Housing Corporations

[honeychile]

I posted much of this in another Forum, but I wanted to see what y'all think. Has anyone ever been on a Housing Corporation (either as a student or alumnae)? Does your chapter use the Housing Corporation system? Does it work well for you?

Here's my story, in a nutshell:

When I was an active, we had a truly wonderful Housing Corporation. There was something like $400k in cds, and at least one room was redecorated each year on the interest - sometimes the whole suite. FYI, at Pitt, sororities (except for one) have a suite, which usually has a formal living room, an informal living room, and a Chapter Room/den/dining room (depending on the chapter), plus two large, room-sized hallways and two kitchens. This was an upscale apartment building that was converted into a dorm, so each sorority basically gets two apartments.

Our formal living room was mostly off-white & gold, the chapter room in leathers and taupes, and the informal side was blue & white when I was there. Anyhow, it was drop dead gorgeous and when the NPC had a meeting at Pitt, it was unanimously decided by Panhel to have the tea in our suite. Unfortunately, the next treasurer of our Housing Corporation has since been deactivated, after embezelling all the monies!!!!

Then, at our 150th anniversary, it looked like downtown Beirut. No carpeting, horrible nasty pine utilitarian crate-looking furniture, no blinds, no draperies, no window treatments. The elevator hallway (your first look at each suite) was papered in the same wallpaper that my mother's interior decorator did in her bathroom!! The few of us who came together went to the Holiday Inn and wept into our collective pink drinks.

This Friday, I gritted my teeth and decided that I was going to like it, no matter what. I was pleasantly surprised (for the most part), but there's STILL so much to do!! At least that wallpaper is gone, and they are trying to keep it nice.

I do know some alumnae who will give some money; unfortunately, the one who would normally give the most was so disgusted by the "Early Bomb Shelter" look, I can't see her willing to cough up a few thousand (as she has done in the past). What are good fundraisers for Housing Corporations?

So, was anyone ever an active when the Housing Corporation started up? How hard of a transition was it? Any other thoughts?