National versus Local Fraternities

[SigTau148]

I'm in a national fraternity and there is some debate within my chaper that it would be beneficial to us disassociate from nationals and become an independent local chapter. I was hoping someone could give me some information or advice on whether it would be beneficial or detrimental to the members of my chaper. Thanks

[DGPhoney]

hey Sigtau148,
At my old University, many Fraternities had did the same thing(it was kinda like the domino effect ) Although they all did them for different reasons. Some were very happy as being a "Localized Chapter" but others were not. The ones that were happy were happy for the reason that they were goverened by their own rules, agenda and time frame, rather then one that goes by a National Headquarters.
Honestly, I say weigh your options, whats benefical and whats not. Look at it from all angles. Also see what polices and procedures might change due to your status by your university.
Well , I hope that helps a little bit, I wish you all the best of luck in making the decision.
DGP~Honey~

[Kevin]

It has positives and negatives both ways. If your chapter has been around a long time and you go 'local' you'll probably be alienating a lot of alumni (depending on how much financial support you get from them this could be a bad thing). Also, if that's Sigma Tau Gamma, it's a great national organization they have a great bunch of guys at my school (they're a smaller chapter but have a pretty good rep).

Your national office usually has in mind what's best for its long term interests. Usually your chapter's existance is important to them and they'll make decisions for you that they think are you your own best interest.

Also, some campuses don't allow locals so that's something you'll want to check.

I guess to summ it all up, if you're only doing this to help solve some sort of immediate need then it's probably not in your best interest. If you think it'll be long-term beneficial for you then go for it!

LHT
Kevin
MT #5
University of Central Oklahoma

[SigTau148]

some of my brothers are pissed off for three main reasons. First, they think nationals missappropriates funds, (they just spent 7 million dollars on a pavillion, while our house is falling apart). Second they cater to a select few chapters and treat them better than the others. Third, we had our charter stolen by some burglars and it took nationals 9 months to replace it. Many members took that as a slap in the face. Personally, i agree with some of their complaints but is disassociating from nationals or trying to hook up with a new national the answer? apparantly my brothers that have been trying to push the disassociation have spoken with our university advisors and learned that there are no university regulations or rules that would negatively affect becoming local. still, it does not seem appealing ot me, i enjoy the feeling of being apart of a national organization. how do i change their minds and prevent them from persuading others? i feel that if we localize then we will eventually dissolve, i want to be able to come back in 20 years and still have my fraternity here.

[Kevin]

If you do decide to disassociate, bear in mind that the process of affiliating with a national fraternity is a pain in the rear-end (been there, done that). Took us 3 years to complete.

There are many many pros to being part of a national organization. First off, you'll still have your alums. Even if your chapter does go dormant if you're part of a national group there's still something there to REcolonize. You won't be starting from scratch, so that in itself I think you'd find helpful.

HQ plays favorites because it's in their best interest to. They can't afford to take many risks (the assets of a fraternal organization usually aren't bottomless) so the risks they do take are small. Your larger chapters with which they play favorites have most likely been around a long time and have a long standing reputation for keeping a high level of men, etc... So from a financial standpoint they actually are making money by investing in those chapters.

Remember, no matter how crappy things are right now they can be better in a heartbeat. You start getting organized and competitive and you could be back on top in hardly any time at all. The Greek System (at least at my school) is fickle like that.

The only problem with reassociating with another national GLO would be that you would all have to formally turn in your badges, etc... I know it says very specifically in Sigma Nu's Law that dual membership is not allowed under any circumstances (probably the same for most other national GLO's I'd imagine)..

To summarize, I've seen my chapter go from 12 men up to 30 and get a charter in the 3 years I've been here. We went from the bottom to the top (maybe not in #'s but we win stuff!) With hard work and the right kind of message I think it's something that anyone can do.

LHT
Kevin Taylor
MT #5
University of Central Oklahoma

[theta sig agd]

I dont know how men's fraternities handle this but can you dissaffiliate with one Nat GLO and then reaffiliate with another? Doesnt that conflict with NIC in reguards to ritual and all??

[TriSigmaTX]

I agree Theta Sig AGD, I would contact NIC (www.nicindy.org) and ask about that. I'm pretty sure if you "disassociate" you wouldn't be able to use the Sigma Tau Gamma letters and you'd have to return your charter (if this is even possible) and I'm almost 100% positive you could never belong to another NIC fraternity if you ever wanted to (unless you were not initiated).

I know the issue is going Local, but if you did that, Sigma Tau Gamma would dissappear (the national organization would not let you stay as STG's, they'd take that away, although you would feel you are, if you disassociate, the national organization would no longer be liable for you, hence you must lose all contact/association with them).

On a side note, about housing? Do you know for a fact that it's the National organizations responsibility to update housing for it's chapters? Coming from a past HQ staff member here...housing is one area that organizations try to stay away from because of liability. I doubt that Sigma Tau Gamma has a huge housing fund where they just update chapter houses and buy new one's all over the country. I'm pretty positive that that's up to your chapter and your alumni.

Good luck, I'd suggest if you want to see Sigma Tau Gamma on your campus in 20 years, then stay with your nationals...and if they are misappropriating funds? Someone will catch them...but I doubt that's the case (they can buy a 7 million dollar pavillion, it's perfectly legal and no misappropriation of funds...it was probably just something that the executive council thought was good for the fraternity).

[33girl]

Actually, I have heard (though not common) of entire fraternity chapters defaulting from ABC to XYZ. From what I understand NIC does not have the same type of mutual agreements that NPC does.

[OnePlus69Is70]

having been in a fraternity that disassociated, i can tell you that once you are initiated into one NIC fraternity, you cannot be initiated into another. So if you chose to leave, you would have to wait years to join another group.