CHAPTER 1: NAME OF SOCIETY
The name of this Society shall be “Phi Theta Kappa: Arizona Region.”
CHAPTER 2: PURPOSE OF SOCIETY
The purpose of this Society shall be to recognize and encourage Scholarship among community junior college students. To achieve this purpose, Phi Theta Kappa shall provide opportunity for the development of leadership and service, for an intellectual climate for exchange of ideas and ideals, for lively fellowship for scholars, and for stimulation of interest in continuing academic excellence.
CHAPTER 3: MEMBERSHIP IN SOCIETY
SECTION 1. ACTIVE MEMBERS
Membership shall consist of all Phi Theta Kappa members who are members in good standing in the Phi Theta Kappa: Arizona Region chapter of their initiation, or affiliation.
SECTION 2: ALUMNI MEMBERS
An alumni member shall be a former member of the Society who terminated active membership in good standing and who was enrolled for at least one year in a two-year college. An alumnus shall be entitled to all the privileges of the active member except the right to vote or hold office.
CHAPTER 4: REGIONAL ORGANIZATION
SECTION 1. EXECUTIVE BOARD.
The Executive Board shall be composed of the elected and appointed officers of the organization, with the regional coordinator. The duties of the Executive Board shall be to determine the policies for the operation of the regional organization, and to be trustees of all properties belonging to the regional organization. No official business may be conducted without the Regional Coordinator or an appointed representative present.
SECTION 2. REGIONAL OFFICERS
A.The Regional Officers shall be:
1. President
2. Vice President of Southern District
(Cochise, Gila, Graham, Greenlee, La Paz, Pima, Pinal, Santa, and Yuma Counties)
3. Vice President of Northern District
(Apache, Coconino, Mohave, Navajo, and Yavapai Counties)
4. Vice President of Central District
(Maricopa County)
5. Vice President of Fundraising
6. Vice President of Communication
7. Secretary
B. Term of Office:
Each regional officer will serve until properly replaced by election at a Regional Phi Theta Kappa meeting, or appointed by the Executive Board.
C. Election to Office:
A simple majority vote of the Convention (one vote per chapter) shall be necessary to elect the officers.
D. Eligibility to Office:
Any active member of an active chapter of Phi Theta Kappa: Arizona Region shall be eligible to hold regional office.
E. Removal from Office:
A regional officer may be removed from office if he or she is no longer an active member of an active chapter of Phi Theta Kappa: Arizona Region; OR If three-fourths (3/4) of the active chapters recommend by petition to the Regional Executive Board that such an officer be removed.
F. Suspension from Office:
An officer may be suspended from the duties and privileges of the office by unanimous vote of the remainder of the Executive Board. Said officer must be notified in writing if he or she is not present at the time of the vote. Said officer may appeal the decision for suspension by requesting an open hearing before the Advisory Committee. This hearing must occur within 30 days of the date of suspension, at a time and place determined by mutual consent of the Advisory Committee and the suspended officer. A majority vote of the Advisory Committee shall be required to remove the suspended officer from the Executive Board. If a request for a hearing is not received within 30 days, the Regional Coordinator shall record a vote for removal from office. The decision of the Advisory Committee shall be final.
SECTION 3: REGIONAL COORDINATOR
The Coordinator (as appointed by the International Office) shall perform the duties and responsibilities of the office as delineated in the Official Policy Statement. (See the Society Constitution in the Chapter Advisor Almanac and Manual.)
SECTION 4: COORDINATOR’S ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The Coordinator’s Advisory Committee shall be comprised of experienced advisors (elected at an advisors' meeting at the Regional Convention). The duties of the Coordinator’s Advisory Committee shall be to provide feedback concerning major decisions affecting the policies of the Arizona Region, to assist with the implementation of regional programs, to act as a liaison between the advisors and the executive board and/or the alumni and the executive board, and to serve on special task forces as designated by the executive board. Members of the Coordinator’s Advisory Committee may participate in executive board meetings as ex-officio and non-voting members at the request of either a regional officer or the regional coordinator.
A.The Coordinator's Advisory Committee shall consist of one advisor from each of the three districts (Northern, Central, and Southern) and two at-large members.
B.The Chair of the Coordinator's Advisory Committee will be elected at the Regional Convention. The Regional Coordinator may be elected as chair.
C.The term of office for the Coordinator's Advisory Committee members shall be one year.
D.Members of the Coordinator’s Advisory Committee may be elected to consecutive terms.
CHAPTER 5: MEETINGS AND PROCEDURES
SECTION 1. MEETINGS.
