Here is the real problem!
 

Okay so here is the problem with Alumni and active relations besides the obvious old fart vs. change arguments. Mind you that I am an alumni and I am trying to be helpful. The reason alumni and actives do not get along is because of the differences in lifestyles. An alumni thinks of his time and energy as an asset and also thinks of the well being of the fraternity. The active wants to change things ever so slightly to make his mark. SO we have a situation analagous to... oh lets say the Roman Empire. So we are stuck in a situation of an alumni dictatorship with uprising from the actives (at least thats how our chapter thinks). We are told that we all have a say what happens in the house except financially we are controlled by a few alumni. We want something they don't... they threaten to pull money out and then they get their way. What kind of control is that? When 95% a house wants something you should think that we could get it. So here is my solution: If something is wanting to be changed, the house isn;t where it should be.

To serious to be funny, to sad but so true!

The fight of the old and new goes on forever.

We all go through this, I did this when I was there.:)

But, the total idea is for Memebers of the same Organization to try and work for the best for all of us!

The old look down on the young and the young resent interference!:(

Catch 22! Well until the young get in trouble and ask the old to bail thier butts out!:)

Young always need money as they have no damn clue how to do budgets! Right?

This is the truth! My chapter's new and they don't see it. As a recently formed alumni chapter (I should be receiving our charter in the mail in 5-7 days:D ) I wrote a few items I wanted them to insert into their constitution sort of "formalizing" the relationship between the active and alum chapters.

Thus far, the answer has been something like "We want you around, but we don't want you to tell us to do anything" (not that we ever have, heck, the amendments didn't do anything but mention that we only had an "advisory" role and that threatened them).

Anyhow... The day will come when we have that issue with the money. It'll be an issue to work through. I'm confident though that even actives can see what must be done for the greater good.

Heh...if they won't add the clauses to the constitution and bylaws, then you just leave it as is. Then, when they later decide to go to the alums for money, you can say "Oh, I'm sorry. We'd love to dig into our deep alumni pockets, but we never formally cemented our relationship in the bylaws. After all, we like to be around, but we don't want to have to donate anything."

:p


.....Kelly :)

ok, i am laughing out loud!!! that was too much!

i agree that there is definately a struggle when trying to bridge that gap between alums and collegiates and unfortunately, i don't have any solutions. it takes small steps and the right people to present things in that "certain" way that makes things gel.

Precisely why we formed an alumni chapter... I should get the charter by UPS next week sometime:cool:

A Few Questions for some Alums
 

Having recently graduated, I always had a few questions about some of the things are alumni had us sign and our house is involved in this right now.

1: Is it legal for them to have us sign a document giving them the right to search rooms whenever they want. Their argument: the house does not fall under the landlord-tenant act and that therefore gives them a window to this. The reason: They want to be able to make sure that we are not drinking in the house which is understandable, but what is protecting us from them?

Issue one: What keeps them from taking something of ours if its after hours or we aren't there. Also, they recently did a room raid during spring break of last year when there was three guys in the house. It just seems wrong.

Issue Two: Aren't we giving up one of our freedoms if we allow searches of personal space?

Re: A Few Questions for some Alums
 

I'm no lawyer whatsoever, but I don't think this is true (especially in Seattle with their stringent tenant rights). I think they still have to abide by landlord-tenant laws. They do have the right to search your rooms, but they have to give the appropriate notice (it was 24 hours when I lived within the Seattle city limits).

Gamma Phi's House Corp bylaws give evey Gamma Phi, who paid into the "building fund" of such and such chapter, a vote in the workings of the HCB. We have an annual meeting and every alum and active of the specific chapter can attend and vote on the Board of Directors and the other issues. The collegiates basically have the power if they make teh entire house attend the meeting.

Now, REALITY. Many (not all) rich people like to get their way, no matter what. And they will always threaten to pull their financial support. I personally think that's a crock of crap that they pull that, but I'm sure it happens. Can you replace their support with money from other alumni?

But wait it gets better...
 

We checked into that landlord-tenant act as well... However we told our alumni that as well and when we said that, they said that if it did fall under that act that they would pull their money becuse they feel they have no control. However, good news is is that they cannot pull their money out due to the mortgage. They are required to sign a document that guarantees the house for every 4 or 5 years. They just resigned it during the summer. So they cannot pull their money without finding a replacement guarantor. But its not like we are going to do something horrible or anything anways. I just want to know if this is legal what they are doing or not?

On another note, if there is no organization that protects greeks from living arrangments like this or creates standard guidelines for rules and regulations of greek houses, there sure as hell should be!

I'm not familiar with the support that Theta Nu Xi provides to its alum organizations and housing corps, but I'd advise you to contact whoever advises those groups. I'm sure the national organization has a great prescription for your situation. This kind of stuff shouldn't come up and really, as long as the active chapter is doing alright, alums should just smile and write checks;)

However, when the going gets tough, that's why you have a national organization to turn to.

I could hear about this one later
 

You know that would work in all but... guess who is one of the 6 heads of our national organization? One of our guarantors. Imagine that. We can't go to nationals about this because our guarantor are pretty much nationals. And its not Theta Nu Xi. Its just Thetaxi.

Are they really willing to let the house just fold (which it sounds like that's what you're saying would happen if they pulled their money out) just to "get their way"?

Most of the houses at the UW have been there A LONG time and I can't believe they would really be so <insert any expletive here> just to get what they want.

There are a number of choice words going through my head right now but unfortunately, I have nothing useful to say.......

I just HATE to see alumni who act that way. :mad:

They'd probably pull their money because they are from Wazzu and married to AGDs. You hate their football team and squirrels, can't help things.

However, you may want to check and see if living in the house is including in landlord and tennant laws. I know that often university housing is exempt from it, and it may be the same even though the house is owned by the corporation and off campus. You'd want to check with city and state laws as those can vary greatly.

please refer to my previous comment...

what do we do with that?

You didn't specify city or state, I suggested checking into both. Heck there may even be county laws, I forget about those as San Francisco is a city&county all in one.