Gamma Sigma Sigma National Service Sorority

Gamma Sigma Sigma National Service Sorority

Penn State Erie, The Behrend College

November 30, 2009

ARTICLE 1

NAME OF ORGANIZATION

Section 1. The official name of the organization is Gamma Sigma Sigma National Service Sorority.

ARTICLE II

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

The objective of Gamma Sigma Sigma Chapter/Colony shall be to assemble students of Penn State Erie, The Behrend College in the spirit of service to humanity and to develop friendships among students of all races and creeds. This chapter/colony shall be conducted as a service organization under the provisions of the Bylaws of Gamma Sigma Sigma National Service Sorority and the regulations of Penn State Erie, The Behrend College governing student organizations.

ARTICLE III

MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Membership in this chapter/colony shall be open to all currently registered students, employed faculty, and staff of Penn State Erie, the Behrend College.

Section 2. Any student in good academic standing as defined by college or university regulations shall be eligible for membership, provided that such student meets campus regulations governing participation in student organizations, performs a minimum of 15 hours of service and pays chapter/colony dues and National membership fees. A person meeting the criteria set forth in this section shall be activated into this chapter/colony according to its official ceremony.

Section 3. Active members of this chapter/colony shall have the right to vote and be entitled to hold office. An active member must perform a minimum of 15 hours of service per semester, attend all meetings of this chapter/colony with exception of 2 absences per semester permitted, and pay chapter/colony dues and National membership fees.

Section 4. Inactive membership status may be granted to a member by a majority vote of the Executive Committee to those who are unable to fulfill the requirements for an active member. An inactive member must pay chapter/colony dues and National membership fees. An inactive member shall have none of the obligations of membership in the chapter/colony but shall be entitled to all privileges except those of making motions, of voting, of mentoring a member-in-training, and of holding office. Inactive members include, but not limited to internships, student teaching, study abroad, etc.

Section 5. A member may be placed on probation from this chapter/colony by a twothirds vote of the Executive Committee for noncompletion of prescribed service hours, or lack of attendance at chapter/colony meetings or nonpayment of chapter/colony dues, or violation of the policy of Gamma Sigma Sigma National Sorority regarding hazing. A suspended member may initiate a written appeal to the Executive Committee within thirty days of the notice of suspension. A suspended member, after opportunity to cure the cause(s) for probation , may be expelled from membership by a twothirds vote of the chapter/colony. Any violation of the sorority’s policy regarding hazing or violation of college or university rules or policies that might endanger the recognized organizational status for the chapter on campus will result in expulsion from the sorority, and bar reapplication for membership in any chapter / colony.

Section 6. Any member desiring to resign from the chapter/colony shall submit a resignation in writing to the Corresponding Secretary, who shall present it to the Executive Committee for action. Resigning from a chapter also removed a member from national membership.

Section 7. Upon a threefourths vote of the membership of this chapter/colony, honorary membership may be conferred on persons the chapter/colony wishes to distinguish with such an honor. An honorary member shall have none of the obligations of membership in this chapter/colony, but shall be entitled to all the privileges except those of making motions, of voting, of mentoring a member-in-training and of holding office.

ARTICLE IV

OFFICERS

Section 1. The officers of this chapter/colony shall be a President, a Service Vice President, a Membership Vice President, a Corresponding Secretary, a Recording Secretary, a Treasurer, a Financial Secretary, a Public Relations Coordinator, an Alumni Liaison, a National Representative and a Parliamentarian, all of whom, except the Parliamentarian, are elected by the membership. These officers shall perform the duties prescribed by these bylaws and by the parliamentary authority adopted by this chapter/colony. Only full-time currently enrolled students may hold office in the organization.

To accommodate small chapter numbers, a member may hold more than one or the above positions; with the exceptions being that the President & Parliamentarian cannot be combined, and the Financial Secretary and the Treasurer may not be combined.

The President shall preside at all meetings, appoint committees, enforce a due observation of these bylaws and perform other duties as director by the chapter/colony.

The Service Vice President shall preside at meetings in the absence of the President, coordinate the service program of this chapter/colony and maintain records of service hours.

The Membership Vice President shall be responsible for the pledging activities of this chapter/colony.

The Corresponding Secretary shall notify members of the time and place of meetings and shall handle all correspondence for the chapter/colony.

