Definition of "Chapter"

[violetpretty]

Originally Posted by FΔithHΩpeLoΛe

Oh ok, I see - but not all organisations follow that system, right?

A few exceptions in the NPC:

*Alpha Omicron Pi allows each colony to choose the chapter designation, usually based on a chapter sub-motto. For example, the colony at the University of Arkansas became the Xi Omicron chapter, for "excellence overall".
*Alpha Epsilon Phi goes Alpha to Omega, Alpha Alpha to Alpha Omega, Epsilon Alpha to Epsilon Omega, Phi Alpha to Phi Omega, and then resumes with the Betas. Delta Phi Epsilon also does this, except their first three sets after the single letter chapters are Delta, Phi and Epsilon.
*Chi Omega does the basic system, but backwards and omitting Omega. The second letter is the "set". The first chapter is Psi, then Chi, then Phi...then Psi Alpha, Chi Alpha, Phi Alpha...Alpha Alpha, then Psi Beta, Chi Beta, Phi Beta....Alpha Beta.
*Kappa Delta has many chapters not named in the conventional manner. Some designations were given to honor people, the school, or the locals that KD absorbed. See these two posts by Leslie Anne and ta kala. (Thank you Shellfish!)
*Pi Beta Phi names chapters by the state and the order it was chartered in that state. Virginia Alpha, Virginia Beta, Virginia Gamma...Ohio Alpha, Ohio Beta, etc.
*Alpha Gamma Delta names chapters by region. The first Greek letter is the region designation and the second is the order in which that chapter was chartered within the region. (Thank you VandalSquirrel!) Any Phi Mus correct me if I am wrong, but I believe Phi Mu also does this too.

[pshsx1]

Originally Posted by violetpretty

*Pi Beta Phi names chapters by the state and the order it was chartered in that state. Virginia Alpha, Virginia Beta, Virginia Gamma...Ohio Alpha, Ohio Beta, etc.

Same with SigEp (which was mentioned). But also kind of interesting, we also used to go by Alpha, Beta...Psi, Omega, Beta Alpha.. etc. But then at some point (I believe it was after our merger with Tau Upsilon Omega), the chapter designations were switched to states and Greek letters. Also, we don't have a North Carolina Alpha chapter. I think it's because of both a SPE and TUO chapter closing and rechartering? I really don't remember.

And California and Pennsylvania are the only states I believe with double letters (ex. CA Beta Gamma, PA Beta Alpha).

[VandalSquirrel]

Originally Posted by violetpretty

A few exceptions in the NPC:

*Alpha Omicron Pi allows each colony to choose the chapter designation, usually based on a chapter sub-motto. For example, the colony at the University of Arkansas became the Xi Omicron chapter, for "excellence overall".
*Alpha Epsilon Phi goes Alpha to Omega, Alpha Alpha to Alpha Omega, Epsilon Alpha to Epsilon Omega, Phi Alpha to Phi Omega, and then resumes with the Betas. Delta Phi Epsilon also does this, except their first three sets after the single letter chapters are Delta, Phi and Epsilon.
*Chi Omega does the basic system, but backwards and omitting Omega. The second letter is the "set". The first chapter is Psi, then Chi, then Phi...then Psi Alpha, Chi Alpha, Phi Alpha...Alpha Alpha, then Psi Beta, Chi Beta, Phi Beta....Alpha Beta.
*I've think Tri Delta and Kappa Delta have some chapters that appear not to be named in the conventional manner (i.e. Sigma ___ chapters that are old), but I don't know if there was a pattern or reason for it.
*Pi Beta Phi names chapters by the state and the order it was chartered in that state. Virginia Alpha, Virginia Beta, Virginia Gamma...Ohio Alpha, Ohio Beta, etc.

Alpha Gamma Delta has regions with different letters (Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Epsilon, Kappa, Theta, Zeta) with the second letter in alphabetical Greek order. For example our newest chapter at Roosevolet is Beta Upsilon, but my chapter is Delta Theta, and was founded 50 years before. Our first 24 chapters are Alpha - Omega, with Chapter Grand reserved for deceased sisters.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by violetpretty

A few exceptions in the NPC:

*Alpha Omicron Pi allows each colony to choose the chapter designation, usually based on a chapter sub-motto. For example, the colony at the University of Arkansas became the Xi Omicron chapter, for "excellence overall".

Many chapters chose their names to honor sisters, ie. Phi Chi at Univ of Chicago was named for Peg Crawford, AOII International President, who was instrumental in getting them started as the first NPC on campus. Not all names have direct correlations from chapter designation to sub-motto either. For example, our newest chapter at Washington University in St. Louis is Delta Kappa, but their sub-motto is Kalokagathia meaning "Excellent/Beautiful and Good." There is no word signified by Delta in their sub-motto. I wonder how they come up with the ideas for chapter names...I'm glad I didn't have to!

