dropping membership

ProPhetic1 · #1 10-10-2006, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

The official items of the organization always belong to the national headquarters because they represent the entity. The person chose to pay to become a member but revokes all rights, responsibilities and ownership when he or she chooses to disaffiliate. This is why we ask for people to return all of those official items (i.e. ritual, pins, membership booklets) to the national headquarters. Many people fail to do so which only makes them look simpleminded.

I understand returning ritual or membersip booklets, membership ID cards but it just seemed crazy to take away tee-shirts, jackets hats etc.

AlphaFrog · #2 10-10-2006, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProPhetic1

I understand returning ritual or membersip booklets, membership ID cards but it just seemed crazy to take away tee-shirts, jackets hats etc.

Would you still wear the items if you deactivated?

If yes: Then WTH did you deactivate? If you still want to be a member (and it was your decision to deactivate), be a member or loose the privilidges. If you were forced to deactivate, then your National has expressed that they belive you are not worthy to wear the letters.

If no: Then WTH keep the stuff if you're not going to wear it? (And no, selling it on eBay is not a good answer either).

MSKKG · #3 10-10-2006, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

Would you still wear the items if you deactivated?

If yes: Then WTH did you deactivate? If you still want to be a member (and it was your decision to deactivate), be a member or loose the privilidges. If you were forced to deactivate, then your National has expressed that they belive you are not worthy to wear the letters.

If no: Then WTH keep the stuff if you're not going to wear it? (And no, selling it on eBay is not a good answer either).

Sometimes the reasons behind resigning membership are not so cut and dried. A friend's daughter pledged a GLO as a soph. (she had rushed at another college and didn't pledge and then transferred to the 2nd college and pledged). She is a 5th-year senior and wanted to take alum status. They wouldn't let her because she hadn't been a member for 4 years and was still in school. She was basically forced into the resignation, not because she was "unworthy" but because of financial reasons. Her mom had bought her badge off eBay, so her mom said the badge belongs to her (the mom). She will probably resell it.

ProPhetic1 · #4 10-12-2006, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

Would you still wear the items if you deactivated?

If yes: Then WTH did you deactivate? If you still want to be a member (and it was your decision to deactivate), be a member or loose the privilidges. If you were forced to deactivate, then your National has expressed that they belive you are not worthy to wear the letters.

If no: Then WTH keep the stuff if you're not going to wear it? (And no, selling it on eBay is not a good answer either).

The only time I wear paraphernalia is @ Group Pojects or meetings. But to answer your question if I denounced my membership I would not continue to wear my orgs stuff. My point was that if a member drops/denounces we want all the main stuff back, membership manuals, ritual manuals, Id cards, etc. We are not going to chase someone down about what they purchased with their own money. Now if we see them with the stuff on we will request it. But i am not gonna show up on your doorstepp and say hand me back everything you purchased.

Drolefille · #5 10-12-2006, 12:10 PM

Usually in finalizing a member withdrawing from the chapter there are papers signed, etc. The chapter will ask that the person bring anything with her letters on it with her to will to the chapter/littles etc.

They can't always hunt them down, and they might not want to if they're concerned about a disgruntled ex-member spreading ritual, but they request them.

AlphaFrog · #6 10-12-2006, 12:21 PM

The way I see it, if you buy things for yourself with your GLO's letters, and you have any inkling that you may ever deactivate, get terminated, etc, you know you're running the risk of dumping your $$ down the drain.

And those who deactivate for finacial reasons - one letter sweatshirt was approximately equal to 10% (or more) of my semester's dues, unless you get a piece of junk...and that's just sweatshirts. They make all kinds of overpriced crap with letters on it. So to me, if you've spent all kinds of $$ on stuff with letters on it, and then can't pay your dues, I don't feel sorry if you get your stuff taken away. (With exception of those who have something tragic happen and can suddenly not afford dues).

SororChic6 · #7 01-17-2007, 10:29 PM

we have girls who have children and/or are married- we take this as a blessing and alot of them remain active (they do not have to become alumna). also, if a pledge drops, we immediately take back her pin and such. if a sister drops her letters, we take those back from her too.