The Recording Secretary shall record and distribute minutes of meetings and record the attendance of members at meetings. Shall be responsible for sending, via mail or electronic mail, all meeting minutes at least once a month to the appropriate members of the National Board of Directors.

The Treasurer shall be responsible for maintenance of the chapter's/colony's financial records, the receipt and disbursement of chapter/colony funds and the collection of chapter/colony dues and national membership fees. At the end of each term, an independent person shall review the financial records of the chapter/colony.

The Financial Secretary shall be responsible for collecting all monies and providing receipts. After recording all income, forward monies to the Chapter Treasurer.

The Public Relations Coordinator shall maintain a history of the chapter/colony, coordinate its public relations program and serve as reporter for the chapter/colony to Perspectives & national website.

The National Representative is responsible for ensuring a communication link between the chapter/colony and the National Board of Directors and Staff, takes primary responsibility for representing the chapter/colony at conferences and Convention, and arranging a yearly chapter evaluation with the District Director and is a permanent member of the chapter/colony Bylaws and/or Standing Rules Committee(s).

The Parliamentarian shall advise on all parliamentary issues at meetings and as issues arise. The Parliamentarian shall be appointed by the President.

Section 2. The election of officers will take place once in the Spring. There will be a period of transition for new officers to learn duties and history of the organization before assuming the office.

Section 3. All incoming officers shall have familiarized themselves with the rules and regulations of Gamma Sigma Sigma after an election as taken place.

Section 4. 50% +1 is the quorum percentage of membership that must be present in order to conduct business.

Section 5. Officers and members of the organization can resign at anytime with a written notification to the organization.

Section 6. Officers and members can be impeached by a two-thirds majority vote at anytime for specific reasons such as but not limited to not complying with University Policy or not completing duties stated under the constitution.

Section 7. Dates for the terms for office shall start the first day after the end of the fall semester to the last day of the following fall semester.

ARTICLE V

Section 1. At a meeting at least three weeks prior to the date set for elections, a Nominating Committee of 3 active members shall be elected by the Executive Committee. It shall be the duty of this committee to nominate a candidate for each office to be filled at the election.

Section 2. The Nominating Committee shall report at a regular meeting of the membership at least one week prior to the election meeting.

Section 3. Election of officers shall be conducted at meetings of the membership held during the second week of the semester. Additional nominations from the floor at the election meeting shall be permitted.

Section 4. Only members who have been active members of the chapter/colony for one semester shall be eligible for election to office.

Section 5. Officers shall serve for two semesters or until their successors are elected and their term of office shall begin immediately following the adjournment of the election meeting or the installation ceremony.

Section 6. Election of officers shall be by ballot except when there is a single nominee for an office, the vote may be conducted by voice.

Section 7. A vacancy in the office of President shall be filled by the Service Vice President. A vacancy in all other offices shall be filled by a vote of the membership.

ARTICLE VI

MEETINGS

Section 1. Regular meetings of this chapter/colony shall be held once a week from September to May inclusive unless otherwise ordered by the chapter/colony.

Section 2. General meetings are open to new members and initiated members.

Section 3. Special meetings may be called by the President or by the Executive Committee and shall be called upon the written request of 1/3 of the members of the chapter/colony. The purpose of the meetings shall be stated in the call. Except in cases of emergency at least 3 days' notice shall be given.

ARTICLE VII

VOTING

Section 1. Only active members may vote and which officers have the right to vote. The President of the organization’s vote will break a tie.

Section 2. To conduct the organizations business, the quorum needed is 50% +1

Section 3. A motion will pass by a simple majority of 50% +1.

ARTICLE VIII

FINANCES

Section 1. The finances of the organization will be kept and collected by the Treasurer.

Section 2. The colony/chapter will receive its monies by having to pay annual national and local dues and by fundraisers.

Section 3. The organization will require yearly local dues which will be voted on each year by the membership.

Section 4. If a member does not pay the annual dues for the organization, they will be placed on probation.

ARTICLE IX

AMENDMENTS & EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE CONSTITUTION

The constitution may be amended at any regular meeting of the chapter/colony by a twothirds vote of members present, provided that the amendment has been submitted in writing at the previous regular meeting.

ARTICLE X

STATEMENT OF NONDISCRIMINATION

The Colony of Gamma Sigma Sigma of Penn State Erie, The Behrend College at no time shall discriminate against a person because of that person’s race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, color, national origin, ethnic background, age, differential ability, or veteran’s status, as in agreement with University Policy.