Initiation Cost?

[Drolefille]

Originally posted by mccoyred
Based on prior statements from other NPHC'ers, including myself, I DON'T think my soror was kidding. That really is the attitude we take.

I was refering to KillarneyRose... and how she said "Just Kidding" however, the reply only quoted the first part.

[Tom Earp]

Maybe we are getting off of the track here.

Initiation dues cover many things that are up front and do net refer to Semester Dues.

The first cost is going to be the highest out of pocket for many reasons.

I think I listed what LXA includes above in a post.

After taht when and after being Initiated, the costs vary and will be more reasonable.

But, I agree, the PNMs should know up front what costs are going to be.

If some find out that they cannot afford it, then why wait until the last minute and say, "Oh, I cannot afford this", when much time and effort has gone into recruitment and this also includes MONEY from the Chapter.

Yes, We are Social Organizations, but it cost money to run said Organizations. Yes, it needs to be run like a business or there would be no need for Officers to run and over see The Organizations.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally posted by Drolefille
the reply only quoted the first part.

Because I'm not just kidding.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally posted by 33girl
I was going to say that my understanding had always been that the NPHC outlook was like buying couture - if you have to ask, you can't afford it - but I didn't want to ass-ume.

That depends on the specific organization and the campus culture. Many NPHCers will not find something wrong with someone asking for a cost--even if they can only give the person a ballpark figure if the info isn't on the national website.

I personally have never had an aspirant ask me about cost and we never discussed cost at our "so you want to be Greek" panel discussions. People express more concern with GPA, community service--mostly things that they can find on our national websites. If it isn't on our national website then it's obviously something that you don't find out about until a later time.

As far as people's readiness to pay, wise people will begin saving their money as soon as they realized they wanted to pursue an organization--hopefully a year or so before they actually get enough college credits to do so. Other people will sell items or know who they can go to for the money--or make other exceptions, being the resourcefully intelligent college or post-college people that they are. But, it isn't like Mission Impossible where they get a mysterious phone call in which they find out the cost 24 hours before the money is due. If they can't afford to pursue membership, they will wait until next year or the year after that or the year after that. Many of us had organizations in our hearts but had to wait patiently until the time was right for whatever reasons.

[Wolfman]

A beloved KRS(Chapter secretary) in a graduate chapter I was once the (basilues)president of had a saying when it came to these matters: We pay to serve!

[Tom Earp]

So, what is Your idea of wise people?

Is that why that D9s have such small undergraduate Chapters and Big Alum Chapters?

I am just asking a question and have D9 Friends and I do not get the same vibes from them that I get from You and others of D9ers.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally posted by Drolefille
Um she was kidding. I think I understand the sense you mean this in, but all the NPC chapters on my campus and those I know elsewhere understand that a lot of girls are paying for so many things themselves that they can't just say "the hell with the money, I'll do it" even if they really really want to. Without a car, I was hard pressed to find an off campus job, much less one that would pay me well enough to cover part of my schooling plus my dues. I was lucky enough to have a merit based scholarship as well as subsidized loans and a grandmother who would help with my dues. Not everyone is.

Most PNMs do not know for sure which house they want to join, nor will they choose primarily based on $, but $ might keep them from joining any house.

... hope I make sense

Maybe she was or maybe she's just trying to be nice.

I'm not kidding though and feel no need to be nice about it.

For those people with expenses--cry me a river. As someone previously stated, it's a personal decision to pursue an organization. Many people would be able to afford it if they stopped eating out everyday or buying so many clothes. Similar to paying tithes or offerings in the church, people make the money and time for the things that are most important to them at the time. Some people borrow money--whatever floats their boat in a legal and respectable way, as long as they have that money when it's time to pay up.

[Wolfman]

Originally posted by Tom Earp
So, what is Your idea of wise people?

Is that why that D9s have such small undergraduate Chapters and Big Alum Chapters?

I am just asking a question and have D9 Friends and I do not get the same vibes from them that I get from You and others of D9ers.

Are you refering to my post? I don't think that small undergrad number is finance related, as much as other issues like certain requirements and how they view going Greek. It's seen more like getting married. And, to be frank, some people are scared, and they also respect the seriousness of the obligation. Now that doesn't mean you don't have lukeward brothers or sisters but generally speaking going Greek in a NPHC group is seen as a very serious commitment, above the financial aspects.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally posted by Tom Earp
So, what is Your idea of wise people?

The people who do what I stated in my post, obviously.

ETA: I mistyped and made a distinction between "wise people" and "other people." These aren't different categories. Anyone who saves money or uses legal and respectable means of getting the money is WISE as far as I'm concerned.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally posted by KillarneyRose
I was just kidding, chaos.

