Brothers Versus Members
By Mark Cornelius,
Delta Delta Sigma Chapter

My brothers of the blue and white:

Some of you have heard from me before, and know that I like to speak from the bottom of my heart. It shall be no exception, when it comes to the issue of brothers, especially us younger ones, being financial within the organization.

Some say, that being "active" is more important than being financial.
I couldn't disagree more, simply because being active INCLUDES being financial. In the SIGMA LIGHT, of which I have a copy, it states under a section called What Sigma Expects of it's members: To honor your financial responsibility to the fraternity on time and in full. Thus, one is not active unless he has honored this responibility, and attends meetings and functions of the organization.

I knew quite a few brothers who always had an excuse when it came time to paying up. However, most always seemed to have the nice clothes, and new tennis shoes when school started up in the fall, or will be up in the club buying drinks, or putting that new system in their car . As an undergrad, one pair of Air Jordans was more than my dues for an ENTIRE year. Now granted, my dues were not always exactly on time, but they always got paid, no excuses. And believe me, I was definitely not what you would call rich when I was in college.

It is simply a matter of PRIORITIZING! If Sigma is important to you, you will take care of your responsibility to it. There are too many brothers out there leaning on the Shield, always looking for something from the frat, but can't/won't pay thier dues. And of course, we let them into our events for free, and even worse, participate in intake activities. WHY? Why should such a "brother" be granted the privileges of a member when he is not owning up to his responsibility? He should not.

To make a long story short (too late), we should hold brothers to the standard of no excuses. Just think, if every "brother" in your chapter were financial, how much of a better position your chapter would be in. How many programs, other than parties, could you put on? How much less griping from your Grad chapter would you have to listen to? Think about that when dues time comes around later on this year,,,,,

Are you a member????