Yes, I do mean empty cans. Recycling.

Interesting. I've never heard of that. Why don't you do one of those projects that doesn't require you to beg money from friends?

Really? Does your state not do that? (I know some states don't). That's how we get rid of cans here, regardless of whether or not we actually want the money.

We don't do that here. We put them in the recycling bins next to the trash for pick-up.

Okay. Fair enough. As I said, I know some states don't do it, but where I am, that's how you get rid of your soda cans and bottles and even some cans and bottles of alcoholic beverages.

That's the million dollar question, right there.

A) I wouldn't be "begging" from my friends.
B) The only real thing that I can do that won't require me to have anything to do with my friends is returning cans, which I will probably do, but I still need another activity.

We have a ten cent deposit on every beer/pop can and bottle in our state. You take them back to any grocery/convenience store and get the money back. This has been in place since I was in middle school. I was at a university summer camp when the law went into effect and an enterprising kid made a small fortune collecting cans from unsuspecting out-of-staters. If your campus is like mine, there are established scroungers roaming around campus collecting them already.

Get a job?

??

Getting a job wouldn't help the situation. (And I already have a job).

Because the situation doesn't pass the sniff test.

In order to be allowed to join an organization, that organization wants you to plan and execute an event that is meant to funnel money to that organization, but appear as totally unaffiliated with that organization?

Clearly, neither the OP nor her organization are concerned with the moral, ethical, or legal implications of this activity, and she has gotten more than enough feedback, cautions, and ideas to go and do what she believes is right. I don't think anyone is going to change the OP's mind on why this is a bad idea (even if the chapter is making it a requirement when it clearly should not be conducted in this manner), so why is everyone still wasting their breath?

Honestly, because I was (briefly) genuinely concerned that the chapter is taking advantage of the OP.

But then I recalled some of the other threads in which the OP has been given advice.

Are you the same poster as "KeepOnSingin"?

ree - sure seems like it, eh?

Where the H*** is DrPhil? She'd be on this.