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University Daily Kansan
Wednesday, February 4.1970
5
Co-op without new members despite new stability
By LIZ LEECH
Staff Writer
It's supposed to be less risky now to join Greek Management, Inc. (GMI), a cooperative organization here. Yet no new members have joined the co-op and Rick McKernan, director of GMI, says that he can't understand why.
MkCernan said Monday that the organization was financially stable now and had lowered the deposit for joining. The changes were intended to make it easier for fraternists and sororites to join the co-op, a non-profit organization.
The co-op was set up several years ago by the Interfraternity Council, (IFC) but now operates on its own, McKernan said. GMI is owned and operated by members of the fraternity he said, to save money through volume buying of food and household items.
UNTIL LATE LAST SEMESTER,
fraternities and sororites that wanted to join the co-op were required to pay a membership fee of $250. In addition, each house had to pay a deposit based on what it took to receive provisions for two months. McKenna said,
Since the co-op was in its early stages then, it was risky to join because the co-op could lose money. Thus, the members would lose money they had invested.
"The risk now is zero because we're stronger." McKennan said.
Instead of the initial deposit being based on the two-month provision bill, houses can be by paying what they usually would for one month's provisions, McKernan said.
AND, IF THE HOUSE prefers, it can pay a half of the deposit in cash and keep the remainder, he said.
He said that if a new member decided to withdraw after three months, GMI would lose its control and could not do anything.
"The houses that are in it now are so confident in the program that they are willing to guarantee that a new member would get its money back," McKernan said. "They (present members) are doing everything but buying the food for them."
SIX FRATERNITIES, the Lawrence Day Center and Evans Scholarship Hall are now members of GMI. McKennan said, "We had been made, no new groups had been made."
Two sororites recently considered joining the co-op, but didn't.
A spokesman for one of the sororities, who asked not to be identified, said her house had originally unanimously voted to join the co-op late last semester.
She said that the sorority's lawyer had
But the sorority didn't join because of financial complications and because of the mixed views of the sorority's alumni advisers.
examined the GMI program and had given his approval.
"We might have joined if our budget had been geared toward it (GMI) at the beginning of the year, but it wasn't," she said.
SHE SAID SHE SHE thought that even with the new change there was probably still a chance.
She also said that perhaps if one new sorrow joined, others might be more likely
She said she thought that sorority alumni advisers were less likely to let sororites try new programs than fraternity advisers because many of the fraternity advisers were businessmen who frequently were subjected to new ideas.
An advisor to the sorority refused to comment.
McKernan said he had seen the sorority's financial balance sheets and said he thought it was worth considering.
ROBERT TURVEY, assistant dean of men and IFC advisor, said he is a member of the GMI board of trustees, as a representative of IFC. He said he didn't understand why more groups weren't joining the co-oo.
"I have never heard a statement from that sorority clarifying why they didn't join."
Harriet Tavener, Alpha Chi Omega housemester, said that the sorority was financially unable to join the co-op this year.
The other sorbity that considered joining GMI was Alpha Chi Omega.
We're still considering because the program sounds like it's really getting in you.
PAM HORNE, assistant to the dean of women and Panhellenic advisor, said that she had been notified by GMI that she was the sole representative of trustees as a Panhellenic representative.
She said Turvey had told her she was on vacation but she said she wasn't very familiar with GMI.
"There hasn't any interest shown by the sorories and that's why it hasn't been a problem."
Turvey and Horne agreed that alumnin involvement in sorority and fraternity fostered a sense of community.
"I think sororities work more closely with their alumni, and I think that there have been alums, housemothers and sorority sisters who come home to his hesitant about food co-ops." Horn said.
Surveyed he thought members of
their groups had more control over their
budgets than those in the firm.
"And sorority women handle their money so well that they have dealt with the same purveyor for a long time and trust him," Turvey said.
HE SAID IT WOULD be hard for them to change.
"If we can document how you can buy the same product, same brand, same quality, a vendor and you can buy it cheaper from the store than you can join, I paint, it doesn't make sense." McKenna ST.
