want to bring a Tri-Delta chapter to my university!

[33girl]

Originally Posted by HelloKitty22

It may be because I am a DDD, and, hence, always flattered when someone wants to grow my GLO, but I think you guys are being a little harsh and pessimistic.

No we're not. We're being realistic. As I said, if her school is the one I think it is from her username, they're being very cautious with national expansion which is probably the right road to take in this economy.

It also seems like she thinks DDD will bring a type of woman to the Greek system that isn't there, and no matter how awesome the organization, 99 times out of 100 that simply isn't the case, especially if you're participating in panhellenic rush with a mix of locals and NPCs.

I'd say the same things to her if she wanted to start a colony of my sorority in the same circumstance. We need to take care of the sisters we already have, not go OMG EXPANSION if the opportunity is not a good one.

[thetygerlily]

Originally Posted by 33girl

I'd say the same things to her if she wanted to start a colony of my sorority in the same circumstance. We need to take care of the sisters we already have, not go OMG EXPANSION if the opportunity is not a good one.

This is an especially great point considering recent news that two colonies at UA-LR are closing. Expansion can sound like a great idea, but it is not a simple low-energy process no matter the org.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by thetygerlily

This is an especially great point considering recent news that two colonies at UA-LR are closing. Expansion can sound like a great idea, but it is not a simple low-energy process no matter the org.

As far as that situation was concerned, I think they had the right idea, and it might have worked out OK if the current economy wasn't such a cluster. The OP's situation is a different matter though. They HAVE a Greek system with a good many orgs...they just happen to be local ones.

[HelloKitty22]

Originally Posted by 33girl

We need to take care of the sisters we already have, not go OMG EXPANSION if the opportunity is not a good one.

I wasn't going "OMG EXPANSION." In fact, nowhere did I say that I thought this was a great expansion opportunity for DDD. I also never said that starting a chapter was easy or likely.

I do, however, think that when we are answering a person's question, we should be helpful. Saying, "forget it, it will never happen" in post after post is not helpful. Even if something is difficult doesn't mean you shouldn't try and doesn't mean that we can't give her the best advice we have. Especially since the OP never asked us to weigh in on whether starting a chapter was a good idea, she just asked us to give her our best advice and to tell her our experiences, if we have any, with this situation. Is our best advice really don't try it's too hard?

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by HelloKitty22

I wasn't going "OMG EXPANSION." In fact, nowhere did I say that I thought this was a great expansion opportunity for DDD. I also never said that starting a chapter was easy or likely.

I do, however, think that when we are answering a person's question, we should be helpful. Saying, "forget it, it will never happen" in post after post is not helpful. Even if something is difficult doesn't mean you shouldn't try and doesn't mean that we can't give her the best advice we have. Especially since the OP never asked us to weigh in on whether starting a chapter was a good idea, she just asked us to give her our best advice and to tell her our experiences, if we have any, with this situation. Is our best advice really don't try it's too hard?

Where did anyone say either of these things?

We are just pointing out what technically needs to happen before an expansion may take place, and that even if your school does choose to expand, everyone in said colony is not going to be your BFF.

I really don't think that's harsh. I'd rather people be realistic (and make sure that people know what it entails) rather than saying "oh yeah, go for it! It's easy and it works out perfectly allllll the time!" That's just not the case.

Also, if you think that's harsh, you should probably hang back and lurk more.

[33girl]

It's also not just that she wants to bring a new group to her campus. It's that she seems to have a very overly romantic notion of how it happens.

I would understand "most of the groups at my school are local and I want to bring on another national." She shot on past that to "I am in love with this sorority solely due to the contents on a website and I don't think any other sorority could ever give me the same feeling."

Anytime you build something up that much, you're likely to be disappointed afterwards. If I'm coming off harsh, that's not my intention; I just hate to see people look past opportunities in front of them for those that are a zillion miles away.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by 33girl

I would understand "most of the groups at my school are local and I want to bring on another national." She shot on past that to "I am in love with this sorority solely due to the contents on a website and I don't think any other sorority could ever give me the same feeling."

This.