I saw the "just kidding."

[Tom Earp]

Originally posted by Wolfman
Are you refering to my post? I don't think that small undergrad number is finance related, as much as other issues like certain requirements and how they view going Greek. It's seen more like getting married. And, to be frank, some people are scared, and they also respect the seriousness of the obligation. Now that doesn't mean you don't have lukeward brothers or sisters but generally speaking going Greek in a NPHC group is seen as a very serious commitment, above the financial aspects.

No wolfman, it had nothing to do with Your post.

But being a serious commentment to ones values does not Keep a Chapter Functioning and this is from a Friend of Mine who is a D 9!

He got on GC once and said these GD People are nuts and I am not talking about WGLOs.

So how do You explain this?

Here is one a Member of a D 9 asking Me and You the same question?

[PerfectVerse06]

Originally posted by DSTCHAOS


That depends on the specific organization and the campus culture. Many NPHCers will not find something wrong with someone asking for a cost--even if they can only give the person a ballpark figure if the info isn't on the national website.

I personally have never had an aspirant ask me about cost and we never discussed cost at our "so you want to be Greek" panel discussions. People express more concern with GPA, community service--mostly things that they can find on our national websites. If it isn't on our national website then it's obviously something that you don't find out about until a later time.

As far as people's readiness to pay, wise people will begin saving their money as soon as they realized they wanted to pursue an organization--hopefully a year or so before they actually get enough college credits to do so. Other people will sell items or know who they can go to for the money--or make other exceptions, being the resourcefully intelligent college or post-college people that they are. But, it isn't like Mission Impossible where they get a mysterious phone call in which they find out the cost 24 hours before the money is due. If they can't afford to pursue membership, they will wait until next year or the year after that or the year after that. Many of us had organizations in our hearts but had to wait patiently until the time was right for whatever reasons.

*applause*

originally posted by Tom Earp
But being a serious commentment to ones values does not Keep a Chapter Functioning and this is from a Friend of Mine who is a D 9!

He got on GC once and said these GD People are nuts and I am not talking about WGLOs.

So how do You explain this?

Here is one a Member of a D 9 asking Me and You the same question?

So because one of your D9 friends questions the validity of what countless other members of Divine Nine organizations have stated here on GC, that makes their points null and void? And because he states, as you quoted, that 'these GD people are nuts', that must be true as well, right?

How do you explain this?

[Wolfman]

Originally posted by Tom Earp
No wolfman, it had nothing to do with Your post.

But being a serious commentment to ones values does not Keep a Chapter Functioning and this is from a Friend of Mine who is a D 9!

He got on GC once and said these GD People are nuts and I am not talking about WGLOs.

So how do You explain this?

Here is one a Member of a D 9 asking Me and You the same question?

In regards to not only this issue but others as well, I do think there is a generational gap in the practices in NPHC groups. In my group, older many "bruhs"(ie, those in the fold say 20+ years) do see a different milieu in many ways, reflected in some of the practices that some younger brothers hold to. Traditions are fluid;the problem is that some who don't have the long view think that the way things are done now by our younger set-the only way those who were made recently know-are THE way. In many cases, these practices and "traditions" are novel.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally posted by Tom Earp
No wolfman, it had nothing to do with Your post.

But being a serious commentment to ones values does not Keep a Chapter Functioning and this is from a Friend of Mine who is a D 9!

He got on GC once and said these GD People are nuts and I am not talking about WGLOs.

So how do You explain this?

Here is one a Member of a D 9 asking Me and You the same question?

There are hundreds of thousands of NPHC members, just like there are hundreds of thousands of IFC and NPC members.

Why do you think your friend's personal opinion should mean anything to us?

Our organizations are businesses just like yours are. We just handle SOME of our business differently and it hasn't kept us from having thousands of aspirants and initiates each year, nationally.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally posted by Wolfman
In regards to not only this issue but others as well, I do think there is a generational gap in the practices in NPHC groups. In my group, older many "bruhs"(ie, those in the fold say 20+ years) do see a different milieu in many ways, reflected in some of the practices that some younger brothers hold to. Traditions are fluid;the problem is that some who don't have the long view think that the way things are done now by our younger set-the only way those who were made recently know-are THE way. In many cases, these practices and "traditions" are novel.

Most of these traditions and practices are passed down by the older members. Older members simply disagree with each other on some matters. But, the older members who are more vocal and accessible to the younger members are the ones who influence the new lines. It's like playing "telephone," it's passed down and the end result isn't always how it was intended but people need to acknowledge that this stuff didn't appear out of thin air.