Constitution / By-Laws
ARTICLE I – NAME OF THE CHAPTER
The name of this chapter shall be Epsilon Pi Chapter of the Texas State Organization of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International.
ARTICLE II – OBJECT
The object of Epsilon Pi Chapter shall be to carry out the policies and programs of work of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International.
ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP
Section A:
1. Active members are those who are employed in educational work at the time of their
election, live in the chapter territory or, in special cases, in an adjacent territory, and have had three or more years of experience as professional educators. They shall participate in the activities of the Society.
2. Reserve members are only those who are unable to participate fully in the activities of
the Society because of physical disability and/or geographical location (Adopted 2002 International convention.)
3. Honorary members are women who are not eligible for active membership, but who
have rendered notable service to education.
Section B: New Members
1. Recommendations.
Recommendations for new members shall be submitted to the Membership Committee by February chapter meeting.
2. Election of new members.
a. Voting for new members shall be at the March chapter meeting.
b. Voting shall be by preferential ballot or four-fifths of the ballots cast rule.
3. Orientation/Reorientation of new members shall be during March or April prior to
initiation. (The Membership Chairman and committee shall see provided by the chapter membership.)
4. Initiation for new members shall be at the April meeting.
Section C: Termination of Membership
1. Non-payment of Dues
All membership dues shall be paid by October 31. Failure to meet the dues
deadline shall result in termination of membership.
2. Resignation
Resignations shall be submitted in writing to the chapter president and be voted upon by the chapter.
3. Death
Section D: Reinstatement to Membership
Former active members may be returned to active membership if approved by the
chapter membership. (Adopted at the 2002 International Convention.) – NO REINSTATEMENT FEE – See the DELTA KAPPA GAMMA SOCIETY Handbook p.24)
ARTICLE IV: FINANCES
Section A: Where applicable, the Constitution, Article IV and Article X #1 & #9 shall govern
Epsilon Pi finances.
Section B: Annual Dues
Epsilon Pi Chapter dues/assessments for all active, reserve, and life members shall be
established at the August meeting and will include state, international, and local dues as established by these organizations.
Section C: Finance Control
1. The Epsilon Pi Chapter Finance Committee shall submit annually a proposed budget
for adoption by a majority vote of members present at the meeting.
2. All expenses shall be approved by the Chapter president prior to payment.
3. The president’s and treasurer’s signature shall be required on all checks.
4. An annual audit report shall be submitted to the Chapter Executive Board at the
September Chapter meeting.
Section D: Other Finances
1. An initiation fee of $10.00 shall be paid by each new active member.
2. Honorary members- See Article IV, Section C. of the Constitution.
3. The Finance committee will determine the state convention expense allowance
dependent upon available funds and travel distance. Officers eligible to attend the state convention with a portion of the expenses paid by the chapter will be as follows: odd-numbered years-president, first vice-president, in-coming president, first vice president, and state committee member(s); even-numbered years- out-going president, in-coming president, first vice-president, and state committee member(s). In the event that one of the officers cannot attend the convention, a portion of the expenses will be paid for one of these officers in descending order: treasurer, recording secretary, corresponding secretary, or parliamentarian. In the event that a state committee member cannot attend, a portion of the expenses will be paid for a chapter member who expresses a desire to attend.
Section E: Grant-in-Aid shall be determined each year as an Epsilon Pi project.
Section F: Scholarships
1. Number and amount(s) are to be based on the recommendation of the Scholarship
Committee with the approval of the chapter. The committee is responsible for determining the method of raising funds for the scholarships.
2. An annual scholarship fee of $1.00 is paid by each active and reserve member, except
life members, and is included in the annual dues.
ARTICLE V: ORGANIZATION
Section A: Chapter
1. Epsilon Pi chapter shall govern the conduct of its business in a manner consistent with
the Constitution, International Standing Rules, Alpha State, Texas, Bylaws, the Official Manual and the Epsilon Pi Chapter Rules.
2. The chapter officers, except the treasurer and parliamentarian, shall be elected in
accordance with the Constitution, Article VI, Section D-3.
3. The chapter president shall attend the State Executive Board meetings and shall
represent that chapter as a voting member. If the president is unable to attend, she shall appoint a representative from the membership.
Section B: Area
Epsilon Pi Chapter shall participate in the activities of Area IV as assigned by the State
Executive Board.
Section C: Coordinating Council
1. Epsilon Pi Chapter shall be active in the Tri-Chapter Coordinating Council.
2. Epsilon Pi Chapter shall send the president, first vice-president, and the immediate
past president as representatives to the Coordinating Council.
3. The duties of hostess, speaker, and music shall be rotated among chapters.
ARTICLE VI: OFFICERS
Section A: Officers
1. The officers of Epsilon Pi Chapter, all of whom shall be members of the Society, shall
be a president, a recording secretary, a first vice-president, a second vice-president, a recording secretary, and a corresponding secretary.
2. The incoming president shall appoint the parliamentarian, and the Executive Board
shall appoint the treasurer.
Section B: Duties
Chapter officers shall perform the duties enumerated in the Constitution Article VI,
section C, and in the Alpha State, Texas, Office Manual. The first vice-president shall also serve as the chairman of the Program Committee, and the second Vice-president shall also serve as the chairman of the Finance Committee.
