Kappa Beta Gamma/Kappa Delta

[nate2512]

Originally Posted by texas*princess

Regardless of whether or not they have received their badges, I would venture to guess they took some kind of oath of loyalty to KBG.

If they felt a closer connection to the girls of KBG, why abandon that and make it into something it wasn't just because they wanted an org with more resources like the other sororities on campus? Or why join KBG in the first place if they "yearned" to be part of a group with better resources?

Or they could have waited it out, formed an interest group and get organized. It is possible that down the road their interest group could be picked up by a NPC.

It just doesn't seem right to join an National org just to leave it to join a bigger one.

Maybe they felt that their nationals no longer correctly pursued the ideals and principles it was originally founded upon so they sought out an organization that did?

They could have dissolved went local and then entertained offers from NPC sororities, but if they were going to that anyway whats the point? We see stories on here a lot about how locals get absorbed into NPCs.

Also, what were the specifics of their own nationals ability to provide liability insurances, lucrative scholarships, and things of that such? If they are paying outrageous insurance and dues to the national and they aren't getting a great return on investment then they do kind of have a right to be pissed.

I am a guy and I am in a fraternity and don't understand all aspects of NPC and smaller nationals and I'm sure I'll get flamed and tarred and feathered for this but its a few things to think about.

[texas*princess]

Originally Posted by nate2512

Also, what were the specifics of their own nationals ability to provide liability insurances, lucrative scholarships, and things of that such? If they are paying outrageous insurance and dues to the national and they aren't getting a great return on investment then they do kind of have a right to be pissed.

I am a guy and I am in a fraternity and don't understand all aspects of NPC and smaller nationals and I'm sure I'll get flamed and tarred and feathered for this but its a few things to think about.

Their dues are $50 (which includes insurance). Ever heard the phrase "You get what you pay for?"

My dues for a professional GLO were much higher than that.

As a guy in a fraternity (NIC I am assuming?) would it be OK with you if a guy pledged a group, got initiated, then decided he thought your fraternity was way better so he dropped out and tried joining yours?

[vedette713]

Originally Posted by texas*princess

Their dues are $50 (which includes insurance). Ever heard the phrase "You get what you pay for?"

My dues for a professional GLO were much higher than that.

As a guy in a fraternity (NIC I am assuming?) would it be OK with you if a guy pledged a group, got initiated, then decided he thought your fraternity was way better so he dropped out and tried joining yours?

Hi texas*princess,

Absolutely no offense meant, but could I ask you where you got that number? Because as a soon-to-be alumna of the f&m chapter in question, I can tell you we paid $80 a semester, not $50 a year.

And while I recognize that many organizations have far higher dues, having just spent weeks up to my eyes in different Panhellenic sororities' extension materials, I know there are also groups that offer the experience for the same, or even a lower, dues. And — I'm guessing because they have larger memberships — the Panhellenic sororities are able to offer more extensive insurance coverage.

[ThetaDancer]

Originally Posted by vedette713

Hi texas*princess,

Absolutely no offense meant, but could I ask you where you got that number? Because as a soon-to-be alumna of the f&m chapter in question, I can tell you we paid $80 a semester, not $50 a year.

And while I recognize that many organizations have far higher dues, having just spent weeks up to my eyes in different Panhellenic sororities' extension materials, I know there are also groups that offer the experience for the same, or even a lower, dues. And — I'm guessing because they have larger memberships — the Panhellenic sororities are able to offer more extensive insurance coverage.

According to KBG's website, national dues are $50 per girl per semester.

I can't say for certain that it was t*p's source, but that's what I found.

[vedette713]

Originally Posted by ThetaDancer

According to KBG's website, national dues are $50 per girl per semester.

I can't say for certain that it was t*p's source, but that's what I found.

Hi ThetaDancer,

Thanks for the link! F&M's a mac-based campus, and the KBG website doesn't support macs (though I believe they're working on it), so that's the first time I've been able to see something besides the homepage. And I think you're right about it probably being t*p's source.

The site's a little out-of-date, though: For example, in addition to the former F&M chapter (Nu), the Epsilon and Mu chapter are inactive; the Xi chapter hasn't been added; and this is the first mention of scholarships and newsletters I've ever come across.

Obviously I've never been able to check this for myself, but my understanding is the site was last updated in 2004, which is probably where the confusion stems from, because our dues were definitely $80 a semester.

[nate2512]

Originally Posted by texas*princess

Their dues are $50 (which includes insurance). Ever heard the phrase "You get what you pay for?"

My dues for a professional GLO were much higher than that.

As a guy in a fraternity (NIC I am assuming?) would it be OK with you if a guy pledged a group, got initiated, then decided he thought your fraternity was way better so he dropped out and tried joining yours?

No, not NIC.

With that said, it's a bit different. Locals have initiations and get absorbed into internationals/nationals all the time. These locals all have rituals/traditions/initiations. In fact that's how my own chapter came about to be where we are today.

