I have to agree with much of what EM said, esp. the part
about cookie-cutter solutions. But you have to remember
there is ALOT of turnover at HQ....except for the "upper
eschelon", most only work there for a couple of years.
As with most businesses and institutions, the secretaries
actually run the place
[case in point: a few years ago, our Alum pres called HQ
to ask about the progress made on approving an honorary
member....honorary members have to be "approved" by
HQ. He talked to a secretary, and SHE said that SHE
approved the application and sent a response yesterday
It's just paperwork.]
There's alot of inconsistencies at HQ as well (or at least
there used to be). When I was involved with the Vandy
colony, we obviously had alot of contact with HQ (more
than the regular chapter).
We discovered that if you called HQ to ask about something,
and got an answer you didn't like, that you should call
the next day, ask someone ELSE the same question,
and you'll get a different answer. Keep calling until you
get the answer you want! They tend to make up rules
as they go, especially on narrowly-focused, unique
questions.
Case in point: I was in grad school at Vandy. Our constitution
says grad students can choose to be alum or active, though
its a bit vague. The colony officers asked me if I would
become active (for various reasons). Reading the constitution,
I wasn't sure exactly how that worked.
So I called HQ. The first time I was told that grad students
can only be active if its at the same Zeta as their undergrad
(I wasn't).
The second time I called, I was told you could only be active
for 8 semesters, and since I had already done that, I
couldn't be active at Vandy. I said "I was only active for
6 semesters as an undergrad" (deferred rush back then,
only sophomores and above could rush). He said,
OK, then you can be active for 2 semesters then.
The third time I called, I was told as long as the colony went
through the same process to "give me a bid," I could be
active as long as they/I wanted. We liked that answer,
so we took it