There shall be such meetings of the Society as shall be deemed necessary by the officers.
A.Official Regional Meetings: Official meetings of the Society shall be a Regional Convention, a Regional Leadership Conference, an Arizona Honors Institute, and a Regional Camping Trip held annually at times and locations as determined by the Executive Board. In addition, District meetings shall be considered regional meetings if approved by the Regional Coordinator.
B.Other Regional Meetings: Other regional meetings of the Society may be held at times and locations as determined by the Executive Board and/or the Coordinator’s Committee.
SECTION 2. PROCEDURES
Meetings shall be conducted under procedures as specified by Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, except as otherwise specified in this section, or as deemed necessary by the chair.
A. Voting
1.Regional Convention: Each active chapter shall be entitled to one vote at the Regional
Convention, such vote to be cast by a delegate or by an alternate designated by the chapter.
2.Regional Meetings: Business shall be transacted by a majority vote of those members present
and voting at a regional meeting, limited to one designated vote per chapter.
3.Advisors and alumni shall have full privilege of participation in business meetings except for the
right to vote.
B. Quorum
1.A majority of the elected officers shall constitute a quorum for Executive Board action.
2.Those officers and members present at a convention or a regional meeting shall constitute a quorum.
CHAPTER 6: FINANCE
SECTION 1.
The Society shall be operated exclusively for educational purposes and shall be tax exempt.
.
SECTION 2
All fees, donations, and other types of income shall be expended only for the purposes of this Society.
SECTION 3
The Regional Coordinator shall render a financial report at each Regional Convention, such report to have been previously approved by the Executive Board.
CHAPTER 7: AMENDMENTS
SECTION 1. BY-LAWS:
The By-laws may be amended only by a two-thirds vote of chapters present at any regional meeting.
SECTION 2. OPERATING PROCEDURES:
The Operating Procedures may be amended by a majority vote of the Executive Board.
SECTION 3. PROHIBITION OF CONFLICT:
No amendment shall divert the Society into conflict with the International Organization or with its Constitution, policies, or practices.
CHAPTER 8: OPERATING PROCEDURES
SECTION 1: OFFICERS
A.All officers shall be elected at the Regional Convention. An appointment will be made by the Executive Board to fill any vacancy remaining or occurring after the Regional Convention.
B.A student running for regional office must be enrolled in a two-year college during tenure of office, must be an active member of his/her chapter, and must be available for all meetings of the Executive Board during tenure of office. The term of office shall be from time of installation as an officer to the time of replacement by election or appointment.
C.A Regional Officer must maintain a G.P.A. of 3.5 or better during the term of office, be enrolled in six (6) credit hours per semester in a Community College during the fall and spring terms following election or appointment, and submit an unofficial transcript or grade report to the Coordinator within one month of the close of each semester. An officer may be granted a probationary period of 120 days from the end of the semester to raise their GPA to 3.5 if necessary. A manual calculation of the GPA will be allowed if it is necessary for the student to take a class at another institution.
D.Duties of the Regional Officers
1. The Regional President shall:
(a)Preside at the Regional Leadership Conference; Regional Convention and Executive
(b)Make a Farewell address at Regional Convention.
(c)Prepare a written agenda for all business meetings, in cooperation with the
(d)Make committee appointments.
(e)Serve as ex-officio member of all committees.
(f) Install regional officers for the new term, or delegate this responsibility to
members of the Regional Board.
(g) Confer regularly with the Regional Coordinator.
(h) Coordinate the Arizona Region Presidential News Brief.
(i) Contact each chapter at least once each semester.
2.The District Vice Presidents shall:
(a)Represent the President in their respective districts.
(b)Assist the President in Phi Theta Kappa activities when so requested by the
(c)Act as President in the absence of the President at regional meetings (choice to be
made by mutual agreement, or chosen by lot).
(d)Fill the office of President in the event of a vacancy (choice to be made by mutual
agreement, or chosen by lot).
(e)Contact all chapters in their districts a minimum of twice each semester.
(f) Record organizational activities that occur in their districts and maintain records
(g)Confer regularly with the Regional Coordinator.
(h)Submit an article for each Arizona Region Presidential News Brief.
3.The Vice President of Communication shall:
(a)Maintain the Arizona Regional list-serve.
(b)Maintain the Arizona Regional Web Page
(c)Coordinate the end-of-the-year PowerPoint presentation at the Regional Convention.
(d)Serve as the Regional photographer.
(e)Confer regularly with the Regional Coordinator.
