College of the Redwoods
ALPHA GAMMA SIGMA
HONOR SOCIETY
Gamma Rho Chapter
| Article I: | Name & Purpose |
| Article II: | Membership |
| Article III: | Service points & dues |
| Article IV: | Privileges & honors |
| Article V: | Elections |
| Article VI: | Officer terms |
| Article VII: | Officer duties |
| Article VIII: | Appointed positions |
| Article IX: | Advisors |
| Article X: | Establishment & amendments |
| PDF file of the Gamma Rho Bylaws | |
Section 1: College of the Redwoods* chapter of Alpha Gamma Sigma, Incorporated (AGS); the California College Honor Scholarship Society, shall be known as the Gamma Rho Chapter.
Section 2: The purpose of this organization is to foster, promote, maintain, and recognize scholarship among its members and other students. We aim to develop programs offering cultural, social and enrichment activities as part of the total college experience. We seek to promote service to the college and the community.
*From this point forward, any reference
made to College of the Redwoods will be inclusive of Del Norte, Eureka, Klamath/Trinity,
and Mendocino Campuses and all respective branches, which fall under the jurisdiction
of the Redwoods District.
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Section
1: Temporary Membership (High
School Students):
a)
All life members of the California Scholarship Federation (CSF) shall
be invited to join AGS during their first semester at College of the Redwoods
(CR).
b)
A high school student who does not qualify for membership under the CSF
option may apply for temporary membership if he/she has received at least six
units for H.S. Advanced Placement (AP) coursework from CR.
c)
Temporary membership will only apply during the first semester
at CR, after which time the member must apply for initial membership.
Section
2: Initial Membership:
a)
A student may attain initial membership upon completion of 12 semester
units in a maximum of two semesters and a cumulative grade point average (GPA)
of 3.0 at any accredited college.
b)
Units acquired more than two years prior to application for initial
membership shall not be used prohibitively to prevent the student from
attaining membership.
Section 3: Continuing Membership:
a)
An initial member may attain continuing membership by completing at
least six units in the previous semester with a GPA of 3.0 and maintaining a
cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better.
b) Grace Period: A grace period is defined as the semester in which a member who has fallen below the membership requirements can still retain all the rights and privileges of membership. Members who do not fulfill the membership requirements during a grace period will no longer be eligible for membership and must reapply for membership another semester. Continuing members will receive only one semester's grace period.
i) A member shall be placed on a grace period if his/her course load falls below six units, but not less than three units, and he/she maintains a 3.5 GPA for the semester.
ii)
A member shall be placed on a grace period if his/her
semester/cumulative GPA falls below 3.0, but not less than 2.5.
iii)
A member shall be placed on a grace period if he/she fails to acquire
the necessary service points during a semester (refer to Article III, Section
1, Paragraph C).
c)
College Transcripts: Continuing
members will receive the AGS notation on their CR transcript in their first
semester as a continuing member. The AGS notation can be removed from a continuing member’s
transcript if he/she fails to renew his/her
membership. AGS graduates must
notify the 2nd Vice President in order to have the notation remain
on their transcripts. Exceptions
to removing the AGS transcript notation can be made at the discretion of the
Executive Board on a case-by-case basis.
d)
Any student transferring from another accredited college with an AGS
membership will be granted membership in the Gamma Rho Chapter upon completion
of the application process.
Section 4: Permanent Membership:
a) Any continuing member may attain permanent membership by:
i) Completing a minimum of 60 semester units of college courses, with a minimum of 30 units completed at a community college [college courses and non-traditional coursework must have a CR equivalent and be accepted by the advisor(s)].
ii)
Maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or better in all recognized college
work during their first semester as a continuing member OR
maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or better in all recognized college work
after their first semester as a continuing member.
iii)
Petitioning to the advisor(s) for permanent membership by filling out
the permanent member application. Advisor(s) must verify eligibility for permanent membership.
Section
5: Alumnus Membership:
Any permanent member shall be considered an alumnus member.
