Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY, INC. Upsilon Chapter University of Kansas Est. December 21, 1917 * * * * * * * CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS Inception by Elden L. Mitchell, Kareem A. Wall & Jaime R. Wilson Aug 28th, 2016 * * * * * * * 1 of 12 PREAMBLE We, the members of the Upsilon Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., in order to promote a more perfect union among college men; to aid in and insist upon the personal progress of its members; to further brotherly love and a fraternal spirit within the organization; to discountenance evil; to destroy all prejudices; to preserve the sanctity of the home, the personification of virtue and the chastity of women, do hereby enact and establish this constitution for the government of its members. * * * * * * * JEWELS Henry Arthur Callis Charles Henry Chapman Eugene Kinckle Jones George Biddle Kelley Nathaniel Allison Murray Robert Harold Ogle Vertner Woodson Tandy Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. was founded at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York On December 4, 1906 * * * * * * * Upsilon Chapter was chartered at University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas On December 21, 1917 2 of 12 ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY, INC. Upsilon Chapter - Constitution and By-Laws TABLE OF CONTENTS CONSTITUTION Page ARTICLE I Name, Symbol, Mission, Objectives 4 ARTICLE II Chapter Membership 4 ARTICLE III Chapter Organization and Structure 5 ARTICLE IV Chapter Officers 5-7 ARTICLE V Committees 7 ARTICLE VI Executive Committee 7 ARTICLE VII Voter Power 7-8 ARTICLE VIII Discipline 8 ARTICLE IX Fees and Dues 8 ARTICLE X Membership Intake 8-9 ARTICLE XI Amendments 9 BY-LAWS 10-11 3 of 12 ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY, INC. Upsilon Chapter CONSTITUTION ARTICLE I Name, Symbol, Mission, Objectives Section 1. The name of this chapter shall be the Upsilon Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. at the University of Kansas Section 2. The symbol of the Upsilon Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc shall be the Greek letter Upsilon and the Greek letters Alpha Phi Alpha. Section 2.1. The Chapter shall maintain the fraternity colors of Old Gold and Black. Section 2.2. The seal of the Chapter shall be the same as that of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Section 2.3. The insignia shall be a pin bearing the Greek letters Alpha Phi Alpha with the letter Phi superimposed on the letters Alpha and Alpha, and such pin shall contain seven jewels. Section 2.4. The official pin shall be worn by fraternity members only. Section 2.5. All Symbols of the Upsilon Chapter shall be in accordance with Article I, Section 4 of the Constitution of the General Organization. Section 3. The Mission of the Upsilon Chapter shall be to develop leaders, promote brotherhood and academic excellence while providing service and advocacy for our communities Section 4. The objectives of the Upsilon Chapter shall be to stimulate the ambition of its members; to prepare them for the greatest usefulness in the causes of humanity, freedom and dignity of the individual; to encourage the highest and noblest form of manhood; and, to aid downtrodden humanity in its efforts to achieve higher social, economic and intellectual status. ARTICLE II Chapter Membership Section 1. Members of the Upsilon Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., shall be male students who are duly initiated into the Fraternity and are perusing an undergraduate degree at the University of Kansas. Section 2. A member in good standing shall be one who has fulfilled all of his financial and other obligations to the Upsilon Chapter, Kansas District, Midwest Region and the General Organization of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. and has a cumulative Grade point average of 2.5 Section 3. A member shall be granted authorization by the District Director to participate in Area, District, or Regional Intake Membership Development Process Activities when he has met ALL of the following criterion for the current fraternal year: Section 3.1. The member is in good standing per Article II, Section 1.1 of this Constitution. Section 3.2. The member’s Risk Management Certification is current. 4 of 12 Section 3.3. The member has no disciplinary action imposed against him by the Upsilon Chapter, Kansas District, Midwest Region or the General Organization of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. ARTICLE III Chapter Organization and Structure Section 1. Upsilon Chapter shall keep and adhere to up-to-date copies of the following fraternal documents: Constitution and By-Laws of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Chapter and Officer Development Training Manual, Chapter Operations Guide, Risk Management Handbook and Ritual. Section 2. The officers of the Upsilon Chapter shall be: President, Vice-President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer, Parliamentarian, Chaplain, Chairman of Intake Activities, Historian, Director of Educational