I don't know, I'd just rather not feel like a "money train" when money is a resource I don't have much of (and I don't believe in skimping on food just so I can pay alumnae dues), while I have plenty of time that I can donate. I'd rather spend that money on food, school supplies, classes, paying student loans, rent, car insurance, gas, etc, and if I want to go out to dinner or to get a drink one night a month, then I want to go out one night a month. A person cannot be expected to completely cut out a healthy social life in order to pay alumni dues. When I can live comfortably enough to have an extra hundred dollars or so a month, then I'll start sending in dues. When I can't, or I have to make extra sacrifices in order to be able to pay them, I'm not going to pay them. It's not like I live a super glamerous life (I've never even touched a designer handbag or designer pair of shoes in my life), but I'm not cutting out getting a new suit so I can go on interviews or going out to dinner with a close friend just so I can pay dues.
I think you're not getting my point though, it's not like I'm going out and buying a whole bunch of alpha gam stuff to wear or put on my car. I have the same sticker I recieved when I got my sister-mother. I wear the same sweatshirt I bought when I was a sophomore, the same jacket, the same t-shirts, bid day t-shirts, and most anything that I've got that's got letters or Alpha Gamma Delta written on it was either A. Part of a purchasing project through the chapter, which gives better rates on paraphenalia, B. something I bought shortly after my initiation, C. something that was given to me. I don't even have much of anything after passing everything down to my sister-daughter and granddaughter.
I just don't see how alumni that don't donate every year or pay alumni dues should be judged for wearing letters, especially if those judging them have no idea where they got those lettered items. Pride is pride. It's free advertisement, no matter what way you slice it, no matter if it's good or bad. Hopefully, it's good.
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