Indiana Lambda By-Laws
Title I: Statement of Policy
Article I:
These are the true and only by-laws of The Indiana Lambda Chapter of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity.
Article II:
These by-laws have jurisdiction over all activities of Indiana Lambda. These by-laws are designed to supplement the Bond, Constitution, and General Statutes of Phi Delta Theta and are valid only insofar as they do not contradict the said documents and rules of the Inter-Fraternity Council Constitution at the University of Southern Indiana.
Article III:
Any and all of these policies and by-laws may be stricken or altered as stipulated in Title VIII, Article I of Indiana Lambda Chapter by-laws or by ¾ vote of herein persons.
Article IV:
All stipulations of these prescribed by-laws shall take effect August 5, 1986 with any revisions thereafter.
Title II: Meetings and Operation
Article I: Time and Day
Formal and informal meetings of the Chapter will be held on Sunday at 7:00 P.M. of each week during the academic year unless notified by the Executive Council.
Article II: Guidelines
All regular meetings, formal or informal, shall be conducted under a set of guidelines formed by the Executive Council using Robert’s Rules of Order as the standard addition to those guidelines provided in the Code of the Fraternity.
Article III: Chapter Absences
All weekly meetings are mandatory. However, each Brother may permissibly be absent from one formal or informal meeting per semester if needed, excluding elections. All Brothers missing more than one meeting must submit an excuse via e-mail no later than the Wednesday before Chapter of that week to the Secretary. All excuses will be voted on by the Executive Council at the next meeting. Subsequent unexcused absences will result in a $10.00 fine.
Article IV: Formal Meetings
The President and Pledge Educator shall designate all formal meetings at least one week prior to the meeting. Any Brother who is not in formal attire will not be admitted to the meeting.
Article V: Mandatory Events
Brothers must attend all mandatory events. An event will be deemed mandatory by a simple majority vote by the Chapter. If you miss a mandatory event, for an unexcused reason, a $10.00 fine will be levied. All Brothers must submit an excuse to the Secretary prior to the mandatory event.
Article VI: Quorum
A quorum will consist of a simple majority of Brothers who are in good standing with the Chapter.
Article VII:
The Vice President has the authority to set a retreat anytime throughout the year, giving at least 30 days notice prior to the event. Any Brother not present will receive a $40.00 fine. If a Brother cannot be present, written excuses must be turned into the Secretary at least one week prior to the event. All excuses will be voted on by the Executive Council.
Title III: Committees
Article I: Executive Council
The meeting of the Executive Council shall be held at a specified time and place set by the Vice President.
Section I:
The Vice President shall preside over the Executive Council. The President shall preside in the event the Vice President cannot be in attendance. Executive Council shall not meet unless the President or the Vice President is in attendance.
Section II:
- The Following offices compose the Executive Council:
PRESIDENT
VICE PRESIDENT
SECRETARY
TREASURER
RECRUITMENT CHAIRMAN
WARDEN
PLEDGE EDUCATOR
SOCIAL CHAIRMAN
SCHOLARSHIP CHAIRMAN
PUBLIC RELATIONS CHAIRMAN
RISK MANAGEMENT CHAIRMAN
FUND RAISING CHAIRMAN
- The Vice President can mandate the presence of any officer to an Executive Council meeting.
Section III: Committees
Committees shall be made up by the chairman with the approval of the Vice President.
Article II:
Section I:
Each officer must turn in a list of his committee members to the Vice President after his committee is formed by the 3rd Chapter meeting.
