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CONSTITUTION OF ALPHA PSI OMEGA NATIONAL THEATRE HONOR SOCIETY, UCF CASTARTICLE INameThis Organization shall be called ALPHA PSI OMEGA NATIONAL THEATRE HONOR SOCIETY, UCF CAST, also known as ALPHA PSI OMEGA UCF CAST, ALPHA PSI, APO and AYW. ARTICLE IIPreamble and Mission StatementThe purpose of ALPHA PSI OMEGA, UCF CAST, is to stimulate interest in theatre activities at the University of Central Florida and to secure for the college, and its entities, all the advantages, and mutual helpfulness provided by a large national honorary fraternity. By electing students to membership, the fraternity provides a reward for their participation in theatre activities of the college. The cast is not intended to take the place of any existing theatre organization. By volunteering our time, energy and monies we strive to become better individuals, students, leaders and professionals in our chosen disciplines. ARTICLE IIIOfficers and DutiesSection 1. The officers of the cast shall be the Cast President, Vice President, Secretary, Business Manager, Treasurer, Historian, and Public Relations Director. (Additional officers may be specified, as needs demand.) Section 2. The President of the Cast shall serve as the official spokesperson for the cast, call meetings, preside at general and executive committee meetings, appoint committees, and have general supervision of all the affairs of the fraternity. Section 3. The Vice President shall assume the responsibilities of the President in case of his/her absence. He/She may not call meetings without the consent of the President unless the President is on an extended absence. The Vice President, along with the Secretary, is also responsible for maintaining a record of points collected by members and possible candidates. He/She shall chair the Membership Committee. Section 4. The Secretary shall keep an accurate record of the proceedings at meetings, read a report of the minutes, keep an accurate record of points collected by members and possible candidates, along with the Vice President and handle cast correspondence. Section 5. The Business Manager shall plan and execute all moneymaking projects throughout the cast year. He/She shall serve as Chair of the Social Events Committee. Section 6. The Treasurer shall collect all dues and assessments of members, pay bills sanctioned by the fraternity, keep an account of all receipts and expenditures, and report on the financial status on the 1st general meeting of each month. Section 7. The Historian shall be responsible for capturing the yearly events of the UCF Cast of Alpha Psi Omega and the theatre on film and videotape for entrance into a yearly pictorial account of the Cast's activities. The Historian shall build and maintain scrapbook and videotape for display at the yearly banquet in the Spring Semester. Section 8. The Public Relations Director shall approve all cast advertisement and correspondence. Plan and announce all Social Events sponsored by Alpha Psi Omega, excluding those that fall under the duties of the Business Manager. Section 9. Each officer is responsible for finding 1 to 2 candidates from the current membership to groom as their successor. Even if the candidates do not win the popular vote, the knowledge imparted shall be invaluable in maintaining a strong organization. ARTICLE IVElection of OfficersSection 1. To elect an officer, nominations must first be submitted to the President. In the event that the President is up for re-election, nominations must be submitted to the faculty advisor. Only a current member in good standing (see member requirements) may be nominated. It is acceptable to nominate oneself. Each person nominated shall be able to run no more than two positions each voting year. Section 2. In order to hold a leadership position in this organization, members shall be in good standing and must be theatre majors or minors. Section 3. Nominations shall be accepted beginning at the first general membership meeting in April. Elections shall be held at the second meeting in April and shall be conducted in the theatre. The election shall be done by secret ballot. The Faculty Advisor and Business Manager shall count the ballots. Once the votes are tallied, the President shall announce the results. Section 4. Active voting membership will be limited to all students who are active members and are currently enrolled at the University of Central Florida. Faculty, Staff, UCF Alumni, Student Spouses, etc., may be affiliate members may not vote or hold office. Section 5. There must be a simple majority vote by the members, for an officer to be elected. Section 6. An officer shall not be allowed to hold more than one office during a term. Section 7. With a valid excuse determined by the Executive Committee, the President with the consent of the Faculty Advisor may give a member a proxy ballot. Section 8. Once an officer is elected, he/she shall be formally installed by the outgoing officer and shall take an oath pledging to carry out the duties of the office conferred