Bylaws of the Murray State University Chapter of the Gamma Beta Phi Society

Chapter 5

ARTICLE I
Name and Affiliation

The name of this organization shall be the Murray State University chapter of the Gamma Beta Phi Society.

This chapter is an integral part of the national organization of The Gamma Beta Phi Society and shall adhere to the policies laid down in the National Constitution. Its Coat of Arms, Motto, Watchwords, Colors, and Emblem shall be those of the national organization.

ARTICLE II
Nature and Purpose

This chapter shall be a non-secret, non-profit, scholastic honor, educational-service organization for students at Murray State University.

Members therein shall not be excluded by, nor shall it exclude from, membership in any social, academic, or fraternal organization. Membership therein shall not be restricted by race, sex, or creed.

The purpose of the Gamma Beta Phi Society is exclusively educational within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954. It shall not engage in activities not permitted 501(c)(3) organization or an organization contributions to which are deductible under section 107(c)(2) of that Code (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law). No part of its net earnings shall inure to the benefit of its members, officers, advisors, or other private persons, except that it may pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and make distributions in furtherance of its purpose. No substantial part of the organization’s activities shall involve political propaganda or campaigns, or the attempt to influence legislation.

The objectives of the organization are to recognize and encourage excellence in education; to promote the development of leadership ability and character in its members; and to foster, disseminate, and improve education through appropriate service projects. Each chapter of the Society shall implement these purposes by procedures consonant with the local situation and in cooperation with the faculty and administration of Murray State University.

ARTICLE III
Qualifications for Membership

Students invited into membership in this chapter shall be presently enrolled at Murray State University and must be committed to excellence in education, to good character, and to service. Any student, full or part-time, who has completed twelve hours of college work, excluding any pass-fail work or hours earned due to placement tests such as CLEP or CEEB, is eligible for membership provided he or she is enrolled in a program leading to the associate, bachelors, or graduate degree and also meets the other requirements for membership.

Any student whose cumulative grade point average ranks within the top ten percent of his class meets the scholastic requirement for membership.

Graduate students are eligible for membership provided they have completed nine hours of graduate work and rank among the top ten percent of graduate students and meet any other criteria required of undergraduate members. An undergraduate member who graduates in good standing may continue his or her active membership throughout graduate school.

Students who were members in good standing of Gamma Beta Phi chapters at other institutions and who transfer to Murray State University are automatic members of this chapter upon request. Such transfer members will be subject to the retention standards of this chapter, just as any other member.

Each inductee must pay the one-time membership fee set by the National Senate. He or she must also pay the local dues of 15 dollars per year. (Other local assessments may not be made upon the membership, but voluntary contributions can be requested.)

Each inductee must take the membership pledge.

Any student who rejects membership when first invited will not be invited again, except upon appeal to and approval of the chapter officers.

ARTICLE IV
Retention Standards

Sec. 1:  To remain a member of this chapter, local dues must be paid each year by the deadline set by the chapter officers.

A member should retain a ranking within his or her class of no less than the top 20 percent. If a member should drop below that, he or she will be allowed one semester of probation to participate in chapter activities. If after that term the member still does not meet the scholastic retention standard, he or she is dropped from membership until the standard is met.

In accordance with the nature and purpose of The Gamma Beta Phi Society, members are expected to participate in the projects, meetings, and other activities of the chapter. All members are required to become involved with a committee of his/her choice. A member may be dropped from membership for failure to meet the activity standards that follow.

The Murray State University Chapter is governed by a point system in which members may achieve different point values for different activities performed. All members residing in Calloway County, KY (this includes all residence halls) must achieve a minimum of fifteen points in one semester. All members residing outside of Calloway County, KY must achieve a minimum of ten points in one semester. All newly inducted members will only have to receive ten points and five points, respectfully, for his/her first semester of membership. Points may be achieve by the following activities:

Sec 2: In recognition of changing activities and times, the last three items in the above list have been kept general. The Executive Committee may collectively deem an activity worthy of points and may decide the proper amount of points to be given for each activity as long as the maximum point value is not violated. This decision must be made with adequate time before the event is scheduled to take place so that the membership can be notified of the new point allocation.

Sec 3: A member dropped from membership may appeal the decision to the State President, and then, if desired, to the Executive Secretary. The name of any member dropped from membership shall be sent to the Executive Secretary immediately, along with the reason for action. A student dropped from membership may later be reinstalled by decision of the local officers, if the officers are satisfied that the student now meets the standard of membership. A member so reinstated will not again pay the national membership fee, but notification of the reinstatement shall be sent at once to the Executive Secretary.

Sec 4: Any member wishing to have the Gamma Beta Phi gold seal on his/her diploma at graduation should have been an active member of the local chapter for three semesters. These need not be consecutive semesters. Any time period shorter than three semesters will disqualify the member from receiving the gold seal, except in the case that the member will graduate before the three-semester time limit is achieved. In such a case, that member must be active for every semester that he/she has been involved with Gamma Beta Phi. The member wanting the gold seal should make a written or oral request to the officers for this seal. It shall not be the officers’ responsibility to see that the member receives this seal

Article V
Induction of Members

Induction of new members shall take place during the fall semester of each school year. The induction ceremony shall be a dignified occasion. There shall be no hazing of an inductee-either that which would result in physical discomfort or that would cause mental embarrassment.

Article VI
Officers

The elected officers of this chapter of the Gamma Beta Phi Society shall be: a president, a vice-president, a recording secretary, a corresponding secretary, a treasurer, a historian, and a public relations officer.

