Encourage brothers to pay bills?

[Kevin]

If the problem is pervasive, you could consider suspending all social (or other types) functions until everyone is either paid in full or on a payment plan. Post the list of names somewhere all can see, encourage brothers to help out individuals who are having financial issues (e.g., find them a job). Those who are paying should resent those who are not because those who are not paying are having a free lunch on their brothers' dime.

The chapter I advise always aspires to have a 30/90 day policy in that you are suspended at 30 days past due and expelled at 90. That hasn't always worked out, but for the most part, it has, and expulsions don't really happen because everyone pays.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Kevin

If the problem is pervasive, you could consider suspending all social (or other types) functions until everyone is either paid in full or on a payment plan. Post the list of names somewhere all can see, encourage brothers to help out individuals who are having financial issues (e.g., find them a job). Those who are paying should resent those who are not because those who are not paying are having a free lunch on their brothers' dime.

Unless, of course, it's the type of campus where you don't necessarily have to belong to a fraternity to have a full social life. Then this just backfires and the guys who were paying say screw it.

As far as alumni/ae who owe dues, I will say that this is NOT always their fault - there are times when due to past cluster@#$% bookkeeping practices, they can't get a straight answer from the chapter or higher up about how much they actually owe, and by the time it all gets sorted out, they get a "deadbeat alum" label slapped on them. In other words, I agree with Gusteau.

[Gusteau]

Perhaps I should have phrased that better. Allowing someone to graduate in debt and then doing nothing to collect the debt is poor chapter management.

And it's not worth alienating a potential future support alumnus by revoking his membership.

[lucgreek]

You're assuming the alumni who doesn't want to pay dues would give back to the chapter in the future. If someone's not willing to pay dues, something tells me they're unlikely to be of help in the future.

[Kevin]

Yikes. So you think an Alumnus would be correct to hold a grudge because the chapter pursued a debt he owed to them? If he did hold a grudge, he's probably not the kind of alumnus you want coming around anyhow.

[Gusteau]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Yikes. So you think an Alumnus would be correct to hold a grudge because the chapter pursued a debt he owed to them? If he did hold a grudge, he's probably not the kind of alumnus you want coming around anyhow.

No. I was referring to lucgreek's suggested trying to have an in debt alumnus' membership revoked - that's too extreme.

Originally Posted by 33girl

As far as alumni/ae who owe dues, I will say that this is NOT always their fault - there are times when due to past cluster@#$% bookkeeping practices, they can't get a straight answer from the chapter or higher up about how much they actually owe, and by the time it all gets sorted out, they get a "deadbeat alum" label slapped on them. In other words, I agree with Gusteau.

This is more what I was thinking. If the chapter is doing things the right way you should never get as far as having a situation where alumni still owe dues.

[AnchorAlumna]

If you are part of a national organization, find out that organization's policies and follow them to the T. Announce what they are...it should be part of your pledge education, along with frequent explanations and reminders in chapter meetings.
When you have brothers that don't/won't pay after the required number of warnings, follow through with a collection agency or whatever disciplinary action is set down.
Once you do this with one or two members, you can bet 90% of the rest will either come forward with the money or make arrangements for paying. The other 10% will disappear...and they probably weren't contributing anything anyway.