[FuzzieAlum]

If your group was meant to stay local by your founders, then I can understand they are upset if you are considering going National. At the same time, if one wishes to retain an influence over anything, one must stay involved. If they don't support you when things aren't going so well - if they don't even want to meet with each other - how valuable are they as support? If they only speak up they they're upset, they are losing their right to have a vote, so to speak.

If you go National, you probably will lose the support of many alums. On the other hand, you will gain the support of a whole new group of alums - surely there are local alums of whatever this National is you are considering. Make sure it's a trade off you want to make, however.