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Cypress College

Alpha Gamma Sigma
Cypress College - Sigma Psi Chapter Established  May 1986

AGS Constitution

ARTICLE I  NAME

Section 1:

This organization shall be known as the Sigma Psi Chapter of Alpha Gamma Sigma, The California Community College Honor Society.

ARTICLE II - PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION

Section 1:

The objectives of the organization shall be to foster, promote, maintain, and recognize scholarship; to recognize superior scholastic and academic achievement among Cypress College students; to provide additional information to such students, and to provide students with opportunities to serve the college and the community.

Section 2:

The classification of this organization shall be that of “Honor Society”.

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP

Section 1:

Initial Membership may be attained by completion of twelve (12) semester units within a maximum period of 3 semesters, and a cumulative GPA of 3.0. These 12 units may only be acquired within a period of two years prior to application for Initial Membership.

Section 2:

Temporary Membership. Upon entering Cypress College, all Life Members of the California Scholarship Federation, and those who graduated from the high school level with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5, will be offered a temporary membership in AGS

Section 3:

Continuing Membership. After Initial or temporary membership for one semester, continuing membership may be attained by achieving not less than a 3.0 GPA in the previous semester, in courses of recognized college standing, or by maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better in all courses of recognized college standing.

Section 4:

Active Membership. Any continuing member who contributes a minimum of 10 hours of service per semester to the Sigma Psi Chapter shall be considered an “active member”. Active members are eligible for any scholarships given by the organization.

Section 5:

  • A.    A person may apply for Permanent Membership if they have completed a minimum of sixty (60) units of college courses, with a minimum of thirty units completed at Cypress College and if they qualify for the following:

    •
    Or
  • B. Permanent members shall have all rights, privileges, and membership therein, except the rights of voting and holding offices.
  • C. Permanent members have the added privilege of free dues as long as they maintain continued Sigma Psi membership while a student at Cypress College, and are eligible for scholarships as long as they maintain active membership status.

    • Section 6:

    Voting members. Initial, Continuing and Active (paid) members are eligible to vote.

    Section 7:

    Dues. The amount of dues shall be determined at the last regular meeting of each semester by a majority vote of those voting members.

    Section 8:

    Graduation with Honors. Permanent members who graduate may be said to graduate with honors.  "Permanent Member of Alpha Gamma Sigma Honor Society" will be designated on their transcripts.

    Section 9:

    The Official Certificate. Only Permanent Members shall be entitled to receive the official certificates of the organization.  

    Section 10:

    The Official Pin. Any Temporary Member shall be entitled to wear the officially adopted silver pin of the organization. Any Permanent Member shall be entitled to wear the officially adopted gold pin of this organization.

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    ARTICLE IV  ELECTIONS

    Section 1: The Executive Board of the Sigma Psi Chapter of AGS

    The Executive Board of AGS shall consist of the elected and appointed officers.  

    The elected officers of the Sigma Psi Chapter shall be the President, the Vice-President,  the Treasurer,  the Secretary, the Director of the Interior, the Activities Coordinator,  the Director of Communications,  the Historian,  the Inter Club Council (ICC) Representative. and  the Web-master.  

    Section 2:

    The appointed officers of the Sigma Psi Chapter shall be the chairpersons of the standing committees and the Student Advisor.  

    Section 3:

     The Executive Board of this organization  shall have the power to interpret this constitution and Bylaws; and to discuss issues and make decisions that will affect the membership.

    The Executive Board may bring issues before the general membership for a vote.

    Section 4

    The Executive Board shall have additional powers as prescribed by Robert's Rules of Order.

    Section 5:

    The term of Office for the elected and appointed officers shall be from the day elected to the final day of the school year at the end of Spring semester.

    Section 6:   Eligibility

    Elected Officers are subject to the following restrictions:
    1. They may succeed themselves only once.
    2. They shall not hold the same office more than twice.
    3. They shall not serve in any more than two elective capacities (i.e. they cannot get elected to more than two positions while at Cypress College).
    4. They shall not hold more than one elective office during any one semester.
    5. They  must maintain a 3.0 minimum semester GPA and be a continuing member. In the event that the GPA falls below 3.0 while serving their term as an officer they shall resign their position.

