Quote:
Originally Posted by kddani
What makes your sorority different? Why should other women join it? What's in it for them? So far it seems to be all about you. You can't have a sorority with one person. Why don't you find a few other people that share your ideals to get the group started. Who the heck cares about colors, a crest, etc. if you don't have any members other than yourself?
You're putting the cart before the horse.
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This is exactly right- and femm_runner this is a common flaw that comes up on this forum when people post asking advice about starting a new sorority or fraternity.
I cannot speak for all GLOs, but in the numerous instances where I am somewhat familiar with their history- there is never just one founder. It is always a group. In my case, Beta Theta Pi, there were eight.
Also, things like mottos, colors, crest and ritual are not pre-planned. Beta's official colors, still in use today, were adopted a few decades after the fraternity's founding, and there is a special story behind it. Our badge has changed over the years- as have many other things.
Right now you have the makings of a proper starting point- you have a target audience for your membership that will set it apart and give it purpose in a general sense.
Now things need to evolve. As you make friends, perhaps at some point a group of you will be minded to create a club- something loose and not terribly defined. If you try to create a full formal organization this early with rules and rituals etc. then you are more likely than not to all end up disagreeing- especially if you have already created all of the structure in advance.
If at some you, a group of you wants to proceed- your first mission is to determine what sets you apart at your campus only from other similar groups you would be competing against for members during rush. You have already established the fact it is a lesbian sorority. Now you have to figure out why potential members should chose you over other student organizations- and not just other lesbian sororities by the way. You need to consider whether people you consider good prospective members would want to be in a sorority defined primarily by sexual preference versus other qualities.
If you can successfully find that niche and start rushing people, then it will be time to look into student organization registration, setting up a 501c3 non-profit organization etc. etc. etc.
One final note- beware the temptation to plan a major national organization right away. That is a dream for many who start GLOs- but as in the business world, the founders of an entity are almost never the ones who see it "go global", if you will. They are very different skill sets and mindsets.
If you have a compelling desire to work with others to create something at your school, it can serve you well. If you are already dreaming of creating a natiowide sorority (I say this because you asked about national oversight of lesbian sororities which I take to mean you wish to go beyond your own campus with this idea), then back to what kddani said- except I would say it is the cart, luggage and kitchen sink before the horse.
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