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Sorry dardenr, I have to take issue with most of what you've posted.
You know what, mean or not, "Abby" knows her. We don't. There are two sides to every story, and posting your dirty laundry on a greek message board isn't exactly productive.
I have never met her. But an email like that is never okay. Yes, there are always two sides, but it is extremely unlikely any of that email was 'called for'. Perhaps it isn't productive, perhaps she was looking for support or empathy from people in the same position, or who have been in the same position as her (involved in setting up a GLO or have been).
That is business to be handled off-line, in the real world, like ladies. And if "Abby" couldn't be a lady about it, then rhosigmazeta had the responsibility to be lady enough for the both of them. That, to me, is what being Greek is all about, taking the high ground no matter what.
It is not for me to question what Greek life means to you, I don't doubt you're a credit to your founders; but it is also important to take a bull by the horns and tackle prejudices and animosity head on. Compassion and humility cost nothing.
I for one do have a concern when a new organization has to come to the internet for support and morale. Most of our organizations certainly didn't have that luxury. There are public libraries with Baird's Manual...in fact, my school had two. If you want to learn about expansion, history, all that...it's there..
It doesn't bother me that prospective rushees come to GC seeking information or guidance. But it does bother me that the founders of an organization don't seem to have the independence to go about this on their own until at least the organization has been properly founded..
I have to disagree strongly. It's a long hard slog to get a fraternity or sorority group up and running, not seeking advice from those who have been there seems odd to me - just reinventing the wheel. Yes create something new, put something of yourself in it but having the humility to seek advice is not a bad thing. Granted most organisations did not have the luxury of such Internet forums, although many were formed up to a century or more ago, it is also likely they also did not have similar non-technological support networks. But such opportunities exist today. I doubt that Baird's manual (I have not read it for availability reasons but understand it to have details like chapter size, date info, emblems etc) would answer most of the questions facing a potential interest group/GLO founder today. Once you're established and have recognition and a healthy amount of members you are in a MUCH easier position, you can do more, have more options, resources, etc.
Your comment "But it does bother me that the founders of an organization don't seem to have the independence to go about this on their own until at least the organization has been properly founded.." hits me the hardest.
I'm trying - as many of you know - to start a chapter of a Greek Letter Organisation. If I want some advice from someone on my campus about setting up a fraternity etc, TOUGH. If I want to speak to someone who is or has been in a sorority or fraternity, TOUGH. Not all of us are surrounded by the advantage of having Greek life on campus or positive greek role models on our campus or in our geographical region - I for one am not. And that's one of the reasons I post here, why I've read so many hundreds or thousands of threads, because fantastic as the international organisation I aspire to affiliate my interest group to are, I don't want to go running to them every 'five minutes' I have a question I cannot answer on my own. I'm not sure what you mean by properly founded I guess you mean an established recognised group on campus. Dardendr, if everyone waited to reach that point before not going at it solely on their own (ie asking for help) then progression (new GLOs/chapters) in the Greek world would never happen. It's not only ideas for interest parties, academic programming, community service ideas etc which an aspiring founder or embryonic interest group might seek here - sometimes it's just a little support. That's why wishinhopin's thread is long. People need that. It's hard sometimes starting up, facing barren meeting rooms where one/two or even zero people turn up, spending your own $$ on advertising, refreshments, amazing amounts of time and it takes so long to see results it's no wonder people need support. Lack of interest early on doesn't mean your idea of starting a group is a bad idea and as a prospective founder, though you believe in your idea you sometimes can't help but wonder whether other people do too or whether it's never gonna work. That's why a pep talk comes in handy sometimes, or reading a story of how someone else 'made it'. The starter of this original thread has begun to start a group, created a website, someday hopefully she'll have the sisters she desires; it doesn't mean in the meantime she'd be ill-advised to seek and listen to others' experiences of the same thing.
This is way long so apologies for that but I really felt this.
-- Richard.
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