Different chapters sometimes have entirely different customs. I think the biggest factor is the campus greek community. Your chapter is going to take on similar aspects to the other chapters around it.
My chapter (when I was an active) functioned very closely to the way our social GLOs did. I met some actives of a chapter that functions almost like an honorary (because their campus doesn't recognize anyone GLO's as tradidtional fraternities/sororities unless they are members of NIC/NPC/NPHC).
Our chapters are like two different worlds, but we manage to accomplish the same things.
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SilverTurtle
Phi Beta Fraternity: National Professional Association for the Creative & Performing Arts