Inter/National Dues for sororities?

[AOE-7]

Does anybody know if there is somewhere that you can verify the national dues for organizations on your campus? I'm on a campus where it's really important that each organization disclose accurate financial info. Needless to say, we recently discovered that one organization is not being truthful with their financial obligations for recruitment. For Example: Most orgs list their total first semester costs in the mid $400s, but one org lists their costs in the low $300s. We've since then learned that the $300 does not include their inter/national annual/semi annual dues, or one time pledging and initiation fees, which is misleading to the PNMs.

I understand that many chapters do things differently - they may charge one lump sum, and pay those pledging, initiation and annual dues from the lump sum...but in at least one instance, we dont believe this is the case.

Does your campus require full financial disclosure? If so, how do you get cooperation from all orgs? Some chapters are all inclusive, some chapters fine, and other chapters assess left and right. At our campus, it's imperative that PNMs understand the minimum financial obligations, which includes Chapter dues, national dues, pledging and initiation, and any other fees that chapter regularly requires (corporation note, or housing obligations, if any...).

I tried to do a google search for this org, and I based on other campus websites and financial info, and even copies of bylaws I've found (hello, bright idea putting your orgs bylaws on the internet...), I think I have a good idea what their national obligations probably are. However, I'm not 100% certain. Any ideas?

[Psi U MC Vito]

The only thing I can think of is maybe having your Office of Greek Life call up the various nationals and ask for stuff like chapter dues and initiation fees.

[knight_shadow]

The fees aren't listed on the organization's national website? That seems like the obvious place to look.

On my campus, it's up to the PNM and the chapter to discuss dues, not some third party. Are you a council officer? I can't think of any other reason why you'd take it upon yourself to find this information.

[texas*princess]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

On my campus, it's up to the PNM and the chapter to discuss dues, not some third party. Are you a council officer? I can't think of any other reason why you'd take it upon yourself to find this information.

agreed 100%

I think if the campus Panhellenic (or Director of Greek Life) is having an issue with the way a certain chapter is disclosing financial obligations or making them appear lower than they really are, that governing person should talk to the chapter and not have to play detective on the internet to find out.

I agree that it's weird to make it seem that the financial obligations are way lower than the other groups on campus. That could definitely sway a pnm decision for them to find out later that it's just as much (if not more) than they previously thought, but I don't think it's right for some random person to take it upon them self to set the record straight. Let the director of greek life or someone similar handle that.

[AOE-7]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

The fees aren't listed on the organization's national website? That seems like the obvious place to look.

On my campus, it's up to the PNM and the chapter to discuss dues, not some third party. Are you a council officer? I can't think of any other reason why you'd take it upon yourself to find this information.

No. I looked on the national website. All I could find were alumna dues.

I'm not a panhellenic officer, but I am the panhellenic representative for my chapter. (Our Panhellenic has executive board and representatives from each chapter.)

Originally Posted by texas*princess

agreed 100%

I think if the campus Panhellenic (or Director of Greek Life) is having an issue with the way a certain chapter is disclosing financial obligations or making them appear lower than they really are, that governing person should talk to the chapter and not have to play detective on the internet to find out.

I agree that it's weird to make it seem that the financial obligations are way lower than the other groups on campus. That could definitely sway a pnm decision for them to find out later that it's just as much (if not more) than they previously thought, but I don't think it's right for some random person to take it upon them self to set the record straight. Let the director of greek life or someone similar handle that.

I'm not a random person. As stated above, I am the representative for my chapter, and l am trying to prevent the scenario you described above from happening again...

[KSUViolet06]

My school requires chapters to create a pamphlet for PNMs detailing ALL financial obligations. This included dues, room and board, pledging/initiation fees, parlor fees etc.

We also had to disclose whether we assessed fines and such.

I'm pretty sure that the chapter Treasurers were responsible for creating the pamphlets, but our Panhellenic Council reviewed them for accuracy.

