Standing Rules: Alpha Mu Chapter, Pennsylvania State Organization,
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I. NAME OF THE ORGANIZATION
The name of this organization shall be the Alpha Mu Chapter, Alpha Alpha State (PA) of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. II. MISSION AND PURPOSES The mission of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International is to promote professional and personal growth of women educators and excellence in education. The Seven Purposes of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International include: · To unite women educators of the world in a genuine spiritual fellowship · To honor women who have given or who evidence a potential for distinctive service in any field of education · To advance the professional interest and position of women in education · To initiate, endorse, and support desirable legislation or other suitable endeavors in the interest of education and of women educators · To endow scholarships to aid outstanding women educators in pursuing graduate study and to grant fellowships to non-member women educators · To stimulate the personal and professional growth of members and to encourage their participation in appropriate programs of action · To inform the members of current economic, social, political, and educational issues so that they may participate effectively in a world society. III. FISCAL YEAR The fiscal year shall be July 1 through June 30 inclusive. For the purposes of this document the, the term fall will include dates July 1 through December 31, and spring shall include dates January 1 through June 30. IV. OFFICERS The officers shall be president, first vice-president, second vice-president, recording secretary, and corresponding secretary (all elected) and a treasurer (recommended by the President and approved by the Executive Board at its first meeting of the biennium). The parliamentarian shall be appointed by the president and act as an advisor to the officers and the members of her organization in matters pertaining to interpretation of the Constitution and to parliamentary usage; If the president cannot serve, the first vice-president shall become president, then the second vice president, and finally the chair of the nominating committee. If a vacancy occurs in other elective or appointive positions, the president shall name a successor. V. EXECUTIVE BOARD The Executive Board shall be comprised of the elected officers, the immediate past president, the treasurer, and the parliamentarian who shall be appointed by the president. A treasurer serves as a voting member of the Executive Board so long as she is not paid to carry out the duties of treasurer. The Parliamentarian is an ex officio member who may not vote. 1. The Executive Board is chaired by the Chapter President. 2. The Chapter Recording Secretary shall serve as Secretary to the Executive Board. 3. The Executive board must meet at least two times each year. All meetings of this Board are established by the president. 4. The first meeting each year must be prior to the first meeting of the membership. At that meeting the Treasurer shall be selected and the Chapter Budget shall be approved for presentation to the membership for final adoption. 5. The quorum (number of members required to meet and conduct business) is a majority of the voting members of the Board (per Constitution) which is four (4). 6. A majority vote of the members of the Executive Board present is required to conduct the business of the Board. 7. The Executive Board has the authority to conduct the business of the Chapter that must be carried out between meetings of the membership, and that does not require action by vote of the full membership. Additional chapter members can be invited to present to or to speak with the Board, but may not vote. VI. CHAPTER RECORDS A. A summary of the biennium shall be written by the retiring president and filed with the historical records of the Chapter. B. Copies of reports of all of the officers and committee chairmen are to be passed on to their successors. C. Historical records, chapter minutes, and financial materials are to be kept in perpetuity. VII. ELECTIONS The Chapter nomination committee shall consist of at least three members appointed by the President. Two shall be retained as members of the next committee, and none shall serve more than six years in succession. A slate of officers shall be presented for election at a spring meeting in the second year of each biennium. Nominations will be accepted from the floor for each office. A majority vote of the chapter members present shall be required to elect these officials. The installation ceremony for officers shall be held in the spring of even numbered years and shall be conducted by the immediate past president. Elected officials shall take office on July 1 of even numbered years. The President's pin may be represented to the new president at the time of installation. No officer, except the treasurer, shall serve more than two terms in the same office. (State By-Laws Article V; Section 1) VIII. CHAPTER - GENERAL There will be a minimum of four meetings of the membership each year. Additional meetings will be scheduled upon the recommendation of the Program Committee or the Executive Committee. The quorum (number of members required to conduct business during a meeting) is 12. A majority vote of the membership present is required to conduct the general business of the chapter during meetings. Attendance: 1. All active members are encouraged to attend at least two meetings per year. 2. The Delta Kappa Gamma key shall be worn at all meetings. IX. MEMBERSHIP Membership on the Society carries with it responsibility as well as honor to those who commit themselves to taking an active part in programs, special projects and organizational activities. New Member Selection Process: Each year membership committee will evaluate the current membership status to prepare its recommendation (s) for new membership selection. |
The selection/voting process will be conducted during the spring and the initiation ceremony will be held in the fall of that same year. New member-elect who have accepted the invitation to membership can be invited to Chapter activities prior to their initiation, but do not have the other rights of membership (to vote, etc.)
