The GAMMA BETA PHI SOCIETY is an association of persons incorporated according to the laws of the State of South Carolina; and, in order to organize and regulate the manner in which the activities and affairs thereof are conducted, the following Constitution therefore was adopted and enacted by the duly appointed and qualified representatives thereof, at the National Convention on April 5, 1995, in Nashville, Tennessee. 

 

The name of the corporation is “THE GAMMA BETA PHI SOCIETY,” which shall hereinafter be identified and referred to simply as the “SOCIETY.”

 

The Society is a non-secret, non-profit, scholastic, honor, educational-service organization, for certain students, faculty and staff at accredited colleges and universities that recognizes and encourages excellence in education, promotes the development of leadership ability and character in the members thereof and fosters, disseminates, and improves education by appropriate service projects, through membership in a national association of local chapters of the Society at such colleges and universities.  The Society is organized exclusively for educational purposes, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under Section 501(c) (3) of Internal Revenue Code, or any corresponding section of any future Federal Tax Code. 

No part of the earnings of the Society shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the society shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purpose of the Society identified herein.  No substantial part of the activities of the Society shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the Society shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf or in opposition to any candidate for public office.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Constitution, the Society shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by a corporation exempt from Federal Income Tax under Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or any corresponding section of any future Federal Tax Code, or (b) by a corporation, contributions to which are deductible under Section 170(c) (2) of the Internal Revenue Code, or any corresponding section of any future Federal Tax Code.

 

 

 

Membership in the Society shall not be excluded or restricted by race, sex, color, creed, religion or national origin; and it shall also not be excluded by nor shall it exclude anyone from membership in any other social, academic, fraternal or sororal organization; but membership in the Society shall be limited to those persons who qualify therefore as an undergraduate or graduate student member or advisor member or an alumni member:

A.                 Undergraduate Student Member Qualifications

1.      Initial Qualifications

a.       Enrollment as a full or part time undergraduate student in a program leading to an Associate or Bachelor’s Degree at a qualified academic institution where a local chapter of the Society is located.

b.      Completion of a least one (1) term at such academic institution, which shall be defined in the By-laws of the local chapter of the Society as anywhere from twelve (12) to fifteen (15) credit hours, excluding any pass-fail work or hours awarded due to placement tests or tests like CLEP or CEEB; and

c.       A ranking within the top percentage of the academic institution class of the student that is established by the local chapter By-laws at anywhere from ten (10%) percent to twenty (20%) percent thereof; and

d.      A commitment to excellence in education, good character and service to others; and

e.       Payment to the National Headquarters of the Society, through the Treasurer of the local chapter, thereof, of a one time National and State Membership Fee established by the National Senate of the Society; and

f.        Participation in the local chapter induction ceremony, and subscription to the following Society pledge:

I solemnly declare

that I shall always strive to holdfast to the principles of

honesty,

to maintain a standard of

academic excellence,

to serve humanity,

and to develop good character and leadership ability,

I further pledge myself to cooperate with other members

of

THE GAMMA BETA PHI SOCIETY

In the active promotion of these ideals

in our school, community, state,

and nation.

 

                                                       If the inductee is unable to attend the induction

 ceremony, the pledge to the Society must be

 subscribed to at a later time. 

g.       Any other additional qualifications established in the By-laws of the local chapter of the Society and approved by the National Executive Director, subject to an appeal to

the National Executive Committee from any disapproval by the National Executive Director.

2.      Continuing Membership Qualifications

a.       An undergraduate student member of the Society must maintain a ranking within the academic institution class thereof equal to no less than ten (10%) percent below the

induction qualification; and, upon, failure thereof for more than one academic term, shall be suspended from membership in the Society until such ranking is attained.

b.      Payment of the one time National and State Membership Fee at the time of the induction shall be sufficient to remain as a continuing membership continues to be fulfilled.

