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Alpha Phi Omega
Alpha Iota Chapter Articles of Association
Preamble
We, the Members of Alpha Iota Chapter of Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity, chartered on the campus of The Ohio State University, and established for the purpose of assembling college students in the fellowship of principles derived from the Scout Oath and Law of the Boy Scouts of America, to develop Leadership, to promote Friendship and to provide Service to humanity, and to further the freedom that is our national, educational, and intellectual heritage, do adopt these Articles of Association.
Article I
Name
The name of this organization is the Alpha Iota Chapter of Alpha Phi Omega as chartered by the National Office of Alpha Phi Omega on May 29, 1934.
Article II
Purpose and Policy
This Chapter shall be conducted as a Service Fraternity under the policies, principles, and provisions set forth in the National Articles of Incorporation, National Bylaws, and these Articles of Association of Alpha Phi Omega.
Article III
Membership
Section One: Open Membership.
Membership in this Chapter of Alpha Phi Omega shall be open to all students. Membership in this Chapter shall be granted only upon the approval of the applicant by this Chapter and after the applicant has fulfilled the Membership requirements prescribed by the National Fraternity and by this Chapter. This organization and its members shall not discriminate against any individual(s) for reasons of race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, sex, age, handicap, or Vietnam-era veteran status.
Section Two: Pledge/Perspective Membership.
Pledge Membership in this Chapter shall be conferred upon students enrolled in the institution where this Chapter is located who are selected to participate in a period of preparation and training in the ideals and purposes of Alpha Phi Omega. The Pledge Ceremony shall be according to the official ritual of the Fraternity. Pledge members are permitted to vote only for offices, which pledge members may hold. This Chapter shall determine the content and duration of the pledge period in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation, the National Bylaws, and the operating policies of the National Fraternity. The foundational guidelines for the pledge period are as follows. No pledge/perspective may enter any ritual without first paying required fees to the treasurer. During a seven-week period, pledges shall: serve on at least one committee, attend two social events, and complete ten hours of community service, (at least five with the chapter and at least three with the pledge class). The Chapter Educator shall keep records of pledge membership progress until pledge period ends when records are turned over to Membership Vice President for permanent filing. Modifications to the guidelines listed here must be approved by a majority of a quorum of the Executive Committee before the previously denoted end to the pledge period. Changes may be made on a per pledge or per pledge class basis.
Section Three: Active Membership.
Active Membership in this Chapter shall be conferred upon enrolled students of this educational institution who are in fellowship of the principles of Alpha Phi Omega and who, to the satisfaction of this Chapter, are so oriented; who have successfully completed a Membership education program structured in accordance with the guidelines established in the National Pledging Standards and the Membership Policies of the Fraternity; and who are encouraged, but not required, by this Chapter to be a registered Member of any Scout or youth service organization. Active Membership shall carry all rights and responsibilities in this Chapter. Active Membership shall continue so long as the Member remains in good standing in this Chapter, does not become an associate Member, and continues enrollment in this educational institution. Active membership is the only form of membership permitted to vote on Chapter matters. To remain in good standing with the chapter an Active Member shall each quarter demonstrate the fraternity’s cardinal principles of Leadership, Friendship, and Service as designated below:
· Leadership: Serve on at least one committee. Pay all dues and fees required by the chapter by the third week of the term. The dues for the year shall be set by the Executive Committee prior to the second week of Fall Quarter and shall not increase more than ten percent over the previous year.
· Friendship: Two social events shall be attended each quarter. A social event is when three or more members gather and the entire chapter has been invited to the event at least 12 hours before the event. Seventy percent of all chapter meetings must be attended without two consecutive absences unless previously excused with the Membership Vice President at least 2 hours before the meeting (via phone, e-mail, campus mail, etc). Actives may fall under review of the Membership Committee if absences exceed the limit.
