This question is for GREEKS only!
 

ALL organizations I'm sure have problems with their sisters or brothers remaining active, regardless if they are undergraduate or graduate members.

How do you feel about CONSTANTLY bringing in new members when you have so many out there who ARE already members, BUT are NOT active financially with your organization?

These members may not be "T-shirt" wearers. They may be members who do not have any para on their car, in their home, office or whatever. They simply have not attended a chapter meeting or participated SINCE they pledged or came through intake. :eek:

Do we have a RESPONSIBILTY to get them back home? Or do we continue to bring in people who after they "cross" become inactive after the first year? This does not happen ALL the time, but in some cases it does. I'm sure it doesn't ONLY happen in Alpha Kappa Alpha.


What is/are your opinion(s) regarding this issue?

This is geared more towards those Greeks who are in Graduate chapters.

I believe that we must have a bigger focus on our lost pearls. There are many sorors out there that are afraid :eek: of joining a graduate chapter once they graduate, or transferring to a new chapter. So they become inactive. :mad:

Many chapters have activities to retain members or get inactive members back in the fold. That is a wonderful start, but we must get the information out there about how to stay active, how to join a new chapter, or whatever! :cool:

I know I was scared to go to a graduate chapter meeting... I didn't know what would happen. I finally went, and I had an okay time. Many new grads don't know what will happen when they go to grad meetings. ;)

And that, is my 6 cents!

Pearl6'08
UAQ via GR

This is an interesting thread. I personally don't think that grad chapters in heavily populated areas shouldn't have lines more than once every 10 or so years. I realize that comment will probably anger potential members who for whatever reason were unable to affiliate at an undergraduate level, but this is just MY opinion, although I'm sure its an unpopular one.

Lines?
 

Lines every 10 years will cause MORE problems. Lines will be huge... even at the university level, skip a few years and have a line... the line will be very large.

Most graduate chapters don't have lines but every few years, anyway. The problem is that many do not know how to change from chapter to chapter, and are embarassed to do so. I think that falls under chapter operations moreso than intake frequency!

I too have a problem with very large chapters in very large cities having frequent intake. I think at some point it becomes a fundraiser! I can't speak on all organizations, but I think we have gotten too lax and not selective enough and aren't finding women who are truly leaders and scholars and therefore don't take their commitment to the organization serious - or we have women who are just adding their membership to their resume and are already so involved in work or the community that they don't have the time, Links and/or GirlFriends plus a BGLO and they are all set!

Sister friends, This problem IS universal. It would be a great issue for the NPHC to take on as an unified body.

lost sheep
 

I hope yall don't mind a brutha responding to this; but I too think this is a very important issue. You never know who's gon stay around and serve the chapter or not. There are plenty of good actors/actresses out there eagerly waitin'for their chance to get in because it's a personal accomplishment for them, or to give more weight to their resume, or to take advantage of their new network. Whatever the reason, I think we had a better-than-expected chance of identifying people like this when orgs pledged people. When pledging was allowed, prospectives had to impress us from the time they showed interest, till the time they saw the light. We mandated community service projects, and observed our pledges from the planning to the evaluating stages. In doing so, we discovered which pledge did what, and how well. This gave us an idea how each hopeful would be as a member.

Now that pledging no longer legally exists, there is no way of knowing if a hopeful is legit or not; and because of it, we wont know what kind of member we're getting. People lie daily about volunteering, and other community service.

I would suggest offering awards for participation to more than one member each year. Offer such an award for members that have been in for one year, two years, three years, five years, ten years,etc. Perhaps this may inspire a member who otherwise may have fallen by the wayside.

It's Our Responsibility
 

I think its our responsibility to bring back our inactive sorors....I too think sometimes, we forget about those inactive sorors which is ashame. We are all one....we must encourage them and bring them back to the fold. Encourage your chapters to have mixers and etc. and invite inactive sorors in your area. If we win back one precious pearl, we've done a good job.

As far as new lines on the graduate chapter level, I simply believe we should be more selective -- that goes for who we select as well as the individuals bringing them to us. I too become rather upset after I find out that soror so-in-so who was just made last year/the year before didn't reactivate this year. I don't mind large lines (even though it takes away)....I just want everyone on the line to stay active. This is a lifelong committment....

