Problem with secretary on academic probation

[MenaceKiller]

Aw, crap. Our secretary, who just got voted into office this past spring, is now on academic probation. Our bylaws state that no one can remain an officer if they are not in good standing with the school.

However, my Vice President is fighting with me and trying to argue that we have no one to replace him because all our other positions are already too spread out. We just recently placed a maximum 4 committee limit on members and several of the older members are choosing NOT to take on executive board responsibilities.

Standard operating procedures for this would be to have the member resign from the board before the first Fall semester meeting, then elect a replacement that very meeting. What can I do if I do not get a nominated replacement? What if my VP campaigns to the brothers that no one should be nominated so we can "force" me to keep the secretary?

I can only hope that the school will allow my secretary to take summer school and pull up his GPA!

-Killer, President, LSP Fraternity

[Tom Earp]

If your Constitution says it do IT! If not you dilute your principles!

Get someone in there who can do the job! He can shadow and be of help until his grades get up to par!

Let everything go once then the whole thing goes to hell and you are gone!

Sounds Harsh, but do it or can ruin you!

[Kevin]

I don't know if your chapter is anything like mine in this respect but we have a Constitution AND By Laws (2 seperate documents).

The primary difference is that bylaws can be suspended by a 2/3 vote of the members. If this were the situation at the Mu Tau chapter of Sigma Nu as long as the guy's GPA isn't below what the University requires of officers then we'd just vote to suspend the bylaws and keep him in office.

Otherwise my advice (since you asked for it) is do exactly what Tom said. If you start only obeying the rules that you LIKE in your constitution you've missed the entire point of having one. You may as well burn it because unless your executive council follows it, it's worthless.

That doesn't mean that you can't change it though according to the rules that it probably has laid out.

LHT
Kevin

[Peaches-n-Cream]

Encourage him to take classes during summer session so he can increase his GPA and be eligible to hold office in the fall.
If not, you have to follow your constitution and replace him.

[AGDLynn]

Check your rules. I'm not sure how summer GPAs are figured standing-wise. I think I heard that they are not considered equal to the other 2-3???

Sounds like your chapter has other problems besides 1 person not making grades. I know that frequently the "older" members get burned out but they took the same vow as the other chapter members.. Could it be that your chapter is losing valuable exeperience as an excuse for "I already did my share?" That may lead to a regretable domino effect.

Good luck!