Conference attendance

[bubblegum]

I really didn't mean to come across as so insensitive. I'm really not mean and insensitive. I'm just annoyed. If they couldn't afford to go to conference because they're barely scraping by, I would understand. I just feel like their priorities are a little messed up. I know that conference may not be the most fun thing in the world, but I just feel like no one is trying to work with me. I feel like I'm working against them and they're working against me.

They told me that none of them can afford to go to conference. Yet the weekend before conference, slightly more than half the chapter is planning on going on a roadtrip to this fancy casino in Canada. They're planning on getting a suite, gambling, drinking, going clubbing, and shopping. AND on top of all this, they want this to be counted towards fulfilling the minimum number of sisterhood activities they're required to participate in. I've also heard them say that if they stop off at Buffalo and have a mixer with one of the fraternities at SUNY Buffalo, then it'll also help them fulfill their minimum number of socials.

[DGMarie]

Do you have a regional officer or advisor for your chapter? If so, have you addressed these issues with them? What happens if you simply do not send all those people? What exactly will happen? Perhaps your national officers need to see the reality of a very biased and unfair travel requirement policy. Even if your members had the means to go, it is still highly unusual to require chapter members to attend conferences across the country twice per year. That part is just off base.

[Betarulz!]

Talk to the alums...although it sounds like you have a pretty small chapter, so that might not be feasible. However, if you could even get $500 from someone, that's $50 bucks a person that you don't have to pay for, and that could make a difference for some people.

Still the policy is ridiculous and something that I would submit changes for as legislation during the conference or convention or whatever the legislative session for you organization happens to be. While it sounds like they do a lot of programing for you when you go, and it sounds like it would be fun, it just seems really unnecessary and dificult. I mean really 75% of all active members are required to show? Beyodn the social aspects it seems overbearing. I mean, my chapter has problems getting 50% of our chapter to events across the street. Getting that many people across the country is ludicrous.

Now, I do realize that I am part of an organization in which the legislative powers, and in fact the supreme authority on all matters lies with the undergraduates, so I realize that a legislative session may not be possible, but you need to talk to your national officers, any sort of alumni conselors you have and even go so far as to contact the other chapters, explaining the intense difficulty that occurrs each semester. There has to be some sort of third alternative to this, either moving things to the middle of the country or alternating coasts or making it so you only have to 75% attend once a year and the other time you only need 25% or something. There has to be a way around this, and if you organization has any sort of vision of expanding beyond the 11 chapters, this has to be dropped.

[Tom Earp]

There is nothing wrong with The Members of Your Chapter doing what they are doing. Time away to have some fun is not illegal. It just helps to rejuvinate a bit. A Conference that is required is not the way to do it.

What seems to be wrong is Your HQ and their Requirements.

There must be a change, or, they will have less Chapters and even less Memebers.

I am in no way degrading Your Organization, but it does seem to be a bit over the top!

[Kevin]

If you have chapters like this, maybe yank their charters -- or at least make the threat. They signed up for the organization. The requirements were not some sort of surprise. It sounds like these conventions are important for keeping your organization unified.

How old are these two chapters? If they're not working towards expanding over there as they should be, they sound like dead weight. Cut them and focus on your region. You may have simply overexpanded.

Oh geez.

I know that I am going to sound like a bitch when I say this, but you guys don't know jack about money and time constraints when attending conferences/conventions, etc.

For someone from Hawai`i to just get to the West Coast, it takes at least 5-5 1/2 hours at a cost of an average $350 (during slow months). IHQ tries to accomodate each chapter when scheduling locations, but Delta Sigma always has a tough time because there usually are no direct flights from Honolulu to wherever things are being held (Philadelphia, Kansas City, Alpharetta, etc). The chapter scrapes just to send our President alone and she misses days of school because of how much time it takes to get from here to there. K, done with rant...sorry.

Fundraising and the alumnae were our biggest supporters in sending our members. But at the same time, I think your nationals are being unfair with requiring that % of sisters to attend. They need to be reminded that not everyone can afford to go and at the same time...hi, aren't you guys in classes at this time?

