be colonized in less than a year. But after reading a bit, I'm gettin' a bit frazzled about the concept of working so hard to become colonized yet then just die out before even reaching the finish line.

Anyone have thoughts on why exactly colonies die out??

Plus, I'm still gettin' anxious about Nat'ls even wanting to come here...I mean..will the pull out?

-Kayla

Maybe some colonies fizzle out because it can be a LOT of work, and some of the people originally interested just weren't prepared for that work. I was a colony member, but AXiD nationals people were there helping us every step of the way. I couldn't imagine starting from scratch and trying to get national groups interested -- that has to be even more work! We had quite a few girls depledge because they didn't want to work, just party...but for those of us who stayed with it, we were so glad we did! Yes, being a colony member can be hard, but it was so rewarding to see all our work pay off when we finally got chartered and initiated! Don't get discouraged, because the end result is sure to be rewarding!

It depends on a lot of things...
 

I actually tried to found a colony of more than one NIC group, only to go through a perpetual cycle of ups and downs, finally calling it quits 2 1/5 years later.

The biggest factor in our demise was that most groups wanted 20-25 to get colony status; while on a campus that had a very small greek body (1% of the undergraduate total), average fraternity size less than the colony size required, as well as very anti-greek sentiments, it was very difficult to get off the groud. At our peak we had around 12 quality guys (campus leaders, captain of the ski team, hockey players, student gov't), but interest always waned and we were again trying to recooperate the numbers lost, let alone gain momemtum.

In the end, it was just me and my bro (of the local we formed) left. And yeah, it was frustrating. I hate reading these posts of picturesque greek experiences in stark contrast to my headaches and sacrifice. Rarely does a day go by when my I think about my failures and how if I could go back and change them. But never would I choose to not do it all over again. Nothing has told me more about myself and what I've learned than my collective greek years. Life is full of risks & rewards - i took the risk, but gained a different reward.

Good luck!

In two words, momentum and resources.

We have a friend who was instrumental in colonizing and founding her chapter of a national sorority at a large state school in the Northeast. They had so many setbacks along the way, from waning interest to potential new members not having the money for founding (which I've heard is expensive). They finally were initiated with about 7 members. The colonization and founding processes are pretty long (they started interest groups as second semester sophomores and were initiated second semester junior year), so by the time the chapter was established enough to recruit new members, all but one or two would be graduating the next year. I think they will be starting next year with a handful of members, and may not be able to compete with more established NPC and NPHC groups for membership, some of which have houses and a large alumni base. My friend is de facto advisor for her chapter, which is something she really didn't want to do so soon after graduation.

My own chapter declined to two members only two or three years after the charter was given. They, obviously, rebounded very quickly, but it seems to take a LOT of support by members--more than an established chapter has to deal with.

ETA: I didn't see CC's post until after I had submitted mine. Hence, the reference to momentum.

Re: It depends on a lot of things...
 

Yes, it can be very frustrating!:(

When I started my local, it was with the idea of affiliation with a major National.

Wrote letters to 6 of the OLD LINE Nationals. "Thanks But No Thanks" we are not expanding. But said screw it and started looking for guys to join.

At the time, there was another group trying to start and the school was only going to take one.

Well, we got lucky as a TKE advisor suggested LXA.

Had, LXA and another come for a visit and chose LXA. They were on a fast track along with TKE for expansion.

The reason I got so many new members was the fact that they could be part of something that was new and with a future that they could help build. Oh, we got 0 from the first rush and just went out and rushed on our own.

Hard work, Hell Yes, Frustrating, Hell Yes, rewarding, Double Hell Yes!!

I would not have had it any other way! The friendships I have made in in 30 + years are worth it!:cool:

I fact 14 of us are going to a T-Bones Ball Game Tonight!!!!!!!


Do Not Give Up!!!!


Edited to add:

I takes a strong willed person or 2 to keep holding it together:)

My chapter is young (5 years in april!) and on a very anti-greek campus, something we have to fight a lot. Because we were going national, without NPC so they did a direct request to AST and a few other orgs. The momentum is really the key, also finances and organization. Colonization can be overly expensive. Moreso than pledging, plus you need to pay for dues and set up costs. lots of women like the idea but actually doing the work is hard and tiring. The benefits are amazing though you learn so much and grow tremendously. :)

Being a member of a colony, interest group, or a newly-founded local is a lot of work. You have to set up your group's governing infrastructure, policies and procedures, etc. and (at least in the case of a colony) also complete your new member program. Sometimes people join, then realize how much work it is and drop out. Other people see that it will be a lot of work and decide to join a more established group instead, without even considering the colony/interest group.

If it takes a while to get colonized/chartered, people may get frustrated with the wait and drop out for that reason. The reason for the wait may not even have anything to do with the local group - it could come from lack of interest from the national org(s) you want to affiliate with, or from a Panhellenic Council refusing to allow expansion (for NPC orgs) - but that doesn't make it any less frustrating. Plus, you lose the momentum.

Even if no one drops out, numbers can be a problem. AEPhi told us we had to have 25 members to be chartered, but they gave us lots of help to get there. Some orgs (as CC1GC said) won't even colonize you until you have a certain number of members, which means you have to recruit up to that threshold entirely on your own, with no assistance from your intended national org.

Anyway, lots o' luck :)

You know what? I think colony members play the biggest part in whether the group fails or succeeds. I watched a colony pledge girls just for the sake of getting girls, and from the outside, it appeared as though they took everyone and anyone. That may not have been the case, but that's what it looked like and for a while a lot of people looked down on them. A lot of the pledges left and one of them said it was because they felt like they were rushed through everything and misled into joining when they didn't realize what was going to be required of them. Now, I realize I might sound snobby, but it's true--if you look like you just want girls to boost your numbers, people won't take you seriously. My big sis used to tell me stories all the time about when our chapter was in the process of recolonizing, over 200 girls showed up at the interest meetings and ultimately only 23 were selected to pledge the colony. The reason? As our chapter advisor told us over and over, "Quality builds quality."

My chapter will celebrate its 1st anniversary in November. It's been a lot of work, but the experience has been wonderful. The keys to our success (so far) have been strong leadership and a sense of humor. The trials don't end after the charter is signed!

Some girls may be looking for the sorority experience that they always heard about/dreamed about/imagined. A new chapter provides a very different experience, and its members need to be prepared to give a different level of commitment.

Good luck!

Erica