What would you do? (semi-long post)

[ReyNYCPR]

Would like to know your opinions on this topic..
Its a Rush Issue, but I wanted to post this here as well to get as much input from people as possible. I have also posted this in the Recruitment section.

Where should I begin..
My frat currently is going through problems that are not unfamiliar with some Fraternities and Sororities. Basically our main focus for this upcoming semester and year, is Recruitment and Money, but already, with school not starting for at least another 2 weeks, both issues are our main problems and this moment. (We have good plans for fundraising and so on)

Heres the story: We don't have a fraternity house, but in the past we have had guys live together in an apartment so we kind of made it into the frat house. Now everyone has separated. Our rush and social chair are the only ones living together in their own apartment, and at the end of last semester, they volunteered their apartment to the Fraternity to be used for Rush and general frat parties.

Heres where the conflict arises: Our rush and social chair live with another roommate who is not part of the fraternity. Our rush and social chair has come to us and has said now that if we have parties at their house that his roommate must get 25% of the profits (since the roommate lives there). Now my initial reaction is... NO!! (and still is) Mainly for the reasons that, 1. WE HAVE NO MONEY!!! (meaning, we barely have money to begin with, so why would we give away the little money we do have (or the little we will make) to some stranger just because he lives at that house.)

We are at a point where we need membership, but at the same time, I just cannot give out 25% of our profits (even if it was 1%!!) to some guy that's not even apart of fraternity especially when we have no money, also add to the fact, that our last parties we barely broke even. To make things worse, since we barely have any money to begin with, the brothers will be funding these parties out of their pockets, and to think that our out of pocket money is going to some stranger is hard to grasp. This whole issue has my frat divided.

Now, we do acknowledge that we need an increase in membership, but should that come in the expense of giving up our money to a total stranger. Another problem is that the house that their volunteering is the only possible house to have parties. All other brothers live in houses where there strict rules about parties from their landlords.

I was recently elected President and this is the first major issue that has come to me. Now being the stubborn person that I am... I have decided (as of now) that we will not give money to their roommate, and that we will have to come up with an alternative way for recruitment. Maybe a more scaled down version, like pizza and wings night, or sports weekend,.. etc.

I wanted to know what do you guys think about this issue. What would you do? Would you just suck it up and give the roommate the money and hope we get a good amount of potential rush for the semester? Would you negotiate with them? (have the roommate only make money from regular parties but not rush parties?) or would you just forget it and look for an alternative?

I have already made my decision, which is no! Whether or not it will be the right one, we will soon see, but to be fair, I will be meeting with everyone this weekend to discuss and possibly come up with a compromise or some more alternatives.

I also want to say that from time to time I will be posting questions and subjects of interest. You never know who might be having the same problems as you. I look to you guys as my counselors and advisors sometimes, and your opinions and inputs are greatly appreciated!

[Measi]

I would have to ask this first...

Why are profit-making parties necessary for your fraternity?

I would forget it and seek out an alternative. You've already admitted your chapter is divided on this. Skip the party idea, since your chapter doesn't currently have the ability to host one without internal strife, and explore other possibilities that might wind up being more successful in the long run.

~ Mel.

[33girl]

You should have planned for this possibility and stuck together before everyone went off and got their own apartments. No $ for you. Sorry, but it's your own fault.

ETA I said this under the assumption (and I know, I have made an ass out of u and me) that this was one of the multitudinous local fraternities in NYC. Your letters need to leave your sig yesterday.

[ReyNYCPR]

In the past parties have been a money maker for us, as well as the fundraisers that we do. But as of late our money has been going to National Fees and so on. And with low membership its hard to have full participation when it comes to fundraisers.

[ReyNYCPR]

Before the semester ended in May we did have plans and goals made out for the upcoming year like we always do. From my understanding, this whole roomate issue has come up all of a sudden. But like I have said to others, my frat isn't your typical frat. Things for some reason seem to work out some how. This is just one of the big issues that has come up

[ZTA1806]

If your venture is to hold a fund-raising party, than your org should seek locations elsewhere. If you give in to the roommate on this now, you will forever be "nickled & dimed" by this person (who does not sound really accomodating anyway).

People who share housing have the right to have people over (at least for non-monetary reasons) in the common areas of the residence unless this was otherwise agreed to in writing (say in a lease or such). If your brothers wish to have their pledges or prospectives over simply as a get-together, they have that right (as long as no one infringes on the personal living area of this 3rd roommate). They do not need permission, and simply let the 3rd roommate know as a courtesy that people are coming over (so if he has plans to study he can go to the library).

As for location ideas for the fund-raising parts of things, I suggest maybe having a few joint fund-raisers with other GLO's that have their own digs. Split the responsibilities and the profits. It's not all going to your org, but at least it is much better than giving the opportunistic roommate a cut he didn't earn (other than by breathing in the same apartment).

Good Luck.

[PiEp299]

I'd do one of two things:

1. Scale down the parties to pizza & wings night, casino night, BBQ night etc.

or

2. Tell the guy you'll give him 25% of the Profits and hand him $5 when the rush parties are over. Tell him that's 1/4 of what was left after your expenses were paid, the definition of profit. Expenses would include food, beverages, transportation, etc. and whatever the brothers pay in, the money made at the party pays back their expenses, the rest is profit.

