dropping membership

GDIfly · #1 10-09-2006, 11:56 AM

Thanks for your answers. I understand the situations where someone is crazy, disrespectful, bitchy, joined for the wrong reasons, etc. and leaves in bad standing. There are a plethora of valid reasons for wanting memorabilia, letters, and badge back in those situations.

However, a person who isn't able to support the sorority financially for her time in college is no longer considered a member? I'm just not grasping this. It's possible that all chapters and national organizations provide plans for girls with financial troubles, in which case I'm making up an inconceivable situation. If so please tell me.
If someone were to leave a sorority purely and 100% for financial reasons, then she is no longer a member? Can she obtain alumna status without transferring, graduating, or dropping out? I just don't see that as a situation where someone would be disrespecting the promises she made to the sorority. Can't she be a member of the national organization without currently contributing financially to the local chapter?

33girl · #2 10-09-2006, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GDIfly

However, a person who isn't able to support the sorority financially for her time in college is no longer considered a member? I'm just not grasping this. It's possible that all chapters and national organizations provide plans for girls with financial troubles, in which case I'm making up an inconceivable situation. If so please tell me.
If someone were to leave a sorority purely and 100% for financial reasons, then she is no longer a member? Can she obtain alumna status without transferring, graduating, or dropping out? I just don't see that as a situation where someone would be disrespecting the promises she made to the sorority. Can't she be a member of the national organization without currently contributing financially to the local chapter?

If someone runs into unforeseen financial troubles (i.e. her dad loses his job with no warning or something similar) most sororities will attempt to help her with a payment plan, and some groups will allow her to be on a special status where she has to pay less, or become an alumna earlier. If she becomes an alumna, she can no longer participate in day to day collegiate chapter activities, but she is still a sister. These type of policies are all varied from sorority to sorority.

But sometimes they just don't have the money for dues and - this is the important thing - don't wish to work to find a way to obtain it or get on a payment plan. I'm sure most chapters would rather have a woman be honest and tell them that XYZ just isn't important enough to them to fork out the money for dues and leave on relatively good terms, then keep saying she reeeeaallly wants to pay and participate and never follows through.

kddani · #3 10-09-2006, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 33girl

If someone runs into unforeseen financial troubles (i.e. her dad loses his job with no warning or something similar) most sororities will attempt to help her with a payment plan, and some groups will allow her to be on a special status where she has to pay less, or become an alumna earlier. If she becomes an alumna, she can no longer participate in day to day collegiate chapter activities, but she is still a sister. These type of policies are all varied from sorority to sorority.

But sometimes they just don't have the money for dues and - this is the important thing - don't wish to work to find a way to obtain it or get on a payment plan. I'm sure most chapters would rather have a woman be honest and tell them that XYZ just isn't important enough to them to fork out the money for dues and leave on relatively good terms, then keep saying she reeeeaallly wants to pay and participate and never follows through.

What you said is exactly right. There's people with legitimate financial issues. But then there are people where mommy and daddy decided not to pay for the sorority anymore, and they don't want to a) get a job or b) drop their Louis Vuitton/high bar tabs/designer jeans habits. Those people I had little to no sympathy for.

tunatartare · #4 10-09-2006, 12:44 PM

A couple of years ago a girl in Kappa at my school was on financial aid. Her family had a lot of financial problems, I think one of her parents lost his/her job. The girl couldn't afford tuition and housing even with the financial aid, let alone dues. The Kappas got together and helped to pay her dues. In addition, through a fund with KKG HQ, the sorority was able to help pay some of her college costs for that semester. One of our alumnae told us this at an alumnae reunion. It happened when she was an active. I think that this is an awesome story and shows the meaning of sisterhood.

PhoenixAzul · #5 10-09-2006, 01:02 PM

Oddly enough, whenever sisters have dropped out of my sorority here, we've never had a problem with this. Mostly the letters are just given to littles/bigs. Members get a lot of letters through hand-me-downs, very few are bought, so it isn't that big of a deal I suppose. But we've never had anyone represent themselves as a member when they are not.