and always with the decorum and dignity worthy of the fraternity. The induction ceremony shall follow the guidelines set forth in the National Charter. ARTICLE VTerm of OfficeEach officer shall hold a one-year term in his/her elected office. No officer may hold more than two consecutive complete terms in the same office. ARTICLE VIRemoval of OfficersUpon the first offense, the officer shall receive a letter of reprimand. Upon the second consecutive offense, the officer shall be bought before the executive committee. In both instances the executive committee must have a valid reason and proof of why the officer has been reprimanded. Upon the third consecutive offense, there shall be a vote of the members deciding whether or not to remove the officer. The affected will be allowed to address the organization in order to relate any relevant defense prior to the vote. A two-thirds vote in favor of dismissal is required to remove the officer. ARTICLE VIIVoting Power of the OfficersAll officers retain voting rights although the President only votes in the event of a tie. ARTICLE VIIIVacanciesSection 1. If officers do not return to school, new officers shall be elected to fill the vacancies at the first meeting of the year. Section 2. If an officer is removed or resigns during a term, there shall be an election at that time to fill the position for the remainder of the term. Section 3. If the President is removed or resigns, the Vice President shall become the President and there shall be an election to elect a new Vice President. Section 4. All members must be available to attend all general meetings. Two consecutive meetings could be grounds for dismissal. ARTICLE IXMembership Requirements and ElectionSection 1. Membership is limited to all students who have paid fees and are enrolled with the University of Central Florida. No discrimination shall be made on the basis of gender, race, age, creed, religion, disability, sexual preference, national origin, marital status, or veteran's status. No hazing or discrimination will be used as a condition of membership into this organization. All groups, except those exempt by law, must have opportunities for male and female memberships. Sports clubs involving contact or competitive selection may limit participation to one sex, but must permit membership in the club to both sexes. Section 2. All interested students must complete all of the pledge requirements and be approved for admission by a majority vote of the general membership. Section 3. An interested student must apply for membership before the semester deadline for Alpha Psi Omega initiation. The new pledge class shall be announced each semester and shall begin pledging at the first pledge meeting after orientation. Each prospective member shall be required to complete the following before acceptance as a member in the fraternity. 1. Attend an orientation meeting and apply for membership. 2. Have a minimum GPA of 2.5. 3. Pay initiation dues of $40.00. $20.00 of which goes to the National Chapter while the other $20.00 are used by the Chapter to purchase member Alpha Psi Omega pin, membership card, and process paperwork. 4. They must accumulate at least 30 Alpha Psi Omega Points prior to initiation. 5. Pledges are required to learn the names and symbols of the Greek Alphabet. 6. Pledges are required to learn the names and addresses of the National and Local Officers. 7. Pledges are required to memorize a speech from the Shakespeare canon at least 16 lines for Presentation. 8. Pledges shall be prepared to answer questions about Alpha Psi Omega and other theatre related topics. They shall also prepare a 60 second speech to express why they want to be a member of the UCF Cast of Alpha Psi Omega. 9. Pledges shall be expected to be active in all Alpha Psi Omega sponsored events unless excused by the President 10. Pledges shall be voted on by the general membership for admission based entirely on their contributions to Alpha Psi Omega, Theatre UCF and adherence to the pledging guidelines. 11. Pledges shall be given a written outline of what is expected of them, the Date, Time, Place of both the written exam and of the formal initiation. Mode of dress and personal conduct shall also be addressed in writing. 12. The Pledge Class as a whole shall be required to plan and perform a Cabaret Show of at least 30 minutes utilizing all members of the pledge class. Not all pledges have to perform, but all have to be actively involved. Section 4. To maintain a member in good standing, a member must adhere to the following guidelines. 1. Maintain a 2.5 GPA. 2. Pay semester dues of $20.00 to be paid the first month of each semester. A late fee of $5.00 shall be assessed for those who do not pay by the due date. 3. Maintain 50 points each semester. 30 of these points must be from Alpha Psi Omega events. Summer points carry over into the fall semester. 