If she generalized her statements and simply wanted to bring a new NPC on campus, that's one thing. But we've already seen one too many threads here where girls have said, "My friend is in this sorority at another school, so I want to be in it, too!" or, "I only like that sorority, so I need to figure out how to get it here."

Expansion simply doesn't work that way.

[sarolasju]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

This.


If she generalized her statements and simply wanted to bring a new NPC on campus, that's one thing. But we've already seen one too many threads here where girls have said, "My friend is in this sorority at another school, so I want to be in it, too!" or, "I only like that sorority, so I need to figure out how to get it here."

Expansion simply doesn't work that way.

Why would it have been better if I generalized my statements just to bring any NPC sorority to my school? Just any sorority with no knowledge of what they stand for, any group will do? I don't really have a romanticized idea of what expansion is, clearly; I came here seeking help from people who may have seen it and been through it, but the majority of the responses I've received really do sound (to me anyway) like "don't bother, its too hard."
If all the NPC groups were the same, your own founders never would have started new orgs, and you probably wouldn't be wherever you are now. Thank you to those who were supportive, but I guess I can't get help here. Thank you anyway.



Edit: also; I've already stated before; my reason for wanting to bring a new chapter to my school has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO with hoping everyone in my chapter or colony will be my "BFF". I do not 100% support and identify with the already present sororities philanthropies, mission statements, and purposes. I simply felt I found a more appropriate match for me and yes; it is based on the contents of a website, but isn't that how most people expand??? There would be NO PURPOSE for expansion WHATSOEVER if all groups were, as more than one person mentioned, "basically the same".

Again, thank you.

[ThetaDancer]

Originally Posted by sarolasju

I don't really have a romanticized idea of what expansion is, clearly

You didn't really have a strong understanding of how expansion works. Clearly.

When people tried to tell you about the process (which is difficult, particularly if you have your heart set on one particular group, we're in an economic recession, and your campus has unique circumstances), they weren't trying to be Debbie Downers who just want you to take the easy way. They were trying to paint a realistic picture of the process.

[Psi U MC Vito]

Originally Posted by sarolasju

If all the NPC groups were the same, your own founders never would have started new orgs, and you probably wouldn't be wherever you are now. Thank you to those who were supportive, but I guess I can't get help here. Thank you anyway.

You have no idea what you are talking about. Most sororities were founded because of a group of women who wanted a closer bond with each other. Maybe they didn't like the women in other groups, maybe there wasn't another group on campus. Maybe they were denied for various reasons. Regardless of when and why a sorority was founded, honesty the values they hold are similar. You ever hear of the four pillars of Greek Life. They are called so because those four virtues are what most orgs at their heart care about, whatever their mission statement might be.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by sarolasju

Why would it have been better if I generalized my statements just to bring any NPC sorority to my school? Just any sorority with no knowledge of what they stand for, any group will do?

I would encourage you to read recruitment stories on this website. I bet you any amount of money you won't find one where the PNM's main focus is on a sorority's philanthropy, their colors, where they were founded, etc. The #1 thing that everyone talks about is a CONNECTION. PNMs want to be in a chapter where they can find some true friends... actual SISTERS. Everything else is just icing on the cake.

I do not 100% support and identify with the already present sororities philanthropies, mission statements, and purposes.

This statement worries me. I don't think I could find an NPC sorority whose philanthropies, mission statements and purposes I don't identify with. My sorority means the WORLD to me, and I wouldn't give it up for anything. But loving something, no matter what it is, takes time. It takes getting to know your sisters and the organization through readings, teachings, rituals and experiences. And while every organization is different, they all essentially have the same goals and purposes.

I simply felt I found a more appropriate match for me and yes; it is based on the contents of a website, but isn't that how most people expand???

Expand how? Expand Greek life? Expand their knowledge? Any way you look at it, it saddens me to think that you believe a website (any website) could give you all of the information you need.. about anything.

[Barbie's_Rush]

Originally Posted by sarolasju

Why would it have been better if I generalized my statements just to bring any NPC sorority to my school? Just any sorority with no knowledge of what they stand for, any group will do? I don't really have a romanticized idea of what expansion is, clearly; I came here seeking help from people who may have seen it and been through it, but the majority of the responses I've received really do sound (to me anyway) like "don't bother, its too hard."
If all the NPC groups were the same, your own founders never would have started new orgs, and you probably wouldn't be wherever you are now. Thank you to those who were supportive, but I guess I can't get help here. Thank you anyway.

