Unusual: Founded by "three elderly gentlemen"

[hoosier]

I hope this doesn't degenerate, but my fraternity and every one I have heard about (except for that Banta guy who started a couple sororities) were started by college-age people - in most cases after some other GLO didn't take them.

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From the DLP web site:

In Washington, DC, in October 1986, three elderly gentlemen established a trust to create a social fraternity that wouldn't discriminate based on sexual orientation; the donors regretted such an alternative organization did not exist during their formative years. As Trustee, Vernon L. Strickland, III, administered the founding of Delta Lambda Phi National Social Fraternity, creating its crest, selecting its mascot and designing its rituals. In April 1987, Strickland initiated 24 men into the Fraternity's Alpha Chapter-Delta Lambda Phi was born.


Since then, Delta Lambda Phi, a fraternity for gay, bisexual and progressive men, has become one of the country's fastest growing fraternities with chapters throughout the country.


In this section we invite you to learn more about our organizational information and our symbols. _

[queensophia]

LOVE IS THE SALVATION OF ALL MAN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

[MysticCat]

Originally posted by hoosier
I hope this doesn't degenerate, but my fraternity and every one I have heard about (except for that Banta guy who started a couple sororities) were started by college-age people - in most cases after some other GLO didn't take them.

There are cases where faculty or college staff were involved in founding a fraternity or sorority. In the case of my own fraternity, the man we consider "The Father of the Sinfonia" and our "primary" founder was not a student but rather was the burser of the New England Conservatory. He was, of course, joined by a number of students who are also considered founders.

Charles Richardson's role in helping found Chi Omega also comes to mind.

But this is the first time that I have heard of older men (or women) with no immediate connection to a college or university founding a GLO; it's also the first time that I have heard of an instance where no student were involved as founders.

[bruinaphi]

Originally posted by hoosier
were started by college-age people - in most cases after some other GLO didn't take them.

Not all groups were started b/c some other GLO didn't take their founding members. Alpha Phi was started by 10 of the first female students to be admited to Syracuse University. They were looking for the solidarity of a group of women so they conceived the idea of a secret society similar to the fraternities that the men had formed on campus.

I don't think that what those men did was all that different. When they were collegiates they longed for a group that would accept them and established a trust so that future generations would find what they were looking for so long ago.

[GeekyPenguin]

Originally posted by bruinaphi
Not all groups were started b/c some other GLO didn't take their founding members. Alpha Phi was started by 10 of the first female students to be admited to Syracuse University. They were looking for the solidarity of a group of women so they conceived the idea of a secret society similar to the fraternities that the men had formed on campus.

Good point! Gamma Phi Beta had two founders who turned down "bids" to Alpha Phi and later founded their own organization. There was actually quite a bit of controversy about this back in the day, there's a section on it in our history book. I don't think it's inconceivable that there were some Alpha Gams who turned down membership in APhi or GPhiB to help found AGD, either.

[Tom Earp]

GeekyP.

Very good point!

We in the semi literate age of high tech and travel must remember, back then, people rode by train to meet with people not just call them on the Wonderful phone to start another Chapter. They did not have cars as they were not wealthy. They worked in areas of nearness and easiness to get to. So then a Core area of who is strong where.
Warren Cole and some of the Original Founders wanted to be Known as a National Fraternity, so a Brother was sent to the Un. Of Cal.(Berkley) to start a Chapter there. The Ritual was rad by The Brother There and they were Initiated.

Time and expense, were the major factors for Greek Organizations to expand out of thier Local Foundings.

I for one never knew about all of the Soroitys and NHPC Oganizations until G C. Yes I did know about the All Greek Organizations at My Campus, but not the scope of which each one is and where they came from!

What an elightenment this site has been!

[DG515]

Delta Gamma was indeed aided, but not started by "some Banta guy". His name is George Banta and he is the only male initate in the Delta Gamma Fraternity. He was initated so that he could travel and help my organization to grow. So, I guess he was a big part in making it what it is today, but he did not start it. Although I do ask that from now on, we give him the respect he deserves and refer to him by his name and not "some Banta guy". You wouldn't much like it if i referred to important people in your organizations history as "what's his face"
Thanks! :-)
Greek Love and Mine,
mandie

[hoosier]

Greetings DG 15

This Hoosier grew up on St. Joe Rd. in Ft. Wayne, and my parents now live off Wash. Center Rd.

The Banta family was involved in Greek Life for many years, and there were a bunch of them. At my age I'm lucky to remember "Banta" at all, and their first names are long gone.

It seems like they were involved in several sororities, weren't they?

Was George a Phi Delt?

Where did you go to school?

[DG515]

ahhh st joe and wash cntr......::smiles:: i hate those darn congested roads......I was just simply stating a point that "that Banta guy" kind of came across a tad bit rude :-) he was indeed a phi delt fom what I remember, but then again it's 2:30 in the morning and I'm sick and on meds.....
I went to HS at Leo and I'm currently at IPFW
lol...go dons
-Mandie