Do inactive or abroad members have to pay dues?
 

I'm just curious as to whether or not inactive members or those studying abroad for a semester are responsible for paying dues for that semester in your organizations?

In my chapter, it is written into the bylaws that members with inactive status are still responsible for paying dues. Is this standard?

I am planning on doing a semester abroad eventually and wondering again if I should be expected to pay chapter dues when I won't even be in the country. If I go inactive, according to the bylaws I'd still be responsible for paying. Would I have to go to Alum status?

Most of the time, chapters have a reduced amount that sisters have to pay. Instead, you end up paying only national dues. However, I would talk to your EB just in case because it might not be as much/little as you think. You shouldn't have to take alum status however. I know it seems somewhat odd that you have to pay for things that you won't be there for, but not all of the dues go to the chapter. Much of it does go to nationals in terms of insurance, etc. Where are you planning to study abroad?

I plan to go abroad for a semester in London. I'm really planning ahead here - I plan to go Fall 2009. I don't know of anyone in my fraternity who has gone abroad for an entire semester before.

It would feel weird paying nearly $400 in dues when I won't even be there for any of the semester. Most of the money does go towards insurance and nationals though.

Now a separate question:

When you go inactive in most chapters, do you have to pay dues? In my chapter, you still are required to pay dues. That doesn't seem quite fair to me, or is that the norm?

My chapter began assessing inactive dues a few years ago. It's a smaller amount than regular dues and gives inactives some privileges that they would not otherwise receive if they paid nothing.

Most dues don't go towards only that semester's expenses. There's all the national fees and insurance plus campus fees (IFC/CPC dues). Recruitment, philanthropy, sports, etc. Those fees get divided over the year instead of one lump sum. You may be there half the year but recruitment is still going to happen and that needs funding.

in my chapter, you're always responsible to pay national dues and fees. for local dues, if you're voluntarily inactive (eg, if you're going abroad), you don't pay. if you're involuntarily inactive (eg, for grades), you pay.