Joining a Sorority After College

[OrigamiTulip]

Maybe you had an unsuccessful rush in college, or you didn’t rush at all. Maybe you attended a college without a greek system, or didn’t attend college at all. Maybe you were a member of a service or professional sorority, or were a member of a local that folded. Whatever the reason, you’ve found yourself longing for sisterhood, and are thinking about joining a sorority. You are not alone! Thousands of women past the traditional college age have found their sorority home in one of the many community sororities. (Community sororities are also known as civic sororities, non-academic sororities, non-collegiate sororities, adult sororities, or philanthropic sororities.)

For over a century, community sororities have provided sisterhood for women who chose to join. Membership in a community sorority can be just as rewarding and is usually a better fit for most post-college women than trying to become an alumna initiate of a collegiate sorority. There are more than 20 community sororities located across the US and Canada, so there are a lot possibilities to find a sorority that is a good match for your interests and needs. Usually membership in these sororities is available by invitation to women over 18 years of age, with each one having its own membership selection process.

If there is not a chapter in your area of the communitiy sorority that you are interested in, don't be discouraged. While each one has its own policies regarding starting new chapters, most community sororities except Tri-Kappa seem open to the prospect of expansion if there is not a chapter in your area.

The community sororities are, in alphabetical order:

Beta Sigma Phi – http://www.betasigmaphi.org
Contact: membership@betasigmaphi.org
Founded: 1931 in Abilene, Kansas
Size: ~9000 active chapters, 250,000 members
Location: All US states, Canadian provinces, and 23 countries.
Purpose: to unite congenially in fellowship and friendship those women accepted for membership; to promote cultural development of such members...; to foster association with each other in pursuit of the liberal arts
Philanthropy: Each chapter determines its own service projects

Chi Sigma -
Contact: 12201 Burncourt Rd #102, Timonium, MD 21093-8110
Phone:
Founded:
Size: 6 chapters
Location: Arkansas, Maryland, Virginia
Purpose:

Delta Chi Sigma - http://www.deltachisigmasorority.org/
Contact: K2@teleport.com
Founded: 1925
Size:
Location: California, Indiana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, and Ontario, Canada.
Purpose:

Delta Sigma Kappa -
Contact: Supreme Council, 1410 Kensington Blvd, Ft. Wayne, IN 46805-5338
Founded: November 24, 1924 in Lafayette, Indiana
Size:
Location: Indiana, Ohio
Purpose:

Delta Theta Chi – http://www.deltathetachi.org
Contact: lwopschall@ucsd.edu
Founded: 1920 in Chicago, Illinois
Size: ~43 chapters
Location: Arkansas, California, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Ohio, Oklahoma, Missouri, Nebraska, Texas, Washington
Purpose: to promote cultural education, to foster personal development and good citizenship, to form a nation-wide fellowship, to attain a broader outlook and enjoyment of contact with those of similar purposes and ideals.
Philanthropy: Breast Cancer and Literacy

Delta Theta Tau - http://www.deltathetatau.org/
Contact: shannot1@muohio.edu
Founded: 1903 in Muncie, Indiana
Size: 120 active chapters and 59 alumnae associations
Location: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Washington
Purpose: Delta Theta Tau Sorority, Inc. is a national women's organization dedicated to the advancement of philanthropy and charity, nonsectarian, nonacademic, promoting welfare for all and fostering the spirit of good fellowship
Philanthropy: Annual national philanthropic project. Last year's project was the National Ectodermal Dysplasia Foundation

Epsilon Sigma Alpha - http://www.esaintl.org/
Contact: esainfo@esaintl.com
Founded: 1929 in Jacksonville, Texas
Size: over 1000 chapters
Location: most US states
Purpose: the development of a well-balanced lifestyle that encourages members to develop personal talents to pursue excellence in all aspects of daily life.
Philanthropy: St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and Easter Seals
Other Info: Epsilon Sigma Alpha has numerous avenues in which to participate. Traditional chapters are open to persons 18 years of age and older, regardless of race, color, creed, or national origin. ESA also features active youth chapters for young women not yet 18 years of age; Collegiate Sorority Chapters to accommodate members within academic settings; and men’s chapters. In addition, an Associate Membership is also available, where individuals and companies can support ESA without belonging to an established chapter.

Kappa Delta Phi -
Contact:
Founded: prior to 1925
Size:
Location: Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky
Purpose: To teach sisterly love, Loyalty to God, to Country and to Kappa Delta Phi. Sublimity of ideals and affections. Intellectual and cultural development. To spread good cheer. To be a social influence in the community. To be of civic service to the community. To honor and perpetuate the glories of American Womanhood
Philanthropy: Occupational therapy education
Other Info: Not affiliated with the collegiate sorority Kappa Delta Phi NAS.

Kappa Kappa Kappa – http://www.trikappa.org
Contact: Central Office (317)876-7481
Founded: 1901 in Indianapolis, Indiana
Size: 146 active chapters, 130 associate chapters, 11,000 members
Location: Indiana
Purpose: to bring women into close, unselfish relationship for the promotion of charity, culture and education.
Philanthropy: Each Tri Kappa chapter has special projects in its community
Other Info: Exists only within the boundaries of Indiana. Called Tri-Kappa, never KKK.

