Posting from IHQ

Tom Earp · #1 03-13-2007, 05:31 PM

Just got today about looking for applications for job openings!

Would love to but younger people are needed!

Check it out as said is on IHQ Site.

GammaZeta · #2 03-13-2007, 07:23 PM

This would be a GREAT opportunity for HQ to get some diversity in our organization!

Tom Earp · #3 03-14-2007, 02:48 PM

Yes it is as it went out to all listed Brothers.

Last I heard in the cyber world of LXA, there is not any ethnic blanking on it.

So maybe some will apply, why dont you? Try to make a difference and not just talk about it!

Hell I would but they do not want anyone who is working close to George Spaysks age there!

GammaZeta · #4 03-14-2007, 02:52 PM

Tom, it is interesting and I would be more than qualified for the position, but traveling isn't my thing.

Also, how do you think a Massachusetts Democrat would work in Northern Indiana? I would have to take off my John Kerry bumper sticker!

GammaZeta · #5 03-14-2007, 07:53 PM

Quick question. I was looking at the housing advisor position, and thought to myself, wouldn't it make a lot more sense, and save a lot more money, if we just had a professional property management company take over those duties? Maintenance, collecting rents, etc.

Then instead of a full staff, we could have a volunteer board of trustees to oversee and take the necessary steps with the property.

Just a suggestion.

PiLambda1 · #6 03-15-2007, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GammaZeta

Quick question. I was looking at the housing advisor position, and thought to myself, wouldn't it make a lot more sense, and save a lot more money, if we just had a professional property management company take over those duties? Maintenance, collecting rents, etc.

Then instead of a full staff, we could have a volunteer board of trustees to oversee and take the necessary steps with the property.

Just a suggestion.

LCAP?

GammaZeta · #7 03-15-2007, 08:10 AM

Yeah, I mean do we really need to have a full staff, 401k, health plans, etc., while we could just hire a property management company for this?

Here is the description: Duties include budgeting; lease preparation, distribution, and collection; coordination of contractors and repairs; management of remote employees; capital planning and facility assessment; rent collection; damage assessments; and all other requirements for successful operation of assigned properties.

Basically, being a landlord. Why not hire a company for that? There are dozens that do this type of work successfully. It may save LXA quite a bit of money. Just a suggestion.

HONKY660 · #8 03-15-2007, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GammaZeta

Yeah, I mean do we really need to have a full staff, 401k, health plans, etc., while we could just hire a property management company for this?

Here is the description: Duties include budgeting; lease preparation, distribution, and collection; coordination of contractors and repairs; management of remote employees; capital planning and facility assessment; rent collection; damage assessments; and all other requirements for successful operation of assigned properties.

Basically, being a landlord. Why not hire a company for that? There are dozens that do this type of work successfully. It may save LXA quite a bit of money. Just a suggestion.

As PiLambda1 said LCAP. That is what LCAP is, its the property management company for the fraternity. They own and opperate 12 properties. They took over houses that alumni house boards couldn't handle or tmaintain, and some new properties like USouthCarolina. Some properties make money, and some lose money like the U of Michigan where the chapter can't fill the house, but don't sell it because of influential alums like Spasky. But that property is considered a money pit. Thats what I've heard from ELCs.

HONKY660 · #9 03-15-2007, 02:40 PM

I'd would apply for a position, but they don't pay good enough. I believe they start you off at like $32K. I have lots of management experience and could do risk or property management. I was the High Iota for a while when I was active and am very familiar with LCA, and FIPG policies. Plus I'm hispanic and would diversify the staff. Haha.

Tom Earp · #10 03-15-2007, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GammaZeta

Yeah, I mean do we really need to have a full staff, 401k, health plans, etc., while we could just hire a property management company for this?

Here is the description: Duties include budgeting; lease preparation, distribution, and collection; coordination of contractors and repairs; management of remote employees; capital planning and facility assessment; rent collection; damage assessments; and all other requirements for successful operation of assigned properties.

Basically, being a landlord. Why not hire a company for that? There are dozens that do this type of work successfully. It may save LXA quite a bit of money. Just a suggestion.

Why don't you email IHQ and ask that very question?

I am sure the way IHQ is doing it with LCAP is a lot cheaper.
The staff of LCAP are doing more than just one job at IHQ, but a combonation of other things.
I for one would sell the property at UMass-Amherst as a white elephant and with no future looking to reopen as Alums do not seem to want to really try to do anything. They are the key, not IHQ to getting back there anytime soon.

There have been many other sucess stories to show what has been done. Check IHQ Site for more information and see.