    Section 7:  vacancies

    Section 8:

    Elections shall be held in the last week of April. Eligible members of the previous Executive Board shall conduct all business of the organization until the new elections are held.

    Section 9:

    Officers shall be elected by a simple majority of the votes cast except when a nominee is unopposed; in which case the election shall be by acclamation.

    Section 10:   Standing Committees.

    The standing committees of this organization are

    1. Newsletter Committee.
    2. Recruitment Committee.
    3. Clerical Committee.
    4. Telephone and Email Committee.
    5. Ways and Means Committee.
    6. Activities Committee.
    7. Scholarship Committee.
    8. and Publicity Committees.

    The duties and functions of these committees shall be subject to approval of the Executive Board. Other standing committees may be formed by majority vote of the active membership.

    Section 11:
    1. All officers are expected to cooperate in acting as the Executive Board for the Honor Society.
    2. They are also expected to attend all meetings and to support all Honor Society activities.
    3. Failure on the part of any officer to give adequate and consistent support to the Honor Society may result in the dismissal through the joint action of the Honor Society, the Executive Board, and Advisor(s).
    4. Any officer who misses more than four meetings may be subject to recall.

    Section 12:

    This organization must have at least one Faculty or Staff Advisor. The Faculty Advisor shall have the option of appointing a Student Advisor.

    ARTICLE V - MEETINGS

    Section 1:

    Regular Meetings shall be held not less than twice a month during the Fall and Spring semesters. The members of the organization shall, at the last meeting of each semester, designate a definite day and time for regular meetings during said semester.

    Section 2:

    The Executive Board will meet a minimum of twice a month during the Fall and Spring semesters and a least 2 times during the Summer and once during the Winter intercession.

    Section 3:

    Chapter meetings will be conducted under modified parliamentary procedure as set forth in Robert's Rules of Order; in all cases in which said rules do not conflict with the constitution or bylaws

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    ARTICLE VI - SERVICE POINTS

    Section 1:

    Each active member must perform a minimum number of service hours to AGS thus earning a minimum number of Service Points.  See By-laws.

    Service Points must be pre-approved by the Executive Board in special instances not listed in the By-laws.

    Section 2:

    Service Point Verification Forms are kept by the Director of the Interior.

    Section 3:

    Evaluation of Service Points. Service points are counted based on the participation standards as prescribed by the Executive Board and/or this constitution.

    ARTICLE VII  NEWSLETTER

    The AGS newsletter may be published and distributed to members or it may be published online.

    ARTICLE VIII - QUORUM

    Ten percent (10%) of the total membership or 20 people, whichever is less, must be present to transact business legally.

    ARTICLE IX - RECALL

    To recall an officer, a petition signed by thirty percent (30%) of the voting members must be submitted to the Advisor. At the subsequent regular meeting of the organization, any voting member may then move to recall the officer. A special meeting shall be held two weeks from the date of the recall motion, at which time a two-thirds (2/3) vote of approval of the motion by the total voting membership of the organization shall constitute recall of said officer.

    ARTICLE X - AMENDMENTS

    Section 1:

    Amendments to this constitution may be proposed at any regular meeting by a petition signed by forty percent (40%) of the active membership and shall be ratified by a vote of the active membership at the subsequent regular meeting. The Executive Board is privileged to submit proposals directly to the membership for approval.

    Section 2:

    The amendments shall then be submitted to the Inter Club Council (ICC), who represents the Associated Students before being incorporated into the constitution.

    ARTICLE XI - ENACTING CLAUSE

    The constitution shall become effective upon the approval of the ICC, or the Associated Student Council.

