And that indeed is an issue that we sometimes deal with in NPHC orgs. However, most have some sort of system in place where official membership information is only transmitted one way. For example, in my fraternity you can ONLY get an application by requesting one through the national website. Once you have the application, you have ALL the info you need.

It depends what you mean by "inactive."

If you're "inactive" because it's your last semester senior year and you took senior status, or because you had money problems, and there were no hard feelings, I doubt that you would say anything to mislead anyone. I can't imagaine telling someone in that situation "you're not allowed to talk about ASA because you're not active."

Or are you talking "inactive" in the sense of alumnae not paying dues/being financial?

When someone has their membership cancelled, either voluntarily or revoked, I think discretion is the key.

The current members should be informed, but spared the details. If anyone has questions, they should contact that former member. 9 times out of 10, regardless of why a member has left, it impacts the chapter morale in some way. Just like if your employer let someone go, or if someone quit-- that person's absence is felt.

If someone is "perping" as a member, reminders can be sent to that former member's current school and permanent (family) address, reminding them that they are no longer members and not eligible to wear or display letters, or claim membership.

Letting Panhellenic know, for paperwork's sake, is a good idea.

I don't think the sorority or the individual need the potential public embarrassment or rumors popping up by causing a scene, putting an ad in the paper or standing up at a Pan meeting. It causes a lot of unnecessary speculation that can lead to injuring the chapter's image.

It depends on how large your Greek system is, as well. If it's small and pretty much everyone knows everyone, it'll get around fairly quickly. But if you have large chapters where even all the members don't know everyone's name, let alone anyone outside their chapter, there's probably much more of a risk of someone misrepresenting themselves as an active member when they've been terminated and getting away with it.

I also think it depends on what exactly the ex-member is doing. Carrying a lettered tote? Wrong, but not worth making a huge deal about. Posting drunken pictures of herself in letters and talking about all her "sisters" to freshmen? Yeah, something dramatic may need to be done there.

This happened to us when I was an undergrad. One of our sisters was expelled by vote due to non-fulfillment of the requirements of active membership.

A few active sisters who were still friends with her asked her why she was still wearing her letters and she said that she had earned them.

We didn't pursue any official action. We knew that she was no longer considered a member; the school knew, and nationals knew; and that is all that mattered. To do anything to her or advertise about her would have been a direct violation of our ideal of Friendship.

yeah its really only one org that does that...but i was shocked when i looked at their website and saw that... i was like DAMN!!! thats a bold move...

No, more than one organization does it.

they do it in the Member's only side of the site, or on a page where it accessible to the general public?

It depends on the org.

Nearly all of the folks I've come across have been very honest in saying that they haven't been a member (in Delta, a member is a soror who pays dues; those who have been initiated are sorors) in a while. But this speaks to the importance of getting to know several members. If one person tells you one thing, and seven others tell you something different and you know those seven are active, well, you know who has been to meetings and reading materials.

Maybe it is your decission to be bigger!

Just Look bigger and better!

No it isn't.

In our case, and others where I have viewed their lists, it is accessible to the public. The reason being that prospects don't get duped by suspended/expelled members into doing illegal activities. Think the AKA fiasco.

From my personal perspective as a member, there is little reason to be nonfinancial in my Sorority. ALL members are told and should know, most especially if they joined as a graduate/alumnae member, the financial commitments to be a full fledge member into my Sorority. Those that choose inactivity, have serious medical or familial commitments that supercede the lack.

Also, if one does not SEE our official documents that are neatly published at a formal membership intake process, then they probably not speaking for the Sorority... Interests and prospective candidates KNOW what these documents look like. And any questions can always be deferred to the International HQ.

My Sorority has a hierarchy. Adherence is to it occurs by affidavit. A legally binding contract. All chapters are fully committed to reactivation efforts as directed by the International HQ.

The statements are all I can say at this point.

Expulsion in my Sorority is NOT a joke and must be explained before the entire membership.