PITT CHAPTER OF TRIANGLE FRATERNITY

CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS

Statement of Intentions

Revised:  March 30, 1996
Version: 1.0
Printed:  June 22, 2000

PREFACE
This document is intended to explain the logic and reasoning behind the chosen wording, and intentions of, the revised Pitt Chapter Constitution and Bylaws.  Each Part, Article, and Section will be given an explanatory paragraph.  Hopefully the intent of this document will be kept intact by those who modify the constitution in the future.  Such changes should avoid, at all costs, from turning the chapter away from the core ideals of TRIANGLE FRATERNITY, as expressed in the Ritual, which bind our Brotherhood together.

The initiative that led to the decision to revise the Pitt Constitution started with the formation of a committee to define the alumni officer duties at the Homecoming Corporation Meeting in October 1994.  The committee quickly found that the officer duties defined in the chapter constitution were vague almost to the point of uselessness.  Supporting documentation outside of the constitution was practically non-existent.  At this point, the committee adopted the additional task to revise the constitution in order to add more definite alumni officer duties, make the language more consistent and easier to read, and to repair a number of obvious errors.  The initial deadline for this work was the Corporation Meeting at Homecoming in October 1995.

The initial revisions left most of the existing document intact.  However, as the deadline came close, it became apparent that minor cosmetic changes would not be sufficient, and that a full fledged revision could not be completed in time.  Rather than approving a half-done project, the decision was made to make minor necessary changes and extend the deadline in order to allow for a large-scale review and revision of the document.  The new deadline was established as the Founders' Day Corporation Meeting in 1996. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The following people should be recognized for their help, opinions, and aid in completing this project: 
The Alumni Goals Committee 
Darryl Breitenstein, James Christman, Eugene Hendricks, Jason Mueller, and James Karn.
The brothers of the Pitt chapter, including especially Antonio Antario, James Bibel, Brian Hogue, Adam Jewell, Ted Kostek, Charles Maher, Robert Petrick, Robert Rose, Leonard Rosol, Brian Snyder, and Mark Starkman.
And others 
Al Evon for supplying me with supporting documents, commentary, and willingness to lend an ear to my ideas.
Mark Snyder of the Minnesota chapter for sending a copy of their chapter constitution.
Timothy Eiler, Robert Hamlett, Merle Newlon, Robert Sharp and Jeff Scott for their insightful commentary on various subjects that I was able to read on the Triangle e-mail net.
Jim Fay for the "15 Principles of Conscious Decision Making".
Kevin Fong for making the Triangle e-mail net possible.  It has been a lifesaver.

And finally, I wish to thank my big brother, Bernard Janoss, for teaching me that you get from TRIANGLE in proportion to what you put into it.

- Kurt Over
  Chairman, Alumni Goals Committee

PHILOSOPHY
The core ideals of TRIANGLE Fraternity are expressed in its Ritual and member Oath.  An external representation of these values is the Code of Ethics, which should guide the conduct of all members.  Furthermore, the precepts of TRIANGLE should guide all chapter activities and programs.  These activities should further the ideals and objectives of TRIANGLE whenever possible.

As a basis for the operation of the chapter, there are three basic requirements which must be met:
1.	All members must agree on what the unchangeable core values are, and what they mean;
2.	The entire membership must agree to follow and enforce the rules of the chapter, otherwise this document is meaningless; and
3.	The members of the chapter must be proactive and take initiative to support communications within and outside the chapter organization.

GENERAL FORMAT
The constitution is divided into three parts with separate bylaws for each part.  This is done to separate the functional areas of the chapter.  Part I defines the overall chapter structure at the corporate level and defines the rules that apply equally to the corporate and sub-organizations; such as meeting requirements, membership rules, and so forth.  Part II defines the alumni organization and its structure.  Part III defines the active organization and its structure.  The articles of the constitution are fairly broad and flexible.  The bylaws are designed to supply the necessary detail concerning officer duties, responsibilities, and other procedures that may be subject to change without affecting the actual structure and objectives of the Pitt Chapter.  Each part is constructed similarly to the other parts so as to promote easy understanding of the organization's functioning and how it relates to the other parts of the chapter.

Each part of the Pitt Chapter has its own objectives, officers, and responsibilities.  One of the goals of the revision was to clearly separate the corporate and alumni level functions.  The Active Organization should in all ways be considered an equal of the Alumni Organization, and vice-versa. 

FORMAT OF COMMENTARY
The various sections of the constitution will be listed in order, with full titles as they appear in the actual document.  Underneath each section, commentary on the intention of said section will be added.  The commentary will be in italic print so that it can be easily differentiated from the text of the constitution itself.  Please note that italic print is used in a few places within the constitution when outside publications are referred to.  Note that not all sections are commented on since they are considered to be clear in their intention as they are written.

PITT CHAPTER OF TRIANGLE CONSTITUTION

PART I - GENERAL AND THE CORPORATION

ARTICLE 1 -  NAME AND OBJECTIVE

Section 1	This organization shall be known and designated as "The University of Pittsburgh Chapter of Triangle," hereafter known as the "Pitt Chapter," by virtue of the charter granted to it on April 4, 1970, by TRIANGLE, a National Fraternity of Engineers, Architects, and Scientists.
This defines the legal name of the chapter as it is incorporated, and also signifies that the document will use "Pitt Chapter" to indicate the Corporation in the document.  "Corporation" is also used to refer to the chapter in places where there might be confusion between the Corporation and the sub-organizations of the Chapter.

Section 2	The objectives of the Pitt Chapter shall be the objectives of TRIANGLE, as stated in the TRIANGLE NATIONAL CONSTITUTION.  It shall carry out its objectives by maintaining a chapter of TRIANGLE, a fraternity home for its members at the University of Pittsburgh, and programs for individual membership development.
The objectives of the chapter are the same as the goals of Triangle Fraternity.  This is carried out by the existence of the chapter house, and the chapter's programs.  Care must be taken to ensure that chapter programs follow and reinforce the core ideals of TRIANGLE.	

Section 3	Any section or bylaw of this constitution not in accord with the National Constitution or Ritual of Triangle  shall be void, and shall be immediately amended as provided for in the appropriate articles of this constitution.
The national documents of Triangle Fraternity supersede this constitution in all cases that they come into conflict.

Section 4	Any section or bylaw of this constitution not in accord with the laws of the State of Pennsylvania shall be void, and shall be immediately amended as provided for in the appropriate articles of this constitution.

Section 5	The Pitt Chapter shall not condone, tolerate, or permit; hazing, the performance of any act that violates any federal, state, or local statute, or university policy, or encouraging another to perform an act that may cause or create a risk to physical or mental health.
No hazing.  And no toleration of hazing by other members regardless of the circumstances.  Additionally, a no-hazing declaration should be reviewed by the membership on an annual basis.

Section 6	The Pitt Chapter shall not tolerate the abuse of alcohol or drugs and will observe all relevant state and local statutes, and follow any relevant rules set by the University of Pittsburgh and the National Office of TRIANGLE.
The chapter and its members are subject to state and local laws concerning use of alcohol and drugs.  This includes university alcohol policies affecting student organizations.

