Reasons for starting a local vary from organization to organization depending on the goals of its founders. Some locals are started with the express purpose of one day affiliating with a national organization. Others are started for the exact opposite... the founders wish to bring to their campus something different than the national organizations that already populate their Greek system. And still other locals are started simply because their school's Greek systems are so young that nationals have not yet expanded to their campuses.

In reality, all fraternities and sororities started out as locals. The difference is that most of the NPC, NIC and NPHC organizations have had close to, or in some cases more than, 100 years to develop, grow and learn from their chapters' mistakes. Others, like the ones listed in Locals Online, have been in existence for a much shorter time and do not have the benefit of national resources or the knowledge of years of mistakes to learn from.

Just as quickly as locals continue to pop up all over the world, they are also disappearing and even more are in danger of disbanding. It's tough to be on your own. Without guidance, you're reinventing the wheel with every decision you make and everything you do. National organizations have thrived internationally for so long because they have learned to pool their resources and work together. Perhaps if locals can learn to do the same, we can work together to establish a new era of national fraternities and sororities.

Still want to start a local? Find out how!