Gettysburg College and its chapters

How the college and its chapters fit together

On Ripples of Kindness, Gettysburg College is a parent group. Its chapters are sub-groups: groups of their own that sit under the college.

• The college's page is labeled Parent group, with the number of sub-groups beside it.
• Each chapter's page says Part of Gettysburg College. Tap it to go up to the college's page.
• Further down the college's page, Groups in Gettysburg College lists every chapter, with its members and acts.

Join the college group and your chapter

The search finds the college and its chapters, even chapters without “Gettysburg” in their name. Chapters show Part of Gettysburg College in the results.

1. 1Step 1: Open the college group and tap Join group. If new members need approval, the button says Request to join instead.
2. 2Step 2: Open your chapter, from the search results or from the Groups in Gettysburg College list on the college's page.
3. 3Step 3: Tap Join group or Request to join.

If your request needs approval, you'll see Request pending until the chapter's organizer accepts you. Changed your mind? Tap Cancel request.

One chapter at a time

The college can ask ROK to allow only one chapter per member. When that's on, you'll see it in two places:

• The Groups in Gettysburg College list on the college's page says “Members can belong to one of these groups at a time.”
• A chapter's page shows this before you join: “Gettysburg College allows one of its groups per member. Joining this one means you can't join another group in Gettysburg College while you're in it.”

You can still be in the college group, one chapter, and any groups outside the college. The rule is only about the college's chapters.

If you try to join a second chapter, ROK stops you and names the chapter you're already in. Here, “Chapter A” stands for that chapter:

• If you're a member of it: “You're already in Chapter A. Gettysburg College allows one of its groups per member, so leave Chapter A first.”
• If you asked to join it and are still waiting: “You've already asked to join Chapter A. Gettysburg College allows one of its groups per member, so cancel that request first.”

To switch chapters, open your current chapter and tap Leave group (or Cancel request). Then join the new one.

How your acts count

When you post an act, Count this toward your groups is on unless you turn it off. The act then counts for every group you belong to: your chapter, the college group, and any others. Your own points stay the same: 10 per act, however many groups it counts for.

The college's page adds everything up. Groups in Gettysburg College shows the acts of kindness, members and groups of the college and all its chapters together. Each act and each member counts once, even when they're in more than one of these groups. Anyone can see these totals.

Members of the college group also see Group activity: the newest acts from the college and its chapters in one list. Each chapter's act is tagged with the chapter's name.

For chapter officers

Each chapter is run by its organizer: the account that started the group on ROK. Here's how the organizer approves new members.

If the college allows one chapter per member and the person is already in another chapter, Accept won't go through. You'll see: “They're already in another group in Gettysburg College, which allows one of its groups per member.” To protect their privacy, it doesn't say which chapter.

For invites, join settings, custom acts and volunteer opportunities, see Run a group.

Getting a chapter linked under the college

Only ROK can put a group under the college. Here's how to ask:

1. 1Step 1: If your chapter isn't on ROK yet, start a group for it. In the app, tap More → Groups & partners → Start a group. On the website, use Start a group at the bottom of Groups. ROK reviews new groups before they go live.
2. 2Step 2: Email ROK@KindnessWorldwide.org with your chapter's name, and ask for it to be linked under Gettysburg College.
3. 3Step 3: ROK checks with the chapter's organizer, then links it. Your chapter's page will then say Part of Gettysburg College.

Questions

Do I have to join the college group if I'm in a chapter?

No. Your chapter's acts already count in the college's combined totals. Joining the college group too means your acts count for the college itself, and you can see its combined activity.

I can't find my chapter.

It may be invite-only, or not linked under the college yet. Check the Groups in Gettysburg College list on the college's page, or ask a chapter officer.