Visiting other chapters

[UNFSigmaChi]

I was just wondering if members of other fraternities and sororities go hang out with people at other chapters. I know i personally stop by the house if im nearby a chapter and hang out or go to a party if there is one that night. A lot of memebers i know in other fraternities and sororities are always like,"why would you do that?" or "you don't know or have anything in common with them." Maybe its just another cool thing about being a sig, but we have brothers from as far away as California come to parties, especially around spring break time and they are treated the same way as brothers from my own chapter and visa versa...and the thing we have in common is our ritual. You don't have to know who the dude is, but if he's wearing letters you know you got a friend and a brother who will treat you as if you were a chaptermate. Im just curious why I personally never see these amongst other fraternities and sororities...i do see and hear of ZTA's and KD's hanging out with other chapters as well.

[kmullini]

I've visited other Beta chapters. At least if I'm in area. We have a policy that you have to let the chapter know in advance though. I agree with your point. Initiation binds us all. At least I know that for certin in Beta. I am treated as a member of the chapter at any other school I visit. We're all brothers. Not just as a chapter or just for 4 years. Road trips have been some of my best times. I dont know why you havent seen it with others. Chapters do vary though from school to school though.

[This message has been edited by kmullini (edited December 10, 2000).]

[SoCalGirl]

I make a point of helping out both of our chapters in San Diego with formal rush. So I've definitely seen how different two chapters can be. It's like night and day. I've also talked to other alumnae and realize that it would be very difficult to find two "identical" chapters. I would love the opportunity to meet and hang out with girls from other chapters though.

Last year during spring break I had the opportunity to hang out with some Greeks from UNLV, but wasn't able to chat with any from my sorority. Eventhough I was a little bummed that I didn't get to hang with my girls, I was still stoked to chill with some AGDs and Beta's.

I realized that while I have ritual in common with members of my own GLO, I still have the Greek bond with all Greeks. "No matter the letter..." That's when I understood why so many of my sisters don't bother to ask what chapter a person belongs to even after discovering that the person is Greek. It doesn't really matter! But of course this habit has lent to the excitement of discovering later on that they are in your GLO!

[kmullini]

SoCalGirl, Thats cool that the Betas and AGDs showed you a good time. I agree with your point. I had a experience in school where I went down to UVA for midwinters with By Big Brother and instead of celebrating with Beta we stayed over at the Phi Delts. They definitely stoked us. I crashed one time at the U of I Pike house too. I met a cool Pike there that was a friend of my brothers.

[matthewg]

Hi UNFSigmaChi,

I like that practice to visit other chapters when you are in town. We, speaking for my German social fraternity have that same practice. There are pretty tight bonds with the various chapters. we visit different chapters during the semester as part of our program.
Then, when someone of my fraternity is changing places amd university he is actually asked to sign up with one of the chapters (there can be more than one) at the new university and becomes a full temporary member of that chapter for the time at that location (I am member of two chapters at different universities, myself).
And it is a common habit to visit local chapters when you come to their town and they have an event going on, much like in your fraternity.
Now I have a question for you and actually also the general greek community. Do you think, it would be ok for me to go to a fraternity chapter in the USA if I were in town, in order to learn more about the American fraternity system?
matthewg
http://www.kdstv-bodensee.de

[UNFSigmaChi]

I checked out your website for a couple minutes and its looks really good. To be honest, i didn't think Europe had any social fraternities. It would be neat to see how you guys do things there and if you have a ritual or not. As far as hanging out with a US fraternity chapter i wouldn't have a problem if you hung out with us. I think both organizations could learn a lot from interacting with one another.

[lifesaver]

I always find it cool to hang out with other chapters. I find it most beneficial for our new members. Helps them to get a sense of the "national" organization as a whole.

We have two other chapters within 45 min of us. One we generally socialize with occassioinally, help them with rush, see their ritual, etc, but don't really party with them. The other chapter, at SWT, we will sometimes party with. They are a great chapter, and always very welcoming of us. We have been tight with them for about 7 years now from my understanding. they have a great house and have always had an open door policy towards us. They have come down for a few parties of ours as well.

