Question 1

What information do I need to start a fraternity family tree?

Accepted Answer

A member name and that member’s big are enough to begin. Pledge class, initiation year, branch name, and alumni context make the tree easier to verify and maintain but can be added later.

Question 2

Should we build one tree for the whole fraternity chapter?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily. Many chapters start with one documented family line and expand after the workflow is proven. You can maintain separate trees by branch or build one chapter-wide archive.

Question 3

Can ChapterLine import our existing fraternity spreadsheet?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Use the canvas CSV importer for formatted lineage rows that should become tree nodes and Big-Little links. Use roster import separately when the file should update only the private member directory.

Question 4

How often should a fraternity family tree be updated?

Accepted Answer

Update it after each Big-Little pairing or new-member class, then review it during officer transition. That rhythm prevents the tree from becoming another outdated chapter file.

How to Create a Fraternity Family Tree