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Section
1: Service Points: Active members must complete a total of 16 or 20 service
points per semester.
a)
In order to
maintain active membership status in AGS, each member will be required to earn
at least 16 or 20 points per semester depending on the service point
option the member chooses to follow.
b)
Points may be obtained in the following ways:
i)
Attending AGS
general, special, and/or executive meetings = 1 point
ii)
One hour of
work in AGS service activities = 1 point
iii)
Holding an
elected or appointed position = 2 points/semester
iv)
Members may
also have the opportunity to earn points by performing duties above and beyond
the scope of their normal responsibilities.
v) Points earned for holding an office or representative position will be applied towards AGS service projects.
vi) Additional opportunities to earn points may vary per semester.
c)
If a
continuing member
chooses to earn 16 points, four points must be earned by attending AGS
meetings and 12 points earned by participating in AGS service projects.
d)
If a
continuing member chooses to earn 20 points, all 20 points must be earned by
participating in AGS service projects. Under
this option, a member will not be required to attend AGS meetings.
e)
A continuing member who
falls below the required 16 or 20 points in a semester, but attains at least
12
points, can remain a continuing member; however, that member will
automatically be placed on a grace period.
f)
Continuing
members who
fail to earn 16 or 20 points each semester (with the exception of those on a
grace period) will be dismissed from AGS and denied the AGS notation on their
transcript. Any appeals towards a
dismissal may be heard and voted upon by the Executive Board, passing with a
simple majority.
Section
2: Membership Dues:
Members must remit $25.00 membership dues (non‑refundable) each
academic year (August – July).
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Section
1: Graduation with Honors:
Permanent members who graduate are entitled to wear the AGS gold cords
in addition to the CR honors cords.
Section
2: The Official Gold Seal:
Permanent members shall be entitled to have the official gold seal
embossed on their diplomas.
Section
3: The Official Certificate:
Permanent members shall be entitled to receive the official certificate
of the organization.
Section
4: The Official Pin:
a)
Any initial or
continuing member shall be entitled to wear the officially adopted silver pin
of the organization.
b)
Any permanent
member shall be entitled to wear the officially adopted gold pin of the
organization.
Section
5: Scholarships:
All members shall be entitled to apply for AGS and Gamma Rho sponsored
scholarships provided that the scholarship requirements are fulfilled.
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Section
1: The officers of the chapter
shall consist of the President, 1st Vice‑President, 2nd
Vice‑President, Treasurer, and Secretary.
Section
2: Only active members in good
standing shall be eligible for office.
a)
Nominations shall be made from the floor.
b)
All nominations
shall have prior consent of the nominee.
Section
3: Officers shall be elected by
secret ballot on the last meeting of the spring semester to serve during the
succeeding academic school year.
a)
Meetings for
the election of officers shall be announced one week in advance.
b)
Only members
present shall be allowed to vote. Members
who are not able to attend the election meeting can proxy their vote to an
attending member for inclusion in the election.
c)
The President
shall vote only in case of a tie.
d) The advisor(s) will tally the votes. top
Section
1: Officers shall be elected for
a term of one academic year. They
shall assume the duties of their respective offices immediately upon election.
Section
2: Vacancies that occur in any
office during the academic year are to be filled by appointment by the
Executive Board and ratified by majority vote of the general membership during
a special election.
Section
3: If any officer does not
fulfill his/her duties or violates CR’s Student Code of Conduct, the
following procedures shall be taken in order to remove such an officer from
office.
a)
The officer
must be warned by a majority of the other officers and at least one advisor as
to the nature of the problem.
i)
The warning
will be issued in writing, signed by the Executive Board, and sent by
certified mail to the last known address.
b)
If the officer
still fails to perform his/her duties or continues to violate CR’s Student
Code of Conduct, the President shall call a special meeting of the membership.
The membership shall be notified of a recall vote at least one week in
advance. A 2/3 vote of the
members present or proxies for the recall vote shall relieve that officer of
his/her duties.
c)
There shall be
a special election to fill the vacant office at the next general or special
meeting.
d)
A recalled
officer shall not be eligible to hold an elected or appointed position
thereafter.
