Starting a New Fraternity or Sorority Chapter

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by taudelt1910

DubaiSis and AnotherKD...thanks for the responses. Dubai, I think you are partly right...I think that different situations call for different things. For example, if a girl who wanted to found an NPC organization on campus but couldn't because of the campus policies, greenbook policies, etc. There are alternatives out there. There are about 5 or 6 sororities that aren't NPC, but have all the features of an NPC organization. They are older orgs as well, BUT for one reason or another NPC has never opened the tradegroup to them. They are valid alternatives to NPC groups. This is JUST an example of how someone who has national experience knows the options that are out there.

As far as the fact that there are other people who "have this thread" that's fine, I will be a copy-cat, it doesn't bother me...at the bottom of MY page it says similar threads were posted in 2008, 2007, 2004, etc.

There should be a thread, heck maybe even a FORUM dedicated to people who want to be Greek and need the information to get there.

Not trying to be back and forth here...

I'm sure you think you're helping these groups out, but did you know that in the past several years there have been at least two of these chapters that have given up their affiliation with one of these groups to become an NPC organization. They wanted the "NPC experience" and didn't get it from the non- NPC group. These are not also ran organizations that girls can turn to just because they can get a quick fix when the NPC turns them down so suggesting that as an alternative at Arkansas (your answer to DubaiSis' scenario) is LUDICROUS. Their are implications and consequences to your actions. Small national organizations have to be deliberate and cautious when competing on a campus with NPC organizations that have far more resources. They haven't joined NPC because we would stifle they're growth when they would have to compete for expansion opportunities like the rest of us do. You can ask the smaller NPCs already how creative they have to be to win out against the bigger NPC groups in that model.

[Senusret I]

TauDelt1910,

Do you think fraternity life is at a peak or in a valley right now?

[taudelt1910]

I hear ya MysticCat, perhaps that means this one will be more easily found!

Senusret, according to the statistics I've seen, Greek Life has been slowly increasing over the last several years. However, at many particular campuses, it is a system in decline. The struggle of fraternities for fraternities during the 1970's, which was the last drastic period of decline, was to stay relevant to students. I think for good or for bad fraternities continue to face that hurdle. The hurdle that comes along with that today is that fraternities need to stay "relevant" to their host campuses. So to boil it down, I don't think they are in a valley, but I definitely think we have more work to do to ensure that our organizations are aligned with our values in order to reach that peak.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by taudelt1910

I hear ya MysticCat, perhaps that means this one will be more easily found!

Realistically, I doubt it. If you do a search for "start sorority," "start fraternity," "start chapter," starting sorority," "starting fraternity" or "starting chapter" in thread titles, you'll get some 1800+ hits (posts, not threads, and there is overlap in the searches).

As we often say here, "the Search function is your friend," but the typical person who comes here looking to start a new fraternity or sorority -- whether a local or a chapter -- doesn't do a search but rather posts a new thread and gets relevant answers in that thread. Often, these posters come here wanting to know how to start a chapter of a particular GLO. (See this from this past April, for example.) Sometimes they want to start Greek life on a campus with none, sometimes just they want a new option. Sometimes their reasons are valid, sometimes not so much.

I'm not in any way trying to say we shouldn't be as helpful as we can be in providing the kind of information you describe as appropriate. You're quite right about that. I'm just saying that it's already happening, and I doubt that the way it's happening is likely to change, even if we try to say "This thread is the place to ask about starting a new GLO."

[taudelt1910]

No problem!

If any visitors out there are interested in starting a new fraternity or sorority...feel free to ask your quesions away.



Thanks,
TauDelt

[amIblue?]

Originally Posted by taudelt1910

No problem!

If any visitors out there are interested in starting a new fraternity or sorority...feel free to ask your quesions away.



Thanks,
TauDelt

Is this your way of saying "na na na can't hear you!" on GC? I'm pretty sure Senusret had a legitimate question for you.

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by amIblue?

Is this your way of saying "na na na can't hear you!" on GC? I'm pretty sure Senusret had a legitimate question for you.

Yeah, it really was. But it's fine.

[amIblue?]

Aren't you trying to get a new organization off the ground? (Or a relatively new organization?)