As far as educating sorors...I understand what you are saying Soror, but really...we are talking about grown people. And I too know of people who don't know how to transfer/afraid to go to a meeting by themselves/nobody asked them to be active. I truly believe if you want to be active, you will be. That's just my opinion. I learned a long time ago, people do what they want to do.


Lastly, I do agree with Ape to a certain degree. However, there are still A LOT that slip through the crack!!!(maybe not as many as today, but still too, too many did). I know that a lot of the ladies who made us from the mid/late 80's who aren't active. I know older people who are not active for one reason or another who pledged, as we would say, 'back 'n the day'. Basically, anyone can put on a 'front' to get what they want! So if you want me to sing, dance, do a little community service, or put together a little shing-ding for you....I would do it to get those letters. Then 'poof'...I'm gone. Just like that. The truth of the matter is that you are going to lose some either way, pledging or straight intaking, because people don't wear their motives/desires on their shirts and it is not until the 'real' work begins we unveil this 'wolf in sheep clothing'.


Have a wonderful day!

Go 'head Soror Jody et. al.
 

I think you and I probably agree on this issue.

Anyway, the chapter I am in had its last intake in '99. There was ONLY ONE person for that intake. We have an intake scheduled for this Spring. (I'm on the committee) I wonder how many we'll have this time. LOL :P

We also have our round-up and open meeting, which is next Sunday. I think that in the chapter objectives that it should ALWAYS insist that members of that chapter try to reactive one or 2 sorors with their chapter. I think I'm gonna put that on my list for next year.

Yes, Soror Pearl608, on university campuses, ya skip a year or two having intake and you'll end up with a BIG line. I prefer having an intake EVERY year on the undergraduate level. That way, you don't have to have 50+ for an intake.

Let's not turn this into a big line, small line thing. I think we have gone there before.

I just feel that we should concentrate on what (who) we already have, yet we don't have, before we can go and bring others in. That's my opinion. :D

Thanks for your opinions.

I'm not an Alumna (yet), but I understand the importance of encouraging inactive alumnae to "come home". I think the problem is worse in NPC chapters than NPHC, but it is still annoying to find out that there are alumnae living DOWN THE STREET from you, but don't do anything with the sorority. :rolleyes:

I know we have membership incentives for those who "come back", especially if they do work with the local collegiate chapter (one of the things that suffer with decreased alumnae activity). But, as I forgot to say, I don't like the emphasis (even in collegian chapters) on getting NEW members, when your CURRENT members are shady at best! :eek: It's best to work with what you have NOW, as opposed to trying to start anew with a fresh batch. I support having intake for alumnae every other year (or less, depending on the size and interest).

Best of luck...it seems this problem is UNIVERSAL.

People have to WANT to be active.

Of course we really can't make people pay their dues but if we look at the philosophy that the larger the number of members who pay their dues, the less dues will cost. This can quiet some of those 'excuses'.

I also think that if there are more 'open' activities where it doesn't matter whether you are active or financial, then I believe people will remember what attracted them to the org in the first place. This should cause many to reactivate and become financial.

As far as lines/intake, it all comes down to the screening process. I have mentioned this elsewhere so I will not go into it again here.

Excellent ideas. But you're right -- it's strictly up to the individual Greek to decide whether she or he wants to be active. I just marked my first anniversary in my organization and don't plan to become inactive, even if I should marry and have children.

It will require advance planning, however, on the money tip.;)

I pretty much agree with everything everyone has said. I think that it's definitely our responsibility to reclaim our lost membes! I try all the time. It's hard, though, because like McCoyRed said, people have to WANT to be active. I, personally, don't understand it, unless it is seriously a financial issue. I can SURELY understand if you just don't have the money to pay your dues, lol. But then, there are ALSO your dues-payers-and-tshirt-wearers! I overheard a soror in my current chapter say that she planned to pay her dues and just come to meetings, she didn't plan on DOING anything. Now, I thought that was foul, but what can you do, really?

OA, people lyin' about volunteering and doing community service?? Oh, now really, wtf? That's really jacked up?

