2015 Houston Alumnae Chapter KAPPA ALPHA THETA REVISED BYLAWS ARTICLE I NAME AND PURPOSE Name The name of this organization shall be the Houston Alumnae of Kappa Alpha Theta. Purpose The purpose of this alumnae chapter shall be to: A. Encourage and foster cordial relations among the alumnae members of the fraternity; B. Strengthen interest and promote active participation in the fraternity on the part of all members; C. Support the charitable and educational objectives of the fraternity; D. Render assistance to the college chapters; E. Suggest favorable fields for extension; F. Aid in the establishment of new college chapters; G. Encourage alumnae members to write letters of reference for prospective new members. ARTICLE II MEMBERSHIP Eligibility Any alumnae member of the Fraternity in good standing Active Membership Members who pay local dues and Fraternity per capita fee are active members of this chapter. Privileges of Active Members Only persons holding active membership in this chapter may vote, hold office, serve on committees, act as a delegate to conventions or represent this chapter in any way.
Page 2 ARTICLE III OFFICERS Section 4. Section 5. The elected officers of this chapter shall be: A. President B. President-Elect C. Vice President D. Recording Secretary E. Corresponding Secretary F. Treasurer G. Treasurer-Elect H. Editor I. Panhellenic Delegate Chapter Advisor The Chapter Advisor shall be the immediate past-president of the alumnae chapter. Financial Advisor The Financial Advisor shall be the immediate past-treasurer of the alumnae chapter. Duties of Officers A. The duties of these officers shall be so outlined in the Kappa Alpha Theta Alumnae handbook with these additions. B. The President shall be responsible for the Chapter charter. C. The President should have a copy of each officer s annual report. Election Procedures A. Officers shall be elected annually. B. The Chapter Advisor shall appoint a nominating committee to nominate a candidate for each office. C. The nominating committee shall meet no later than January 15 and shall present the slate at the February board and regular meetings, respectively. D. Nominations from the floor are in order, provided consent of any nominee has been obtained previously. E. All candidates for office, whether proposed by the nominating committee or from the floor, shall be active members in good standing of this chapter. F. Voting shall be by written ballot except when there is only one nominee for an office; the vote may be taken by voice vote. G. Officers shall be installed at the close of the May annual meeting and shall assume their duties immediately, with the exception of those officers whose duties are tied to the fiscal year. (See Article VIII. These officers include Treasurer, Treasurer- Elect, and Financial Advisor.) H. Officers shall report to the Fraternity via the officer list by the required date. Section 6. Vacancies in Offices A. If an office becomes vacant during the year, a replacement shall be appointed by the President with the approval of the executive committee.
Page 3 B. Should the President be unable to perform her duties for a short period of time, they shall be assumed by the immediate past-president. C. Should the President s office become vacant, her duties shall be assumed by the immediate past-president until the executive committee is able to fill the vacancy. Section 7. Section 8. Tenure of Office Officers may be re-elected at the discretion of the chapter. No person may be re-elected to the same office for more than three consecutive years. Convention Delegates A. The convention delegate to Grand Convention shall be the Chapter President. The alternate delegate shall be the Chapter President-Elect. The Executive Committee shall select a delegate if neither of these is able to attend with the approval of the alumnae district president. A delegate must be a member in good standing from the chapter. B. A second delegate will be sent by the chapter to the Grand Convention if funds are available. C. Expenses The expenses of Grand Convention, including registration, round-trip travel to the Convention city, and hotel accommodations, are provided for through the percapita fee collected from the chapter. The alumnae chapter shall reimburse routine expenses of the delegate s trip to convention, including costs for ground transportation between the airport and the Convention site, which are not paid by the Fraternity. D. Reports 1. The delegate shall report to the chapter at the general meeting following the convention. 2. The delegate shall send a complete written report, within one month, to the Executive Director and to the alumnae district president. ARTICLE IV MEETINGS Regular Meetings A. Regular meetings shall be held on the third Wednesday of each month from September to May inclusive, unless announced in advance. B. Founders Day shall be held in January. C. A minimum of three meetings must be held. Annual Meeting The annual meeting shall be held in May for the purpose of installing officers and for such other business as may come before the chapter.
