Beta Beta Beta Bylaws
Contents |
Beta Beta Beta
Biological Honor Society
Colorado School of Mines Chapter
CONSTITUTION
Updated 11/23/07
Article I - Name
The name of this society shall be Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society. The society shall be represented by the Greek letters Beta Beta Beta or by the abbreviated name Tri-Beta.
Article II - Purpose
The Purpose of Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society shall be to function as an honor and professional society for students of the biological sciences. Its activities shall be designed to stimulate interest, scholarly attainment, and investigation in the biological sciences, and to promote the dissemination of information and new interpretations among students of the life sciences.
Article III - Insignia
Section 1
The official emblem of the Society shall be a shield-shaped key upon which are engraved a coiled serpent and the three initials of the organization.
Section 2
The coat of arms shall be that officially adopted by the 1947 Biennial Convention.
Section 3
The pattern copies of the key and coat of arms maintained in the national archives shall be the official design.
Section 4
The colors of the Society shall be red and green. ==Section 5== T he flower of the Society shall be a red rose of the type commonly referred to as American Beauty.
Article IV - Membership
Section 1
The membership shall be divided into six classes: regular, associate, graduate, honorary, alumna/ us and corporate. Beta Beta Beta is a non-discriminating organization that does not consider age, race, color, creed, sex, national origin or sexual preference.
Section 2
According to budget policies laid forth at the inception of the student activities fee, membership for the Colorado School of Mines chapter is strictly limited to students of CSM. With this in mind the guidelines for membership are as follows; Regular members shall be:
- Undergraduate majors in biological science at an institution where a chapter of Beta Beta Beta is located.
- Shall have completed at least one term of the second year of a four-year curriculum or its equivalent.
- Shall have completed at least three term courses in biological science, of which at least one is not an introductory course, with an average grade of B or its equivalent in those biology courses.
- Shall be in good academic standing.
Only regular members may hold the constitutionally specified chapter offices, vote on chapter membership nominations and national questions, and represent the chapter or vote at national conventions.
Section 3
Graduate members shall be either graduate students currently enrolled in a life science at an institution where there is a chapter or faculty members actively serving in the biological sciences. They may participate in the local activities of any chapter except for the holding of constitutionally specified chapter offices and voting on chapter membership and national matters. They may attend district or national conventions, and, upon special designation, represent their original chapter at a national convention. They shall not be eligible for undergraduate awards.
Section 4
Associate members shall be those undergraduates whose interests include the life sciences in some significant way but who are ineligible for regular membership. Associate members shall be eligible to participate in all local, district, and national activities except those specifically reserved to regular members by this constitution.
Section 5
Chapter honorary members may be elected by any chapter in recognition of significant accomplishment as biologists, or of outstanding service to the chapter.
Section 6
Biology majors who have graduated from an institution at which a charter is later granted may become alumni members of the new chapter. Alumni members will receive an individual subscription to BIOS. Regular members who have become inactive may become Alumni members with payment of the appropriate fee.
Section 7
Corporate members shall be corporations, institutions or other organizations which support undergraduate education in the biological sciences. A corporation may be elected to membership by a majority of the National Executive Committee. Corporate members will be listed in each issue of BIOS and each corporate member will receive a membership certificate for display. Each corporate member will also have the privilege of providing a display at the national or district conventions.
Section 8
National honorary members may be elected by the biennial convention on nomination by the national officers. (Any member or chapter may propose prospective nominees.) Such membership shall be reserved for persons of outstanding accomplishment and stature in one or more of the biological sciences or persons rendering outstanding service to Beta Beta Beta.
Section 9
Regular, graduate and honorary members may wear the official insignia and shall remain members for life unless removed under the provisions of Section 11. Associate members are affiliated with the local chapter and may not wear the official insignia. Unless they qualify for regular membership, this affiliation shall terminate automatically when they cease to be undergraduate students.
Section 10
Members shall be nominated to the various categories by a committee that includes both regular members and faculty. Election shall be by at least a majority vote of the regular members present at a regular meeting.
Section 11
A regular member transferring from one institution to another shall be automatically eligible for membership in a chapter in his new institution unless he does not qualify under the normally prescribed requirements of his new chapter.
Section 12
Each chapter or club shall adopt specific membership requirements which are not in conflict with the requirements outlined in Section 2 and which are meaningful in the specific local situation. It is assumed that local chapters and clubs will require high standards of scientific conduct in their nominees and members. No person shall be refused nomination on any basis other than failure to meet requirements in this constitution or in chapter by-laws.
Section 13 (Revocation of Membership)
A regular member of a chapter may be removed from chapter membership only for cause by a vote of 3/4 of the entire voting membership. Any such removal must be approved by the chapter advisor (counselor) and is subject to appeal to the National Executive Committee.
Section 14
Stated local membership requirements shall be submitted to the chapter advisor and the District Director for approval. In case of disagreement or conflict between local requirements or local action and this constitution, the matter shall be referred to the National President for adjudication subject to final appeal to the National Executive Committee.
Section 15
The National Executive Committee shall, from time to time, adopt such by-laws, regulations, and definitions as are necessary to accomplish the equitable and reasonable application of these provisions.
