Alpha Psi Omega Xi Epsilon Cast Constitution Ratified on May 9, 1998
Article I Name and Function
Section 1 - Name: The organization shall be known as the Xi Epsilon Cast of The Alpha Psi Omega Fraternity, hereinafter sometimes referred to as Alpha Psi Omega or the Chapter.
Section 2 - Function: The Chapter is a charter member of The Alpha Psi Omega Fraternity, based on the campus of McDaniel College, Westminster, MD.
Article II Mission and Goals
Section 1 - Mission: Alpha Psi Omega is a theatrical honor fraternity, chartered in 1983, whose mission is to promote and strengthen the theatre arts at McDaniel College. The Chapter's major areas of effort - advocacy and membership development - accomplish this mission by helping to improve the learning environment and by fostering an appreciation for theatrical achievement.
Alpha Psi Omega's advocacy programs are intended to increase support for the theatrical endeavors of McDaniel College by supplementing the public's awareness of the art form.
In the area of membership development, Alpha Psi Omega seeks to enhance the member's personal skills by recognizing achievement in the theatre arts and by offering vehicles for increased theatrical involvement.
Section 2 Goals
1. To provide support for the theatre arts at McDaniel College.
2.To offer opportunities for increased interaction among students possessing theatrical interests.
3. To increase public appreciation for the value of theatre.
Article III Membership
Section 1 - Any member of the McDaniel College community, as determined by the Xi Epsilon Cast, who has given outstanding or noteworthy participation and dedication to the Theatre Arts Department or Theatre on the Hill, has a cumulative g.p.a. of 2.5 (on a non-weighted, 4.0 scale), a theatre arts department g.p.a. of 2.8 (on a non-weighted, 4.0 scale), has been involved in at least three McDaniel College or TOTH productions (at least once as an actor and at least once as a technician), and has enrolled and successfully completed at least one academic theatre class passing with a 3.0 or better is eligible for consideration for membership in the Xi Epsilon Cast of Alpha Psi Omega. Members will be chosen strictly on merit, without regard to sex, race, handicap, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, or any other form or discrimination.
Section 2 - Fees
1. During the semester of initiation the pledges must pay a national membership fee of twenty dollars ($20) to The Alpha Psi Omega Fraternity as well as a chapter membership fee of five dollars ($5) to the Xi Epsilon Cast.
Section 3 - Members in Good Standing
Any member who fails to meet the requirements listed below shall be removed from the membership roster in College Activities with consequent loss of all privileges.
1. The member must maintain enrollment as a student at McDaniel College.
2. The member must maintain an overall g.p.a. of 2.0 or above. Should the member's g.p.a. fall below said designation, the member shall be allowed one semester in which to comply with this requirement.
3. The member must pay any fees as outlined in Article III, section 2.
4. As determined by the chapter membership, the member must consistently demonstrate a commitment to the mission and goals of the Chapter.
5. The member shall attend meetings and be excused for no more than four absences.
Article IV Nominations and Inductions
The induction process will be conducted once every year in the Spring Semester.
Section 1 - At the first meeting of the Spring Semester at McDaniel College the Xi Epsilon Cast shall elect a pledge master through the voting protocol outlined in Article VI. After this meeting a letter will be posted on the Alpha Psi Omega bulletin board in Alumni Hall, and a campus wide phone mail message, announcing open nominations which will be collected in the form of a letter of interest by the following Thursday.
Section 2 - Nominations will be held behind closed doors at the second meeting of the Spring Semester. To nominate a candidate, a member in good standing must orally nominate a candidate who is worthy of membership. After nominations have been recorded by the Secretary the Cast will review each nomination's fulfillment of requirements.
Section 3 - SB Clause
A vote will be taken on each nominee as to whether they will be an asset to the C Xi Epsilon Cast. Voting will be by raise of hands, majority rule.
Section 4 - Wild Card
Any person who does not meet one of the acting or technical requirements, but does meet all other requirements and would be deemed as asset to the Cast may become a candidate by voting outlined in the SB Clause.