Section 7	The Pitt Chapter shall not condone, tolerate, or permit the theft of, or possession of, articles stolen from other TRIANGLE chapters and other fraternal organizations.
The members of the chapter will not steal objects from other chapters.  The Chapter will not tolerate objects being stolen from it.  This also applies to fraternities other than Triangle.  The theft of other chapter's possessions is a violation of the Triangle Ritual and Code of Ethics.

Section 8	The Pitt Chapter will not discriminate because of age, race, religion, national origin, personal beliefs, or physical disability.

ARTICLE 2 - MEMBERSHIP

Section 1	The members of the Pitt Chapter shall be all men who have been regularly initiated into the Chapter, Pledges, and all Honorary, Associate, and Affiliated members of the Chapter, as defined in Article 3 of the National Constitution of TRIANGLE,  and such Alumni members of other chapters of TRIANGLE who have displayed an interest in the objectives and purposes of the Pitt Chapter.
Note that pledges are included as members of the chapter.  They have full rights except as limited per the National Constitution (Bylaws Article 1, Section 1, Para 3a).  Alumni members of other Triangle chapters should be welcome to become involved with the Pitt chapter and extended voting privileges if they show interest in taking part in chapter activities.

Section 2	In terms of this constitution, all members are considered in good standing unless they have had specific privileges revoked by disciplinary action of the Alumni Organization or Active Organization.
Voting and other privileges may be rescinded due to disciplinary action.  Such action may be brought about due to overdue bills, inappropriate behavior, and other reasons.  The Bylaws to Part I  establish a judicial process to be used in such cases.  The Corporation's Board of Directors has judicial power over activities occurring at Corporate events or beyond the scope of an individual sub-organization.  The Active Organization has a Judicial Committee defined in its bylaws.  Disciplinary action by the Alumni Organization is carried out at Alumni Meetings by the entire membership.
 
Section 3	The Active Organization shall include all members of the Pitt Chapter who are enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh as undergraduates, or are graduate students who have been granted active status.
The TRIANGLE National Constitution provides for a mechanism by which graduate students may remain or become active members (Bylaws Article 1, Section 1, Para 1a and Para 6).  Otherwise, only enrolled undergraduate students are members of the Active Organization. 

Section 4	The Alumni Organization shall include all members of the Pitt Chapter who are not members of the Active Organization.
The Alumni Organization membership is composed by default of all those who are not members of the Active Organization.  Inclusion of non-Pitt alumni as members of the Alumni Organization also occurs by default since they are obviously not members of the Active Organization.

Section 5	At the time of his initiation each member shall sign a promissory note for a total value of $150.00 to be paid in six (6) annual installments of $25.00.  The first installment shall become due on October 1 of the first full year following his graduation. Payment of 5/6 of the total ($125.00) within one calendar year of the first installment due date shall be considered full payment of said obligations.  The note will be administered by the Treasurer of the Corporation.  Interest of 6% per annum shall be applied to any unpaid balance commencing upon the sixth anniversary of the first installment becoming due.
This is intended to provide a source of steady income to the Pitt Chapter to be used for funding of chapter newsletters and events.  The notes do not become due until after a member has graduated, and are spread over a period of six years.  Alumni support of the chapter should be expected and hopefully consistent.

Section 6	All members are expected to have a working knowledge of, and abide by, this constitution, the National Constitution of TRIANGLE,  the Ritual of TRIANGLE, the TRIANGLE Code of Ethics, and Robert's Rules of Order.
A consistent problem has occurred with the membership being unaware of and unfamiliar with the documents governing chapter operations, meetings, and the conduct of members.  Chapter programs should educate and refresh member's knowledge of the content, meaning and application of the listed documents in order to reinforce the fraternal bonds.

ARTICLE 3 - ORGANIZATION

Section 1	The Pitt Chapter shall consist of an Alumni Organization, as described in Part II of this constitution, and an Active Organization, as described in Part III of this constitution.
The Pitt Chapter in incorporated as a whole (The Corporation).  Within it are two separate sub-organizations; the Alumni Organization and the Active Organization.  Each sub-organization has its own duties, officers, and goals.  The major relationships and lines of communication between the two sub-organizations are defined in the constitution.

Section 2	The government of the Pitt Chapter shall be vested in a Board of Directors as described in this constitution.
The Board of Directors is generally the highest authority within the Pitt Chapter.  It can only be overruled by the membership in a Corporation Meeting.  Important day-to-day operations of the chapter are their major responsibility along with coordination of the Chapter's activities.

Section 3	The Pitt Chapter shall be incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  If the corporate name of the Pitt Chapter differs from its fraternal name, the corporate name shall be used in legal matters only.  The Board of Directors shall serve as the officers of the Corporation.
The designation "Pitt Chapter" and "Corporation" are used interchangeably here to indicate the same body in order to avoid confusion.  The president of the Active Organization is often referred to as the "President of the Pitt Chapter" in correspondence.  Therefore the term "Corporation" is used in reference to the officers serving on the Board of Directors.

Section 4	The Pitt Chapter shall be governed according to this constitution, and according to its legal contracts.

ARTICLE 4 - OFFICERS

Section 1	The Board of Directors shall consist of seven (7) members; the President, Treasurer, Vice-president of Communications, an at-large member of the Alumni Organization, and the President, Treasurer, and an at-large member of the Active Organization.
The board consists of four alumni and three actives with the alumni holding a minimal majority.  At-large membership is provided so that members not otherwise serving as major officers of the sub-organizations may serve at the corporate level.  Furthermore, it allows for involvement by members who will not have major duties to perform at other levels and thus can focus on working at the corporate level.  Non-officer participants may also alleviate beliefs that the Chapter is being run at all levels by a small "clique" of members.

Section 2	The President of the Alumni Organization shall be the Chairman of the Board of Directors, and shall be the President of the Corporation.  The Treasurer of the Alumni Organization shall be the Treasurer of the Corporation.  The Vice-president of Communications of the Alumni Organization shall be the Secretary of the Corporation.  The President of the Active Organization shall be the Vice-president of the Corporation.  The Treasurer of the Active Organization shall be the Assistant Treasurer of the Corporation.
Here again "Corporation" is substituted for the otherwise used "Pitt Chapter" in order to avoid possible confusion.  Corporate level titles and duties roughly correspond to the officer duties of the officer's position in the respective sub-organization.

Section 3	Each member of the Board of Directors shall hold office until his successor is elected and qualified.  If a vacancy occurs, a successor shall be chosen according to the procedures established in Part II and Part III of this constitution concerning the replacement of alumni or active organization officers.
Officer succession to the Board of Directors is controlled by the appropriate sub-organization since Board of Director members are not elected directly at the Corporation level.

Section 4	A majority of the Board of Directors may meet any time to carry out the business of the Pitt Chapter and other duties of the Board as specified in the bylaws to Part I of this constitution.
The Board of Directors is allowed great leeway in how it meets in order to carry out chapter business and its defined duties.  The methods used should be by common agreement of the Board members, but are not strictly defined; e.g. telephone conferences or circular petitions can be allowed at the board's discretion.