Edit: also; I've already stated before; my reason for wanting to bring a new chapter to my school has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO with hoping everyone in my chapter or colony will be my "BFF". I do not 100% support and identify with the already present sororities philanthropies, mission statements, and purposes. I simply felt I found a more appropriate match for me and yes; it is based on the contents of a website, but isn't that how most people expand??? There would be NO PURPOSE for expansion WHATSOEVER if all groups were, as more than one person mentioned, "basically the same".

Again, thank you.

Because every other sorority apparently has inferior philanthropies and their purposes are dedicated to sacrificing puppies and worshiping Satan. You are an insulting embarrassment and have absolutely no comprehension of the real bonds of sisterhood.

[FSUZeta]

Originally Posted by HelloKitty22

I wasn't going "OMG EXPANSION." In fact, nowhere did I say that I thought this was a great expansion opportunity for DDD. I also never said that starting a chapter was easy or likely.

I do, however, think that when we are answering a person's question, we should be helpful. Saying, "forget it, it will never happen" in post after post is not helpful. Even if something is difficult doesn't mean you shouldn't try and doesn't mean that we can't give her the best advice we have. Especially since the OP never asked us to weigh in on whether starting a chapter was a good idea, she just asked us to give her our best advice and to tell her our experiences, if we have any, with this situation. Is our best advice really don't try it's too hard?

my best advice based on experiences i have had........a campus has to have a need to expand if there is an already established greek life on campus. the campus panhellenic usually does a study based on several years worth of statistics, has a meeting where they submit their findings and then the officers and representatives vote whether to open the campus for expansion or not. if they open for expansion, they notify the NPC of their decision to expand and the NPC in turn notifies all of the NPC sororities not represented on that campus that state university is open for expansion. sororities that are interested in colonizing there submit an information packet to the college panhellenic and after much perusal usually 3 sororities are invited to come to campus to give presentations. the sororities accept or regret the invitation and dates are set for the presentations. if one of the sororities regrets the invitation, panhellenic might go to the 4th choice and invite them to present. the sororities bring in national officers & local alumnae to participate in the presentation. the presentations are usually done on separate days. after all the presentations are done, the committee or the panhellenic officers and representatives vote on who will be invited to colonize-they notify the sorority and the sorority either accepts or regrets that invitation. SOMETIMES(but not very often) there is a pre-existing interest group that has a preference, and SOMETIMES that groups wishes are taken into consideration, however sometimes they are not. in addition, there is no guarantee that any or all of the members of the interest group would be invited to be members of the colony. that is a decision that the sorority would make(most often its national officers). the whole process can take as little as a couple of semesters or it an be longer.

that is the reason everyone is saying to look a little closer to home and give the existing groups another chance. the chances are slim to none that everything would work out in her favor-heck, she would probably stand a better chance transferring to a school that has an existing tri delta chapter and taking her chances going thru recruitment-and there is no guarantee in that either.

[KD4Me]

OP - I would like to reiterate that many of the replies that you have received on this board are not intended to be negative, just realistic. If you read old posts about people trying to start new chapters on their campuses, you will see that it requires a campus open to expansion, national sororities also open to expanding on that campus (which may or may not include Tri Delt), often much work convincing campus administrators of the benefits of expansion, and much time (usually years). The reality is that unless your campus opens for expansion very soon, it will likely be so long for all of those things to occur that you will have graduated.

I suggest that you heavily consider whether you really, really want to be in a sorority or not. If you do, then reconsider membership in the groups already on campus. Otherwise, you are taking a big chance that you will never be in a sorority. Only you know if it's worth it to you.

Incidentally, I love my sorority and was very involved as a collegian and still am, as an alumna. If I were choosing between all of the philanthropies in the world in which to invest my time, I wouldn't necessarily choose those that my national organization supports. But I do support them, because they're worthy causes. The friendships and relationships with my sisters is what I really love about my sorority.