Can an NPC sister put in her 2.5 cents?
I don't think it's so much a pride issue, as much as many colleges are forcing locals to go national. At my school, the only way a local can be approved is with a goal to chartering with a national organization within a certain period of time. The last local to start at my alma mater had 2 years from the time of their recognition date to be either chartered or colonized by a national sorority. When that deadline came and went, without their achieving national affiliation, they were instantly derecognized.
There are good things about being local, like the autonomy and lower dues. But it's an indescribable feeling to connect with a sister from across the country and just have that instant bond, even though you went to different schools. There are good things and bad things about nationals and locals.
One thing that pi$$es me off when I see it is derision on the part of NIC or NPC members toward locals. There are locals out there that are every bit as strong, if not stronger, than nationals. Tri-Kappa at Dartmouth has been around since 1842!!! That's longer than ANY national sorority - they must be doing something right. I also hate to go to a Greek org's web page and see nothing about their local beginnings. Yes, you're a LXA or KD or whatever now, and you should be proud, but as our parents say, don't forget where you came from!!
My sorority was local on our campus for 10 years before we went national. We may have worn different letters and practiced different rituals, but I consider those women every single bit as much my sisters as those who were initiated through the national organization. I will never stop being grateful to those women for taking the step of birthing a new organization. They laid the foundation that my sisterhood stands on.
[This message has been edited by 33girl (edited May 13, 2001).]