Benefits of being Nationally "recognized"

[Greekopedia]

I'm curious as to the benefits of being nationally recognized by the NIC or any other council for that matter.

Do individial members get tangible benefits from having their orgnization be a part of the NIC??

[Kevin]

There are a lot of benefits including but not limited to assistance in securing financing for real estate, legal assistance, better access to insurance, national programming, a network of alums and HQ employees that can be contacted when you chapter is in crisis, national conventions, guidance on risk management, networking after graduation, etc.

None of that comes with being a local organization.

As far as the NIC specifically, there aren't any benefits that I know of besides the random NIC sponsored event. They were supposed to advocate for national fraternities, but in my humble opinion, they've been doing a piss poor job.

[honeychile]

Speaking for the NPC, they set boundries of Recruitment (and other) behavior that can lead to tangible benefits. Obviously, a chapter of 100 people is easier financially to operate than one with 20, and NPC's goal is to level the playing field, so to speak. NPC on the local level sets the Recruitment standards to "frills" or "no-frills" Recruitment, making a small chapter less conspicuous for the lack of party favors, etc.

As for the individual GLOs, most, if not all, NPC sororities have a set philanthropy - a great boost to the dying art of volunteerism. Also, many have foundations for scholarships (both for tuition and just life in general) or programs such as AOII's Life Loyal or the Alpha Delta Pi Foundation, both of which insure a lifelong commitment to both the members and the sorority.

[g41965]

On balance national affiliation is a positive.
The negatives involve financial issues primarily, dues have really gone up in the last 20 years.
On a positive note having seminars, a national magazine ,other chapters to visit and travelling consultants can stimulate a chapter to improve. When systems or chapters have gone local they seem to decline over a period of years.

[MysticCat]

Originally posted by g41965
On a positive note having seminars, a national magazine, other chapters to visit and travelling consultants can stimulate a chapter to improve. When systems or chapters have gone local they seem to decline over a period of years.

A GLO can have all of those things without being part of a national umbrella group like the NIC, which is what the OP seems to be asking about -- not national vs. local, but affiliated with a national (international) council/conference like the NIC vs. not affiliated.

Many fraternities have pulled out of the NIC from time to time over the years, usually returning later. Both Kappa Sigma and Phi Delta Theta have pulled out of the NIC recently, presumably deciding, for the reason stated by ktsnake, that the benefits didn't warrant the costs.

[g41965]

Your right I should have read more carefully!

[Tom Earp]

NIC is just that NIC!

Dont do Stuff! Well seem to blow a lot of smoke!

Maybe some others should take a look a NIC! Drop like a Hot Tater!

[KSigkid]

Originally posted by ktsnake
As far as the NIC specifically, there aren't any benefits that I know of besides the random NIC sponsored event. They were supposed to advocate for national fraternities, but in my humble opinion, they've been doing a piss poor job.

Probably a big reason we (meaning Kappa Sig) pulled out a couple of years ago.

[Greekopedia]

Must your nationals pay any dues to be part of the NIC?

[MysticCat]

Originally posted by Greekopedia
Must your nationals pay any dues to be part of the NIC?

Yes. Not sure what they are now, but a few years back, they were over $10,000 annually. One of the reasons, as I understand, that we (Phi Mu Alpha) decided not to pursue NIC membership.

[tallgreekalum]

I'm not sure that you would meet the membership criteria. Are you mutually exclusive(Do you accept members who also belong to social fraternites)? This would preclude you from NIC (or, I believe NPC) It's called the comity clause.

[MysticCat]

Originally posted by tallgreekalum
I'm not sure that you would meet the membership criteria. Are you mutually exclusive(Do you accept members who also belong to social fraternites)? This would preclude you from NIC (or, I believe NPC) It's called the comity clause.

Which is why I said "one of the reasons." Nationally, we currently allow initiation of members of other social fraternities, but not of other music fraternities. Chapters are mutually exclusive vis a vis other social fraternities if they have joined the IFC on their campuses, which many have done.

Mutual exclusivity is one of the issues that would have to be worked out if we were to seek NIC membership. There would other issues as well. Thus, the hefty dues were "one of the reasons."

[MysticCat]

Originally posted by AXiD670
But what about KKPsi? I thought there was now some sort of understanding about initiating into both.

Good point.

The actual language in our governing documents is that no man can be initiated "who is a member of any other secret national fraternal society in music." At one point, we had an agreement with Kappa Kappa Psi allowing for mutual membership, which was predicated on the understanding that Kappa Kappa Psi was an honorary GLO and we were professional. That agreement was entered into a decade or so prior to our decision (in the 1980s) to return to our roots as a social rather than professional fraternity. It is my understanding that we subsequently withdrew from the agreement with Kappa Kappa Psi. Frankly, I'm not sure what the current status is regarding dual initiations.

[SurfinDBeach]

There's no doubt that us National (International) fraternities have benefits from being just that...

But it makes me wonder if the national councils (including Panhellenic) get way too overboard and power-happy with their strict regulations?

Perhaps it's necessary to uphold the politically correct, P.R. minded image (I would know, i'm a P.R. major), but when I see the ADDITIONAL freedom that CULTURAL Fraternity and Sororities have in comparison, it makes me wonder if our councils are going overboard...

And YES, I am talking REAL... I'm talking about risk management, the definitions of hazing, etc...

With the regulations now, the Greek systems, ESPECIALLY the Panhellenic sororities, don't resemble the traditional greek systems at all anymore...

In one case, a friend of mine a member of a prominent sorority (will go unnamed obviously) here told me she didn't know the Greek alphabet because they couldn't be taught it (it was considered hazing).
No one can be called pledges anymore, because it's considered Hazing...

I've heard of parts of traditional initiation rituals being TAKEN OUT in the presence of advisors, because however innocent it is, it's considered hazing...

Don't get me wrong, I understand the P.R. campaign... I understand the negative connotations of some parts of traditional greek systems...

BUT PEOPLE, it's getting ridiculous... Almost like all the tradition is being cut out... And i'm not talking about the hard stuff that used to be present, i'm talking about just learning the alphabet or telling a candidate what to do in public... Or leaving a part of a ritual in - not taking it out because it required someone entering the room with her eyes covered...

Yes, I know men are more laxed with their regulations in general, but sororities included, it's getting overboard...

When I see a national latino fraternity able to march their "pledges" around at a homecoming celebration, locked back to chest with uniformed hooded sweatshirts, and screaming chants in unison (not to mention standing locked and still in the scorching son for hours in front of the whole student body), I wonder...

BECAUSE i'm dang sure that if one of us Traditional national fraternities did that, we'd catch immediate flack from EVERY level - top to bottom...

Just a thought...

[jubilance1922]

Originally posted by SurfinDBeach

When I see a national latino fraternity able to march their "pledges" around at a homecoming celebration, locked back to chest with uniformed hooded sweatshirts, and screaming chants in unison (not to mention standing locked and still in the scorching son for hours in front of the whole student body), I wonder...

BECAUSE i'm dang sure that if one of us Traditional national fraternities did that, we'd catch immediate flack from EVERY level - top to bottom...

Just a thought...

This is just a thought: folks have to follow the rules and regulations set up by their organization. If your org decides that Act X is hazing and prohibits it, then you cannot and should not do it. Your orgs rules have no bearing on anyone else.

If Latino orgs (I'm only mentioning them because you did) decide that some acts are ok, then why should they be concerned that your org doesn't? Worry about following the rules of your org, and let other folks worry about the rules of theirs.