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Section
1: PRESIDENT:
a)
Shall be the
presiding officer at all regular and special meetings
b)
Shall be the
Chairperson of the Executive Board
c)
Shall
coordinate the functions of the chapter, its officers, and its committees
d)
Shall serve as
ex-officio member of all committees
e)
Shall
coordinate with the Treasurer in allocating and disbursing funds
f)
Shall
coordinate with the Inter-Club Council Representative and Webmaster
g)
Shall have
other such powers necessary for the fulfillment of duties of this office
consistent with the provisions of the AGS state constitution
Section
2: 1st VICE-PRESIDENT:
a)
Shall perform
the duties of the president when he/she is not present
b)
Shall act as
the Nomination and Election Chair
c)
Shall
coordinate and work with the Secretary and Newsletter Editor and shall
function as such when necessary
d)
Shall serve as
Chairperson of the following committees: Publicity, Newsletter, and
Fundraising
Section
3: 2nd VICE-PRESIDENT:
a)
Shall preside
over meetings and functions in absence of the President and 1st
Vice President
b)
Shall serve as
Chairperson of Membership verifying eligibility and coordinating membership
drives
c)
Shall
coordinate and work with the Treasurer regarding membership
Section
4: TREASURER:
a)
Shall transact
all financial business for the chapter with the aid and approval of the
President and the Advisor(s)
b)
Shall maintain
the AGS account and the Petty Cash account
c)
Shall verify
dues and deposit funds in the account
d)
Shall give an
update of the account status to the general membership at general meetings
e)
Shall provide a
current and detailed report of the nature and extent of all income,
withdrawals, expenses (past and anticipated) at the Executive Board meetings
Section
5: SECRETARY:
a)
Shall
transcribe and keep a record of all agendas and minutes of all AGS executive,
general, and special meetings
b)
Shall assist
and work with the President and 1st Vice-President in coordinating committees
c)
Shall be
responsible for the archive records
Section
6: EXECUTIVE BOARD:
a)
Is composed of
the President, 1st Vice-President, 2nd Vice-President, Treasurer, and
Secretary
b)
Shall promote
and represent AGS on campus
c)
Shall maintain
communication with A.S.C.R.
d)
Shall be in
charge of presenting, creating, and coordinating student awards and
scholarships
e)
Shall have the
authority to delegate appointed positions and fill all vacant positions
f)
Shall work with
the advisor(s) on planning membership recruitment, service projects, and
social activities
g)
Shall decide on
special issues not outlined in the bylaws
h)
All Executive
Board Officers are required to attend all Executive Board meetings
ARTICLE VIII
APPOINTED POSITIONS
Section
1: Inter-Club Council (I.C.C.)
Representative:
a)
Shall attend
the I.C.C. meetings held by A.S.C.R. regularly
b)
Shall write an
outline report of what occurred and include the date of the meeting
c)
Shall e-mail
the report to the President designating which topics are ‘Discussion
Items’, ‘General Info.’, and ‘Comments’
d)
May adjust the report according to the President’s
comments/suggestions and e-mail the revised report to all AGS members and
advisors for review and discussion at the next general meeting
e)
Shall present a
report at each general meeting
f)
Shall report to
the President
Section
2: Webmaster:
a) Is required to demonstrate skills in website design and maintenance
b) Shall maintain and update the Gamma Rho Chapter website
c) Shall distribute website e-mail to appropriate people and post
e-mail responses
d) Shall report to the President
Section
3: Newsletter Editor:
a) Shall oversee newsletter submissions and edit all submitted material
as necessary
b) Shall oversee newsletter distribution
c) Shall report to the 1st Vice President
Section
1: The Executive Board may
suggest appointment and replacement of any and all advisors to be voted upon
by the general membership. If the
advisory position becomes vacant or an advisor fails to perform his/her
duties, the Executive Board shall call a Special Meeting of the membership.
The membership shall be notified of a Special Meeting at least one week
in advance. A 2/3 vote of the
members present or proxies for the recall vote shall relieve that advisor of
his/her duties.
Section
2: Advisors are expected to
fulfill their duties as outlined in the AGS state bylaws:
a)
Shall attend the state advisors’ meeting each fall and/or the state
advisors’ meeting at the State Spring Conference
b)
Shall
facilitate the attendance of a student delegation to the state conference in
the spring and/or the fall regional conference
c)
Shall work with
the student treasurer in keeping club financial records accurate and up to
date
d)
Shall
facilitate the applications of one to three student candidates for state
awards and honors to be presented at the state conference in the spring
e)
Shall be alert
to the State Advisory Board requirements and deadlines in order to keep the
chapter in good standing
f)
Shall be
present at chapter meetings and activities or designate a faculty or staff
member to represent the advisor
g)
Shall
facilitate paperwork required by the college
h)
Shall determine
eligibility of potential AGS members and recruit members
i)
Shall keep
accurate records of student membership
ARTICLE
X
ESTABLISHMENT AND AMENDMENTS
Section
1: Bylaws may be
established or revised as are necessary to conduct the chapter's business.
Section
2: Amendments to these bylaws may
be proposed by the affirmative vote of a majority of members present at a
general meeting.
Section
3: Proposed amendments shall be
voted on at the next special or general meeting.
Section
4: If ratified by at least 2/3 of
the members present, the amendments so proposed shall become part of these
bylaws.
Section
5: The Secretary shall have an
amended copy of the bylaws prepared for recording purposes and access by the
general membership.
(Revised
August, 2002 by the Gamma Rho Chapter Executive Board)
(Revised October, 2002 by the Gamma Rho Chapter)
(Revised August, 2003 by
the Gamma Rho Chapter)