Hi, I'm co-founder of a 'local' fraternity, which is by it's very nature both instantly multicultural, and national. Confused? Please read on.
The question before you today regards multinational. Are all multinational fraternities "incorporated." We're incorporated as far as our being a non-profit organization goes, but I'm pretty sure that isn't what's meant by "incorporated." Do multiculturals go national via NIC, or some other national fraternal body?
The fraternity is also social and somewhat professional: membership is limited to individuals who either have a degree and are working professionals in the Intelligence or National Security communities, or are actively enrolled in IS or NS graduate degree programs, or undergraduate programs - with the expressed objective of earning a master's.
Bottom line: Alpha Sigma Chi is the world's first cyber GLO - or at least the first one focused on the Intelligence and National Security studies/professional communities.
The fraternity has been under wraps and under construction for some time, but our official internal founding date is 04-02-03. One professor and two students at American Military University founded the organization. AMU is part of the American Public University system. AMU is accredited, but not a brick and mortar university.
On its face that's not a righteous reason to found a GLO, I understand that, and we fully understand that we're breaking from tradition in this one regard. However, cyber does not mean limited to online undergrad and grad courses, not at all.
Much of our market share (and we know the demographics) is comprised of students at universities that do not feature a residential Greek community - this is our niche - our target audience. When's the last time someone posted here who goes to National Defense University, Joint Military Intelligence College, or Armed Forces Staff College? Answer: probably never - not unless they went Greek at some other institution, and that's rare - because most of them went to an academy, like USNA, or a private academy, like VMI.
The same thing holds true for already credentialed professionals, like myself. We didn't have the opportunity to go Greek - and frankly, that sucks.
Our fraternal ties will be for life - like a Mason, only a traditional GLO in every way, other than not being residential. Our initiation process is already structured, and it is a challenge, but one undertaken with the goal of teaching the true meaning, connotation, and weight of terms like "brotherhood."
Anyone, including a student or professional from an Allied nation, who meets the definition described above can apply. Acceptance depends on motive, demonstrative commitment, and potential for contribution (in terms of volunteerism, not financial).
Grades are not a consideration. We don't want to know what some 50-year-old spook's (community name for a spy) GPA was back in the day. That, and the fact that mentally challenged people do earn degrees, and do make a vital contribution to national defense in the focus communities. Those individuals are welcome in ASC.
Race, sexual orientation, politics and spirituality are non-issues for the most part. Politics cannot be anti-American in agenda or action: pledging allegiance to the Flag of the United States is a requirement - "under God," so that is self-exclusionary for hard-over atheists.
National? When we have 5k members spread all over the US we'll ask NIC, or the appropriate concern, to tell us if we're national.
Incorporated? Yes, we're a corporate entity, but what does that mean in the Greek community, does that extend to multicultural, or is that strictly an African-American convention?
www.alphasigmachi.com Check us out from time to time and watch us grow!
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