On another note, do you think that it's our fault? I mean, what OA said has me thinking. As Greeks, we know the ins and outs of our orgs. We know when it's time to work and when it's time to play, and we indulge in both. But do we glorify one part more than the other? Because I'm thinking like this, if I KNOW good and well that community work is not my thing, I'm not going to try and join a community organization. Just like I wouldn't join a purely social org, either. So what is it that breeds these eternal inactive members? I think that before we can reclaim them, we have to find out WHY it is that they are inactive. We can't solve the problem if we don't completely understand it (the math major in me coming out, lol). I think that this needs to be an initiative within all Greek organizations (NPC, IFC, and NPHC), since it seems to be a problem across the board. I think that perhaps we should make phone calls (we all have telephone trees) to sorors brought into a chapter (specifically grad) that are no longer active, and in a SISTERLY fashion, inquire why. I would say send a survey, but I know how I am with surveys, lol, and I'm active! LOL! After we find out why, we need to address those issues and THEN begin to reclaim our members. Of course, we can try to reclaim in the meantime, but in order to reclaim MANY, we need to start at the root of the problem.

This is a heavy topic sorors. I just became a member of Alllpha Kappa Alllpha in 2001 and the graduate chapter that I am a member of only has an intake process every 3 to 4 years. This is done to promote sisterly relations between the members. Meaning helping the old and new members become more acquainted with one another before bringing on new members and creating a close collective bond between all the members of the chapter, and not just with your sands or line sisters.

The other focus for having an intake process so many years apart is to reactivate lost pearls. To bring them back to the sorority not only on a financial basis, but a basis of serving the community to make a difference in this world.

Alot of people feel that bringing in so many new members into the sorority on a national basis should not be done because of so many inactive sorors. But who is to say what gifts and talents that new soror can bring not only to that particular chapter but to the sorority as a whole. This may be missed because of the consequences of someone elses actions.

I believe that before you seek membership on any level one must examine themselves and understand why is it that they want to become a member and realize that Alpha Kappa Alpha is a lifetime committement. It's purpose is NOT to be popular,just to belong to a group, or to wear 'nalia. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. is about sisterhood and supreme service to all mankind. If that is not in your heart or what you are about then you should not have/should not become a member of AKA.

One never knows the effect an energetic neo' like myself can have. After I crossed I had a conversation with two inactive members, surprise, surprise they are now active!!! I know I might get alot of flack for being a neo' and being so opinionated,but if I can inspire members to reactivate. Just think what seasoned members can do along with us new kids on the block!!!

:D :D :D

That's very foul.:mad: You only earn respect, whether neo or seasoned, by doing things.

Wonderful Thread, Soror AKA2D'91!

This fall, my line was the first intake that my chapter has had in 7 years. To top that off, there were only two of us. The area that we live in is fairly small on the Cali central coast. My chapter has an intake only when it's decided that there are ladies worthy of membership. Many of the members that come through our chapter are Sorors whose spouses are in the Navy and come to this area to attend the Naval Post Graduate School. They may be stationed in the area for only a couple of years, but will affiliate with our chapter and work hard during that time. So, I see not only a need to emphasize reactiviting our lost pearls, but to encourage Sorors who may relocate often to stay active with a chapter and not just retain "general" status.

Also being in a small area, my chapter has a lot of "older" members. Many of the members of my chapter are the women that I grew up around. My mom is a charter member of my chapter and I grew up around all of these women and have the upmost respect for them. However, some younger Sorors may feel that the chapter is missing a "youthful vibe". After my LS and I crossed, one Soror who is financial but not always active, came up to us and said that now that we're members she will start being more active because the ideas that we're coming up with are fresh and new.

So, intake really is a good thing because it may add some "new blood" and "youth" to the chapter. However, we all know that AKA is a SERIOUS MATTER and we can't just jump up and let just anyone into our sisterhood. We must carefully screen interested women and make sure that they are AKA material - that they truly believe in the foundations that our Founders created; that they sincerely believe in the goals and targets; and that they want to WORK for AKA. I disagree that removing the "Pledge" process and implementing "MIP" takes away from bringing in dedicated Sorors, because I went through MIP and I am DEDICATED to AKA in absolutely every way.

I have to say one more thing....I just don't buy the whole excuse of not being active because of Dues. Quite frankly our dues are not really that much. If you think about how much you go out and spend on a couple of nice outfits and/or shoes for yourself, we can easily think about how to conserve some of that. When we dedicate ourselves to AKA we make a committment. Sorors all know how much their dues are and can plan for it throughout the year if it's really going to be a financial strain. Some Sorors have a separate bank account for AKA. That's a good way to plan. I'm just not buying that whole Dues issue, because I'm young (30), married, and have 2 kids. My husband and I both work hard. We've got the same financial burdens as everyone else. But I plan for AKA, just as we plan our budget and pay for our kid's private school tuition.