· Service: Ten hours of service. These hours may be earned in the following three ways. Up to 3 hours from outside Alpha Phi Omega, 2 hours from committee involvement (as described in Article V), five or more hours from the chapter’s service program (as described in Article XVII).
Modifications to the guidelines listed here must be approved by a majority of a quorum of the Executive Committee before the last full week of the quarter. Changes may be made on a per member or entire membership basis from a petition of an Active member.
Section Four: Associate Membership.
The Chapter may confer associate Membership on an Active Member who finds it necessary to cease full involvement in Chapter affairs, because of other commitments of time and effort, and who petitions for such Membership. This Chapter shall determine the procedures for conferring associate Membership, the rights and responsibilities thereof, and for reinstatement to Active Membership. This Chapter’s foundational guidelines are as follows. All decisions on associate membership shall be determined by the third week of the quarter. Associate Membership shall be conferred on a member doing at least one of the following:
· Requesting Associate Membership by the third week of the quarter in a direct written petition to the Membership Vice President.
· Is not enrolled in five hours of classes or is in a Co-op or Internship and has notified the Membership Vice President by the third week of the quarter.
· Is not in good standing with the University and has notified the Membership Vice President by the third week of the quarter.
Modifications to the guidelines listed here must be approved by a majority of a quorum of the Executive Committee before the last full week of the previous quarter. Changes may be made on a per member or entire membership basis. The Associate member shall determine his/her level of involvement for the given quarter of Associate Membership. Each quarter the Membership must be duly informed of the desire to be an Associate member as described above.
Section Five: Inactive Membership.
Inactive membership shall be conferred upon any brother not registered as either an Active or Associate member. This includes any of the three cases for Associate membership without proper notification of the Membership Vice President or after the third week of the quarter. Inactive membership shall also be awarded to members who neglect to pay dues by the third week or have not met all the requirements for Active membership the previous quarter without a successful petition of the Executive Committee as described in Section Three.
Section Six: Advisor Membership.
Advisory Membership may be conferred upon persons approved by the Chapter to serve on the Advisory Committee, who shall have all rights and privileges of Active Membership except those of voting, directing the supervision of pledges, and directing the establishment of Pledge or Active Membership programs and policies. The only Chapter office Advisory Committee Members can hold is the office of the Chair of the Advisory Committee. Such Membership may not be conferred upon undergraduate students. Graduate students may become Advisor members after a one-quarter trial period and majority vote by the Active membership. Advisory membership may be removed at anytime via a three fourths (3/4) vote of the active membership. Advisors must attend a minimum of two meetings a quarter, one social event per year, and one service project per year. Advisor contributions will be evaluated before reelection.
Section Seven: Honorary Membership.
This Chapter may confer Honorary Chapter Membership upon persons who have contributed significantly to the ideals and purposes of Alpha Phi Omega. Persons so honored shall have all rights and privileges of Active Membership except those of voting or holding office. Honorary Chapter Membership may not be bestowed upon undergraduate students, except for students at institutions where extension efforts would be allowed by the Fraternity but cannot be attempted due to institutional regulations. The approval by a vote of at least three-fourths (3/4) vote of this Chapter’s Active Members shall be required for the conferring of Honorary Chapter Membership.
Section Eight: Alumni Membership.
Upon leaving this Chapter, without having been suspended or expelled by this Chapter or the National Fraternity, all who have held Active, Advisory, or Honorary Membership in this Chapter shall be recognized as Alumni Members. If expelled, Active Membership will be suspended during period of probation, but will be returned after probation.