ARTICLE 5 - AMENDMENTS

Section 1	Any amendments to Part I of this constitution shall be submitted in writing at any Corporation Meeting.  The amendment must be submitted by either the Alumni Organization, or the Active Organization, with recommendation for approval.
Amendments may not be made directly at a Corporation Meeting.  An amendment will have to be proposed, and accepted, by one of the sub-organizations.  This prevents spurious changes to the constitution and provides safeguards concerning approval of changes.          

Section 2	Amendments shall be adopted if they receive the favorable vote of three-fourths of the members in good standing present at a Corporation Meeting.
Members not in good standing have lost their voting privileges and shall not be counted.  This is an added incentive promoting proper conduct as a member of TRIANGLE.

Section 3	Amendments to Part I of this constitution shall be reported in writing by the Secretary of the Corporation to the National Office of TRIANGLE and all members of the Board of Directors, within one week of adoption by the Pitt Chapter.
Modifications are to be reported in a timely manner to the National Office.  They keep copies of all chapter constitutions on file.  National Council also has the right to and  review any chapter's constitution to verify it is in accord with the National Constitution of Triangle.

ARTICLE 6 -  BYLAWS

Section 1	Amendments to the bylaws to Part I of this constitution shall be adopted if they receive the favorable vote of two-thirds of the members in good standing present at a Corporation Meeting, or the unanimous approval of the Board of Directors.
Note that the Board of Directors can amend the bylaws if necessary.  Such an amendment can be overturned by a Court of Appeals at the next Corporation Meeting following the amendment being made.

Section 2	Amendments to the Bylaws of Part I of this constitution shall be reported in writing by the Secretary of the Corporation  to the National Office of TRIANGLE and all members of the Board of Directors, within one week of adoption by the Pitt Chapter.
Requirement for timely notification of amendments as in Article 5 above.

ARTICLE 7 - REGULATIONS

Section 1	Standing rules and regulations of the Pitt Chapter may be made or amended by a majority vote of those members in good standing present at a Corporation Meeting, or the favorable vote of two-thirds of the Board of Directors at a meeting of the Board of Directors.
Rules and regulations are similar to bylaws, but are easier to create and amend.  Once again, the Board of Directors may make rules and regulations if necessary.  Note that the 2/3 vote is of the entire Board of Directors, not just the members present at the Board Meeting.

Section 2	All standing rules and regulations of the Pitt Chapter shall be recorded and maintained by the Secretary of the Corporation.  A list of regulations concerning the Corporation shall be available at all Corporation Meetings.
The current rules and regulations must be available for reference by any member.  This prevents lack of knowledge about applicable rules and the creation of contradictory rules.  Standing rules cannot be used to supersede bylaws or articles of  the constitution.

BYLAWS TO PART I - GENERAL AND CORPORATION BYLAWS

ARTICLE 1 - OFFICER DUTIES

Section 1	The Board of Directors shall carry out the following duties:
1.	Act as administrators of the Pitt Chapter;
2.	Carry out all matters concerning the real property of the chapter, including the paying of taxes, insurance, and other similar expenses;
3.	Act as custodian of the real property of the Pitt Chapter, including the registration, storage, and review of all housing contracts;
4.	Act as legal representatives of the Pitt Chapter, including legal action to collect debt owed to either the Alumni Organization or Active Organization of the Pitt Chapter;
5.	Govern ALL questions not specifically delegated to the Alumni Organization or Active Organization of the Pitt Chapter by this constitution, which shall include acting as a judicial board in disciplinary matters beyond the scope of either the Alumni Organization or the Active Organization;
6.	Make a complete report of the status of the Pitt Chapter at each Founders' Day Corporation Meeting; and
7.	Authorize disbursement of funds for the preparation and mailing of all Pitt Chapter newsletters.
The Board of Directors is given broad powers in control of the chapter property, as legal representatives, and to govern unusual situations beyond the scope of the sub-organizations.  The Board of Directors is accountable to the Corporation membership only, even though the individual members of the board are accountable to the sub-organization to which they belong.

Section 2	The President of the Corporation shall carry out the following duties:
1.	Represent the chapter in ceremonial functions, and meetings with outside organizations;
2.	Act as Chairman of the Board of Directors;
3.	Act as presiding officer at all Corporation Meetings and Board of Director meetings;
4.	Sign legal documents of the Pitt Chapter as directed by the Board of Directors;
5.	Install the officers of the Active Organization at the Founders' Day banquet;
6.	Deliver the National President of TRIANGLE's annual message at the Founders' Day banquet; and
7.	Act as a coordinator to ensure the smooth functioning of the Pitt Chapter.
The President is the chief ceremonial officer of the chapter.  He is also at the level of ultimate responsibility in the entire chapter as well.  He is required to meld a group of individuals into the cohesive and effective whole needed for chapter operations.

Section 3	The Vice-president of the Corporation shall carry out the following duties:
1.	Assist the President of the Corporation in the carrying out of his duties; and
2.	Act as the primary liaison between the Board of Directors and the Active Organization.
This position is to provide aid to the president, and as a learning experience to help the Active Organization President be more effective at his other duties.  Direct, open, and effective communication is a key to keeping the chapter proactive rather than reactive.

Section 4	The Treasurer of the Corporation shall carry out the following duties:
1.	Maintain custody of all funds and securities of the Pitt Chapter;
2.	Keep regular books of account for the Pitt Chapter, the records of which shall be kept for at least seven (7) years;
3.	Sign legal documents of the Pitt Chapter as directed by the Board of Directors;
4.	Make a complete financial report at each Corporation Meeting;
5.	File all state and federal tax forms on an annual basis, and send a copy of said forms to the National Office;
6.	Maintain the tax-exempt status of the Pitt Chapter;
7.	Preparation of the Pitt Chapter budget;
8.	Oversee the distribution of Pitt Chapter funds; and
9.	Maintain custody of all housing contracts signed by residents of the chapter house.
This position is vital to chapter operations.  Most of the finances in the chapter flow from rent collection to paying taxes, insurance, and BLF loans.  Proper filing of taxes, preparation of budgets, and efficient collections are all basic operations needed for chapter survival.

Section 5	The Assistant Treasurer of the Corporation shall carry out the following duties:
1.	Assist the Treasurer of the Corporation in the completion of his duties;
2.	Preparation of all housing contracts; and
3.	Collection of house rent and housing deposits from persons contracting to live in the chapter house.
Similar to the Vice-president above, this position is to act as an aid to the primary officer and to learn effective methods and practices from that officer.  The position is a vital part in the flow of finances through the Chapter.

Section 6	The Secretary of the Corporation shall carry out the following duties:
1.	Record the minutes at all Corporation Meetings and Board of Directors meetings;
2.	Maintain a "To Do" list of tasks assigned at Corporation Meetings and Board of Director Meetings;
3.	Issue notice for all Corporation Meetings;
4.	Provide copies of Corporation Meeting minutes to all members of the Board of Directors, the National Office, and post a copy in the chapter house, within two weeks of each meeting; and
5.	Act as ultimate authority over the creation, distribution, and content of Pitt Chapter newsletters.
Good record keeping is vital to maintaining continuity in the chapter.  Overall control of newsletter production is also anchored at this position to ensure that it is carried out.  Communication with chapter alumni and the National Office is an important chapter function.

