Alpha Psi Omega

THE NATIONAL THEATRE HONOR SOCIETY

Its Aims and Purpose

ALPHA PSI OMEGA was organized as a theatre honor society for the purpose of providing acknowledgement to those demonstrating a high standard of accomplishment in theatre and, through the expansion of ALPHA PSI OMEGA among colleges and universities, providing a wider fellowship for those interested in theatre. The society is not intended to take the place of any regular theatre clubs or producing groups, but as students qualify they may be rewarded by election to membership in this society.

Revised August 24, 2016

* * * * * * * * * * CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS

OF THE APLHA GAMMA ETA CHAPTER

of THE ALPHA PSI OMEGA NATIONAL THEATRE HONOR SOCIETY

Preamble

We, the members of ALPHA PSI OMEGA, in order to develop talents in all aspects of theatre, to foster the cultural values we believe theatre develops, and to encourage cooperation and collaboration among member chapters, do hereby form and establish this constitution of THE ALPHA GAMMA ETA CHAPTER of THE ALPHA PSI OMEGA NATIONAL THEATRE HONOR SOCIETY.

Article 1

Purpose and Jurisdiction

The purpose of this, the Alpha Gamma Eta Chapter of ALPHA PSI OMEGA, is to stimulate interest in theatre activities at Saginaw Valley State University and to secure for the university all the advantages and mutual helpfulness provided by a large national honor society. By electing students to membership, the society acts as a reward for their participation in theatre activities of the university. This chapter is not intended to take the place of any existing theatre organization at the university. This chapter agrees to follow all constitutional laws and by-laws listed herein. Article 2

Organization

The Alpha Gamma Eta Chapter of ALPHA PSI OMEGA shall consist of Active Members, all of whom have completed the necessary membership requirements as listed in Article 3, abide by the expectation stated in Article 6, and are presided over by an Executive Board, who will be elected by the chapter at large using the process found in Article 9. This chapter will also defer to a Faculty Advisor per Saginaw Valley State University protocol.

Article 3

Membership Requirements

Section 1. To be eligible for membership in this chapter of ALPHA PSI OMEGA the student must be enrolled at Saginaw Valley State University and meet all of the following requirements as stated in the National Constitution:

(a) Completed at least two semesters of participation in theatre work at the university;

(b) Participation in a variety of production tasks for a least one production put up by the Saginaw Valley State University Theatre Department which includes acting, directing, playwriting, front-of-house management, technical theatre, dramaturgy, production research, and other appropriate theatrical responsibilities.

Section 2. After meeting the requirements of the National Constitution, an interested person must meet all of the following requirements:

(a) Achieve and maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better;

(b) Complete and submit the appropriate application form expressing interest to join;

Section 3. Honorary membership may be bestowed on persons who have made special continued contributions to the theatre program of a particular college or university after approval from the National Office.

Section 4. Candidates who have met all requirements will be elected to membership by the Active Members of this chapter.

Article 4

Pledging Process

The chapter will follow all Pledging Process guidelines as designated within the Chapter Handbook for individuals who are interested in being elected to membership but do not meet all of the requirements stated in Article 3. Article 5

Inductions

The chapter will follow all induction guidelines as designated within the chapter handbook and provided by THE ALPHA PSI OMEGA NATIONAL THEATRE HONOR SOCIETY.

Article 6

Initiating Discipline for Active Members

Section 1. Attendance - An Active Member is expected to be in attendance at all called events for the chapter which includes meetings. Should an Active Member fail to attend four (4) called events in a given semester without a unanimously agreeable excuse (i.e., an excuse the Executive Board officers deem acceptable for their absence) they will enter a probationary period. It is crucial that the Active Member notify an Executive Board officer of their absence prior to the called event.

Section 2. Behavioral - An Active Member is expected to maintain a sense of decorum sufficient to the level of the chapter at large. Should an Active Member’s behavior be deemed detrimental to the chapter and its purposes by either an Executive Board officer or anybody in the chapter at large, a motion may be made to put that Active Member into a probationary period.

