National Fraternity

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

When I read it last night, it basically sounded to me that they are an underground group of gentlemen who are functioning as a chapter of an NIC fraternity. They really wish they weren't underground and would love to be part of the whole again, but are afraid of losing autonomy as well as paying expensive dues.

On the other hand, they could become their own organization, but then they lose the sentimental things they hold onto.

I think you've got it, if you add that they lost their charter four or more years ago for unspecified activity, and that they are afraid that if they try to be rechartered by the national, they will not be able to haze like they do now (that's what he meant about guys getting in "without going through all of the stuff we do now," AOEforme) and they will have to get their grades up.

They want to be able to keep using the national org's name and symbols, but they don't want to get into legal trouble for copyright infringement. Bottom line: They want the benefits of being part of the national organization (name recognition and the like) without the obligations (financial and otherwise).

They need to make a choice -- try to reaffiliate with the national org, even if that means giving up some things, or make a clean break and go local.

Originally Posted by Senusret I

^^^ I read that part to mean: "We pledge, possibly haze a little, but if are recognized officially, they might make us do something like Balanced Man, or some other non-pledging membership program."

Maybe I'm too skeptical. I read the whole as, "we lost our charter for hazing or other similar high-risk/liability activity and we're still doing it and we don't want to stop doing it."