Sorry for the long post....but I just had a lot to say.

My 06 Cents
 

When it comes to Alumni Chapters the first problem is that we do not set high enough standards - my opinion has always been that it should be HARDER to gain membership in an Alumni Chapter than a college Chapter (I was made in a Alumni Chapter). Alumni chapters seem to push for friends to get in instead of the best people. No matter if you have intake every 1 year or every 10 years this will be a problem. If college chapters joined more alumni chapters and initiated more members(no blamed layed just points) then alumni chapters would not be making more people. (Biggest fiction is that Alumni chapters follow intake rules to the book and that most initiates are people who could not hang in undergrad).

College Chapters need to keep up high standards and there must be strong interaction in order to keep our college brothers and sisters active. 2.5 is the minimum not the STANDARD! There is a key time when a student graduates and joins a grad chapter that many of us are missing out on. Question - How many alumni members on GC know their college sorors and brothers on a personal level? What they like or dislike. How many college brothers and sorors name more than 4 people in their graduate chapters in their area? Any personal relationships outside of their advisor? A lot of areas the answer is no.

Pledging(not 100% hazing) is a good way to filter people but it is not 100% full proof. There are many people that came through an Alumni chapter with the intake process and DO MORE for thier chapters than those that claim pledging and vice versa is true as well(people who pledge do more for their chapters than people who do not).

We have to stop bringing in our friends into our orgs and start looking for the best PEOPLE. Those will be the people who will remain active.

The rewards for being a member is being a member! I always looked at being an Alpha Man as an exclusive privlage that not everyone can have! That sounds arrogant and some would say ignorant but that idea helps me keep my Neo Energy and do for my Org because DEEP IN MY HEART I LOVE MY A PHI A.

That was my 06 cents

Sphinxpoet

That's easy to say soror, but you have to think of people who have unplanned hardships: death in the family, lay-offs, decrease in salary, etc. Some things can't be planned. While part of me agrees with you, the recently-laid-off part disagrees, LOL! :) I'm not making Excuses though, lol, I'm just sayin', life happens. Now, unusually loooong periods of inactivity, I'm not really sure what to say about that.

How do you all go about inviting inactive sorors to stuff? Cuz lemme tell yall, I have a friend who is inactive, and she is SO hesitant to go to social functions, because she doesn't want to be seen as the "inactive soror at the party/picnic/etc." But I've tried to tell her, she has to come to SOMETHING to feel the sisterly vibe and love, you know what I mean? To get back in touch with what made her fall in love with AKA in the first place,and to make her want to reactivate. And the other functions that we have are so few and far between. Then you try really hard at Founders' Day celebrations, but you have to HOPE that the word gets out to inactive sorors. I guess it's hard, because every chapter is different, some have cliques, some are "too old, not enough young sorors," I've heard it all.

I make sure when I meet a soror (and I know if she's active or not, cuz I woulda seen her at chapter) I ask her how long she's been in Columbus (peeps need time to get settled), then sooner or later, I will invite her to our next event. One, she may feel simply left out and not know any sorors or about our events. I even left one soror a note on her car after church inviting her to our chapter meeting that day. She didn't come, but she did at least call me. We have to at least reach out. And keep reaching. Sometimes I feel like I'm harassing sorors, lol, but shoot, so. :) Maybe they will get sick of hearing my mouth and come on back!

That's true what someone said about undergrads transferring into the grad chapter. I have a few friends who are inactive (for now!! :)) that have qualms about coming into the grad chapter. Since it's something I didn't experience, I don't really understand.

But SORORS have to WANT to be ACTIVE
 

I think Ms. McCoyred said it best -- people have to WANT to be active.

There are several chapters that have round-ups/ mixers and etc., but Sorors still won't become active. And until they decide to do so, if ever, they will!

We can't MAKE them become active. And I think it was Soror Ideal that said that we need to find out the root of the problem. Sometimes there are no answers. I have had sorors tell me all kinds of reasons for not being active: 1. The way they were treated while on line 2. Financial reasons 3. NOT INTERESTED anymore (Skeeriously) 4. That was undergrad 5. More things in life to deal with and etc.

I've learned...people are going to do what they want to do! The same ones that tell me that they are financially strap have prada bags, wear versace and etc (not knocking that stuff). The bottom line, they just don't want to get involved.