Section 7	The Chapter Auditor shall audit the books of the Pitt Chapter, Alumni Organization, and Active Organization on at least a semiannual basis.  The Chapter Auditor cannot be an officer of the fraternity who is authorized to sign checks for the Pitt Chapter or either of the sub-organizations.  He shall report his findings to the Board of Directors.
Independent auditing of the books is a good business practice.  An independent agency would be best, but would probably not be feasible in an economic sense.  Please note that this position does not have to be appointed to an alumnus member, or even a member of Triangle Fraternity.

Section 8	The Chapter Editor shall oversee the creation and distribution of the chapter newsletter, the Golden Triangle.  He shall also solicit articles for submission from the members and officers of the Pitt Chapter.  He shall report to the Secretary of the Corporation.
Even though the Corporation Secretary has ultimate authority over newsletters a person shall be appointed to oversee actual collection and publication of articles.  Please note that an alumnus is not required for this position.

Section 9	The Chapter Historian shall collect memorabilia, photographs, and other data relating to the activities of the Pitt Chapter.  The collected data is to be preserved and used to keep the chapter history up to date.
Collection, collation, and proper storage of chapter history is deemed important enough to deserve an appointed office at the corporate level.  The chapter has suffered from a lack of continuity in the past as membership has dwindled to low points.  Little is known about certain periods of chapter history, and most of the current history is verbal and quickly lost as members graduate.

Section 10	The officers of the Pitt Chapter and its subsidiary organizations serve at the request of, and as a result of election by, the membership of the Pitt Chapter, and assume no personal responsibility for the debts and obligations of the Pitt Chapter as a result of their service or the execution by them of documents in behalf of the Pitt Chapter.  The Pitt Chapter, its creditors, and its assignees shall have no claim against the personal assets of the officers, individually or severally, except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction shall determine that such officers have incurred a liability by reason of fraud, deliberate and willful misconduct, or mismanagement so gross as to constitute fraud.
This clause protects the individual officers from personal liability for chapter activities.  The chapter's liability insurance provides additional protection as well.

ARTICLE 2 -  COMMITTEES AND APPOINTED OFFICES

Section 1	The two at-large members of the Board of Directors will be elected by their respective organizations at the same time as the regular officer elections are held.
The Alumni and Active Organization at-large members can be installed upon election.  Since their duties are variable there is no training period established for the positions requiring a wait previous to installation. 

Section 2	The Board of Directors shall appoint a person to serve as the Chapter Auditor for the term of one calendar year at the Founders' Day Corporation Meeting.
The Chapter Auditor position appointment is staggered from alumni officer elections by a period of about six months.  Making the appointment immediately after the elections at Homecoming does not allow sufficient time for review of candidates and selection to take place.

Section 3	The Board of Directors shall appoint a person to serve as the Chapter Editor for the term of one calendar year at the Founders' Day Corporation Meeting.
This is similar to the Chapter Auditor in Section 2 above.

Section 4	The Board of Directors may appoint a person to serve as Chapter Historian for the term of one calendar year at the Founders' Day Corporation Meeting. 
This is similar to the Chapter Auditor in Section 2 above.

Section 5	The Board of Directors shall appoint a House Committee to oversee the normal maintenance of chapter property, and to plan and implement major improvements to the chapter property.  The Vice-president of the Physical Plant of the Alumni Organization shall be the chairman of the committee.  The House Manager of the Active Organization shall be the vice-chairman of the committee.
The House Committee is intended to facilitate the planning of house improvements.  It is a corporate level group that is chaired by an alumni officer.  It shall have active representation in order to draw on their knowledge as residents, and the realization that they will probably provide a great deal of the manpower in carrying out improvement work.  The committee should work to ensure that physical operation of the chapter house continues in a smooth manner.

Section 6	When acting as a Judicial Committee, a minimum of six (6) members of the Board of Directors must be present.  If members of the Board of Directors are ineligible to serve due to direct involvement, then sufficient additional Pitt Chapter members shall be appointed to the Judicial Committee so that six (6) members shall serve on the committee.
A judicial investigation at the Corporation level requires at least six members be present on the committee.  Since there is an eligibility requirement to keep the committee impartial (hopefully), the clause provides for the appointment of additional members to the investigation if the situation requires it.

Section 7	Additional appointed positions, committees, and committee members may be appointed, or removed, at any time by a majority of the Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors is granted the power to delegate such authority as it sees necessary in order to flexibly carry out its defined duties.

ARTICLE 3 - MEETINGS

Section 1	The order of business at any meeting of the Pitt Chapter, Alumni Organization, or Active Organization shall be prepared by the presiding officer, making due allowance for the repetition of the Triangle Oath, roll call, officer reports, committee reports, old business, new business, petitions for admittance of new members, and submission of amendments to the constitution and bylaws.
Agendas should be used for all meetings.  If  the normal presiding officer will not be present at the meeting then he should still arrange for an agenda to have been prepared for use by the substitute who will preside at the meeting.

Section 2	All meetings shall be conducted according to Robert's Rules of Order, in which the same does not conflict with this constitution or the National Constitution of TRIANGLE.
Robert's Rules should be used to handle all details that are not defined in the National Constitution and this document.  Strict enforcement of the rules is up to the presiding officer, and cooperation of the chapter membership is necessary in order to have smooth and effective meetings.  It must be remembered at all times that the rules exist so that the minority may be heard, but the majority is allowed to prevail.

Section 3	No less than two (2) Corporation Meetings shall be held each year, one during Homecoming weekend, the other during Founders' Day weekend.  The meetings will be held at a time designated by the Board of Directors, at the Chapter House.
The two Corporation meetings are held about six months apart and coincide with the two events most likely to draw a maximum number of alumni members.  Beyond this, meeting times and the holding of further Corporation Meetings are at the discretion of the Board of Directors.  Please also note that the status of the chapter is reported at the Founders' Day meeting and alumni officer elections are held in conjunction with the meeting at Homecoming.

Section 4	Special Corporation Meetings shall be called at the discretion of the President of the Corporation, or upon written request of ten (10) members in good standing of the Pitt Chapter to the Board of Directors.
Such a special meeting should be limited to the business at hand and not expanded to deal with normal business that is dealt with at the regular Corporation Meetings.  The meeting time and date are set by the President of the Corporation.

Section 5	At least seven (7) days notice shall be given to all members of the Board of Directors for all Corporation Meetings.
While technically only the members of the Board of Directors have to be given notification of meetings, wider notification should be attempted if possible.  Meeting schedules should be printed in the chapter newsletter, sent out via e-mail, phone calls, and whatever other means that can be reasonably used to inform chapter members of regular and special meetings.