Article IV
Officers
This Chapter shall elect a President, a Membership Vice Presidents, a Service Vice President, a Fellowship Chair, a Treasurer, a Secretary, a Chapter Educator, a Communications Chair, and an Advisory Board Chair. Such officers shall be elected annually. Such officers shall be properly installed by a traditional ceremony according to the official Ritual Book and as added to by the Chapter during Founder’s Day. This Chapter may remove an officer for not meeting assigned responsibilities only in a method prescribed by this Chapter’s Bylaws. Only Active members may hold an office and only one office may be held (with the previously mentioned exception of Advisory Chair). Any vacancy shall be filled with an election two weeks following the announcement of the vacancy at a regular business meeting of the chapter. Any office may be held for any duration contingent upon Active Membership. Regionals, Sectionals, and Nationals must be attended by a minimum of one officer each. It is not required that the same officer attend all. Interim officer shall be the next lowest in the following list. The responsibilities of each office are described below.
Section One: President.
The President shall serve as chair of the Executive committee and chair as the presiding officer at all regular and special meetings. The president shall ensure the execution of all parts of these by-laws, national by-laws, and rules dictated by the University. The president shall also ensure coordination of all chapter officers and activities, serve as chief spokesman for the Alpha Iota chapter, serve as an ex-officio of all standing committees, and ensure execution of all responsibilities of the executive committee. Perform any other duties as needed for the Chapter.
Section Two: Membership Vice President.
This person shall serve as chair of the membership committee. The Membership Vice President shall make all correspondence required with the National Office concerning membership including registration of pledges and actives at the beginning of the year. The membership chair shall also maintain records of all members of Alpha Phi Omega since the founding members in chronological order in a membership book kept on permanent file in the Alpha Iota office including information of date active, membership number, big and littles, and positions held. The membership chair shall also maintain an accurate family tree for the Alpha Iota chapter on permanent file in the Alpha Iota office. The Membership Vice President shall also maintain a list of standing committees and membership of those committees. The Membership Vice President shall run elections and awards. Perform any other duties as prescribed by the president.
Section Three: Service Vice President.
A Service Committee must be existent; this person shall serve as chair of the service committee and coordinate all service efforts of the Chapter. The Service Vice President shall ensure a written report including pertinent contact information shall be made for each project carried out and kept on file in the Chapter office. Perform any other duties as prescribed by the president.
Section Four: Fellowship Chair.
The social chair shall serve and coordinate all fellowship activities and chair the fellowship committee. A minimum of four social activities must be planned each quarter. The Fellowship Chair shall complete any other extraneous tasks, as the position requires. Perform any other duties as prescribed by the president.
Section Five: Treasurer.
The treasurer shall have charge of the books, financial records, and moneys of the chapter. The treasurer shall execute all required transactions of the members of the chapter including disbursement of funds for events and collections of funds for dues with receipts to members. The treasurer shall also negotiate and maintain a budget with each standing committee and its chair. Financial decisions require a vote of Actives. Perform any other duties as prescribed by the president.
Section Six: Secretary.
The secretary shall serve ex-officio with one vote on all standing committees keeping strict and accurate records of all committee, business, and special meetings for inclusion of chapter files maintained in the chapter office. Included in all minutes shall be an accurate list of attendees and an accurate description of all proceedings. All business and special meeting minutes shall be dispersed to all members via the listserv within one week of the meeting. All committee meetings shall be distributed via e-mail or campus mail to all members of committee within one week of the meeting. The secretary is also responsible for all chapter communications including thank you notes and other correspondents to the community on chapter or University letterhead. Perform any other duties as prescribed by the president.
Section Seven: Chapter Educator.
The Chapter Educator shall guide pledges through their pledge period training them in the history and spirit of Alpha Phi Omega and the Alpha Iota chapter. The Chapter Educator shall cooperate with the Treasurer and Membership Vice President to complete all paperwork for the National Fraternity. The chapter educator also has the responsibility of organizing and performing all rituals as prescribed by the National Fraternity. Perform any other duties as prescribed by the president.
Section Eight: Communications Chair.
The communications chair shall make all correspondence with the University and its entities about Alpha Iota and its activities. The Communications chair shall serve on both the Service and Social committees to maintain proper correspondence with both. Perform any other duties as prescribed by the president.