The best way to deal with all of this is to revamp/restructure our selection process. We could nip some of this in the bud at the beginning. And even with a tight process (not talking about hazing), you are going to still have ones that slip through the cracks. As I said previously in response to OA....just because you pledged didn't mean you were going to stay active. I think it may have/does stream line the number of applicants down to the ones that are serious about completing the process. However, that does not mean that Shelly, Kelly, and Lee Ann are going to be active after all that unless they want to be. I know this for a fact. People will show up for set, do their community service and be gone when dues are collected the next year (or when they go grad).

Million dollar question: How can we MAKE sorors/greeks stay active?

And I know I may be in the minority, but I don't mind grad chapters having lines every year. Personally, to me, sometimes I don't feel some of our organizations would survive if we just counted on the undergrads transferring to the grad chapters or members staying active. Now don't get me wrong...there are a lot of undergrads that do make that transition and a lot of members have stayed active. But when I look at the rosters in some of the graduate chapters, I'm astonished by the number of individuals that are in the chapters that were made grad.

Re: But SORORS have to WANT to be ACTIVE
 

True. For many of the reasons you listed and more, people become inactive. It will happen; we can reduce the occurrence but it will still happen.

One of the hardest things to do is to become active after a long period. Some people take a year or two off but I am talking about people like myself who were inactive for 10 years (after graduation and relocating). It was really rough because I knew a few sorors in one chapter and none in the chapter I eventually joined. I kept wanting to reactivate but the longer I waited for the 'opportunity' the harder it became. So I walked back in on faith and vowed to never 'relapse' again.

I would say that the Internet is a great reclaimation tool. It gives the local chapter a wider reach, esp. when sorors are relocating or graduating. I think that if the Internet had been as widespread in 1990, I could have come back home sooner.

I deal with inactive members everyday because I am the Reclamation and Retention chairperson for my Alumnae Chapter. Let me tell you, I feel sometimes like I need to be paid! It's more work than my job. I'm constantly calling, e-mailing, mailing, passing out business cards, developing social activities and programs. My goal this year is to reclaim 50, so far I only have 7 (year ends in July). At every chapter meeting, visitors get a gift bag filled with all kinds of information and a gift. The ones reclaimed paid dues at their first meeting or the next.

I have a lot that I contact monthly and they are like, I can't make it to this meeting, let me know about the next, and still I never see them. My next thing is to do a survey to find out why they choose to stay inactive.

Excuses I get include money, time commitment, they have small children, they don't get along with so-and-so, they travel too much, etc. My thing is, you pledged this as a LIFETIME COMMITTMENT, your life ain't up yet, get to work! Sorry, I had to go there.

My chapter doesn't have a formal committee responsible for Reclamation and Retention. That would be a good idea for chapters to consider doing.

Y'all are right. A Soror has to want to be active. Otherwise we'd be beating ourselves black and blue trying to encourage someone to be active. Sometimes, that's just the way it is and you have to decide when it's just hopeless and move your attention on to Sorors who want to be active but have "issues".

Soror Ideal08 - I do agree about having real excuses. Sometimes in life, things do come up and we get into a financial slump. It would be nice if Sorors could maybe help each other out in that siuation. Maybe if a Soror can't pay dues and that's why she's inactive, maybe all of the Sorors can pitch in and help. Depending on how many Sorors are in the chapter, that may be only $5, $10 or $20 per Soror. Isn't that what Sisterhood is all about ("We help each other...for we know there's no other....") I think that any Soror who was in a financial situation like that and her Sorors helped her out like that would genuinely feel gratitude and would really try and stay active as a result.

a confession
 

One of my line sister's and I were just speaking about this the other day. Currently, I am a general member and she just graduated. Fortunately for her, she has the money to reactivate into the grad chapter (a graduation gift), where as I do not. The initial fee is fine... BUT this chapter does not do fundraisers, which is what I am used to in my undergrad chapter. ALL members are assessed fees for every event they do (approx. $500 for the scholarship pageant alone for each member). That's the stuff that I can't afford. And for me to reactivate but to not be able to participate in anything doesn't make too much sense to me. I'm not trying to make excuses, but life happens. Financial strains pop up. My parents STILL have to send me money to help me make ends meet. But as I was told by my former grad advisor "AKA is a luxury, not a necessity".

Now, I don't plan on being a general member forever. But right now, it's what I can afford and I am still able to participate in some activities with the grad chapter.

