From colony to getting chartered - what happens if a sorority won't get chartered?

[Always AlphaGam]

Originally Posted by ILove2BGreek

Is there really no way?

Because it seems that other sororities, other colonies - members there do seem to have the option to join another organization just like that.

And with my colony, with my organization - I was just initiated and then told that oops, we will probably have to shut down, sorry .. but at least you'll be an alumni.

This just seems super unfair to me.

I'm sorry that you have to go through this. Yes, it's unfair, but it's one of the NPC Unanimous Agreements.

It's quite possible that colony members are able to join other groups because they have not been initiated yet. In your case, you have been initiated, therefore initiating into another is not an option.

[ILove2BGreek]

Well, that just sucks.

I just feel really betrayed because I really wanted to be a part of my organization for the four years that I am at my university and now I will not be a part of it for at least two years and that will most likely completely change both my university and sorority experience.

Would it be better to now completely disaffiliate from my organization or is the prospect of being an alumni a better option? I just don't know if I want to even be a part of an organization who does "that" to its members ...

I really don't know how I should feel right now.

[agzg]

Originally Posted by ILove2BGreek

Well, that just sucks.

I just feel really betrayed because I really wanted to be a part of my organization for the four years that I am at my university and now I will not be a part of it for at least two years and that will most likely completely change both my university and sorority experience.

Would it be better to now completely disaffiliate from my organization or is the prospect of being an alumni a better option? I just don't know if I want to even be a part of an organization who does "that" to its members ...

I really don't know how I should feel right now.

It does suck, but I would recommend that you don't terminate your membership. If the colony is closed and you become an alumna, you get to decide your level of involvement, including whether or not you participate with an alumnae chapter or club way down the road.

While it's disappointing that you won't get the full four-year collegiate experience, there are lots of opportunities to be as involved as you want to be as an alumna. It's not a perfect option, but a good "fall back" in case you miss your organization once the wound has started to heal.

Just like initiation, termination is an act that cannot be undone for many organizations. So whatever way you decide to go, think about it very carefully.

[thetalady]

Originally Posted by agzg

It does suck, but I would recommend that you don't terminate your membership. If the colony is closed and you become an alumna, you get to decide your level of involvement, including whether or not you participate with an alumnae chapter or club way down the road.

While it's disappointing that you won't get the full four-year collegiate experience, there are lots of opportunities to be as involved as you want to be as an alumna. It's not a perfect option, but a good "fall back" in case you miss your organization once the wound has started to heal.

Just like initiation, termination is an act that cannot be undone for many organizations. So whatever way you decide to go, think about it very carefully.

This is REALLY, REALLY great advice. I hope you will take it to heart and believe Azgz. Some things in our lives get no "do overs". Sorority membership is one of them. In the long run, it really is better to be an alumna than to quit your membership entirely. Hang in there.

[DGTess]

Originally Posted by ILove2BGreek

Well, that just sucks.

I just feel really betrayed because I really wanted to be a part of my organization for the four years that I am at my university and now I will not be a part of it for at least two years and that will most likely completely change both my university and sorority experience.

Would it be better to now completely disaffiliate from my organization or is the prospect of being an alumni a better option? I just don't know if I want to even be a part of an organization who does "that" to its members ...

I really don't know how I should feel right now.

Whether or not your colony exists next year, is shut down, or whatever, you still have your sisters. The sisters are what make the experience in college, much more than the organization. (My chapter was as small as 15 at times, and we still keep in touch and get together every few years.)

The priorities may gradually reverse. As an alumna, you'll find sisterhood comes in many forms.

[AZTheta]

Originally Posted by DGTess

Whether or not your colony exists next year, is shut down, or whatever, you still have your sisters. The sisters are what make the experience in college, much more than the organization. (My chapter was as small as 15 at times, and we still keep in touch and get together every few years.)

The priorities may gradually reverse. As an alumna, you'll find sisterhood comes in many forms.

Absolutely true, this. I have "sisters" who wear different letters. Where would I be without those women in my life? We share a common bond, regardless of our letters; I get the most support and satisfaction from the Tucson Alumnae Panhellenic meetings (which are a RIOT!), and have expanded my circle of GLO sisters through that organization.