Activities, Associate Editor of The Sphinx, Step-master, and other offices as subsequent condition may merit. Section 3. There shall be three (3) Standing Committees: Executive Committee, Fundraising Committee and Community Action Committee Section 4. Elections shall be held in April of each year and the tenure of all newly elected officers shall NOT be effective until the 1st of June of that calendar year. Election procedures shall be consistent with the provisions in the Constitution of the General Organization. Section 4.1. No member shall be elected to serve more than two (2) consecutive years in any one office Section 5. All funds shall be deposited in the name of the Upsilon Chapter in a single bank selected by the Chapter President and Treasurer and also approved by the membership body. Section 5.1. Any bank in which funds of the Upsilon Chapter are deposited shall be FDIC insured and provide coverage in an amount to protect all funds on deposit such that there is no chance for loss of principal or interest to the Upsilon Chapter. Section 5.2. The funds of the Upsilon Chapter shall not be invested in any type of security or placed in any account that is not fully guaranteed as to principal and interest. ARTICLE IV Chapter Officers Section 1. Officers of the Upsilon Chapter shall be as stipulated in Article III, section 2. Section 2. The chapter President is the chief administration officer for the chapter. His duties shall be to provide leadership, direction, and vision for the chapter. He is to organize and facilitate National Programs while maintaining a positive impact on chapter membership. He is to oversee the financial and community welfare of the chapter. The president shall be the chair of executive committee meetings, and direct all standing committees as an ex-officio member. Additionally, the president must break voting ties when necessary and appoint committee chairs and other leaders as necessary. He is to work with officers and committee chairs to develop their growth; request chapter reports as necessary; and attend cluster, district, regional, and national conventions. Section 2.1 The President must update the Chapter Directory and submit a report of the chapter’s activities during his presidency on AlphaNet before the end of his 1 year tenure. Section 3. The duties of the Vice-President shall be to act in the President’s absence and to act as an ex- officio member of all activities. He should act as the Chapter’s official auditor, it being required that he audit and/or supervise the auditing of the Treasurer’s books at least twice, once during April and once during November. He should establish relationships with the Interfraternity Council (IFC), Panhellenic 5 of 12 Association (PHA), and National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) on campus. It is also his responsibility to organize and/ or oversee service projects for the Chapter. Section 4. The duties of the Corresponding Secretary shall be to handle all mailing correspondence of the Chapter and to keep other Chapters, the brothers, and the campus community informed of Chapter activities on a timely basis. His role may change to Recording Secretary in the absence of the Recording Secretary. Section 5. The duties of the Recording Secretary shall be to record the minutes of every Chapter meeting including discussions, motions, announcements, etc.; and file all reports of committees upon their acceptance by the Chapter. He is to read correspondence when the Corresponding Secretary is absent; write and send correspondence for the Corresponding Secretary if needed. He shall maintain the chapter’s Constitution and By-Laws. He shall present the minutes of the previous meeting at the subsequent meeting for the Chapter’s approval and record attendance to help facilitate the existence of a quorum. Section 6. The duties of the Treasurer shall be to have charge of all monies, funds, and other securities of the chapter. He makes monthly reports of finances at Executive Committee and regular chapter meetings. The treasurer works with the Budget and Finance Committee to prepare a chapter budget for review and adoption. He shall be the chief financial officer for the chapter and maintains all financial records of checking, savings and investment accounts he shall keep a record of all receipts and disbursements. Section 6.1. No reimbursements without receipts. Section 6.2. Receipts must be given to all people handing in money. The Treasurer shall keep an itemized statement of all transaction in the form of a journal and such journal shall be open to inspection at all times by any member of the Executive Committee. Section 7. The duties of the Parliamentarian shall be to guide meetings so as to avoid mishaps and misunderstandings, using as his reference Robert’s Rules of Order. He is to interpret constitutional issues during debates and works closely with the Sergeant-at-Arms, if one is appointed. Section 7.1. In the event both the President and Vice-President are absent from a meeting, the Parliamentarian shall chair an immediate election for a temporary President to preside over that meeting.