And for attending functions... I personally have no problem going. But when I'm introduced to soror's it's "HELLO SOROR!" Then when they find out I'm not active it turns into "OH... hey soror" and they turn and walk away. Now, what kind of welcome is that for someone whose interested in reactivating?

Sorry for the long post.....but as you can see this is a soft subject for me right now.

personally, i don't think it's wise to for grad chapters to continue having lines, in an effort to increase their number of active members. i know of chapters who have lines every year and i also know of chapters who have lines every five years or so. prior to this year, my chapter last had a line 7 years ago. of the 20 or so on that line, only 4(at the most) are still active.

there will always be members who for whatever reason don't remain financially active. it's important to realize that as people get older, maybe their priorities change.

our chapter doesn't have reclamation specific activities. instead, when we have different functions, most of us will bring someone who we know is inactive. this takes the "spotlight" off those who may be inactive and still allows them a chance to see what the chapter is doing.

Re: My 06 Cents
 

I truly agree with that sentiment - it reminds me of a workshop I participated in several years ago when I was in a chapter that was planning a spring line - at the chapter retreat in the fall we had a workshop where we had to list the names of "friends or relatives" that we thought would make "good" Deltas. We then had to review that list and keep the names on the list if we would pay their dues if we wrote a recommendation letter for that person and they became non-financial within 5 years of initiation. Needless to say, the lists dwindled down significantly.

Soror Skeeliteful...
 

Soror...I pm'ed you....please read such

Such a committe is an excellent idea!

I'm also a General Member. When I graduated, it was the best I could do financially.

I know since I've gotten married and relocated, I've attended one grad chapter meeting. I filled out a chapter interest form and noted that I was interested in transferring into the chapter. I was sent an e-mail that a soror from the chapter would follow-up with me, but I never heard from anyone.

Fortunately, I saved that e-mail and after awhile I wrote her back and told her I never heard from anyone, and I was still interested. She gave me the names and numbers of sorors I needed to contact. Their meeting is a week from today and that is when dues are due.

The only suggestion I have is that when sorors are visiting your chapter, make them feel welcome. Just don't stare at them. Go introduce yourself and extend a handshake or a hug.

Fortunately, I knew several sorors in the chapter and were familiar with several others so I didn't feel so uncomfortable. Three of my line sisters were there so I felt more at ease. So, I got them to introduce me to the other sorors in attendance.

I agree financial for some people is a problem. I know I set aside money for my dues and my chapter has a payment plan to help with those who want to stay financial.

I agree with Akatude about making visiting Sorority members feel comfortable and also about treating a non-financial sorors as sorors.

One thing that hasn't been brought up yet is validation. When I run into a non-financial soror they often feel that the a grad chapter doesn't need them or a chapter will get more members through another intake. It might help if you find common ground outside of the sorority/fraternity with that person--maybe they are into sports, music, or another mutual interest. It's another way of saying that we are about you and you are not just a number. One time I sent a soror a thinking of you card and she drove with three other sorors three hours to a meeting. She ended up reactivating and we stay in touch.

Red Angel
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority
Albany (NY) Alumnae Chapter
#11Spr'96

It is important to become very selective at all levels for intake. It is important to bring inactive sorors home. I have heard I don't have the money, I don't want to be bothered...just every excuse you can think of. In fact I have an email distribution list that I send out everytime I hear of anything my sorority is having to invite any inactive soror I know. Rarely do they respond or attend. Yet I continue because I am going to do my part. I will always do my share and love my sorors.

Basically, I agree with mccoyred. Our "lost" members have to WANT to be active. When we pledge we make a promise to commit to the sorority/fraternity. I think that if you take a vow, you must do what you need to to to maintain the promise.

Personally, I have never been unfinancial since the day I crossed, and yes, it was difficult to pay dues (especially when I was a full time law student---NO MONEY), but I had to BUDGET and plan for something I was committed to---DST.

People will always "cry" broke, but basically someone will spend money on what the want to, and if they don't WANT to pay their dues they won't. Besides, some of us greeks believe they already got what the wanted.....the letters on their chests, and they aren't (or never were) interested in being active and finanacial after the year they crossed.

I'm not that hyped about intake, because the planning and implementation of MIT is very difficult and time consuming, and in the end you can never tell from the applicant's credentials who the dedicated individuals will be. It is much easier to focus on reclaiming the members we have already made, especially those transitioning from collegiate to alumnae chapters and our lost sands.