Section 6	A quorum at any Corporation Meeting shall consist of a minimum of ten (10) members represented in person.  These members must include at least four (4) members of the Board of Directors.  All members in good standing of the Pitt Chapter shall have voting rights at any Corporation Meeting.  Proxy votes will not be allowed at Corporation Meetings.
Quorum is set at ten to prevent chapter business from being controlled by a small number of members and to act as an incentive for keeping alumni involved in chapter activities.  A majority of the Board of Directors should be present as well.  Note that a loophole exists where ten can be present but less than ten are in good standing and hold voting privileges.  Proxy votes are disallowed since there is massive space for abuse of this privilege unless serious controls are in place.  Whether or not some sort of proxy voting should be established for the chapter is an issue for future debate and decision. 

Section 7	At any Corporation Meeting, any decision made by the Board of Directors since the last Corporation Meeting, including amendments to the bylaws, may be reviewed by the Corporation using the Court of Appeals.  A three-fourths vote of the members in good standing present is required to overturn a decision of the Board of Directors.
The Court of Appeals is defined in detail in Robert's Rules.  It is explicitly stated here so that the membership will more easily become familiar with the concept.  The Court of Appeals has been used previously at National Conventions, and is entered as part of the agenda there.

Section 8	The Pitt Chapter budget for the following fiscal year shall be presented and approved at the Corporation Meeting held on Founders' Day.
The budgets for the Corporation, Alumni Organization, and Active Organization will probably all be prepared previous to this point due to the requirements needed for setting rent rates, signing housing contracts, and other necessities.  However, it will still need to be presented here since this is the closest Corporation Meeting to the actual budgeting period.

Section 9	Any members attending a meeting, event, or other activity are subject to the applicable standing rules of the organization sponsoring the activity.
Alumni attending active events are subject to the standing rules applying to the event as if they were members of the Active Organization, and vice-versa.  For example, if an active sponsored event was declared "dry" then alumni attending the event are not allowed to drink alcohol at the event.

ARTICLE 4 - CHAPTER ADVISORS

Section 1	Candidates for Chapter Advisor shall be selected by a majority vote of the Active Organization at an Active Meeting.
Chapter Advisors are a corporate level official since they deal with the whole chapter, not solely with the actives.  However, the actives are to make the initial selection since they will be dealing with the advisor in his official capacity (signing initiation requests among other things).  It is also desirable that the chapter advisor, if not already a member of Triangle, be initiated as an associate or honorary member if the advisor is qualified for membership.

Section 2	The Chapter Advisor(s) shall be approved by a majority vote of the alumni members in good standing present at an Alumni Meeting.
The actives select the advisor, but the alumni are allowed to approve or disapprove of the selection.  The advisor will be considered a member of the Alumni Organization, thus the alumni have some control in who is selected.

Section 3	Removal of a Chapter Advisor shall be accomplished by a two-thirds vote of the alumni members in good standing present at an Alumni Meeting.
The alumni are also allowed to remove a chapter advisor.  Note however that it requires a larger majority than the approval vote.  Removal of a Chapter Advisor is a serious decision.

Section 4	The Chapter Advisor(s) shall be treated as an ex-officio member of the Pitt Chapter and shall have voting rights at all Alumni and Corporation Meetings.
The advisor is a member of the Alumni Organization by right of his selection as chapter advisor.  This applies even if the advisor is not a member of Triangle Fraternity.  The advisor shall also count for quorum requirements.

ARTICLE 5 - FUNDS

Section 1	The Board of Directors shall have the authority to assess the Active Organization and Alumni Organization such assessments as may be seen necessary for conducting the activities of the Pitt Chapter.  These amounts are to be set as an annual assessment by December 15 of each year, so that the respective sub-organizations may make appropriate arrangements in their budgetary process.
Even though the budget is not approved until Founders' Day the annual assessment amount must be set by the middle of December.  The current equivalent of this is the setting of the 'rent' payment to be made each month from the Active Organization to the Alumni Organization.  Under the revised constitution the monies will go from the Active Organization up to the Corporate accounts for payment of rent, taxes, insurance and other chapter needs.  Assessing the Alumni Organization at the current time is difficult since the Alumni Organization has no working mechanism in place to generate a dependable stream of income that could be used to meet such assessments were they to be made.  Note that the Board of Directors can not assess members directly, it can only assess the sub-organizations for funds.  The lone exception would be a fine levied by the Board of Directors while acting as a judicial committee.

Section 2	The Alumni Organization shall have the authority to assess, collect, and disburse such fees, dues, and assessments from its members as may be seen necessary for conducting the activities of the Alumni Organization.
This empowers the Alumni Organization to charge dues if it so desires.  Note that the installment note program is at the Corporate level and its income goes directly to the Pitt Chapter.

Section 3	The Active Organization shall have the authority to assess, collect, and disburse such fees, dues, and assessments from its members as may be seen necessary for conducting the activities of the Active Organization.
The Active Organization is also empowered to assess and collect dues.  Nothing new or out of the ordinary here.  Note that both this and the proceeding section limit assessments to its own members.  Assessment across the Active/Alumni boundary will require cooperation between the organizations, or intervention at the Pitt Chapter level.

ARTICLE 6 - REMOVAL OF OFFICERS

An officer of the Alumni Organization or Active Organization may be removed using the following procedure:
1.	A motion to remove the officer is brought and seconded at an Alumni Meeting or Active Meeting, as is appropriate.
2.	A non-debated vote is held whether to discuss the motion.
3.	If a majority favors discussion, then discussion is held.  The member making the motion shall have the floor first.  The officer being discussed, if present, shall have the floor second.
4.	 Upon completion of discussion, the motion will be automatically tabled until the next meeting of the organization.
5.	At the next meeting of the organization, the motion to remove the officer shall be an item of Old Business.  If a motion to bring the question off the table is made, seconded, and passed by majority vote, the discussion is reopened.  The officer being discussed, if present, shall have the floor first.
6.	When the question is voted upon, a three-fourths vote of the members in good standing present is necessary to remove the officer in question.  The vote shall be taken by roll call, and the result shall take effect immediately.
7.	Any removed officer shall be replaced as specified in the appropriate section of this constitution.
Officer removal is a serious subject.  It is hoped that this article is never used, but it is provided so that a mechanism is in place if a situation requiring it does occur.  This prevents charges of bias and disagreement about due process at that time.  The procedure itself allows for discussion of the issue over two meetings, offers the officer in question the opportunity to defend himself, and provides for a interim time period for non-meeting discussion, preparation and notification of members that the issue is taking place.  The final vote is taken by roll call so that the resultant decision of the chapter is clear to all.  The issue should not be settled by hidden ballot, and those who carry out vendettas based upon the results of such a vote are only proving that they were unworthy of holding the office they were removed from.

ARTICLE 7 - JUDICIAL PROCESS

Section 1	Each part of the Pitt Chapter shall have an established judicial committee.  The Board of Directors will act as the judicial committee of the Corporation.  The entire alumni membership present at an Alumni Meeting shall act as the judicial committee of the Alumni Organization, unless the membership elects to form a special committee to carry out this duty.  A judicial committee will be selected for the Active Organization by the Executive Board of the Active Organization.
Like officer removal, judicial proceedings will hopefully not be needed.  However, a process has been defined for use if necessary.  Each of the three parts of the chapter has its own judicial committee that can investigate petitions for disciplinary action.  The Corporation and Active Organization level both have a specific group of members appointed for this purpose.  The Alumni Organization is allowed to act as a "committee of the whole" or to appoint a committee as needed.  The alumni meet often enough to allow this to work while the Corporation meetings are too far apart.  The Active Organization has a committee so that investigations can be held guaranteeing some privacy.

