Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
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. Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Iota Epsilon Chapter Bylaws Revised February 2017 To be reviewed Spring 2018 Table of Contents Article I. NAME AND PURPOSE 2 Article II. BYLAWS 2 Article III. MEMBERSHIP ELIGIBILITY 3 Article IV. COLLEGIATE MEMBERSHIP EXPECTATIONS 3 Article V. PROBATIONARY MEMBERSHIP 6 Article VI. MEETINGS 8 Article VII. OFFICERS 9 Article VIII. COMMITTEES 12 Article IX. AMENDMENT PROCEDURES 14 1 Iota Epsilon Chapter Bylaws This document was completed by Secretary Alexander AsKew, Vice President Elliott Thomas, and Warden Jon Walter and was approved by the Iota Epsilon Chapter on 11/1/15 ARTICLE I. NAME AND PURPOSE SECTION 1. NAME This organization shall be known as the Iota Epsilon Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America, Inc. In accordance of National Tradition, members of this chapter shall be known as brothers and Sinfonians. Section 2. THE OBJECT The Object of this fraternity shall be for the development of the best and truest fraternal spirit; the mutual welfare and brotherhood of musical students; the advancement of music in America and a loyalty to the Alma Mater. ARTICLE II. BYLAWS SECTION 1. INTENT The Bylaws are not intended to, and shall not, take the place of the National Constitution and Bylaws or the General Regulations for Collegiate Chapters. Rather, their intent is to be an addition to those documents set forth by the national fraternity. SECTION 2. FUNCTION These Bylaws are intended to form a structure by which all aspects of the Iota Epsilon Chapter will function and by which the Iota Epsilon Chapter will abide. 2 Iota Epsilon Chapter Bylaws ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP ELIGIBILITY SECTION 1. NON-DISCRIMINATORY POLICY The Iota Epsilon Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia will follow non-discriminatory policies in regard to race, religion, national origin, sexual preference, or political affiliation with regard to the composition of its membership. SECTION 2. MEMBERSHIP OPPORTUNITY The spirit of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia urges that the opportunity of becoming a Sinfonian should be offered to as many men as possible, who, by unique interests or talents, can assist in the further fulfillment of our fraternal purposes and musical ideas. SECTION 3. AFFILIATION WITH THE UNIVERSITY Any man shall be eligible for collegiate membership who is a student, instructor, or staff member at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. SECTION 4. GPA REQUIREMENT The minimum cumulative GPA to be a member of this chapter shall be equal to that of the university’s qualifications for good academic standing, which is currently 2.5. SECTION 5. FACULTY AND STAFF Article III, Section 4 shall not prohibit the initiation of a faculty or staff member. SECTION 6. FIRST SEMESTER STUDENTS Any student who is in his first semester of undergraduate study shall not be considered for membership due to his lack of an established GPA. ARTICLE IV. COLLEGIATE MEMBERSHIP EXPECTATIONS SECTION 1. ATTENDANCE Brothers are expected to attend all meetings and functions of the chapter. Attendance to business meetings and events is required, and only through notification and approval by the Secretary, may an absence be excused. Absence requests are to be made using the appropriate form, thereby notifying the Secretary no later than 48 hours prior to the event. A brother may only miss 25% of required functions in a semester. If a brother has three unexcused absences or misses more than 25% of the required events in a semester, that brother will be brought up for Suspension. 3 Iota Epsilon Chapter Bylaws SECTION 2. DUES Individual dues, (consisting of national dues, province dues, and chapter dues) are to be paid no later than October 15th and March 15th for the Fall and Spring semesters, respectively. Exceptions, as they arise, must be presented to the Executive Board for approval. Iota Epsilon’s chapter dues are set at $36.00 per member per semester, Province 20 dues are set at $5.00 per member per semester, and National Dues are set at $82.70 per member per semester (the dues are $80.00 and the extra charge for paying online is $2.70). Chapter dues and Province dues must be paid in the form of check, money order, or bank card (cash is not accepted) to the Treasurer. National dues are to be paid online through the Sinfonia website. If all dues are not paid on time in full, that brother will be placed on Suspension (as enforced by the National Constitution and Bylaws). If all dues are not paid in full by November 15th or April 15th (30 days after they are due nationally), the member in question will be brought up for Expulsion (as defined by the National Constitution). Expulsion proceedings will begin