Lambda Tau Delta -
Contact: 730 Newberry Ave, La Grange Park, IL, United States
Phone: (708) 354-2119
Founded: pre-1929
Size:
Location: Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan
Philanthropy: Heartspring, Aid to the Handicapped

Omega Nu -
Contact: Grand Council of Omega Nu Sorority, 125 Linden St, Santa Cruz, CA 95062-1017
Founded: April 4, 1903
Size: 13 chapters
Location: California
Purpose: serves the own community through charity and service

P.E.O. Sisterhood - http://www.peointernational.org/
Contact: Phone: 515-255-3153
Founded: 1869 at Iowa Wesleyan College
Size: ~250,000 members
Location: US and Canada
Purpose: Friendship is the cornerstone the Founders laid for our unique Sisterhood, and P.E.O. continues to be a source of encouragement and support for women to realize their potential in whatever worthwhile endeavor they choose.
Philanthropy: Education

Phi Beta Psi - http://www.phibetapsi.org/
Contact: info@phibetapsi.org
Founded: 1904 in Columbus, Ohio
Size: 87 chapters, 2100 active members
Location: Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Washington
Purpose: The purpose of Phi Beta Psi is to participate in charitable work, to promote fraternal relationship among its members and to establish and assist other chapters of Phi Beta Psi.
Philanthropy: Cancer Research

Phi Epsilon Phi -
Contact: Phi Epsilon Phi National Office, PO Box 4096, Burlingame, CA 94011-4096
Founded: 1937
Size: 16 chapters
Location: California
Purpose:To strive for increased knowledge, To be impartial in our judgement of others. To reach maturity through an understanding of ourselves. To establish a relationship with those around us, where we practice moderation, tranquility, kindness, and honor. To practice the art of being a friend, and thus, give and gain greater happiness
Philanthropy: Cancer Research and The Alzheimers Association

Phi Tau Omega -
Contact: Tugirl1@aol.com
Founded: March 8, 1925
Size: 36 chapters, 500 active members
Location: Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri
Purpose:

Pi Omicron -
Contact: awilcoxson@locl.net
Phone:
Founded:
Size: 23 chapters
Location: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania
Philanthropy:

Psi Delta Sigma - http://www.psideltasigma.org/
Contact: baydes@aol.com
Founded: February 21, 1921
Size: 6 chapters
Location: California
Philanthropy: United Cerebral Palsy

Psi Iota Xi - http://www.psiiotaxi.org/
Contact: Psi-Iota-Xi@att.net
Founded: 1897 in Muncie, Indiana
Size: 150 chapters, 5000 active members
Location: Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, Illinois and Tennessee
Purpose: The primary purpose of Psi Iota Xi is to be of service with time, money, and love in cooperation with the community
Philanthropy: Speech and hearing

Sigma Alpha - http://www.sigmaalphasorority.org/
Contact: president@sigmaalphasorority.org
Founded: 1913
Size: over 50 chapters
Location: California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin
Philanthropy: Heartspring, a national private residential school for children with severe multiple disabilities.
Other Info: Not affiliated with the agriculture sorority Sigma Alpha.

Sigma Beta - http://www.sigmabeta.org/
Contact: chrystie@woh.rr.com
Founded: 1922 in Fort Wayne, Indiana
Size: 37 active chapters
Location: Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, and Ohio
Philanthropy: Scholarships for disabled college students and other national charity projects

Sigma Phi Gamma - http://sigmaphigamma.com/
Founded: August 29, 1920 in Hartford City, Indiana
Contact:
Location: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Ontario, Canada.
Purpose: Promote True friendship among women throughout the world; Work for higher standards among young people; Perform service work whenever and wherever possible.
Philanthropy: helping and giving to the communities in which they live

Theta Delta Xi -
Contact:
Founded: 1924
Size: 3 chapters
Location: California
Motto: To have a friend is to be a friend
Philanthropy: Focus on youth and people with disabilities, with more than $500,000 over the years going to Jewish Family and Children’s Services; the campership fund of the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco; Etgarim, a disabled children’s and youth program in Israel; Ronald McDonald House; and the National Association for the Visually Handicapped.
Other Info: Theta Delta Xi has a historically Jewish emphasis.

Theta Sigma Phi -
Contact: 447 Clintwood Ave, La Puente, CA 91744-3508
Founded: June 1, 1907
Size: 7 chapters
Location: California
Purpose: To educate disabled students
Other Info: Not affiliated with the collegiate journalism group Theta Sigma Phi.

Theta Tau Theta -
Contact: 1051 Trojan Ave, San Leandro, CA 94579-2112
Founded:
Size: 8 Chapters
Location: California
Philanthropy: Juvenile Diabetes

[astroAPhi]

BetaRose, would P.E.O. also be considered a sort of community sorority?

[OrigamiTulip]

I'm really not familiar with PEO enough to say, but if they are a sorority, I'd be happy to add them to the list.

