So you wanna be a founder...

[TheEpitome1920]

Pretend for a brief moment you aren't a member of your organization *gasp at the thought*

And you wanted to found a sorority/fraternity.
Would you select elements from established organizations or would you venture into uncharted waters?

And if you used elements from other organizations how would you go about learning the significance of certain terms prior to using them or would you just use them and create your own meaning?

I.e. would you use the word "Soror" or "Sister" without knowing why organizations use Soror vs. Sister?

[adpiucf]

If I were a collegian starting out with a core group of women, I'd hold a meeting and have a brainstorming session to discuss what our purpose should be. Based on that, and the structure of other sororities we had observed, I would appoint committees to research and offer recommendations for the following (that would be voted on by the membership:

1) Name
2) Mission Statement
3) Symbols/Colors/Open Motto
4) Philanthropy
5) Campus Involvement and Spirit
6) Academics
7) Ritual and Traditions

Once these had been decided, we would elect officers, and invite a board of faculty members to serve as our advisers. These would be honorary members who would help guide us and help us remember our goals as students and leaders.

Next, I think we would try to establish a social calendar that included mixing with both Greek groups and non-Greeks, to establish our presence and interest potential new members. With the assistance of the faculty advisers, we would create a new member program that both allowed new members the flexibility to fit sorority in with their school and outside lives, while also preparing them to become sorority leaders and outstanding members of campus.

I think that if I were a founder, listening, patience and tolerance would be three virtues that would be vital to ensuring a successful founding and establishment of a new organization.

[Rudey]

I would think darned hard about why I NEEDED to found yet another fraternity/sorority, why it was needed, and why it would thrive.

If I had the answers to that, I would come up with my own traditions all to fit what this new organization upheld.

If I'm creating yet ANOTHER greek organization that isn't different, has no vision, or anything I would copy the nicest colors, the best mascot, yada yada.

-Rudey

[msn4med1975]

Originally posted by Rudey
I would think darned hard about why I NEEDED to found yet another fraternity/sorority, why it was needed, and why it would thrive.

If I had the answers to that, I would come up with my own traditions all to fit what this new organization upheld.

If I'm creating yet ANOTHER greek organization that isn't different, has no vision, or anything I would copy the nicest colors, the best mascot, yada yada.

-Rudey

And there ya have it. The most important thing anyone wanting to FOUND a new organization to consider is why are you doing it? Is another organization really needed? Considering how many orgs are already in existence how do you expect your organization to grow and thrive, there are only so many potential members really, especially if you are targeting one community or are VERY similar to other orgs.

[aephi alum]

I was not a founder of my local sorority, but I joined very shortly after its founding. What my sisters did is pretty much what I would have done if I had been among them at the time.

- Identify a need for a GLO serving a part of the campus community that was not then being served
- Gather the core group of founders
- Gather ideas for the tangibles and intangibles
- Choose what the tangibles will be, and their meanings
- Create a pledge program and rituals
- Go through the pledge program and rituals as new members
- Start rushing so the new GLO can continue to exist and grow after the founders have graduated

During the idea-gathering phase, the group had some help from established orgs, including AEPhi and Alpha Phi Omega (one of the founders is a brother). You have to look to established orgs at that point, if for no other reason than to understand that a GLO should have certain tangibles such as colors or a flower, and to understand what is already in use by other GLOs so that you don't duplicate them too closely.

However, my sisters chose the letters, symbols, colors, etc. and their meanings themselves - venturing into uncharted waters.

As others have touched on, though, you have to be very very sure that a new org is really needed and would survive alongside the existing orgs. It's a lot like starting a business. If nobody's going to buy your product, you're not going to be in business very long. And just as it's much easier to work for an established corporation than to found your own business... it's much easier to join an established GLO rather than create your own.