Definition
 

What defines a Fraternity or Sorority as "National" if it is not part of any sort of council(NIC, NPC, NPHC, NALFO)?

Thanks

There is no set criteria that is accepted across the board. Anybody can call themselve a national fraternity or sorority if they wanted to. Of course, if you only have one chapter, it would look foolish.

Re: Definition
 

If it is incorporated as such.

For my sorority, we "went national" in 1902 when we founded our Beta chapter. I certainly agree w/ moe.ron that if you have only one chapter, you're not national.

Cheat the system. Establish your Beta chapter in Canada. Then you can be an International -- with only two chapters.

It probably depends on the organization itself. If an organization has a chapter in the northeast and southwest and wants to call itself "National," I believe it is free to do that.

I don't think there is any set criteria an org must follow to become "National," although I would think you'd want solid representation across the country before making that claim.

That's been my thinking too. But I know of a sorority that only has chapters in 2 states (that are side by side) and it considers itself national.

I agree with Ariesrising.

I would agree with ariesrising's definition above with this additional criteria.

Any State or Regional organization that is a member of a national or international umbrella organization - NALFO, NMGC, NPC, NPHC, NIC - would also be considered National.

I would agree with this *if* the two chapters operate independently of each other from an operational (management) position/situation.

However, if two chapters share some sort of organizational leadership that covers both chapters, then that does not seem to fit the definition of Local. They would either be State or Regional, as the case may be.

OK, with that being said...

Our Fraternity has 18 Chapters... 9 in NY State, 1 in NJ, 1 in Mass, 2 in PA, 1 in OH, 1 in CA, 1 in FL, 1 in MD, 1 in DC.

Can that be considered National? We are not part of any National Council, so that's why I am wondering.

Lambda Phi Epsilon calls itself the only National Asian Fraternity, and it is a member of the NIC. However, we are not, neither are we in NALFO or NPHC. So, can we just call ourselves National??

I would think that qualifies you as a National organization... But I don't know the "rules and regulations" of it all.

eta:
(Taken from the Phi Sigma Sigma website)
Phi Sigma Sigma became a true national sorority when Zeta Chapter was installed in 1921 at the University of California at Los Angeles.
In 1930, Phi Sigma Sigma became an international sorority with the founding of Upsilon Chapter at the University of Manitoba, Manitoba, Canada.

Do you have national articles of incorporation? An org with just one chapter may file as such in anticipation of expansion.

Also in the case of the D9, the initial members were incorporated as national orgs before the NPHC was formed. So one really had nothing to do with the other.

Being part of a National Council has nothing to do with it.

If the number of Chapters and Locations is correct, then You are a National Greek Organizatin.

Since the advent of Asian and Latino organizatins, there is a new National Structure being presented.

Now, your Organization must decide if they will become affiliated with one. Remember, that the more voices heard, the more will and can be done on Your behalf.

When you say "if it is incorporated as such", do you mean that is has to be incorporated in a specific state? How exactly does that work, if ya wouldn't mind filling me in? :)