Tossing Out Bids

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by 33girl

No.


No. Also, if you're above total, you can't COB.

Sisters who pay their dues and don't do anything are fine for a large chapter, but if you're under 75 or so, having everyone be OK financially and only half the people actually showing up to stuff is going to screw you.

I knew that you can't COB when you were above total; that was my point. I guess I tend to think first of the situation of campuses with a kind of low-ish total relative to average chapter size, especially after formal. I forget about campuses where total is practically unattainable.

I would think with a smaller chapter that the social pressure might generally seem more immediate. You'd notice faster. That girl's set of five or ten closest friends is a bigger part of the whole chapter.

[AZTheta]

I agree 100% with 33girl. Kiss of death for a chapter when members don't participate. Not everyone is the "uber-Theta" (<---insert your GLO name here) and IMO it hurts a larger chapter on many levels as well when members don't show up.

Heck, hurts alumnae chapters as well when participation is minimal. Now that was a huge swerve so no need to respond, just my opinion is all.

[crescent&pearls]

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

Is it really common that members who are dropped this way can simply be replaced?

I didn't mean to imply that members who drop off the roster are easily or quickly replaced via COR...I just meant that in most cases it's a natural process to put your focus on applying more effort to the next recruitment class rather than exhausting your officers by having them chase down members that have for whatever reason, moved on. And that doesn't mean those members are bad sisters or don't have the potential to be really dedicated and loyal alumnae. Understanding that we are all on on a different schedule of transitioning from young adulthood to becoming truly independent adults is part of the collegiate sorority membership experience.

I also think it's important to understand that "social prominence" or "affluence" has little relationship to "financial responsibility." Just because you CAN afford to pay your bills does not mean that you DO. And just because it's a challenge to meet your financial obligations does not mean that you can't or won't. That's a matter of personal values.

[ComradesTrue]

Yes because otherwise no one who was a first generation college student or not a legacy would ever get a bid.

Special exceptions are made for girls in financial need or emergencies.

Several NPCs now have policies where you can apply for a semester off of dues if you have an internship or a semester abroad, or a health emergency that requires you to take a semester off. That is not the same as being inactive or terminating.

There is also 5th year status or early alumni status for someone that needs more time to focus on finishing up and graduating or that is transitioning to professional school.

If you get married while in college - you have to apply to remain at collegiate status if you want to remain active as a collegian. It is assumed that you want early alumni status - thereby avoiding the financial obligations of dues or living in house.

It is a strain on the officers to have to spend time chasing down someone who just doesn't feel like coming to events. (but really why sign up if you can't be bothered to go to anything much less pay dues?) why pay dues for the T-shirts?

The bigger problems are 1) being able to meet the financial obligations of the chapter 2) being fair to all of the members and 3) maintaining critical mass (total more or less) such that the sorority can continue to participate

HQ- First, I see that you are rather new to Greekchat. Welcome.

Second, several of your posts in this thread have had some generalities about multiple NPC groups. Have you shared with us which group that you are a member of? I think that would go a long way towards knowing the perspective that you are offering.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by HQWest

What is the phrase? Long time lurker, but I haven't posted that much?

You know what I could throw down my sorority resume by which you can judge my right to an opinion but the whole point of speaking in generalities is to try and find a common thread.

QFP.

[FSUZeta]

but the problem with speaking in generalities is that someone new to greekchat, who is not a member of an npc sorority, may assume that you are familiar with all the npc sororities bylaws and guidelines. that's what is sounds like-to me, anyway.

[AOII Angel]

Many of the things you are saying aren't opinions, either. You are throwing aroung policies like they are standard when they are not.

[UGAalum94]

My comment about social prominence wasn't a statement about character. {ETA: I guess I should say that first occurred to me in the context of} It was an observation that I had about how all chapters don't seem to immediately feel the heat of an economic downturn the same way.

If you are already paying your due on your own because it's a priority for you, you'll likely be unaffected unless you lose your job. You are committed to being a member and take the financial aspect seriously.

If, on the other hand, your socially prominent family is all tied up for generations in your GLO and it could be a loss of status for them if the group knew you were facing hardship, your dues might remain a high priority. Or it might be the case that your social prominent family has the kind of wealth to weather any economic downturn. You might not even fully appreciate how much your parents are doing for you to be a member and you may take it for granted a little.

Or it could the case that you are from a family who has been well off but who doesn't care much about Greek Life. If there's economic stress, they have to balance paying you dues against your sister's club volleyball team or your brother's travel soccer because it's just a club to them. If your parents have always paid for you, you may not have considered what your membership really costs, and if the whole cost fell to you, you might not think in terms of getting out there and getting a job to pay for it because in the past, mom and dad took care of things.