Try and come up with a compromise with your Nationals. If you can somehow get yourself and the majority of your exec board to conference, would it be possible for Nationals to send some consultants to your chapter to present the things discussed at conference? That'd sound fair, right?

Still, at the same time, remind your chapter that they have an obligation to the chapter and organization. Even if it's an inconvenience, effort should at least be made to attend.

[Tom Earp]

Originally posted by OohTeenyWahine
Oh geez.

I know that I am going to sound like a bitch when I say this, but you guys don't know jack about money and time constraints when attending conferences/conventions, etc.

For someone from Hawai`i to just get to the West Coast, it takes at least 5-5 1/2 hours at a cost of an average $350 (during slow months). IHQ tries to accomodate each chapter when scheduling locations, but Delta Sigma always has a tough time because there usually are no direct flights from Honolulu to wherever things are being held (Philadelphia, Kansas City, Alpharetta, etc). The chapter scrapes just to send our President alone and she misses days of school because of how much time it takes to get from here to there. K, done with rant...sorry.

Fundraising and the alumnae were our biggest supporters in sending our members. But at the same time, I think your nationals are being unfair with requiring that % of sisters to attend. They need to be reminded that not everyone can afford to go and at the same time...hi, aren't you guys in classes at this time?

Try and come up with a compromise with your Nationals. If you can somehow get yourself and the majority of your exec board to conference, would it be possible for Nationals to send some consultants to your chapter to present the things discussed at conference? That'd sound fair, right?

Still, at the same time, remind your chapter that they have an obligation to the chapter and organization. Even if it's an inconvenience, effort should at least be made to attend.

OTW, Very Well explained!

What many dont know is time and Money Constraits, it is very Hard. I went to My General Assembly and paid My way and it was tough, but it was at where Our IHQ was located and I got to visit My IHQ Sight.

That was a small Portion as I am sure any Member can tell You. It is meeting Members of Your Greek Organization while YOu are there. I had the Pleasure of Meeting @ 16 GC LXAs and What a Treat That was for me. This is not talking on the phone, Emailing, or PMing, this is Fsace to face and saying, Damn, I am so glad to finally Meeting You!

It was also a Treat in Meeting so many Members and discussing problems that effect all of us and what needs to be done.

If you ever have a chance to go, go! Sandy (OTW) has a long way to go, but She seems to make it and I am sure She is very Happy about it!

[LatinaAlumna]

I don't know what sorority the original poster is in, but I take it that it is a younger organization. Those who chose to pursue younger organizations have to accept these types of things as part of being in a young organization. When you have chapters sporadically spread out over the US, some chapter is always going to feel that they are getting the short end of the stick.

I would ask the posters who are saying that to require a percentage of membership in attendance at conferences is ridculous to put yourself in the situation of a smaller organization. Picture only 20-30 actives (or less in your chapter). Picture having maybe only 500 members TOTAL in the nation. If your organization puts on a conference and expects to have 200 members in attendance...well, you do the math on how many people from each chapter would need to be there. If you are a very small sorority, but your national has the ambition to put on conferences and events that larger sororities enjoy to enhance your experience, then they of course are going to want to make sure they are not wasting money and time planning something that less than 100 people are going to attend. Smaller organizations (even smaller nationals) do not have the funds that older, larger organizations do. They cannot afford to take a financial hit from low attendance at a conference. Therefore, I completely understand where this national is coming from.

In my opinion, if the entire membership was notified of these requirements well in advance (especially if it is an annual conference), then there should be no reason why the requirement cannot be met. In my sorority, alumnae often donate money to the actives so that they can attend conventions, etc. Most of the time, though, everyone knows that the national events are coming, and therefore, they start saving, fundraising, or whatever the case may be. We have some chapters that are very far out from the bulk of our chapters, but yet they still manage to come to every single national event, and they roll deep at that. Most importantly, they WANT to attend these events and will do what they need to do to get there. I'm thinking that part of the reason the original poster is having problems getting her sisters to attend is because they really just don't want to go. If they did, they would be anxiously saving up and preparing for this conference. That might be an even bigger issue...