at the first meeting following November 15th or April 15th. SECTION 3. RESPONSIBILITIES The responsibilities of being an active Brother are to attend all meetings of the chapter, to pay all financial obligations, to maintain academic performance standards, to become acquainted with the governing documents and history of the Fraternity, and to support the efforts and objectives of the local Chapter and the Fraternity. SECTION 4. DISCIPLINE 1. Brothers can face disciplinary action for one or more of the following reasons: conduct unbecoming of a brother, poor academic performance, failure to adhere to financial responsibilities, and poor attendance. Conduct unbecoming of a brother is defined as a brother breaking rules or regulations that are set forth by the Chapter, the University, and/or the National Fraternity. The immediate response to such misconduct is Suspension. Poor academic performance is defined as a brother not maintaining the minimum GPA requirement that is set by the Chapter. The response to poor academic performance is a semester-long Suspension with review at the end of the semester to either repeal his Suspension or to expel the brother. Failure to adhere to the financial responsibilities is defined as a brother not paying his chapter, province, or national dues. 4 Iota Epsilon Chapter Bylaws If a brother cannot pay his dues, he is placed on Suspension for thirty (30) days, and if the dues are not paid off in full by the end of his Suspension, he is automatically expelled from the Fraternity. Poor attendance is defined as a brother failing to adhere to the chapter’s attendance policy. Failure to adhere to the policy will result in a brother being placed on Suspension, and if the terms of the Suspension are not followed, then a brother will be expelled. 2. Suspension is a thirty (30) day period where a brother is stripped of all positions held in the chapter, all voting rights, and is ineligible to be or to continue being a Big Brother. Within those thirty days, the brother on Suspension must meet with the Executive Board, and potentially the Faculty Advisor, in order to find a solution to the issue that placed him on Suspension. Should the brother fail to meet with the Executive Board or is unable to resolve the issue, at the end of the thirty day limit, he will be expelled from the Fraternity. The exemption to this rule is when a brother is placed on a semester-long Suspension for poor academic performance. A brother on Suspension for academic issues will not be allowed to have a position in the chapter, nor will he be allowed to be a Big Brother, but he will have the right to vote in the chapter. If a brother held a position in the chapter or was a Big Brother and was then placed on Suspension, once his issue is resolved, he does not become automatically reinstated to his position or status as Big Brother. He can be reinstated by the decision of both the Executive Board and the Chapter with a simple majority vote. Should a brother be placed on Suspension for more than one reason, the Executive Board will meet with that brother at the most immediate available time in order to resolve the issue. 3. Expulsion will only occur when either a) a brother cannot resolve his Suspension or b) a brother is removed from the University. Expulsion means that the relationships with the National Fraternity and the Chapter are terminated immediately. Once a brother is expelled, they must turn in all articles of affiliation with the Fraternity to the Chapter to be sent off to the National Headquarters. If a brother wants to appeal his Expulsion, the chapter is obligated to inform him of the correct channels to become reinstated, as well as put him in contact with the Province Governor. 4. Notice of either Suspension or Expulsion are first and foremost a required courtesy. While it is not nationally required to give a formal notice, Iota Epsilon will require it in order to make the processes of dealing with Suspension and Expulsion easier and more efficient for all involved. The Notice/Letter of Suspension must be given immediately following an issue. Failure to give proper notice may result in nullifying the reason of Suspension if it deals with a chapter-specific issue. The Notice/Letter of Expulsion must be given at the outlined date in the Notice/Letter of Suspension or in response to an action or issue that requires immediate dismissal. Failure to give proper notice may result in the nullifying/delaying of the Expulsion of the brother if it deals with a chapter-specific issue. 5 Iota Epsilon Chapter Bylaws For all issues dealing with things bigger than chapter-specific rules, Suspension and Expulsion will happen within the listed timelines regardless of proper notice. SECTION 5. PIN ATTIRE The membership pin and probationary pin is to be worn nearest the heart on dress shirts, vests, or pullover sweaters.