Section C: Nominations and Elections
1. The Chapter Nominating Committee shall present nominees for Chapter officers and
the Nominating committee at the March meeting in even numbered years.
2. The Chapter Nominating Committee shall submit the name of one nominee for each
elective office position and four names for the new Nominating Committee. One member of the previous Nominating Committee shall remain to serve as chairman. Consent of each nominee must be obtained. Candidate qualifications shall be presented to the chapter members.
3. The Nominating committee shall prepare the ballot and conduct the election. If there is
only one nominee for an office, election may be by voice vote. If there are two or more nominees for an office, election shall be by ballot.
4. Chapter officers and the new Nominating Committee shall be elected in even
numbered years by a majority vote of chapter members present at the March meeting.
Section D: Term of office
The term of office for chapter officers shall be a term of two years in accordance with the Constitution , Article VI, D, 3, b.
Section E: Vacancy
1. When a vacancy in the office of president, the first vice- president shall become
president.
2. When a vacancy occurs in other elective or appointed positions, the chapter president
shall name a successor.
ARTICLE VII: EXECUTIVE BOARD
Section A: Members
1. The members of the Executive Board shall be the elected officers of the chapter, and
the immediate past president.
2. Ex- office members of the Executive Board shall be the treasurer, with vote
(Constitution, July 1994) and the parliamentarian without vote.
Section B: Duties
The duties of the Executive Board shall be those specified in the Constitution Article VII,
Section C: Meetings
The Executive Board shall meet at least twice annually.
Section D: Quorum
A quorum shall be a majority of the voting members of the board.
Article VIII: COMMITTEES
Section A: Committees of Epsilon Pi Chapter shall be:
1. Society Business: Ceremonials, Finance, Membership, Nominations, Necrology,
Constitution.
2. Program of Work: Program, Legislation, Personal Growth and Services, Professional
Affairs, Research, Yearbook, Music.
3. Educational Services: Achievement Award, Communications, Scholarships, World
Fellowship.
4. Special Committees: Newsletter, Hospitability, Audit, Scrapbook, and Technology.
Section B: Committee Responsibilities
1. Epsilon Pi Chapter committees shall be responsible for any duty represented in the
international committee descriptions, Article VIII, Section B, C, and D of the Constitution.
2. Epsilon Pi Chapter may establish standing committees to carry out these duties as well
as special committees when needed.
3. Reports of chapter committees shall be prepared on forms supplied by International
Headquarters and submitted to the person designated on the forms.
4. Overall responsibilities of each committee are specified in the Handbook and in the
Official Manual.
Section C: Selection of Committee Members
1. All committees shall be appointed by the chapter president excerpt the Nominating
Committee and she shall be an ex- officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee.
2. Ad Hoc committees may be created to carry out projects authorized by the chapter.
ARTICLE IX : CHAPTER MEETINGS
Section A: Meetings.
1. Chapter meetings will be held each month except June, July, and December. The
Program committee will submit a proposed calendar each year to be voted upon by the members.
2. active members are encouraged to attend all meetings and call each other by their
given names.
3. Members shall not smoke at the meetings.
4. A greeter, a member of the Hostess committee, will greet members attending
meetings.
5. Any member not wearing a key pin to a meeting will pay a fine of twenty-five cents.
6. A quorum for chapter business shall be forty percent of the active membership of the
chapter.
ARTICLE X: SPECIAL CHAPTER POLICIES
Section A. Illness and memorials
The Hospitality committee will send cards to ill members and a red rose for a serious
illness. The chapter will give a book to a school library as a memorial at the death of a member or a husband, child, mother, father, brother, or sister of a member. One dozen roses in a spray is also sent at the death of a member. The chapter will always pay for roses when they are needed, and the expense will be placed in whatever category the treasurer deems necessary.
Section B: Keys
Keys of deceased members will be kept with the treasurer to be loaned to any member
who might need one for a short period of time.
Section C: Retiring teachers
Retiring teachers will be honored or recognized in some appropriate manner at the last
meeting of the school year. The Achievement Committee will be responsible for this recognition.
Section D: President’s pin
The president will be presented her president’s pin at the beginning of her first year in
office.
Section E: Members leaving the system
Members leaving the school system will be recognized in some manner at the last
meeting of the school year, provided the chapter is aware of the move. The chapter hostesses shall be responsible for this recognition.
Section F: Incapacitated members
In order to maintain membership, the chapter will assume the responsibility for the dues
of those members who are critically ill or incapacitated at the time dues are to be paid.
ARTICLE XI: AMENDMENTS
Section A: Provisions for amendments
The Epsilon Pi Chapter Rules may be amended by a 2/3 majority vote of the members
present at a meeting following an advance written notice.
Section B: How amended
When an amendment(s) is to be considered, a written amendment shall be presented at
the previous meeting and also included with the Newsletter or be available on line.
ARTICLE XII: GOVERNING DOCUMENTS
Section A: Robert’s rules of Order Newly Revised (current edition) shall govern the proceedings of Epsilon Pi Chapter in all cases not provided for in the Constitution, International Standing Rules, the Alpha State Bylaws, and the state Official Manual.
Section B: Revision of Chapter Rules
Chapter Rules should be revised when the Chapter votes to change a policy, when The
Delta Kappa Gamma Society International and/or Alpha State make changes which affect chapter rules. Revision should be considered every four years.
Revised May 2005