Section 2	Any member of the Pitt Chapter may present a petition to the appropriate body, signed by at least four members in good standing, charging another member with being remiss or negligent in his responsibilities as a member, or duties and responsibilities as an officer.  The petition must phrase the charges in terms of violations of the articles and bylaws of this constitution.
The Judicial Committee never meets unless there is a petition for it to investigate.  Note that the violations can include non-payment of bills or failure to carry out house duties since these are part of the listed membership responsibilities.  Also note that a petition to the Active Organization Judicial Committee can be signed by both active and alumni members who are in good standing.  This also applies for petitions to the Alumni Organization.

Section 3	The appropriate Judicial Committee shall investigate all such petitions.   If a member of the Judicial Committee in question is the member so charged, or if a member of the Judicial Committee is a member that signed the petition, then the member shall be deemed ineligible to serve, and replaced by an alternate for the purposes of investigating that petition.  If the normal chair of the committee is ineligible to serve at that time, then the committee shall elect a temporary chairman from its members.
The idea is that a representative group of the membership give fair hearing to the charges without dragging the entire affair out in front of the entire membership in a regular meeting.  Hopefully, most of these matters can be settled quietly without undue rancor.  Alternates are provided for in case committee members are directly involved in the dispute.  The hearing should be held in a closed setting.

Section 4	Upon investigating the charge, the Judicial Committee shall render a decision by majority vote.  If the decision is that the charge is true, they may impose one or more of the following penalties:
1.	Verbal reprimand or censure.
2.	Fine not to exceed $25.00.
3.	Suspension of social and/or voting privileges for up to four months.
4.	In the case of an officer, they may request his resignation.
5.	If the violation or actions are deemed serious enough that greater penalties should be considered, such as full suspension or expulsion, then the committee shall recommend such penalties to the parent organization for action. 
Censure is a statement of public criticism.  The punishment should be announced and recorded at the next meeting along with the pertinent parts of the charges filed in the petition.  Serious violations are to be passed back up to the entire membership by the committee since major penalties require the entire membership to enact.

Section 5	All evidence collected and testimony taken by a Judicial Committee during its investigation is to be held confidential.  However, if the committee's decision is appealed then the findings of the committee are to be released for examination by the members of the organization.  The minutes of any hearings are to sealed and kept in a secure location by the chairman of the committee for a period of two years, after which the minutes should be destroyed.
Hearing minutes are to be kept private and confidential.  This protects the privacy of the member charged and any witnesses who testify.  However, the information should be made available to the general membership of the organization if the decision is being appealed to the membership, or if severe penalties are being recommended.  It is suggested that the hearings be tape recorded if possible as an addition to the recorded transcript and stored with the other hearing papers.

Section 6	The member so penalized has the right of appeal. The appeal will be made at the next meeting of the organization following the committee decision with the  membership acting as the Court of Appeals.  The decision may be overturned by a three-fourths vote of the members in good standing at the meeting.
If the decision is appealed then the minutes and testimony will be made available for all interested members to examine.  The appeal itself should be treated as a Court of Appeals section of  the meeting where the appeal is made.

ARTICLE 8 - EMERGENCY FUND

The Pitt Chapter shall establish and maintain an emergency fund to hold a financial reserve against future physical and financial needs of the Pitt Chapter and its property.  This fund will be governed by the following provisions:
1.	The fund shall be held or invested in a reasonably safe financial manner that is unanimously approved by the Board of Directors.  This form may include, but is not limited to, the following; bonds, mutual funds, and certificates of deposit.
2.	Distributions from the fund may only be made for specific repairs and renovations to the chapter house, and must receive the unanimous approval of the Board of Directors.
3.	Contributions to the fund will be made at the discretion of the Board of Directors, unless contributions are specified as a contribution to the Emergency Fund.
This establishes a chapter investment fund.  The need for such a fund should be obvious, and access to it should be limited so that none are tempted to use the funds unless the situation absolutely warrants it.

ARTICLE 9 - DEBT POLICY

Section 1	This article is intended as a general procedure to be followed by the Pitt Chapter officers in the handling of delinquent accounts.
Toleration of outstanding debt will not be allowed beyond the immediate and temporary financial problems of a member.  An individual in debt should be willing to sign promissory notes to guarantee repayment of the incurred debt, and cooperate with the chapter officers in settling debt issues.  Those who are not cooperative, or who continue to accumulate debt, are acting in an unbrotherly manner and shall not be dealt with in a lenient manner.  After a point, the chapter should be willing to use whatever legal means necessary to collect outstanding debts.  Uncollected debt is an unnecessary weight which can prove fatal to chapter operations.  "Sufficiently secured" is at the discretion of the financial officers who have charge of the debt in question, but it should minimally include the possession of a signed promissory note for the amount owed to the chapter.

Section 2	If a Triangle member fails to pay a debt to the Pitt Chapter by the deadline established then the following outline is to be followed by the appropriate chapter officer(s):
1.	The officer(s) shall contact the delinquent individual within one week after the deadline to obtain immediate payment in full, or to have the individual sign a promissory note for the amount of debt incurred.
2.	If the delinquent individual fails to meet the payment requirements of a promissory note, or refuses to sign a promissory note for incurred debt, or incurs additional unpaid debts then the Pitt Chapter and/or the affected sub-organization shall take appropriate action.  

Section 3	Appropriate actions for the Pitt Chapter, or its officers, to take in response to unsecured debt may include the following:
1.	Petition the appropriate Judicial Committee to investigate and take action, as unpaid debts are a violation of the responsibilities of members and the Code of Ethics.
2.	Make a motion in the appropriate organization for the member in question to be suspended of all voting and/or social privileges until the debt is repaid or sufficiently secured;
3.	If the individual is residing in the chapter house and the debt involves house rents, then eviction proceedings should be pursued.
4.	Contact the appropriate official within the university and attempt to have university degrees and/or transcripts withheld until the debt is paid or sufficiently secured.
5.	Draft a letter explaining the situation to the individual's parents, asking them for their aid in alleviating the situation.
6.	If exceptional circumstances have occurred, the appropriate organization may wish to make a motion to expel the member in question from the Fraternity.
7.	Take recourse in legal action involving the use of a collection agency or small claims court.

Section 4	Non-members falling in debt to the Pitt Chapter are subject to the same process as outlined above.  Failure to meet the payment requirements shall result in legal action and/or eviction from the chapter premises.

