house??

PhImUWoOhOo · #1 02-02-2009, 02:40 PM

Hey! So I live in Maine which is like the middle of no where and sadly we don't have a house. In Maine it is illegal...the law it says that a building with five or more women living in it is considered a brothel...Does anyone know how to get around this? Im a new sister and my pledge class wants to work together to tyr and have this ancient law revoked...but we don't know how or even where to start?? Does anyone have ideas? or maybe had to go threw the same thing?

Senusret I · #2 02-02-2009, 02:45 PM

Try this link.

Kevin · #3 02-02-2009, 03:47 PM

You are a member of a major national sorority. Surely this is the sort of question you'd pose to your representative from national on one of her visits.

Generally, these rumors are completely false, or in the alternative, you just have to comply with zoning requirements for multifamily dwellings (which can include things like sprinkler systems).

#4 02-02-2009, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhImUWoOhOo

Hey! So I live in Maine which is like the middle of no where and sadly we don't have a house. In Maine it is illegal...the law it says that a building with five or more women living in it is considered a brothel...Does anyone know how to get around this? Im a new sister and my pledge class wants to work together to tyr and have this ancient law revoked...but we don't know how or even where to start?? Does anyone have ideas? or maybe had to go threw the same thing?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Senusret I

Try this link.

Yeah, read the link he provided.

If the "brothel law" is just a myth, it isn't a law. Therefore, you can't revoke a law that doesn't exist.

KSigkid · #5 02-02-2009, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin

You are a member of a major national sorority. Surely this is the sort of question you'd pose to your representative from national on one of her visits.

Generally, these rumors are completely false, or in the alternative, you just have to comply with zoning requirements for multifamily dwellings (which can include things like sprinkler systems).

I'd agree - any questions you may have about the housing laws in your state should be directed to a sorority representative. They most likely have housing and legal types who can answer those questions for you, and seperate the myth from the reality.

PM_Mama00 · #6 02-02-2009, 06:31 PM

Oh sister sister welcome to the boards! And prepare for plenty of snarky responses in this thread. I'm surprised there aren't more.

We were told the same thing when we joined. I'm assuming you're a commuter campus? I believe the city I went to school in DID have a zoning law but I think it was moreso to prohibit Greek housing or college housing or something. They explained it before but I don't really remember what it was. One of the girls actually went to the city and researched it.

BUT... there are many perks to not having a house. Dues are kept a lot lower because our housing fees go to things like recruitment and wherever else they go. I had always wanted a house when I was active, but I'm thankful not that we didn't because I never would have been able to afford being in a sorority.

33girl · #7 02-02-2009, 08:37 PM

^^^Ditto the above. There are good things about having a house, but it is a BIG commitment - especially for smaller chapters. If you do end up acquiring one, make sure you revise your chapter bylaws to state that every sister must live in for a semester or a year (depending on how your housing contracts go) - don't assume that everyone will always want to live there and everything will work out fine because it probably won't at some point down the line.

And yes, the brothel law is a myth - if a university official or landlord is telling you otherwise, demand that they show you where it is in the town/borough/township laws.

HotDamnImAPhiMu · #8 02-03-2009, 08:51 PM

I'm thinking she's at a smaller chapter; Phi Mu isn't so strong up North.

Your pledge class is being very sweet, but it'd be better for the chapter if you directed your energy somewhere else. Organizing a fundraiser might be just the thing; having more money makes life so much easier for a chapter.

Kevin · #9 02-03-2009, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HotDamnImAPhiMu

I'm thinking she's at a smaller chapter; Phi Mu isn't so strong up North.

Your pledge class is being very sweet, but it'd be better for the chapter if you directed your energy somewhere else. Organizing a fundraiser might be just the thing; having more money makes life so much easier for a chapter.

Getting a house is a bit more of an effort than a fundraiser. You will definitely need legal/real estate types to design a capital campaign, a corporate structure, etc.

This is not a pledge class project. No way in Hades.

ASTalumna06 · #10 02-03-2009, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin

Getting a house is a bit more of an effort than a fundraiser. You will definitely need legal/real estate types to design a capital campaign, a corporate structure, etc.

This is not a pledge class project. No way in Hades.

I thought she was saying that a HOUSE isn't the right direction to go, and instead they should focus on something else that will help them right now...?

But I could be wrong.

PM_Mama00 · #11 02-04-2009, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HotDamnImAPhiMu

I'm thinking she's at a smaller chapter; Phi Mu isn't so strong up North.

Your pledge class is being very sweet, but it'd be better for the chapter if you directed your energy somewhere else. Organizing a fundraiser might be just the thing; having more money makes life so much easier for a chapter.

Actually we're pretty strong up here. We have a strong sisterhood and enough sisters to actually get to know each other.

I think what you meant was we don't have as large a quantity. And there are plenty of Phi Mus houses in the north. Please watch how you word your thoughts.