This is the truth! My chapter's new and they don't see it. As a recently formed alumni chapter (I should be receiving our charter in the mail in 5-7 days
) I wrote a few items I wanted them to insert into their constitution sort of "formalizing" the relationship between the active and alum chapters.
Thus far, the answer has been something like "We want you around, but we don't want you to tell us to do anything" (not that we ever have, heck, the amendments didn't do anything but mention that we only had an "advisory" role and that threatened them).
Anyhow... The day will come when we have that issue with the money. It'll be an issue to work through. I'm confident though that even actives can see what must be done for the greater good.