I would think that if there were an issue with accuracy, you should go to someone on Panhellenic.

To be honest, if a chapter is going to lie about costs, it's only going to end up hurting THEM in the long run.

[Titchou]

Doe your PH list the items that they want the chapters to include? That's one place to start. Though I do realize that takes some inside information on each group to know how they structure their billings. I ask this because I once worked with a chapter thst complained they were the most expensive on campus and wanted me to help them lower that. It took me 3 years before I got to the bottom of the problem. They weren't the highest but the way they interpreted the request for info from PH was the problem. They were including costs other groups were not. Once we got them on the same footing, their fees were in line with the other groups.

[texas*princess]

Originally Posted by AOE-7

No. I looked on the national website. All I could find were alumna dues.

I'm not a panhellenic officer, but I am the panhellenic representative for my chapter. (Our Panhellenic has executive board and representatives from each chapter.)



I'm not a random person. As stated above, I am the representative for my chapter, and l am trying to prevent the scenario you described above from happening again...

Right - but you're not an officer of the Panhellenic or anyone like that. If it's such a huge school issue, why not bring it up to everyone instead of being sneaky about it and trying to find out information about them on the interwebs?

Just say "hey everyone - I really think information for the pnms needs to include ALL financial obligations including initiation fees & I/Nat'l HQ dues because it appears that not all those costs are shown for all groups- here's an example where I think there might be an omission -example here-."

It just sounds better than coming in with information that may or may not be accurate and pointing a finger and saying "THEY AREN'T DISCLOSING ALL THE COSTS!!!!"

Like someone mentioned, it might help if PH gave them a list of everything they wanted included:

New Member Dues: $x
Initiation fee (one time): $x
National Dues: $x
Parlor Fees: $x
Badge: $x
National Insurance: $x

[AOE-7]

Originally Posted by Titchou

Doe your PH list the items that they want the chapters to include? That's one place to start. Though I do realize that takes some inside information on each group to know how they structure their billings. I ask this because I once worked with a chapter thst complained they were the most expensive on campus and wanted me to help them lower that. It took me 3 years before I got to the bottom of the problem. They weren't the highest but the way they interpreted the request for info from PH was the problem. They were including costs other groups were not. Once we got them on the same footing, their fees were in line with the other groups.

Originally Posted by texas*princess

Like someone mentioned, it might help if PH gave them a list of everything they wanted included:

New Member Dues: $x
Initiation fee (one time): $x
National Dues: $x
Parlor Fees: $x
Badge: $x
National Insurance: $x

Yeah, I think this might be part of the problem. I'm definitely going to suggest this. Thank you.

[NutBrnHair]

I think that new member dues and initiation fees are not listed on the National websites since many individual chapters add a sum to the fees they send to the HQ. For instance, the National Initiation fee might be $125, but Beta Omega Chapter (BO, wouldn't that be pretty on a chapter guard!) adds $25 which goes to their budget.

[honeychile]

That information would be on the Double Secret part of our website. I can't imagine that we're the only one who does that, and Sunshine Laws don't apply to sororities.

What I would suggest is a breakdown of fees similar to this:

$18,000 New Members Fee
(covers Chapter dues for 2 months, Inititation fee, Parlor fee, Insurance fees, Housing Corporation fees, and Basic Pin [may be upgraded].

$15,000 Members Fee
(covers monthly Chapter dues, Parlor fee, Insurance fees, Housing Corporation fees)

Of course, I'm having fun with the dollar amounts, but I still wouldn't state exactly how much is paid to what. At least, our chapter didn't. And I'm VERY glad that my chapter isn't Beta Omicron!

[Titchou]

Nor Eta Omicron (HO)!

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by Titchou

Nor Eta Omicron (HO)!

I guess Eta Iota would be "The Friendly Chapter" (HI).

[sigmadiva]

We have an undergrad chapter that is Eta Alpha (HA)!

[FSUZeta]

^that's when you definately get the staggered letters on you chapter guard!^