LOVEinZTA · #8 01-20-2007, 03:06 AM

So I know this is an old thred but we actually discussed this in a meeting about a week ago. About 2 years ago, it apparently became a 'trend' of sorts for girl late in the sophomore or in their junior years to drop (there were around 7 or 8 girls one right after the other) - they figured "hey I've made friends with all of these girls and all of the mixers have helped me meet everyone I need, so why should I continue and pay $1300 in dues each semester?" They simply stopped coming to meetings, stopped paying dues, stopped answering phone calls from the treasurer, etc. They've kept all of their friends AND all of the paraphenalia. You can see on their online profiles it says "I used to be a member" and "Miss you girls!" as if they don't still speak, which is not the case. We decided at this meeting, to enforce the long-standing policy and we plan on getting ahold of the girls and taking back any pins, letters, and other special items. These girls essentially went through the pledging and initiation process, took a little their soph. year, made friends, and then figured they were done and didn't follow through. We also have girls who transfer in, go through the affiliation process, are voted in, and then don't pay dues or some to meetings. Both still wear t-shirts and have 'hints' of the chapter around (see online profiles and t-shirt comments) even though they are no longer members. It is not fair for the girls who have true dedication and passion to have girls doing this sort of thing, and personally it just drives me up a wall.

If someone has a LEGITIMATE reason for leaving, that is a different story.

And on the pin topic, you essentially RENT the pin. You pay rent for you apartment, and when you stop, you no longer get to live there. Same concept - you drop, the pin isn't yours anymore.

/rant

DSTCHAOS · #9 10-10-2006, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProPhetic1

it just seemed crazy to take away tee-shirts, jackets hats etc.

Not if you really read my entire post.

DGMarie · #10 10-10-2006, 02:16 PM

Do you sign something where it is explicity written and in terms upholdable to contract law, that you must return your pin? I have always wondered the actual legality of this. No Fraternity is going to send legal action against you in the real world. A lot of this is playing on fear and inexperience.

As for other personal items purchased by or for a member who has resigned, these are property of the owner, not the Fraternity. The excuse of "what does she need them for" does not hold any water. You cannot go around demanding things from people, regardless of your intentions. It is tantamount to harassment. And what if they don't comply? Do you continue to ask, demand, maybe escalate this? Give me back that pencil! Selling them or giving them away, no matter how much you don't like it, is up to the owner.

33girl · #11 10-10-2006, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DGMarie

As for other personal items purchased by or for a member who has resigned, these are property of the owner, not the Fraternity. The excuse of "what does she need them for" does not hold any water. You cannot go around demanding things from people, regardless of your intentions. It is tantamount to harassment. And what if they don't comply? Do you continue to ask, demand, maybe escalate this? Give me back that pencil!

We've bought big items back from the owner (like jackets) but for the most part, they are more than happy to get sweatshirts and other letter items out of their sight and give them back. Someone who's self-terming (like for $$ issues) would probably just give them to their little. It's as much of a drama as they wish to make it.

Sorry, but if you bought 8000 letter sweatshirts and didn't have the respect for your sisters to the point that you indulged you in actions that got you terminated, it's your own fault. Nobody would be asking you for things back if you would have upheld your end of the bargain.

Not only that, when people depledge, often their letter sweatshirts, tote bags, etc were NOT purchased by the pledge - they were purchased by the pledge's big or by the chapter on bid day. No one is going to go after someone for using a lettered pencil - to imply they would is ridiculous.

And before you say "I would never do that", you need to have the experience of someone who has been terminated for truly heinous acts walking around your campus sporting your letters and still representing herself as an XYZ. Until that happens to you, you have no idea.

greekalum · #12 10-10-2006, 02:36 PM

I think you can *ask* for the items back but you probably don't have a legal leg to stand on when it comes to things like sweatshirts and whatnot-

Many organizations DO have it in their bylaws or articles of incorporation (check yours to find out) that the badge belongs to HQ or can only be worn by members. On those grounds, the national organization may request such items be returned.

DSTCHAOS · #13 10-10-2006, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DGMarie

Do you sign something where it is explicity written and in terms upholdable to contract law, that you must return your pin? I have always wondered the actual legality of this. No Fraternity is going to send legal action against you in the real world. A lot of this is playing on fear and inexperience.

As for other personal items purchased by or for a member who has resigned, these are property of the owner, not the Fraternity. The excuse of "what does she need them for" does not hold any water. You cannot go around demanding things from people, regardless of your intentions. It is tantamount to harassment. And what if they don't comply? Do you continue to ask, demand, maybe escalate this? Give me back that pencil! Selling them or giving them away, no matter how much you don't like it, is up to the owner.

Some organizations document that formally disaffiliated members are to return all official items. When people initially "sign-up" for membership they are agreeing to various terms of membership, whether they choose to read and be informed of those terms or not.

Yes, the items that were purchased by the person are the person's property. But the symbols on those items are not, so different organizations have different policies on how to handle that.