GENERAL BYLAWS

Preamble

That academic excellence among two year college students may be nurtured; that opportunity may be provided for leadership training; that an intellectual climate may be promoted for an exchange of ideas; and that scholars may be imbued with desire for continuing education, we dedicate ourselves as members of Phi Theta Kappa Society. Among us, membership is a privilege earned by our activities. Truth shall be our quest, diligence our staff, and achievement our purpose.

Article I. Name of Organization

The name of this organization will be The Rocky Mountain Cascade Region of Phi Theta Kappa.

Article II. Purpose of Organization

The purpose of this organization will be to provide a means through which chapters and alumni chapters of Phi Theta Kappa in the Rocky Mountain Cascade Region may better achieve the goals and purposes of the Phi Theta Kappa Society; to promote participation in Region’s Phi Theta Kappa activities; and to foster fellowship and understanding among Phi Theta Kappa members in the Region.

Article III. Divisions of Organization

Section 1. Membership

Part A. The Region shall be divided into three districts: the Eastern, Northern, and Southern. Each chapter shall declare the region to which it belongs. Once made, the choice may not be altered without the approval of the Regional Coordinator.

Part B. Members will be chapters in the Region that meet the requirements for membership in the Phi Theta Kappa Society. Part C. Chapters in good standing will be chapters, as described in Part A, that have paid regional dues as specified in the Operational Bylaws.

Part D. An alumni chapter and its members will be entitled to all the privileges of any active chapter in this organization except the right to vote or to hold office.

Section 2. Executive Board.

Part A. The Executive Board will consist of:

1. the Regional Officers;
2. the Regional Coordinator.

Part B. The Regional Coordinator shall serve as a non-voting, ex-officio member.

Section 3. Committees

Part A. Members of standing committees will be appointed by the Chief Executive Officer or the Executive Board. Standing committees may have as few members as the Chief Executive Officer or Executive Board deem necessary. Members of standing committees must be reappointed each year. Standing committees for which no members are appointed in a given year will be deemed to have been dissolved.

Part B. Ad hoc committees may be created by the Chief Executive Officer or the Executive Board as needed and for such period of time as deemed advisable.

Article IV. Election of Officers

Section 1. The Regional Officers will be: 1) Chief Executive Officer; 2) Chief Operations Officer; 3) Eastern District Executive; 4) Northern District Executive; 5) Southern District Executive; Public Information Officer.

Section 2. Process

Part A. The regional Officers will be elected annually at the Regional Convention.

Part B. Officers will be elected by a majority vote of the Regional delegates at the Regional Convention (one official delegate per chapter in good standing).

Part C. Officers will be installed at the last business meeting of the Regional Convention and will assume the duties of office upon arrival at an Executive Board orientation session scheduled as soon as practical following their election.

Part D. An Officer may be removed from office if:

1. a petition for removal approved by at least two chapters in good standing is received by the Regional Coordinator;
2. such Officer is given an opportunity to respond publicly to the allegations;
3. a majority of the remaining Officers of the Executive Board subsequently vote to remove such Officer and removal is approved by the Regional Coordinator.
4. Violation of the Honor Code will subject an Officer to discipline, which may include removal from office, as determined by the Regional Coordinator or his/her designees.

Part E. The Executive Board may appoint a replacement for a vacant regional office.

Section 3. Requirements for regional office

Part A. Candidates must be present at the Regional Convention.

Part B. Candidates are encouraged to notify the Regional Coordinator at least two weeks prior to the Convention. (This will allow circulation of campaign materials.)

Part C. Candidates must be members of a chapter in good standing. Each candidate for district executive must be a member of a chapter in the district for which he or she is a candidate.

Part D. Regional Officers are required to attend school the entire academic year they hold office.

Part E. A Regional Officer must resign upon transferring to a non-associate degree granting school, withdrawing from school, or moving out of the region/district.

Part F. Regional Officers may serve more than one term.

Part G. There may be no more than one candidate per chapter for each regional office.

Article V. Regional Meetings

Section 1. There will be at least two regular regional meetings per year: 1) the Honors in Action Conference in the fall; 2) the Regional Convention.

Section 2. Meetings

Part A. The host for Fall Conference will be selected at the previous Fall Leadership Conference(s); the host for the Regional Convention will be selected at the previous Regional Convention.

Part B. Each host chapter, with the assistance of the Executive Board, will:

1. Provide a suitable time, place and agenda;
2. Provide a list of those attending the meeting according to chapter and designation as member or advisor, and a report of the proceedings to the Regional Coordinator and to Phi Theta Kappa International Headquarters.

Section 3. Special regional business meetings may be called at any time by the Executive Board.

Section 4. Minutes of all regional business meetings must be sent to the Regional Coordinator within two weeks following the meeting.

Article VI. Amendment Procedure

Section 1. In order to be voted on,

Part A. Written copies of a proposed amendment, initiated by any chapter in good standing or by the Executive Board, must be sent to each chapter in good standing at least twenty-one (21) days prior to the voting date, which is set by the initiating body. Ballots, certified by each chapter's advisor, must be received by the Regional Coordinator within twenty-one (21) days following the voting date.

Part B. Amendments may also be voted on at any regular RMC Regional business meeting provided all voting members have been notified at least 21 days before the meeting.

Section 2. Amending these General Bylaws shall require a two-thirds (2/3) majority of those chapters in good standing who vote.

Article VII. Final Interpretation

Final interpretation of these Bylaws will be the responsibility of the Executive Board.

Article VIII Parliamentary Authority

Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised, will be the parliamentary guideline at all regional business meetings.

Article IX. Ratification

Section 1. These Bylaws will become effective upon two-thirds vote of all chapters in good standing in the Region.

Section 2. These Bylaws or any of their provisions may be suspended by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of those chapters voting.

