Bylaws of the Denver Alumnae Chapter

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Adopted: Jan. 1966

Revised: Feb. 2004, March 2011, March 2012, April 2019

Amended: Jan. 1968, April 1977, April 1980, Nov. 1986, Nov. 1992, March 1997, April 1998, Feb. 2000, Nov. 2000, Oct. 2001, Nov. 2002, Oct. 2004, Jan. 2005, Jan. 2006, Jan. 2007, March 2008, March 2009, Feb. 2013, Feb. 2018, April 2021

ARTICLE I

The name of this chapter shall be the Denver Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota, located in Denver, Colorado.

ARTICLE II – GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 1. General Policies and Procedures.

Any Fraternity procedures or obligations, either chapter or individual, which are not specifically defined in these Bylaws, shall be handled in accordance with established procedures as prescribed in appropriate Fraternity publications.

Section 2. Abbreviations.

The following abbreviations shall be used as appropriate throughout these bylaws:

A. CPM: Chapter Procedures Manual

B. NH: National Headquarters

C. EB: Executive Board

D. LCP: Local Chapter Procedures

ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Categories of Membership

A. Alumnae Members—Members initiated by a collegiate chapter who have graduated or have terminated their collegiate studies.

B. Affiliated Patroness Members—Patronesses with Training
1. Patroness members who have completed the Fraternity’s special membership training and have formally affiliated with the Alumnae Chapter.
2. They may be elected to office and may vote on local and national issues.

C. Patroness Members (non-affiliated)
1. Patroness members who have not completed the Fraternity’s special membership training.
2. They may not formally affiliate with the Alumnae Chapter, and may only vote on local issues.

D. Associate Members—who may or may not live in the Denver metro area, but choose to remain associated with the chapter and pay a reduced dues rate.

E. Inactive Members: dues-paying members who take a leave of absence from active membership.

Section 2. Financial Obligations of Membership

A. All affiliated members are required to pay national dues by joining and being current with the SAI Alumnae Association.

B. All affiliated members must pay annual local dues in a timely manner in order to be in good financial standing.

C. A member who have not met their financial obligations in full by the end of the year will be considered a member not-in-good-standing and will be reported to National Headquarters as delinquent.

D. New affiliates’ dues will be prorated based on the month in which they affiliate with Denver Alumnae

Section 3. Voting Privileges of Membership.

Only affiliated chapter members in good standing are privileged to vote on chapter business. To be in good standing, a member must:

A. Pay all dues in full by the set due date.

B. Be current with dues to the SAI National Alumnae Association.

C. Attend chapter meetings and events.

ARTICLE IV – OFFICERS

Section 1. Elected Officers.

The elected officers of the chapter shall be: President; Vice President, Program; Vice President, Membership; Vice President, Ritual; Secretary; Treasurer; and Editor. A Sergeant-at-Arms may be elected if deemed necessary.

Section 2. Duties of Officers.

Duties of officers are listed in the CPM.

Section 3. Term Length of Offices.

The one-year term of office begins with the installation of officers in June and ends when the new officers are installed in June of the next year.

A. President, Vice President, Programs, Vice President, Membership, Vice President, Ritual, Secretary, and Sergeant-at-Arms may serve for three consecutive one-year terms at a time.

B. Treasurer and Editor may serve for five consecutive one-year terms at a time.

Section 4. Vacancies.

Vacancies in elected offices will be filled in accordance with the procedures outlined in the CPM.

ARTICLE V – NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

Section 1. Qualifications for Election.

To be elected to office a member must:

A. Be in good standing as defined in Article III, Section 3B.

B. Additional criteria are:
1. Classification as an Alumnae member, or
2. Classification as an Affiliated Patroness member

Section 2. Nominating Committee.

A nominating committee of three members shall be elected by the chapter in accordance with the CPM.

Section 3. Nominations.

The Nominations will be conducted in accordance with the procedures outlined in the CPM.

Section 4. Elections.

A. Elections will be conducted in accordance with the procedures outlined in the CPM.

B. Election of officers require a simple majority of the chapter membership who are active and in good standing according to Article III, Section 3B.

C. Voting by US mail is permitted for election of officers. No response will be considered a yes vote.
1. The ballot will be completed and mailed or returned to the designated teller by the deadline.
2. Any markings that identify the sender are to be removed as soon as the voter’s name has been checked against the list of eligible voters.
3. Folded ballots will remain unopened and added to the other uncounted ballots.
4. All ballots will remain unopened until after voting is completed at the designated meeting.