[adpiucf]

Or why not host an event that also garners some PR, like a pageant or brother auction, etc. You'll make money, get your name out and it is a great opp to invite potential rushees and talk to them.

[TSteven]

Posted this to your rush fourm post.
---
I'm guessing that y'all do not have any interest in him being a member. That might be the easy solution.

Moving on. From a fraternity perspective, my gut reaction is no as well. That he should not receive any of your proceeds. However, some sort of compensation should be arranged.

For example, if you were to use another space, then you would need to pay for the use.

So perhaps you agree on a set and small "usage" fee. This does not have to be monetary either. Maybe the chapter cleans the house for the semester (or year) as part of the agreement to hold functions there. Or perhaps y'all invite him to your general parties and he doesn't have to pay if you charge admission.

One additional piece of unsolicited advice. Be careful with this. You do not want to put a wedge between the two members and their roommate. If this escalates in any way, you might not only loose the use of the apartment, but could cause hard feelings between all parties involved.

edited to clean up post

[Measi]

Originally posted by ReyNYCPR
In the past parties have been a money maker for us, as well as the fundraisers that we do. But as of late our money has been going to National Fees and so on. And with low membership its hard to have full participation when it comes to fundraisers.

But again-- this brings up the point-- why are parties a necessary way for you to raise money? And is it the image you want to be projecting to potential members (particularly as schools are clamping down on underage drinking-- many have two strikes and you're out policies these days... things that students on financial aid CANNOT afford to screw around with).

My chapter was never over ten people when I was an active. You have to be reasonable with what you can afford to do. Right now, based on what you're saying, having these parties isn't going to work out. As someone else has said-- you do NOT want to cause stress between your brothers and their roommate. Remember-- they have to live with him. You don't.

Find alternatives for this year-- go out on a limb and do some experimenting with different ideas and see how they work out. Maybe you'll find something that's just as enjoyable and more effective in getting your name out there (AND attracting quality potential members-- parties don't really give the best image).

Then plan for better living arrangements for next year if you feel that these parties are necessary for your chapter's survival.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally posted by ReyNYCPR
Would like to know your opinions on this topic..
Its a Rush Issue, but I wanted to post this here as well to get as much input from people as possible. I have also posted this in the Recruitment section.

Where should I begin..
My frat currently is going through problems that are not unfamiliar with some Fraternities and Sororities. Basically our main focus for this upcoming semester and year, is Recruitment and Money, but already, with school not starting for at least another 2 weeks, both issues are our main problems and this moment. (We have good plans for fundraising and so on)

Heres the story: We don't have a fraternity house, but in the past we have had guys live together in an apartment so we kind of made it into the frat house. Now everyone has separated. Our rush and social chair are the only ones living together in their own apartment, and at the end of last semester, they volunteered their apartment to the Fraternity to be used for Rush and general frat parties.

Heres where the conflict arises: Our rush and social chair live with another roommate who is not part of the fraternity. Our rush and social chair has come to us and has said now that if we have parties at their house that his roommate must get 25% of the profits (since the roommate lives there). Now my initial reaction is... NO!! (and still is) Mainly for the reasons that, 1. WE HAVE NO MONEY!!! (meaning, we barely have money to begin with, so why would we give away the little money we do have (or the little we will make) to some stranger just because he lives at that house.)

We are at a point where we need membership, but at the same time, I just cannot give out 25% of our profits (even if it was 1%!!) to some guy that's not even apart of fraternity especially when we have no money, also add to the fact, that our last parties we barely broke even. To make things worse, since we barely have any money to begin with, the brothers will be funding these parties out of their pockets, and to think that our out of pocket money is going to some stranger is hard to grasp. This whole issue has my frat divided.

Now, we do acknowledge that we need an increase in membership, but should that come in the expense of giving up our money to a total stranger. Another problem is that the house that their volunteering is the only possible house to have parties. All other brothers live in houses where there strict rules about parties from their landlords.

I was recently elected President and this is the first major issue that has come to me. Now being the stubborn person that I am... I have decided (as of now) that we will not give money to their roommate, and that we will have to come up with an alternative way for recruitment. Maybe a more scaled down version, like pizza and wings night, or sports weekend,.. etc.

I wanted to know what do you guys think about this issue. What would you do? Would you just suck it up and give the roommate the money and hope we get a good amount of potential rush for the semester? Would you negotiate with them? (have the roommate only make money from regular parties but not rush parties?) or would you just forget it and look for an alternative?

I have already made my decision, which is no! Whether or not it will be the right one, we will soon see, but to be fair, I will be meeting with everyone this weekend to discuss and possibly come up with a compromise or some more alternatives.

I also want to say that from time to time I will be posting questions and subjects of interest. You never know who might be having the same problems as you. I look to you guys as my counselors and advisors sometimes, and your opinions and inputs are greatly appreciated!

HUGE RISK MANAGEMENT ISSUE. GET YOUR IDENTIFYING DETAILS OUT OF YOUR SIGNATURE PRONTO.

[moe.ron]

Originally posted by DeltaBetaBaby
HUGE RISK MANAGEMENT ISSUE. GET YOUR IDENTIFYING DETAILS OUT OF YOUR SIGNATURE PRONTO.

Agreed. You are risking getting your charter pulled if any national officers sees this topic. It doesn't help that you identified, in your signature, which fraternity and what chapter.