Leaving Fraternity
 

Hey, how do I officially leave a fraternity? I am a member of Lambda Chi Alpha. What is their policy?

You should post this in the Lambda Chi Alpha forum and ask them over there.

GammaZeta knows everything.

I see 3 possibilities here,

1. If you want to quit and have no interest or care in how that departure is handled- just quit and tell an officer in your chapter.

2. If you want your name officially removed from the rolls, or if you are leaving for a hardship reason (financial, leaving school etc.) and would like to not go out in disgrace- do like OTW said and post your story in the LXA forum where you can get some advice. All fraternities have specific policies dealing with these issues, and you need to talk to an LXA to get advice on this.

3. If you are wanting to leave LXA so you can pledge somewhere else, you are out of luck. Once you are initiated into an IFC fraternity, you may not pledge another- regardless of whether you have been removed from the rolls of your previous fraternity.

I don't think this is true, though I could be wrong.

NIC bylaws say that members can initiate somebody if they are officially separated from their prior fraternity, with a signed letter from the national office. however there are fraternities that will not allow somebody who has been intiated somewhere else to pledge. Also most nationals don't allow an offical seperation because you are told that it is an lifetime commitment.

It's been often said by members of fraternities here that even though someone's got that paper saying he's not a member of the original fraternity anymore doesn't mean the new fraternity chapter will want to consider him.

I'm just saying that it is technically possible. Honestly if somebody came to my chapter and I knew he had crossed somewhere else I would send him packing. I mean if he left one, whats to keep him from leaving mine.

I know Psi U, I was agreeing with you.

Just because it's technically possible doesn't mean anything.

LOL.

He really shouldn't have to post this on GC at all. If he doesn't have info that only members should have, he atleast has Google which can get him to the website and the organization's contact info. :)

Co-sign. I never understand why people come on here to ask for this type of information. Why not ask your chapter or your inter/national hq? They know the specific information for your fraternity.

Maybe he wants to feel out the situation before actually bringing it up to his brothers and decide whether or not leaving is something he really wants to do.

And there's also the possibility he's leaving because his chapter is so full of lunkheads they barely know the name of the Vice President of the US, let alone what their fraternity policies are.

I would agree with above as well. All Greek organizations more than likely have their own set of rules, procedures and protocols for this matter or situation. Best to go right to the source for information and directly asking them. And if poster is just having problems with the Chapter, asking HQ for information and help would also seem to be the best bet.

In defense of the OP- I do not know about other fraternities, but we do not post this kind of policy information on our website. I would be shocked if any fraternity did quite frankly- this is member selection (or in this case "de-selection") policy.

If the OP is not currently comfortable talking with members of his own chapter about his potential departure, then it would be quite logical to come here and ask what to do. A good idea? No. He would be better off contacting his IHQ directly- info that is easily available. Then again, if it is not a certain decision yet, maybe he does not want to risk his IHQ contacting the chapter to ask why he might leave etc...

OTW- well said and thanks for the clarification. I was not aware that there is policy on the books allowing for people to de-brother and pledge elsewhere. I just know that as a matter of practice it is not done.

I would speculate the IFC does have the provision referenced by Psi U MC Vito in place to cover situations where an entire chapter leaves its own national organization and reinitiates with another- though even that expansion approach seems to be getting rarer.

[QUOTE=EE-BO;1700235]In defense of the OP- I do not know about other fraternities, but we do not post this kind of policy information on our website. I would be shocked if any fraternity did quite frankly- this is member selection (or in this case "de-selection") policy.[/QUOTE]

If the fraternities don't want the information posted on their websites, then they definately don't want it posted on GC by random members. I would not post specific, membership-oriented info about Sigma Chi on here and would lose a lot of respect for someone who posted private membership info for their fraternity.

I understand that the OP might want to feel out the information before he approaches his fraternity. My point is that I don't understand why someone would ask specific points about their fraternity to a bunch of random strangers on a message board who are not members of their fraternity.

I was going to post the reasons behind my intentions; however, after reading the responses, I do not think that it would be a good idea. A member of the LXA has messaged me, so I will talk with him. Thank you all for your input.

Good and good luck. ;)

Actually, Beta Theta Pi does post our Code and Governance documents on the national website. These documents do contain definitions of status for undergraduate members and chapters. It does not, however, give a specific list of things to do in order to reach a certain status; in this case, termination of membership.

I do agree with the majority that such questions can easily be answered by a member of the person's chapter or administrative officers. A quick search of LXA's website yielded this:

Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity
8741 Founders Road
Indianapolis, Indiana 46268-1389
Phone: (317) 872-8000
1-800-209-6837
Fax: (317) 875-3828
Email: headquarters@lambdachi.org

Technically you can drop your letters, but you will be frowned upon by all greek life. You're technically are allowed to, but no fraternity will take you...

Actually you technically aren't allowed to renounce membership in your fraternity in most cases.

:confused: That doesn't make sense. If someone doesn't want to remain a member of the fraternity, why on Earth would that fraternity want to keep him around?

I doubt the "first" fraternity would want him. I took Psi U MC Vito's post to mean that a member can not simply state "I am no longer an ABC" and be done with it. The IHQ would have to formally (legally) terminate his membership for it to be fact.

Yeah that's exactly what I meant. And alot of IHQ's wouldn't be willing to grant it.

OK, that makes much more sense.

Are you saying that I/HQs would prefer to keep a member who no longer wants to be affiliated with the organization? My experience has shown that they'd be happy to trim the fat.

I'm just an undergrad so i have no idea how IHQ would react. But personally I can see them requiring you to keep up with all your obligations to the fraternity, including financial. I know that during the pledge process my chapter emphasizes that membership is for life, not just four years, and no turning back after youo are initiated. Just my opinion though.

