How to start a chapter
How to start an Omega Phi Alpha Chapter
What is a service sorority? How is it different from other sororities?
Who can join? Do I have to be a freshman?
How do we get our service program started?
What is the next step in colonization?
Omega Phi Alpha is a national service sorority with active chapters at universities in thirteen states. We are lucky to have a diverse multicultural membership! That is one of our strengths, and it reflects the very welcoming attitude we have about membership. We are not a member of the National Panhellenic Council because they impose restrictions on membership that are in conflict with our policies. We welcome all new members who are willing to prove their commitment by fulfilling our new member requirements, including those who are members of social sororities.
What is a service sorority and how is it different from other sororities?
Most of the national sororities in the United States are social sororities. Omega Phi Alpha is a service sorority. The two types have a much in common, but there are a few distinct differences. Like social sororities, O Phi A has a ‘pledge’ period where new members learn about the sorority’s history and policies. O Phi A has big sisters, social outings, formals, etc., and we recognize that social sororities do service projects, just like we do.
The distinguishing feature is the day-to-day emphasis of each group. Although social sororities have an important role to play on campus, their main emphasis is on fellowship. In contrast, O Phi A chapters have an ongoing commitment to community service, not just one or two big fundraisers per year. In addition to helping worthwhile charities raise money, Omega Phi Alpha sisters get down in the trenches and get their hands dirty working on less glamorous service projects. We swing hammers with Habitat for Humanity. We help the local Girl Scouts earn their first aid badge. We help sort out donated food at the food bank. We answer the phones at the pledge drive for the local PBS station. We pick up trash on the beach or by the highway. It goes on and on, and the projects we undertake are selected by the members themselves.
A chapter is a recognized local unit of the sorority. For collegiate members, it is a group of student members who carry on the traditions of O Phi A at their school and interact with the national organization and with the other chapters as a group. (Alumnae members often meet with other sisters in alumnae chapters, too. The process described here applies to the founding of a collegiate chapter only.)
As you work to earn your membership, your group will be known as a ‘colony’. This indicates a temporary affiliation with Omega Phi Alpha while the national Vice President of Expansion guides you through the colonization process. Once you complete the requirements to earn a charter, each of the founding members will gain lifetime membership into Omega Phi Alpha.
It starts with one person. That person is the campus contact who works closely with the National Vice President of Expansion to set up an informational meeting where the colonization procedure is explained to other prospective members. When fifteen or more full-time students demonstrate a commitment to the sorority, they can petition Omega Phi Alpha for affiliation as a colony.
- As a colony, the group must learn about the sorority and prove its stability and maturity.
- They must organize themselves into officers and committees and write a local constitution.
- They learn about the sorority’s history by taking a series of quizzes and the national membership exam.
- To prove a commitment to service and show they are an organized group, these future sisters must establish a program of service. Each colony member must participate in at least five different colony-sponsored service projects.
- To demonstrate its stability, the colony must plan a tentative outline of activities for its first year as a new chapter, as well as draft a detailed plan for the new chapter’s first pledge recruitment.
- Along the way, the colony will prepare to attend its first national convention (held every summer) by conducting a fundraiser and setting the proceeds aside to offset convention expenses.
- The colony is expected to participate fully in all district activities during their colonization period, so they can build strong relationships with nearby chapters.
- Midway through the process, the colony will organize a colonization retreat off campus. A representative from the national organization will attend to provide training and fellowship workshops.
You have up to a year to complete all of the requirements, but technically it could be done in as little as three months. The national VP of Expansion will be guiding you each step of the way. When all of the requirements are met, the colony applies for chapter status. National officers fly in from all over the country for the formal induction ceremony.
Who can join? Do I have to be a freshman?
Membership is open to any student in good standing with their university. We have had pledges that were juniors, seniors, and even graduate students. Our membership is open to members of social sororities, too. We feel we have something special to offer in addition to what social sororities might have
Our members represent all races and ethnic groups. They are white, black, Latino, Asian, Jewish, Christian, etc. They live on campus, in apartments, and at home. Some are married. Some are in wheelchairs. Some are international students. Basically, our sisters are a diverse cross-section of campus life. This melding of perspectives, which would not have come together in most other organizations, is one of our greatest strengths!
How do we get our service program started?
While you are building your membership ranks, be thinking about what areas of service interest you. Do you want to work with children, with the elderly? Would you like to help the underprivileged in your community by volunteering at a soup kitchen? Are you interested in raising awareness of a pressing issue in your community? There are opportunities to make a difference all around you. You just have to decide where to start!
What is the next step in colonization?
First, evaluate your campus. Is there a need on your campus for a service organization like Omega Phi Alpha? Next, talk to your friends. Are they excited about the possibility of bringing Omega Phi Alpha to your campus? You must have at least fifteen full-time students who are committed to this process before you can petition the national organization for colony status. It is better if the initial group represents a broad, cross-section of the student body rather than just one or two tight knit groups of pre-existing friends.
If you think you are a good ‘fit’ and can easily meet the membership minimum, contact the national Vice President of Expansion. If she agrees that your campus would be a great place for an Omega Phi Alpha chapter, she will help you plan and pay for your recruitment strategy. You should also look over the Petition for Colonization form, which is your formal way of applying for affiliation.
Right now the most crucial step is to recruit dedicated, committed colony members. Although fifteen is the bare minimum, the more successful colonies have had twenty-five or more members to start off.. So talk it up among your friends, classmates, neighbors, etc. You may find yourselves sisters in less than a year!