National umbrella organizations--Did you know..?

[badgeguy]

That neat. The defunct one made me laugh!! When I was in Kappa Sigma they were the one of the groups who left and formed the FLA, glad to see that was time and money well spent......

I wonder if they and Phi Delta Theta who was the other group, returned to NIC....

BG

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Gamma Xi Phi

MysticCat, Silver Turtle, et al, does NIMC still exist?

Originally Posted by SilverTurtle

NIMC still exists. They hold their annual meetings during the PFA conference every fall.

I believe that Phi Mu Alpha is still a part of NIMC, although they withdrew from PFA due to changes within their organization. (I'm sure MysticCat can verify or correct me).

The other members are Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma, Delta Omicron, Mu Phi Epsilon, Sigma Alpha Iota & Phi Beta.

Yes, NIMC does still exist, and yes, Sinfonia still participates in it.

It's probably worth clarifying what NIMC is and isn't though. It's not an organization like NIC, NPC or NPHC that regulates member orgs in any way or governs how they relate to each other or to campuses. Rather, it's an annual meeting of the national presidents of the participating GLOs.

Delta Omicron, Mu Phi Epsilon and SAI have entered into a separate agreement requiring that when at least two of those orgs have chapters on the same campus, those chapters will form a Campus Interfraternity Music Council. CIMCs can also be formed on other campuses if desired, and chapters of other orgs that participate in NIMC can also participate in a CIMC.

As far as the PFA goes, Phi Mu Alpha withdrew in 2007 because our leadership had been unable to resolve the conflict between being a social fraternity (which we were founded as and which we have officially been classified as since the 80s) and the professional GLO focus of the PFA.

[Gamma Xi Phi]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Yes, NIMC does still exist, and yes, Sinfonia still participates in it.

It's probably worth clarifying what NIMC is and isn't though. It's not an organization like NIC, NPC or NPHC that regulates member orgs in any way or governs how they relate to each other or to campuses. Rather, it's an annual meeting of the national presidents of the participating GLOs.

And even the NPC isn't the same kind of organization as NIC; and the new NPHC structure is more like NIMC is now than what NPHC used to be.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Gamma Xi Phi

And even the NPC isn't the same kind of organization as NIC; and the new NPHC structure is more like NIMC is now than what NPHC used to be.

Very true about NPC and NIC. And I didn't know that about NPHC -- interesting. I just wanted to make sure it was clear that NIMC is more consultative and informal (I don't believe it is incorporated) than many othe umbrella orgs.

[NinjaPoodle]

Originally Posted by badgeguy

That neat. The defunct one made me laugh!! When I was in Kappa Sigma they were the one of the groups who left and formed the FLA, glad to see that was time and money well spent......

I wonder if they and Phi Delta Theta who was the other group, returned to NIC....

BG

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interfr...ference#Member

In 2002, Kappa Sigma, Phi Delta Theta, and Phi Sigma Kappa, withdrew their membership in the NIC due to disagreements with the strategic direction of the organization. Phi Sigma Kappa rejoined the NIC in 2006.

[Little Dragon]

I went to Wikipedia and updated the membership count for several of the outdated umbrella groups according to their respective national webpage. There are small changes.

[NinjaPoodle]

Originally Posted by Little Dragon

I went to Wikipedia and updated the membership count for several of the outdated umbrella groups according to their respective national webpage. There are small changes.

Small changes they may be, but they matter. Very cool!

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by badgeguy

That neat. The defunct one made me laugh!! When I was in Kappa Sigma they were the one of the groups who left and formed the FLA, glad to see that was time and money well spent......

I wonder if they and Phi Delta Theta who was the other group, returned to NIC....

BG

Do you recall what the gist of the FLA/NIC schism was all about?

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Do you recall what the gist of the FLA/NIC schism was all about?

Here are a few threads on it:

Phi Delta Theta & Kappa Sigma Withdrawal from NIC (Official Phi Delt Statement)

Phi Delta Theta No Longer NIC?

Reason for Dropping from NIC

First post in the first thread contains Phi Delta Theta's official statement and outlines the reasons it withdrew. An excerpt:

Phi Delta Theta has been concerned about the focus and direction of the NIC for more than six years. Specifically, we feel that the main focus of the NIC should be to provide services to its member organizations, rather than to individual undergraduates. Over the last decade, NIC has created several outstanding educational and leadership programs such as the Undergraduate Interfraternity Institute (UIFI), IMPACT and Futures Quest which generate substantial revenue for NIC. Unfortunately, as these programs have grown in scope and revenue production, they have become the primary focus of the NIC staff's activities. We feel that the NIC should primarily focus its attention on representing the fraternity movement and acting as an advocate for its member fraternities with university administrators, government, the media, and the general public.

I think Kappa Sig's reasons were similar.

[Gusteau]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Here are a few threads on it:

Phi Delta Theta & Kappa Sigma Withdrawal from NIC (Official Phi Delt Statement)

Phi Delta Theta No Longer NIC?

Reason for Dropping from NIC

First post in the first thread contains Phi Delta Theta's official statement and outlines the reasons it withdrew. An excerpt:

Phi Delta Theta has been concerned about the focus and direction of the NIC for more than six years. Specifically, we feel that the main focus of the NIC should be to provide services to its member organizations, rather than to individual undergraduates. Over the last decade, NIC has created several outstanding educational and leadership programs such as the Undergraduate Interfraternity Institute (UIFI), IMPACT and Futures Quest which generate substantial revenue for NIC. Unfortunately, as these programs have grown in scope and revenue production, they have become the primary focus of the NIC staff's activities. We feel that the NIC should primarily focus its attention on representing the fraternity movement and acting as an advocate for its member fraternities with university administrators, government, the media, and the general public.

I think Kappa Sig's reasons were similar.

It should also be noted that it costs a good deal of money to be a member of the NIC. The cost is based on how many chapters you have. Ultimately these groups probably didn't feel like it was worth the investment.

I'm curious to see if either group looks to come back to the NIC now that it seems they're balancing their focus (i.e. being more vocal advocates for open expansion and in opposition to deferred recruitment).

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Gusteau

It should also be noted that it costs a good deal of money to be a member of the NIC. The cost is based on how many chapters you have.

Yep. It's my understanding that's one of the reasons (though not the only one) that we haven't sought membership in the NIC. With 242 active chapters (as of the last count I have), we'd be one of the largest fraternities in the NIC (chapter-wise, though not collegiate member-wise, as our chapters tend to be smaller) and the cost would be very high.

I'm curious to see if either group looks to come back to the NIC now that it seems they're balancing their focus (i.e. being more vocal advocates for open expansion and in opposition to deferred recruitment).

If you look back over the history of the NIC, there's actually quite a bit of fraternities withdrawing and (usually) coming back eventually.