You initially spoke so definitively, Psi U.

Now you're conceding the point as the personal opinion of an undergrad whose chapter taught him that membership is for life. I thought you were atleast telling us how your org's IHQ handles disaffiliation. Guess not.

The general rule is that no organization can make members honor their life commitment, when it comes to this topic. Policies differ but quite a few orgs would rather give you a "pep talk" to see where your heart is and then, if that fails, go through the necessary steps to show you the door. There's a great deal of necessary housekeeping when folks disaffiliate. My personal opinions of NPHCers who want to disaffiliate aside, I tell those sucky NPHCers who I encounter to contact NHQ if they are drifting from inactive status to wanting to disaffiliate/depledge. Don't just put your ritual and other info on the front porch for the mailperson to pick up.

seersucker,

I hope our talk did some good.

Either way you decide, I wish you nothing but the best.

There's a lawsuit waiting to happen. Locals and/or I/natls may work hard to change a person's mind, including red tape, paperwork and dragging their feet. But in the end if someone is dead set on resigning there is nothing that can be done to prevent it leaving no obligations on either side.

Just because someone decides they no longer want to live in their current apartment does not mean they can disregard the lease. They may still have to fulfill their legal obligations (i.e. rent).

It seems that if there are financial obligations, IHQ and/or the chapter would have similar legal grounds to go after the guy. If the guy was simply allowed to turn in his pin and quit - without some sort of legal termination by IHQ - then it seems like he might be able to claim he no longer is responsible for any money owed. Simply because he is no longer a member.

Now if IHQ and/or the chapter elects to forgo any of the obligations (i.e. write-off the financial obligation) just to be rid of the guy (i.e. trim the fat), then there are no obligations on either side. And frankly, I would venture to guess that as long as there isn't a lot of money involved, the guy would be cut loose.

It's never not funny when people make these kinds of announcements. :)

Yeah, but what Psi_U seemed to be saying is that the fraternities will not terminate someone on a national level and therefore he is still bound to his financial obliagations. I don't think that is true.

This isn't the Mafia. If someone wants to formally surrender their membership in an organization they can't be "made" to stay - if they request this several times and the NO refuses to remove them from the rolls, that is the NO's issue.

First, 33 girl i like u
 

I counselor teenagers and I keep reading advise on these pages that makes me wonder if you actually care about what you are saying or just being insensitive or what? when you decide to leave any organization whether it is a job or sorority or frat or even social network, you don't just tell everyone before you have researched the ramifications. now, with that said, when leaving a frat at the college, you can be penalized in ways that have nothing to do with money or what was said during rush. there are other members that like to make you uncomfortable, gossip about you and in general make you cringe into the background when you see them. one young lady I have counseled feels so uncomfortable around the girls from the sorority she left that she goes in another direction when she sees them. They whisper and point at her and make her feel less than because she did not want to be a part of their sorority. Ladies, are we all so heartless that we don't understand this? If you think your sorority or your daughter does not do this, you might be very surprised to know how she treats other young women. and guys can be just as petty. GET ALL THE INFO YOU CAN BEFORE ANYONE CONNECTED TO THE FRAT KNOWS ANYTHING ABOUT YOUR INTENTIONS TO LEAVE.

Thank you for the compliment (I think) but are you talking to me in the rest of your post??? I'm really :confused: .

No you are absolutely correct!


While in talking with this young man, I found out the problem and we discussed his options.

There is a way for him to deactivate, but, that is between him and his Brothers only.

Whether he makes that decission, that is his and his only!:rolleyes:

----------------------------------------------------

Zillini, I am not sure where your post came from about a lawsuit but wonder how ignorant you seem to be?

If you do not know, then let it go!;)

She meant if an organization tried to collect fees and otherwise keep a member involved, even when he had tried to resign in the proper manner and notified the national office of his intentions, the organization would most likely be sued.

It would be like if you phoned, emailed, and wrote multiple letters to the gas company asking them to turn off your service and they kept on billing you.

A lot of people just don't know. LOL.

Exactly 33girl. Thank you.

In addition, I never said the chapter/GLO in question was or wasn't entitled to the dues from an initiated yet resigned member since s/he did make an obligation. I merely stated that I anticipate a resigned member to file a lawsuit if s/he continues to be billed. The outcome of that lawsuit would be up to a judge and based on the interpretation of the GLO's membership agreement/obligation. But, it's worth pointing out that the resulting bad press that comes about would probably far outweigh any potential recouped finances.

As for TSteven's apartment lease analogy, true. It is a legally binding contract that one cannot simply walk away from if s/he changes their mind. However, a landlord is also expected to try to mitigate the loss by attempting to re-rent. If succesful, they may only sue the lease breaker for the actual lost rent and any costs incurred to do so (i.e. advertising, apartment showings, repairs, etc.)
My post came from being threatened by lawsuits from too many sorority members and parents over the years, often over things that were far more piddly than this. Ignorant? Not hardly.

frat?

talk about offensive, i'm not in a frat.

Good analogy. And applicable to the member "in good standing" (i.e. paid up). And apologies for not being clear. I too feel that the member should not be billed for dues moving forward. And frankly, I have never heard of that happening.

However, just like the gas company has every right to go after the dead beat for past due amounts, so does the GLO have the right to collect dues owed them. Most often, the issue has to do with the chapters being screwed and not IHQ. As such, until all financial obligations are settled with both the chapter and IHQ, the IHQ may wait to legally terminate membership if it is in their (or the chapter's) best interest to do so.

ETA: Zillini, I think we are in general agreement. Continued billing is bad. Collection of what is owed, "good".

Some people are and maybe that poster is talking about those people. ;)