I appreciate everyone's responses. :D

At a meeting last month, when looking forward as to what we wanted to do within the chapter, we came up with the notion of sending Sorors who are not participating (though paid dues) and Sorors who were members, but have not paid their dues a survey/questionnaire/opinionnaire or some type of COMMUNICATION as to why they are not "active". Are the meeting's day and time a factor? Is it the location of the meetings? JUST WHAT IS IT? Here, we want to get some feedback as to WHY NOT? Maybe, just maybe, we can accommodate YOU. :confused:

Even after we do all that, peeps still will WANT to remain INACTIVE.

I was a GM from January '94 to January '01. After I graduated from college, I couldn't afford the dues that one of the chapters at home had. :eek: The graduate advisor at the HBCU at home lived down the street from me. I asked her what should I do, Grad or GM, she told me GM. She brought me my transfer papers I did what I had to do, and I became a GM. HOWEVER, that did not stop me from PARTICIPATING. After I completed Grad school and my certification, I KNEW it was time to transfer into a Graduate chapter. Since that time, I was welcomed with open arms. I didn't know ONE person there. And since then, the Sorors have gotten me TRULY involved,:rolleyes: :D sometimes TOO involved. LOL ( I have 2 committee meetings THIS week.) I said all that to say to the Soror who is a GM, it's better to be a GM, than NOT active (IMO). At least you will have your membership card AND access. :D

Anyway, like Soror HD91 said, "people do what they want to do". Last year, I finally accepted that. McCoyRed, you were on point too, as well as everyone else.

Excuse the length. I was kind of apprehensive at this thread in the beginning. I'm glad there are others out there who also share the SAME concen. :D

Good Morning Sorors -- I just wanted to make sure that I clarified something that I said previously in this thread....

I don't see anything wrong with maintaining General Member status. I love all of Sorors - no matter what membership status they have (including non-financial). The point that I wanted to mention is that we should also encourage Sorors to be active and financial at the chapter level and to be involved in the work of our sisterhood at the local level. If it's a financial reason that a Soror is not active, perhaps the Sorors of the chapter may be able to help her out. Or, perhaps the chapter will implement a payment plan for dues and assessments. Or, perhaps if a Soror can't pay a specific assessment, maybe they can work on some fundraising activity.

Anyway, I just wanted to mention that because I don't want anyone to think that I look at General Members in a different light. My sister maintains General Member status for her own reasons and I will continue to encourage her to get active again in the city where she lives.

Soror AKA2D'91 - I love that survey idea for inactive Sorors.

Hello Everyone
 

Happy New Year!!!

This is a GREAT topic!!!!! I was just talking to my soror about this last month. The thing that I find suprising is that how people would scrape, and do what ever it takes to pay the money to join (AKA, DST, SGRho, etc...) and then they become inactive sometimes RIGHT after they pledge while they are still in school, or right after they graduate. Now I will say that every one has thier reasons....(money problems, relocating, etc), but what I don't understand is people that STAY inactive. Plus is it just me or do you find that the people that join alum chapters tend to stay active than those who join undergrad???? Now I am still in school and I made a promise NEVER to become inactive. Now although I am saying this now, only God knows what is instore for my future especially since the economy is so bad right now and jobs are so hard to find.

We also need to realize that there are some people who join these orgs for the wrong reason. :eek: And because of that, that will cause them to become inactive right after they join. A person must have the burning desire to WANT to remain active. And if you can't afford to become active through a local chapter than you can still be active Nationally through Member-at-Large, or as they AKA's state General Member!!!

That's just my 13cents

Reclaim someone today
 

The other part of reclamation is remember to be Brotherly and Sisterly to all greeks. I think a lot of people get turned off because of the petty stuff people get caught up in and we do not help it by talking bad about our fellow bros and sorors in our chapters or in other chapters to non-greeks and others!

Sphinxpoet

Re: Reclaim someone today
 

I'm not going to totally agree with you here. I think that people are "caught up" in some stuff, but I think it may occur INTERNALLY, internally with themselves and possibly with the PEOPLE in the organizations they came in contact with.
My priority lies (is that correct grammatically?) with Alpha Kappa Alpha, point blank. All the other stuff is very, very trivial. People will be people. For some, it is NOT easy to let stuff go. I have been bitter etc, etc, but I have gotten over it! Many sorors, in fact, many of my lss have not. It's a shame, but hey, we gotta let go and let...

