|
I can think of several reasons GLOs might fold, although that doesn't necessarily mean they will. Expanding costs money - over-expansion plus a risk management lawsuit could put a chapter over the edge. Not expanding is a problem too, since chapters do fold from time to time - and it takes more effort (and money) to keep a struggling chapter open. (If nationals is monitoring you and sending you lots of consultants for whatever reason, the bills can add up fast.) Without expansion, you'll shrink.
Although mergers have historically been more common than straight-out GLO closings, I think that time may be at an end. First of all, groups need to be fairly compatible in terms of beliefs and traditions, so that limits their options. Secondly, GLOs had fewer chapters back in the heyday of mergers - many of the ones who were absorbed had maybe 20 chapters. Does a GLO want to give itself the burden of 50 or 100 new chapters that come with no money - and alums who probably aren't supportive? They might as well be signing their own death warrant.
On another note - as Shadokat said, size isn't the most important thing. I do think being mega-huge is perhaps some protection; but financial stability and good leadership are more important than anything else, and plenty of the "smaller" GLOs have that.
__________________
Alpha Xi Delta
|