Visiting Chapters Thread

[gtdxeric]

Originally Posted by ΑΓΔSquirrelGirl

I don't see what the big deal is for a weekend stay unless it's really going to be a problem.

A lot can happen in a weekend. One time, guys from a chapter that was visiting mine got in a bar fight at a campus bar... wearing letters. It's worse if there's no bond of friendship between the two chapters and the visiting chapter is in town just to party, and hasn't given the host chapter time to prepare or the option to decline.

With that said, the things discussed in this thread are decisions that only the President of the chapter has to make. For all other members of the chapter, whatever the situation, I'd say to be hospitable and give them whatever benefit of the doubt you think they deserve, but keep your eyes open. If you feel like it, you might direct them toward things you think they would enjoy, but that would keep them relatively out of trouble.

There's actually something in my pledge manual about this, I'll dig it up later.

[ΑΓΔSquirrelGirl]

Originally Posted by gtdxeric

A lot can happen in a weekend. One time, guys from a chapter that was visiting mine got in a bar fight at a campus bar... wearing letters. It's worse if there's no bond of friendship between the two chapters and the visiting chapter is in town just to party, and hasn't given the host chapter time to prepare or the option to decline.

With that said, the things discussed in this thread are decisions that only the President of the chapter has to make. For all other members of the chapter, whatever the situation, I'd say to be hospitable and give them whatever benefit of the doubt you think they deserve, but keep your eyes open. If you feel like it, you might direct them toward things you think they would enjoy, but that would keep them relatively out of trouble.

There's actually something in my pledge manual about this, I'll dig it up later.

That's a legitimate concern, as I was saying...the visiting chapter just not being "cool" isn't.

[SWTXBelle]

Back to the op - I would look at it in the same respect as in dealing with distant family members. In true southern style, my family is spread far and wide, and we all know our genealogy. They are family, but that doesn't mean I would contact my second-cousin once removed and ask to be put up for the weekend. I would feel comfortable contacting a distant family member, saying I would be in the neighborhood and would like to meet them over lunch or dinner.
Same for my sorority sisters. I always feel a bond with my sisters whom I've meet from far and wide. If I were an active and some sisters called about visiting, I'd love to meet them - but without knowing them wouldn't commit to a weekend or to putting them up in the house. So - my take on it is if fraternity brothers from XYZ want to visit, I'd suggest they come visit the house for a tour, maybe tell them where the brothers meet on Friday night and offer to help them find a hotel to stay in. That would be enough hospitality, imho. If you are having an event like a football or basketball game they could attend with you, great.