CHAPTER BYLAWS

ARTICLE I
Name and Affiliation

The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Chapter is an affiliate of the Gamma Beta Phi Society, an association of local chapters organized and regulated by the Constitution of the Gamma Beta Phi Society adopted by duly appointed and qualified representatives thereof at the National Convention. These bylaws were adopted by the University of Mary Hardin- Baylor on October 12, 2006.

ARTICLE II
Nature and Purpose

The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Chapter of Gamma Beta Phi is a non-secret, non-profit, scholastic, honor, educational-service organization, for certain students, faculty and staff at accredited colleges and universities that recognizes and encourages excellence in education, promotes the development of leadership ability and character in the members thereof and fosters, disseminates, and improves education by appropriate service projects, through membership in a national association of local chapters of the Society at such colleges and universities. This Chapter is organized exclusively for educational purposes, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or any corresponding section of any future Federal Tax Code.

No part of the earnings of the Gamma Beta Phi Society, national organization, or this chapter, shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers or other private persons, except that the Chapter shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes of the Chapter and Society identified herein. No substantial part of the activities of the Chapter shall be by carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the Chapter shall not participate in, or intervene in (including publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf or in opposition to any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any other provision of these by-laws, the Chapter shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by a corporation exempt from Federal Income Tax under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or any corresponding section of any future Federal Tax Code or (b) by a corporation, contributions to which are deductible under Section 170 (c) (2) of the Internal Revenue Code, or any corresponding section of any future Federal Tax Code.

ARTICLE III
Qualifications for Membership

Students invited into membership in this chapter shall be presently enrolled at the University of Mary Hardin- Baylor and must be committed to excellence in education, to good character, and to service. Any student, full or part-time, who has completed 12 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.

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

Any student whose cumulative grade point average ranks within the top 20 percent of his class meets the scholastic requirements for membership.

Graduate students are eligible for membership provided they have completed 12 hours of graduate work and rank among the top 20 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 this institution are automatically members of this chapter upon their 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 $15.00 per year. (Other local assessments may not be made upon the membership, but voluntary contributions can be requested).

Each inductee must take the following membership pledge:
          I solemnly declare that I shall always strive to hold fast to the principles of honesty, to maintain a standard of academic excellence, to serve humanity, and to develop good character and leadership ability.
          I further pledge myself to cooperate with other members of the Gamma Beta Phi Society in the active promotion of these ideals in our school, community, state, and nation.

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

ARTICLE IV
Retention Standards

To remain a member of this chapter, local dues must be paid each year by the deadline set by the Executive Committee.

A member should retain a ranking within his or her class of no less than the top 30 percent. If a member should drop below that, he or she will be allowed one semester of probation. If after that term the member still does not meet the scholastic retention standard, he or she is dropped from membership until 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. A member may be dropped from membership for failure to:

• Earn 4 service points per semester
• Attend all mandatory monthly meetings

If a mandatory meeting is missed for any reason, the member must make up that meeting by earning one extra service point. If any member does not earn any points during a semester that they are not inactive, he or she will be allowed one semester of probation. If after that term the member still does not meet the point requirements, he or she is dropped from membership.

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 reason for the action. A student dropped from membership may later be reinstated by action of the chapter Executive Committee, if the committee is satisfied that the student now meets the standards 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.

ARTICLE V
Induction of Members

Induction of new members shall take place during the spring and/or fall semesters. 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 which 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 secretary, a treasurer, a chaplain, a historian, a publicity officer, a parliamentarian, a database operator, and a website operator.

The duties of the president shall be: to preside at the meetings, to appoint committees, to keep the email account updated and organized, to respond to all incoming emails, to notify seniors of the arrival of their seals and cords, to guide the activities and administer the policies laid down in the national constitution and chapter bylaws, to be the official representative for this chapter when necessary or desirable, and to file with Headquarters the year-end chapter report.

The duties of the vice-president shall be: to preside at meetings when the president is absent, to assume the duties of the presidency should the president be unable to serve, plan and organize service projects, to keep the membership informed of all service projects, to keep track of members that attend service projects and turn a list in to the secretary, and to assist in administering the affairs of the chapter.

The duties of the secretary shall be: to keep a record of the minutes of all officer and member meetings, to prepare the agenda for all member meetings, to carry on the general correspondence of the chapter, to keep National Headquarters informed about all changes in membership and reasons thereof, keep track of all records dating back to one year, turn in a list of members who receive points to the database operator, and to order and properly disburse material from Headquarters.

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 collect yearly dues from members; to order and disburse items for members such as T-shirts, jewelry, etc.; to pass on to the treasurer succeeding him all funds remaining in the treasury; and to give to the Advisor all financial records.

The duties of the Chaplain shall be: to open all meeting with prayer, to lead a short devotional at all member meetings, keep track of the prayer box and pray for all requests, decorate the Miss MHB Pageant representatives table, order and pick up plaques for the faculty of the month, and to contact the speaker for each member induction.

The duties of the historian shall be: to take pictures at member meetings and service projects, to make a scrapbook according to the national guidelines, and to turn in the scrapbook in time for regionals.

The duties of the publicity officer shall be: to keep members informed of all meetings through email, sidewalk chalk, and fliers; to send out reminders about upcoming events and projects; and to keep an updated list of member addresses in the email account.

The duties of the parliamentarian shall be: to lead the chapter in all legislative and voting acts, and to organize and keep track of inactive and graduating members and turn in a list to the database operator.

The duties of the database operator shall be: to maintain the database, to turn in a list of members on probation to the president, to keep track of all member points, and to bring a sign-in sheet to all member meetings.

The duties of the website operator shall be: to keep the website updated with events, projects, meetings, etc.; and to change or add to the website as needed.

All officers have the responsibility to: attend all officer and member meetings, to be involved with and attending service projects, and to attend to all of their specific duties listed above.

The officers of this chapter shall be elected at a regular meeting during the fall or spring term of the school year. The Executive Committee 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 the election will occur. The Executive Committee will determine the method of nomination and ballot casting. The new officers shall assume their position a the end of the last meeting of the semester.

ARTICLE VII
Meetings

Regular meetings of this 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 Executive Committee. Every effort shall be taken to keep the time and place of meeting consistent and to give adequate notice to the members. Special meetings may be called by the Executive Committee. All members are to be sent notification of the special meeting and its purpose for being called. Only the business for which the meeting is called will be transacted.

ARTICLE VIII
Quorum and Parliamentary Authority

A quorum of this chapter shall be constituted by 33 percent of membership. No action may be taken which is binding upon the membership unless a quorum is present.

ARTICLE IX
Attendance at State and National Meetings

This chapter of the Gamma Beta Phi Society will make every effort to send the appropriate student and advisor delegates to all state and national meetings and will endeavor to send other members as well.

ARTICLE X
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 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 member shall receive a copy of these bylaws.

ARTICLE XI
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 or future Internal Revenue Code, or the Federal, State, or local government for exclusively public purposes.