· The vote will be on a regular ballot with a 4/5 vote for acceptance. · The initiation fee for new members will be absorbed by the Chapter. · Each initiate will receive a chapter handbook. Reserve membership may be requested by a formerly active member who is now retired. The member must submit a written request for reserve status to the Chair of the Membership Committee. The reserve membership is voted upon by the Chapter membership and the acceptance is by majority vote. Most requests for reserve status will be based upon an inability to attend meetings (i.e. the suggested two per year) due to physical disability and ?/or geographical reasons. Resignations: A written request for resignation should be sent to the President with an explanation for the proposed withdrawal. The President will designate someone to contact the member before voting on the resignation. The purpose of this communication is to explore alternatives to resigning. The resignation request is voted upon by the membership and acceptance is by majority vote. A gift of recognition will be given to an active member upon retirement. Key Pins; Directions for disposition of the pin should be kept with the pin. The pin of a deceased, resigned, or dropped member can be left to a relative or friend who is a Delta Kappa Gamma member or it can be returned to the Chapter Treasurer. Key pins returned to the treasurer will be offered at no cost to members who have lost their pins and to new initiates. A donation of one/half the purchase price of a comparable new pin will, however, be suggested and any such donation placed in the general account of the chapter. Memorial Practices: At the time of the death of a member, the Membership Committee shall be responsible for assuring that the following occur in honor of that member: 1. A Memorial will be given to the International World Fellowship Committee or another appropriate charity. 2. One rose will be sent to the funeral home. 3. Members visiting the Funeral Home will wear their Delta Kappa Gamma pins and sign Delta Kappa Gamma after their names. 4. A memorial service will be held. X. FINANCES Financial Controls Budget It is recommended that a proposed budget will be set by the finance committee in June after receiving requests from committees at the final meeting of the year. The Executive Board will review and approve the budget annually. Once approved by the Board, the budget will be voted on by the general membership at the first meeting of each fiscal year. The finance committee will set the amount of chapter dues in June. The World Fellowships Committee will conduct one project or assessment each biennium and will make a donation each year from this money. Members will pay their dues by October 31, each year. The treasurer in consultation with the president will personally contact delinquent members who have not paid dues by October 31st. At least one contact will be by phone and a second contact will be written form. At the first meeting of the Executive Board that is held after Oct. 31, the treasurer will notify the Board of delinquent members and the Board will decide the best course of action regarding these members. If a member is dropped from membership and wishes to be reinstated, she must ask to be reinstated. The Executive Board votes on the request for reinstatement. If approved, the member must pay the reinstatement fee. Initiation Fee: See Section VIII, Membership The treasurer in consultation with the finance committee will select the bank(s) or other financial institution(s) which the Chapter will use based on the needs of the Chapter. The audit of chapter financial records will be done by two (2) members during the summer each year. The report will be presented to the Executive Board and then to the general membership at the first fall meeting. The chapter will pay all receipted expenses for the president to attend the State Convention in May based on budget considerations of the finance committee. Moneys will be offered for attendance by all members at State Convention, Fall area conferences, leadership seminars and other conferences based upon the recommendations of the finance committee. The Serendipity Fund was established to assist Alpha Mu members dealing with hardship. The Executive Committee will vote upon the release of funds. Surplus moneys from dessert donations are deposited in the Serendipity Fund. The Treasurer will be responsible for all deposits. XI. STANDING COMMITTEES The Chapter Standing Committees are:
From time to time the President can appoint special committees for a specific purpose. Such committees are dissolved at the close of the Biennium during which they were created. The new President can reinstate such a committee if it is still needed.
Motions made by a committee and presented to the Membership do not require a second. XII. DISSOLUTION The approval of the state executive board shall be obtained for dissolution of a chapter. The charter must be returned to the state organization to be forwarded to International Headquarters. Remaining chapter funds are to be sent to the state treasurer. Initiation paraphernalia, chapter records, and Society publications are to be sent to the state organization. Those members desiring to maintain membership will transfer to other chapters or become state members if there is no chapter for which they are eligible. (Excerpted from Handbook). XIII. AMENDMENTS/CHANGES TO STANDING RULES The President shall initiate a review of this document at least once each year. The purpose of this review will be to determine if the Standing Rules should be modified in order to meet the needs of the Chapter, or in order to remain consistent with the International and State governing documents. Standing Rules can be adopted by a majority vote at any meeting. They may be suspended for a single session by a majority vote as well. A Standing Rule will remain in force until amended or rescinded. It may be amended or rescinded by 2/3 vote without previous notice or majority vote with previous notice must be given to the Chapter President in time for inclusion in a Chapter newsletter prior to the meeting during which the proposal will be voted upon. The Recording Secretary shall prepare and distribute to the members revised copies of the Standing Rules whenever a permanent change is made. Revised: January 21, 2020 |