4. Must be an active participant in at least one committee each semester. Section 5. This organization may have affiliate members such as faculty, staff UCF Alumni, student spouses, etc., but at no time shall the UCF student membership fall below seventy-five (75) percent. Section 6. The privileges of membership include benefiting fellow students, faculty, and the community with a quality theatre organization and support of worthwhile endeavors. Each member shall receive an Alpha Psi Omega lapel pin, membership card, lifelong membership and the opportunity to earn funds for conference competitions and other events. Section 7. Membership may be revoked without mutual agreement for non-participation, misconduct, or violations of any provisions of the constitution. The member will be notified in writing by the Executive Committee of the possible revocation at least 72 hours prior to the vote, and will be allowed to address the organization in order to relate to members any relevant defense prior to the vote for removal. Membership can only be revoked upon a two-thirds majority vote of eligible members. The member in question shall be notified of the decision by official written correspondence. Section 8. A new member shall be due free, other than the initial $40.00 initiation fee, for the first school year that they are members. Every fall and spring after that they shall pay a semester dues of $20.00. This money shall go to the cost of administration and mailing throughout the year. Exempt from dues are the Faculty Advisor, Current Officers, Honorary, and Affiliated Members. All dues are non-refundable. Section 9. An inactive member is one that chooses not to attend meetings or participate in functions. To become an inactive member, the member must notify the Executive Committee in writing of their intent. To reinstate a member, there shall be a two-thirds vote of the chapter's active members. If voted back in to active status, the member is expected to pay dues and late fees accrued for that semester. Section 10. Honorary membership may be bestowed on those persons who have made special continued contributions to the theatre programs of the University of Central Florida. Some special consideration however can be given to honor those who have made special contributions to the theatre community nationally. ARTICLE XFinancesSection 1. Only the President, Business Manager, Treasurer and Faculty Advisor shall have access to the account. Two authorized signatures are required for every financial transaction. Section 2. The President in conjunction with the Faculty Advisor, Business Manager, or Treasurer shall approve the spending of funds. Any purchases over $150.00 must be voted on by the general membership and passed by a two-thirds of its members. Organization funds may be spent on items such as office supplies, events/activities, publicity, travel expense, conference fees, or anything deemed necessary in furthering the cause of the organization, but will not be used for anything illegal under Organization, University, Local, State, and Federal Laws. Section 3. Signature authority shall be transferred at the end of spring semester before the end of finals. It is the outgoing Business Manager's responsibility to secure the appropriate signatures and documents for the transfer. Section 4. The budget and general use of money shall be voted on by the membership. Funding of trips to other chapters, conferences or special events shall be decided by the membership. In an extreme emergency, the Executive Committee may allot funds. Section 5. In the event that the organization ceases to exist, any funds remaining in the organization's account shall be donated to the UCF Civic Theatres Youth Programs to further foster the education and growth of love for theatre in Orlando's youth. ARTICLE XICommitteesSection 1. The President shall serve as an ex-officio member of all standing and ad-hoc committees. Section 2. The standing committees of the fraternity shall be: 1. Executive Committee. This committee shall consist of the elected officers and the Faculty Advisor. This committee shall handle all minor business arising between meetings. The President shall chair this committee. 2. Special Events Committee. This committee shall plan and execute events throughout the year such as Field Day, Scavenger Hunt, etc. The Business Manager shall chair this committee. 3. Hospitality Committee. This committee shall oversee the sales of concessions, t-shirts and pictures throughout the year. They shall elect a Chair, but shall directly report to the Business Manager. 4. Initiation Committee. This committee shall be responsible for planning and executing the orientation and initiation each semester. All correspondence to prospective members shall be handled through this committee. It shall work closely with the Membership Committee. The President shall chair this committee. 5. Membership Committee. This committee will be chaired by the Vice President and composed of active members of the general membership and the Faculty Advisor. This committee will help determine eligibility keeping in accordance with the guidelines for members. The President of the pledge class will report to the Vice President on a weekly basis. 