How to make our local sorority legitimate?

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by als463

If you have the opportunity to have a national base with many chapters and alumnae, why not go the NPC/NPHC route?

Alot of people have asked that on GC. There are a few reasons (which I have learned from being around GC for while).

*Like MysticCat said, the "no national office" factor.

*Locals may have lower dues at some schools, that's attractive to some students.

*Students may enjoy the fact that they are part of something that is unique to their particular school.

*They may be the more popular option at that particular school. There are schools at which the local groups do better in recruitment than the NPC groups do.

Also a local sorority may not want to affiliate with an NPC for a few reasons:

*They may be a more established local group and are not interested in becoming something else and losing 100+ years of history.

*They do not wish to upset their alumnae base by becoming something else. Some locals have thousands of alumnae (due to being more established), and it would upset some of them to hear that their local is now something else. Not to mention potential loss of alumnae $$.

*They aren't interested in the increased costs.

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by als463

I guess I'm confused as to why anyone would want to "stay" local when they have the opportunity to go national. Are there other national sororities on your campus? If so, why didn't you go through rush and join one of those? My school used to have locals, but the thought of joining a local never crossed my mind. If you have the opportunity to have a national base with many chapters and alumnae, why not go the NPC/NPHC route?

From what I can tell on GC, locals get this question a lot. Unfortunately, a similar argument is used against the existence of any non-NPC/NIC organizations.

Different people are looking for different things and Greek Life offers a lot of options.

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

*They may be the more popular option at that particular school. There are schools at which the local groups do better in recruitment than the NPC groups do.

This reason is definitely something that would surprise a lot of people. You wouldn't necessarily think along these terms when you consider the resources and support available with a national organization. But, it's true.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

This reason is definitely something that would surprise a lot of people. You wouldn't necessarily think along these terms when you consider the resources and support available with a national organization. But, it's true.

I think usually when that happens, the locals have been around longer and the nationals are looked on as Johnny-come-latelies/carpetbaggers. Not that an 18 year old girl going through rush would put it that way.

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by 33girl

I think usually when that happens, the locals have been around longer and the nationals are looked on as Johnny-come-latelies/carpetbaggers. Not that an 18 year old girl going through rush would put it that way.

Right. Personally, I find it amazing that some locals have been around for over 100 years and they're still going strong. It's very cool.

I'm one of those people who was always interested in national organizations. I imagine my perception would be totally different if I'd been on a campus where the locals had more recruiting "strength."

[als463]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

Right. Personally, I find it amazing that some locals have been around for over 100 years and they're still going strong. It's very cool.

I'm one of those people who was always interested in national organizations. I imagine my perception would be totally different if I'd been on a campus where the locals had more recruiting "strength."

Are you in a local?

Yes, I see your point-to an extent. In all honesty, though-I still never got the reason behind it. No offense (so I hope no one gets upset with this statement)-when you leave campus "State U" and you say, "I'm an XYZ" it is good to know that people have actually heard of your organization. Now, in some areas-that is not always true, however, just knowing you are part of a big organization with many chapters is something to have pride in.

I know many people who don't consider locals to even be "real" sororities. I remember one of the girls in charge of our Panhellenic that made the comment that local sororities are just clubs with letters. If you are on a campus (like some campuses of Pitt) where there are only locals-I get why you would join a local. If you are on a campus with a couple of nationals-even if they aren't exactly #1 on campus or thriving-why would you go local? I never really wanted to join a local for that reason. When you say to people, "I'm an XYZ" and they look at you funny because they have never heard of it because it only exists on like ONE campus-that has suck (I can't find a better word for it-sorry) to some degree.

Thoughts?