This has been a point of discussion in the past. My daughter is very excited about living in the house next year. It's a pretty "cushy" set up and all Juniors must do this. If you are on the board, you also must live in the house. They have a parlor fee even though their house is full.

On the other hand...My son and his friends say things like they don't think they want to because-
1.If you have nice things, they will get damaged.
2.If you have nice clothes, everyone will want to borrow them.
3.UNSTATED but implied :rolleyes: GIRLS!
4.Study time would be difficult with brothers in and out-the ruckus.
5.Privacy

From what they say, there would have to be some way to put boundries in place and if you are a "laid back" kind of guy, it would be hard to self impose the above list. Don't overlook the possiblity that some parents may not like the idea because of their own images of an "Animal House" atmosphere. What guy would honestly say, "My Mommy and Daddy won't let me."

I come from a time when everyone wanted to live in the house. There were less rules, more freedom, and nicer enviornent.

Now the universities build houusing to compete----apartments, suites, etc.----and don't have the rules we did so long ago. (I know you all don't know what a curfew is or that you could end up expelled if you were locked out!).

But now as back then, our national policies state that women are required to live in the house if it's not full. When full, each chapter can decide it's policies on who's required to live in.
We also have a parlor fee for those that don't live in----they should share the cost if they reap the benefits of using it.

I have to say, it's an interesting conversation, but none of your suggestions are very pertinent. We don't have a national- we don't even have an alumni corp. Every decision is made at chapter meeting.

Our house is beautiful- I would argue it was the best house here until Theta Chi gutted and renovated their house. We have all the amenities the dorms do- high-speed internet, cable and telephones in the rooms, etc. The rooms are absolutely huge compared to the dorms, and it's cheaper to live in the house than on-campus or off-campus. I do not have a problem with too much noise or not being able to study- I actually have a problem with getting a little creeped out, because the place is like a tomb on weeknights. It's about ten minutes walk from the academic core of campus. It has a huge parking lot, and a huge backyard. The place is amazing- my parents not only don't have a problem with my living there, they wish they had something like it when they were at school (their college didn't have a Greek system).

The reasons given for not wanting to live there are either stupid- there's no smoking in the house, we have cable instead of satellite, it's too far from a particular department's building, etc.- or just wrong- it's too loud to study- or selfish- freshmen demanding singles that are reserved for officers or seniors. The only excuse I've heard that I can give an credence to is about the showers- we have a lockerroom style group shower, which doesn't bother me, but I can understand can bother some people.

We already HAVE a rule that says everyone has to live in the house unless it's full- and it's not full. Our house sleeps 22, but 16 is the minimum needed to pay the mortgage. We have 16 brothers eligible to live in the house, but only 9 of them will. And because the brothers refuse, the pledges think (correctly) that they can get away with it too.

This semester, we had 9 brothers in the house, along with 6 boarders (whom I overcharged, massively). For the spring, we're sharing the house with Sigma Tau Gamma, on the theory that living with another fraternity will be better than living with GDI's- at least they'll do their share of the chores. I know I will never, ever get parlor fees through, because the out-of-housers will threaten to walk- and while I think that'd be just fine, most of my brothers don't. (Never a year goes by when we aren't stupid about money- this semester we underestimated our budget by about $1000- no Christmas formal for us.)

This is one of those times I wish we had a national, because at least I'd have someone to make into a scape-goat- I don't enjoy always being the heavy.

I think the easiest way to deal with live-in problems is by creating a point system. You can give points for involvement in the chapter (holding office, participating in IM's, etc.) as well as involvement on campus and maintaining a high GPA. You can put the point system in your bylaws and then put rules in your bylaws about who has to live in. It should be the people with the lowest number of points and then certain officers.

In terms of being the enforcer I would just lay it all out at meeting. Explain that each month you have to have x amount in order to pay the rent and that you have three choices: (1) people can move in, (2) you can increase dues of live-outs to make up for the fact that they won't move in or (3) you can have other people live in your chapter house. Most chapters will have people move in.

In terms of parlor fees, they are basically just house usage fees for members who do not live in the chapter house. Most organizations have them in some form or another. It sounds like you guys really need to sit down and look at your budget and dues and make some tough decisions about where you want to go as an organization.

Good luck!

Laura

Now, I tend to disagree on that a bit. Maybe it's a good idea for those who aren't from the area. But I know that I am from the town my college is in. I live at home with my parents. I never actually go to our house unless I have to, simply because I have my own place (in a sense). The whole point of living at home was to avoid room and board fees. I think it would be discouraging to members from the local area if they would be forced to pay a sort of *housing fee* while they wouldn't have to if they remained unaffilliated.

Oneplusone . . .

Most of the people up there had good points.

More than anything else you need your house for social functions. If you are a local I assume you have mixers etc in your house . . . so its crucial to keep it.

When I originally arranged a house for my chapter I had the same kind of problems and even ended with people owing money and not wanting to pay. However, the chapter was willing to put up money rather than losing social options.

Instead of calling it a parlor fee, which is honest, raise your social dues as necessary to match the mortgage payments. In fact raise them a little anyway to give even more incentive to live in the house (less rent).

Sharing your house with another Fraternity doesn't sound like that great an idea. Assuming they want to have functions also. With GDI's you can invite them to mixers or parties as a courtesy.

With another groups it gets a little strange, are you going to combine programs?

Putting in shower stalls over the break should be simple, simple partitions are easy and relatively cheap.

But the bottom line is: Do everything in your power to keep the house under your chapter's control. That is the number one priority.

And the people that said that punishment won't work are correct. they'll just laugh at you or never pass it.

Re: grrrrr
 

a house cleaner? are you kidding me? man, what a bunch of spoiled brats. i guess that's what happens when you're spoiled by your parents.

Re: grrrrr
 

a house cleaner? are you kidding me? clean it your damn self. man, what a bunch of spoiled brats. i guess that's what happens when you're spoiled by your parents.

I do not care who says what on GC. But Parlor Fees are for those that do not live in the House but seem to want to be there when something or nothing is going on! Just to be with your Bro/Sis.

You do not go to the House. Why?

You got to the House, do you sit on furniture, watch TV, Use the Bathroom, Drink the water, use the heat or air while you are there!

Just who do you think pays for this!

If there is room to live in the House and you do not live there, then the Active loses money to have functions, whether it be social or charitable!

It does cost money to put either on!

If you joined to have the Name and not the expense, all I can tell you is drop out of the Organization as you are not a good member!

You are in for the Pound, not the ounce!

Am I harsh, you damn betcha !

Get with it our get out! Dont be a hanger on who is in the 80% who dont do anything as you do disservise to youself and your Org.!

Why can I say this:

I am on the House Corp. the Mentoring Corp., The Building Commitee, the Alum Group and the Founder of the Local in 1965!

I founded or started each and everyone except the House Corp!

I am still active as you can see! I will be active till the day that I die!:cool: