Petition for Charter Submitted to National

3.28.2008 PETITION FOR CHARTER THE BETA SIGMA ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OF SIGMA PI FRATERNITY, INTERNATIONAL Whereas, the undersigned Alumni of BETA SIGMA Chapter of SIGMA PI FRATERNITY INTERNATIONAL, now desire to form and Charter the BETA SIGMA ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ARTTCLE I Name and Purpose Section 1. Name.  The association shall be known as the Beta Sigma Alumni Association of Sigma Pi Fraternity, International (hereinafter referred to as the "Association"). Section-2.  Purpose. The primary purpose of the Association is to make possible a continuing and furthering of the friendships which were formed among the Brothers during their college days.  In addition, the group will assist the local chapter in their operation and in their alumni relations. The activities of the Association usually have a dual purpose - to benefit the local undergraduate chapter and to provide an enjoyable experience for the Association's members.  In general, the activities on behalf of the undergraduates are the furnishing of advisors or advisory committees for the chapter and their individual brothers, providing vocational  guidance, supervising the financial and administrative affairs of the chapter, assisting in the education of the pledges, sponsoring of an awards program, creating a scholarship or loan fund for deserving students, aiding the chapter in recruiting new members, developing a sound publicity program for the chapter or helping to organize inter-chapter activities. Furthermore, the Alumni Association will maintain an amicable rapport with National Headquarters and act as a liaison between the chapter and the University whenever necessary. ASSOCIATION OFFICERS PRESIDENT: David Jeskey TREASURER:  Douglas Otterness SECRETARY/HERALD: Martin Gallagher ARTICLE II Members Section 1: Class  The Association shall have two classes of membership – Active and Associate.  The qualification for membership in the respective class is as follows: (a) Active Mernbers -  Active members shall be Brothers of Sigma Pi Fraternity, Intemational who: are in good standing,  request membership in the Association and agree to comply with its bylaws. A procedure for obtaining Active membership has been established by the Executive Committee. (b) Associate Members – Associate Members shall be Friends (male and female) of Sigma Pi, whom during their collegiate stay showed a strong connection to Sigma Pi and the Brothers. (c) Optional Dues – The Alumni Association will request from all of its members an Optional Dues Membership Fee of $50.00 per year.  All dues are voluntary. The dues will be handled by the Treasurer and used to defer the variety of expenses incurred within the operations of the Association.  The Association, at any time, reserves the right to adjust dues or other monetary subsidies of the Association as deemed necessary. Section 2: Voting - Only Active members of the Alumni Chapter shall be eligible to vote and to hold office. Section 3: Termination -   Membership in the Chapter shall terminate upon the receipt by the Executive Committee of the written termination of a member. Section 4: Reinstatement of  Membership,    A person, whose membership in the Association has been terminated may be reinstated to the Alumni Chapter upon written request and by approval  of the Executive Committee. ARTICLE III Meetings Section 1: Annual Meetings - Annual Meetings of the members of the Association shall be held in the month of September or October in each year, for the purpose of electing officers and for the transaction of such other business as may come before the meeting.  If the annual meeting  is not held during such month, the Executive Committee shall cause it to be held as soon thereafter as may be convenient. Section 2: Special Meetings - Special meetings of the members may be called at any time either by the President, by the Executive Committee, or by recommendation of an active member. Section 3: Notice of  Meetings - Written or printed notice stating the place, day and hour of the meeting and (in case of a special meeting) the purpose or purposes for which the meeting  is called, shall be delivered to each member not less than  30 nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting, either personally or by mail, by or at the direction of the President or the Secretary or the Officer or persons calling the meeting.  If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail with postage thereon prepaid, addressed to the member at his address as it appears on the records of the Alumni Chapter. Section 4: Voting Lists - The officer having charge of the membership book of the Association shall make before each meeting of members a complete list of members entitled to vote at such meeting arranged in alphabetical order. Section 5: Quorum - A majority shall be no less than 10 members of the Association at any meeting of the members provided that if less than a quorum is present at said meeting, a majority of those present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice. Section 6: Manner of Action - The act of a majority of the voting members present in person at a duly called meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the members unless the act of a greater number is required by statute, the Articles of Incorporation or these bylaws. Section 7: Informal Action bv Membership  - Any action required by statute, the Articles of Incorporation or these bylaws to be taken at a meeting of members of the Association may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by all the members entitled to vote with respect to the subject matter thereof. ARTICLE IV Executive Committee Section 1: General - The property and affairs of the Association shall be managed by its Executive Committee. Section 2: Composition - The executive committee shall consist of the officers of the Association and the Advisory Group. Section 3: Annual Meeting - The annual meeting of the council shall be held without notice other than these bylaws immediately after (or immediately preceding) and at the same place as the annual meeting of the members. Section 4: Special Meetings - Special Meetings of the council may be called by or at the request of the President or any Executive Committee member.  The person or persons authorized to call special meetings of the council may fix the place for holding any such special meetings. Section 5: Notice - Written or printed notice of any special meetings of the Executive Committee shall state the place, day and hour of the meeting and the purpose or purposes for which the meeting  is called.  Such notice shall be given to each member of the council at least 30 days before the date of the meeting, either delivered personally or mailed to each member of the Executive Committee at his or her address as shown in the records of the Association.  If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail in a sealed envelope so addressed, with postage prepaid. Section 6: Quorum - A majority of the members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the executive committee, provided that if less than a majority of the members is present at any meeting, a majority of the members of the council present may adjourn the meeting  to another time without further notice. Section 7: Manner of Acting - The act of a majority of the members of the Executive Committee present at a duly called meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Executive Committee, unless the act of a greater number is required by statute, the Articles of Incorporation or these bylaws. Section 8. Informal Action of the Committee -  Any action which is required by law or the Articles of Incorporation or these bylaws to be taken at a meeting of the Executive Committee or any other action which may be taken at a meeting of the Executive Committee, may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing setting forth the action taken, shall be signed by all of the members of the Executive Committee agreed to vote with respect to the subject matter thereof.  