Starting a new lesbian sorority

[AOII Angel]

Do what you want to do, but just don't copy any other groups letters, flowers, mottos, colors, etc. It's just rude and generally frowned upon. Just realized that you are setting yourself up for a lot of work with a big chance for failure. No, there is not organization that you have to "register" with in order to start your sorority. You would be a local organization and would only need to work things out with your University. Other than following your Universities rules, there are no guidelines.

[ree-Xi]

Originally Posted by femm_runner

Thanks,I've already covered that. I was simply stating, that it is what i've already done. I'm not on here to bash other sororities, I have my reasons why i don't want to join an sorority. If you just need a reason, here goes: 1. They're not very professional. 2. Always late. 3. They dont carry themselves like women. ( Not all of them just some)
I understand you want to reply to a post, but i was asking if there was a national council that had rules and regulations that i needed to follow. I havent put the cart before the horse. I know what needs to be done. Sororities every where started with at least one person having an idea. I care about the colors, crests and other items because they all have a meaning to me and other women whom i would like to welcome into my sorority would carry those same values. Thanks again for helping. What's wrong with someone just helping and answering my question? Why all of the extra stuff? I'm not expecting everyone to agree with what i'm doing, but no one has to be rude about it. Geeze. I joined this forum to interact with greeks and learn some things, guess i was wrong. I'll continue to forward with what i'm trying to do.

I care about the colors, crests and other items because they all have a meaning to me and other women whom i would like to welcome into my sorority

This is the problem.

Ps sorry for my messed up posts; i am typing on my phone with an IV iny hand

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by ree-Xi

I care about the colors, crests and other items because they all have a meaning to me and other women whom i would like to welcome into my sorority

This is the problem.

Ps sorry for my messed up posts; i am typing on my phone with an IV iny hand

I hope you're okay, ree-Xi.

[femm_runner]

It amazes me how rude everyone has been. I'm not understanding why everyone is taking this personal. Thanks, i now see that this forum is not what i thought it was. I asked an question, not what your thoughts about what i am doing is. I'll find my information somewhere else.
Thanks

[kddani]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

And the prognosis?

Extreme loneliness in a sorority of one.

[rhoyaltempest]

Originally Posted by femm_runner

Thanks,I've already covered that. I was simply stating, that it is what i've already done. I'm not on here to bash other sororities, I have my reasons why i don't want to join an sorority. If you just need a reason, here goes: 1. They're not very professional. 2. Always late. 3. They dont carry themselves like women. ( Not all of them just some)
I understand you want to reply to a post, but i was asking if there was a national council that had rules and regulations that i needed to follow. I havent put the cart before the horse. I know what needs to be done. Sororities every where started with at least one person having an idea. I care about the colors, crests and other items because they all have a meaning to me and other women whom i would like to welcome into my sorority would carry those same values. Thanks again for helping. What's wrong with someone just helping and answering my question? Why all of the extra stuff? I'm not expecting everyone to agree with what i'm doing, but no one has to be rude about it. Geeze. I joined this forum to interact with greeks and learn some things, guess i was wrong. I'll continue to forward with what i'm trying to do.

You say you don't want to bash other sororities, then proceed with the bashing, and then you have the nerve to want us to answer your questions. I seriously doubt you have met most of the thousands of members in the hundreds of chapters to even be able to make such general judgements.

Also, the regulars come here to chat with other greeks, not to be anyone's greek life encyclopedia so you might want to humble yourself when asking your questions because they don't have to get answered. And expect that questions will be asked, advice will be given, and criticism (constructive and otherwise) will be offered. If you don't like it, don't ask questions but please know that no one has to answer you or help you at all. Good luck with your endeavors.

[femm_runner]

Originally Posted by femm_runner

Thanks,
That's what i'm trying to do. My point is, all of this started from somewhere. I know that it can't just be me. I'm asking a friend to help me with this process, as we both would really like to do this. I like to plan things out, know what needs to be done before i can move forward. I'm not just deciding to do this on a whim. I've been putting this together for a few months. I didnt want to start anything and then find out i'm breaking some laws/rules. I asked about the national level becasue, maybe there was someone i could talk to about this. I'm not trying to go national,yet. I just want to make sure i'm following giudelines.

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

Do what you want to do, but just don't copy any other groups letters, flowers, mottos, colors, etc. It's just rude and generally frowned upon. Just realized that you are setting yourself up for a lot of work with a big chance for failure. No, there is not organization that you have to "register" with in order to start your sorority. You would be a local organization and would only need to work things out with your University. Other than following your Universities rules, there are no guidelines.

