Chapter Bylaws

ARTICLE I. Name of Chapter

The name of this chapter of Phi Theta Kappa shall be Alpha Chi Mu (assigned by Headquarters upon approval of chartering application).

ARTICLE II. Purpose

The purpose of the Alpha Chi Mu chapter of Phi Theta Kappa at Porterville College shall be the promotion of scholarship, the development of leadership and service, and the cultivation of fellowship among qualified students of this college.

ARTICLE III. Membership

Membership in the Alpha Chi Mu chapter shall consist of member, provisional member, alumni member, and honorary member.

Section 1. Member.
Each candidate for membership must have completed 12 semester hours of associate degree course work at Porterville College, with a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.5, adhere to the school conduct code, and possess recognized qualities of citizenship. A G.P.A. of at least 3.25 must be maintained. When a member's cumulative G.P.A. falls below 3.25, he or she has one semester in which to bring the average to 3.25. If he or she fails to raise the cumulative G.P.A. to 3.25 after one semester, the member shall have his or her name stricken from the local chapter roll and the Phi Theta Kappa Headquarters shall be notified to strike the name from the international roll as well. Once a student's name is stricken from the roll, all privileges of membership are revoked.

Section 2. Transfer of Membership.

Each transfer candidate for membership must present proof of being a Phi Theta Kappa member in good standing at his or her existing two-year college to the current advisor(s). He or she must then maintain a cumulative G.P.A of 3.25 in all credits earned at Porterville College after becoming a member of the Alpha Chi Mu chapter of Phi Theta Kappa.

Section 3. Provisional Member.
A provisional member of Phi Theta Kappa is a student, who, in the opinion of the local chapter, has shown an active interest in the affairs of the Society and who serves the Society in some special capacity, but who does not meet the full requirements for membership in the Society. In order to qualify for provisional membership status, a student must be enrolled in associate degree course work at the two-year college, adhere to school conduct code, and possess recognized qualities of citizenship. Provisional members will not be officially affiliated with the Phi Theta Kappa Society, cannot hold office, and cannot vote on chapter, regional, or international matters. Provisional members are not required to pay the international, regional, and local dues until they have qualified for full membership.

Section 4. Alumni Member.
Alumni members shall be members of the Society who are no longer enrolled in the two-year college and who have terminated their active membership in good standing, with a minimum of one year's enrollment at the two-year college. Alumni members shall be entitled to all the privileges of full members except the right to vote or to hold office.

Section 5. Honorary Member.
Honorary membership may be granted in this chapter to men and women who have rendered distinguished service to the Society. Honorary members may not vote or hold office nor must they be officially inducted or pay membership fees.

ARTICLE IV. Chapter Advisor(s)

Section 1. The chapter advisor(s) shall be appointed by the administration of Porterville College.

 Section 2. The chapter advisor(s) shall be responsible for the guidance of chapter activities and shall act as a liaison to the international society and official college administration.

Section 3. The chapter advisor(s) is/are responsible for the completion and submission of the Annual Report, Five-Star Chapter Update Forms, Membership Report Forms, and Membership Profile Forms required by the Phi Theta Kappa Society Headquarters. The chapter advisor(s) is/are also responsible for notifying members to be placed on academic probation.

Section 4. The advisor(s) shall not be a voting member of the chapter.

Section 5. Chapter advisors shall be reviewed on an annual basis by a committee appointed by the college president.

ARTICLE V. Officers

Section 1. All officers must be members of Phi Theta Kappa in good standing, have a G.P.A. of at least 3.25, and must be currently enrolled at Porterville College.

 Section 2. The Alpha Chi Mu of Phi Theta Kappa shall have at least the following officers: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Recording Secretary(ies), and Public Relations Secretary/Historian. Other officer positions may be designated as deemed necessary by the officers and advisor(s).