Page 4 Section 4. Section 5. Founders Day A. Date Founders Day shall be especially observed in January. B. Ritual The entire ritual shall be used whenever possible. (Kappa Alpha Theta Ritual Book) C. Friendship Fund A collection for the Friendship Fund shall be taken at this meeting. Nike Kite (Night Group) Meeting Nite Kites meetings shall be held at the discretion of its members and shall be presided over by the Nite Kites Chairman. The Nite Kites shall abide by the Houston Alumnae Chapter Bylaws. Quorum for Meeting The quorum necessary for conducting the business of the chapter shall be 5% of the active membership. ARTICLE V EXECUTIVE BOARD The Executive Board shall be composed of the Executive Committee and all Committee Chairmen of the Chapter. The Executive Committee of the Board A. The members shall be: 1. President 2. President-Elect 3. Vice-President 4. Recording Secretary 5. Corresponding Secretary 6. Treasurer 7. Treasurer-Elect 8. Editor 9. Panhellenic Delegate 10. Nite Kites Chairman 11. Young Alumnae Chairman 12. Chapter Advisor, ex-officio, non-voting member 13. Financial Advisor, ex-officio, non-voting member B. The Executive Committee shall perform duties that may need immediate attention. C. Meetings shall be at the call of the president. D. The quorum shall be the majority of the members.
Page 5 Section 4. Section 5. Executive Board Duties A. Make recommendations to the general membership regarding decisions which must be made. B. Each officer shall maintain a notebook containing the work of her office, which shall be given to the officer for the following year. Executive Board Meetings A. The Board shall meet the first Wednesday in September and February, and other months as needed. B. The meeting of the Executive Board shall be open for any member to attend who may have business to present. Executive Board Quorum The quorum necessary for conducting the business of the board shall be 20 members. ARTICLE VI ANTIQUES SHOW BOARD OF DIRECTORS The Antiques Show Board of Directors shall be comprised of the following members: A. Antiques Show Chairman (President of the Antiques Show Executive Board) B. Houston Alumnae Chapter President (Vice-President of the Antiques Show Executive Board) C. Antiques Show Treasurer (Third Officer of the Antiques Show Executive Board) D. Antiques Show Administrators (3) E. Houston Alumnae Chapter President-Elect F. Immediate-past Antiques Show Chairman G. Second-year-past Antiques Show Chairman H. Antiques Show Treasurer-Elect I. Antiques Show Financial Advisor (Immediate-past Antiques Show Treasurer) J. Antiques Show Chairman-Designate K. Houston Alumnae Chapter Representative Other Advisors Other advisors deemed necessary may be appointed by the Antiques Show Board of Directors.
Page 6 ARTICLE VII COMMITTEES Standing Committees The standing committees of this chapter shall include: A. Antiques Show B. Finance C. Membership D. Nomination E. Philanthropic F. Recruitment Reference Board G. Scholarship H. Theta of the Year I. Others necessary for the efficient operations of the chapter. Appointment of Standing Committees A. The Antiques Show Chairman Designate shall be appointed by the President with the approval of the Antiques Show Board of Directors. B. The Recruitment Reference Board Coordinator shall be appointed by the President-Elect, to serve a one year term commencing January 1. The Recruitment Reference Board members will be appointed by the President-Elect with the help of the RRBC by February 1. C. The Chairman of the remaining standing and all other necessary committees shall be appointed by the President-Elect prior to her installation as President. D. Committee members should be selected by the President and the committee chairman conferring together. Duties of Committees A. Antiques Show committees shall consist of those dues-paid members of the Houston Alumnae Chapter selected by the Antiques Show Chairman. Its primary function shall be to secure and maintain funds for the chapter philanthropies as designated by the Philanthropic Committee and chapter membership. B. The Finance Committee shall be composed of the Treasurer, who shall serve as Chairman, the Financial Advisor, Treasurer-Elect, President, President-Elect, incoming President-Elect and Chapter Advisor. The Treasurer shall prepare the budget, to be presented to the board in April for approval and to the chapter in May and shall supervise, with the advice of the Finance Committee, the financial business of the organization. C. The Nominating Committee shall consist of a Chairman, who shall be the Chapter Advisor, Antiques Show Chairman, Treasurer-Elect and four other members whom the Chairman shall appoint. The President and President-Elect shall be voting, ex-officio members. The Chairman may vote only in case of a tie. D. The Philanthropic Committee shall consist of the Chapter President, President- Elect, Chapter Advisor, Chapter Treasurer, Antiques Show Advisor, Antiques Show Chairman and Antiques Show Chairman-Designate.