ARTICLE 10 - HOUSING POLICY

Section 1	The following procedure will be followed by all individuals who will reside in the chapter house:
1.	The housing applicant shall complete a rental application.  Applications will be supplied by either the Treasurer or Assistant-Treasurer of the Corporation.
2.	The application information will be verified by the Treasurer or Assistant-Treasurer of the Corporation.
3.	The application will be evaluated.   Individuals currently in debt will not be granted approval for a housing contract unless the Board of Directors grants an exemption by majority vote of the entire Board of Directors.
4.	Upon acceptance of an application the applicant will sign the contract, and at that time provide a housing deposit of no less than one month's rent as proposed under the contract.
5.	The money will be deposited in the bank.
6.	The individual may move into the house once the deposit clears, and the contract period has begun.
A Housing policy is established to protect both the chapter and the residents of the chapter house.  The process by which housing contracts and  rent rates are prepared and implemented is made clear, as is the expectation that rents will be paid on time.

Section 2	When housing contracts are signed in the spring for the purpose of establishing occupancy for the following academic year, or when multiple individuals are choosing rooms at the same time, room selection shall be made in the following order of precedence:
1.	Active Organization President
2.	Active Organization Treasurer
3.	Active Organization House Manager
4.	Number of consecutive terms lived in the chapter house.  Consecutive applies to fall and winter terms so that not living in the house during in the summer does not interrupt consecutive terms.  However, living in the chapter house during the summer is to be included in having a positive effect on consecutive terms.  Spring and summer sessions, eight weeks or less, count as half terms.  The entire summer term counts as a full term.
5.	Other  Active Organization members in order of ascending National Serial Number.
6.	All Alumni Organization members in order ascending National Serial Number.
7.	All Boarders.
The policy also states the order by which residents may select the rooms in which they reside with due precedence given to officers and seniority in the Active Organization.  All active members are granted picks before any alumni members, or boarders, get housing.

Section 3	 At all other times, room selection may be made by the individual upon what vacancies exist in the chapter house.  The Board of Directors reserves the right to make room selection adjustments in order to maximize house occupancy.

PART II - THE ALUMNI ORGANIZATION

ARTICLE 1 - OBJECTIVES OF THE ORGANIZATION

The objectives of the Alumni Organization are:
1.	Provide support to the Active Organization of the Pitt Chapter;
2.	Plan and provide the means for major physical improvements to the chapter house;
3.	Provide opportunity for social interaction among TRIANGLE alumni; and
4.	Provide an atmosphere for the continued growth in brotherhood of all TRIANGLE members.
The Alumni Organization is a separate and independent organization from the Active Organization.  Some of its duties involve support of the Active Organization, but it is a viable alumni group that exists on its own within the Corporate structure.

ARTICLE 2 - OFFICERS

Section 1	The government of the Alumni Organization shall be vested in an Alumni Board.  The board shall consist of the following elected officers;  a President, a Treasurer, a Vice-president of Alumni Affairs, a Vice-president of Active Affairs, a Vice-president of the Physical Plant, and a Vice-president of Communications.  Each officer shall be elected for a term of one year.  The election shall take place at the Alumni Meeting held at Homecoming.  Only members of the Alumni Organization may vote for, or serve as, officers of the Alumni Organization.
Alumni board consists of six officers which carry out the operational duties of the organization similar to the way the Board of Directors operates at the chapter level.  Three of the officers hold positions on the Board of Directors as well.  The four Vice-presidents split between them the duties carried out previously by the Vice-president and Secretary of the older constitution.

Section 2	The Alumni Board officers shall be installed at the Corporation Meeting held at Homecoming as the last order of business before adjournment.  The officers shall be installed using the procedure defined in the TRIANGLE National Constitution.
The Oath of Office and procedure used to install officers and can be found in the National Constitution (Bylaws Article 3, Section 4, Para 3).  Alumni officers are installed by the most senior past-president available that is not elected, or serving as, an alumni officer.

Section 3	In the event of an officer vacancy, the vacant office will be filled by special election at the next Alumni Meeting.  Until a replacement is elected, the duties of the vacant office will be carried out by the remaining officers.  If the office of President becomes vacant, the Vice-president of Alumni Affairs will serve as presiding officer of the Alumni Organization and the Board of Directors until the special election is held.
Officer vacancies are kept to a minimum time.  The succession to the presidency by the Vice-president of Alumni Affairs is not permanent, the office of President is up for election if it was the one which became vacant.  Obviously, if another alumni officer becomes President at the special election then his previous office should be declared vacant and also be elected at that meeting unless the alumni membership deems the circumstances so special so as to necessitate the holding of multiple elected offices by a single member.

ARTICLE 3 - DUTIES

Section 1	The Alumni Organization shall elect and send a delegate to each National Convention and National Meeting of TRIANGLE.
This is an important  chapter responsibility which should never be ignored since chapter representation at the National Organization level is an important duty.

Section 2	The Alumni Organization shall carry on suitable activities to fulfill its objectives and promote the welfare of the Pitt Chapter.
All activities and decisions should be weighed against the objectives and needs of the chapter and its members.  Decisions and activities counter to the core ideals of TRIANGLE should be avoided regardless of the cost. 

Section 3	The duties of the officers of the Alumni Organization shall be those described in the Bylaws to Part II of this constitution, plus any additional responsibilities that may be required by the Alumni Board of the Alumni Organization or Board of Directors of the Pitt Chapter.
The Alumni Board or the Board of Directors may define additional duties and responsibilities for the alumni officers.  Hopefully these are short term duties since full time duties should be added to the Officer Duties sections of the bylaws.

ARTICLE 4 - AMENDMENTS

Section 1	Amendments to Part II of this constitution shall be submitted in writing at any meeting of the Alumni Organization.

Section 2	Amendments shall be adopted if they receive the favorable vote of three-fourths of the members in good standing at an Alumni Meeting.

Section 3	Amendments to Part II of this constitution shall be reported in writing by the Vice-president of Communications to the National Office of TRIANGLE and all members of the Board of Directors,  within one week of adoption by the Alumni Organization.
These sections are similar to the amendment article of Part I.  The major differences are that they are voted on at Alumni Meetings and that members may bring amendments to the floor directly as business.

ARTICLE 5 - BYLAWS

Section 1	Amendments to the Bylaws to Part II of this constitution shall be adopted if they receive the favorable vote of two-thirds of the members in good standing at an Alumni Meeting.

Section 2	Amendments to the Bylaws to Part II of this constitution shall be reported in writing by the Vice-president of Communications to the National Office of TRIANGLE and all members of the Board of Directors, within one week of adoption by the Alumni Organization.
Similar to the equivalent article in Part I.  However, note that the Alumni Board is not empowered to change the bylaws.  This is mainly due to the fact that the Alumni Organization meets more often than the Corporation.

ARTICLE 6 - REGULATIONS

Section 1	Standing rules and regulations of the Alumni Organization may be made or amended at Alumni Meetings by a majority vote of those members in good standing present at an Alumni Meeting.

Section 2	All standing rules and regulations of the Alumni Organization shall be recorded and maintained by the Vice-president of Communications of the Alumni Organization.  A list of regulations concerning the Alumni Organization shall be available at all Alumni Meetings.
Once again, this is very similar to the equivalent sections of Part I.  The standing rules should be consistently updated, and available at all Alumni Meetings.