Section 3. A two-thirds (2/3) majority of those chapters voting is required to reinstate any suspended provision.

OPERATIONAL BYLAWS

Article 1. Dues

Dues of $10.00 for each new member will be sent to the Regional Coordinator following each chapter induction.

Article 2. Responsibilities and Duties of the Executive Board

Section 1. The Executive Board:

Part A. will assist the host chapter in planning and implementing agendas for all regional meetings;

Part B. will draft and present the regional budget for approval at the Fall Conference each year;

Part C. will draft annual goals for the region and submit them to Phi Theta Kappa headquarters;

Part D. will keep accurate minutes of all regional business meetings;

Part E. will send copies of the minutes of all regional meetings to each member chapter and the Regional Coordinator;

Part F. will maintain a list of chapter officers and advisors, including their addresses, and distribute this list to all chapters.

Part G. will oversee fund-raising;

Part H. will oversee the development of the annual regional budget;

Part I. will work with the Regional Coordinator to oversee publication of a newsletter to be distributed at least three times each year, the dates to be set by the Executive Board;

Part J. will solicit content from chapters, alumni, and the region for the newsletter;

Part K. will work with the Regional Coordinator to appropriately edit and format the content;

Part L. will establish and publicize a deadline for the submission of articles and other information;

Part M. will work with the Regional Coordinator to establish and maintain a mailing list and a mailing process for the newsletter.

Section 2. The Chief Executive Officer:

Part A. will chair the Fall Conference and the Regional Convention when it is held in the region, and all regional business meetings, including meetings of the Executive Board;

Part B. will direct regional activities and projects;

Part C. may appoint committees as specified in the General Bylaws;

Part D. will keep the Regional Coordinator aware of plans and activities.

Section 3. The Chief Operations Officer:

Part A. will perform the duties of the Chief Executive Officer in his/her absence;

Part B. will act as parliamentarian;

Part C. will assist the Chief Executive Officer when called upon;

Part D. will act as the liaison between committees and the Executive Board;

Part E. will review and recommend changes to the Regional Bylaws.

Section 4. The District Executive(s):

Part A. will act as the liaison between chapters and the Executive Board;

Part B. will assist chapters within their district as needed;

Part C. will assist the Chief Executive Officer when called upon;

Part D. will provide content for the regional newsletter;

Part E. will assist at regional meetings.

Section 5. The Public Information Officer:

Part A. will edit and distribute the regional newsletter;

Part B. will maintain the regional web site and social networking sites;

Part C. will assist the Chief Executive Officer when called upon.

Part D. Will assist at regional meetings.

Article 3. Election of Regional Officers

Section 1. Elections

The candidate caucus and elections will be held at the Regional Convention.

Section 2. Nominations

Part A. A nominee must be a member of a chapter in good standing.

Part B. Nominations should be made in writing to the Regional Coordinator or any member of the Executive Board at least two weeks prior to the Regional Convention.

Part C. Nominees must be present at the convention at which the election meeting is held.

Section 3. Election Procedure.

Part A. At the candidate caucus, nominees must deliver a speech, not to exceed five minutes.

Part B. Each chapter in attendance will certify its voting delegate to the Regional Coordinator.

Part C. The Regional Coordinator will prepare written ballots for use during the election meeting.

Part D. The candidate receiving the greatest number of votes for an office is elected to that office. If voting results in a tie, a run-off election will be held between the top two candidates. If a tie vote occurs when only two candidates are running for an office, the voting will be repeated until one of the candidates receives a greater number of votes than the other.

Part E. The induction of new Regional Officers will take place immediately following the announcement of election results and the new Officers will assume their duties at the Executive Board orientation and planning session.

Article 4. Responsibilities and Duties of the Regional Coordinator and of the advisors.

Section 1. The Regional Coordinator for the Rocky Mountain Cascade Region:

Part A. will approve agendas for regional meetings;

Part B. will act as advisor to the regional organization;

Part C. will execute the financial transactions of the region and present a financial report at each regional meeting;

Part D. will act as an ex-officio member of the Executive Board;

Part E. will perform other duties as required by Phi Theta Kappa headquarters.

Section 2. The chapter advisors:

Part A. will act as liaisons between their chapters and the regional organization;

Part B. will maintain communication with the Regional Coordinator;

Part D. will submit names and addresses of their Chapter Officers to the Regional Coordinator immediately upon election.

Article 5. Duties of the Presidential Ambassador

Section 1. The Presidential Ambassador will be appointed by Phi Theta Kappa Headquarters in consultation with the Regional Coordinator.

Section 2. The Presidential Ambassador will serve for a term of three years and may succeed himself or herself in office.

Section 3. The Presidential Ambassador:

Part A. will represent Phi Theta Kappa at Presidents Council meetings to facilitate the communication of current society programs;

Part B. will arrange once per year for a delegation from the RMC Region to address a Presidents Council meeting;

Part C. will promote Phi Theta Kappa to other college presidents to help the society reactivate inactive chapters, establish new chapters, establish Phi Theta Kappa honors courses and seminars, and encourage chapter participation in regional and national programs;

Part D. will participate, at least once per year, at a regional meeting of Phi Theta Kappa - ideally participation should include

1. an address to the meeting participants in which the Presidential Ambassador presents the issues and agenda that the presidents feel are important to the progress of two-year colleges in the region;
2. a meeting with chapter advisors and the Regional Coordinator in which annual regional goals can be discussed and issues of concern can be shared on both sides;
3. an opportunity for dialogue with Phi Theta Kappa members.

Article 6. Amendments

Section 1. Amendments to these Operational Bylaws may be offered by a chapter in good standing or by any member of the Executive Board.

Section 2. Amendments will be adopted if approved by a majority of the Executive Board.

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Updated 12/15/09