Section 3. Any additional reason deemed detrimental by unanimous Executive Board vote or majority chapter vote will be sufficient grounds for an Active Member to enter into a probationary period.

Section 4. Probationary Period - A probationary period for an Active Member lasts for two (2) weeks. The individual must attend every meeting during the probationary period unless extenuating circumstance prevents them from doing so. During this period, the individual may not participate in chapter votes and may not participate in, but must be present for, all chapter events. At the end of the two-week period, the group will reconvene and vote to either lift or extend the probation.

Section 5. Removal of Active Status for a Member – A member may lose their active status and become considered as an Inactive Member if the individual:

(a) misses any called events during the probationary period without a valid excuse.

(b) fails to meet the above expectations after one (1) extension period on the probation.

(d) exhibits sufficient evidence of reason for removal of status after a unanimous motion by the chapter at large. Section 6. Failure in meeting the requirements within the probationary period results in the individual becoming an Inactive Member of the group. They may not participate in any events put on for the chapter exclusively. They may regain an active status at the beginning of the next semester if the stated expectation requirements are followed.

Article 7

Executive Board Officers and Duties

Section 1. The Executive Board of this chapter will be the President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

Section 2. The President will call meetings, preside at all meetings, appoint committees, be the main contact for matters of business, and provide general supervision of the affairs of the chapter in consultation with the faculty advisor. In the event of a tie in matters deemed worthy of a vote, the President’s vote may count as double to move a decision forward.

Section 3. The Vice-President will assist the President and assume the responsibilities of the President in case of his/her absence.

Section 4. The Secretary keeps minutes of every meeting and must be able to produce those minutes in a timely fashion upon request. They will delegate a member to attend to the minutes in their absence. The Secretary also must provide any printed materials deemed necessary by the group, which includes, but is not limited to, application forms, ballots for election, proposals for usage of spaces, and props for events, etc.

Section 5. The Treasurer attends to the chapter’s accounts and is the only member who has access to that information. They must be able to provide accurate information in that regard in a timely fashion upon request. The Treasurer will also act as the main informational source for the chapter’s activities involving money.

Section 6. The Executive Board at large must ensure this chapter is pointed in a mutually agreeable direction (i.e., deemed agreeable by both the Executive Board and the chapter at large), and behave in such fashion that reflects that.

Article 8

Initiating Discipline for Executive Board Officers

All expectations as stated in Article 6 are also held for Executive Board officers but these expectations are held to a higher standard for Executive Board officers.

Section 1. Attendance - An Executive Board officer is expected to be in attendance at all called events for the chapter which includes meetings. Should an Executive Board officer fail to attend three (3) called events in a given semester without a unanimously agreeable excuse (i.e., an excuse every other Executive Board officer deems acceptable for their absence), they will enter a probationary period. It is crucial that the Executive Board officer notify all fellow Executive Board officers of their absence prior to the called event. Section 2. Behavioral - An Executive Board officer is expected to maintain a sense of decorum sufficient to the level of the chapter at large. Should an Executive Board officer’s behavior be deemed detrimental to the chapter and its purposes by either a fellow Executive Board officer or anybody in the chapter at large, a motion may be made to put that Executive Board officer into a probationary period.

Section 3. Any additional reason deemed detrimental by unanimous Executive Board vote or majority chapter vote will be sufficient grounds for an Executive Board officer to enter into a probationary period.

Section 4. Probationary Period - A probationary period for an Executive Board officer lasts for three (3) weeks. An Executive Board officer must attend every meeting during the probationary period unless extenuating circumstance prevents them from doing so. During this period, the Executive Board officer may not participate in chapter votes and may not participate in, but must be present for, all chapter events. At the end of the three-week period, the group will reconvene and vote to either lift or extend the probation.