Any such consent signed by all of the members of the Executive Committee shall have the same force and effect as a unanimous vote at a duly called and constituted meeting of the council. ARTICLE V Officers Section 1: Officers - The Officers of the Association shall consist of a President, a Treasurer, and a Secretary. Additional Officers may be provided. Only Active members may be officers of Association. Section 2: Election and Term of Office of President, Treasurer and  Secretary - The President, Treasurer and Secretary of the Chapter shall be elected biennially by the members at their annual meeting.  The President and Secretary shall be elected during the odd calendar years.  The Treasurer shall be elected during the even calendar years.  If the election of such officers shall not be held at such meeting, such election shall be held as soon thereafter as may be convenient.  Each such officer shall hold office for two years or until the next annual meeting of the members and until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified. Section 3: Vacancies  - A vacancy in any office may be filled by action of the members of the Executive Committee at any meeting of the Executive Committee.  The individual so appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve for the unexpired term of his predecessor in office. ARTICLE VI Duties of Officers Section 1: President  - The President shall be the principal Executive Officer of the Association and shall preside at all meetings of the members and of the Executive Committee; shall in general, supervise and direct all of the business and affairs of the Association subject to the direction and control of the Executive Committee  The President shall appoint the members of all special and standing committees of the Association. The President shall have charge of the membership book, shall keep a record of the mailing address of each member of The Association, shall maintain a current roster of all Brothers and Associate Members of the Association including those who are not members of the Association. Section 2 – Treasurer - The Treasurer shall be the principal accounting and financial officer of  The Association and shall have charge of and be responsible for the maintenance of adequate books of account for the Association, shall have charge and custody of all funds and securities of the Executive Committee and be responsible therefore, and for the receipt and disbursement thereof, shall deposit all funds and securities of The Association in such banks, trust companies or other depositories as shall be selected by the council; and shall perform all of the duties customarily incident to the Office of the Treasurer and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned by the President or the Executive Committee.  If required by the Executive Committee, the Treasurer shall give a bond for the faithful discharge of the duties of that office in such sum and with such surety or sureties is the Executive Committee shall determine the cost of any such bond or surety to be paid from the funds of the Association. Section 3 – Secretary - The Secretary shall prepare before each meeting an alphabetical listing of all voting members, shall keep minutes of the meetings of the members and of the Executive Committee in one or more books maintained for the purpose, shall see that all notices are duly given in accordance with statutes, the Articles of Incorporation and these bylaws, shall be custodian of the Association's records and seal, and in general shall perform ail duties customarily incident to the Office of Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned by the President or the Executive Committee. ARTICLE VII Committees       SECTION 1 – Composition - Committees may be established by resolution of the Executive Committee adopted at any duly called and constituted meeting.  The size, purposes and powers of any such Committee shall be as provided in such resolution.  Except as otherwise provided in such resolution,  the President of the Association shall appoint the members of each such Committee.  Any member of any Committee may be removed by the majority of the Executive Committee, whenever, in their judgment the best interests of the Association shall be served by such removal. Section 2- Term of Office - Each member of a Committee shall continue as such until the next annual meeting oft he Executive Committee and until his successor is appointed or until such member's death, resignation or removal or until the Committee shall be terminated. Section 3: Chairman  - One member of each Committee shall be appointed Chairman of the Committee by the   Executive Committee of the Association.  Section 4: Vacancies  - Vacancies in the membership of any committee shall be filled by appointments made by the President.  Section 5: Quorum - Unless otherwise provided in the resolution of the council establishing a committee, a       majority of the whole committee shall constitute a quorum and the act of a majority of the members present at a duly called meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the committee. ARTICLE VII Fiscal Year      The fiscal year of the Association shall begin on the first day of January and end on the last day of December of        each calendar year.         ARTICLE VIII Rules of Procedure All questions of procedure regarding the affairs of this Association, including the conduct of meetings of the members, the Executive Committee and Committees, shall be governed by the then current edition of Sturgis Standard. Code of Parliamentary Procedure,  except as Otherwise provided by statute or these bylaws. ARTICLE IX Sigma Pi Fratemity, International Neither the Association nor any of its officers, or members, is authorized to represent or in any way bind the Sigma Pi Fraternity, International nor will any of them in any way hold themselves out as being so authorized. ARTICLE X Indemnification To the full extent permitted by law, the Association may indemnify any and all of its Officers or Committee members, and every former Officer or Committee member, for certain expenses and other amounts paid in connection with legal proceedings in which any such person becomes involved by reason of serving in any such capacity with or for the Association.  The Association may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any or all officers or committee members against any liability asserted against any such person, and incurred in any such capacity, whether or not the Association would have the power to indemnify them against such liability under the provisions of this Article or otherwise. ARTICLE XI Amendments These bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed and new bylaws may be adopted by a two-thirds vote of the voting  members present at the annual meeting of the Association, provided that written notice of the proposed change or changes shall have been given to each voting member in accordance with the requirements set forth in Article III.  All bylaw amendments shall be submitted to the Grand Council of the Sigma Pi Fraternity, International for its approval.  Disapproval by the Grand Council shall render such amendment null and void.