[astroAPhi]

Here is their website: PEO International Sisterhood.

The only reason I know about them is because my Grammy was Nebraska State President when I was born, so it was a very big part of her life! I think it may be primarily a midwest thing, but I'm not sure.

[tunatartare]

I'm familiar with Phi Beta Psi because over the summer I worked with grants in the hospital and they donated a lot of money for a certain oncology doctor's grant. Seeing that made me happy.

[amgn253]

Great post!! Way to go sis!!!

@->----

[AlphaSigOU]

Don't forget to add the Order of the Eastern Star. Membership requirements have been relaxed somewhat over the past couple of years.

You must be related (by blood or marriage) to a Master Mason in good standing or who was in good standing at the time of his death. However, if you were a member of the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls or Job's Daughters for at least three years or have reached Majority status in either organization and are at least 18 years of age, then you are eligible for membership as well.

While it's also open to men, you must be already a Master Mason in good standing in order to petition OES.

More info on the General Grand Chapter website: www.easternstar.org .

[Measi]

Question--

How close does the relationship to a master mason have to be to join Eastern Star? Is it direct relationship (father to daughter) or can it be removed more (grandfather or great-grandfather... or an uncle, etc.)?

I knew it was a relation, but was always curious to know how close the relation had to be...

[AlphaSigOU]

Originally posted by Measi
Question--

How close does the relationship to a master mason have to be to join Eastern Star? Is it direct relationship (father to daughter) or can it be removed more (grandfather or great-grandfather... or an uncle, etc.)?

I knew it was a relation, but was always curious to know how close the relation had to be...

According to the OES website:

Who may join: Only men who are Masons are eligible and only women with specific Masonic affiliation may be members. These affiliations include:

Affiliated Master Masons in good standing,
the wives
daughters
legally adopted daughters
mothers
widows
sisters
half sisters
granddaughters
stepmothers
stepdaughters
stepsisters
daughters-in-law
grandmothers
great granddaughters
nieces
great nieces
mothers-in-law
sisters-in-law

and daughters of sisters or brothers of affiliated Master Masons in good standing, or if deceased were in good standing at the time of their death; as well as members - either active for three(3) years or majority - of the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls or of the International Order of Job's daughters, each of whom having attained to at least the age of eighteen (18) years, are eligible to membership in the Order of the Eastern Star.

Hope this helps.

[OrigamiTulip]

I left Eastern Star off the list because this thread was intended to be specifiaclly about adult sororities, not about other types of fraternal organizations.

The general point of the thread was to inform women who may be thinking that AI is the only way to join a sorority post college that there are other options out there. There are over 300,000 members of community sororities out there, but they don't get as much attention on GC, since for most people the mindset is "Sorority=NPC group" As has been discussed here recently, AI is not appropriate for everyone, and many of the women who are thinking about pursuing it would make wonderful members of a community sorority.

I dont believe that is true about the 3 yr rule before being intiated into OES

I have been a job's daughter since i was 11 and i initated inot OES at 18.....I am a Past bethel Guardian for Job's and i am up on all the policies and procedures and i never heard of a 3 yr rule.
i know a girl who joined jobs at 18 and joined OES the same yr with her mom

[33girl]

I think he meant if you don't have a relative in Masons. I'm guessing the girl you are referring to was the daughter or niece of a Mason since her mom was joining.

I have been around these masninc groups since i was in the womb ,hehe, but I am going to check into that because it doesn't sound right..... but i may be wrong but i will find out. Actually i am going to be at the shriners halloween dance in L.A and i sure i can find some OES and Masons to give me some info and report back to you on this tomorrow.

[AGDAlum]

Originally posted by BetaRose
I'm really not familiar with PEO enough to say, but if they are a sorority, I'd be happy to add them to the list.

Yes, the P.E.O. Sisterhood is a sorority.
www.peointernational.org will tell you a great deal.

Here is what I recently posted under the thread "Non-collegiate Sororities."

P.E.O. (always written with periods after the letters!) was founded at Iowa Wesleyan University in 1869. The Original Seven had become fast friends during their college years. A chapter of I.C. Sorosis (now Pi Beta Phi) was chartered in December, 1868. Not all seven were invited to join I.C. and they refused to affiliate without their friends. So, they created "a society of their own," which was publicly announced to the campus on January 21, 1869. P.E.O. expansion took the community route as sisters graduated and wanted to perpetuate their sisterhood in the towns to which they moved. As the years passed the IWU rules for student orgs conflicted with the P.E.O. Constitution. After much deliberation, the collegiate members chose to become the Beta chapter of Alpha Xi Delta which was chartered on June 7, 1902.

*******
P.E.O. chapters are in every state and in Canada. There are many, many NPC members who are P.E.O.s. It's fun to discover "double" sisters!

AGDAlum

[OrigamiTulip]

Updated to add Sigma Beta Sorority to the list.

Sigma Beta - http://www.sigmabeta.org/
Contact: chrystie@woh.rr.com
Founded: 1922
Size: 37 active chapters
Location: Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, and Ohio
Philanthropy: Scholarships for disabled college students and other national charity projects