ISUKappa · #6 10-10-2006, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KLPDaisy

A couple of years ago a girl in Kappa at my school was on financial aid. Her family had a lot of financial problems, I think one of her parents lost his/her job. The girl couldn't afford tuition and housing even with the financial aid, let alone dues. The Kappas got together and helped to pay her dues. In addition, through a fund with KKG HQ, the sorority was able to help pay some of her college costs for that semester. One of our alumnae told us this at an alumnae reunion. It happened when she was an active. I think that this is an awesome story and shows the meaning of sisterhood.

This is the Rose McGill Fund, founded by the Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation, which helps any member (active or alumna) in times of financial need. I love reading the Rose Recipient letters in the Key or hearing them, they always make me tear up!!

Please for the love of all things holy, can we not get on the whole who owns the badge argument? kthx.

DGMarie · #7 10-10-2006, 03:58 PM

So you are free to ask. But they can say no way. I'm selling that leather jacket on Ebay. Sure, the pencil example is silly, but where do you draw the line? The keychain? The license tag frame? The hoodies? The tote bags?

They may not want something someone gave them, but if they spent money on it, they might not be so willing to hand it over just because you ask. Then what?

33girl · #8 10-10-2006, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DGMarie

So you are free to ask. But they can say no way. I'm selling that leather jacket on Ebay. Sure, the pencil example is silly, but where do you draw the line? The keychain? The license tag frame? The hoodies? The tote bags?

They may not want something someone gave them, but if they spent money on it, they might not be so willing to hand it over just because you ask. Then what?

Then I would rather buy it off them than have it be on ebay, or on their non-sister person. Although I really question how much a used keychain or license plate frame would bring on Ebay.

And like DSTChaos said...if it's in your agreement...you are SOL and possessing material that is no longer yours and have to hand it over. Period. It's like getting your car repossessed.

Tom Earp · #9 10-09-2006, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kddani

What you said is exactly right. There's people with legitimate financial issues. But then there are people where mommy and daddy decided not to pay for the sorority anymore, and they don't want to a) get a job or b) drop their Louis Vuitton/high bar tabs/designer jeans habits. Those people I had little to no sympathy for.

Agree whole heartedly.

There is a difference between the two.

Can or does Sororitys place members on Alum status for financial problems as opposed to just dropping them from the rolls?

greekalum · #10 10-09-2006, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Earp

Can or does Sororitys place members on Alum status for financial problems as opposed to just dropping them from the rolls?

Tom, this question has already been answered:

"If someone runs into unforeseen financial troubles (i.e. her dad loses his job with no warning or something similar) most sororities will attempt to help her with a payment plan, and some groups will allow her to be on a special status where she has to pay less, or become an alumna earlier. If she becomes an alumna, she can no longer participate in day to day collegiate chapter activities, but she is still a sister. These type of policies are all varied from sorority to sorority."

Are you asking which sororities do this? I think this is a policy issue that is really only relevant to members of each organization and I am sure individual members can find the answer as it applies to them through their organization.

GDIfly · #11 10-09-2006, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 33girl

If someone runs into unforeseen financial troubles (i.e. her dad loses his job with no warning or something similar) most sororities will attempt to help her with a payment plan, and some groups will allow her to be on a special status where she has to pay less, or become an alumna earlier. If she becomes an alumna, she can no longer participate in day to day collegiate chapter activities, but she is still a sister. These type of policies are all varied from sorority to sorority.

But sometimes they just don't have the money for dues and - this is the important thing - don't wish to work to find a way to obtain it or get on a payment plan. I'm sure most chapters would rather have a woman be honest and tell them that XYZ just isn't important enough to them to fork out the money for dues and leave on relatively good terms, then keep saying she reeeeaallly wants to pay and participate and never follows through.

That makes sense! Thank you!

KLPDaisy, that is an awesome story. Really uplifting!