It's harder for chapters to visit us, because we don't have "traditional" housing, but chapters that do visit will often just stop by school. Pretty cool stuff.

Also, a few years back we drove cross country to our Leadership Seminar and stayed at chapter houses the whole way and the brothers were extremely coordial. Took us out, partied with us, everything!

[matthewg]

Originally posted by UNFSigmaChi:
I checked out your website for a couple minutes and its looks really good. To be honest, i didn't think Europe had any social fraternities. It would be neat to see how you guys do things there and if you have a ritual or not. As far as hanging out with a US fraternity chapter i wouldn't have a problem if you hung out with us. I think both organizations could learn a lot from interacting with one another.

Thanks for the compliments, the English version of our site is unfortunately just a reduced version of the German site.
To answer your question: yes, we have lot's of rituals and they are not as secret as in the "greek" world - so feel free to ask and I will be happy to answer your questions. Everybode is also welcome to write me e-mails if you like.
Best

matthewg

[TKEAZ1563]

Originally posted by lifesaver:
I always find it cool to hang out with other chapters. I find it most beneficial for our new members. Helps them to get a sense of the "national" organization as a whole.

I'm going to have to agree here with lifesaver. Each semester we road trip to another chapter, and we encourage all our new members to attend. Actually, these trips are mostly composed of new members and only a handful of actives go, b/c we're the ones with the cars to drive there. No matter how much you talk about it, I believe this is the only way to learn that you are a part of a greater organization that exists outside of your campus.

It's a great feeling to travel to another school, and have an instant bond with a new group of people. Even though you just met, it's like you've known each other for years.

I've been to about 10 different chapters for different reasons, and I look forward to attending national and regional conventions to that I can see the friends I've made on these trips again, as well as make new ones. There's a chapter in Michigan, that we always hook up with, b/c no matter who attends from each chapter, we always have a great time.

This spring, I was doing an internship in another city, and I spent 4 months with our chapter at a nearby university. I was allowed to participate in everything that chapter had to offer, and I was treated as a full member in all respect, execpt I did not have a vote in their meetings (even though I was allowed, and encouraged to give my input and opinion.)

I encourage everybody, if you've not already done it, to go spend a weekend at another chapter. I don't think you've gotten the full greek experience until you have.

[matthewg]

I aggree with TKEAZ1563 100%
That is the only way to notice that you are in a bigger, national, organization - otherwise, you could as well be member of a local fraternity, so what would be the use of a bigger org?

[This message has been edited by matthewg (edited December 11, 2000).]

[Jae]

If it wasn't for me accidentally visiting the Delta Chi's at U. of South Florida, I would not be a D-Chi today! At the time I was pledging and wondering if I had made the right decision. I go to Ohio State, but I was in Florida for the Final Four with the band. I was in the lobby of my hotel getting ready to check out the night life when I saw many people dressed up going into a ballroom. Then I saw a sign saying "Delta Chi Formal"! I boldy walked up to one gentlman and told him I was an associate member From OSU. He turned out to be the founding father of their colony! He then invited me in, stopped the music, announced my presence, and invited me to join the festivities! I couldn't believe it! They treated me like a brother and even took me to their president's house for the afterparty! It was an awesome experience (and the KD's I danced with the rest of the evening were HOT)!!!! Every year we have other chapters visit us and I look forward to visiting them as often as possible!

[DeltAlum]

Jae et al,

As a Division Vice President, we are actually supposed (strongly encouraged) to drop by Delt chapters whenever we're in the area.

I've visited the Delt Shelter at Ohio State several times. (I grew up in Columbus, but didn't attend OSU)

Last summer I had the pleasure of staying at the Delt House at Nebraska while my son was in a performance/contest on that campus.

Attended a rush funcion and had a great time with the younger brothers and then had a chance to see them again at Karnea which is our international conference later in the summer.

Fraternally,
DeltAlum

[ahhkbah]

From a BGLO perspective road tripping is a must. We always end up on another chapters yard seeing how they get down. Sometimes we are there for bonding, other times for social events, but mainly as a show of solidarity.