Title IV: Elections
Article I: See Code of Phi Delta Theta
Article II: Nominations
Nominations will be held towards the end of the fall semester at a date determined by the President. The order of nominations will go as follows:
PRESIDENT
VICE PRESIDENT
SECRETARY
TREASURER
RECRUITMENT CHAIR
WARDEN
PLEDGE EDUCATOR
SOCIAL CHAIRMAN
SCHOLARSHIP CHAIRMAN
PUBLIC RELATIONS CHAIRMAN
RISK MANAGEMENT CHAIRMAN
FUND RAISING CHAIRMAN
COMMUNITY SERVICE CHAIRMAN
HOUSE MANAGER
ALUMNI SECRETARY
INTRAMURAL CHAIRMAN
HISTORIAN
SPECIAL EVENTS CHAIRMAN
Article III: Appointed Offices
The Following offices shall be appointed by the President and approved by the Executive Council:
BROTHERHOOD
INTER-FRATERNITY COUNCIL DELEGATE
CAMPUS INVOLVEMENT CHAIMAN
AWARDS CHAIRMAN
PLEDGE INSTRUCTORS*
CHAPLAIN
CHORISTER
FALL FESTIVAL CHAIRMAN
PARENTS CHAIRMAN
WEB MASTER
*Both the President and Pledge Educator shall make the Pledge Instructor appointment.
Article IV: Qualifications
Section I:
Executive Council offices of the President, Vice President, and Treasurer must have completed 27 hours prior to installation into the respective office.
Section II:
Executive Council officers shall forfeit their positions if they fail to maintain an accumulative 2.35 grade point average during any part of their term of office.
Section III:
To assume any office, the candidate must not be in financial delinquency with the Chapter at the start of their term. In addition, per Title XI Article II of the Code, Officers that become financially delinquent at any point of their term shall forfeit their office.
Article V: Term and Installation
The term of all offices is for one calendar year. Installation shall be conducted at the meeting of elections unless circumstances call for a later date, in accordance with Title IV, Article II Provisions.
Article VI:
See the Code of Phi Delta Theta for regulation on Resignations, Duties of Offices.
Title V: Finances & Assessments
Article I: Setting of Dues
The dues cannot be altered throughout the year unless an emergency situation arises. All fines, charges, and unexcused absences will be added to membership dues.
Article II: Dues
Section I:
- Chapter dues occur semi-annually, once in the summer during retreat ($225.00), and once again in January ($225.00).
- Each Brother will be held responsible for paying his own insurance set by General Headquarters by the second Chapter meeting in September.
Section II:
- All Brothers must obtain a zero balance by the first Chapter meeting of the semester. If a Brother fails to meet this requirement, he will be brought up for suspension.
B. Payment plans will be setup between a suspended Brother and the Treasurer. These will be approved or disapproved by the Executive Council.
- If a Brother fails to meet the guidelines stated in his payment plan, he will be referred to the Executive Council for further review. The Executive Council has the authority, based on a ¾ vote, to refer the Brother to collections.
Section III
- Each Phikeia must pay $140.00 (non-refundable) to the Treasurer three weeks after his first meeting; otherwise, a payment plan must be setup with the Treasurer. If the Phikeia fails to meet this requirement, he will automatically be removed from the program.
B. Initiation dues are $225.00 to be paid in full 30 days after initiation.
If the individual does not pay his initiation dues by the due date, then
measures in Title V, Article II, Section II will be enforced accordingly.
Section IV:
All fines accrued throughout a given semester are assessed by the Treasurer and added to a Brother’s current semester’s dues.
Section V:
- Any Brother eligible for Alumni status must have all previous dues and fines paid off before being granted Alumni status by the Chapter.
- Any Brother seeking Alumni status before deemed eligible must receive a 2/3 vote from the Chapter.
Article III: Spending
The Treasurer and the President shall be the only Brothers authorized to spend Chapter money. No other Brother may purchase or commit to any expenditure of funds without having prior approval of both the President and Treasurer.
Article IV:
Any Brother whose absence or tardiness to a Chapter meeting is unexcused will have his voting privileges suspended until payment of fine(s) is given to the Treasurer in accordance with Title XIV, Article 148 Rights and Obligations of the Code of Phi Delta Theta.
Title VI: Scholarship
Article I: Academic Probation
If a Brother’s cumulative GPA drops below a 2.25, the Brother will immediately be subject to academic review.
Section I: Academic Review
- The Brother must meet with the Scholarship Chairman to determine the Brother’s academic plan for the upcoming semester. The Brother must also meet with the Scholarship Chairman monthly to gauge progress.
