Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have to be a member of AFLV to be a member of the Fraternal Values Society?
No, campuses may have a chapter of the Fraternal Values Society without being member subscribers of the Association of Fraternal Leadership & Values. Additionally, chartering a chapter is not in any way tied to which Undergraduate Fraternal Leadership Conference you attend.
How do I start a chapter?
Campuses interested in starting a chapter of the Fraternal Values Society must first submit an online Charter Petition/registration. Initial charter petitions/registrations will be accepted in late January 2011, and then charter petitions/registrations will be accepted on a rolling basis thereafter. Learn more under the Getting Started tab.
Can I be a member of Order of Omega, Gamma Sigma Alpha, and/or Rho Lambda and a member of the Fraternal Values Society?
Yes, you can hold membership in the Fraternal Values Society; and also hold membership in Order of Omega, Gamma Sigma Alpha, and/or Rho Lambda or other academic honorary societies or membership organizations.
What are the membership requirements?
Members can be anyone initiated and affiliated with a fraternity or sorority. Members must be and remain in good standing with their organization. At minimum, members must be in good academic standing and above the all college/university grade point average at the host institution. Individual chapters of the Fraternal Values Society may select honorary members (regardless of affiliation) from time to time as they see fit, within the guidelines of the Fraternal Values Society Governing Documents.
How is this different from Order of Omega, Gamma Sigma Alpha, or Rho Lambda?
Honorary organizations are just as their name implies, an organization of special recognition for accomplishments achieved. Whether a celebration of academic achievement or a who's who within the community, they specifically exist to pay tribute to the successes of their individual members.
The Fraternal Values Society is specifically NOT a who's who or tribute organization. Membership is not tied to accomplishment, status, or positional leadership. It is connected to a commitment to furthering the ethical values upon which fraternities and sororities were founded. It is about believing in what our organizations can be with a values centered focus and working within the community to make that vision a reality.
Do I have to be a member of a fraternity or sorority to join?
Yes, at this time, membeship in the Fraternal Values Society is open to undergraduate fraternity and sorority members and campus advisors. Individual chapters of the Fraternal Values Society may select honorary members from time to time as they see fit, within the guidelines of the Fraternal Values Society Governing Documents and honory members need not be affiliated members of a fraternity or sorority.
Do I have to be an initiated member of a fraternity or sorority for a certain length of time before I can be a member of the Fraternal Values Society?
No, you do not need to be initiated for any specified period of time before you can become a member of the Fraternal Values Society.
What are the benefits to my fraternity/sorority community?
The existence of the Fraternal Values Society on your campus will provide a home and constant force for the advancement of values congruence, alignment, and the continued relevance of fraternities and sororities. It will empower individuals who live their lives according to the fraternal rituals. And it provides assistance for individuals and organizations who struggle to reach these standards, and confrontation of individuals and organizations who fail to uphold these values. For a full list of benefits please reference the Benefits tab.
Why start a chapter of the Fraternal Values Society?
On most campuses there are members of fraternities and sororities who WANT to forward the values conversation within their community, but don't know where or how to begin. The Fraternal Values Society exists to provide a home for that conversation, to provide voice to the values movement, and to create a sustainable network within each fraternal community for those who want their fraternal experience to be representative of the founding fraternal/ethical values of our organizations.
What will it cost?
The cost to the campus fraternal community of chartering a chapter is $500. That fee includes all of the initial ritual equipment, officer pins, and support materials. For individuals, there is a one time $50 initiation fee that is paid to the international organization. There may be additional initiation fees or individual fees charged by the local chapter to defray and cover local operational costs.
Isn’t this just another resume builder?
If you are looking for a resume builder, then please look somewhere else. The Fraternal Vales Society exists to further the values conversation on your campus and in your community, and engage the community in critical conversations about our actions and the ways in which we live our values on a daily basis.
What’s the time commitment if I become a member?
The time commitment can vary from campus to campus, but our expectation is that the Fraternal Values Society will be an active part of your campus fraternal community - not just an organization with one meeting a term. Content and curriculum will be provided that allows members to engage in regular conversations and events throughout the term.
Is this just another IFC or Panhellenic thing?
No. The Fraternal Values Society is open to members of all fraternal organizations (chapters represented in IFC, PHC, NPHC, NALFO, MGC, etc.), and the success of the Fraternal Values Society depends on members from diverse backgrounds willing to have conversations about the values of their organizations and hold their peers accountable. The Fraternal Values Society is intended to provide a unifying presence within the fraternal community. The values conversation is relevant for all members of fraternities and sororities. Sometimes congruence and incongruence looks a little different organization to organization, but the heart of the conversation is the same for all.
Isn't the values conversation the role of the councils (IFC, PHC, NPHC, NALFO, MGC, etc.)?
The governing councils have a primary focus of being just that - governing bodies. A secondary focus is that of being programming bodies. It is of course our hope that they will make their decisions from a values centered place. Values is not their primary focus however. The Fraternal Values Society provides a targeted focus (home) within a central body to influence and work collaboratively with the rest of the community. Additionally, it can be strongly argued that the councils have individuals who have been elected to serve. As such, there can be no guarantee that the opinions and views of those officers represent a values centered awareness.
What’s the minimum number of members needed to start or have a group?
Although there technically is no minimum number, it must be considered that for a group to have traction and influence within a community, a reasonable representation of most (if not all) the organizations present on campus is necessary. Synergistic positive movement will occur as the organizations' influence and presence increases across and within the community.