Idea's For VERY Small Chapters

[navane]

Originally posted by Erik P Conard
If your group has no size requirements for a charter, then they
are essentially saying "each in his/her own way."
Most national/international groups do have a minimum number or
a sliding scale, numerically, for chartering plus a few other things
expected. But if your does not, okay. With risk management &
other expenditures, it might be hard to remain small. But if your
outfit abides this, okay. A matter of preference.
Wonder how the larger fraternities feel? SAE, Sig, Sig Ep, Pike,
Lambda Chi, Kappa Sig, Beta, ATO, Phi Delt, etc...do they allow
or encourage small chapters? I think not, but it has been a long
time since I was on the road...
And, some GLOs are comfortable with a pared-down offering.
To each his own. That is why some locals remain locals.
I would think, though, that if a GLO falls below minimum standards there might be cause for alarm--don't you?

I think you may have missed some key points. AXiDTrish said, "I advise at a small, technical school that has less than 700 women on it."

- It's a small school
- The school centers around a technology theme
- There are only 700 women on campus

The women at this campus are somewhat slim pickin's as opposed to 30,000 person major university. I'm certainly not surprised that there are so few members in the chapters.

.....Kelly

[navane]

Originally posted by PsychTau

What do the women on this campus need? (Obviously the founders of our orgs looked around on their campus and saw something missing...so they created it).

I think the two groups, along with the advisors and either some college officials or alums gather around and assess the campus. What type of women come to this college? What are they looking for? Are there a lot of transfers? Why? Are they getting what they want outside of the classroom? Has anyone asked them what they want?

PsychTau makes some excellent points. What came to mind for me is catering to the students you have available. For example, if the college really is heavy on the technology side, maybe the chapters could sponsor special guest speakers to address "Careers for Women in XYZ industry" etc. That makes the activity relevant to the women you are trying to attract. Everyone wins - the students learn some great info and the chapters get good PR.


.....Kelly

[Erik P Conard]

all this about tiny chapters and those who remain tiny. The
matter is moot, my ladies, and while I generally address the
men, it is unlikely that any organization, national in scope, would
take a group of 15 or less, whether in the much heralded Brooklyn College or Dropsie University, as experience shows that
there is not a lot of promise.
There have been a few sororities, in my time, who chartered with
twenty or less, but they had a huge alum backing and were at a
prestigious campus with a plan to grow considerably. They had
no intentions of remaining small, and being good, they would not
deny a good candidate a chance to join. And, again, if the quality
is there, the growth will come.
Naw, better off stayin' local.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally posted by Erik P Conard
all this about tiny chapters and those who remain tiny. The
matter is moot, my ladies, and while I generally address the
men, it is unlikely that any organization, national in scope, would
take a group of 15 or less, whether in the much heralded Brooklyn College or Dropsie University, as experience shows that
there is not a lot of promise.
There have been a few sororities, in my time, who chartered with
twenty or less, but they had a huge alum backing and were at a
prestigious campus with a plan to grow considerably. They had
no intentions of remaining small, and being good, they would not
deny a good candidate a chance to join. And, again, if the quality
is there, the growth will come.
Naw, better off stayin' local.

When are you going to understand that you are a GUY and you have no real authority when discussing Panhellenic GLO's?

[Erik P Conard]

I never had any intention of wedging in on the tiny female groups
and I certainly shall not in the future.
But I did not know that this site was divvied up into identifiable
groups...will keep that in mind.
I am sure my good Tri Sigma pals in Kansas (where they have no
rinky-dink chapters...all are good and large) would be right proud
of you. I shall depart and never darken your stoop again. And
thank you kindly for your heartfelt input. Potrzebie

[futuregreek]

I don't think size matters (When it comes to this stuff!!)

This isn't a small vs. large debate. I enjoy my small (not AS small, but still small) chapter.

I don't see the point in canning a sisterhood that's not causing any problems. Being small isn't a crime.

