[socalGPhiB]

Hey TGTKPinkWhalepq, I think I might be a little late to this convo but I thought my experience might help. When my boyfriend was treasurer for his chapter he started out using OmegaFi. He liked it however his chapter was a lot like yours, they were the smallest on campus (also the newest), were growing at very small increments each quarter, and were having problems getting their members to pay. As treasurer, he didn't like using OmegaFi because the percentage they charged the chapter (I think it was 8%) was for the entire collection amount. So although they helped send out email and paper reminders, he still had to do the heavy lifting by finding members on campus and getting them to pay. A lot of his members paid in cash too and he felt it wasn't worth the percent they paid OmegaFi because he was doing the work and most members didn't pay attention to the reminders anyway.

In 2008ish (I think) he switched his chapter over to ChapterBoard.com because they only charged him a percent on the money paid online (through their website). Any money he collected in person, he didn't have to pay a percent on and that helped save his chapter a lot. He sent a few members to collections and used a partner company of ChapterBoard, Parson-Bishop, which worked out really well (I think the two companies work together on collections).

I don't know if this helps at all, but I thought I'd share. My chapter uses ChapterBoard (not for payments) and they really like all the social tools. Also, my friend's brother's chapter just signed up and she said they got a lower rate because ChapterBoard is running some kind of matching deal. I'm not sure what that is necessarily, but it might be something to consider if you're still looking.

When I was on HCB, my chapter had a ridiculous time with a girl who deactivated but still had outstanding charges. At my school, we were able to freeze her school records so she couldn't register for classes or graduate and that was a HUGE bargaining chip for us. Not sure if you're able to do that (I think we were because our housing is partially campus housing) but something to look in to.

Also, to your comment about people not joining your chapter because you're "not living up to the image [you] sell", I think you should take this as constructive criticism. From my experience (as an alumnae I've served on House Corp. Boards and alumni boards), the strongest chapters are the ones who know who they are and are very proud of it. I think one of the worst things a chapter can do during recruitment is try to be something they're not. Like your friend said, the truth comes out eventually, whether it's during recruitment or after, and then you're just stuck with an active who doesn't want to be there (i.e. collection problems). I'd figure out who your chapter is on campus and within the Greek community, and embrace it. I'd also take time to focus on the internal relationships of your chapter and to improve the brotherhood. The worst thing during recruitment is when one brother bashes another to or infront of a pnm. If your members get along and actually like hanging out with each other, that'll show during recruitment events and entice pnm's to stick around.

I know it sounds corny to "just be yourselves", but from my experience it really works. As your chapter grows in membership, your rep on campus will grow and change too. My boyfriend's chapter is now one of the top houses and, when I was in school (2004) they were brand new and pretty much unknown to the entire Greek community.

Sorry for the long comment but hope all this helps!