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Or, to be a bit more elegant, the "chartering" wherein the CHAPTERS in convention vote to grant the charter is like the chapter meeting voting to grant membership (there are two gates, colony and chapter, just like the two gates of pledge and brother).
The installation, then, is the "initiation" ceremony of the chapter, and there are indeed prescribed rituals, as the authority to "install" the chapter (the formal beginning by ritual) is delegated to the General Secretary (or to another designated brother) BY the convention. You see, it is the CONVENTION - not the "Board" or "general fraternity" which grants charters.
I have been at just a few, including the re-chartering of two old chapters: Phi and Zeta, and the new chartering of Zeta Epsilon. The Phi ritual was awesome, done by "Misty" Shoop in the Egyptian Room at Penn's Museum of Ancient History... big sphinxes and dim lights, very awesome.
When you are at an installation, there is a definite flavour of the convention, as the Installing Officer is using the C's power according to its resolution to grant the charter - also because of the attendance of many chapters, and (of course) the singing...
So then we have a banquet (what did you expect from a fraternity which uses the letters E-A-T twice! hee hee) and often more celebrations, etc.
I forgot to mention that sometimes the new CHAPTER immediately performs her own ritual of installation of officers and then an initiation ceremony for her current pledges.
Best wishes in your efforts towards that happy time! And for those who read this who already have their charters, you ought to look through your archives and find out about your own history. And have your own private party on that date... esto perpetua
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