D. Voting by email is permitted for election of officers. No response will be considered a yes vote.
1. The ballot will be completed and sent via mail or email or returned to the designated teller by the deadline.
2. Any markings that identify the sender are to be removed as soon as the voter’s name has been checked against the list of eligible voters.
3. The ballot is then to be folded and added to the other uncounted ballots.
4. All ballots will remain unopened until after voting is completed at the designated meeting.

E. Members who have not voted via mail or email will be able to cast a ballot at the designated meeting.

F. The designated teller will count all ballots after the completion of voting at the designated meeting and announce the election results.

ARTICLE VI – EXECUTIVE BOARD

Section 1. Membership.

The executive board shall be composed of elected chapter officers.

Section 2. Responsibilities.

Duties of the executive board are outlined in the CPM.

Section 3. Meetings.

The executive board will meet before each Formal Business Meeting.
Additional meetings may be held as necessary.

Section 4. Quorum.

A quorum will be designated as a simple majority of the chapter’s executive board membership.

ARTICLE VII – MEETINGS

Section 1. Chapter Meetings.

A. The chapter shall meet at least eight (8) times between September and June. A minimum of two meetings each year shall be designated as formal business meetings with Ritual.

B. A quorum shall consist of a simple majority of the average number of members attending meetings over the last 3 years.

Section 2. Special Meetings.

Special meetings cannot be planned for in advance. They are called for emergency purposes to transact business before the next scheduled meeting.

A. A special meeting may be called by the President.

B. A special meeting may be called for emergency purposes.

C. Dues-paying members are notified by telephone or email stating the circumstances.

ARTICLE VIII – COMMITTEES

Section 1. Standing Committees.

Standing committees are ongoing committees which have continuing responsibilities throughout the year.

A. Standing committees of the chapter shall include, but not be limited to:
Fundraising, JoAnne Kyhl Memorial Performance Competition, Membership, Service, Social, Technology & Archives, and Yearbook Directory Committee.

B. The chapter president shall appoint committee chairmen.

C. Committees are created at the president’s discretion.

D. Committees are composed of the chair and any volunteer members.

E. Duties of the following committees are in the CPM: Fundraising, Membership, Social, and Yearbook Directory. Duties of the following committees are in the LCP: JoAnne Kyhl Memorial Performance Competition, Service, and Technology & Archives

F. Committee chairs serve one-year terms from the time of appointment and are re-appointed at the discretion of the president.

Section 2. Special Committees.

Special committees may be created by the chapter as needed to function until completion of a specified assignment. These committees include, but are not limited to, Bylaws, Nominating, and Honors Committees.

Section 3. Ex-Officio Committee Membership.

The President shall serve as an ex-officio member on all committees except for the Nominating Committee.

ARTICLE IX – HONORS AND AWARDS

Section 1. Honors Committee.

The chapter will form an Honors Committee of three members in January in accordance with the CPM. Duties of the Honors Committee shall be as outlined in the CPM.

Section 2. National Honors and Awards.

The Chapter may present National Honors and Awards in accordance with the National Bylaws and the CPM.

A. Voting by US mail is permitted for voting for all honors and awards. No response will be considered a yes vote.
1. Ballots will be completed and sent via US mail or returned to the designated teller by the deadline.
2. Any markings that identify the sender are to be removed as soon as the voter’s name has been checked against the list of eligible voters.
3. Folded ballots will remain unopened and added to the other uncounted ballots.
4. All ballots will remain folded and unopened until the designated teller counts them.

B. Voting by email is permitted for voting for all honors and awards. No response will be considered a yes vote.
1. Ballots will be completed and sent via US mail or email or returned to the designated teller by the deadline.
2. Any markings that identify the sender are to be removed as soon as the voter’s name has been checked against the list of eligible voters.
3. Ballots are then folded and added to the other uncounted ballots.
4. All ballots will remain folded and unopened until the designated teller counts them.

Section 3. Local Honors and Awards.

The chapter may present local awards with the approval of the Province Officer as long as they do not resemble national awards in name and form.

ARTICLE X – PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

The rule contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised shall govern the chapter in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these Bylaws and any special rules of order the chapter may adopt.

ARTICLE XI – AMENDMENTS OF BYLAWS

Amendments to these bylaws may be proposed in writing at any regular meeting and voted upon at the next regular meeting. A two-thirds vote is required.