[aephi alum]

It varies depending on the GLO.

My chapter originated as a local sorority. I was not a founder of the local, but I was a member of the only pledge class aside from the founders. When the local Panhel did finally give us permission to seek NPC affiliation, fortunately AEPhi was still interested in colonizing. At the time there were 10 active sisters of the local. We also extended a bid to one additional woman, who pledged in time to join our class. The 11 of us were initiated after the 8-week new member period, as the Alpha new member class.

At the time of our initiation, we had met all requirements for chartering except one: We were required to have 25 members. That fall, we extended bids to 11 new members, who became our Beta new member class. The decision was made to charter the chapter despite the fact that we had only 22 members, not 25, as we had just doubled our membership. All 22 are considered founders.

My initiation certificate reads "MIT Colony" instead of "Beta Epsilon" as the chapter designation. I was allowed to order a chapter guard for my badge only after our chartering.

A colony designates officers and operates much as a regular chapter does. Chapter business that might normally be closed to new members has to be disclosed to the new members within a colony simply because there are no initiates - everyone is a new member.

Tom, good luck with your pursuit of PKA.