HELP! I want to start this sorority, but does it already exist?

[harreled]

Honestly, in the band, we are see as that 'cute little guard club' and we aren't taken very seriously because we don't have letters. If FLOC were to become a sorority, we would be recognized as a more legitimate organization, we would be able to do more and be able work on par with the other band service fraternities/sororities.

[AOEforme]

Originally Posted by harreled

Honestly, in the band, we are see as that 'cute little guard club' and we aren't taken very seriously because we don't have letters. If FLOC were to become a sorority, we would be recognized as a more legitimate organization, we would be able to do more and be able work on par with the other band service fraternities/sororities.

Honestly, you'd probably be seen the same way.

Letters do NOT make an organization legit.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by harreled

Honestly, in the band, we are see as that 'cute little guard club' and we aren't taken very seriously because we don't have letters. If FLOC were to become a sorority, we would be recognized as a more legitimate organization, we would be able to do more and be able work on par with the other band service fraternities/sororities.

It is unfortunate that the band does not take you all seriously. That may be a testament to how skilled and serious you all appear, as well as how closely you've been working with the JMU band. Thankfully, it isn't like that everywhere. Check out Kayne O'Brien (I assume he's transgendered or is TBS a co-ed sorority in some chapters? ) who is a member of TBS and color guard http://www.eiu.edu/~marching_band/Ta...ta%20Sigma.php

Becoming a university-recognized sorority does not mean you all will be considered a legitimate organization. You may be laughed at for trying too hard to fit in and be acknowledged. Honestly, if being good at what you do and working together on service projects don't get you all taken seriously, not much will. If I were a student, I'd be more inclined to laugh at the founding of yet ANOTHER seemingly shortlived sorority. And I'd assume these were women who were lonely and couldn't gain membership elsewhere. Just telling you how people may respond to your reasoning.

[XAntoftheSkyX]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Becoming a university-recognized sorority does not mean you all will be considered a legitimate organization. You may be laughed at for trying too hard to fit in and be acknowledged. Honestly, if being good at what you do and working together on service projects don't get you all taken seriously, not much will. If I were a student, I'd be more inclined to laugh at the founding of yet ANOTHER seemingly shortlived sorority. And I'd assume these were women who were lonely and couldn't gain membership elsewhere. Just telling you how people may respond to your reasoning.

This. I was in my college marching band and a lot of the TBS sisters were in color guard.

But it sounds like you are a sorority in all but name. Do you really need to became one (even local), and what would two or three greek letters really change?

[UofISigKap]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

It is unfortunate that the band does not take you all seriously. That may be a testament to how skilled and serious you all appear, as well as how closely you've been working with the JMU band. Thankfully, it isn't like that everywhere. Check out Kayne O'Brien (I assume he's transgendered or is TBS a co-ed sorority in some chapters? ) who is a member of TBS and color guard http://www.eiu.edu/~marching_band/Ta...ta%20Sigma.php

I saw EIU and got all excited because I remember them going co-ed when I was there. (Yes, I transferred to Illinois later which doesn't have either band organization; it's in another thread. Anyway...) Prior to 1996, KKPsi was male only, and TBS was strictly female at EIU. That fall, a male TBS member transferred to EIU from another school. Both KKPsi and TBS decided to become co-ed, and he could then stay an active member of TBS. They are both still co-ed, but from my understanding, only TBS takes in guard members now. The KKPsi chapter no longer does, unless they play in a winter/spring ensemble, I think??

ETA: The allowing guard members is specific to the chapters at EIU not a blanket statement.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by UofISigKap

I saw EIU and got all excited because I remember them going co-ed when I was there. (Yes, I transferred to Illinois later which doesn't have either band organization; it's in another thread. Anyway...) Prior to 1996, KKPsi was male only, and TBS was strictly female at EIU. That fall, a male TBS member transferred to EIU from another school. Both KKPsi and TBS decided to become co-ed, and he could then stay an active member of TBS. They are both still co-ed, but from my understanding, only TBS takes in guard members now. The KKPsi chapter no longer does, unless they play in a winter/spring ensemble, I think??

ETA: The allowing guard members is specific to the chapters at EIU not a blanket statement.

Thanks for this info!!!

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by harreled

Honestly, in the band, we are see as that 'cute little guard club' and we aren't taken very seriously because we don't have letters. If FLOC were to become a sorority, we would be recognized as a more legitimate organization, we would be able to do more and be able work on par with the other band service fraternities/sororities.

You don't need to become a sorority to do these things.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by harreled

Honestly, in the band, we are see as that 'cute little guard club' and we aren't taken very seriously because we don't have letters. If FLOC were to become a sorority, we would be recognized as a more legitimate organization, we would be able to do more and be able work on par with the other band service fraternities/sororities.

If the colorguard is getting screwed out of money, uniforms, what have you, then the COLORGUARD (the active members in it) needs to fight for what they feel they deserve - NOT a group whose members contain women who may no longer be colorguard members.

If you have a winter guard that competes apart from the band, then ask for student funding as winter guard, a separate performing group (just like the wind ensemble/brass ensemble etc would).

But don't try and mesh a bunch of stuff into a sorority just for the sake of a sorority.