The Society shall not establish annual National and / or State/ Region dues as a requirement for continuing membership to the Society.

c.       Each local chapter of the Society may establish additional local continuing membership qualifications,

which do not conflict with the national policies of the

Society; and, upon default therein by any undergraduate student member, the membership thereof in the Society shall be revoked upon the direction therefore by the Executive Committee of the local chapter to the National Executive Director of the Society; provided, however, that any suspension or revocation of the membership of and Undergraduate student member shall be subject to an appeal therefore first the State Advisor. If any, and then or otherwise to the National Executive Director, whose decision shall be final.

d.       An undergraduate student member of the Society in  good standing at a local chapter of the Society at one academic institution, who transfers to another academic institution where there is another local chapter of the Society, shall automatically qualify for a membership therein; but, shall be subject to the continuing  scholastic retention standards thereof.

B          Graduate Student Qualifications

1.  Graduate students at a qualified academic institution where a local chapter of the Society is located are eligible for membership therein according to the By-laws of the local chapter;                  

 provided, however, that such By-laws may not contain qualifications of hours earned or of scholastic ranking different than those for undergraduate students.

2.  An undergraduate student in good standing with a local chapter of the Society may continue active membership therein as a graduate student without reinduction.

            C.        Advisor Member Qualifications

Each advisor member of the Society shall be a full time member of the faculty or stat of the academic institution where a local chapter of the Society is located and shall be elected by the student members of the chapter unless otherwise appointed by the Administrator in charge of the student organizations at the institution.

D.                 Membership Documentation

An official roster of the Society shall be maintained by the National Executive Director of the Society at the National Headquarters thereof; and any issue or dispute about the membership of anybody in the Society shall be resolved and decided by reference to the official roster.  Each local chapter and the Alumni Association shall immediately notify the National Headquarters, in writing, of the name and induction date of each person to be added to or deleted from the official roster as a member to the Society.

 

Each new member of the Society shall be issued a Certificate of Membership, with the name and insignia of the Society thereon, along with the signatures of officers of the Society designated by the National Senate.  Each new member shall receive a copy of the National Constitution and any other items authorized by the National Senate.

 

The members of the Society shall be organized into and governed through: (1) Local chapters of the Society at qualified academic institutions, (2) an Alumni Association, (3) State/ Region Councils, (4) a National Senate, and (5) a National Executive Committee.

 

A.      Local Chapters

Local chapters of the Society shall be composed of the undergraduate student members and graduate student members of the Society, who are enrolled at the academic institution where the chapter is located, plus the advisor members from the faculty or staff thereof.

 

1.                  By-laws

Each local chapter of the Society shall establish By-laws to govern the administration and operation thereof.  However, such By-laws shall conform to and not conflict with the provisions of this Constitution, and the rules, regulations and policies of the National Senate, National Executive Committee and the State Council, if any, of the state where the local chapter is located.  Such By-laws shall be approved by the National Executive Director and shall include, without limitation, provisions for:

a.                   Chapter Officers

An annual general election of the officers for the chapter, by and from the undergraduate student and graduate student members thereof, for terms of one (1) year, including, without limitations, a President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer; and an Executive Committee for the local chapter, which shall be composed of all of the elected officers thereof. 

b.                  Advisors

Each local chapter shall have an Advisor, who shall be a full time member of the faculty or staff of the academic institution where the chapter is located, and who shall be elected by the graduate and student members of the local chapter, unless otherwise appointed by the administrator in charge of student organizations at the academic institutional which the local chapter is located.  A local chapter may also have one or two associate Advisors to assist with Advisor, if such is determined to be desirable by the undergraduate student and graduate student members of the local chapter; and, whenever the term Advisor is used in this Constitution, it includes Associate Advisors.

c.                   Induction of New Members

An annual induction of new members, through a dignified induction ceremony, without any elements or practices of secret orders, mysterious rituals, secret signs, passwords, handclasps, etc., and without any hazing of an inductee, either through physical discomfort or mental embarrassment of the inductee.

d.                  Local Dues

Annual local dues for the members thereof, at anywhere between a minimum of two ($2.00) dollars and a maximum fifteen ($15.00) dollars per year.

e.                   National Senate Representative

The annual selection of an undergraduate student or graduate student member of the local chapter, as the representative thereof in the membership of the National Senate.

f.                    Service Projects

The implementation of service projects to:

(i)                  Foster, disseminate and improve education,both on the campus of the academic institution where the local chapter is located, with the cooperation and/or approval of the administration thereof; and, also, off the campus thereof, and