Thanks,
I understand that it is going to be lots of work and i'm prepared for that. I know that this isnt something that will happen over night. Thanks again for answering my question. You've hepled me to move forward.

[femm_runner]

Originally Posted by rhoyaltempest

You say you don't want to bash other sororities, then proceed with the bashing, and then you have the nerve to want us to answer your questions. I seriously doubt you have met most of the thousands of members in the hundreds of chapters to even be able to make such general judgements.

Also, the regulars come here to chat with other greeks, not to be anyone's greek life encyclopedia so you might want to humble yourself when asking your questions because they don't have to get answered. And expect that questions will be asked, advice will be given, and criticism (constructive and otherwise) will be offered. If you don't like it, don't ask questions but please know that no one has to answer you or help you at all. Good luck with your endeavors.

Thanks,
I see that now. We're not adults, we're back in high school. I also said not all of them but some.You're right, you dont have to answer it, but if you're just going to proceed with something negative, why bother wasting your time typing.

[EE-BO]

Originally Posted by femm_runner

Thanks,
That's what i'm trying to do. My point is, all of this started from somewhere. I know that it can't just be me. I'm asking a friend to help me with this process, as we both would really like to do this. I like to plan things out, know what needs to be done before i can move forward. I'm not just deciding to do this on a whim. I've been putting this together for a few months. I didnt want to start anything and then find out i'm breaking some laws/rules. I asked about the national level becasue, maybe there was someone i could talk to about this. I'm not trying to go national,yet. I just want to make sure i'm following giudelines.

It isn't just you- lots of people find themselves dissatisfied with the Greek or other student organizations available to them. The question of starting a new group is where things get very difficult- but if you are firmly invested in the process then you should go for it. In defense of the other posters- they are just pointing out aspects of your presentation here that could help. Remember, we do not know you- all we know is what we read, and so the specifics of every word you say are all people have to go on, and hopefully you find some good pointers in there to keep in mind.

When a person comes here wanting to start a sorority out of disregard for all other sororities, it is problematic because that person appears to be wanting to create something they inherently dislike. I would suggest letting that go for now- when you bash we have no way of knowing if you had specific experiences or are just thinking you will redefine a concept that has existed successfully for centuries and transcends the GLO as we have known it these past 150 years.

As for your technical questions- here goes,

Once you have your founding members together, I would strongly suggest you register as a 501c3 organization with the IRS. You will need to get some assistance with this to prepare the forms and also prepare yourself for the strict rules involved. The IRS keeps close watch on non-profit organizations. You need to have a stated charitable purpose and all funds collected by the organization must be strictly controlled and used for the purpose of the organization.

At this point, your goal is to become a student organization of your school. That is a different set of rules from being a GLO that falls under the umbrella of a national organization governing GLOs.

I would contact the student organization office at your school to find out how many students are required to form an organization, and what the school's requirements are for an organization that seeks to collect and disburse funds above and beyond getting the 501c3 designation.

Those are the rules that matter right now. As long as you do not try to create a name that matches that of another existing organization or attempt to copy the mission statement of another existing organization, you can do as you please. This includes creating a name using greek letters.

Once you have all of this in place- the 501c3 and approved registration as a student organization with your school- then you can consider affiliation with a national Greek Council. Note that getting to this stage will almost certainly take far longer than the time you are in college. If you mean to do this, you are making a lifetime investment of your efforts.

Affiliation with a national Greek Council will, to the extent that Council is recognized at your school, allow your sorority privileges such as participation in formal rush. You do not need this affiliation just to be a student organization at your school that happens to have greek letters for a name.

There are many local organizations specific to schools that never go this extra step. Tejas Club is a good example at the University of Texas. No, it is not a big prestigious fraternity with all the trappings- but it is a successful organization that has recently been able to claim members who are student body president, football players and winner of Sigma Chi Fight Night.

At this stage of the game, it might be a good idea to define what you think of as a sorority as you look to your long term plans for the reasons I suggest above.

Starting a student organization is relatively easy. Creating a "sorority" in the sense most people think of the term is not. And either category could readily suit your purpose in the long run- with the former being the proper short term goal.

[EE-BO]

PS- Something I forgot to mention, please also consider the practice of professional courtesy. Every student organization that succeeds offers something to potential members that suits them and their values. They are all different in that sense. And how you present it matters.

It is like politics really. Republicans and Democrats, both broadly and as local candidates, present differing options for voters. But more often than not, a candidate wins by demonstrating the positive alternative she can provide rather than bashing the other side.