[Senusret I]

Thanks for responding!

[Senusret I]

taudelt1910,

Could you explain the difference between "governance" and "management" - if you believe there is a difference - when it comes to leading a national Greek letter organization?

[Senusret I]

I am the Executive Director of Gamma Xi Phi Professional Arts Fraternity, so yes, it's new. But I was just making conversation since dude seemed like he was making himself available. But that's fine, we have a great board of trustees. Plus, I'm awesome on a standalone basis.

[amIblue?]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

Plus, I'm awesome on a standalone basis.

No doubt.

[taudelt1910]

Ok, let me start at the beginning...

Senusret, I wasn't ignoring your post. I had posted a quick reply to MysticCat and hadn't yet seen your post come in. I apologize if my actions in some way offended you. I did not intend to ignore your valid question. That being said, the difference between governance and management isn't really fundamental. Management is an extension of governance, especially in a Greek organization. Many times Greek Organizations differentiate between Policy and Governance and operate in a policy/governance model. Policy is left up to the Organization's board of directors and the actual implementation (governance) of policy is left up to the Administration (usually paid) of the fraternity or sorority in question. To give an easy example, The board makes it a policy that all new colonies have to meet the following standards (A,B, & C), it is up to the administration (the Executive Director) to implement the policy how he sees fit and to check that all new groups meet A, B, & C standards in any way that he chooses so long as he conforms to the policy. Governance is the broader aspect of project management. I've found that when leading a fraternity, you can't always be a project manager, but need to think of the overall impact on the whole organization, thus governance of the whole group.

AmIBlue, when I say that they are a "valid alternative" it's not at all an insulting comment. It is the truth! They have many of the characteristics of NPC groups, but are not in the NPC. I don't know how else you would describe that.

AlphaFrog, there are hard and fast rules to joining the NPC. Unfortunately, for whatever reason no new organiztion has been able to conform to those standards since 1951. I am not criticizing the NPC, they have their reasons for not opening up to new organizations. However, I think you are casting aspersions when you say that women's organizaitons who ARE NOT NPC are less safe or are someway deficient.

MysticCat, You disapprove of this thread. I understand that, it's ok, I will continue it anyway. It's great to have a forum where we can all disagree.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by taudelt1910

Ok, let me start at the beginning...

Senusret, I wasn't ignoring your post. I had posted a quick reply to MysticCat and hadn't yet seen your post come in. I apologize if my actions in some way offended you. I did not intend to ignore your valid question. That being said, the difference between governance and management isn't really fundamental. Management is an extension of governance, especially in a Greek organization. Many times Greek Organizations differentiate between Policy and Governance and operate in a policy/governance model. Policy is left up to the Organization's board of directors and the actual implementation (governance) of policy is left up to the Administration (usually paid) of the fraternity or sorority in question. To give an easy example, The board makes it a policy that all new colonies have to meet the following standards (A,B, & C), it is up to the administration (the Executive Director) to implement the policy how he sees fit and to check that all new groups meet A, B, & C standards in any way that he chooses so long as he conforms to the policy. Governance is the broader aspect of project management. I've found that when leading a fraternity, you can't always be a project manager, but need to think of the overall impact on the whole organization, thus governance of the whole group.

AmIBlue, when I say that they are a "valid alternative" it's not at all an insulting comment. It is the truth! They have many of the characteristics of NPC groups, but are not in the NPC. I don't know how else you would describe that.

AlphaFrog, there are hard and fast rules to joining the NPC. Unfortunately, for whatever reason no new organiztion has been able to conform to those standards since 1951. I am not criticizing the NPC, they have their reasons for not opening up to new organizations. However, I think you are casting aspersions when you say that women's organizaitons who ARE NOT NPC are less safe or are someway deficient.

MysticCat, You disapprove of this thread. I understand that, it's ok, I will continue it anyway. It's great to have a forum where we can all disagree.

It is no coincidence that this thread has not, and probably will not, become what you intend for it to be.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by taudelt1910

MysticCat, You disapprove of this thread. I understand that . . . .

Apparently, you don't. I don't "disapprove" of this thread. I am saying, along the lines of what Dr. Phil said, that based on my experience at GC, this thread isn't likely to work out the way you hope or intend.