Commander’s Officer Resource Page

www.sigmanu.org/commander

Important Due Dates

http://www.sigmanu.org/documents/important_due_d ates.pdf

THE LAW OF SIGMA NU FRATERNITY, INC.

W

HAT

C

OLLEGIATE

C

HAPTERS NEED TO KNOW

W HAT IS IT ?



Our Constitution



44 Pages



14 Articles +



Section on TRIAL CODE W HAT MATTERS ( TO CHAPTERS )?



Establishes rights & obligations



26 Pages



7 Articles (mostly just 2) +



Section on TRIAL CODE

N

AME

, P

RINCIPLES

,

AND

D

EFINITIONS

 Empowers The LAW  Sigma Nu Fraternity, Inc. is established  “Knight”, “Brother”, and “Candidate” defined  Sigma Nu Dictionary  Charged with upholding fundamental principles HONOR FRIENDSHIP ASSISTANCE UNITY COMMUNICATION

R

IGHTS AND

O

BLIGATIONS

W HAT ARE MY RIGHTS ?

 Attend Grand Chapter and have voice heard & recorded  Can only be expelled via Trial Code  Can resign via High Council or Grand Chapter  Can enact The Rules (i.e. Bylaws)

W HAT ARE MY OBLIGATIONS ?

 Always sworn to secrecy  Obligated to report violations of The Law

C

HARTERS

OUTLINES…

 How a charter can be sought  The approval/installation process  Alumni Chapter Charters

High Council Powers Over Chapter Charters

 Injunction  Probation  Suspension  Revocation  Reinstallation  Replacement

M

EMBERSHIP

SETS SOME GROUND RULES  Membership can only be attained via chapters  “Must be a man and have the character and bearing of a gentleman”  No dual or honorary membership

 Requires unanimous vote with ¾ chapter present  With ¾ majority vote, chapter can petition HC for a waiver to establish its own procedures with a two-thirds majority vote  Legacies need a ¾ approval  Voting is anonymous but with ¾ approval, an oral vote can be conducted  Cannot vote by proxy  Individual only becomes a candidate upon completion of the Candidate Ceremony  De-pledge with a majority vote

Specific Procedure for Electing Candidates

 Matriculate  Satisfied chapter’s candidate education program  Met chapter’s and institution’s academic requirements  Paid the Initiation Fee and any other financial obligations  Also outlines non-matriculate initiation

OUTLINES FEES  All fees must be paid to the Treasurer at or before Initiation  $90 Candidate Fee before Induction  $220 Initiation Fee before Initiation  Same is required of non-matriculates and colony members

OUTLINES AFFILIATION  Affiliation is optional  A ¾ majority vote of the chapter can admit a prospective affiliate

T

HE

R

ITUAL

TWO SIMPLE TAKEAWAYS… 1.

The Ritual is the property of Sigma Nu 2.

Don’t make or have unauthorized copies, which is punishable by expulsion

O

FFICIAL

I

NSIGNIAS AND

P

UBLICATIONS

 Establishes Sigma Nu’s colors  Provides detailed information on the insignias of Sigma Nu  Badge, Coat of Arms, Flag, Candidate Pin, Etc.

 Explains by whom and how these items are worn  Authorizes Executive Director to enter into contracts with vendors (Trademark & Licensing)  Translates your Certificate of Membership

C

OLLEGIATE

O

FFICERS

C

HAPTERS AND

 Enact Bylaws (The Rules)  Enact internal disciplinary procedures (the Procedures) as alternative to the Trial Code  If no Procedures exist, Trial Code must be used  Outlines minimum requirements for Procedures  Stance of opposition to hazing  Can reinstate expelled members with unanimous vote

 Can charge dues  Can send representatives to Grand Chapter  Death of a Brother – for 15 days, members may wear the sign of mourning  Draping the upper half of the Badge  OR attaching a black ribbon to the Badge

Chapters are expected to maintain a GPA at least equivalent to the average all-male GPA for their campus.

A Chapter or the Council may adopt rules and methods to encourage above average performance.

