We pay dues once a semester too. It is encouraged that we pay it all up front (saves the treasurer a lot of time and trouble)but for members who are tight on money payment plans can be worked out too. We get charged for each big event such as formal or spring fling but the social director "balances" out the cost for each member of the event with the treasurer. For example, for our formal last year we had to pay 22$ a person. It would have been 28$ a person but the 6$ was already taken from the chapter's money, which of course most of came from dues. They take in to consideration stuff like that, by asking "would u guys wanna raise the dues a couple dollars and have a lower amount to pay for such and such event.."
All i know is, every penny that I paid was all worth it.