Page 7 1. The Chapter Advisor shall be the Chairman of the Philanthropic Committee, and she shall vote only in case of a tie. 2. The Committee shall be responsible for all philanthropy of the chapter, including the investigation of requests from local charitable activities and recommendations to the chapter for action thereon. 3. The term of the Philanthropic Committee will be from antiques show to antiques show. The officers of this committee will be those named who are in office immediately after the antiques show; they will carry on the business of the Philanthropic Committee until the next antiques show. 4. The Philanthropic Committee shall accept written applications for Antiques Show funds to be disbursed the following year. The deadline for receipt of applications shall be January 1. The Philanthropic Committee shall convene in January and shall present for approval its final recommendations to the Board of Directors of the Antiques Show, the Executive Committee of the Houston Alumnae Chapter and to the general membership no later than their meetings in March. E. The Recruitment Reference Board shall consist of the Recruitment Reference Board Coordinator and the chairmen of designated schools. The President and President-Elect shall serve as non-voting, ex-officio members. 1. The duties of the Recruitment Reference Board Coordinator shall consist of: chairing all Recruitment Reference Board meetings; attending meetings with college actives, if desired; and administering the policies and procedures of the Recruitment Reference Board, as stated in the Recruitment Reference Board Manual. 2. The Recruitment Reference Board shall accept written and signed recommendations of persons eligible to be recruited; hold at least one open meeting during the year to discuss the recruitment list; direct all recruitment activities; coordinate these activities with those of the college chapters represented in Houston; and note upon and send the preferred lists to the recruitment chairmen of the representative college chapters. F. The Theta of the Year Committee shall be composed of a Chairman (non-voting), the Chapter President, the Chapter President-Elect, the Chapter Advisor, the Chairman of the immediate past Antiques Show, and a past recipient of the award. The Committee will meet in the fall and the honoree(s) will be announced on Founders Day.
Page 8 ARTICLE VIII FINANCE Fraternity Dues and Fees A. Fraternity per-capita fee a. The treasurer shall submit the Fraternity per-capita fee to the Fraternity Headquarters when invoiced. b. The treasurer shall submit the Friendship Fund donation to the Foundation by April 30. c. The treasurer of TCAS shall submit the unrestricted gift to Foundation by May 31. B. Local Dues a. The executive board shall set the local dues, and dues shall become payable to the treasurer at the beginning of the fiscal year. b. Any change to local dues shall be presented to the membership at large for a majority vote of approval. C. Refreshment Fees A fee for refreshment or entertainment may be charged at meetings and events. Fiscal Year The fiscal year shall be June 1 through May 31. Chapter Budget Overspending of budgeted or non-budgeted items must be approved by the President. An amount over $100 must be approved by the Finance Committee. ARTICLE IX PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY The rules contained in the current edition of Robert s Rules of Order shall govern the chapter in all cases in which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws or laws of Kappa Alpha Theta.
Page 9 ARTICLE X AMENDMENTS. These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the active members present and voting, provided a notice of proposed amendments is presented at the previous meeting or mailed at least one week before the meeting and that such proposed amendment has been submitted to and approved by the Alumnae District Director. The chapter may amend these bylaws at any time; however, they must be reviewed every four (4) years by the chapter and the Alumnae District Director. Completed and revised copies of the bylaws shall be sent to the Alumnae District Director and the Fraternity Vice President overseeing alumnae chapter bylaws. ARTICLE XI DISSOLUTION This chapter shall use its funds only to accomplish the objectives as set forth in these bylaws and no funds shall be refunded or otherwise distributed to the members when or if the chapter is dissolved. The dues-paying members of the chapter shall, by a majority vote, determine the manner in which any remaining funds of the chapter shall be disbursed following payment of all outstanding debts. All dues-paying members must receive notice of the dissolution meeting.