[33girl]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

I wonder how they come up with the ideas for chapter names...I'm glad I didn't have to!

Ain't that the truth. It's hard enough to agree on favors for the formal, I can't imagine the discussions that go into something as huge as a chapter name!!

[Psi U MC Vito]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

I wonder how they come up with the ideas for chapter names...I'm glad I didn't have to!

Agreed. It's funny, to this day the people in my chapter don't even know how we picked our chapter name.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by emb021

Basically, with GLOs, the greek letters are the initials of the group's *real* name, rendered in the greek language. For instance, Phi Beta Kappa is called that because the letters are the initials of a greek phrase that means "Love of learning is the guide of life".

Actually, that example contradicts your claim that "[b]asically, with GLOs, the greek letters are the initials of the group's *real* name." With Phi Beta Kappa, as with many GLOs, the Greek letters stood for the secret motto, not the name. The real name of Phi Beta Kappa was Societas Philosophiae. (And the motto is, I think, traditionally translated "Philosophy is the Guide of Life." There is a difference between "Philosophy" and "Love of Learning" in the context of the founding of Phi Beta Kappa.)

Originally Posted by Psi U MC Vito

Ironically the proper letters for the first two actually look like the english equivalent. Is there even a v sound in Greek?

In modern Greek yes. It is represented, I believe, by Beta (pronounced "veta").

[Psi U MC Vito]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Actually, that example contradicts your claim that "[b]asically, with GLOs, the greek letters are the initials of the group's *real* name." With Phi Beta Kappa, as with many GLOs, the Greek letters stood for the secret motto, not the name. The real name of Phi Beta Kappa was Societas Philosophiae. (And the motto is, I think, traditionally translated "Philosophy is the Guide of Life." There is a difference between "Philosophy" and "Love of Learning" in the context of the founding of Phi Beta Kappa.)

In modern Greek yes. It is represented, I believe, by Beta (pronounced "veta").

Phi Beta Kappa was a bad example, but was said is still true. While there are organizations that have separate mottos, for quite a few the motto is the name. And yeah I looked it up after I posted that question.

ETA: Doesn't Philosophy mean the love of wisdom? Not much different from love of learning.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Psi U MC Vito

Phi Beta Kappa was a bad example, but was said is still true. While there are organizations that have separate mottos, for quite a few the motto is the name. And yeah I looked it up after I posted that question.

Yes, for some orgs the secret motto is the name, for others it isn't. This is one of those areas where a blanket statement may not realy fit. For many (most?) orgs, the Greek letters stand for Greek words, but for some they do not stand for Greek words. For some they stand for a secret name (like old Kappa Alpha, which stood for Kuklos Adelphon or "Circle of Brothers.") For others, they stand for a motto that is separate from the name. For still others, they may stand for something else still.

ETA: Doesn't Philosophy mean the love of wisdom? Not much different from love of learning.

Noy exactly. Yes, philosophy is derived from Greek roots meaning love of wisdom (philos and sophia). But that's not what it means. It means:

1. the rational investigation of the truths and principles of being, knowledge, or conduct.
2. any of the three branches, namely natural philosophy, moral philosophy, and metaphysical philosophy, that are accepted as composing this study.

(Thanks, dictionary.com)

In the context of the founding of Phi Beta Kappa, the implication is that rationality/reason, rather than, say, religious doctrine is the reliable guide of life.

[Psi U MC Vito]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

but for some they do not stand for Greek words. For some they stand for a secret name (like old Kappa Alpha, which stood for K A)

Is that something that is open? Because the KA Society is still around.

[emb021]

Originally Posted by Psi U MC Vito

Phi Beta Kappa was a bad example, but was said is still true. While there are organizations that have separate mottos, for quite a few the motto is the name. And yeah I looked it up after I posted that question.

Well, I used Phi Beta Kappa, because this is common knowledge (ie, its no longer secret). You can get this info on their website.

I thougth that was better then trying to either a) make something up or b) reveal another orgs secret info.

[PhiMuMagnolia]

Originally Posted by violetpretty

A few exceptions in the NPC:


*Alpha Gamma Delta names chapters by region. The first Greek letter is the region designation and the second is the order in which that chapter was chartered within the region. (Thank you VandalSquirrel!) Any Phi Mus correct me if I am wrong, but I believe Phi Mu also does this too.

Violetpretty, you're right about Phi Mu- example, the PA chapters usually start with Beta or Phi (Beta Mu, Beta Tau, Phi Lambda, Phi Kappa)