Point System-how does it work in your chapter?

[xp2k]

Hi Greek Chatters,

I am doing some research on the point system. I want to lobby to empliment it into our chapter but I want to hear some of the positive AND negative aspects of such a system.

Do people see it as a way of encouraging their chapter members to be active?

-or-

Is it a punishment for members who dont have the time to be as active in their chapter as others?

Has it hurt anyone's chapter and how do YOU usually weight points (i.e. intramurals, greek sing, exec. positoins, grades)?


any discussion on this would be GREATLY appreciated. I also would not mind e-mailing or chatting with people on AIM about the subject. I think it would help our chapter a lot!

XP2k1

[BrianMUDU]

Points range from 5 to 25 points for us. You get 5 points for not doing work sessions around the house, not coming to a chapter meeting, not doing your dish crew in the kitchen, etc. Most things missed result in 5 points. Then there are the biggies. Not coming to Rush or Initiation (or anything else deemed important like that) results in 25 points. If you get over 30 points you can't attend social functions. If you are over 30 points you can work them off by doing house chores or something else the President comes up with.

[33girl]

I don't think it would punish people who didn't have time....the whole point (no pun) is, if you are not going to be there to have an excuse well in advance so they can work around your absence. If you take an athlete, for example, you have to know that they are going to have a lot of instances where they won't be there, but some chapters feel the pr they get from having someone high profile is worth it.

There's a big difference between a situation like that and someone who really doesn't have pressing commitments and keeps finding excuses.

[GmuTeke]

I think you need to ask the question..why do you want to employ such a system?

Are you trying to reward those that do well or penalize the ones that do poorly?

Like 33 said, are these people that aren't attending events doing so because they're taking 18 credits plus 3 labs? Are they working 30+ hours a week? Are they an athelete or musician anf have their fill of practices and reharsals? Or are they slacking off and playing Grand Theft Auto in their dorm instead of going to meetings?

[ladybug1116]

My chapter has worked and reworked the point system but it never makes anyone happy. The latest system that was in place that seemed to work the best was having to make a certain number of points for the whole semester. It helped motivate chapter participation and kept the less active members somewhat more active. However it did really suck sometimes. I tried to be as active in "formally scheduled activities" as possible but being a music major involved in several ensembles it was really hard at times. It was the same for other sisters in other performing arts majors or involved in athletics. I always made points but sometimes it was hard. I was around the house almost everyday and paid my bills so it wasn't like I was a MIA sister but it got frustrating knowing I would be fined for not going to stuff. I do understand the neccessity of it though and even though it sucks I support it. (BTW I belive almost every sorority on my campus uses some sort of point system) In my house, for every point you didn't make by the end of the semester you were fined $5 (example:missing 2 points = $10 fine). The fine money was donated directly to our philanthropy. The semester before graduating you don't have to make any points and 2 semesters before graduating you only have to make half the required points. We also gave incentives to the sisters with the top 5 points. Stuff with letters, gift certificates, etc. Hopefully people would want to go to stuff anyway but it gives a further incentive to go above and beyond the required number (although usually those people would go to stuff without the bonus prizes)

The one method that really doesn't work/is very frustrating is having to make a certain amount of points each month. Obviously some months are busier than others for people(depending on your major/schedule) and forcing people to go to X number of events can cause major headaches. I can't even begin to tell you of the complaints of this system from members

If you have any questions please feel free to ask. I could say more but at this point I don't know what would be helpful

[dzsaigirl]

For us, the amount of points each type of event is worth is in our chapter bylaws. Then for each month, you have to have a certain total points out of a possible amount of points. If your total minumum points don't add up in the end, you miss out on stuff like formal, socials, etc. But there are SOOOO many ways to get points! You can get points just for wearing letters around campus and you get points for other campus activities you are in. For instance if you are on the dance team and you practice 3 times a week, you get 3 points multiplied by 3 times, so that;s 9 whole points! Stuff like chapter meeting and philanthropy is worth more than things like mixers. The biggest points are for MAJOR events like Pinning and Initiation. If you skip one of those, it means a hefty fine and plus you don't get the points and it is really hard to make up for something that is worth like 25 points!!!!

