house??
 

Try this link. :)

You are a member of a major national sorority. Surely this is the sort of question you'd pose to your representative from national on one of her visits.

Generally, these rumors are completely false, or in the alternative, you just have to comply with zoning requirements for multifamily dwellings (which can include things like sprinkler systems).

Yeah, read the link he provided.

If the "brothel law" is just a myth, it isn't a law. Therefore, you can't revoke a law that doesn't exist.

I'd agree - any questions you may have about the housing laws in your state should be directed to a sorority representative. They most likely have housing and legal types who can answer those questions for you, and seperate the myth from the reality.

Oh sister sister welcome to the boards! And prepare for plenty of snarky responses in this thread. I'm surprised there aren't more.

We were told the same thing when we joined. I'm assuming you're a commuter campus? I believe the city I went to school in DID have a zoning law but I think it was moreso to prohibit Greek housing or college housing or something. They explained it before but I don't really remember what it was. One of the girls actually went to the city and researched it.

BUT... there are many perks to not having a house. Dues are kept a lot lower because our housing fees go to things like recruitment and wherever else they go. I had always wanted a house when I was active, but I'm thankful not that we didn't because I never would have been able to afford being in a sorority.

^^^Ditto the above. There are good things about having a house, but it is a BIG commitment - especially for smaller chapters. If you do end up acquiring one, make sure you revise your chapter bylaws to state that every sister must live in for a semester or a year (depending on how your housing contracts go) - don't assume that everyone will always want to live there and everything will work out fine because it probably won't at some point down the line.

And yes, the brothel law is a myth - if a university official or landlord is telling you otherwise, demand that they show you where it is in the town/borough/township laws.

I'm thinking she's at a smaller chapter; Phi Mu isn't so strong up North.

Your pledge class is being very sweet, but it'd be better for the chapter if you directed your energy somewhere else. Organizing a fundraiser might be just the thing; having more money makes life so much easier for a chapter.

Getting a house is a bit more of an effort than a fundraiser. You will definitely need legal/real estate types to design a capital campaign, a corporate structure, etc.

This is not a pledge class project. No way in Hades.

I thought she was saying that a HOUSE isn't the right direction to go, and instead they should focus on something else that will help them right now...?

But I could be wrong.

Actually we're pretty strong up here. We have a strong sisterhood and enough sisters to actually get to know each other.

I think what you meant was we don't have as large a quantity. And there are plenty of Phi Mus houses in the north. Please watch how you word your thoughts.

So am I the only meanie tempted to clown the OP for having a Vanilla Ice quote in her sig? Really?

Ok, I'll just stay out of it, then...

Will it ever stop? Yo, I don't know.

Awww who doesn't love Vanilla Ice?? Anyone else notice a lil somethin somethin on his pants?

Photoshopped! Just like Tom Jones over in the "What do you feel like saying" thread!

LOL, oh good lord, I just grabbed the first image that caught my eye in the google search, I didn't look that closely past the hair, missed the "action" south of the border. Woops!

Sure, sister - that's what they all say!;)

LOL. Yep, you got me, I am HOT for what Robert Van Winkle is packing in those red white and blue shiny knickers! He's so sessy! :p

You need to read more carefully.

I've seen Tom Jones, up close and personal, and he likes to grab his junk. I don't think he'd stuff and then manhandle himself while performing because if something fell out that could be super embarrassing.

I'm just saying...to the extreme I rock the mike like a VANDAL.

LOL. You win!

I also win at life because I have an antique diamond solitaire engagement ring, and I don't have to marry anyone to keep it, and also...I AM SEEING BARRY AGAIN NEXT MONTH. Jealousssssss of my floor seats?

I've been alternating between my Idi Amin and Tom Jones mug.

Holy crap, you DO win at life!!!

Are you going back out to Vegas or is Barry on the road and I am unaware of it? And not to get into a one-ups-man-thing with you, but *I* had floor seats to Barry too and I SWEAR he made eye contact with me during "Weekend in New England"! (I think the hubby got a little jealous ;))

Talk to me when it's Neil Diamond.

Like it has been said, the "brothel law" is a myth. You can't strike down a law that doesn't exist.

I lived in my chapter's house for 3 years. I loved it and couldn't imagine my Greek experience without a house. However, there are advantages to not having a house, assuming all sororities don't have one---it'd be a hard sell to be the only one without, and the change in culture may not be well received at every school.

A couple of things to inquire about:
1. Are other chapters interested in housing?
2. Do fraternities have housing?
3. Is there space to build sorority houses for all chapters?
4. What are the zoning laws/requirements to build a sorority house?

and of course, money:

5. Has your chapter been saving for a house? Would your National Housing Corporation contribute?

The University of Tennessee has been working on building housing for all Panhellenic sororities for at least 5 years now. So, remember, this is something that, even if it happens, you would not be a collegian to experience. Maybe you could get in touch with the Phi Mu chapter there and ask them about it?

I am seeing him in Spokane, but they are having deals this month at the Las Vegas Hilton, home of Barry Manilow! The bff has been in touch with the Fanilows. As a social scientist I find it fascinating, to the point I'd totally write a book. We're seeing him in Spokane just after my birthday, remember my secret Barry hookup (1 degree of separation from the man who writes the songs that make the whole world sing) ? ;)

I should send you some of the goofy pictures we took with his platinum and gold records, and in the Manilow store. I'm not the Fanilow as much as she is, but I go along for entertainment. You'd die at some of the Fanilow interactions I had, the Tom Jones ones were a hoot as well.

Well, she also needs to investigate whether there is an NPC Housing Compact in force for her campus. It may be that the national organizations have signed one and therefore it isn't up to an individual group to take this step. I strongly suggest that she contact her inter/national director of housing.

I sang backup -- on stage -- for Barry Manilow in a concert when I was in college.

Go ahead and be jealous. Does this mean I win at life? :p

This talk of "Ice Ice Baby" is cracking me up and bringing back some not so pleasant memories. My NM class wrote new words to "Ice Ice Baby" to perform for a competition between NM classes of each sorority. It was embarrassing to say the least. All I remember is, "Something grabs ahold of me tightly, Brothers and Sisters all around me nightly..." It was BAD! I don't know who had this idea, but I could have killed her.

Get. the. HELL. out. of. here!!!! I always knew you were cool, MC, but this maybe makes you now the coolest of all time. I should get you to sign some stuff to sell on eBay, there are seriously Fanilows out there that would snap it up!!! :p
I AM jealous. And you were already winning at life, but now you RULE. :cool:

AOII Angel ... I am so having similar flashbacks now!

We had a rush (aka: mid 90's recruitment) skit of MTV with different music videos with words altered. Ours was something like:
"Rush, Rush Baby ... go XY maybe" for the chorus with other lyrics including "to the extreme we rock the campus at UNIVERSITY, light up your life, you know we are the best!"

YIKES!!!!!

MC where have you been? The only way to truly win at life is to have a guy buy you a "big-assed diamond ring." The one you bought for your wife does not count. In fact, she wins at life. You win vicariously through her.

I could always sell the signed LP (yes, children, LP) I got from Barry. :D

I stand before you, a humbly corrected, chastened and most-fortunate fellow . . . who once sang back-up for Barry Manilow. :p

Wow! That just reminded me of our chorus, "Greek Greek Baby!"

I remember 2 sisters and I walking home from the bar, arms linked, and singing the whole song (we knew every word mind you) so we could make it home in the freezing cold in our miniskirts.