 Section 3. The duties of the president shall be as follows:

1. Preside over all business meetings.

2. Appoint and establish any necessary committees.

3. Vote only in case of a tie.

4. Serve as an ex-officio member on all committees.

5. Present business to the organization.

6. Represent the organization at all times.

7. Appoint a committee to review and/or revise the chapter constitution annually.

8. Appoint a committee to prepare the Annual Report to be sent to Headquarters each spring.

Section 4. The duties of vice president(s) shall be as follows:

1. Perform all duties of the president in the event of his or her absence.

2. Take roll at the meetings.

3. Coordinate all committees.

4. Head the committee reviewing the chapter constitution and the annual report.

5. Submit to Regional Coordinator and Headquarters reports of chapter activities and Five-Star Chapter Update Forms.

6. Act as program chairperson.

Section 5. The treasurer shall:

1. Open and/or maintain a bank account for the Society (if allowed by the college).

2. Receive all money and write all vouchers/receipts.

3. Write all checks if allowed by the college

4. Keep a set of books, which shall be audited by the chapter advisor and notarized before the office is relinquished.

5. Make a report of finances at each business meeting.

Section 6. The recording secretary(ies) shall:

1. Take and read minutes of meetings.

2. Maintain records of the meetings.

3. Maintain a file of chapter documents, including bylaws.

4. Serve on the committee to prepare the Annual Report to be sent to Headquarters each spring.

5. Send out “Thank You” notes.

Section 7. The public relations secretary/historian shall:

1. Keep a full record of chapter functions.

2. Draft and submit press releases on a regular basis to all area newspapers.

3. Prepare and maintain the chapter scrapbook for regional and international meetings and conventions.

4. Promote all Phi Theta Kappa activities through adequate publicity.

ARTICLE VI. Election of officers

Section 1. All candidates for office must be members of Phi Theta Kappa, in good standing.

Section 2. Election committees shall be formed to fill the potential slate of officers within 60 days prior to election of officers during the spring semester of each year.

Section 3. Additional nominations from the floor can be made at any meeting prior to the election.

Section 4. Election of officers shall be held no later than the first meeting in May by ballot. Votes will be counted by the advisors. Plurality of the votes cast will determine the new officers.

Section 5. Absentee ballots will be available 3 days prior to the election meeting and shall be returned no later than 12 noon of the Election Day in order to be counted.

Section 6. Officers shall hold office from the time of their installation to the time of the next installation.

Section 7. In any case when an officer must resign his or her office, an election shall be held to elect a new officer. Nominations shall be made from the floor and will be made at the first meeting following the resignation of the officer. The election will be held at the first meeting following nominations. Plurality of the votes cast will determine the new officer. The president shall have the power to make a temporary appointment at his or her discretion until a meeting can be held.

ARTICLE VII. Removal of Officers

Section 1. If any officer fails to fulfill the duties of his or her office, he or she may be removed as follows:

1. An advisor shall confer with that officer and offer him or her the option of resigning.

2. A special meeting of the chapter officers must be held to discuss the problem and a vote of three-fourths of the remaining officers is sufficient to remove an officer from office.

3. If the problem is not resolved, an officer may be removed by petition of three-fourths of the total membership.

ARTICLE VIII. Meetings

Section 1. All business meetings will follow the general agenda:

Order of Business

1. Call to order

2. Roll call

3. Approval of the minutes

4. Treasurer's report

5. Committee reports

6. Old business

7. New business

8. Announcements

9. Adjournment

Section 2. For general meeting to be official, a quorum of at least one advisor and at least three officers must be present. Minutes must be taken for all these meetings.

Section 3. All meetings shall be governed by an adaptation of Robert's Rules of Order.

Section 4. Special committee meetings shall be called by the chairperson of said committee. Procedures at such meetings are left to the discretion of the chairperson. Summary reports of each meeting shall be given to the members at the following chapter meeting.

ARTICLE IX. Finances

Section 1. Finances for this chapter will be raised by projects voted on by a majority vote of fundraising committee. The committee chairperson will report to the full membership.

Section 2. Payment of the International Membership fee of $45.00 must be received by the chapter advisor(s) before members can be inducted.

Section 3. All members must pay one-time local dues of $20.00.

Section 4. All members must pay regional dues of $5.00 prior to induction.

Section 5. Disbursement vouchers must be submitted with supporting invoices and/or statements attached to the original invoice.

Section 6. Financial records of the chapter shall be annually audited by the advisor(s).

ARTICLE X. Amendments and Revision

Section 1. The bylaws may be amended by a vote of 2/3 of all votes cast by special ballot provided that the proposed amendment has been presented in written form for each member no more than 30 days previously before the actual vote. Any changes to the bylaws must be sent to Headquarters for final approval.