(ii)                prevent by all honorable means, any undergraduate student or graduate student member form becoming deficient in the studies thereof at the academic institution where the chapter is located; and

(iii)               Encourage and assist qualified high school students to continue their education into college;

(iv)              Conduct other types of service projects, useful to the members,the institution, or the community, but they shall not take priority over education-oriented projects.

g.                   Local Regulations

Any other local regulations to govern the members of the local chapter, provided that such regulations do not conflict with the provisions of this Constitution, or the policies, regulations or directions of the National Senate, National Executive Committee or State Council, if any, of the state where the chapter is located.

                       

2.                  Reports

Each local chapter shall cause the following reports and documents to be mailed to the National Executive Director of the Society, at the times indicated therefore:

a.                   Copies of the By-laws thereof, and each amendment and revision thereto, immediately upon the enactment thereof.

b.                  The name and address of each new member of the local chapter, and each member whose membership has expired or been otherwise terminated or discontinued.

c.                   An annual chapter report, on a form therefore provided by the National Executive Director, which shall be postmarked on or before the twenty-first day of June each year.

 

3.                  Chapter Probation and Chapter Revocation

For any local chapter violation of any of the provisions of this Constitution, or the policies, regulations, or directions of the National Senate, the National Executive Committee, or the State Council, if any, of the state where the local chapter is located, or the By-laws of the local chapter, the charter thereof may be revoked by the vote of three-quarters of the members of the National Senate present and voting at a meeting thereof, but, except for circumstances involving the hazing of inductees or excessive membership dues or assessments, only after a vote of two-thirds of the members of the National Executive Committee therefore, no less than six (6) months after the local chapter has been declared to be on probation by the National Executive Committee for such violations, during which the local chapter shall not be deprived of any of the rights or privileges thereof.  In circumstances involving the hazing of inductees, or excessive membership dues or assessments by the local chapter, the charter thereof may be revoked by the vote of three-quarters of the members of the National Senate present and voting at a meeting thereof, without any recommendation of the National Executive Committee therefore, or any declaration thereof that the local chapter is on probation for such violations.

 

            B.         State Councils

Each State with a minimum of three chapters shall either form a state council or affiliate with a region with approval of the National Executive Committee.  In state with fewer than three chapters, they shall choose an existing state or region with which to affiliate, with the approval of the National Executive Committee, for the purpose of establishing state or regional policies.  States with fewer than three chapters may affiliate with each other to form a new region as long as the new region contains three chapters and is approved by the National Executive Committee.  In all cases, the National Executive Committee shall consider the geographical implications of such an affiliation and the view of the state or regional council with which the state wishes to affiliate.

1.                  Composition

The composition of each State Council shall be limited to undergraduate student members, graduate student members and Advisors of local chapters of the Society in the state.

2.                  By-Laws

By-laws to govern the administration and operation of each State Council shall be established and approved by a majority of the local chapters of the Society in the state.  However, such By-laws shall conform to and not conflict with the provisions of this Constitution, as well as the provisions of the rules, regulations and the policies of the National Senate and the National Executive Committee.  Such By-laws shall, include, with limitation, provisions for:

 

a.                   The annual election of a President, Secretary, and Treasure for the State Council, by and from the undergraduate student and graduate student members of the State Council,

for a term of one (1) year, and a selection process for a State Advisor.

b.                  Reimbursement from state funds of valid expenses of state officers in the performance of their duties as state officers.

c.                   An annual state convention for all persons involved with the Society, during which there shall be convened an annual meeting of the State Council.  The time, date and place of the state convention shall be determined prior to or during the State Caucus at the preceding National Convention of the Society, and reported to the National Executive Director thereof at the National Convention.

d.                  Special meetings of the State Council at the discretion of the State Advisor, or a majority of the state officers, but only with written notice thereof to each local chapter in the state, at least thirty (30) days prior thereto. 

e.                   Monetary assessments by the State Council upon local chapters of the Society in the state, when such assessments are determined to be necessary by the State Council to carry out the business thereof, but the payment of such assessments by each local chapter shall be voluntary rather than mandatory.

