Is Being International important?

As a member of an International Fraternity north of the border, I often wonder if our Canadian pressence is acknowledged and respected by vast the majority of chapters in the U.S. For example, while attending our annual conference many brothers were amazed that Canadian chapters even existed. I know that most of the American chapters refer to headquarters as "National" where as we call it "International"; I ask the question: Is being International a major selling point while rushing on campuses in the U.S, and are International fraternities and sororities held in higher regard for being more widespread throughout North America?
Drop in a reply. If you are International, does it help you? What are your Canadian chapters like? If you are National, would it help you?
Lates,
Jamie


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Sigma Pi Fraternity- Come find us, before your girlfriends do.

[Billy Optimist]

I know that in the fraternity I am rushing, and will hopefully be pledging, that all brothers are treated equally and with respect for everyone. I'm sure this holds true for the chapeter(s?) in Canada as well. I think that maybe most people call their HQs nationals out of habit. Being international I don't think is so much of a selling point as is the number of chapters overall.

[SkipRock]

We have always refered to HQ as Nationals and LCA is International. We don't really use it as selling point to rush new guys. But definately include it in our Fraternity Education.

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David Treat
Lambda Chi Alpha
University of Nebraska at Omaha

[33girl]

Nice sig, Valoise.

I think it would be neat to be international and it would definitely rule for road trips, but I think when people are looking at statistics as "selling points", they look more at number of chapters than international presence. I know D Phi E is one of the "smaller" sororities but they are international, as they have several chapters in Canada.

Heck, there are some orgs that are (mainly) stuck in one area of the US and it would be a major coup if they got a chapter in the West or Northeast, let alone Canada.

Heck, there are some orgs that are (mainly) stuck in one area of the US and it would be a major coup if they got a chapter in the West or Northeast, let alone Canada.

I see what you are saying, but when you look at the larger greek organizations (based on numbers), most of them are International. Do you think that these organizations approached Canadian students in order to market their society on a larger scale, or do you think that students approached those organizations based on their reputation and American success. What greek society are you in? Yes, road trips are AMAZING! We always have a good time visiting the U.S chapters, the sorority girls that we meet are always very polite and courteous.
Lates,
Jamie



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Sigma Pi Fraternity- Come find us, before your girlfriends do.

[Miami1839]

Hey Val,

One of my pledge brothers real older brother is a Sigma Pi Alum. We went down to Virginia Tech one time when his older brother was president (Spring 94). We had a great time. I do think the Canadian presence is highly regarded but I dont think its a selling point. I agree with SkipRock. For us its used more during Fraternity Education. We have a few chapters in Canada. I dont really think the organizations approached them either way. Maybe the later. I think its a more simple reason that the organizations just want to expand. I dont believe one is better than the other. I love each and every one of my brothers.

Kevin
Beta Theta Pi Alum
Epsilon Mu

[shadokat]

Thanks for the plug 33girl! Yes, D Phi E does have several Canadian chapters, and they are all successful. At our convention, we sing both the U.S. anthem, and the Canadian anthem. Women know that we have chapters in Canada, but until you meet them in person, they don't understand what it means to be international. Those Canadian girls rocked, and we had a blast. And hey, now I know the Canadian national anthem! OOOOOOOOO Canada

You matter Valoise, and the only reason we call our HQ National is because that's what we've always said. But let a HQ person hear you say we're a National sorority, and they'll correct you in a heartbeat!

Originally posted by 33girl:
Nice sig, Valoise.

I think it would be neat to be international and it would definitely rule for road trips, but I think when people are looking at statistics as "selling points", they look more at number of chapters than international presence. I know D Phi E is one of the "smaller" sororities but they are international, as they have several chapters in Canada.

Heck, there are some orgs that are (mainly) stuck in one area of the US and it would be a major coup if they got a chapter in the West or Northeast, let alone Canada.

[Lil_G]

Hey valoise,

shouts out from the nation's capital. I think many of the organizations that have a strong canadian content were approached by the interest groups and not the fraternity.

I know the large fraternities (sigma chi with 9 chapters, kappa sig with 5, phi delts with 10) have developed canadian foundations for tax relief purposes. In addition, most that have a strong canadian presence take dues at par which is another strong selling point.

You can even look to Wilfred Laurier's dean of greek life that contacted the biggest fraternities (lxa, KS) with canadian presence for expansion onto their campus.

Mind you there are some fraternities with almost no can. presence (e.g. SAE only has one and SigEp doesn't have any). I geuss a fraternity must be willing to expand into Canada.

[mccoyred]

Most NPHC (if not all) orgs have 'international' chapters in Africa, Asia and Europe (I don't personally know of any in Latin America, Canada or Australia). We consider ourselves National orgs and refer to headquarters as 'National(s)'. I guess that it is just semantics.

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MCCOYRED

Dynamic
Salient
Temperate

Mu Psi '86
BaltCo Alumnae

[Alie549]

I think the question has a different angle for women.

I chose to pledge a local sorority because I felt that many of the rules that Panhallenic forces international sororities to conform to are outdated and anachronistic. As a woman, I feel that I should be subjected to the same treatment as fraternity members....That means no stricter drinking rules at mixers, more liberal rush and pledging policies, etc.

I believe this is why so many girls are now choosing to go local... aside from the financial incentives.

Its not that I don't have any respect for international groups (my mother is alpha phi), I just don't have any intention of following a double standard.

[BrianMUDU]

Unlike many others, we actually call our headquarters "international". I don't know of anyone that has ever referred to them as "nationals".

[AGDLynn]

Alpha Gamma Delta installed Tau Chapter at the University of Toronto in 1919. Since then we have installed several other chapters across Canada. CanadaJen or other "Northern" AGDs would have to tell you more since I'm not up on Canadian ways or geography.

Our fartherest U.S. Western Chapter is Delta Sigma, the only NPC group at the University of Hawaii. The chapter was installed in 1992 but the Alumnae Chapter has been around since 1936!!!

I can't wait until we install a chapter in Alaska! My hubby was born there before it became a State. Maybe I could talk him into letting me go to installation.

As Lynn said we have numerous chapters in Canada (I think 7 or 9).In Alpha Gamma Delta we use the term Internationals. I havenever heard any Alpha Gam use otherwise, besides saying IHQ. I think being International is a big deal to us, but I dont think we use it as a big selling point, but its never hurts us to say that we have the largest international presence in the NPC. I think it would be really sweet though if we expanded to European, Asian, Latin and African countries.

As far as the anarchist and double standard thing goes,I think most sororities and fraternities (many have gone dry) tend to adopt the same kind of policy and that one is no stricter than the other. No drinking means no drinking. What you have to remember is whether a chapter wants to follow those rules or not and how much of it they follow.

[Betarulz!]

I know that one of Beta's top chapters is the one at U of British Columbia. They have some really awesome t-shirts that say "Canadian Kai" and has a Beta Dragon inside the Maple Leaf...they traded them to some of the guys in my chapter during convention.

I have to agree its not really a selling point for us when we rush. However all the houses on my campus with the exception of one Sorority are all National/international organizations.

As for if it helps us, I'm sure it does as I mentioned before the BC chapter is awesome, having won the top award for a Beta chapter for three consecutive years. Also our chapter at Toronto is an one of the important points in our history and lore, their scenarios exemplery of mutual assistance and brotherhood, so that's something that all pledges in our chapter learn about.

[Coramoor]

My big, who graduated last semester, recently gave me all of his Beta shirts. One of them is from the Canadian Chapter, like the one that Betarulz described.