The economy and greek life...

[BabyPiNK_FL]

Originally Posted by JohnnyCash

That's mostly because people are lazy as shit and always wait until the last minute to do anything though.

What sucks about that is that it doesn't say much about the potential membership. I hate how people are always like "I really want to rush!" Well-step 1 is signing up, registration has been open since May and you haven't even done that! You'll really make a great sister

[AXiDTrish]

We offer early pay discounts. For example, if they pay their full semester dues before school starts, they get a $25 discount. If they pay within 2 weeks of school starting they get $20 off, and that dwindles down to no discount by $5 each week. Our dues are much less than $2000, so you would have to make it comparable. The great thing is most of the chapter does this and we begin fall with our full budget and the girls are happy because they saved some money. We have the same option for spring, but the fewer girls pay ahead.

I also always tell the chapter in the last meeting before summer that they can pay their dues over the summer. This is usually news to new members and they like the option. You would be surprised at the number of girls who take us up on that.

[AXiDTrish]

Oh and there are ALWAYS parts of the budget that aren't used....re-evaluating the budget is a must every year. I would also look for more low cost/free sisterhood events. It's true, the high dollar events are fun, but they aren't the most memorable. The timesjust hanging out are the ones I remember 10 years later.

Movie Nights
Sisterhood Ice Cream Social or trips to Brewsters out of your own pocket.
$1 Bowling at the local lanes
Cook out with fraternities at the fee state park - they bring the dogs (and grill) you bring the chips. Build in some games. Trust me, it's fun.

You need to be creative and think outside the box a little

[kswetzig]

This is going to be a big question that all Fraternities and Sororities will have to address in the near future. One thing to look at is asking hard questions like why are people dropping out, or why are they not joining? They claim that it is money, however if you really love and value something you will find a way to bring it into your life. No education is free, so how can we make the GREEK community seem like a steal of a deal! Where are your other groups at, and what do your members, or future members want? I do this all the time and write the answers out. It can be difficult at times; however it is needed for our groups to move forward. What are you doing to give to the members? Are they getting the personal development that we are all craving? Do we have positive leadership to keep people on their toes and proud to be part of ABC group at Z campus? Maybe keeping members around is doing something so simple such setting a goal to compliment 5 of your members a day. I feel that should be a requirement for all Chapter Presidents! Hope this helps.
~KYLE~

[lucgreek]

Originally Posted by kswetzig

This is going to be a big question that all Fraternities and Sororities will have to address in the near future. One thing to look at is asking hard questions like why are people dropping out, or why are they not joining? They claim that it is money, however if you really love and value something you will find a way to bring it into your life. No education is free, so how can we make the GREEK community seem like a steal of a deal! Where are your other groups at, and what do your members, or future members want? I do this all the time and write the answers out. It can be difficult at times; however it is needed for our groups to move forward. What are you doing to give to the members? Are they getting the personal development that we are all craving? Do we have positive leadership to keep people on their toes and proud to be part of ABC group at Z campus? Maybe keeping members around is doing something so simple such setting a goal to compliment 5 of your members a day. I feel that should be a requirement for all Chapter Presidents! Hope this helps.
~KYLE~

Try telling John Q. Greek that he doesn't really love his organization by not being able to shell out over $700 in dues when his parents were laid off and are now facing foreclosure. Yeah, he really doesn't love his fraternity enough

Yeah, compliment him once a day, let's see if that solves his financial situation. This reminds me of the Donnie Darko lifeline exercise.

[JeniPhi]

Originally Posted by lucgreek

Try telling John Q. Greek that he doesn't really love his organization by not being able to shell out over $700 in dues when his parents were laid off and are now facing foreclosure. Yeah, he really doesn't love his fraternity enough

Yeah, compliment him once a day, let's see if that solves his financial situation. This reminds me of the Donnie Darko lifeline exercise.

First, not allowing people to leave for financial reasons is going to put you in a downward spiral where you will have many people quitting. This is a financial crisis that none of the members on the forum has EVER dealt with while they were in school (they should have a little more sympathy). First and foremost, everyone is at school to be in school. If their parents can no longer help them pay (and you'll know if its legit or just poor budgeting), then work out a deal with them and set them up on a payment plan to finish their outstanding bills while they are one a 1-yr probation or something.

If the girl is worth it, go to your scholarship committee and see if scholarships for dues can be given to any girls in hardship situations with grades above a certain cutoff. Ask your local alumni chapters if they can support in this way as well.

