Alcohol Policy Explanation
 

I posted this in the AOII Forum, but I was afraid all the AOII's might not see it there, also, maybe if someone's fraternity or sorority has a similar policy they can help explain:

Ok, I am the new social chair for my chapter, and I will tell you that in the past, our socials have (so I have heard, since I am new) kind of been busts. We have a lot of problems to overcome, and most have to do wth the alcohol policy (PLEASE READ ON, WE DONT WANT TO THROW A BIG DRUNKEN PARTY). My main problem is with our formal and semiformal. There is a part in the AOII alcohol policy that says no party shall keep an AOII overnight, nor is a member allowed to rent a room after a function, formal, or party. We have serious problems with this bc we are in Tahlequah, OK. It is not a big town, at all, I dont even think there is a decent hotel in the whole town, if any hotel or motel at all. We dont have any ballrooms, and really NOWHERE to hold a function, especally a big one like formal. Anywhere we can go is over 20 miles away (therefore we have to get liscenced commercial transportation anyways), and it is just too far to drive back after an event like this. Is there ANY possible way that I am reading the alcohol policy wrong and somehow we can rent rooms or something after a function? Please, help me!!!!!

Why don't you rent buses for that night to take people there and also bring them back? I know that the sororities at my university have buses that go back and forth for our formals. That way, having an event in a town more than 20 miles away or wherever isn't a big deal.

Is that verbatim from the rules? If it says a "member" cannot rent a room after a function, why not the organization rent the room for a member?

The bus thing works really well, and you can get it for a decent price if you look around. That way nobody drives and everyone can have a good time.

ktsnake, I'm quite sure that having the organization rent the rooms is EXACTLY what NOT to do, as the sorority doesn't want the responsibility if anything happened.

Formal dresses + yellow school bus that has gum under every seat. The girls could probably dress casual and bring carry-on bags but they would have to change and do their hair in the public bathrooms. I can't picture it.

I think you should just have the dates rent the rooms in their names.

Buses! Buses! Buses!

Cheaper in the long run than everyone paying for hotels.

There are also a lot of options other than yellow school buses. Depending upon where you are there may be a charter bus company who is willing to work with you or may even be willing to negotiate better rates if your panhellenic exec works together to talk to them. Most mass transit companies will also charter their buses after hours and they tend to be cleaner and better kept than school buses.

I definitely do not recommend having your dates rent the rooms in their names or having the chapter rent the rooms. The whole idea is that the formals are not supposed to be over night excursions. Chapters cannot afford the liability for what might happen if the whole chapter gets rooms with their dates. We can all imagine the bad scenarios from date rape to acquiantance rape to liability for damage caused to the rooms.

We always had tons of fun and we never rented rooms at our location. Instead of focusing on the rooms as the reason for your chapter not enjoying social events why don't you do a survey and see what elements of the parties the chapter members think could be improved. You can ask what kind of music they want, what kind of food, theme, etc. Make it their party with everyone's input and take the focus away from transportation.

Good luck!

Laura

I don't know about how ya'll handle your liability.. but so long as we stay within the guidelines of our risk reduction we are covered I believe up to 1 million per member.