Starting a Fraternal Organization for Veterans

[jestersrobe]

I am considering starting a new fraternity especially for veterans. At first, I would like to open a chapter at my alma mater, the University of Georgia, but feel that it is an idea that could spread quickly.

My idea is to create a house where all types of veterans can come together and deal with the difficult issues that surround being a veteran in school. Handicap access, a wheelchair enabled van, information on veteran's financial aid, and (I hope), PTSD counselling could all be available at the house.

As it stands, too few of our veterans utilize the GI Bill; this is unacceptable, considering the drastic improvements that have been made to the GI Bill within the past couple of months. If there was an organization that actively recruited vets, and offered them help in their scholastic endeavors, as well as reintegration into civilian life, it is my sincere hope that more veterans would enroll in college.

Georgia would be a perfect place to start, since there is the HOPE Scholarship available to Georgia residents. Since the HOPE Scholarship covers tuition and fees for Georgia residents, the GI Bill comes to the veteran/student as a paycheck each month. There is no excuse for any veteran who is a Georgia resident to NOT go to school. Many states waive tuition for veterans, and I would like to see more vets take advantage of this.

Even if I could offer veterans their first semester's lodging for free at the house, I think it would be a boon to getting them into school. I realize that the house would need to be co-educational, which presents its own, unique set of problems; not to mention the issues that surround having a bunch of former Army, Marine, Air Force and Sailors cooped up in one place. The answers to these problems exist, and I feel that a well thought out constitution, as well as strong initial leadership (which should be easy enough to find within the veteran community), would limit the obstacles that I foresee along the way.

The advice I'm looking for is this--what do I need to do to initiate such an endeavor? Do I need to approach the school first, or should I try to raise funds first? In the best case scenario, this would be a not for profit organization, and that means a board and fundraising. Also, do any of you foresee any conflict with the existing Greek organizations? I don't want to step on any toes, and it is my intention to make this a group that works hand in hand with other Greek organizations to the betterment of the school and the local community. If we offered free lodging for a semester, I think it only fair that our members be involved in community service as much as possible.

Any advice on starting a fraternal organization is much appreciated. Just so you know, I myself am a combat veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom who attended UGA on the GI Bill, and I now work for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Thank you all in advance for you time and consideration.