 

Such By-laws shall be submitted to the National Executive Director for review and approval, to insure there is no conflict with this Constitution, or the By-laws and policies of the National Senate or the National Executive Committee: and any disapproval by the National Executive Director shall be subject to an appeal to the National Executive Committee.

 

            C.        Alumni Association

An Alumni Association of the Society is hereby established which shall be composed of the following former members of a local chapter of the Society, who apply for membership in the Alumni Association and comply with all of the requirements of the National Senate therefore:

 

1.                  Former advisor member of a local chapter of the Society; and

2.                  Former undergraduate student of members and graduate students of a local chapter of the Society, who where in good standing when they either graduated from or other wise left the academic institution where such local chapter of the Society was located, or they transferred from there to another academic institution where there wasn’t any local chapter of the Society.  Members of the Alumni Association of the Society shall have all the rights and privileges of student members of the Society; provided, however, that they may not vote in any state or chapter elections or meetings; and they shall disqualified from any voting positions in any local chapter or State Council; but they can however, be elected or appointed to any non-voting, advisory position in any local chapter or State Council.

 

 

D.                 National Senate

The Society and the members, local chapters, State Councils, and Alumni Association thereof shall be ultimately governed by a National Senate, in which all of the legislative, executive, administrative, judicial and quasi judicial authority of the Society is hereby vested, subject only to the provisions of this Constitution, and the Constitution and Laws of the United States, the State of South Carolina, and any other state with jurisdiction of the Society.

1.                  Composition

The National Senate of the Society shall be composed of:

a.                   The principal advisor to each local chapter of the Society; and

b.                  The President of each State Council of the Society; and

c.                   One (1) undergraduate student or graduate student member from each local chapter of the Society, who shall be elected by the members of the local chapter to serve as a voting member for that convention only; and

d.                  Two (2) members of the Alumni Association, who shall be elected by and from the members thereof at each annual convention of the Society, to serve for that convention only; and

e.                   The President, President-Elect and Vice President of the Society shall be ex officio members of the National Senate; but each of them shall have only one (1) vote, even if they are otherwise members of the National Senate.

 

2.                  The officers of the National Senate shall be a President, President-Elect and Vice President; and the terms thereof shall be for the fiscal year beginning with the month of

July in each year; and, at the end of each fiscal year, the President-Elect shall succeed and advance to the office of the President, and Vice President shall succeed and advance to the office of the President-Elect.  At the annual meeting of the National Senate shall elect a Vice President for the subsequent fiscal year beginning with the month of July, who must be a local chapter advisor.

 

3.                  The National Senate shall provide for the daily implementation of the policies, regulations and directives thereof, through the establishment of a national office or headquarters of the Society, which shall he operated by the full or part time employees necessary therefore, including, without limitation, clerks, typists, computer operators, bookkeepers and secretaries, all of whom shall be subject to the supervision and control of a full time employee entitled the National Executive Director, who shall be responsible for the daily implementation of the policies, regulations and directives of the National Senate, and who shall be an ex officio, non-voting member of the National Senate and the National Executive Committee. 

 

4.                  Other than the National Executive Director, all employees of the Society shall be “at will” employees thereof, who shall be employed and discharged at the will and absolute discretion of a majority of the members of the National Executive Committee, who are present and voting at a meeting thereof.   The National Executive Director shall be elected and employed for a period of no more than five (5) years, and upon such terms and conditions approved by a majority of the members of the National Senate present and voting at a meeting thereto.  The National Executive Director shall be ex officio, non-voting member of the National Senate and the National Executive Committee, and shall be eligible for reemployment for additional periods of no more than five (5) years each; but shall be subject to the supervision, control and removal authority of the National Executive Committee of the National Senate.

 

5.                  The National Senate shall convene at an annual convention of the members of the Society to consider any and all business presented thereto by any member of the National Senate.  The date and location of the convention shall be decided by the National Executive Committee in consultation with National Executive Director.