6. Charity Committee. This committee shall be responsible for the distribution of time and collected Alpha Psi Omega funds to a deserving local charity. Every effort should be made to find a charity within the realm of the performing arts. The Public Relations Director will chair this committee. 7. Banquet Committee. This committee shall be in charge of organizing an entertaining and meaningful banquet at the end of the spring semester for the students, faculty and staff of Theatre UCF. They shall elect a Chair, but shall directly report to the President and Public Relations Director. Section 3. Any ad-hoc committees will be established as needed and abolished if and when they have completed their duties. The president shall appoint these committees, and the Executive Committee shall appoint the committee chairs. ARTICLE XIIMeetingsSection 1. The President shall be in charge of calling meetings and the secretary shall be responsible for notifying all members. Members must be notified of meetings at least 48 hours in advance and shall be notified via e-mail and/or telephone. Section 2. There shall be at least two meetings each month of both the general membership and a separate meeting of the executive committee. An effort should be made to tailor the meeting time to the schedule of the majority of members. Section 3. Special meetings may be called by the President, or at the request of the Faculty Advisor. Section 4. A quorum shall consist of a majority of active cast members. A quorum is needed to call a vote. Section 5. Meetings shall be conducted under Robert's Rules of Order. ARTICLE XIIIAdvisorSection 1. The Faculty Advisor shall be selected by the officers of the cast and must be approved by a simple majority vote of eligible members. Section 2. The Faculty Advisor has no term limit, and must be a current Theatre UCF Faculty or Staff Member. Section 3. The Faculty Advisor shall act as a liaison between the faculty and cast. He/She shall also serve as a mentor to the organization providing guidance to the officers and members. Section 4. The Faculty Advisor is expected to be updated daily on the state of the organization, and is expected to attend all Executive Committee and attend other meetings as desired. Section 5. The Faculty Advisor, along with the Business Manager, shall count ballots during elections and have minutes and member files accessible for members. The secretary will keep a separate copy of this information. Section 6. The Faculty Advisor shall have access to the cast account in case of an emergency. Section 7. If the Faculty Advisor cannot perform the duties of the position or has not upheld the position in an appropriate manner, he/she can be removed by the membership upon a two-thirds vote of active members. The faculty Advisor will be notified in writing of the possible removal at least 72 hours prior to the vote, and will be allowed to address the organization in order to relate to members any relevant defense prior to the vote for removal. Section 8. In the event that the Faculty Advisor is removed or resigns, the Executive Committee shall choose a new advisor within 14 calendar days. ARTICLE XIVExternal AffiliationsAlpha Psi Omega, UCF Cast is affiliated with Alpha Psi Omega the National Theatre Honor Society as a chapter of the society. The cast may be incorporated with other theatres or large theatre corporations as deemed necessary by the chapter and approved by the department. There will be no merging with other organizations. Co-sponsoring of events, however, is allowed. ARTICLE XVPrograms and ServicesThe sponsorship of programs or services will be decided by a two-thirds vote of the members. ARTICLE XVIPublicationsSection 1. All publications of the Alpha Psi Omega, UCF Cast shall comply with the Golden Rule "Advertising and Signs" section, Student Organization Guidelines "Advertising" section, and the University Identity Standards Manual. Section 2. All publications of the cast must comply with the "Advertising and Signs" guidelines set by the National Chapter. Section 3. The President, Public Relations Director, and Faculty Advisor must approve all publications prior to duplication and distribution. The department should also formally approve publications of the group. ARTICLE XVIIAmendmentsTo amend this constitution an issue must first be brought before the Executive Committee. The committee shall then decide if the issue should be brought before the Cast. The Cast can then vote and the amendment will be added upon a two-thirds vote in favor of the amendment. ARTICLE XVIIIInitiations, Fees, and AssessmentsSection 1. The initiation ceremony will take place in November and April of each year. The Initiation Committee shall organize the ceremony. Section 2. There shall be an initiation fee, which must be paid before any pledge can be initiated. Section 3. Semester dues shall be paid each semester to remain in good standing with the cast. Section 4. Special assessments may be levied upon members only by a two-thirds vote of the active membership.
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