question on bylaws
 

i know its kind of odd, but i was wondering if there is any standard/set guideline/rule on when bylaw revisions go into effect. i checked our bylaws and the only provision remotely close to this was when revisions had to be submitted to the province director.

i ask because earlier i got an email from our MEVP saying that I didnt make grades, which was news to me.
Aparently we changed the requirement when we did bylaw revisions.
my question arises because, at the beginning of the spring semester our GPA requirement was one thing, and we revised it in the middle of the semester, so theorhetically it shouldn't go into effect until the end of this semester to be fair, correct?

basically im mad because at the beginning of last semester i was aware of one standard, and i dont think its right for it to change halfway through, when classes are halfway over.

Lyrica,

Call your chapter adviser and ask her.

I *think* (not sure) that bylaw revisions go into effect immediately. It should be in Robert's Rules of Order. I was never good with all that procedure, but I believe I remember that just from this past Convention in Houston.

?????

Im pretty sure you are corect that they go into effect immediately. Id def call your chapter advisor and ask her to be sure. I was on bylaw review every year, but its been 2 years now so I cant remember for sure.

Lyrica, you should have been properly informed of all bylaw changes, especially one so substantial. If you were unable to make the meeting they were discussed in, you should have had to read the minutes. Either way, it would have been clear to you all changes made during revision. I would discuss the change with your advisor. As I'm sure, a hearing will take place, this can be discussed at this time as well. I'm not promising, I'm just saying that since this was a recent change (and maybe one that was not properly relayed to the members not on the review committee), then you might simply get a warning.

This won't be your 3 semester not making grades will it?? PM me...we'll talk.

Not only should the revised bylaws be read at a Chapter Business Meeting, the chapter must VOTE to APPROVE the proposed revisions.

As to when they go into effect - good question. Anyone have a COB handy?? (It's not yet school-year, so mine's at home, NOT in my car or at my side...)
;)

lyrica9, any news on what is going on?

well i searched and found that yes, bylaw changes are to go into effect as soon as they are approved by the province director, but many sisters, including some on exec, believe that the changes to the GPA requirement when there is only one month left in the semester is unfair, and that it shouldn't go into effect until fall's grades come back. but we'll see what happens, they're having an exec meeting this week. but even if all of exec decides they dont want it to go into effect, it wont matter, our advisors hold all the cards with every decision, unfortunately.

but here's to hoping!

oh and to everyone wondering about the approval of the bylaws... basically it happened at a meeting where everyone was ready to just leave, they rushed through it without reading it all, most people approved and ended the meeting.
very poorly done.

I don't think its fair to say the Advisor holds all the cards. :( She has rules to follow just like the Chapter does. And they all come from the same source: COB. It's not up to your Advisor to make a change to your bylaws or their effective date. (That would be contrary to the procedure outlined in the COB.)

The chapter wanted to leave a meeting so they rushed thru the revised bylaws, voted to approve something they didn't read or understand and now they don't think its fair. :mad:

The Chapter could have voted against the bylaws and there would be nothing the Advisor could do about it - until the next Revision. At which point the Chapter votes again.

See - you are not at the mercy of the big bad Advisor! ;)

There wasn't really any time to really ask questions.. the revised bylaws were just being read to us as quickly as possible, and by the end of the meeting, it was already very late, and people pretty much just wanted to approve whatever needed to be approved and motioned to adjourn the meeting :( (plus I don't know about everyone else, but I personally could not remember half of the revised bylaws that were read out loud, so at the end when we "approved" them it was a general thing.. they didn't ask for our approval for each and every change being made)

I think it would have been better if we had had printed copies in our hands so we could at least follow along what was being read to us and look it over, but unfortunately it wasn't really done that way. We were just listening to the revised bylaws that the exec board or whoever came up with.

You all should have asked more questions during the approval process if it is unclear. Certainly there were changes to your dues also that you would want clear information on and should be asking questions.

FYI - There is a bylaw revision committee that initiates proposed changes which are then reviewed by the executive board and then approved by the chapter and the Province director.

You may ask to be on the bylaw committee this year and ask that everyone in the chapter receive a copy of the bylaws and proposed revisison in writing before voting. Even an email copy would help to clear things up and make the process smoother.

Advisors don't run the chapter. Sometimes we are blamed for things that collegians don't want the responsibility for. Sometimes it is just easier to blame the advisors or the PD for unpopular decisions.

Scholarship is important and putting together a scholarship plan will make it much easier for you to exceed the grade expectations of your chapter.

lyrica9 any update on this? I hope everything works out for you.

Our MEVP said they have to decide on it in exec.. and i dont know if that was discussed at this past week's exec meeting, or is on the agenda for a future meeting.... but its not looking good for me. all i want is a little diamond sis!:(

Okay, it's been a while since I was an active, but what exactly would happen to you? Would you be on academic probation with the chapter? And what does that usually imply? Can you still participate in FR, Initiation, Philanthropy? Can you just not take a little diamond?:confused:

It all depends on how many times she has not made grades....we pray this is the 1st time! :) :(