Quote:
Originally Posted by alphagamzetagam
I think it's a little harsh to jump on alum and say "If you don't contribute, don't wear letters."
If they had disgraced the organization, maybe, but come on. I'm a new alum and I can't afford to contribute much to my organization. I can't even afford to contribute as much as I used to pay in dues. But, I contribute time, and in my mind that might be a more valuable contribution than just sending a wad of cash around every year.
Am I wrong in thinking this? I'd much rather organize a JDRF walk or help my chapter during recruitment time than just pinch pennies and send some small donation along. Plus, a lot of recent alum can't even spare enough time to contribute that way, because they're working hard at starting a career. Should they just not wear letters at all? I'd think they'd be rather deserving, especially if they're setting themselves up to be admirable for their hard work and good character.
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You suffer from the same condition that Tom Earp does. No one said these people can't do anything or that we would ostracize these people. We are saying that old and young members need to contribute to the organization before they run around thinking that putting on letters means they are "representing" something.
I have found that people typically can afford whatever they want to afford. I rubbed pennies together to pay dues as an undergrad and rubbed pennies together to pay dues for the 7 years after undergrad. I will continue to rub pennies together to pay dues as long as I manage to find pennies to spend on clothes and other things that I probably don't NEED.
Broke is relative and a state of mind. For instance, being a broke grad student is NO JOKE but most of us still manage to do STUFF. Whether that's going out on the weekends, buying some gooblygob to wear, or eating out. Contributing your time is a wonderful thing and sisterhood is about more than dues. But many organizations are non-profit businesses that could use our dues for some important things both administrative and philanthropy-wise.