International?

Hootie · #1 12-11-2001, 05:38 PM

Has anyone else ever wondered why Chi Omega isn't International in scope like some of the other sororities? I have always thought it'd be super neat to say there are Chi Omega chapters across the globe.
Anyone have any ideas or know something about this matter?

Hootie

Heather · #2 12-11-2001, 07:23 PM

I had sort of wondered the same thing. I think I've heard of several groups having chapters in Canada, what other countries have chapters? I never thought to ask a national cousultant (or whatever we call them, my brain is fried from finals.)

But I'd love to say that we are International!

CutiePie2000 · #3 12-22-2001, 02:23 AM

Hi Ladies,
I hope you don't mind a Canadian DG stepping in?! Chi O used to have a chapter at Hellmuth Women's College (London, Ontario) - Phi (old) Chapter (1899-1900). (Source: http://www.canadiangreeks.com/directory/chio.html )

By the way: www.canadiangreeks.com is a TERRIFIC website if you are curious as to who has a chapter in Canada and who doesn't. Unfortunately, some are no longer in Canada: ZTA, XO, AXO, SK while others are still there, DG, Pi Phi, Theta, ADPi, AOII, etc. etc. Feel free to look at that website..it is a terrific resource about Canadian Greeks!

Hellmuth is now closed, although London, Ontario is home to University of Western Ontario (it is like a Canadian USC!) and UWO is VERY greek (welll...for Canadian standards anyway).
Also, since 1900 was a LONG time ago, any suriving alumnae would very old!

The only NPC group that I know of who has an overseas colony is Tri Sigma. I read once on this board that Sigma Sigma Sigma has a colony at the University of Maryland - Mannheim, Germany campus. How cool is that?

I think a number of NPHC groups have non-North American chapters, but I don't know for certain if they're alum groups or collegiate groups.

Hootie · #4 12-22-2001, 06:55 PM

Thank you for the information CutiePie! We always welcome non-Chi Omegas to our board...especially if they have something clever to post!
Happy Holidays!

CutiePie2000 · #5 12-25-2001, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hootie
Has anyone else ever wondered why Chi Omega isn't International in scope like some of the other sororities?

Hootie,
I've met Neon Pi (she's a Canadian AOII) and we've talked quite a lot about this. I think a lot of it comes down to whether there is alumnae support in the area. For example, I know that there are some ladies of a local sorority at UNBC (University of Northern British Columbia), which is situated in a fairly remote location in Northern British Columbia. I know that they have a keen interest in affiliating with an NPC organzation, but I think that it may be tough going for them, as there isn't alumnae support in the area (i.e. are there any Pi Phi's in the area, any Chi O's in the area, etc). This is a fairly new university (less than 10 years old) and so there hasn't been a history of Greeks before.

I don't know how much it would cost for a National Headquarters to come and set up a chapter and then monitor it to make sure that the chapter is obeying the rules and requirements, etc. But I think that Nationals might be a bit hesitant to set up shop if they're not sure if a chapter would be able to sustain itself over the test of time, know what I mean?
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As for why aren't there the "North American" style of sororities and fraternities in overseas countries? (I think that is what you are asking, yes?).... In Germany and Latvia (My grandma and aunts were in Latvian sororities, my grandpa in a Latvian fraternity), they have sort of fraternal type of groups...they're duelling fraternal societies (yep, swords and the whole shabang!) and they refer to them as "Corporations"). There used to be a German guy on GC a while ago, Matthew something, but he hasn't been on here in a while..he'd probably know about the subject. Anyhow, when I was in Heidelberg, (being fraternity obsessed and all...LOL) I visited a bonafide German fraternity house! It was kind of interesting, but it seemed a bit stiff and formal too. It didn't seem quite as fun as what we've got going in North America. I think a lot of GLO origins stem from the fact that in the late 1700's (around the time when Phi Beta Kappa was first started, but it wasn't an honor society just yet), students were quite heavily policed and monitored by faculty and faculty had a lot of control over students. So fraternities sort of emerged from that, as groups/clubs/societies (what have you) where students could be "autonomous" and self governing. And there it is!

Hope that wasn't too boring!

NeonPi · #6 01-02-2002, 10:56 PM

Got that right, CutiePie.

More XO in Canada info - There are some XO that are members of the Toronto Alumnae Panhellenic who joined chapters in the US. I *believe* the general consensus to be termed 'International' is that you must have at least 1 collegiate or alumnae chapter operating (i.e. ZTA closed their U of Manitoba chapter in '92/93, but because they still have 2 alumnae chapters open (Winnipeg, Toronto), they are still considered 'International'

To say the least, it really comes down to the alumnae support for the chapter. The fair marjority of chapters who have closed in recent years have been for lack of support / development (i.e. we should have nevr gone in there in the first place).

Hope that answers your questions - if you have any other 'Canada' questions, let me know - I'm also the President of the Canadian Interfraternal Assc. (I'm also a Supervisor of 2 AOII chapters in the US)

Panhellenically,
Shala

Hootie · #7 01-02-2002, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by NeonPi
Got that right, CutiePie.

More XO in Canada info - There are some XO that are members of the Toronto Alumnae Panhellenic who joined chapters in the US. I *believe* the general consensus to be termed 'International' is that you must have at least 1 collegiate or alumnae chapter operating (i.e. ZTA closed their U of Manitoba chapter in '92/93, but because they still have 2 alumnae chapters open (Winnipeg, Toronto), they are still considered 'International'

To say the least, it really comes down to the alumnae support for the chapter. The fair marjority of chapters who have closed in recent years have been for lack of support / development (i.e. we should have nevr gone in there in the first place).

Hope that answers your questions - if you have any other 'Canada' questions, let me know - I'm also the President of the Canadian Interfraternal Assc. (I'm also a Supervisor of 2 AOII chapters in the US)

Panhellenically,
Shala

Thank you for that information Shala! Happy Birthday to your organization btw!

Hootie