[dzsaigirl]

Oh, and I second that about it being hard to be in a sorority and be a music major!!!!!! It is freaking hard!!! We already have so much crap to do and then we have to go to all this sorority stuff...leaves little time to practice!!!! I love it though.

[ladybug1116]

dzsaigirl---I see that you're also involved in a music sorority as well. I'm in Tau Beta Sigma as well(music/band service) so it was like double the activities! You're right though, it's all fun and totally worth it

[BrianMUDU]

Our points system is basically a way of penalizing those who don't do anything. If you have legitimate reasons for not making a chapter meeting or something, then you can give an excuse and not get points. But chapter meetings are an essential part of any chapter, so you are only supposed to get one excused absence but people always get out of the points if they have an excuse.

Too many people nowadays are trying to say everything should be rewarded and you should have an incentive for coming to events, chapter, and so on. I don't see it that way. Why should we have to reward you for doing things that you should be doing anyway? A fraternity or sorority is a commitment you made so you should be willing to put your time into it.

[SSS1365]

Lately my chapter has been slacking off on the point system. In fact we had a huge discussion last night about our problem of people not showing up to things. When we were strict about the point system we had a lot more participation. We resolved to get strict with the point system again because that's the only way we can motivate people to show up for stuff. If they're thinking, "Oh well I don't have to go to this because nothing is gonna happen to me if I don't" then of course they're not going to go. In my opinion, the point system is a great way to solve a problem like this.

[SLOTheta]

Points work great for all Theta chapters. We have to have a certain amount of points to go to social functions that we all start with. So if you go to all mandatory events, no points are taken away. If you miss events without excuses, you have to make up the points by doing extra chores that the chapter needs done. if you have work, class or another conflict, you just fill out a form and turn it in, pretty simple. We just want to make sure it's a valid excuse, we get one freebie a quarter, so that helps, too. No one complains, no one bickers, it's just accepted and expected. A lot of chapters also impose fines, but we aren't hardcore about fines.

[dzsaigirl]

I think that it is strange how some chapters have point systems where you earn points for doing things and some chapters have systems where you get "bad" points or you get points deducted for not going. I like the way my chapter does it where we just earn for good stuff and if you slack, you don't get to do the fun stuff.

Also, DZ does points like I said in my reply the other day, but SAI (music) does not do any sort of points.

[tridgirl]

I can't belive that other chapters don't have point systems, I know ours is such a bid deal that we an officer just for points, Chapter Corespondent, well she does other points, but lost of Delta points mostly. You get 100 points and won't lose any if you pay dues on time, go to maditory events or turn in an excuse, do study hours, and philanthropy hours. To go to social functions you have to maintain 92 points. Everything has point values, meeting are the highest minu7, and then down from there the only way you get fined is paying late, for dues, formal gifts etc.

[SilverTurtle]

My chapter never used a point system. I don't know if any of the other chapters on campus did, I don't remember anyone ever talking about them or anything.

We had mandatory events (like Initiation, Rush, Philanthropy, Meetings, etc.) If you didn't show, you got fined. (It was failry inexpensive, like $5 usually). You could have an excuse, but you had to turn in a written one in advance. (Of course, if there was an emergency (a real one), that was an exception). You were only given a certain number of excuses per semester (I think 2 or 3 but not positive).

Another thing, we had to complete individual service projects, but the chapter does a lot of things that count. For example, we usher all of the events at the school's Conservatory of Music. So each member has to usher X times a semester (it varies depending on the number of performances & the number of members). If you usher more than the required amount, that would count towards individual service projects.

Anyways, before this gets to long... we created a status called Semi-Active Member. So if you know you have a really heavy courseload, or you're student teaching or whatever you can still participate, but you have fewer requirements (the number of different events is reduced). You still pay dues & are welcome at all events.

In fact we never prevented anyone from attending social events. Even if you were inactive, you were always welcome.

[antidrama]

Our chapter philosophy on this is very very similar to what BrianMUDU said. At first we had a positive rewards system, but then realized (after continued low attendance) our mistake. Then we moved on to a "three-strikes" rule which also proved ineffective. The points system we have now works much more smoothly, even though it is just like the three-strikes rule.