[ADqtPiMel]

Originally posted by Erik P Conard
all this about tiny chapters and those who remain tiny. The
matter is moot, my ladies, and while I generally address the
men, it is unlikely that any organization, national in scope, would
take a group of 15 or less, whether in the much heralded Brooklyn College or Dropsie University, as experience shows that
there is not a lot of promise.
There have been a few sororities, in my time, who chartered with
twenty or less, but they had a huge alum backing and were at a
prestigious campus with a plan to grow considerably. They had
no intentions of remaining small, and being good, they would not
deny a good candidate a chance to join. And, again, if the quality
is there, the growth will come.
Naw, better off stayin' local.

They're not trying to charter. They're already a chapter. She's asking how to bring more women into the system as a whole. It would be quite difficult for them to stay a local, as they are an NPC. You have no clue what you are talking about.

[Erik P Conard]

you are still making excuses for having a weenie chapter, and
you do not grasp, even grasp, what is being said.
Go to your room.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally posted by Erik P Conard
you are still making excuses for having a weenie chapter, and
you do not grasp, even grasp, what is being said.
Go to your room.

Once again, Erik= TKE, TKE=fraternity, fraternity=IFC/NIC. It does NOT equal NPC. Therefore Erik's expertise on the subject=0.

You make way too many narrowminded GENERALIZATIONS.

You've stated in the past that sororities without housing are an insult to the organization, that any group without a house isn't a fraternity, and that NPHC's multiculturals are not "real" fraternites/sororities. NOW, small chapters are all "weenie" chapters that should not be allowed to remain a part of the national even when it's been previously stated that said org is IDENTICAL in size to all others? That is insulting. Futhermore, NPC operations and TKE's are NOTHING alike, so please offer no more of your lofty comments on OUR business. You irritate me and everyone else when you attempt to discuss sororities and offer your UNSUPPORTED conjecture which comes from no where.

I don't care how many years of TKE you have under your belt. You have never been in an NPC sorority or had experience with a Panhellenic so your opinions and generalizations on them are PULLED FROM NOWHERE!!!!!!

We now return you to your regularly scheduled thread.

[kddani]

Originally posted by Erik P Conard
you are still making excuses for having a weenie chapter, and
you do not grasp, even grasp, what is being said.
Go to your room.

Erik, STFU, you don't know what you're talking about, sorority life is very different from fraternity life.

Not only that, but your own fraternity has some "weenie" chapters of it's own, if by weenie you mean small in size. TKE at Pitt has been one of the smallest for years (if they're even still there), and they didn't have a real house. What does that make them?

As has been said, those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones!

What kind of representative are you of your fraternity for constantly insulting small chapters, the women of GC, etc? How is that living up to your fraternity's ideals?

[Bama_Alumna]

Not only that, but your own fraternity has some "weenie" chapters of it's own, if by weenie you mean small in size.

Indeed, TKE does have some "weenie" chapters.

[mcellpe]

Trish,

I suggest you contact the greek advisor at the Colorado School of Mines (Golden, CO) for some advice. Mines sounds a lot like the college you are writing about. They have about 2000 undergrads, of which there are probably 500 women (all engineering). In 20 years, the sorority community has grown from 1 small NPC and 1 local to 3 NPC's (Sig Kap, Pi Phi, and Alpha Phi). The college just built new houses for each of them on the row, sleeping about 25 or so per house. I am not sure how big the chapters are, but they seem to be doing well. Definitely a success story, although some of the more narrow minded posters here may disagree. Many of the fraternities on campus have been around since the early 1900's- just goes to show you that greeks can do well on smaller campuses, with smaller rosters.

Good luck in your efforts!

[AXiDTrish]

Thank you to everyone for your great advice! Your comments show me that we are on the right track....we have completed campus questionnaires, etc and I will definitely take all your suggestions to the women. I will also contact the Colorado school suggested. Thank you Thank you!!!

If you have any additional suggestions, I'm game!

[33girl]

Originally posted by Erik P Conard
I am sure my good Tri Sigma pals in Kansas (where they have no rinky-dink chapters...all are good and large) would be right proud of you.

THAT'S BECAUSE THERE ARE ONLY THREE SORORITIES AT EACH SCHOOL.

[Little E]

Originally posted by Erik P Conard
you are still making excuses for having a weenie chapter, and
you do not grasp, even grasp, what is being said.
Go to your room.

Grow up, unless you can personally vouch that there is not a SINGLE chapter of TKE under 50, or whatever number you think constitutes 'large', stop being judgmental and condescending towards others.