ZETA TAU ALPHA Eta Alpha Chapter Bylaws Revised June 2016

ARTICLE I – NAME

This association shall be known at the Eta Alpha Chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha

ARTICLE II – OBJECT

The object of this organization shall be to promote the purpose and program of the Fraternity, to function as a constructive vital force in the lives of its member, to cooperate with the local alumnae, and to serve as a cooperative, active part of the university program.

ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP

A. New Member: Any regularly matriculated female student at Georgia Southwestern State University who is a full-time student and has met the eligibility requirements set forth by the National Constitution and Bylaws, the General Manual and Georgia Southwestern State University is eligible for membership in the Eta Alpha Chapter. A new member must possess a 2.75 grade point average to be considered for membership. B. Re-pledge: Written permission of the Vice President Collegiate must be secured by the chapter prior to re-pledging within one calendar year of pledging. If permission to re- pledge is granted the National New Member Fee must be paid again, and written approval from the Vice President Collegiate must be on file at International Office. A New Member period extension is valid for one additional term only and is not renewable. C. Member: Membership in Eta Alpha Chapter may be extended to regularly enrolled college women who are full-time students at the Georgia Southwestern State University and meet the standards of the Fraternity and the requirements set forth in the National Constitution and Bylaws. D. Transfers: A transferring member of Zeta Tau Alpha may affiliate with the chapter according to the policies and procedures as outlined in the General Manual.

ARTICLE IV – MEETINGS

A. There shall be a regular meeting (Business, Ritual, or Standards) each week during the college year except during the examination and vacation periods. B. A simple majority of the eligible voting membership shall compose a quorum at any regular meeting. C. The right to vote shall be accorded to every member and new member who is in good financial and academic standing. (All dues paid and a minimum 2.5 g.p.a.)

Page 1 of 7 D. If an initiated and/or new member has more than 2 absences, please review Article X Section 2 for a list of consequences. E. All initiated and new members are required to attend regularly scheduled chapter meetings. All initiated and new members are allotted a total of two (2) unexcused absences for each semester. The only acceptable excuse is an emergency approved by the Recording Secretary and/or the Executive Council or sick with a valid doctor’s note. A copy of a chapter member’s schedule of classes is to be emailed at the beginning of the semester to the Recording Secretary. F. Program Council shall meet with the VP I – Coordinator of Committees weekly in order to coordinate meeting activities. G. Executive Committee shall meet weekly to coordinate the chapter meeting agenda, discuss chapter calendar, fraternity business, etc.

ARTICLE V –POWERS AND DUTIES

The organization shall exercise all powers usually vested in such a body, provided these do not conflict with the provisions set forth in the National Constitution and Bylaws, the manuals of the Fraternity, and the national policies of the Fraternity. The disciplinary action of the Eta Alpha Chapter shall be vested in the chapter’s Judicial Committee.

ARTICLE VI – OFFICERS Section 1. Officers shall be those specified in the National Constitution and Bylaws, the General Manual, and the Guide to Chapter Officers.

Section 2. Elections A. The committee shall be appointed by the President with the approval of Executive Committee and the General Advisor three weeks before the election date and shall consist of one representative each of the freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior classes. Please refer to the General Manual and the Guide to Chapter Officers to review the membership of the Nominating Committee and procedures for elections. B. Officers shall be elected during the fall semester. Officers shall hold office for one calendar year. C. Elections shall be conducted using secret ballots if slate does not pass. D. If a vacancy occurs in the Office of President, the First Vice President (Coordinator of Committees) assumes the office, unless, at the discretion of the Advisors and Province President, there is a more qualified candidate. If there is no First Vice President, the Executive Committee, with the approval of the Advisory Board and the Province President, appoints a new President. E. If a vacancy occurs in any office or chairmanship other than that of the President, the President appoints a new officer with the approval of the Executive Committee, Advisory Board and Province President.