Yes, I understand that in college it is "different", but wow - if I'd walked away from Theta, I'd have missed out on years of fun and support. Recently I renewed an "acquaintance" with a pledge sister who resigned her membership senior year, and she still regrets it to this day. Sad.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by DGTess

Whether or not your colony exists next year, is shut down, or whatever, you still have your sisters. The sisters are what make the experience in college, much more than the organization. (My chapter was as small as 15 at times, and we still keep in touch and get together every few years.)

That is true, if the national organization doesn't send them a cease and desist order. They may be told to stop wearing letters or gathering together because it creates "the appearance of an organized group" and the national makes it out to be a big risk management thing.

I'll repeat what I said before: it is NOT RIGHT to allow women to initiate then pull out the colony. If the national weren't sure of a chapter coming to fruition (i.e. the school is not teeming with women who want to be Greek), they should not have initiated anyone. If national is refusing to help you but still wants to close the colony, I would explain your situation to your school's Panhellenic and let them know that when the colony closes, your group will be reforming as a local sorority (for which you will naturally be creating new ritual, colors, mascots etc) and you'd like their support. If they've seen the lack of support you've been given by your national "organization," then hopefully they will back you on this. That way you can still be part of your school's Greek community, and who knows, maybe it will be a lasting foundation for something that will work out.

To everyone saying "just get out there and recruit!" - it sounds like this colony was ill-advised from the jump, and the national thought that initiating women would be a marketing tool. Not so much. College age women can't overcome that, and I think at this point, the girls who are members would feel guilty getting anyone else involved in this clusterfuck.

To everyone saying "you will have so many alumnae opportunities" - quite frankly, I wouldn't want to do anything as an alumna for an organization that screwed me like this.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by wavycutchip

I don't have more than 1 experience to base this on, but the chapter I advise did initiate their 1st new members about 3 months before they received their charter. This was a special situation, because the campus was trying to charter 3 sorority chapters at the same time with all 3 getting their charters at the same time - and 2 were not willing to follow through with their colony charters at the original installation date.

I am sure there are lots of reasons for this, but in this particular case the alumnae advisory board asked for this to happen because the Leadership Consultants were out of town (the colonizing LC left in Nov., and 4 other LCs came for 3-6 day visits during the Spring Semester, and the colonizing LC came 2 more times) and the colony was acting like a chapter (had its officers, etc), but did not have access to all the tools (not only ritual, but membership, member ed, etc) and were constantly having to ask the local alumnae to log onto the national website for them to get additional information and access to do their job. Initiation was the only way for the women to have that access. During this time (colony with initiated members), the colony acted like a chapter - recruiting new members, running a new member program, holding philanthropy events, running chapter meetings, etc.

Again, I know the above situation was special; but I can understand that if the colony has been on campus for awhile as the OP said, I can see where the national organization would not be able to have an LC still in residence due to other needs of the organization.

But in this situation, was the colony on target with membership goals, recruitment, campus involvement etc? If so, this just sounds more like a techinicality than anything - and there were obviously many local alumnae involved. The OP's situation sounds like the national dropped off some letters, initiated people and left - leaving zero support.

Originally Posted by Low C Sharp

AEPhi has had a colony at the University of Washington-Seattle for almost two years, and has various class initiation pictures on its web site. I don't know if that's the OP's chapter, but it's an example of a colony remaining a colony, with initiated members, for quite a while.

Boys are different than girls. Not to mention AEPhi is geared toward a particular population.

Originally Posted by Shellfish

To go off topic a bit, a strange situation I know of occurred when a chapter repeatedly was found to have hazed. Their national didn't close them but just made the chapter a colony. I don't understand how a regular chapter could be pulled back to colony status.

Originally Posted by MysticCat

^^^ And don't some groups have a reorganization status for chapters? Is it possible that for them, reorganization status is essentially like colony status?

Originally Posted by Shellfish

This national did expel some members but not all of them. I always thought that the colony thing was done to make it look like some disciplinary action was being taken. Some years earlier, they also did a sort of reorganization in which they put all current members on alum status and immediately absorbed a local, so it was like they were never off campus at all and didn't lose any of the privileges of Panhel membership.

Yes. This is so you don't lose your spot. Those colony members were kind of like seat fillers at the Oscars.

