"Incorporated"

[H0NEY1987]

I only asked because I had the impression that incoroporated organizations with five or less chapters were considered national organizations. I didnt think it was true but it seems like a growing trend. I have a new question: what exactly does the inc change for a group. i can understand the significance of the title. but my fear is that once my sorority becomes inc. things that take place now might have to change. I dont want my sorority to become a business... is it REALLY necessary to incorporate a greek org.

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by H0NEY1987

I only asked because I had the impression that incoroporated organizations with five or less chapters were considered national organizations. I didnt think it was true but it seems like a growing trend. I have a new question: what exactly does the inc change for a group. i can understand the significance of the title. but my fear is that once my sorority becomes inc. things that take place now might have to change. I dont want my sorority to become a business... is it REALLY necessary to incorporate a greek org.

There are a number of benefits, but the two I find most important are:

1) A corporation is its own entity, separate from the owners/founders. So, there is a layer of protection against lawsuits and such. If you're not incorporated, you can personally be sued.

2) Because the corporation is its own entity, it continues on after leadership changes (or even after the death of the founders).

I'd recommend going online to research what incorporation entails and how to do it. You wouldn't need to ask these questions if you'd familiarize yourself with Google.

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Please know that I mean absolutely no disrespect to Theta Nu Xi.

But I don't want anyone getting the idea that it's really, really difficult to form a corporation. It's not; it's actually pretty easy.

Keeping it going, of course, may be another story.

Woops, didn't see this one. You're absolutely right. Submitting the paperwork is the easy part. The hard part is getting an organization to the point that it can sustain a corporation. That's what we celebrate when we holler "Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority, Innnnnnnncorporated!"

[rhoyaltempest]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

Woops, didn't see this one. You're absolutely right. Submitting the paperwork is the easy part. The hard part is getting an organization to the point that it can sustain a corporation. That's what we celebrate when we holler "Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority, Innnnnnnncorporated!"

I can appreciate your responses and explanations regarding how you feel about your org's Incorporation but IMO your org (like many others today) stresses the "Innnnnnnnncorporated" (and did so initially) because NPHC orgs traditionally do and people think it's cool, as I'm sure your founders did. And there's nothing wrong with this but...let's be real.

[H0NEY1987]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

There are a number of benefits, but the two I find most important are:

1) A corporation is its own entity, separate from the owners/founders. So, there is a layer of protection against lawsuits and such. If you're not incorporated, you can personally be sued.

2) Because the corporation is its own entity, it continues on after leadership changes (or even after the death of the founders).

I'd recommend going online to research what incorporation entails and how to do it. You wouldn't need to ask these questions if you'd familiarize yourself with Google.

that is helpful, thanks!

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

Woops, didn't see this one. You're absolutely right. Submitting the paperwork is the easy part. The hard part is getting an organization to the point that it can sustain a corporation. That's what we celebrate when we holler "Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority, Innnnnnnncorporated!"

''sustain a corporation'' what does that mean, if you can explain it?

[BlueNYC2]

alot of good answers from my fellow NPHC members in this thread and the others as knight shadow has provided links for.


best answer i saw was this tho....

Originally Posted by pinkice9

Incorporation prevents any other organization forming and using your name, colors, motto, and or any representation of you.

It is a direct legality and it protects the originality of your personal organization.

"There will and can be no other that is incorporated."

Pinkice9

Skee-Wee my sorors.

and its even more to it than just this....


Supa B
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, *pulls back* INNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNCORPORATED!!!
Founded Jan 9, 1914
Incorporated since Jan 1920...

[RU OX Alum]

I read somewhere, I forget where, so please correct me, and I won't say the org. b/c i know i'll get that wrong, but...i read somewhere that when they were founded one of the older HBGLO's sought incorprated themselves right out of the bat, like they made sure that was one of the first things that they did. My own group had three chapters before they/ we were incorporated. Also, i think the full name is Theta Chi International Fraternity, Inc. That is too long for a t-shirt.

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by PeachNehi

I dunno, but it sounds stupid. Your fraternity/sorority isn't a company.

Companies aren't the only things that can be incorporated.

[BlueNYC2]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

Companies aren't the only things that can be incorporated.

basically...


Incorporation (abbreviated Inc. in U.S. and Canadian business names) is the forming of a new corporation (a corporation being a legal entity that is effectively recognised as a person, albeit a fictitious one, under the law). The corporation may be a business, a non-profit organization, sports club or a government of a new city or town.

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by rhoyaltempest

I can appreciate your responses and explanations regarding how you feel about your org's Incorporation but IMO your org (like many others today) stresses the "Innnnnnnnncorporated" (and did so initially) because NPHC orgs traditionally do and people think it's cool, as I'm sure your founders did. And there's nothing wrong with this but...let's be real.

NPHC orgs originated many Greek traditions as did non-NPHC orgs. Newer orgs were influenced by the established Greek traditions and adopted certain traditions, assigning meanings to them that are relevant to the orgs. So, for example, you have organizations that only salute (no stepping/strolling), but have adopted "Innnncorporated." We all learn from each other. However, I don't know of many viable newer organizations that adopt traditions simply because they "think it's cool" without really considering the effect.

Again, I can only speak for Theta Nu Xi, but we understand where this particular tradition came from within BGLOs. I realize that members of mainstream organizations often have in their minds that members of younger organizations have no grounding in history. The truth is that, at least for Theta Nu Xi, we are serious about what we're doing and we don't take things lightly. This isn't a game.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

NPHC orgs originated many Greek traditions as did non-NPHC orgs. Newer orgs were influenced by the established Greek traditions and adopted certain traditions, assigning meanings to them that are relevant to the orgs. So, for example, you have organizations that only salute (no stepping/strolling), but have adopted "Innnncorporated." We all learn from each other. However, I don't know of many viable newer organizations that adopt traditions simply because they "think it's cool" without really considering the effect.

Again, I can only speak for Theta Nu Xi, but we understand where this particular tradition came from within BGLOs. I realize that members of mainstream organizations often have in their minds that members of younger organizations have no grounding in history. The truth is that, at least for Theta Nu Xi, we are serious about what we're doing and we don't take things lightly. This isn't a game.

You didn't refute what rhoyaltempest said.

While some of you know why "Incorporated" is said, I say "some" because not even all NPHCers know why it is said, Theta Nu Xi and other organizations are young and didn't exist at a time where being incorporated was a huge feat for certain types of organizations.

So even if you all know the significance behind "Innnnnncorporated," the reason you are actually saying it is because of the BGLO tradition of saying it. If not for that, it would be another unspoken fact about your organization as it usually is with NPC and IFC organizations.

[neosoul]

Originally Posted by H0NEY1987

that is helpful, thanks!


''sustain a corporation'' what does that mean, if you can explain it?

sustaining an organization is very important especially if you are up and coming.

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority was founded in 1920, and soon thereafter the great depression hit, so you can imagine at that point being in a sorority WAS TRULY a luxury. Chapters were moved around and people came in and left, but those were hard times. Now Zeta boasts of a membership of over 100,000 college educated women and our list of accomplishments is long, so when EYE say Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, INNNNNCORPORATED, its meaningful to me

[DSTCHAOS]

That's very touching and REAL, neosoul.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by SouthernFratter

It seems kind of silly to me.

Thanks for being so receptive.

The goal is to understand. Not necessarily to form a judgment either way.

ETA: And you clearly either haven't read the thread or don't understand what you read.

[neosoul]

bwhahhahhahahaha

go DSTCHAOS