SO CONFUSED about going National

[civickitty]

I am a Sister of Gamma Chi a local founded at St. John's in NYC. We were the first sorority at SJU and were founded in 1956. We have been thinking about going national. We have no idea how to start. What do we need to begin? Like, how many other people do we need? Do we need people in other states? How many other states? How many people in those states? We are just lost. If anyone can help please let me know.

[33girl]

Are you saying that:

A) you want to make Gamma Chi into a national sorority, or

B) you want all the present members of Gamma Chi to join an existing national sorority, such as Alpha Kappa Alpha or Tri-Delta?

Because the 2 processes are very different!

[SATX*APhi]

Originally posted by 33girl
Are you saying that:

A) you want to make Gamma Chi into a national sorority, or

B) you want all the present members of Gamma Chi to join an existing national sorority, such as Alpha Kappa Alpha or Tri-Delta?

Because the 2 processes are very different!

I think she means A.

[White_Chocolate]

she'd need to contact the local panhell representative

[archangel689]

Originally posted by civickitty
I am a Sister of Gamma Chi a local founded at St. John's in NYC. We were the first sorority at SJU and were founded in 1956. We have been thinking about going national. We have no idea how to start. What do we need to begin? Like, how many other people do we need? Do we need people in other states? How many other states? How many people in those states? We are just lost. If anyone can help please let me know.

Question... why do you want to go national? I am amazed at the people who display interest in going national. Your organization is over 50 years old, it's already self suficient. If you want my advice, stay local. If you want the advice of others on my campus, stay local.

Why? Becauase at least at my school, locals have certain benifits:

1. You can vote how you like in IFC/Panhel without your national strong arming your vote on certain issues (we have had trouble with this in our IFC).
2. Dues are cheeper (all locals dues are 100-150% cheeper at duquesne). Overall it costs less.
3. No national convention bullshit to attend (which costs money).
4. You get the recogonition of a FOUNDER of an alpha chapter of a sorority/fraternity. This is probably the BIGGEST reason why.
5. Your national isnt trying to override the alumni board and tell it what to do...
6. You dont have consitutional limits placed on you (ie: you can write your consitution without having to worry about national clauses saying you cant do this or that).
7. It is a much more of a learning experience... you don't get the same amount of learning going on if you have national officers comin in and recruiting entire floors of dormitories for your group in like a week. (like one national on our campus did--our national made us do all the work by ourselves)

8. No Restrictions on Pledge programs... some nationals require that pledging be no less then 6 weeks... on average at duquesne, pledging is much shorter for the locals (and way more effecient, and less taxing on the group) then the nationals. One local's pledging is 7 days, one is four weeks.

The bottom line says: which would you rather be: your own organization that does what it wants, or an organization that is subservant to a national body.
--

Now, if you wish to make your sorority a national one (ie: expanding from your campus). I think it's an AWESOME idea!

You can start by going to schools in the area and posting flyers and other things... schools which dont have greek systems at all are easy pickings... Charters are granted by the alpha chapter until there are enough chapters to warrent a national office being formed...

[AEPhiSierra]

Now I don't want to turn this thread into a brawl or anything but i definitely have to address each of archangels comments:

1) the national organization isn't there to strong arm you or boss you around. while i only have experience with my national my dealings with my national office as a chapter president have been very pleasant. if the chapter needs anything they want to and do help you.

2) yes, dues are more but you pay more to get more. on our campus national dues are about $50-60 more than locals but think about all the thing it pays a national offfice and its staff, a traveling consultant, a national magazine, insurance, scholarship, convention -- all of these are great resourses!

3) AEPhi's national convention was amazing!!! I learned so much and met some of the coolest women around.

4) ok its nice to be a founder but its just as worthwhile to join an organization as a sister who isn't a founder

5) i have never really gotten this vibe of my national trying to boss my chapter around all the time. i don't how this idea of such an antagonistic relationship between national offices and chapters got into your head but its false.

6) the consitutional rules are their to strenthen, organize and support our organization and its chapters and they have never been a problem for us and i didn't hear any chapters complain about them at convention either.

7) as a national sorority member i have the opportunity to get involved on a national level -- that is what i call leadership experience. i don't know what you're talking about with national offices recruiting chapter's members. i find that unusual and unlikely.

8) i personally don't know how each national regulates pledging, that definitely varies from national to national, though again i have to say that has never been a problem with us either. but that brings me to another point:

each national is different, there 26 national sororities to choose from and you can choose to affiliate with an organization with similar goals and ideals.
My campus has local sororities so I have seen the benefits and disadvantage of being a national and i am soooo glad that i am in a national sorority. 3.5 million national sorority members world wide can't be wrong!!!

wow - this was my longest post ever but things needed to be said. Well, anyway if you need any help in your pursuit civickitty let me know - i am former president of panhel at brooklyn college which is pretty close to st. john's so i am glad to help out another new yorker

[SmartBlondeGPhB]

As an involved alumna of my organization, I have to agree on all points with AEPhi. I advise my alma mater and I've never seen any antagonistic relationship between the chapters and IH.

Now of course, if the collegiate chapter does something they shouldn't (usually involving hazing or partying) IH does sanction them. But even that's not "strong armed"