Starting a new lesbian sorority

[femm_runner]

I would like to start a new lesbian sorority. I've already looked at others, even tried to join one. This is until i saw that they were not what i was seeking in my life. I strongly beleive that sisterhood should be about respecting one another. This is a very important to me and i am careful about the women i choose to welcome into my life. I take this very seriously. I've already taken some steps to forming my own sorority. I need to know what other steps i need to take. Is there a national council over lesbian social sororities. I've already decided on my mission statment, colors, crest, symbols and what they will mean. I've already researched alot, but i can't seem to move forward without knowing the rules and regulations of forming a sorority. I know this will be a hard task, but i'm know what i want and i'm very passionate about this, please help.

Thanks
femm_runner

[Senusret I]

There are soooooooooo many Lesbian sororities, sister. Are you SURE you want to start a brand new one? Like, there are a LOT! Even one or two I would recommend.

[Regina.George]

Originally Posted by femm_runner

I would like to start a new lesbian sorority. I've already looked at others, even tried to join one. This is until i saw that they were not what i was seeking in my life. I strongly beleive that sisterhood should be about respecting one another. This is a very important to me and i am careful about the women i choose to welcome into my life. I take this very seriously. I've already taken some steps to forming my own sorority. I need to know what other steps i need to take. Is there a national council over lesbian social sororities. I've already decided on my mission statment, colors, crest, symbols and what they will mean. I've already researched alot, but i can't seem to move forward without knowing the rules and regulations of forming a sorority. I know this will be a hard task, but i'm know what i want and i'm very passionate about this, please help.

Thanks
femm_runner

Q.F.P.

[IrishLake]

Where's that "like" button... for the QFP

[Elephant Walk]

I'm in full support of this.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Elephant Walk

I'm in full support of this.

I have the sneaking suspicion these aren't the Cinemax kind of lesbians.

[dreamseeker]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

There are soooooooooo many Lesbian sororities, sister. Are you SURE you want to start a brand new one? Like, there are a LOT! Even one or two I would recommend.

I was thinking the same thing while i read.

Originally Posted by Regina.George

Q.F.P.

hmm. nice highlight there.

Originally Posted by Elephant Walk

I'm in full support of this.

lol, of course you are.

Originally Posted by 33girl

I have the sneaking suspicion these aren't the Cinemax kind of lesbians.

LOL. well she said she's a "femm" so maybe hope will continue to rise () for EW

[femm_runner]

Originally Posted by Regina.George

Q.F.P.

Ok, That would be because I am the one who's starting it. If i had others with me, I would have placed "WE" "US". THanks for actually reading my post, understanding it and helping.

[kddani]

What makes your sorority different? Why should other women join it? What's in it for them? So far it seems to be all about you. You can't have a sorority with one person. Why don't you find a few other people that share your ideals to get the group started. Who the heck cares about colors, a crest, etc. if you don't have any members other than yourself?

You're putting the cart before the horse.

[EE-BO]

Originally Posted by kddani

What makes your sorority different? Why should other women join it? What's in it for them? So far it seems to be all about you. You can't have a sorority with one person. Why don't you find a few other people that share your ideals to get the group started. Who the heck cares about colors, a crest, etc. if you don't have any members other than yourself?

You're putting the cart before the horse.

This is exactly right- and femm_runner this is a common flaw that comes up on this forum when people post asking advice about starting a new sorority or fraternity.

I cannot speak for all GLOs, but in the numerous instances where I am somewhat familiar with their history- there is never just one founder. It is always a group. In my case, Beta Theta Pi, there were eight.

Also, things like mottos, colors, crest and ritual are not pre-planned. Beta's official colors, still in use today, were adopted a few decades after the fraternity's founding, and there is a special story behind it. Our badge has changed over the years- as have many other things.

Right now you have the makings of a proper starting point- you have a target audience for your membership that will set it apart and give it purpose in a general sense.

Now things need to evolve. As you make friends, perhaps at some point a group of you will be minded to create a club- something loose and not terribly defined. If you try to create a full formal organization this early with rules and rituals etc. then you are more likely than not to all end up disagreeing- especially if you have already created all of the structure in advance.

If at some you, a group of you wants to proceed- your first mission is to determine what sets you apart at your campus only from other similar groups you would be competing against for members during rush. You have already established the fact it is a lesbian sorority. Now you have to figure out why potential members should chose you over other student organizations- and not just other lesbian sororities by the way. You need to consider whether people you consider good prospective members would want to be in a sorority defined primarily by sexual preference versus other qualities.

If you can successfully find that niche and start rushing people, then it will be time to look into student organization registration, setting up a 501c3 non-profit organization etc. etc. etc.

One final note- beware the temptation to plan a major national organization right away. That is a dream for many who start GLOs- but as in the business world, the founders of an entity are almost never the ones who see it "go global", if you will. They are very different skill sets and mindsets.

If you have a compelling desire to work with others to create something at your school, it can serve you well. If you are already dreaming of creating a natiowide sorority (I say this because you asked about national oversight of lesbian sororities which I take to mean you wish to go beyond your own campus with this idea), then back to what kddani said- except I would say it is the cart, luggage and kitchen sink before the horse.