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

Yes, your chapter is closing.

She doesn't have a chapter. She is in a colony. Big difference. And it doesn't sound like the previous alumnae are utilizing all those wonderful bonds they have from being initiated sisters. They're certainly not helping the colony out.

[justgo_withit]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Boys are different than girls. Not to mention AEPhi is geared toward a particular population.

Did you mean to imply these two are connected? I guess that's how I'm reading it, but, AEPhi is a sorority (http://www.aephi.org/)

[agzg]

What I find interesting is this campus - why would another organization want to set up a colony if the campus already has one that's failing? Why is the campus open for expansion with a failing colony on campus? I almost wonder if they're not getting support from Campus Panhellenic, either.

Very sad all around. What benefit is it to the campus to have a struggling colony or chapter?

Originally Posted by 33girl

To everyone saying "you will have so many alumnae opportunities" - quite frankly, I wouldn't want to do anything as an alumna for an organization that screwed me like this.

Maybe, maybe not. It's not like she's gaining anything by terminating her membership - just limiting her options way down the road. I do think it's really crappy that an organization would do this. But she doesn't have to do anything "for" the organization, even if she is involved as an alumna. She could just use it to network or make friends. I don't think there's anything wrong with wanting to do that.

[AOII Angel]

Honestly, I see no benefit from terminating your membership, other than a childish satisfaction in saying I'm taking my ball and going home. In the end you have nothing. Yes, your chapter is closing. All of us know sisters who have been in your situation. It's painful, but you can make the most out of the bonds you've made and utilize your membership to network to your advantage in the future...or you can cut ties and have nothing. I'm sorry that you won't get the experience you wanted, but if you play your cards right, you can still get a lifetime sorority experience.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

AFAIK (and someone correct me if I am wrong), no NPC group requires a financial commitment of its alumnae. You choose whether you want to be involved and pay alumnae dues or support your group's foundation or whatever else. I'm just throwing that out there, in case money is influencing your thinking.

[Titchou]

Look, we don't know the whole story here - as in what the PNMs were told about the "colony" status, whether or not they really were told "the colony is closing if you don't get your numbers up,", etc so I find it hard to believe that they are really getting "screwed." Sure, it may be an odd situation but I would be willing to bet that the truth is somewhere in between. Esp since they were told "next spring" - that's a year away! By then she'll have 2 years in and since she is a Junior, she'll pratically be gone anyway. Come on folks, there is more here than meets the eye.

[ASUADPi]

Am I the only one who is completely confused that a colony, colony, has been around for a couple of years, is initiating women but yet nationals (their EO, HQ) isn't actively involved (with a consultant and advisors) to get the membership up to charter.

I mean I know automatically it isn't an ADPi chapter because we initiate and install (or reinstall if it is a recolonization) in one big swoop.

Like Titchou said, we are not getting the whole story. If you really want your chapter to actually get its charter then you need to take a leadership role and rally the "troops". From what I've gathered nationals wants about 30 women and the chapter has about 15. So you need 15 more. First off, the chapter needs to get with the advisors, particularly the recruitment advisor. Second, the chapter needs to come up with a plan of attack for formal recruitment. Third, if there are chapters nearby, contact them. Your actual sisters are going to be more helpful than we are because you can't give us the nitty gritty on an online forum. Fourth, with recruitment you need to come up with a goal. Yes, aim for 15 but that might not be realistic as that 50% new members. Unfortunately the chapter may need to aim a bit lower and gradually build up. If the chapter could get 10 new members that would be awesome.

As for COB events, they are supposed to be laid back. The chapter I advised did Glee nights, movie nights, game nights, went to dinners. They did this over a 2 week time frame. The events were public (as it is a small campus) and whoever wanted to come came. After about 2 weeks we did our thing and voted on who we wanted to give bids too. COB is designed to be less stressful (on the chapter and PNM's) than formal, but you get more girls generally during formal.

[Titchou]

I don't know what it is about you and me, 33Girl, but we are like oil and water. What I meant is that she is complaining about not have the collegiate experience. However, she pledged as a Junior and won't lose the chapter till next spring. So that's 2 years and the remainder of her college career. So, what's the problem? I don't know but I think we don't know everything. That's what I am saying....