Article VII - Chapter Government
=Section 1= Each chapter shall adopt by-laws which set forth the specific policies and practices it deems necessary for the effective functioning of the chapter in the local situation. Each chapter shall have full authority to regulate its local affairs as it sees fit, subject to the restrictions of Section 2 of this article.
Section 2
There shall be no provisions in chapter bylaws which are contrary to this constitution or the national by-laws which derive therefrom. The National Executive Committee shall have the power to annul any local by-laws which it holds to be in violation of the provisions or clear intent of this constitution, but it shall not do so without prior consultation with the chapter concerned. Such consultation shall make clear the objection to the by-law concerned and give the chapter an opportunity to state its reasons regarding the provision as valid.
Section 3
Chapter by-laws and all amendments thereto shall be filed with both the appropriate Regional Vice President and the District Director who shall bring to the attention of the National President any provisions which may violate Section 2 of this article.
Article VIII - Chapter Officers
Section 1
Each chapter shall elect a president, a vice president, a secretary, a treasurer, and an historian from among its regular members.
Section 2
The duties of these officers shall be those normally assigned to such offices.
Section 3
These officers should hold office for one year. The time of election and the time for assumption of duties shall be specified in the chapter by-laws.
Section 4
At the same time it elects officers, a chapter shall, if necessary, elect a chapter advisor (counselor) from among the biological sciences faculty. The advisor shall be, or shall become by this election, a graduate member. An advisor shall serve for a term of not more than three years but may be re-elected. The prospective regular members of a new chapter shall elect the first advisor (counselor) prior to the installation of the chapter.
Section 5
The chapter advisor (counselor) shall assist and advise the chapter and especially its officers in carrying out the chapter programs and aid in developing new policies and programs that contribute to its local effectiveness. The chapter advisor shall serve as permanent custodian of chapter records and funds making sure that they are maintained in good order and that each successive group of chapter officers are informed as to their responsibilities. The chapter advisor may delegate custodial duties during the academic year but shall check and reclaim all records and funds at the close of each academic year.
Section 6
Chapter officers are responsible for submitting promptly and in correct form such reports as are requested by the national and district officers. Chapter advisors shall review such reports for accuracy prior to submission.
Section 7 (CSM Chapter Only)
The removal or impeachment of officers shall be governed by the Beta Beta Beta Society and the member of the chapter may be removed from chapter membership only for cause by a vote of 3/4 of the entire voting membership. Any such removal must be approved by the chapter advisor (counselor) and is subject to appeal to the National Executive Committee.
Section 8 (Duties of the Officers)
- President: The president shall perform duties customarily pertaining to the office; shall preside over meetings of the organization and shall perform other duties as the organization shall assign.
- Vice-President: The vice-president shall perform duties customarily pertaining to the office; shall preside over meetings of the organization in the president's absence, and shall perform duties assigned by the president.
- Treasurer: The treasurer shall perform duties customarily pertaining to the office, shall keep and accurate ledger of the organization's budget and expenditures, shall report to the treasurer of ASCSM, shall prepare a budget preceding the end of the spring semester for the submittal to the ASCSM financial committee, shall disburse the budget of the current fiscal year under ASCSM financial guidelines, and shall perform those duties assigned by the president.
- Recording Secretary (historian): The recording secretary shall perform duties customarily pertaining to the office; shall act as a secretary of all the meetings of the organization and record the minutes thereof, shall, under supervision of the president, conduct all official correspondence, and keep a roll of all members of the organization, and shall perform those duties assigned by the president.
Article X - Meetings
Section 1. Calling of Meetings
Regular meetings are held bi-monthly. One meeting is organized by the government of the society for planning events and administrating to the needs of the society while the other monthly meeting is for the society membership and will address the purposes of the society. Meetings times are agreed upon by the government and membership and approved by the president and the society councilor.
Section 2. Quorum
Two-Thirds (2/3) of the attending members of the organization shall constitute a quorum for the transaction and sustaining of official business.
Article XV - Non-Discrimination
The organization confirms its support of the principles and practices of non-discrimination and equality regardless of race, religion, sex, age, physical handicap, or sexual orientation, in the employment of individuals and corporation, and in the implementation of all its programs, activities and opportunities available to all members of the organization.
Article XIV - Amendments
Section 1
Amendments to this constitution may be proposed by the National Executive Committee, any national officer or District Director, any chapter advisor, or any regular member in good standing. Any proposed amendment shall be submitted to the National President who shall submit it to the next meeting of the National Executive Committee. The Committee shall report the amendment to the next biennial convention with its recommendations.
Section 2
If a proposed amendment is approved by the majority of the validated delegates at a biennial convention, it shall be submitted by the National Secretary to a poll of the individual chapters active as of the date of the convention. The amendment shall become effective if it is approved by two-thirds of those chapters.
Section 3
A reply period of not less than sixty days nor more than ninety days shall be specified in the request for approval. The ballot shall be declared closed at the end of the specified time. The timing shall be such that any poll will be completed within the same academic year in which it is initiated.
Section 4
The number of votes required to amen the bylaws are 2/3 of the total membership of CSM Beta Beta Beta chapter for specifically the CSM chapter.