Section 5 - At the third meeting of the Spring Semester members in good standing will review any nomination letters and make additional nominations if necessary to insure that all worthy persons receive consideration. Also, preliminary sponsors will be appointed for each nominee having meet the requirements and guidelines, also the preliminary pledging calendar will be drawn up.
Section 6 - Nominees will receive a letter, from the elected Pledge Master, announcing the Cast's intent to pledge them into the Chapter, which they may accept or deny through writing. If they accept they will become pledges of the the Xi Epsilon Cast of Alpha Psi Omega.
Section 7 - At the fourth meeting of the Spring Semester members of the Cast will meet to finalize sponsorship of pledges and to finalize the pledging calendar. The president may not sponsor a pledge, so as to remain neutral so that grievances may be addressed to them, unless for certain reasons the Cast allows the president to sponsor a pledge, then the vice-president must not sponsor a pledge and become the neutral party.
Section 8 - The protocol for choosing a pledge as a sponsor shall be by class rank, and whether or not the possible sponsor has sponsored before. So it should go: Seniors who haven't sponsored, Juniors who haven't sponsored, Sophomore's who haven't sponsored, Seniors who have, Juniors who have, and Sophomores who have. Members do have to option of passing sponsorship, and are not required to sponsor during their involvement in the Xi Epsilon Cast.
Section 9 - Pledging will begin the first week school is in session after spring break and will run until the last day of classes at McDaniel College.
Article V Officers/Executive Board
Section 1 - Composition: The offices of Alpha Psi Omega's executive board shall be president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer and historian.
Section 2 - Term of Office: The term of office for each member of the executive board shall be one (1) year in length, beginning at the following meeting after elections are held in the Fall Semester.
Section 3 - Quorum: In order to conduct business of the Xi Epsilon Cast a quorum shall be required. A quorum shall be defined as 60% of total membership.
Section 4 - Duties of the President: The president shall act as the executive officer of th chapter. The president shall be responsible for scheduling, planning, and presiding at all meetings of the chapter. The president shall be responsible for coordinating the efforts of the members of the executive board, and should, in general, set a standard by which the Chapter shall operate.
Section 5 - Duties of the Vice-President: The vice-president shall serve as the executive assistant to the president and shall perform the duties of the president in the event of absence, incapacity, or resignation. The vice-president shall be responsible for coordinating the activities of all committees.
Section 6 - Duties of the Secretary: The secretary shall be responsible for keeping and maintaining the official records of the Chapter. The secretary shall keep written records of chapter meetings. The secretary shall be responsible for maintenance of the official chapter roster. The secretary shall also relate all information concerning chapter meetings and activities to the chapter membership.
Section 7 - Duties of the Treasurer: The treasurer shall be responsible for the management of all chapter accounts and shall maintain a public record of the expenditures and receipts thereof.
Section 8 - Duties of the Historian: With the exception of chapter meetings, the historian shall maintain a detailed, written account of each Chapter activity. The Historian shall maintain a visual record of chapter activities. The historian shall update said visual record as instructed by the executive board. The historian shall present a completed scrapbook of the years events at the close of the Harvey's.
Section 9 - Duties of the Pledge Master: The Pledge Master shall be responsible for the instruction and guidance of prospective members. The Pledge Master shall be responsible for scheduling, planning, and presiding at all meetings and activities of the prospective members.
Section 10 - Requirements:Executive officers shall be expected to fulfill the following requirements in order to retain position on the board.
1. Members of the executive board must maintain an overall g.p.a. of 2.25 or above. Any officer failing to do so shall be removed from office.
2. Members of the executive board should attend all Chapter meetings. Any officer absent from a total of four (4) meetings shall be subject to removal from office as outlined in Article V, Section 12.
3. Members of the executive board should fulfill all duties with skill and consistency. Any officer failing to do so shall be subject to removal from office as outlined in Article V, Section 11.
4. Members of the executive board should consistently demonstrate a commitment to the mission and goals of the chapter. Any officer failing to do so shall be subject to removal from office as outlined in Article V, Section 12.
Section 11 - Removal procedure: Any officer failing to fulfill the requirements outlined in Article V, Section 1 shall be subject to removal from office. An elected official may be removed from office during any chapter meeting provided that the motion to effect removal from office shall have laid on the table for the period of one week. Members of the chapter shall then be given the opportunity to present testimony concerning the performance of the officer in question. The decision to effect removal from office shall require the endorsement of two-thirds of the then present chapter membership.
