Frustrated that everyone thinks we're a local

DPhiEAngel · #1 09-20-2003, 07:18 PM

Out on the west coast, no one has ever heard of DPhiE. I'm sure some of you from smaller NPC's as well also have this problem.

I'm an alum, and participate in an organization in which 95% of the women were greek. We were all talking about the houses everyone was in, and they were all Thetas, Kappas, Tridelts, DG's, Alpha Phis and so on.

I know this was discussed a while ago.

It's great to be at small schools, but I wish my sorority was at some more larger state schools with huge greek systems. However, problem is, you have to have huge financial resources at these schools, along with a great national reputation to colonize, and I think a lot of the smaller NPC's often get overlooked. Catch-22 I guess.

Peaches-n-Cream · #2 09-20-2003, 08:22 PM

Come to the Northeast because we are really big here.

DPhiE was founded when many of the older and larger NPC sororities had existed for about 50 years. I think that we are doing really well considering that we are the second youngest NPC sorority. I do agree that it would be great if we had chapters at colleges with huge greek systems. I think that it is only a matter of time until that happens.

33girl · #3 09-21-2003, 09:27 PM

I know exactly what you're talking about.

However, at my alma mater if you said "Thetas" people would think you meant Theta Phi Alpha. "Kappas" would be Kappa Delta Rho, and "Alpha Phi" would make people say "don't you mean Alpha Phi Omega?"

We need to be happy about where we are in the present, while looking to the future. Sure I'd love to be at every huge school, but that comes with its own headaches.

sairose · #4 09-22-2003, 12:43 AM

I know all about misunderstandings. People see me wearing my letters and think it's an honorary. THey don;t realize we're a full-fledged women's fraternity, complete with pledging, badges, ritual, etc etc.

aephi alum · #5 09-22-2003, 09:21 AM

Tell me about it...

I always have to tell people I'm an Alpha Epsilon Phi, because if I say AEPhi, 9 times out of 10 they say "huh?"

When I first came to GC, I was mistaken for an Alpha Phi who couldn't spell...

LionTamer · #6 09-22-2003, 10:53 AM

I've mentioned this before, elsewhere, but it hurt us occassionally during rush; girls who were undecided between us and Theta or DG or ChiO would talk to their friends at other schools or their families, and they would hear "Is ASA a local? You probably want to go with [Theta/DG/ChiO] - they're really big nationally....."

Peaches-n-Cream · #7 09-22-2003, 01:11 PM

As a part of the new member process, I think NMs should learn the names of all 26 NPC sororities, not just the ones on their campus. It's amazing to me how uninformed some people are regarding the NPC.

Oh wait, would that be considered hazing?

shadokat · #8 09-22-2003, 01:31 PM

Cream, you're so right

Come to the northeast, where sororities like Kappa and Theta aren't the norm but the exception, and sororities like D Phi E, AST, ASA and SDT are well known

White_Chocolate · #9 09-22-2003, 02:36 PM

phi sigs in this area get that all of the time
but i make sure that i tell everyone 'oh, it's a national sorority'

most guys don't care
you're a sorority girl and that means they hit the jackpot
you've got friends

Greekgrrl · #10 09-22-2003, 03:45 PM

In our new member education we *did* learn the names of all 26 NPC organizations, and we had a nice little chart with all their founding dates and (iirc) their entry into the NPC.

I started NME late so I can't tell you how much of an emphasis was put on it but it was there, right up front in our manual.

I can't believe there are orgs out there that don't make sure that information is going into their NM's heads!

Just a Theta's 2 cents.

~Greekgrrl

33girl · #11 09-22-2003, 04:09 PM

Good post on this subject by honeychile, from another thread:

Quote:

In a word, EDUCATION. In the push to shorten pledge/new member periods, a lot of NPC lore has been lost. I know that our initiation test had two parts, a local and national section, and we were expected to know every GLO on our campus and a good percentage of ones that weren't. You can't miss something that you don't know exists.

I would advise all pledge moms/new member moms or whatever the PC name is today, to at least give a list of ALL of the GLO sororities and fraternities to the new members. That way, when they visit another campus or Greekchat or whatever, they won't come off as a ditz.

honeychile

We had all this in our manual also and believe me I have used it more than once while on GC! (Especially for colors and jewels and such) I think it's still included in our new membership program, but it's on a CD-rom instead of a handy dandy manual.

I'm not saying you should have to memorize the names of every GLO - but seeing as NPC is our "extended family" you should at least be familiar with who your "cousins" are.

Tom Earp · #12 09-22-2003, 06:33 PM

Point well taken!

For years, LXA did put the picures of Badges in our New Associate manual. 4 pages only in Black and White. I guess they do not do that anymore!

Many of the Brothers have asked that be returned. I keep my Paedogogus open at all times at the Badge Section. In looking and rereading a TKN Pledge Manual, there are Badges of Greek Orgs who are no longer in existence, but this was 1930!

So far, the greatest tool I have seen has been by ariesrising and her list of Badges and Recruitment Pins, got all of the Major Greeks and some others! She is on GC if you wonder where I got that!

Kaydee_cutie · #13 09-22-2003, 08:55 PM

Hi there!! I just thought I would add a KD's two cents. I pledged last fall and there were a few pages in my norman shield that listed all the sororities, thier founding dates, colors, flowers, etc and pictures of all their badges and new member pins. I found it to be very interesting...

absolutuscchick · #14 09-22-2003, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kaydee_cutie
Hi there!! I just thought I would add a KD's two cents. I pledged last fall and there were a few pages in my norman shield that listed all the sororities, thier founding dates, colors, flowers, etc and pictures of all their badges and new member pins. I found it to be very interesting...

Ooh I look forward to reading about them soon in MY norman shield book!!!!!

i LOVE KAPPA DELTA!!!

AngelPhiSig · #15 09-22-2003, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sairose
I know all about misunderstandings. People see me wearing my letters and think it's an honorary. THey don;t realize we're a full-fledged women's fraternity, complete with pledging, badges, ritual, etc etc.

We have all of that in Tau Beta Sigma and we ARE honorary.

But yes people ask me if Phi Sig is national.

Sheila, at Clarion now its:

Kappas: Phi Sigma Kappa or Kappa Kappa Psi (depending on company)
Thetas: Theta Phi Alpha