In cases where chapters or brothers of the Fraternity would be in a position to sign contracts or agree to obligations, they must do so as an agent of themselves or of the local chapter. For example, signing a contract as Sigma Nu Fraternity is forbidden, instead a chapter would sign, for example, as the Upsilon Upsilon Chapter of Sigma Nu Fraternity.

Commander Lieutenant Commander Treasurer Recorder Marshal Chaplain LEAD Officer Recruitment Officer Alumni Relations Officer Sentinel Reporter Historian

Ranks the Officers of the Chapter and outlines their duties

 Candidates cannot be officers  Elections must occur at least annually  Vacancies must be filled as soon as possible via majority vote  Provides the Oath of Office

Outlines eligibility and terms of office

H OW ALL MATTERS OF INDEBTEDNESS ARE REQUIRED TO BE HANDLED

On day 30, member is automatically suspended.

Payment removes suspension Day 60, Treasurer announces debt to chapter. Two choices: *Payment plans do not apply in these situations 1. Suspension from any activity requiring chapter funds and no voice or vote at chapter meetings 2. Grant hardship to member allowing payment of debt within a year. Suspension remains.

Treasurer required to initiate TRIAL CODE. Hearing to take place on day 90.

A NY PART OF T HE ALTERED OR AMENDED BY A TWO THIRDS VOTE AT LAW CAN BE G RAND C HAPTER

S

IGMA

P

OLICY

N

U

’

S

R

ISK

R

EDUCTION

& G

UIDELINES

Commander’s Officer Resource Page

www.sigmanu.org/commander

Risk Reduction Policy & Guidelines

http://www.sigmanu.org/documents/risk_reduction_p olicy_and_guidelines.pdf

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Don’t break the law Don’t buy or provide alcohol for anyone No Drinking Games Always use a guest list (no open parties) Safety of members and guests is priority #1 No co-sponsoring with distributors or bars All or Nothing – co-sponsoring and co-financing Recruitment is always dry No alcohol in the candidate program No illegal drugs

Risk Reduction Basics and Making Them Work for Your Chapter http://www.sigmanu.org/documents/officer_resources _social_planning_guide.pdf

T HE

R ISK R EDUCTION P OLICY & G

UIDELINES CAN BE ALTERED OR AMENDED BY A TWO THIRDS VOTE AT G RAND C HAPTER

W

HAT

C

OMMANDERS

N

EED

T

O

K

NOW

W HAT ARE THEY ?

 A contract between a chapter and host institution aimed toward defining the expectations placed upon Greek-letter groups and how institutions will support them  At face-value this is an understandable practice with pure intentions

W HY DO THEY MATTER ?

 Sometimes there is inequitable language within these relationship agreements  National groups are attempting to proactively identify host institutions with inequitable relationship agreements and renegotiate the terms

 If asked to execute a relationship agreement by your host institution (college/university), contact the General Fraternity.

 The General Fraternity will help determine if inequitable language exists and will advise you accordingly.

 DO NOT execute a relationship agreement until you’ve received advisement from the General Fraternity.

 DO NOT sign contracts on behalf of “Sigma Nu Fraternity”’ only as [Designation] Chapter of Sigma Nu.

Collegiate chapters of Sigma Nu Fraternity, Inc. may qualify for the lowest available, per member risk management assessment within their applicable tier after 90% of the chapter’s membership has completed the GreekLifeEdu education and prevention program. A per member risk management assessment surcharge of $25 per member will be billed to a collegiate chapter in which less than 90% of the chapter’s membership has completed the program. Any such surcharge will be applied annually, toward the end of the applicable academic year (with specific time to be determined by the Executive Director).

 At start of this academic year, 99% of chapters were already at 90% and qualified for last year’s incentive  Integrate GreekLifeEdu completion into your candidate program  Making completion a local expectation for initiation can ensure the chapter qualifies for the incentive each year  If already above 90%, having 100% of new initiates complete the program will theoretically keep the chapter above 90% completion each year

O VER ANYTHING WE HAVE COVERED DURING THIS CORE SESSION