Finally, cut the budget as others have said and opt for more 'sisterhood' as opposed to big-budget events. You do need to watch it, because if the support and benefits outweigh living in a cheaper situation, you will ruin any advantages over cheaper housing.

[lucgreek]

No, I completely agree that if someone cannot afford it they need to either work out some payment plan they can realistically do, or just resign their membership for their own well-being.

What I took offense to is saying that because the person cannot suddenly afford it that they don't love their group enough. Granted there are people that use money as a cop-out, there are just as many people who cannot afford it due to recent economic circumstances.

[kddani]

Originally Posted by kswetzig

This is going to be a big question that all Fraternities and Sororities will have to address in the near future. One thing to look at is asking hard questions like why are people dropping out, or why are they not joining? They claim that it is money, however if you really love and value something you will find a way to bring it into your life. No education is free, so how can we make the GREEK community seem like a steal of a deal! Where are your other groups at, and what do your members, or future members want? I do this all the time and write the answers out. It can be difficult at times; however it is needed for our groups to move forward. What are you doing to give to the members? Are they getting the personal development that we are all craving? Do we have positive leadership to keep people on their toes and proud to be part of ABC group at Z campus? Maybe keeping members around is doing something so simple such setting a goal to compliment 5 of your members a day. I feel that should be a requirement for all Chapter Presidents! Hope this helps.
~KYLE~

People who say this kind of crap are the people whose mommy and daddy footed the bill for everything and never actually HAD to work a job.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by kddani

People who say this kind of crap are the people whose mommy and daddy footed the bill for everything and never actually HAD to work a job.

Yep. Danielle, this sounds like that guy from Campuspeak who basically said anyone who quits because of money doesn't love their GLO and is a lameoid who you're better off getting rid of.

The girl who buys Prada bags instead of paying dues = probably doesn't love her GLO. The girl who has to go home every weekend and work, in addition to her on campus job, just to pay tuition because her family is strugging so much = probably does love her sorority and is in the unfortunate position of getting booted simply because there isn't enough $$ for everything.

I do agree with Jeni's suggestion of asking alumni for help. There are probably alums out there who would much sooner pay the dues for a deserving member of their home chapter rather than send it off to the national foundation.

[KSUViolet06]

^^^I agree!

I always feel sorry for girls who are at EVERY event and love their sorority, but end up having to terminate because they've crunched the numbers and there is just no way they can afford to be in a sorority and pay tuition.

However, if you spend the entire weekend at the bars, have a new car, and a different color Berkin for every day of the month, yet you say you "have no money"---I don't feel sorry for you at all.

Another thing to add on to this: Something that tends to annoy me is when a girl says she can't pay dues, but she just bought 4 lettered hoodies, a tote, and a lavaliere.

Sometimes, when you want to be part of something, you need to skimp on "extras" for awhile.

[Chantal]

I think that most chapters are feeling the pinch nowadays. The key is we gotta think in new ways to make the shortfall. I'm not saying anything that I have the answer to sao any new ideas?

[oncegreek]

I was an active member in the early eighties, and my chapter was new, and struggling. We had a huge house to fill, and were constantly COB'ing. Our housing costs were also much higher than those of other greek houses. (The chapter house was bought in the era of double digit interest rates) A number of members deactivated for financial reasons, and the chapter ultimately closed. The whole situation was really sad, and then, like now, many students struggled to pay expenses. The moral of the story: it is important to work with members to ensure that they are able to meet expenses, in order for the chapter to remain strong.

[pshsx1]

A few of my brothers just went inactive b/c they know they can't meet financial obligations this year. Sucks.

[sigtau305]

Originally Posted by pshsx1

A few of my brothers just went inactive b/c they know they can't meet financial obligations this year. Sucks.

we had two members that are not in school this semester due to Financial reasons.

[groovypq]

Originally Posted by 33girl

I do agree with Jeni's suggestion of asking alumni for help. There are probably alums out there who would much sooner pay the dues for a deserving member of their home chapter rather than send it off to the national foundation.

My chapter used to do this, but were told last winter that they are not allowed to. We're facing the problem of sisters deactivating because they are unable to pay dues (lost one already this summer, possibly two) and also PNMs deciding not to go through recruitment or COB because they already know they can't pay dues. I'm not sure what advice to give them...