The duties of the president shall be: to preside at all meetings; to appoint committees; to guide the activities and administer the policies laid down in the national constitution and in the chapter bylaws; to be the official representative of this chapter when necessary or desirable; to file with National Headquarters the year-end chapter report.

The duties of the vice-president shall be: to preside at meetings when the president is absent, or as a delegated duty from the president; to assume the duties of the presidency should the president be unable to serve; to assist in administering the affairs of the chapter.

The duties of the recording secretary shall be: to keep records of membership; to keep National Headquarters informed about all changes in membership and reasons thereof; to keep records of all points earned by membership; to keep records of those members on probation and for what reason.

The duties of the corresponding secretary shall be: to prepare and keep an ongoing record of minutes of the meetings; to carry on the general correspondence of the chapter.

The duties of the treasurer shall be: to collect, safeguard, and disburse the funds of the chapter; to keep a complete and accurate record of all financial transactions; to complete the year-end Financial Report; to order and disburse items for members such as T-Shirts, jewelry, etc.; to pass on the treasurer succeeding him/her all funds remaining in the treasury and to give to the Advisor all financial records.

The duties of the historian shall be: to collect pictures, memorabilia, and other articles for the scrapbook, and see that the scrapbook is completed for the National Convention; to constantly check officers’ actions to make sure they correspond with the constitution, and the local chapter bylaws.

The duties of the public relations officer shall be: to collect and disburse chapter information as available; to oversee the publication of the Gamma Beta Phlier; to insure the membership is aware of the time and place of each meeting.

The duties of the webmaster shall be:  to update and maintain the chapter web page as frequently as necessary to insure that the accuracy of the information presented therein is correct.

The officers of this chapter shall be elected at a regular meeting. The president, recording secretary, public relations officer, and historian shall be elected during the fall semester of the school year. The vice-president, corresponding secretary, treasurer, and webmaster shall be elected during the spring semester of the school year. This is to insure a smooth transaction each semester of new officers, and to ensure that at no point in time, the chapter is comprised of all new officers. The present officers will determine the date of the election and announce it to the membership at least one regular meeting in advance of the meeting at which election will occur. The present officers will determine the method of nomination and ballot-casting. The new officers shall assume their position at the end of the last meeting of the semester.

Article VII
Committees

The standing committees of this chapter shall be: education committee, fundraising committee, membership committee, service committee, scrapbook committee, and social committee.

The education committee shall be appointed randomly when inducted. The vice-president shall be the advisor to the committee. The chairperson shall be elected from within the members of the committee by the members of the committee. This committee shall carry out the National Project, such as Project Literacy, etc. It is also the duty of the education committee to coordinate and carry out community service through the local schools.

The service committee shall be appointed randomly when inducted. The corresponding secretary shall be the advisor to this committee. The chairperson shall be elected from within the members of the committee by the members of the committee. This committee shall coordinate and carry out community service programs, such as those for the needy and the elderly.

The fundraising committee shall be appointed randomly when inducted. The treasurer shall be the advisor to this committee. The chairperson shall be elected from within the members of the committee by the members of the committee. This committee shall coordinate and carry out activities which will raise funds for the local chapter.

The membership committee shall be appointed randomly when inducted. The recording secretary shall be the advisor to this committee. The chairperson shall be elected from within the members of the committee by the members of the committee. It is the responsibility of the committee to inform the members of all meetings and activities.

The scrapbook committee shall be appointed randomly when inducted. The historian shall be the advisor to this committee. The chairperson shall be elected from within the members of the committee by the members of the committee. It is the responsibility of the committee to gather data such as programs, photographs, etc. for the scrapbook, and have the scrapbook compiled by the National Convention date.

The social committee shall be appointed randomly when inducted. The public relations officer shall be the advisor to this committee. The chairperson shall be elected from within the members of the committee by the members of the committee. It is the responsibility of the committee to take charge of all social activities of the chapter. of the semester

Article VIII
Meetings

Regular meetings of the Murray State University chapter of the Gamma Beta Phi Society shall be held every month during the regular school year. The time and place of meeting will be decided upon by the local officers. Every effort shall be taken to keep the time and place of meetings consistent and to give adequate notice to the members. Special meetings may be called by the officers. 

Article IX
Quorum and Parliamentary Authority

A quorum of this chapter shall be constituted by twenty percent of the membership. No action may be taken which is binding upon the membership unless a quorum is present. Robert’s Rules of Order will be followed for Parliamentary procedures in all meetings.

Article X
Attendance at State and National Meetings

This chapter of The Gamma Beta Phi Society will make every effort to send appropriate student and Advisor delegates to all State and National meetings and will endeavor to send other members as well. For those members attending such meetings, there will be points awarded according to which meeting he/she attended.

Article XI
Amending and Transmitting the Bylaws

The Bylaws of this chapter may be amended by a majority vote of the members at any meeting at which a quorum is present, provided such a proposed amendment in written form has been placed before the membership at a previous regular meeting. Such amendments may not be in conflict with national standards or policies.

Both the Executive Secretary of the Gamma Beta Phi Society and the appropriate institutional administrator or committee shall be sent immediately a copy of these bylaws and of any subsequent amendments or alterations. Each new member shall receive a copy of these bylaws.

Article XII
Dissolution

In the event of dissolution the residual assets of this chapter will be turned over to another organization which is in itself exempt from Federal Income Tax as an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 or the corresponding provisions of any prior of future Internal Revenue Code, or to the Federal, State, or local government for exclusively public purposes.