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The Constitution of the Rho Kappa Cast of Alpha Psi Omega
Revised: September, 2004
Purpose
The purpose of this, the Rho Kappa cast of Alpha Psi Omega is to stimulate interest in dramatic activities in Worcester Polytechnic Institute, to secure for the college all the advantages and mutual helpfulness provided by a large national honorary fraternity, and by electing students and other members of the WPI community to membership, serve as a reward for their efforts in participating in theater while at WPI. This cast will in no way take the place of the Masque or any other theatre group at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Article 1: Name & Symbols
Section 1
The name of this honorary dramatic society shall be the Rho Kappa cast of Alpha Psi Omega.
Section 2
The flower shall be the African Violet.
Section 3
The colors shall be light blue and amber.
Article 2: Membership Status
The following shall be used for determination of Membership Status.
Section 1: Active Member
An Active Member shall be one who has attended 50% of the scheduled AYO meetings, activities, and/or events during the semester. An Active Member is eligible to vote on matters concerning the organization, but is not necessarily eligible to vote on new members.
Section 2: Membership Voting Active Member
A Membership Voting Active Member is an Active Member (as defined above) who participated in the production of one (1) WPI-based show during the previous or current semester. This status gives one the privileges of an Active Member, as well as the ability to vote on new members.
Section 3: Away Member
An Away Member will be considered to remain an Active Member, but will not count towards the quorum. A formal letter must be submitted to the Officers to "apply" for Away status. This option is available to Members who are temporarily away from the WPI campus. Upon return to the Campus, an Away Member will be reinstated as an Active or Membership Voting Active Member, at the discretion of the officers.
Section 4: Inactive Member
An Inactive Member does not fulfill the requirements of one of the three status levels defined above.
Section 5: Discretionary Status
Members who meet the minimum requirements for Active or Membership Voting Active Membership are considered to be such. People who do not meet the minimum requirements may be considered for Active or Membership Voting Active status at the discretion of the officers. This decision should be based on a formal communication from the Member in question.
Article 3: Nominations
The induction process will be conducted twice every academic year, once in the fall and again in the spring.
Section 1: Opening Nominations
At least five (5) academic weeks before the induction ceremony, nominations will be opened.
Section 2: Nomination Procedure
To nominate a candidate, one must submit a Nomination Form to the Rho Kappa Cast explaining why one feels the candidate is worthy of membership. Nomination Forms will be made available by the vice-president.
Section 2a: Nominator Eligibility
Nomination Forms will be accepted by the vice-president, both from members of the Cast and from people who are not members.
Section 2b: Nomination Eligibility
Any person demonstrating outstanding participation in theatre at WPI, regardless of the duration of participation, is eligible for nomination.
Section 2c: Nominator Anonymity
Nominations can be made anonymously by not signing the Nomination Form. Intercampus mail may be used to ensure anonymity, or emails can go unsigned. Email headers will not be used to identify the nominating party. This rule will be clearly stated during the announcements opening nominations.
Section 2d: Nomination Updates
The vice-president will keep the Cast informed of who has been nominated during the nomination process.
Section 2e: Nomination Closing
At least four (4) academic weeks before the induction ceremony, members of the Rho Kappa Cast will meet to review Nomination Forms and complete additional Nomination Forms, if necessary, to ensure that all worthy persons receive consideration.
Section 3: Sponsor Assignment
At least four (4) academic weeks before the induction ceremony, a member of the Rho Kappa Cast will be appointed as a sponsor for each nominee and guidelines for the acceptance letter will be discussed.
Section 4: Nomination Notification Letter
The Officers of the Cast will keep a copy of a Nomination Notification Letter, which is to be presented to the Nominees by their Sponsors while first discussing the Nomination.
Section 4a: Nomination Notification Letter Content
This letter will include, but not be limited to, the following information: the notification of nomination, any scheduled timeframes or events relevant to the nominees, and the guidelines for acceptance of nomination.
Section 4b: Nomination Notification Timeline
All nominees must be notified of their nomination within seventy-two (72) hours of the Sponsor Assignment Meeting.
Section 5: Theatre Resume
Nominees that wish to be considered for membership must submit a fully completed Theatre Resume Form to the vice-president at least three (3) academic weeks before the induction ceremony.
Section 5a: Resume Content
The Theatre Resume Form will include information about the nominee’s participation in theatre since their time at WPI, including specific dates, positions, and responsibilities.
Section 5b: Forfeiture of Nomination
If a Theatre Resume is not submitted in a timely fashion, it will be assumed that the nomination has been declined.
Section 5c: Resume Distribution
The Vice President must make the completed Theatre Resumes Forms available to the Cast before the membership voting meeting.
Section 6: Acceptance Letter
Nominees that wish to be considered for membership must provide their sponsor with an acceptance letter by the membership voting meeting.
Article 4:Eligibility
Members will be chosen strictly on merit, without any form of discrimination.
Section 1: Participation Threshold
Any member of the WPI community, as determined by the Rho Kappa Cast, who has given outstanding or noteworthy participation and dedication to theatre for at least four (4) complete terms at WPI is eligible for consideration for membership in Alpha Psi Omega.
Section 2: Definition of Theatre
It is difficult to define what constitutes “theatre” or a “theatrical production”. Any constriction imposed on the definition of theatre will always fail in the face of new forms of theatre being created. It would be terribly short-sighted to deny the next Thespus his place in the Cast because we cannot foresee the time when he steps out of the chorus. Therefore, borrowing from Aristotle, a theatrical production will be any endeavor in the theatre arts that is “serious, complete and of a certain magnitude,” as determined by each member of the Cast.