In some greek systems where family background and hometown play into recruitment, these types of folks may not be spread out equally among all the chapters. It doesn't reflect on the ethics of any chapters, I don't think.

[FSUZeta]

i should have clarified-i was referring strictly to your posts about member financial status-please realize that you are probably not privvy to all the information for all groups.

[UGAalum94]

I think now is an especially risky time for PNMs to get the impression that you have a lot of options to retain membership if you can't pay dues or that it's considered okay to just drop membership.

The financial requirements of membership are essential to the health of the chapter. You need to figure out how you will pay active dues for the remainder of your time in school before you accept a bid.

ETA: of course my experience is super-limited, but chapters helping you out are probably much more the exception than the rule.

[HannahXO]

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

ETA: of course my experience is super-limited, but chapters helping you out are probably much more the exception than the rule.

My experience is also limited but I just wanted to point out that "help" can take forms other than excusing you from all or part of your dues. If there is truly no way you could cover dues, ever, you're probably better off not rushing. If you have a part time job that could help you pay your dues in full, but might need a payment plan to do so, then you are more likely to be able to join.

My point is that PNMs definitely need to honestly assess their financial situation, and realize that it may or may not be feasible to pay for greek dues, depending on the extent of your needs. You can get financial stats from your greek office- if money is a concern, do this sooner rather than later.

[crescent&pearls]

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

I think now is an especially risky time for PNMs to get the impression that you have a lot of options to retain membership if you can't pay dues or that it's considered okay to just drop membership.

The financial requirements of membership are essential to the health of the chapter. You need to figure out how you will pay active dues for the remainder of your time in school before you accept a bid.

ETA: of course my experience is super-limited, but chapters helping you out are probably much more the exception than the rule.

Agreed. 100%. I'm sorry to say it but the truth is that having your parents divorce, loss of a job, financial reverses in a family business, medical issues and even the death of a parent are actually all common reasons why collegiate members run into financial struggles that can lead to members leaving school, having to take on a job or even resigning. I know my sorority and probably every other is receiving more requests for help and the stories are truly compelling. I think in the future as we see more collegians with older parents (more in the retirement stage of life vs. middle age and still working) we will all be challenged with how to balance compassion with financial realities. Sorority membership requires a financial obligation and it's unwise to expect that someone else is going to carry that for you. Sorority membership is not the same as a club or activity you commit to on a short term basis, then walk away from when you're bored with it or when you get shiny ball syndrome.

I'm really glad for your sharing your ideas UGA because I think you bring up a very important point that takes this discussion full circle to our original topic- tossing out bids. Making the decision to join a sorority is probably the biggest, most important grown-up decision that many young women will make in their personal journey to adulthood. It's something we all want treated with maturity and thoughtfulness. We want PNMs to make these decisions, whether it's which chapter you join or figuring out how you're going to pay for it with a level of maturity that isn't always there in the excitement of recruitment parties, bid day celebrations and all the rest. What can we do about it really but try to provide all PNMs and their families with the tools to make good decisions up front and then mostly we have to work with them to continue to make good decisions every day after that badge gets pinned on.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by HQWest

If you get married while in college - you have to apply to remain at collegiate status if you want to remain active as a collegian. It is assumed that you want early alumni status - thereby avoiding the financial obligations of dues or living in house.

This is ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE for some NPC groups.

It's not a "common thread" if it doesn't apply to all the groups.

Not all groups offer 5th year or early alum status either.

[ComradesTrue]

Originally Posted by HQWest

What is the phrase? Long time lurker, but I haven't posted that much?

You know what I could throw down my sorority resume by which you can judge my right to an opinion but the whole point of speaking in generalities is to try and find a common thread.

You don't need a resume to post an opinion.

However, you are not stating opinions. You are making broad generalizations that do not apply to all groups and claiming those generalizations as fact. You are also making statements about specific groups' policies that are very misleading.

Since you say that you have been a long time lurker, then you are probably familar with the following:



In other words, we welcome dialogue that is based on your involvement/first hand knowledge with a specific group, and kindly ask that you not speak for all NPC groups.

[AZTheta]

Originally Posted by HQWest

What is the phrase? Long time lurker, but I haven't posted that much?

You know what I could throw down my sorority resume by which you can judge my right to an opinion but the whole point of speaking in generalities is to try and find a common thread.

Blondie93 was being polite, as she always is. I'm much more direct. HQWest, please share your GLO and your geographical location. That will go a LONG way towards putting your remarks in context.

FYI: Before you go off flaming me, I'm not judging your right to anything, I'm asking you to qualify yourself (a term that is used to support one's participation in many groups - think of it as a sort of provenance).