I do not want to speak for other posters on this thread, but I suspect their concern- and one I have as well- is that you are coming into this process with a negative bias against other groups rather than a respect for what they offer their members and a belief that you can do the same for a group of people who do not currently have a group they would want to call "home".

[femm_runner]

Originally Posted by EE-BO

It isn't just you- lots of people find themselves dissatisfied with the Greek or other student organizations available to them. The question of starting a new group is where things get very difficult- but if you are firmly invested in the process then you should go for it. In defense of the other posters- they are just pointing out aspects of your presentation here that could help. Remember, we do not know you- all we know is what we read, and so the specifics of every word you say are all people have to go on, and hopefully you find some good pointers in there to keep in mind.

When a person comes here wanting to start a sorority out of disregard for all other sororities, it is problematic because that person appears to be wanting to create something they inherently dislike. I would suggest letting that go for now- when you bash we have no way of knowing if you had specific experiences or are just thinking you will redefine a concept that has existed successfully for centuries and transcends the GLO as we have known it these past 150 years.

As for your technical questions- here goes,

Once you have your founding members together, I would strongly suggest you register as a 501c3 organization with the IRS. You will need to get some assistance with this to prepare the forms and also prepare yourself for the strict rules involved. The IRS keeps close watch on non-profit organizations. You need to have a stated charitable purpose and all funds collected by the organization must be strictly controlled and used for the purpose of the organization.

At this point, your goal is to become a student organization of your school. That is a different set of rules from being a GLO that falls under the umbrella of a national organization governing GLOs.

I would contact the student organization office at your school to find out how many students are required to form an organization, and what the school's requirements are for an organization that seeks to collect and disburse funds above and beyond getting the 501c3 designation.

Those are the rules that matter right now. As long as you do not try to create a name that matches that of another existing organization or attempt to copy the mission statement of another existing organization, you can do as you please. This includes creating a name using greek letters.

Once you have all of this in place- the 501c3 and approved registration as a student organization with your school- then you can consider affiliation with a national Greek Council. Note that getting to this stage will almost certainly take far longer than the time you are in college. If you mean to do this, you are making a lifetime investment of your efforts.

Affiliation with a national Greek Council will, to the extent that Council is recognized at your school, allow your sorority privileges such as participation in formal rush. You do not need this affiliation just to be a student organization at your school that happens to have greek letters for a name.

There are many local organizations specific to schools that never go this extra step. Tejas Club is a good example at the University of Texas. No, it is not a big prestigious fraternity with all the trappings- but it is a successful organization that has recently been able to claim members who are student body president, football players and winner of Sigma Chi Fight Night.

At this stage of the game, it might be a good idea to define what you think of as a sorority as you look to your long term plans for the reasons I suggest above.

Starting a student organization is relatively easy. Creating a "sorority" in the sense most people think of the term is not. And either category could readily suit your purpose in the long run- with the former being the proper short term goal.

You'r right. I could have said things differant. Thanks for the informaiton.

[XAntoftheSkyX]

Gonna throw this out there... GLOs are about "we", not "me"

Good luck.

[knight_shadow]

femm_runner,

You're being a bit defensive. These are questions that are going to come up from interests. You need to be able to answer them, or your organization won't prosper.

And the fact that your initial post seemed to center around you was odd. You stated that YOU did this, YOU did that, and YOU want these people around YOU, but you haven't stated how this organization would benefit anyone else coming in.

This is what you need to figure out before choosing colors and a mascot.

Good luck.

[Psi U MC Vito]

OP

Like what was said, we aren't asking you anything that hasn't already been asked. Like why not join an existing lesbian sorority? Why do you feel the need for a completely new sorority? And do you even know there would be a market for it?

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by femm_runner

Thanks,
I see that now. We're not adults, we're back in high school. I also said not all of them but some.You're right, you dont have to answer it, but if you're just going to proceed with something negative, why bother wasting your time typing.

Because it is entertaining. Plus, everyone doesn't have the same concept of negativity that you do.

You have a mascot and everything so, honestly, why are you here asking questions? Have you not researched the many lesbian-based sororities already? Have you not contacted these sororities and/or your college to see the steps that "you" would need to take? As a member of the Internet generation, you have so many tools for information in front of you and Greekchat is one of the laziest tools that you could use.

I think the issue is that OP isn't educated on the other sororities and hasn't thought about chartering a chapter of an existing sorority. I also think that the OP is self-centered to the extent that she wants something that's about her and wants to be able to control everything. That may also factor into how she receives the existing sororities that are not sexual orientation-based.