Comments on: Eliminate Fraternity Pledge Dues http://thefraternityadvisor.com/eliminate-fraternity-pledge-dues/ Make Your Fraternity the Best on Campus Mon, 14 May 2012 03:06:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: pat http://thefraternityadvisor.com/eliminate-fraternity-pledge-dues/comment-page-1/#comment-12046 pat Sun, 10 Apr 2011 00:17:46 +0000 http://mckearinmedia.com/test2/?p=104#comment-12046 I agree that the new members need to understand the financial commitment that goes into becoming a brother. However, there is no reason whatsoever that a motivated new member class or chapter cannot have huge fundraising efforts to significantly reduce brotherhood dues. I agree that the new members need to understand the financial commitment that goes into becoming a brother. However, there is no reason whatsoever that a motivated new member class or chapter cannot have huge fundraising efforts to significantly reduce brotherhood dues.

]]> By: Dennis http://thefraternityadvisor.com/eliminate-fraternity-pledge-dues/comment-page-1/#comment-11267 Dennis Sun, 03 Apr 2011 02:43:28 +0000 http://mckearinmedia.com/test2/?p=104#comment-11267 We charge a reduced level for pledge dues to compensate for the national pledge & initiation fees. So it works out equiv to active dues. I'm not against pledges doing fundraising programs to cover their costs, and of course they will be dedicated as actives/initiates. But dedicated and financially able to pay are different things. Going from zero to 500-1500 a semester (we charge 750sem) is a big change. Pledges coming through a system like that may be thinking they'll get a job when they don't have to worry about being a pledge anymore or they'll use financial aid money or something, but they aren't demonstrating an ability to pay. I'd rather know they can't afford it when they can still be easily voted out than as an active when they'll be strung along for a while and eventually sent to collections. I do like the idea of them doing fundraising activities like this though. I'd have no problem with them reimbursing a portion of that to cover pledge/initiation fees. But, I'd rather see them spend the bulk of that money on pledge class socials. Let them go pair up with another fraternity's pledge class and set up a social with a sorority pledge class or something. That way (with some guidance) they can learn how to do some of the functions active officers have to do, and they can have some fun in the process. We charge a reduced level for pledge dues to compensate for the national pledge & initiation fees. So it works out equiv to active dues.

I’m not against pledges doing fundraising programs to cover their costs, and of course they will be dedicated as actives/initiates. But dedicated and financially able to pay are different things. Going from zero to 500-1500 a semester (we charge 750sem) is a big change.

Pledges coming through a system like that may be thinking they’ll get a job when they don’t have to worry about being a pledge anymore or they’ll use financial aid money or something, but they aren’t demonstrating an ability to pay. I’d rather know they can’t afford it when they can still be easily voted out than as an active when they’ll be strung along for a while and eventually sent to collections.

I do like the idea of them doing fundraising activities like this though. I’d have no problem with them reimbursing a portion of that to cover pledge/initiation fees. But, I’d rather see them spend the bulk of that money on pledge class socials. Let them go pair up with another fraternity’s pledge class and set up a social with a sorority pledge class or something. That way (with some guidance) they can learn how to do some of the functions active officers have to do, and they can have some fun in the process.

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