Section 5. Removal of an Officer - An Executive Board officer may be removed if:

(a) misses any called events during the probationary period without a valid excuse.

(b) fails to meet the above expectations after one (1) extension period on the probation.

(d) exhibits sufficient evidence of reason for removal of status after a unanimous motion by the chapter at large.

Section 6. If an Executive Board officer is removed, the vacancy must be filled within two (2) weeks of the decision.

Section 7. Upon removal, the individual becomes an Inactive Member of the group and may regain an active status at the beginning of the next semester if the stated expectation requirements are followed. Subsequently, they may not hold an Executive Board position for any years following.

Article 9

Elections

Section 1. Timeline and Term - The chapter will hold elections for its Executive Board on the second-to-last meeting of every Winter semester, preceded by a two-week nomination process. An Executive Board officer of good standing holds their position for one (1) school year consisting of a fall then a winter semester. An Executive Board member may be elected into the same position for no longer than two (2) consecutive years, and may not have held any position on the Executive Board for longer than three (3) years. Section 2. Nomination - Nominations may take place using any majority-voted medium, so long as the process facilitates the following step-to-step process:

(a) EITHER a group member nominates a fellow group member OR that member nominates themselves.

(b) The nomination is supported by at least one other member of The Group.

A list of nominees that have followed this process must be provided by the Secretary to the group one (1) week prior to Elections.

Section 3. Election Day - On the second-to-last meeting of a given school year, nominees will come prepared with a brief speech outlining their intentions and goals for their upcoming term. This speech will not exceed five minutes and will be followed by a two minute question- and-answer period moderated by the current President. The Vice President will moderate this period in the case of the Presidential nominees, should the current President attempt to run for a second term. Nominees also running for the same position may not be in the room during any of these proceedings.

Section 4. Voting - Voting will commence after every candidate for every position has spoken to the group at large. Voting will commence using a written, silent ballot prepared by the Secretary. The ballot must include every nominee for every position, as well as a “No Confidence” option. Votes will be tallied by the current Executive Board and results will be determined by majority vote.

Section 5. No Confidence - Members will have the option to vote “No Confidence” for a position should none of the available nominees be deemed competent in the roles for which they run. Should a vote of “No Confidence” pass in a majority, a portion will be allotted in the year’s final meeting for an emergency election consisting of any newly nominated candidates using the same nomination/voting process. Should a vote of “No Confidence” continue to pass, the decision will be delayed until the following semester commences. Should the process recommence with a similar result in the ensuing semester, the faculty advisor will appoint a member in the role at his or her discretion.

Article 10

Committees

The standing committees of the chapter will be:

(a) Executive Committee - This committee will be composed of the elected officers for the Executive Board and the Faculty Advisor. This committee will handle all minor business arising between meetings. (b) Induction Committee - The Faculty Advisor and Executive Board will confer and appoint this committee, which will act as the chapter’s induction team for conducting the induction ceremony.

(c) Fundraising Committee - The Faculty Advisor and Executive Board will confer and appoint this committee, which will act as the chapter’s fundraising team for conducting the fundraisers done by the chapter.

(d) Other standing committees may be appointed as deemed necessary.

Article 11

Amendments

The articles of this constitution may be amended, revised, or altered in whole or in part at any regular meeting by a two-thirds vote of the members of the chapter, provided such amendment and a notice of the proposed vote is given to each member in writing at least one week prior to the vote.

Article 12

By-Laws

Section 1. Additional by-laws may be adopted at any meeting by a two-thirds vote of the active membership.

Section 2. The chapter will keep an accurate record of each member with accomplishments in the field of the theatre.

Section 3. The chapter will submit annually to the National Business Manager the following: university name, city, state; chapter name; season for the current year; list of chapter officers; list of faculty and staff; list of cast, tech crew, director for each photograph submitted, and the annual production photographs for inclusion in Playbill at the discretion of the National Business Manager.