 

6.                  The National Senate shall establish a National Executive Committee thereof, for the purpose of any necessary interim executive decisions between the meetings of the members of the National Senate:

 

a.                   Composition of the National Executive Committee

The National Executive Committee shall be composed of the President, President-Elect and Vice President of the National Senate, as ex officio members thereof, plus an advisor member, and four (4) undergraduate student or graduate student members, and an alumni member, who shall be elected by and from the members of the National Senate present and voting at each annual meeting thereof, for a term of one fiscal year, beginning with the month of  July following the election.  There shall also be likewise elected to the National Executive Committee one alternate advisor member, one alternate undergraduate or graduate student member, and one alternate alumni member, each of whom shall attend all meetings of the National Executive Committee with the authority to vote for the advisor member, or graduate or undergraduate student member, and the alumni member for which  they are an alternate in the absence thereof. 

b.                  Authority and Responsibility of the National Executive Committee

The National Executive Committee of the Society shall have the following authority and responsibility:

(i)                  Interim interpretations of the rules, regulations and policies of the Society established by this Constitution and the National

Senate, and recommendations for changes therein; serve as a voting member of the National Senate; and

(ii)                Representation of the national government of the Society at state conventions and meetings of the State Councils; and

(iii)               Determination of special national awards; and

(iv)              Determination of probationary status of local chapters; and

(v)                Supervision of the National Executive Director, and advice and council thereto regarding necessary interim decisions thereof between meetings of members, of the National Senate; and

(vi)              Supervision of the individual members of the National Executive Committee and the President, President-Elect and the Vice President of the National Senate; and the impeachment and removal thereof from office for any failure thereof to comply with the provisions of the Constitution or the policies, regulations and directions of the National Senate or the National Executive Committee present and voting at a meeting thereof; provided, however, that any impeachment and removal from office of any member of the National Executive Committee or the President, President-Elect and Vice President of the National Senate shall not become effective unless it is ratified by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the State Presidents, Chapter Presidents and Chapter Advisors whose written ballots are received at the National Headquarters within thirty (30) calendar days after written notification of such impeachment and this ratification requirement is mailed by Certified Mail, return receipt requested to all of the State Presidents, Chapter Presidents and Chapter Advisors by the National Executive Director; and

(vii)             The “at will” employment of clerks, typists, computer operators, bookkeepers, secretaries, and other full and part time employees of the Society other than the National Executive Director.

c.                   Parliamentary Authority

The final parliamentary authority at any and all meetings of the members of the local chapters, State Councils, the Alumni Association, the National Senate and the National Executive Committee of the Society shall be the latest edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, and the presiding officer thereof may appoint a parliamentarian therefore.

 

The MOTTO shall be Progressus per Eruditionem; the WATCHWORDS shall be Scholarship, Service, and Character; and the COLORS shall be Gold and Ebony.  The Emblem of the Society  shall be a shield on which  shall be inscribed: (a) three stars at the top of the shield (representing the spiritual values in life); (b) the letters “Gamma” “Beta” “Phi” (representing the ideals of the organization) in the center of the shield-with the “Beta” being prominently displayed between and above the Gamma and the Phi, (c) at the bottom of the shield an eagle with outspread wings bearing an olive branch in one claw and arrows in the other (representing loyalty to our country).   The COAT OF ARMS shall have as its central theme the emblem of the organization, with a knight’s armored head at the top and the words “Scholarship,” “Service,” and “Character” (or the initials thereof) inscribed on a flowing ribbon around the base and lower part of the emblem.  This Coat of Arms shall constitute the insignia of the Society to be used on all charters, certificates, and other official documents of the Society.

 

This Constitution may be amended or altered by a majority vote of the National Senate of the Society at the annual National Convention, provided such proposed changes have been sent to writing to the National Executive Director at least 45 days prior to the first day of the National Convention, so that the changes can be sent by the National Executive Director in writing at least 30 days prior to the convention.  The requirements of 45 and 30 days may be waived by a majority of three-fourths of the National Senate members present at a general session of the National Convention.  All chapters of the Society shall be notified by the National Executive Director of any and all changes in the Constitution and shall abide by said changes as by the stipulations of the original Constitution.

 

The Society may be dissolved pursuant to the laws of the South Carolina; and the in the event thereof, the assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of Section 501© (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or any corresponding section of any future Federal Tax Code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose.  Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by a court of competent jurisdiction exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations, as such court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.

 

Rev 6/06