McKernan said living groups that didn't join the co-op were being illica
He said that if enough groups joined GMI, there wouldn't be a limit on products that were produced.
"It's frustrating that I can" spend more time trying to improve the co-op and what it can do, instead of trying to sell it to the groups," McKennan said.
GREG EK, PRESIDENT of Phil Delta
Theta fraternity, said his fraternity had joined GMI two years ago and was happy with the products and service it had received.
"It's hard to say how much we're saving,
but we've saved on furniture and food," Eek
"There're no doubt that we'll stick with it, and it should catch on." Ek said.
Ek said he thought that GMI members would stick with the program.
Kent Allingham, treasurer of GMI member Alpha Kappa Lambda, said he would be received initial deposit and money-back guarantee would prompt other groups to join the co-开
"We're saving money, but we also only have to pay one bill every month instead of paying all the different vendors," Allingham said.
ALPHA KAPPA LAMBDA housemother.
Lilia Ross, said that she liked not having to "run all over town to shop."
"I had never heard of the brand of canned co-op apps, but I like it very much."
Many sorority housemothers and
widowers are not familiar with
Grace's in changes.
Freda Rodgers, Kappa Kappa Gamma
safety housemother who one has
to take care of.
"But if they contacted the house and wanted to present their program, I'm sure we should do it."
Kelly McCarthy, Gamma Phi Beta sorority president, said that she had beamed of GMI, but hadn't been personally contacted by the organization.
MCKERNAN SAID that he was pannman a presentation of GMI's program for all host countries.
Turvey said that the GMI philosophy isn't a hard-sell campaign.
"It's a co-op and it's there because people wanted to save money." Turvey said, "and it would be different if we were strictly a profit-minded business.
"It's a two-way street and they should be trying to save their groups some money."
Events...
TODAY: THE GERMAN CLUB will meet to discuss "Karneval in Deutschland," at 3:30 in 4051 Wescoe.
TONIGHT: JOHN BOULTON, assistant professor of flute, will perform in the FACULTY RECITAL SERVICE at 8 in Swarthout Recital Hall.
TOMORROW: A reception for GEORGE GILDER, author of "XURUS Suicide," will be held at 7 p.m. in the Centennial Room of the Kansas Union. A reception for KEVIN FARRIS, president of the National Organization of Women, will be at 7 p.m. in the Music Room of the Union. It is sponsored by the Commission on the Status of Women.
Grants and Awards . . .
KU debaters Frank Cross and Robin Rowland, Lawrence juniors, took first place in a tournament at Boston University, Cambridge, Mass., last weekend. Rowland
Debating at Baylor University, Phil Snow, Sugarland, Tex., senior, and Jim Prentice, Turon senior, took four places in the senior division. Prentice was fifth place in the junior division.
In the junior division, the team of Margaret Michels, Des Moine freshman, and Don Brockman, St. Louis freshman, took fourth place. Fifteen place went to the team of Kevin Fowler, Leavenworth freshman, and Kevin Fowler, Michels third place, and Steve Griffin, Lawrence freshman, fifth place.
Student Elections-Feb.18 & 19 Filing Deadline-Wednesday, Feb.4
9:30-5:30 Daily; '11 8:30 Thursday
Class officers will be elected for soph., Jr., and sr. classes. 102 seats will be elected. Filling forms may be obtained in the Student Senate office, 105 B Kansas Union. The filing fee Is $5. The Senate seats are open from:
Grad. School 21 Journalism 3
Arch. & Urban Design 2 Law 2
Business 4 Pharmacy 2
Education 7 Soc.Welfare 3
Engineering 6 LA&S 19
Fine Arts 7 Nunemaker 26
Senators from Nunemaker College will be elected from the 5 districts outlined below. Questions about the districts should be referred to the Senate Office at 864-371O. Get involved and vote on the 18th or 19th!
NUNEMAKER SENATE DISTRICTS...