:D

As a recent college grad, I think that the transistion to grad chapter from undergrd can be mindblowing!
We all share the same sisterhood, but it is not the same. Out of all my sorors who are still in town who have graduated in the last three semesters NONE have transferred into a grad chapter. That saddens me. I made a commitment to Alpha Kappa Alpha, not to my chapter. When I inquire why, they say either money or they (grad chapter) are all to old. The sponsoring chapter of my undergrad chapter has even waived some fees in order to influence undergrads to transfer in. I am going to miss my undergrad chapter dearly! However this Monday I will be at the grad chapter meeting with my dues, ready to work for them. If more focus was made to help sorors or any greek make the transtition I think we wouldn't lose as many. I know for me and probably everybody what I thought about my prior organizatin was was NOT what was waiting on ther other side. It is hard work and sometimes I am still shocked about what I thought Alpha Kappa Alpha was going to be like, and I laugh. I wouldn't trade it for the world though! I love my twenty pearls!

I wanted to touch upon something some of the sorors mentioned about being a Boule member (I like that term soooo much better than general member!). I'm a Boule member and will probably stay a Boule member as long as my two young children, well...as long as they are young! I have, since my almost 20 years in the sorority been extremely active at times (I helped charter a grad chapter and an undergrad chapter and had two officer positions before I was 27!

I was at a boule meeting in August (I live in Florida) and a soror who is active in the local chapter asked me was I still boule while her eyeballs were floating toward the sky! If she could have read my mind she would have known I was thinking that the last time I checked I had 20 and they don't come in 21!

I would encourage any soror that is not active, that if she can become a Boule member. When I was active in the grad chapter I would encourage sorors who weren't active to come and work when we had volunteer projects.

ooo this was kinda a long...sorry!

Hi All - I know I'm late but want to also add that for some BGLO there is an issue of cost. For example, to be active in good standing in my chapter one must pay chapter dues AND $1200 for housing. Many of my Brothers say they can't afford to pay such amounts especially young Brothers that are in the process of buying homes, having kids or getting married. The other thing that I know is an issue for some is that many grad chapters don't do enough in the community. Personally, I'm tired on serving on every committee. I becoming burned out and want some other Brothers to step up to the plate. Especially those Brothers that only show up at chapter meeting to critique but never volunteer.

Nonetheless, perhaps the answer to the question is that orgs need to solicit its memebership and encourgage participation. I often ask inactive members to serve an judges and screeners for my chapter's programs. It is my hope that Brothers then again feel the fraternal spirit and see that they are also needed to hold up the Light of Alpha.

Soror Jody, this reminds me of a soror in my area, slightly younger than me, who is a Boule member. She's got a 3-year-old daughter. This soror attends our meetings, participates in activities and went to FWRC last June.

Boule'.....
 

Nicely put sorors...there is a reason that we have a category termed 'Boule'/General'.....

We know that because of dfferent life events, everyone cannot always 'actively' participate. I think our directorate realized that 'back in the day' and came up with this category.

There's nothing wrong with being Boule'. You are financially active and 'aware' , through different vehicles, of everything going on in our illustrious org -- you know who the officers are/the new rules and regulations/etc. I know of Sorors who don't know who the current president is/where or when is the next Boule'/changes in the rules after they pledged and etc. Being Boule', you can attend all of our conferences, still receive publications and etc. I personally went Boule' this year because of career decisions as well as being burned completely out by my last chapter; however, I will be in attendance at Founder's at Howard, South Central Regional and Boule'.

To clarify...I think what Soror AKA2d was referring to members who aren't 'active' at all -- financially and/or physically. (Correct me if I'm wrong soror).

Also, to the Sorors/Greekmembers who aren't active....this is not an attack...we want you back! So there's no need to explain why you are not active.

Personally, I think a lot of Sorors are inactive because of money (agreeing with frat). At my last chapter, there was a $500 housing assessment plus dues (and any other assessments along the way). The chapter in my line sister's area doesn't like to fund-raise either and their dues are $600. That is a lot of money and we can say budget all we want, but for some there is just not enough money there. I think one thing we need to look at is maybe capping a reasonable cost for dues for chapters -- that is, I never understood why one chapter can charge $185 for dues, but the chapter down the street, around the corner charges $500 for dues. But I know, this is an invidual chapter call.

Well, I'm out...I'm in Chi for training...so you won't hear from me as much this week!