Article 5: Membership Voting
Section 1: Voting Meeting
At least two (2) academic weeks before the induction ceremony, the Cast will meet to elect new members.
Section 1a: Secret Ballot
Election of new members will be by secret ballot.
Section 1b: Voting
A 3/4 majority vote of the Membership Voting Active Members will be necessary for acceptance of a nominee.
Section 1c: Attendance and Voting Eligibility
Any Membership Voting Active Member who cannot be present for the entire meeting and the individual or individuals counting the votes are not eligible to vote.
Section 1d: Confidentiality
All discussions held during the voting meeting are to be held strictly in confidence within the Cast.
Section 2: Class Cap Size
Each induction class will be limited to a cap of seven new members.
Section 2a: Meeting the Cap
In the case of the cap being exceeded by the number of nominees receiving the number of votes to be inducted, the number of votes required for induction will be raised by increments of one until the number of approved candidates is within the cap.
Section 2b: Changing the Cap
If at any point all said nominees are tied for number of votes they will all be inducted.
Section 3: Presentation of Nominees
Section 3a: Presentation Order
The order of the presentation of nominees to the Cast during membership voting will be random (e.g. drawn from a hat). If a sponsor needs to leave early, the order of presentation may be changed at the officers' discretion.
Section 3b: Presentation Procedure
The nominees' Nomination Forms will be read by the President of the Cast. Each nominee’s form(s) will be read in its entirety, including any signature offered. If no signature is offered, the author of the nomination letter will not be identified. The sponsor will read the acceptance letter. The Cast will then have the opportunity to discuss the nominee’s qualifications before voting.
Section 4: Inductee Notification
All nominees must be notified of the outcome of their bid within seventy-two (72) hours of the conclusion of the membership voting meeting and prior to the public announcement of candidates.
Section 4a: Cast Notification
The Cast as a whole may be notified prior to public announcement but are required to withhold the information from the public.
Article 6: Inductions
Nominees accepted for induction are considered inductees.
Section 1: Induction Requirements
These inductees are required to memorize the Greek alphabet and twelve lines of Shakespeare in preparation for their induction. These lines cannot be from a production in progress. The inductees are also expected to learn the names and addresses of the national officers and the names of five other Alpha Psi Omega chapters in the region.
Section 2: Information for Inductees
Inductees will be given the opportunity to read the chapter and national constitutions and by-laws before they choose to take the oath of membership. The inductees must also be informed of the required dues, to be collected by or at their first official meeting after induction.
Section 3: Induction Ceremony
Members of the Cast will plan an induction ceremony which will include at least the following: an exercise demonstrating knowledge of the Greek alphabet, recitation of each person's twelve lines of Shakespeare, and the oath of membership as outlined in the Ceremonies of Alpha Psi Omega.
Section 4: Induction Ceremony Script
A template for an induction ceremony script should be posted on the Alpha Psi Omega webpage. A hard copy will be maintained in the officers' records.
Article 7: Officers Duties
The officers of this Cast will be president, vice president and business manager.
Section 1: President
The president of the Cast will preside at all meetings, call meetings, appoint committees and have general supervision of the affairs of the fraternity. There will be at least one regular meeting of the fraternity each term.
Section 2: Vice President
The vice-president will assume the responsibilities in absence of the president. The vice-president will oversee the preparations for induction ceremonies and any other fraternity function. The vice-president will maintain the historical archives of the Cast. The vice-president will be responsible for distribution and management of Nomination Forms. The vice-president will be responsible for distribution and management of Theatre Resume Forms.
Section 3: Business manager
The duties of the business manager will be to keep an accurate record of the proceedings of the meetings, to collect all dues and assessments of members, to pay bills sanctioned by the fraternity, and to keep an account of all the receipts and expenditures of the fraternity. Plays in the process of production by the fraternity will be reported at the beginning of each school year to the National Grand Business Manager.
Article 8: Officer Elections
Officers for the following year will be elected at a regular spring term meeting and installed by the incumbent officer.
Section 1: Officer Voting Meeting
Officers will be elected by a majority vote of Active Members of the Cast.
Section 2: Contingency Elections
In case officers cannot complete their term, new officers will be elected to fill vacancies at the earliest possible date.
Article 9: Dues & Fees
Section 1: Initiation Fee
There shall be an initiation fee, as specified by the national Fraternity.
Section 2: Special Assesments
Special assessments may be levied upon the membership by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the active members present.
Article 10: Constitution Amendments and By-Laws
Section 1: Constitutional Amendments
This constitution may be amended or altered in whole or in part at any regular meeting by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Active Members of the Cast, provided such amendment or proposed vote was given in writing at least one week prior to such vote.
Section 2: By-laws
Additional by- laws may be adopted at any meeting by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Active Members of the Cast.
Section 3: Quorum
A quorum will consist of 50% of the Active Members of the Cast. A quorum must be present for officer elections and all other votes.
Article 11: SOC Enabling Clause
The Rho Kappa cast of Alpha Psi Omega agrees to abide by the policies of Worcester Polytechnic Institute as well as all federal, state and local laws. This Constitution and any revisions or amendments must be approved by the student approved by the Student Organization Council prior to implementation.