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Originally Posted by denimeans
Just to clarify:
We had a mandatory move-in list. Our bylaws say 1 year in the house, and if at mandatory move in time, chaper members would be reviewed by judiary board. Our advisor gave us the option to vote on it this spring. Our chapter chose not to execute the list. Most of the younger girls didn't seem to really process the amount of money this would add up to.
Our active chapter has a poor relationship with our house corp, and has for quite some time. A situation like this happened before about 5 years ago, but it wasn't this amount of empty spaces.
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If your advisor knew of the financial difficulties of the chapter, it was not a good idea, IMO, for her to allow your chapter that option.
I think your Treasurer and her advisor need to go over the budget and plan a report for the entire chapter. Perhaps if the members actually see the breakdown of where their money is going, it will make them more aware of the situation. Make the members know they will feel the direct results of the money shortage - whether it means cutbacks in the food, social, recruitment, or other budgets or no updates and only necessary repairs to the chapter facility. It's the only way they will understand.
The House Corp and chapter also need to resolve their differences and learn to work together. See if chapter members are allowed to come to meetings (in some cases, certain chapter officers are actually ex-officio members) to know exactly what's going on and to bring the view of the chapter to the House Corp. If that won't work, then, in most cases, it's completely within the President's rights to notify a regional officer or your HQ of the situation and ask for assistance.
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Our chapter has faced empty spots every year I've been in the chapter. (I'm a senior) When I lived in the house, we had one empty, but it has never been at this point.
I am monitoring this closely, as are other chapter members. Please keep posting. And that point about recruitment is an excellent idea.
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Again, IMO, one or two open spots isn't necessarily a bad thing provided your chapter and House corp is financially solvent with those open spots. As I mentioned, having those open spots available for new members to move in right away after recruitment was often a selling point to PNMs, especially sophomores who maybe hadn't signed a lease and didn't want to live in the dorms.
Also, aside from "legitimate" excuses, is there any particular reason women want to live out? IME, the women wanting to move out early wanted the "freedoms" (booze, boys, etc..) that weren't allowed in the chapter facility. Provide a breakdown of the cost of living in the chapter facility with all amenities included and then provide a breakdown of living in an apartment and all the things the members will then be responsible for themselves (food, utilities, cleaning, etc...). Some women don't always realize how much they're actually getting by living in the chapter facility. And talk living in the chapter facility up! I lived in my house 3.5 years and had an absolute blast. No, communal living isn't always easy and it isn't always the best option for everyone, but it is a great experience and this is about the only time in your life you'll have/need that option.