    ARTICLE XII - AUTHORITY

    The authority for the establishment of this organization shall be Article VIII of the Cypress College Associated Students Constitution and the Inter Club Council Constitution.   Said constitutions shall take superiority over any or all parts of this document in conflict with the same. If any provisions of this document is contrary to the laws and regulations established by said constitution, the remainder of this document shall not be affected thereby, even though any such conflict itself shall become null and void.

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    Alpha Gamma Sigma

    Cypress College - Sigma Psi Chapter

    AGS By-laws

    ARTICLE I - OFFICIAL DUTIES AND QUALIFICATIONS

    Section 1:  GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS FOR ANY OFFICER POSITION:

    1. Must be a paid member at time of nomination.
    2. The President, Vice-President, Activities Coordinator, Director of Communications, and the Director of the Interior must have declared office hours during his/her tenure in office. He/she must have at least two (2) hours per week available for this purpose.
    3. The President, Vice-President, Treasurer, the Director of the Interior the Secretary, the Student Advisor, and the Faculty Advisor shall have the power to verify grades of, and collect money from, membership applicants.
    4. All officers are expected to attend all general meetings and all AGS Executive Board meetings.
    5. Members of the Executive Board are expected to attend the Summer, pre-Fall semester seminar.

    Section 2:  QUALIFICATIONS and DUTIES OF A PRESIDENT:

    1. A nominee for this position must have earned at least 10 service points at the semester in which elections are held.
    2. The President shall preside over all executive board and regular meetings. If deemed necessary, the President may designate another member to preside over the said meetings.
    3. The President shall serve as liaison or appoint delegates to represent this organization. 
    4. The President shall approve minutes and agendas of all Regular and Executive Board Meetings.
    5. The President shall have the power to appoint members to standing committees.

    Section 3:  QUALIFICATIONS and DUTIES OF A VICE-PRESIDENT:

    1. A nominee for this position must have earned at least 10 service points at the semester in which elections are held.
    2. The Vice-President, upon the direction of the President, shall preside over all regular meetings.
    3. The Vice-President shall fill-in the role and duties of the President in his/her absence or at the direction of the President.  He/she shall also succeed as President should the said office become vacant until general elections are held.
    4. The Vice-President shall serve as liaison to the Associated Students.
    5. The Vice-President shall direct and supervise all fundraising activities

    Section 4:  QUALIFICATIONS and DUTIES OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE INTERIOR:

    1. The Director of the Interior shall award service points to members. In the case where this position becomes vacant, this power is transferred to the Vice President until a new Director of the Interior is elected.
    2. The Director of the Interior must keep a permanent record of said points, and shall continually keep a running total of said points for each member.  He/she must give a copy of these records to the Faculty Advisor at the end of every semester.
    3. The Director of the Interior shall be responsible for all work involved in processing permanent membership of a member.
    4. The Director of the Interior shall maintain and provide a complete list of Sigma Psi members, including addresses and phone numbers to the AGS President and Faculty Advisor..

    Section 5:  QUALIFICATIONS and DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY:

    1. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all general and executive board meetings. He/She shall keep a permanent record of such minutes. 
    2. The Secretary shall ensure that copies of preceding minutes are provided for all members and that a word processed copy is given to the Web-master and the  AGS Faculty Advisor.  This electronic file shall be given within a week after each meeting.
    3. The Secretary shall conduct all official correspondence, and prepare necessary reports as directed by the President.
    4. The Secretary shall be authorized to appoint any necessary assistants and shall preside over the Clerical Committee.
    5. The Secretary has the option of keeping regular office hours.
    6. The Secretary shall compile a schedule (of classes, work, and office hours) of all elected officers.  He/she should give a copy of this schedule to the Faculty Advisor.

    Section 6: QUALIFICATIONS and DUTIES OF THE TREASURER: 

    1. The Treasurer shall be responsible for all financial transactions of this organization, including:
      • Processing all entries into Fundraising Forms (CCFAR).
      • Collection of membership dues
      • Processing of purchase requisitions
      • Collection of general funds (e.g.. T-shirt sales, bake sales, etc.)
      • Depositing of funds into the AGS account
      •  Payment of state dues and other chapter debts.
    2. The Treasurer shall keep a complete record of all financial transactions of this organization. He/She shall present a report of chapter financial status at regular and executive board meetings, and at such other times as directed by the President.

