Quote:
Originally posted by AEPhiSierra
During my time in AEPhi I have never really heard of an AEPhi chapter starting through the formalized NPC open expansion process where several organizations make presentations and the panhel votes on which organization they prefer. From my knowledge most recent AEPhi chapters are started by interest groups/local sororities that are composed entirely or partially of jewish women who always had the intention of going AEPhi. (In fact I am aware of at least 2 or 3 local sororities that were formed with the intention of affiliating with AEPhi but were unable to secure an expansion vote from their panhel)
If AEPhi's supreme goal was to become very large I personally believe they would only be able to do this if they downplayed the organizations jewish roots and this is something they are not willing to do because it would be denying our organization's heritage.
I would also imagine that this might be the situation for other nationals where religion was an aspect of their founding such SDT and Theta Phi. Regardless of their national policies they are still labeled by the religion of their founders.
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Although Phi Sigma Rho is not a NPC sorority, the majority of our chapters also start as interest groups/local sororities that decide to go Phi Sigma Rho because we are a niche market social sorority. In fact, we have only been able to start chapters at many big universities since we did not have to wait for an expansion vote from Panhel.
If we had to wait for an expansion vote, we would never have the opportunity to get on many campuses. It seems that the larger the Greek system, the more the Panhel strictly follows the NPC recommendations for expansion and suggested Panhel bylaws that are listed in the Greek Book (specifically, not expanding until all sororities are at total, quote, etc). Until NPC changes its Greek Book recommendations and suggested bylaws, I do not see how any smaller NPC group can really expand effectively.
For example, just a few things that would help the smaller NPC sororities:
1. Expansion formal presentations by NPC sororities should be as Panhel formal recruitments (i.e. strict rules to level out the playing field, so that the focus is on a sorority's values and not its budget, etc.).
2. NPC needs to change its Green Book recommendations and suggested bylaws, since many Panhels view anything in the Green Book as sometime that must be done as a Unanimous Agreement rather than as an example.
3. A Panhel should not be able to prevent a interest group/local sorority from becoming an associate member of Panhel.
4. If an interest group/local sorority approaches a Panhel about bring on another NPC sorority, the Panhel should not be able to prevent the interest group/local sorority from doing. The Panhel should only have the right to vote to allow a 1-year period to strengthen any existing sorority and/or convience the group to join an existing sorority, before the group can begin the expansion process with the NPC sorority of the group's choosing.
By making changes that would encourage more expansion of the smaller NPC groups, NPC would also be showing that it is truly "panhellenic" to other non-NPC national sororities. There are at least 3-4 niche market national social sororities, including Phi Sigma Rho, that are presently or will soon be eligible for NPC associate membership. Unless, NPC makes changes that would encourage these national sororities to join NPC, I can see these groups as eventually going the way of the cultural group and starting their own sorority conference rather than joining NPC.
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