Section 3. Qualifications

Page 2 of 7 A. To be eligible for a chapter office, a member must meet the qualifications specified in the National Constitution and Bylaws and those stated in the General Manual. B. A member must possess a 3.0 grade point average from the previous semester. You must maintain a 3.0 semester GPA to maintain your appointed office, or you are subject to removal from the position. At the end of Spring semester any member on Executive Committee and Program Council that has below a 3.0 GPA will be replaced immediately! C. All of Executive Committee officers must live on the ZTA floor. a. If the floor is not full after EC has been listed to live there; the chapter will then choose people to live there based on the point system located in the Guide to Housing. D. The office of President shall only be filled by a member who has previously been a member of the Executive Committee. Any member wishing to serve on the Executive Committee must have previously served on Program Council. Exceptions are to be approved by the Province President and the Vice President Collegiate.

Section 4. Duties A. The duties of officers shall be those usually assigned to such officers in Robert’s Rules of Order, and such other duties as are specifically stated in the Guide to Chapter Officers.

ARTICLE VII – STANDING COMMITTEES

Section 1. Standing Committees shall be those specified in the Guide to Chapter Officers.

Section 2. Additional committees may be created by the chapter Executive Committee and Advisory Board as the need arises.

Section 3. Appointment of Committees A. Unless otherwise specified, committees shall be nominated by the VPI with the approval of the Executive Committee and Advisory Board.

Section 4. Duties of Committees Duties of the committees shall be those usually assigned to such committees in Robert’s Rules of Order, and such other duties specifically stated in the Guide to Chapter Officers.

Section 5. Term of Office Committees shall assume duties after appointment and shall hold office for one calendar year.

ARTICLE VIII – CHAPTER ADVISORS

Section 1. The chapter should have an alumnae Advisory Board, wherever possible, that has been approved by the Province President. The Alumnae Advisory Board should consist of a General Advisor who serves as a chairman, a Membership Advisor, a New Member Advisor and a Financial Advisor. There may be additional advisors, such as a Program Council Advisor,

Page 3 of 7 Academic Achievement Advisor, Judicial Advisor, and Ritual Advisor. Terms of office for members of the Advisory Board coincide with those of the collegiate chapter officers.

Section 2. Election of Advisors

Selection of Advisors

Where there is an organized alumnae group, the alumnae Executive Committee should present to the collegiate chapter the names of the qualified persons available and willing to service in advisory capacities. From this list the collegiate chapter selects the advisors it desires and presents their names to the Province President for approval. In areas where there is no organized alumnae group, the Province President is responsible for appointing the advisors with the approval of the collegiate chapter.

Section 3. Qualifications The Nominating Committee must secure the approval of the Province President before an alumna may be considered for any chapter advisor position.

Section 4. Duties The duties and responsibilities shall be those stated in the Guide for Advisors.

ARTICLE IX – FINANCES

A. The chapter shall operate within the budget approved by the National Secretary- Treasurer. B. Committees will be provided with a budget and may only be spent by the committee chairman or the member in charge of a specific event. If a committee chairman exceeds her budget without the permission of the Treasurer, she will not be reimbursed. In order to be reimbursed, a chair must turn in the receipt to the Treasurer within one week of the purchase. No reimbursements requests will be accepted after this deadline. a. The amount being spent must be approved by the Treasurer before the member spends it. In order to be reimbursed the receipt must be brought to the Treasurer within one week of purchase. If the member exceeds the one week period, it is subject to approval of the Treasurer whether it will be reimbursed. C. Fines must be paid in full no later than five (5) days following the invoice due date. The member is only allowed to attend a social event if the member has no outstanding balance on her account. D. A chapter member may not purchase any t-shirts if her account is not up to date. E. If a check written to APH-Billhighway bounces or the account given is invalid, the member will be charged by APH-Billhighway their appropriate fee.

Page 4 of 7 F. Failure to remit payment for schedules or miscellaneous invoices within five (5) days of the invoice(s)’ due date will result in a late fee as charged by APH. Per the General Manual, listed are the procedures that must be followed in handling delinquent accounts: 1. Day 5 – Treasurer contacts delinquent members requesting immediate payment. 2. Day 30 – Member appears before Advisory Board and Treasurer. 3. Day 45—A letter is sent to the member’s parents, unless she has notified the chapter she is self-supporting; then it is sent to the member, with a copy to International Office, the Financial Advisor, and the Province President. The member loses her voting and social privileges. 4. Day 60 – Member is expelled, provided permission has been received from the National Secretary Treasurer. The member’s life membership card and badge are collected, and if living in the house, the member will move out immediately. 5. The VPIII and Recording Secretary will set a time with the member to collect her membership card and badge.