4.The Vice President of Fundraising shall:
(a)Maintain a set of records itemizing all fundraising income and expenditures
(b)Render an accounting to the Executive Board for all fundraising matters,including
annual receipts and expenditures.
(c)Chair committees for all region fund raising events and maintain records of such
events (to include inventory of sale items).
(d) Serve on the committee to complete all annual reports.
5.The Regional Secretary shall:
(a)Record the minutes of the Regional Convention, Regional Leadership Conference,
Regional Planning Meeting, and Executive Board meetings.
(b)E-mail minutes to the Coordinator and Executive Board Members within two (2)
(c)Revise minutes as necessary and maintain permanent records of all meetings.
(d)Carry on all necessary correspondence and maintain records of correspondence sent
(e)Take roll at all regional meetings and keep a full record of Region functions.
(f) Mail information to chapters as directed by the Regional Board.
E)The elected officers and regional coordinator or a representative, during tenure of office, may receive funding for official travel to board meetings, postage, phone and supplies for Phi Theta Kappa: Arizona Region business. Expense vouchers shall be submitted to the Regional Coordinator.
(F)Region funds may be allocated to elected officers and the region coordinator to attend the Regional Officers Retreat, the Region Convention, the Arizona Honors Institute, the Regional Camping Trip, and Leadership Conference and designated District meetings. Region funds may be expended to assist region officers to attend the International Convention. The Arizona Region will cover the full cost of any Four Corners Honors Institute for attending regional officers and regional coordinator.
SECTION 2: MEETINGS
A. The Regional Convention shall be held the first quarter of each calendar year. The location shall be selected by the host chapter, subject to the approval of the Executive Board. (Suggested dates: first or second weekend in March)
B. The Regional Leadership Conference shall be held during the Fall Semester. The location and date shall be selected by the host chapter, subject to the approval of the Executive Board.
C. There shall be a Regional Planning Meeting held yearly following the Regional Convention.
D. There shall be an Arizona Honors Institute held yearly in the month of November with the exception being the years in which the Arizona Region hosts the Four Corners Honors Institute.
E. Each chapter shall be required to pay registration fees for all members of that chapter for whom space is reserved at meetings.
F. Host chapters are expected to pay registration fees for all participating members and advisors of their chapter.
SECTION 3: DUES
A.The Regional dues shall be $5.00 for each inductee the semester of joining. (Beginning 1 August 1990) Said dues shall be paid within 60 days of induction.
B.Regional dues shall be submitted with international dues to Jackson headquarters.
SECTION 4: AWARDS
A.Eligibility: To be eligible to compete in the Regional Awards program, a Chapter must be active in the Region, that is (1) current with dues through the fall semester of that academic year, (2) participating in the Five-Star Development Program, and (3) in compliance with all international requirements, such as the annual report.
B.Eligibility: To be eligible for an award, a Member must be active (as defined by his/her chapter’s constitution) in an active chapter (as defined in part A).
C.All Awards will be presented at the Regional Convention. Awards include: the Hallmark Awards of Scholarship, Leadership, and Service, Distinguished Chapter(s)*; Distinguished Chapter President; Distinguished Chapter Officer; Distinguished Chapter Member; Distinguished Advisor; AZ Paragon; Honors Study Topic Essay Award; Honors Study Topic Art Award; and Chapter Development.
* These awards are scholarships to the International Honors Institute contributed by the International Office.
E.Other Awards are Certificates for Five-Star Chapter Development, Executive Director’s Achievement Award, and Horizon Award from the International Office, and medals for the Arizona Region Hall of Honor. The Region also awards traveling trophies for the winning chapter in the Cactus Bowl Contest, the Travel Mileage Award, and the Chapter Chant.
SECTION 6: NEWSLETTER
Arizona Regional Presidential News Brief is published at least five (5) times a year by the Regional Board. Suggested Publications: September – February with an optional March edition by outgoing Regional Officers and Newly Elected Regional Officers.
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AMENDMENTS/EDITS/APPROVALS BY YEAR:
1979 - Constitution edited only
1982 - Constitution edited only
1983 - Amended
1985
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1994
1995
1996
2006 Approved by Kathy Hayes at HQ on 2/21/06 to Shelby Irons, Regional President, at 4:15 PM MST.
Conversion to By-Laws:
1997
1998
1999
2000
By-Laws amendments approved 9/30/00 at the Regional Convention
Operating Procedures approved 5/18/02 at the Regional Officers Retreat
Operating Procedures approved 7/30/05 at the Regional Officers Retreat