    Section 7: QUALIFICATIONS and DUTIES OF THE ACTIVITIES COORDINATOR:

    1. A nominee for this position must have earned at least 10 service points at the semester in which elections are held.
    2. The Activities Coordinator shall preside over the Activities Committee. He/She shall hold no less than 2 committee meetings a month when school is in session. He/She shall also conduct at least 1 committee meeting during the summer and winter breaks.
    3. He/She is responsible for the planning and implementing of all club events/ activities.
    4. He/she must keep a permanent record of all events/activities in which AGS participates.
    5. He/she shall be given the authority to appoint any necessary assistants for any/or all events.
    6. He/she shall be responsible to inform the Director of Communications about the said events/ activities in a timely fashion.

    Section 8:  QUALIFICATION and DUTIES OF THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS:

    1. The Director of Communications shall preside over the Telephone and Publicity Committee.  He/she shall conduct no less than 1 Publicity Committee and 1 Telephone Committee meeting(s) each month when school is in session. In addition, He/she shall conduct at least 1 committee meeting (Telephone and Publicity) during summer and spring breaks.
    2. He/she is responsible to get information from the Activities Coordinator about club events/activities.  He/she shall be responsible to ensure that members and other students are made aware of such events/activities.
    3. The Director of Communications shall also preside over the Newsletter committee. He/she must ensure that at least 1 edition of the said newsletter is published each month when school is in session, and a summer and winter edition published during summer and winter breaks respectively.

    Section 9:  QUALIFICATION and DUTIES OF THE HISTORIAN:

    1. The Historian shall record events/activities using film (Photo, video, other), audio (tape), newspaper articles, and/or other media.
    2. The Historian shall be responsible to update the AGS photo and scrap album.  This album may be paper or an electronic file.  The Historian will work with the Web-master to place images online.

    Section 10:  QUALIFICATIONS and DUTIES OF THE STUDENT ADVISOR:

    1. Must achieve Permanent membership at the semester in which the position is held.
    2. Must have held an Executive Board position for at least 1 term.
    3. He/she shall conduct a summer, pre-Fall semester leadership seminar where newly elected officers are attending.
    4. He/She shall take the place of the Faculty Advisor at the Executive Board meetings.
    5. He/she will serve in an advisory, nonvoting capacity.

    Section 11.  QUALIFICATIONS and DUTIES OF THE  Inter Club Council (ICC) Representative:

    1. The ICC Representative is expected to attend all ICC meetings.
    2. The ICC Representative shall represent AGS to the ICC.
    3. The ICC Representative shall report to the AGS Executive Board of all ICC events and activities.

    Section 12.  QUALIFICATIONS and DUTIES OF THE WEB-MASTER:

    1. The Web-master must be knowledgeable of html and web page design.
    2. The Web-master must have a current E-mail account.
    3. The Web-master must have computer access to web page editors either at home or school.
    4. The Web-master is expected to coordinate the update of the AGS web site with the AGS Executive Board and the AGS Advisor.
    5. Updates include posting minutes of meetings, calendars of events, images, and other web pages.
    6. The Web-master is expected to update web pages in a timely manner.
    7. The Web-master shall receive prior approval by the AGS Executive Board and the AGS Advisor before making any major change to several web pages or the entire AGS web site.
    8. The Web-master is expected to follow all web site rules and regulations of Cypress College and the North Orange County Community College District.  