[femm_runner]

Originally Posted by kddani

What makes your sorority different? Why should other women join it? What's in it for them? So far it seems to be all about you. You can't have a sorority with one person. Why don't you find a few other people that share your ideals to get the group started. Who the heck cares about colors, a crest, etc. if you don't have any members other than yourself?

You're putting the cart before the horse.

Thanks,I've already covered that. I was simply stating, that it is what i've already done. I'm not on here to bash other sororities, I have my reasons why i don't want to join an sorority. If you just need a reason, here goes: 1. They're not very professional. 2. Always late. 3. They dont carry themselves like women. ( Not all of them just some)
I understand you want to reply to a post, but i was asking if there was a national council that had rules and regulations that i needed to follow. I havent put the cart before the horse. I know what needs to be done. Sororities every where started with at least one person having an idea. I care about the colors, crests and other items because they all have a meaning to me and other women whom i would like to welcome into my sorority would carry those same values. Thanks again for helping. What's wrong with someone just helping and answering my question? Why all of the extra stuff? I'm not expecting everyone to agree with what i'm doing, but no one has to be rude about it. Geeze. I joined this forum to interact with greeks and learn some things, guess i was wrong. I'll continue to forward with what i'm trying to do.

[kddani]

Dr. Kddani diagnoses an acute case of founderitis.

[kddani]

Originally Posted by femm_runner

Thanks,I've already covered that. I was simply stating, that it is what i've already done. I'm not on here to bash other sororities, I have my reasons why i don't want to join an sorority. If you just need a reason, here goes: 1. They're not very professional. 2. Always late. 3. They dont carry themselves like women. ( Not all of them just some)
I understand you want to reply to a post, but i was asking if there was a national council that had rules and regulations that i needed to follow. I havent put the cart before the horse. I know what needs to be done. Sororities every where started with at least one person having an idea. I care about the colors, crests and other items because they all have a meaning to me and other women whom i would like to welcome into my sorority would carry those same values. Thanks again for helping. What's wrong with someone just helping and answering my question? Why all of the extra stuff? I'm not expecting everyone to agree with what i'm doing, but no one has to be rude about it. Geeze. I joined this forum to interact with greeks and learn some things, guess i was wrong. I'll continue to forward with what i'm trying to do.

QFP

[SWTXBelle]

Originally Posted by kddani

Dr. Kddani diagnoses an acute case of founderitis.

And the prognosis?

[femm_runner]

Originally Posted by EE-BO

This is exactly right- and femm_runner this is a common flaw that comes up on this forum when people post asking advice about starting a new sorority or fraternity.

I cannot speak for all GLOs, but in the numerous instances where I am somewhat familiar with their history- there is never just one founder. It is always a group. In my case, Beta Theta Pi, there were eight.

Also, things like mottos, colors, crest and ritual are not pre-planned. Beta's official colors, still in use today, were adopted a few decades after the fraternity's founding, and there is a special story behind it. Our badge has changed over the years- as have many other things.

Right now you have the makings of a proper starting point- you have a target audience for your membership that will set it apart and give it purpose in a general sense.

Now things need to evolve. As you make friends, perhaps at some point a group of you will be minded to create a club- something loose and not terribly defined. If you try to create a full formal organization this early with rules and rituals etc. then you are more likely than not to all end up disagreeing- especially if you have already created all of the structure in advance.

If at some you, a group of you wants to proceed- your first mission is to determine what sets you apart at your campus only from other similar groups you would be competing against for members during rush. You have already established the fact it is a lesbian sorority. Now you have to figure out why potential members should chose you over other student organizations- and not just other lesbian sororities by the way. You need to consider whether people you consider good prospective members would want to be in a sorority defined primarily by sexual preference versus other qualities.

If you can successfully find that niche and start rushing people, then it will be time to look into student organization registration, setting up a 501c3 non-profit organization etc. etc. etc.

One final note- beware the temptation to plan a major national organization right away. That is a dream for many who start GLOs- but as in the business world, the founders of an entity are almost never the ones who see it "go global", if you will. They are very different skill sets and mindsets.

If you have a compelling desire to work with others to create something at your school, it can serve you well. If you are already dreaming of creating a natiowide sorority (I say this because you asked about national oversight of lesbian sororities which I take to mean you wish to go beyond your own campus with this idea), then back to what kddani said- except I would say it is the cart, luggage and kitchen sink before the horse.

Thanks,
That's what i'm trying to do. My point is, all of this started from somewhere. I know that it can't just be me. I'm asking a friend to help me with this process, as we both would really like to do this. I like to plan things out, know what needs to be done before i can move forward. I'm not just deciding to do this on a whim. I've been putting this together for a few months. I didnt want to start anything and then find out i'm breaking some laws/rules. I asked about the national level becasue, maybe there was someone i could talk to about this. I'm not trying to go national,yet. I just want to make sure i'm following giudelines.