- The Brother must improve his cumulative GPA by a minimum of 0.10 at semester’s end. Failure to meet this requirement will result the Brother immediately losing all voting rights and will be brought before the Chapter for a vote of suspension.
Title VII: Rushee and Phikeia Requirements
Article I: Rushee Bids
After discussion of the proposed Rushee, a vote shall be made. Rushees must receive a 20% no vote, or minimum of three no votes in order to not receive a bid.
Article II: Phikeia Program
Section I:
All Phikeias will be re-evaluated at least three times per semester with the same voting procedure as Rushees.
Section II:
If an emergency situation arises with a Phikeia, a vote can be called at any time during the semester by the Chapter with the approval of the Executive Council.
Section III:
No Phikeia shall be initiated until a minimum of eight weeks of the Phikeia program have been completed.
Section IV:
Phikeias who do not have an established GPA of 2.40 with at least 12 university credit hours must wait until grades have been released before being initiated.
Title VIII: Amendments
Article I: Petitions
In order to amend the by-laws at any time during the academic year, the following procedure must be followed:
(1). A petition must be created stating the proposed amendment.
(2). The petition must be signed by a majority of all active Brothers who are in
good standing with the Fraternity.
(3). The petition must be turned into the Executive Council.
(4). The proposed amendment will be voted on during the next Chapter meeting.
(5). The amendment must be approved by a ¾ vote if quorum is present.
Note: Absentee ballots must be submitted to the Secretary prior to the afore
mentioned vote.
Article II:
Each Brother shall receive a copy of the by-laws at the beginning of each academic year.
Title IX: Risk Management
Article I: Hazing
No Chapter or member of Phi Delta Theta shall indulge in any physical abuse or undignified treatment (hazing). Hazing is defined as: “any action taken or situation created, intentionally or unintentionally, whether on or off Fraternity premises, and whether with or without the consent of the persons subjected to the action, which produces mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule.” Such activities and situations include: paddling in any form, creation of excessive fatigue, physical and psychological shocks, quests, treasure hunts, scavenger hunts, road trips, or any other such activities carried on outside the confines of the facility, wearing apparel in the public which is conspicuous and not normally in good taste, engaging in any public stunts and buffoonery, morally degrading or humiliating games and activities, late work sessions which interfere with scholastic activity, and any other activities which are not consistent with fraternal law, ritual or policy with the regulations and policies of the educational institution.
Article II: Risk Management Policy
The Indiana Lambda Chapter of Phi Delta Theta is fully aware of and supportive of all Risk Management Policies stated in the Phi Delta Theta Constitution.
Section I:
If any Brother of Phi Delta Theta breaks the Risk Management Policy, the Brother will be taken to the Standards Board to determine his consequences. This will all be done with the knowledge and approval of the Province President.
Title XI: Housing
Article I:
In the event of a housing shortage, it will be mandatory for Phikeias and high Bond Brothers, living in University housing, to move into the Chapter house to fill vacancies. The process of selection will start with Phikeias and then proceed to Brothers with the highest Bond numbers until the Chapter House is filled. Exceptions to this will be granted to Brothers already entered into binding leases or other off-campus housing contracts.
Section I: Housing Shortage Fine
In the event that vacancies do occur in the Chapter house in which the Chapter incurs a fine from the University, the amount of the fine will be separated equally among all Brothers who have yet to fulfill their obligation to live in the house for at least one academic year. The sum of each Brother’s portion of this fine shall be added to their balance and will be subject to the payment specifications outlined in Title V, Article II, Section II.
Article III:
It is required for either the President or Vice President to reside in the house at all times during the academic year.
Article IV: Drug/Alcohol in Housing
If a Brother is found in violation of the drug and alcohol policies, the Province President will be notified. The penalty for breaking Phi Delta Theta’s drug and alcohol-free housing policies are outlined below:
Section I: First Offense
A $10 fine shall be assessed. The Brother will be taken to the Standards Board to determine any further courses of action.
Section II: Second Offense
A $50 fine shall be assessed. The Brother will be brought up for a suspension vote at the following Chapter meeting.
Section III: Third Offense
The Brother will be brought up for a strike vote at the following Chapter meeting.
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