Section 12 - Replacement: Should an office be vacated between elections, the vacancy may be filled through an election duly called and held for such purpose. In the event that the vacant position is that of the presidency, the vice president shall automatically become president and an election may be held to fill the vice presidency.
Article VI Voting
Section 1 - Eligibility: Each member of Alpha Psi Omega shall be entitled to one vote in all decisions of the chapter and its committees. They must be in good standing and currently enrolled at McDaniel College.
Section 2 - Business: All chapter business requiring the decision of chapter membership shall be based on the principle of majority rule unless otherwise stated.
Section 3 - Procedure: With the exception of executive board elections, which shall be decided by means of a secret ballot, all issues requiring the decision of the chapter membership shall be decided by a raise of hands.
Section 4 - The president is only allowed to vote when the number of voting members is even, therefor allowing the president's vote to break any tie.
Article VII Nomination and Elections
Section 1 - Qualifications for Nominations: Each nominee must be a member of the Xi Epsilon Cast of the Alpha Psi Omega Fraternity in Good Standing.
Section 2 - Nominations
1. Nominations shall occur during a meeting duly called and held for such purpose.
2. An individual may be nominated for multiple offices.
3. Those nominations mentioned in Article V, Section 13 shall require no less than two nominees for any individual office.
4. All nominations must be seconded by a member in good standing other than the nominee, or the person who nominated them.
5. All individuals have the right to decline nomination.
Section 3 - Individual seeking election to the executive board may have ample time to address the chapter membership.
Section 4 - Elections
1. Elections shall occur during a meeting duly held for such purpose with a quorum of two thirds of members in good standing.
2. Each candidate receiving the highest vote total in the race for a position on the executive board shall be elected to said position.
3. Should an individual be elected to more than one position, the individual in question shall serve in the position of their choice. The vacant position therefor, shall be filled by the individual receiving the second highest vote total in the race for said position.
Article VIII Committees
Section 1 - Composition: The standing committees of Alpha Psi Omega shall be the Fund Raising Committee, the Play Review Committee and the Social Activities Committee. These committees shall be formed at the discretion of the executive board and shall be called on for specific periods of time as needed.
Section 2 - Eligibility: All members of the Cast shall be eligible to participate in the business of the Chapter's standing and temporary committees.
Section 3 - Committee Chairs: The executive board shall have the exclusive right, duty and authority to appoint, evaluate, and if necessary, replace the chair of each committee.
Section 4 - Social Activities Committee: The social activities committee shall be responsible for planning and presentation of the Chapter's social functions. The chair of the social activities committee shall be responsible for coordinating the efforts of committee members. The committee shall report to the Cast, when necessary, on their progress.
Section 5 - Fund Raising Committee: The Fund Raising Committee shall be responsible for the planning and development of the Chapter's fund raising activities. The chair of the committee shall be responsible for coordination the activities of all committee members. The committee shall report to the Cast, when necessary, on their progress.
Section 6 - Temporary Committees: Temporary Committees may be formed by the executive board, and shall be called for specific periods of time as needed.
Article IX Amendments
All members shall have the right, duty, and authority to amend, repeal, or change the articles of incorporation on the Xi Epsilon cast of The Alpha Psi Omega Fraternity, provided this is done with a 2/3 majority vote.
Article X Ratification
Establishment of this constitution as the governing document of the Xi Epsilon Cast of The Alpha Psi Omega Fraternity shall require the unanimous decision of the then-elected, qualified, and acting members of the executive board as well as the endorsement of two-thirds of the then-standing chapter membership.
Amendment One
Section 1 - The Xi Epsilon Cast will allot one dollar ($1) per production person to a member in good standing who is stage managing a McDaniel College Theatre Arts Department production, with which to buy opening night gifts with.
Section 2 - The Xi Epsilon Cast will allot twenty-five dollars ($25) to a member in good standing who is dramaturging a McDaniel College Theatre Arts Department production, with which to buy refreshments for the post show discussion.