ARTICLE X – ABSENCES

Section 1. Excuses A. An excuse is required for any absence from a mandatory event. These events shall be determined by the Executive Committee and announced to the chapter. B. To be excused from an event, the member must notify the Recording Secretary in writing one week before the set deadline. Executive Committee will then review the excuse for its validity. C. The Recording Secretary will notify the member of whether or not the member’s excuse is valid or invalid. If invalid, the member will be notified of her appropriate fine by the Secretary. D. All excuses must be emailed to [email protected] E. For an event to be mandatory, 10 days notice must be given. F. If you sign up for an event that event becomes mandatory for you. If missed the appropriate fine will be issued G. All philanthropy events are mandatory regardless of the date announced. H. Work and/or school related work are not accepted as valid excuses since members are aware of the day and time of events

Section 2.General Required Meetings. A. A member is allowed two (2) absences for the semester. B. After a member has (2) absences for the semester, the member will be fined accordingly. C. Work and/or student teaching and school related work are not accepted as valid excuses since members are aware of the day and time of chapter meetings. D. If a member misses more than the allotted 2 absences for the semester the member will be fined $25 every absence after that period.

Page 5 of 7 Section 3. Recruitment A. Members are required to attend all fall and spring Recruitment workshops as well as Formal Recruitment and Crown events in their entirety. The fine for missing any Recruitment workshops, Formal Recruitment, Crown events are listed below: i. Recruitment and CROWN workshops = $50.00 a day ii. Recruitment and CROWN Parties = $100.00 per night iii. Bid Day = $100.00

Section 4. Rituals All members are required to attend all Rituals listed below in proper attire. If the member is not in proper ritual attire they will be asked to leave the ritual and are subject to the fines associated with that ritual. See below.Failure to attend any of these rituals or being turned away from a ritual for improper attire will result in the following fines: a. Initiation = $150.00 b. All other rituals = $50.00

Section 5. Other Required Events a. Sisters missing required events are assessed $25 per event if it is not attended in its entirety. State days are mandatory events and if the member does not submit an excuse to the Recording Secretary four weeks prior to state day, they will be fined $100.

ARTICLE XI – ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT REQUIREMENTS Section 1.

A. All members and new members of the chapter must maintain a semester GPA of 2.25 or higher. B. Based on a members’ previous semesters’ GPA, mandatory study hours for members are as follows, but are not limited to: 1. GPA of 2.99-2.5: three hours per week 2. GPA of 2.49-2.0: four hours per week 3. GPA of 1.99 and below: five hours per week Members are subject to more study hours at the discretion of the Academic Achievement Chairman. **For extenuating circumstances, members must consult the Academic Achievement Chairman. C. Any member who has a semester GPA below a 2.5 from the previous semester will be placed on social probation and have voting right revoked for the semester. D. Any sister on Social Probation cannot receive a little sister unless there are not enough eligible sisters. Choice will be given to sisters with higher GPAs. The required GPA is 2.5

ARTICLE XII – SERVICE

Page 6 of 7 Section 1. All members and new members are required to participate in at least eight hours of service work per semester. A. Service hours are defined as an act done by a person that benefits another person, group or community. B. Failure to complete six hours by the end of the semester will result in a ten dollar ($10.00) fine per hour not completed. C. All service hours are due by the date set by the service chair.

All matters of procedure not covered by these Bylaws shall be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order, and the policies and procedures of Zeta Tau Alpha.

ARTICLE XIII – JUDICIAL

The Judicial Chair and committee will follow the ZTA Judicial Handbook and procedures.

ARTICLE XIV – AMENDMENTS

Each chapter shall establish Bylaws for its own government which will not conflict with the Constitution and Bylaws of Zeta Tau Alpha, the General Manual or other guides of the national organization and which will have the approval of the Province President. All amendments must be presented to the Province President first for approval. After the Province President approves amendments may be presented to the chapter for voting.

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