HONKY660, funny isn't?

If you never said you were Hispanic, non of would have never known!

Wow, I am not sure if I can associate with you any more because of now knowing that!

GammaZeta · #11 03-15-2007, 06:09 PM

Not talking about a specific property Tom. And you're just trying to get my goat about the alums, nice try.

But all in all, would hiring a professional property management company make more sense than LCAP?

We have to pay staff, secretaries, directors, assistants, travel expenses, 401k (I presume), healthcare, and on and on and on.

Is there a budget that is available online that I can view?

Since LCAP is not for profit, I believe that a management company could make a lot of the properties profitable and wouldn't cost us any money.

I'm not saying disband LCAP, but shift the make-up and responsibilities. Maybe have LCAP serve as a voluntary board of directors?

It just seems to me to be a lot of overhead for full time staff, benefits, expenses and support to only manage 12 properties.

Plus, a management company usually has several nationwide offices, whereas LCAP has properties thoughout the nation but one office.

Or, we could just hire independent local management companies for each of the properties.

If we are to be a successful fraternity, we need to be an efficient fraternity.

And yes Tom, I agree about selling it. Umass has demolished (literally) all fraternal housing save for a few houses. The town has also almost revoked zoning requirements, or have denied zone changes, for other greeks to build housing, which requires the zoning to be fraternity/sorority. The future of Umass greek housing will be on campus.

Ottor 246 · #12 03-16-2007, 07:39 AM

One would like to think that IHQ has investigated hiring a management company and found it more economical to do it the way it's being done. That doesn't necessarily mean it's safe to assume. If they have done the research, it should be easy enough for them to produce it for review.

(I can't beleive I'm typing this, but...) I agree with GammaZeta

- It's worth looking into.

If anyone needs to find me, I'll be ice skating in Hell.

GammaZeta · #13 03-16-2007, 09:15 AM

"A penny saved is a penny earned" - Benjamin Franklin.

It may or may not make economic sense, it's just a suggestion. I'm really thinking of the financial overhead that it takes to run 14 nationwide properties. If we can save money at HQ and focus in on other troubled areas with staff, we should do it.

I'm not saying disband LCAP, but maybe restructure it once we have a property management company come it. Maybe have a national volunteer board of trustees to oversee it. Then have regional volunteers to help out on the weekly or monthly basis. Hell, I'd even volunteer for something like that for the New England area.

Tom Earp · #14 03-16-2007, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GammaZeta

Not talking about a specific property Tom. And you're just trying to get my goat about the alums, nice try.

But all in all, would hiring a professional property management company make more sense than LCAP?

We have to pay staff, secretaries, directors, assistants, travel expenses, 401k (I presume), healthcare, and on and on and on.

Is there a budget that is available online that I can view?

Since LCAP is not for profit, I believe that a management company could make a lot of the properties profitable and wouldn't cost us any money.

I'm not saying disband LCAP, but shift the make-up and responsibilities. Maybe have LCAP serve as a voluntary board of directors?

It just seems to me to be a lot of overhead for full time staff, benefits, expenses and support to only manage 12 properties.

Plus, a management company usually has several nationwide offices, whereas LCAP has properties thoughout the nation but one office.

Or, we could just hire independent local management companies for each of the properties.

If we are to be a successful fraternity, we need to be an efficient fraternity.

And yes Tom, I agree about selling it. Umass has demolished (literally) all fraternal housing save for a few houses. The town has also almost revoked zoning requirements, or have denied zone changes, for other greeks to build housing, which requires the zoning to be fraternity/sorority. The future of Umass greek housing will be on campus.

Not trying to get your goat gammazeta!

You are actually making some valid questions on these points and as Ottor says, we can hope it has been investigated to its fullest to find the least expensive and best way of handling our propertys.

It looks good on site with the amount of people pictured, but, I am sure that those pictured also do many other functions for IHQ if even all of them are still there.

We as members should be able to get an idea of where we stand, cost etc.

I would be in hopes that there would be an audit some where to be checked out, but one ahs to have faith in the people who work for us to do the best job possible for each of us, and the Fraternity as a whole.

GammaZeta · #15 03-16-2007, 03:02 PM

I just believe that there are always methods to make any organization more efficient and run better.

I do think LXA has taken many steps to become more efficient. The C & C immediately comes to mind. Imagine all the postage and printing costs we save by putting it out electronically? Seriously, we used to get about 100 of them at the house, many of them for alumni long gone. That adds up to a lot of money!!!

If we save money and time in one area, we can devote it to improving another.