BOULE 2000 ---- CONCERNED SOROR

chAKAlate · #1 05-09-2000, 02:22 PM

I went online last night to get an update on Boule. All the information is up now.

I was disturbed by two things and I wanted to get sorors' opinions on it.

#1 There will be no on-site registration. The deadline is May 31, 2000 for registration. If you miss that deadline, then you are out of luck.

#2 To attend Boule, you must be financially active. Okay, that makes sense. But the deadline to be financially active was March 31, 2000.

I am concerned because the rules and policies look like they will disqualify a lot of sorors from participating.

Am I the only soror who has yet to join a grad chapter, due to recent graduation and therefore am behind on my dues? Needless, to say that I am a grad student and on a limited budget.

For some sorors, it might be easier to pay on-site. The deadline for being financial also seems a bit hasty.

I just wanted to get sorors' feedback and see if #1 Are you going to Boule #2 Have you already registered for Boule? #3 What do you think of these deadlines?

[This message has been edited by chAKAlate (edited May 09, 2000).]

LadyAKA · #2 05-09-2000, 02:53 PM

I believe this policy was started way back in early 1998. The policy of needing to be active to go to BOULE and No on site registration. And I can't say I totally agree with the first but I whole heartily agree with the later (NO ON SITE REGISTRATION)! NO ON SITE, allows the sorority to plan ahead for the number of sorors who will be attending. It all has to do with MONEY, but that is a good point for the sorority.
In 1998 many sorors booked rooms in hotels and then decided they were not going to stay either in that hotel or decided to stay with someone else. Thing is sorors made these arrangements say March 1 but decided to change their mind July 1 and so the hotel and AKA were losing out. Most sorors want to be where the action is - but we all know that we will also try and get the cheapest deal.
This very point is going to cause the sorority a lot of money woes this year. Lots of sorors don't want to stay at Mark Adams (we should all know the reasons why) but -and I can say this since it is public Knowledge listed at the justice department - If we broke our contract with Mark Adams, AKA would have owed 1 million+ dollars to the hotel's establishment. So, I think these restrictions are needed. The BOULE is a serious matter and though I am not in total agreeance with the rule, I believe that we need to make sure sorors that are coming to the event are about business and thus you become about the business of the sorority when you need to lay your money down. Don't get me wrong I know there are many non-active AKA's that are doing their THANG (my blood sister is one) but this is an organization that needs money to prosper and thus to be active is to BE INVOLVED (I hear this monthly at chapter meetings).

So yes, I agree with the restrictions and Deadlines in place. And after all that NO, I am not going to Boule; I discussed that with sorors a couple of pages back on this board.

Please direct all comments and questions to my inbox! THANX

Sisterly
LadyAKA

AKAtude · #3 05-09-2000, 03:32 PM

Well, I agree with the corporate headquarters on both accounts. Like LadyAKA stated, being registered before arriving in Dallas allows them to plan ahead. As far as being active to attend Boule, I support that decision 100 percent. I know there are a lot of sorors who are blazing trails without being financial, but Alpha Kappa Alpha can only be as strong as her members and we have to support her.

However, I am a bit concerned about the "deadline" for being active. I need to go read that. I've never heard of a deadline to become financial. If dues are not received by Feb. 1st, then a late fee will be applied for each month that passes.

ChAKAlate, I would just like to remind you that joining a grad chapter is not your only option for being financial. I'm financial and do not belong to a grad chapter although there are two in my city. I have been invited to participate in or attend events sponsored by one of those grad chapters. Just keep your options open. I decided to go the route I did because it was far less expensive for me than joining a chapter. I still find ways to work for AKA while maintaining my active status.

LadyAKA · #4 05-09-2000, 05:04 PM

Well said, I just wanted to chime in and clarify something Soror AKAtude the information is in the IvyLeaf with all of Boule's content. The Deadline we
are talking about is a deadline to be active. Yes, you can become active in
May and will access late fees but you will have missed the deadline to be active inorder to go to boule. It is just a restriction for those wanting to be active
just to participate in BOULE. Sorors don't get mad - those are the facts that I got from our Directorate.

Always with sisterly love

chAKAlate · #5 05-09-2000, 05:32 PM

Just to clarify, my initial post.

I have no qualms with the requirements of being active to participate in Boule, it was with the cut-off date. AKAtude I did call nationals and they said they are going to accomodate sorors who become financial after March 31st. So that is a good thing.

I also am aware that you don't need to join a grad chapter to be financial. I wanted to do them both at the same time. But thanks for the info about it being cheaper to be financial without being a part of a chapter. I didn't know that. I wholeheartedly agree with both of your comments about being financial.

I appreciate the comments in reponse by both sorors. But neither post convinced me of the reason, why not to have on-site registration, lets say a deposit by a certain date and the rest paid in full on-site. Still allowing the sorority to gauge how many sorors would be attending.

I understand in regards to hotel etc., etc.,

I guess I am coming from the perspective of having as many sorors as possible participate. These policies don't seem to be conducive to it.

I definitely planned on attending but after finding out this info. I don't know if I will be able to as the fee for registration is $250 by May 15th and $350 for May 31st for graduate members.

I am a full time grad student and mom, therefore on a limited budget. I planned on funding my trip through summer employment, which won't start until off the cut-off date.

I write this not to make "excuses" but to simply voice my concern that perhaps these policies aren't conducive to those sorors who are on limited budgets, i.e. students and others.

I will take responsibility as for future Boules, I will know to plan way ahead of time. But then this would be my first Boule as I am a new member, part of the learning process, I assume.

------------------
Aim for the moon,.... if you miss you'll be among the stars.

[This message has been edited by chAKAlate (edited May 09, 2000).]

LadyAKA · #6 05-09-2000, 05:59 PM

Actually soror chAKAlate you made a great suggestion about the deposit. I like that idea; and the sorority will still be able to keep track of attendance. And if sorors do back out I suggest that Nationals keep the money or refund a % of it if the situation was an emergency (but who is to say whose situation is an emergency). But anyway I like the deposit thing especially for Boule which is a big event with many expenses.
And yes soror we live and learn

I am planning for Boule 2002 NOW!

Sisterly

Eclipse · #7 05-10-2000, 09:51 AM

I'm not an AKA, but I have had experiences planning large conferences (several thousands of people) and you cannot began to understand what a logistical nightmare it can be to have onsite registration! Typically the organization has to pay for/reserve event space, food, etc. well before the event. It is hard to plan when you are not sure how many people will be there. By having advance registration only the event planners will have the opportunity to make sure that popular sessions are held in larger rooms, not so popular events are canceled (hopefully with out them loosing their deposits), etc. I am sure it will make for a smoother process all the way around! BTW, I looked at the Boule packet on www.aka1908.com and I must say I am impressed with the use of technology and the topics to be discussed. I hope you ladies have a wonderfully productive Boule!!!

AKAtude · #8 05-10-2000, 10:48 AM

Soror ChAKAlate, I too, like your idea about a deposit. Soror LadyAKA, the idea of not refunding the deposit or refunding a percentage of it is a good idea as well. ChAKAlate, I'm glad you got in touch with nationals. Not accommodating sorors who are active even if they pay their dues past March 31st simply wasn't fair in my opinion.

I have to say that Eclipse brought up very good points about the planning of large conferences. My undergrad chapter had to participate in the planning of the SAR conference in Greenville, SC in '97 and it was a lot of work for them and it was only a regional conference. I couldn't begin to think of all that goes into planning a Boule.