    Section 13.  QUALIFICATIONS and DUTIES OF THE ADVISOR:

    1. The Advisor(s) must be present at all events, activities, and regular meetings of this organization in order to deem such transactions as legal.
    2. The Advisor(s) shall approve all official correspondence, minutes and agendas of all executive board and regular meetings. He/She (They) shall check for grammatical and/or content errors in said documents.
    3. He/she (they) must be a current faculty and/or staff member of Cypress College.
    4. 4. He/she (they) shall serve in an advisory, non-voting capacity.
    5. He/she (they) shall be given the authority to veto any actions by this organization.
    6. He/she shall have the power to appoint the Student Advisor.
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    ARTICLE II - SERVICE POINTS

    Section 1:  PARTICIPATION:

    Every member must complete 10 service points per semester which include:

    Community Service

    Community service hours must have signed verification from the person in charge of the organization or service event or from an AGS officer.   Volunteer work off campus -  Maximum 20 hours per semester

    AGS Service

    Fundraising

    Government/Officers

    Meetings/Conferences/Events

    Office Work

    Publicity

    Section 2:

    All other service point areas not listed are determined by the Executive Board and must receive prior approval.  Any and all service points awarded are subject to approval by the Executive Board.

    ARTICLE III - Inactive Members

    Section 1:  How a member becomes Inactive

    1. Members who do not receive the required number of  service points in a semester shall be designated Inactive Members.
    2. Members who sign up to attend a conference may be subsidized part of the cost by AGS.  They should make every effort to attend.  If they do not attend the conference, then they must reimburse AGS the registration fees that AGS paid for them.  The member is designated Inactive until they reimburse AGS. 
    3. Members who owe AGS money may be designated Inactive after a majority vote of the Executive Board.

    Section 2:  Consequences of being designated an Inactive Member

    ARTICLE IV - Membership Dues 

    All members must pay dues every semester to be considered members of the Sigma Psi Chapter of AGS.  Dues are:

    End of AGS Constitution

    Torch

    Tips for AGS Officers

    Sigma Psi Chapter - Cypress College

    Work with your members

    1. Get freshmen and new students involved as quickly as possible.
    2. Pursue a number of activities which have support from the membership. Encourage imagination.
    3. Convey enthusiasm.
    4.  Define goals of the chapter and of individual programs. Keep in touch with those goals throughout the semester.
    5. Always thank members for their help, show your appreciation.
    6. Develop a good working relationship with all the other officers. If a problem develops, work it out honestly and with the good of the chapter in mind.
    7. Clarify the rights and privileges of permanent members in your bylaws. May they hold office, vote? No.

    Cooperate with other officers

    1. Encourage outgoing executive officers to communicate to the new team their experience, their problems, and their suggestions.
    2. Give new officers a written description of their jobs.
    3.  Promptly setup task oriented committees with adequate information and authority.  Example: Newsletter committee.
    1. Prepare their programs with a timetable approved by the officers.
    2. Work closely and continually with committee chairmen.
    3. Publicize committee activities and accomplishments in meetings and communications.
    1. Prepare agendas for all meetings and carefully follow them. Committee chairs should have the privilege of making their own reports.
    2. Plan meetings well, begin promptly and keep them short.
    3. Develop a good working relationship with all the other officers. If a problem develops, work it out honestly and promptly with the good of the chapter in mind.

    Keep people informed

    Internal Communication

    1. Prepare an agenda ahead of time for each meeting and then keep on file with the minutes for that meeting
    2. Review the minutes of each meeting at the next meeting for corrections.
    3. Take the time and effort to keep fully informed.
    4. Post activities and agendas on a bulletin board to help keep the less active members involved.   A regular newsletter also works well.
    5. Promptly post minutes on the AGS web site.

    External Publicity.

    1. Inform the faculty of your existence, then they will be willing to help when called upon.
    2. Get information about the chapter activities into the college newspaper and web site.
    3. Identify AGS with a sign or banner at any activity in which the chapter is involved.
    4. Keep the AGS web site current.

    Work within the system

    1. Seek to keep your advisor fully informed.
    2. Trust your advisor's judgment since he/she probably has more experience.
    3. Try to profit from the experience of other chapters. Since conferences are the best place to do that, attend, share your experiences openly, and listen with imagination.
    4. Keep track of you  chapter obligations to the statewide organization and meet their deadlines..
    (Source:  1996 AGS Handbook)
    Update 12/6/2006
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