Nu Phi Mu?????

[cutetiger]

I'm just curious what this term means. All of city council keeps refering to us as the Nu Phi Mu chapter. Is it because of our ages or because we just happen to be the new chapter on the block? The few people I have asked don't really seem to know.

B.

[betasiglady]

It was to my understanding from my chapter sisters that NFM chapters were specifically on college campus'. I think it tells you all about it in the Book of Beta Sigma Phi or Invitation to Life.


Sandi

[JudyK]

Nu Phi Mu chapters were not just on college campus. I joined a Nu Phi Mu chapter 36 yrs ago and then it was like a "beginner" chapter!!ha We were in the age group given above---some in college, some newly weds and working a job. A Nu Phi Mu chapter had an adviser---a member from another chapter with more years of BSP experience. I loved my Nu Phi Mu chapter! I believe I got a great basis in BSP----and most of us in the chapter stayed longer that the age limit just because we did like the chapter and hated to move on/up. Then the age limits for joining ANY chapter were lifted and most younger women chose to join an already established chapter of higher degree. Nu Phi Mu chapters seem to be fading away now as most join a Ritual of Jewels chapter.

Love, JudyK

[Krista#78]

Alrighty, as far as I know, the Nu Phi Mu chapters were for starter chapters. I believe that there used to be a rule where you could only join a chapter of which you belonged to that degree. Because you can join as a Ritual of the Jewel member at the age of 22, being of the Nu Phi Mu degree is often overlooked. Our chapter happens to be on a college campus, but by no means do i think that it has to be a Nu Phi Mu or on a campus. According to The Book of Beta Sigma Phi, the Nu Phi Mu Degree is the first degree of Beta Sigma Phi, and Invitation to Life merely says that Nu Phi Mu is where most members ages 18 to 22 would join.

I know that I am a little worried about moving out to seattle after my college graduation because I am only of the Nu phi mu degree, will be 22, and won't be eligible for progression until after April.

I hope that helps, and is right!

[erica812]

As far as I know, there are very few Nu Phi Mu chapters left. When Beta Sigma Phi was a new organization, many young women were joining, and this special degree was created so that new young members could be "mentored," so to speak, by older more established chapters. Nu Phi Mu is not a required degree. When I decided to start a chapter (as a non-member), I was discouraged from starting a Nu Phi Mu rather than a Ritual chapter because having the Nu Phi Mu designation would limit who could join. We couldn't pledge anyone over 23, and I was already on my way to being 24! Therefore...once the founding members of my chapter finished their pledge period (which we have), we became a Ritual of Jewels chapter.

So while you are right that Nu Phi Mu is a beginner chapter, if you were to join Beta Sigma Phi, you probably would not start at the Nu Phi Mu degree.

Erica

P.S. Little tip for everyone...All Nu Phi Mu chapter names begin with Phi.

[OrigamiTulip]

A couple of years ago, I went through the chapter listing in the Torch, and counted all of the Nu Phi Mu Chapters. There were only 6 at the time. I know one of them is at Kettering University, 3 are in Canada, and I think one is in Texas. I don't remember where the last chapter is.

I haven't seen any new NPM chapters in the Torch's monthly new chapter announcement, so I don't think that there are more than 6 chapters at this point. However, there is a good chance that there are less than 6 now, because as members progress to the next degree, they frequently convert their chapter to the next degree as well...