[omeganu]

I like where the discussion is going! A return to ideals as the common thread of brotherhood is exactly what we're trying to achieve.

I can look across the table at numerous GLOs and see which ones seem to have struggles with finances, lawsuits, and demanding policies upon their chapters. As my group gets larger and expands, we'll have the same challenges too...which is why I'm trying to keep as much of the day to day operations and activities out of the bigger picture.

Let's say a "chapter" of the Red Hat Society gets together each Sunday to play bingo and drink wine while their husbands watch football. Let's say that Mabel forgets her glasses and was supposed to drive the group....or dare we even say that they drank some wine at the bingo hall and decided to drive home anyway.

God forbid something should happen to these twenty grandmas dressed in purple dresses and red hats....but if it did...who is liable?

The Red Hat Society, Inc? I doubt it...since that company formed itself AFTER the phenomenon of local ladies dressing up and painting the town 'red'...they saw an opportunity to bring structure to an existing fad. They don't "own" the chapters...nor do they carry direct liability to acknowledge one group apart from another.

Now they have established a network of businesses that they market to the ladies, they've created "official" chapter rules and regulations...but in the end (while they may have secured the legal rights to certain elements of the group), they are only a keeper of the keys - a guide to how to be in the society...more importantly, they don't make decisions on who leaves the society...only who joins.

I just think that's an interesting parallel....I try to draw ideas from that concept as my group begins to grow. I created the ideas, I provide the guidance, I hold the rights to the concepts, but the voice of the group at large directs the growth, reduction, and evolution of the society....and for each new colony that aspires to live up to the expectations (and challenges of being an independent chapter subscribing to my Fraternity), I am all for it.

Maybe I'm crazy!