I called everyone that entire week before it to confirm attendance. 8 people confirmed that Sunday, September 30th at 12 pm on the second floor of the Student Center, they would be in attendance.
I tell them that I will call them the day of at 11:30 am, 30 minutes before the ceremony, as a reminder.
THE DAY OF, though I called, and texted, and the potentials confirmed, I got about 7 text messages at NOON, when the ceremony was supposed to start, telling me they would not make it.
And one person said she didnt come because she didnt have anything business casual to wear.
But I didn't find this out until
THREE DAYS LATER and through my friend.
Because no matter how many times I texted and called, no one responded, and I had all the right number because I talked to them all in person
AND on the phone.
The VERY SAME DAY, after the designated ceremony time passed and the pledge class was in session, a pledge dropped out, complaining that "This
club is asking for too much, and the pledgemaster is too aggressive." (The emphasis belongs to the pledge.)
THIS IS WHAT HE TOLD OUR CHAPTER COMMUNITY ADVISOR, WHO ALSO HAPPENS TO BE OUR SECTION 55 CHAIR. The pledge hadn't even sat through the first class!!!!! He walked in late, then made the declaration to the chapter president. He did not attend
ONE service project, went to one fellowship, and didn't pay his fee.
Before this though, instead of talking to me about his concerns, he voiced them to two active Brothers who happen to be his friends.
And he subsequently lost them as friends, due to the fact that our chapter is 95% female, and he said, and I quote, " I don't see how
FEMALES are a fraternity. You all are a club, not a Fraternity."
They gently explained to him our history, which he would have known had he sat through the first pledge class.
BUT NOOOOO, two Active Brothers who happen to be female can't possibly know what they are talking about.
ON TOP OF THAT, we find that the class of Brothers we just initiated due to a missing advisor delaying our ceremony, complained to our
SECOND community advisor that the pledge program (which
THANK GOD was before my tenure) carried some extra requirements that were "secret" and could have opened us up to a risk management issue.
Couple that with accusations of me being aggressive, and my pledge program is now under intense scrutiny. Not that it matters, because my program adheres to the National Pledging Standards, and the pledges have been read our Risk Management Policy, and I am fully transparent with all pledge class proceedings. I even give actives binders and worksheets to use in class!
Then, as if all that was not enough, I was lenient on the collection of fees. Two paid, the other two did not, and one of the other two dropped, so now I just costed the chapter money. The other pledge who did not pay has been MIA, and I knew he had a personal problem going on, but I talked to him since the incident. Now he is either avoiding me, or....I don't know.
Since I am also acting Treasurer (our treasurer has been MIA since CAPS) I feel absolutely horrible!
Then we have Sectionals coming up--NOBODY PAID YET. So we are using the chapters current funds, and the members will reimburse. BUT FIRST, they must pay dues. All dues are due October 7th, NO EXCEPTIONS. Which sucks, because even I don't have the dues until October 8.
Let's not even start on Nationals funding.
And forgive me; I will modify this post if you all do not believe that this is in good taste or that I am airing my chapters dirty laundry.
I just needed to get it all off my chest with out causing drama in the chapter.
Any and all comment is welcome, as is any GC snark that I am opening myself up to
