I think that is a great idea.

I read it as "oo-oop" lol I thought there was some Delta shade and I didn't understand why

doh! :)

In addition to what you just said, k_s, I wish NALFO would also say:

"Uh-oh--our chapters at XYZ university are struggling, and a couple are inactive. Let's help them get back on track, so that incoming students don't just start up new chapters of different LGLOs."

We need to minimize this scenario: There are 3-4 LGLOs on a campus. Two are struggling with numbers and go inactive. Instead of identifying students who are interested in bringing the struggling chapters back up, they go and found chapters of two new LGLOs, and the original two just die out.

NALFO is actually *helping* this along with its requirement that new chapters MUST be voted in on a campus so long as they meet university requirements for greeks. I would love to see NALFO say, "Hold up. Let's do what we can to *retain* our current chapters at each university *before* requiring the local NALFO council to expand."

I can see what you mean. However, if those people are interested in another NALFO org why would NALFO want to prevent that. It would likely have objections from the organization/s attempting to colonize. Also it's unlikely that if a group is interested in another organization, will pledge a dead chapter just due to not being able to pledge an organization they were actually interested in. And if they did do mind you they will always have in there head that they wanted to b a part of something different and this was there 2nd or 3rd choice.

You're right--NALFO would not want to prevent the opening of a new chapter, which is why the requirement is in place now. At the same time, the board should know that by requiring its member orgs to be so inclusive, there are going to be campuses with multiple sororities/fraternities competing for an already small pool of potential applicants. If NALFO is going to support expansion of new chapters, it should also do something to support retention of existing chapters. There was a reason that NALFO chapters were not voting in new members locally--because it would pull away from their own efforts to keep their chapters going with new members. Since NALFO decided to involve itself and create a requirement, it should have addressed both sides of the coin.

I see what you mean. What would that requirement look like ? A waiting period for new chapters? Interest have to attend interest meetings for the defunct organization? Defunct organization must be allowed to participate in "Meet the greeks" type functions? Just some ideas. I doubt the "vote in" requirement is going to go because at a national level this is viewed as positive by most of the NALFO orgs because they can easily see them selves on the expansion level and less on the retention level.

I'm not so sure that retention efforts would come in the form of an actual requirement, but perhaps there is some way that NALFO could offer support to local councils if more than one NALFO org is struggling. If you have 4 fraternities and only one of them is dying out, then I wouldn't say that NALFO should assist because it is likely due to something that particular organization is or is not doing. However, I know of some campuses that had a thriving LGLO population a few years ago, but now numbers are dwindling for the majority of the chapters. In that case, perhaps NALFO can sponsor a campus event to promote the whole council (without taking away from any efforts to bring a new NALFO org onto campus). Just some thoughts.

My feeling is that *all* NALFO orgs. should be thinking about retention of chapters immediately. How many new chapters of NALFO orgs have we all seen that consist of 3-5 chapter founders that are going to graduate within 1-2 years? Happens every day, and this is not a good recipe for longevity. How many chapters can say for sure that they are not at risk of dying out? All it takes is a huge graduating class + a couple of 1-2 person lines (or a line that completely drops) and now a once thriving chapter is at risk. At the very least, NALFO can provide workshops or sessions at the national meetings to address this universal topic, if not work with the national boards of the member orgs. to do more.

BTW, I am really enjoying this discussion. Thanks, guys! :)

Lane swerve, as I'm finding this fascinating.

What do local councils typically do? My experience with local panhellenic councils is that recruitment is the most important thing they do, and secondary activities are greek week and ratting each other out.

My alma mater had a local MGC (not NALFO).

The group hosted events that (for the most part) tried to promote its member organizations (social, service, civic, etc). The council was also self-governing, so infractions could be dealt with by those "in the know" as opposed to Dean OutOfTheLoop.

Our MGC also helped with coordinating member organizations' major events (ex. ODPhi Week shouldn't run at the same as SLG Walk For Awareness). There was some overlap with smaller events, but the council helped separate major events.

Me too :D

It would be interesting to see how campuses would react to increased intervention by a national council. As it is, campus administrators tend to do things their own way, which usually means following an established process and the process will vary drastically from campus to campus.

^I think in the case of LGLOs, many campuses might welcome participation (or at least increased visibility) of the current umbrella council. I get the feeling that some greek life advisors are still worried that LGLOs just run amok without any guidance or structure. In fact, just two years ago, the greek life advisor where I am employed actually called me up with questions because she heard that I am a LGLO alum, and she was freaked out that groups might be hazing and didn't know what to do.

You're just getting it every which way! :p The story about the other Greek Life person who straight out told you no physical hazing... a mess.

Yep, I know.

LGLOs = so misunderstood. :(

:)

MCGLOs get it too, so I feel you.