I don't really see this as too much of a difference, with five chapters I'd struggle to call it a national. And once again, how much of that money went toward to the national dues/insurance and how much stayed within the chapter? Once again, if the chapter thought that the national was no longer keeping their best interests in mind, and getting away from the very reason it was founded, and they came to our Nationals and expressed this and agreed with our ideas a lot more. And our nationals evaluated the situation and decided that this is something they would want to pursue, then no, I wouldn't have a problem with it all.

Because a large National is going to have much much more to offer and a much better return on investment. Now their members are going to have many scholarships awards and recognitions that they wouldn't be able to get elsewhere. Also it brings their presence on campus to a whole different level. It's now better for the entire Greek system at that school because if a girl hasn't heard of a sorority she may not join one, because she may not like the other one, and not rush to find out she may end up liking the other ones.

But truth is, there are far too many variables to the situation for me to say that I would agree or disagree with the choice. Obviously NPC protocol was followed, as well the Kappa Delta's national protocol, and they thought this was in the best interest for everyone, so I'm going to argue with someone if no rules were broken along the way.

Now, Joe initiates down the street at ABC, initiates then decides that mines better, hell no, he's not coming here. But that's a lot different than the situation at hand.

I'm not trying to say something was right or wrong, I just want to encourage to think about a few things that may give them the benefit of the doubt.

[Katydid617]

Originally Posted by texas*princess

Their dues are $50 (which includes insurance). Ever heard the phrase "You get what you pay for?"

My dues for a professional GLO were much higher than that.

As a guy in a fraternity (NIC I am assuming?) would it be OK with you if a guy pledged a group, got initiated, then decided he thought your fraternity was way better so he dropped out and tried joining yours?

I too am wondering where exactly you got this figure from. As the previous treasurer of the group in question I can promise you our dues were not $50 (in all of our years as a chapter they were never $50). We paid $80 a semester to KBG in addition to the $200 or so figure that we used for the upkeep of our chapter (i.e. recruitment, composites, new member education, Panhel dues, etc).

In addition, I am very uncomfortable with the information that is being exchanged on this thread. I have been following it with interest and I am surprised that so many people are quick to make assumptions without any knowledge of the situation and then post them on the internet.

As a member of the group that has been repeatedly insulted on this thread I am disappointed. We found ourselves in a unique situation and we did our best to diplomatically resolve it. When I became interested in joining a sorority, I choose KBG because of the women I knew in the group. I found a strong connection with them and honestly I was really not focused on some of the details that become important after I joined (i.e. bylaws, convention, and support from the National). Prior to my experience I knew no one who was Greek and was not familiar with everything that was involved or what I should know to look for.

In the years since I have joined, our chapter grew rapidly as did the Greek system at our institution. When we were looking for guidance or support from KBG, it was very hard to come by (it has been mentioned many times that they are and have been restructuring). We had received particularly outdated bylaws (1998, our chapter was founded in 2002), and incomplete information regarding what exactly our dues were paying for. I am by no means trying to insult KBG, but we were quickly outgrowing them.

When this change took place I was the President of the Panhellenic Council and I promise that all of the rules were followed and no "shady" business took place. We remained disaffiliated from KBG for several months prior to receiving expansion material. While this whole situation may have seemed very quick to outsiders, the women of our chapter worked on this for well over 2 years. I personally spent substantial time talking to both NPC and KBG and our chapter was released from KBG. We then proceeded with expansion with the support of NPC and our institution. After the long process we eventually decided that Kappa Delta was the best match for us and our institution.

Regardless of what some of you may feel, this group of women are some of the most dedicated, responsible, and loyal women I have ever met. This decision was not an easy one, but it was one we made collectively (with the support of our alums, who founded the chapter). Becoming members of Kappa Delta was an exciting and proud moment for all of us. We did not take this oath lightly, nor did we take the KBG oath lightly.

As it has been said many times before by several people, all of the rules were followed in this situation. If people would like to discuss this issue in general terms (GLO absorptions by NPC) that is fine, but there really is not anything to discuss in regards to the KBG/KD situation because every rule was followed.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by Katydid617

Regardless of what some of you may feel, this group of women are some of the most dedicated, responsible, and loyal women I have ever met. This decision was not an easy one, but it was one we made collectively (with the support of our alums, who founded the chapter). Becoming members of Kappa Delta was an exciting and proud moment for all of us. We did not take this oath lightly, nor did we take the KBG oath lightly.

As it has been said many times before by several people, all of the rules were followed in this situation. If people would like to discuss this issue in general terms (GLO absorptions by NPC) that is fine, but there really is not anything to discuss in regards to the KBG/KD situation because every rule was followed.

Thank you for sharing. It's great to actually hear from the source. Congratulations on becoming a Kappa Delta.