BYLAWS TO PART II - ALUMNI ORGANIZATION BYLAWS

ARTICLE 1 - OFFICER DUTIES

Section 1	Each officer of the Alumni Organization, elected or appointed, is expected to maintain a notebook dedicated to his office.  The notebook will serve as an archive for the office, and a place to record useful observations, tips, policies, and experiences related to the office.  A group review of the officer notebooks by the Alumni Board is recommended on a semiannual basis.
Officer notebooks are an important part of maintaining chapter continuity.  They should be neatly kept and organized.  Handing over a box of disorganized pieces of paper to a successor is not a proper way of ensuring that he will benefit from your experiences.  Recording events will also help the officer recall events for later reporting.  Officer training and practice in recording and formatting of notebooks would be a good future project.  Previous chapter operations without officer manuals has been haphazard and full of false starts and confusion.

Section 2	The President shall carry out the following duties:
1.	Represent the chapter in ceremonial functions, and meetings with outside organizations;
2.	Act as presiding officer at all Alumni Meetings and Alumni Board meetings;
3.	See that the President of the Active Organization is properly trained for his office and maintains an officer notebook;
4.	Complete any forms or requests from the National Office that require his participation or signature;
5.	Act as a coordinator to ensure the smooth functioning of the Pitt Chapter;
6.	Confer with the President of the Active Organization at least once per month; and
7.	Perform such other duties as his office, the Alumni Board, or the Board of Directors of the Pitt Chapter may require. 
Main duties are to act as a facilitator, organizer, and coordinator.  His primary active counterpart is the president, who he should work closely with.  This officer also has duties quite similar to these at the Corporate level.  The president should set a proper example for the other members, show leadership, and be willing to delegate to others.  He may be capable of doing it all himself, but this leaves little room for the development of others.  The position is extremely dependent upon the support and cooperation of the other officers and members.

Section 3	The Vice-president of Alumni Affairs shall carry out the following duties:
1.	Oversee the planning and hosting of alumni sponsored events for the benefit of the members of the Pitt Chapter and TRIANGLE;
2.	Insure that TRIANGLE alumni who live in the Pittsburgh area are contacted;
3.	Carry on an active search for all "lost alumni" of the Pitt Chapter;
4.	Foster and encourage individual participation by alumni in Pitt Chapter and TRIANGLE National Organization activities; and
5.	Perform such other duties as his office, the Alumni Board, or the Board of Directors of the Pitt Chapter may require.
This Vice-president is intended to concentrate upon the purely alumni-oriented objectives of the organization.  Contacting and involving local Triangle alumni is very important to the development of the chapter.  The officer does not have to take direct leadership in the running of all events, he is fully expected to delegate specific events to those members of the chapter who show interest and expertise in running such events.  Note that this officer does not have an active counterpart who he is expected to help train.  However, this does not preclude the planning and operation of joint alumni-active events for the benefit of all chapter members.

Section 4	The Vice-president of Active Affairs shall carry out the following duties:
1.	Organize alumni support for rush activities by the Active Organization;
2.	Act as an advisor to the Active Organization concerning the planning of the Homecoming and Founders' Day celebrations;
3.	See that the Active Organization Vice-president and Rush Coordinator are properly trained for their offices and maintain officer notebooks;
4.	Confer with the Vice-president and Rush Coordinator of the Active Organization at least once per month; and
5.	Perform such other duties as his office, the Alumni Board, or the Board of Directors of the Pitt Chapter may require.
This Vice-president is intended to concentrate upon the support of the Active Organization by the alumni.  He is slated to help train the active Vice-president and Rush Coordinator, and to aid in the planning of  major events of the year (Homecoming and Founders' Day).  Once again, he is not expected to take the lead in all matters, but to employ the expertise of other alumni that are available.

Section 5	The Treasurer shall carry out the following duties:
1.	Maintain custody of all funds and securities of the Alumni Organization;
2.	Keep regular books of account for the Alumni Organization, the records of which shall be held for at least seven (7) years;
3.	Sign instruments requiring his signature;
4.	Make a complete financial report of Alumni Organization accounts at each Alumni Meeting;
5.	Formulate and present for approval the Alumni Organization budget;
6.	Oversee the distribution of Alumni Organization funds;
7.	See that the Active Organization Treasurer is properly trained for his office and maintains an officer notebook;
8.	Confer with the Treasurer of the Active Organization at least once per month; and
9.	Perform such other duties as his office, the Alumni Board, or the Board of Directors of the Pitt Chapter may require.
The Treasurer carries the majority of the financial management burden of the Chapter and the Alumni Organization.  Furthermore, he is expected to aid in the training of the active Treasurer and work closely with him.  Cooperation with the chapter auditor is expected as well.

Section 6	The Vice-president of Communications shall carry out the following duties:
1.	Complete and deliver to the National Office of Form RA after each election of Alumni Organization officers;
2.	Record minutes of all Alumni Meetings and Alumni Board meetings;
3.	Issue notice for all Alumni Meetings;
4.	Maintain and post a calendar of Alumni Organization events;
5.	Keep a "To Do" list of tasks assigned at Alumni Meetings and Alumni Board Meetings;
6.	Provide copies of Alumni Meeting minutes to all members of the Board of Directors, Alumni Board,  the National Office, and post a copy in the chapter house, within one week of each meeting;
7.	Maintain a directory of chapter and local alumni, including contact information;
8.	See that the Active Organization Recording Secretary is properly trained for his office and maintains an officer notebook;
9.	Confer with the Recording Secretary of the Active Organization at least once per month; and
10.	Perform such other duties as his office, the Alumni Board, or the Board of Directors of the Pitt Chapter may require. 
This officer controls the correspondence and minutes of the organization.  He will also aid in the training of his active counterpart, the recording secretary.  The importance of this position should not be overlooked, especially considering the reporting requirements charged to him involving forms and amendments to the constitution.  If the alumni concentrate on CPA performance points then this officer can play a vital role in ensuring good scores by mailing in minutes and ensuring newsletters are published.

Section 7	The Vice-president of the Physical Plant shall carry out the following duties:
1.	Chair the House Committee, and oversee maintenance of chapter property;
2.	Hold a periodic seminar on chapter house safety and security;
3.	Verify that the chapter house and grounds continue to meet the requirements of local health and fire codes;
4.	Maintain a schedule for the replacement of selected house furnishings supplied by the Pitt Chapter;
5.	See that the Active Organization House Manager is properly trained for his office and maintains an officer notebook;
6.	Confer with the House Manager of the Active Organization at least once per month; and
7.	Perform such other duties as his office, the Alumni Board, or the Board of Directors of the Pitt Chapter may require.
This Vice-president concentrates upon the care of the chapter property.  This includes maintenance, safety, and the planning of improvements and necessary replacements.  He is expected to help train and to work closely with the active House Manager.

ARTICLE 2- COMMITTEES AND APPOINTED OFFICES

Section 1	Additional appointed positions, committees, and committee members may be appointed, or removed, at any time by a majority of the Alumni Board.
Additional committees and officers may be created to handle specific tasks and objectives.  They are expected to report to the Alumni Board and/or the membership at Alumni Meetings.

Section 2	If the Alumni Organization appoints a special Judicial Committee to investigate a disciplinary petition, then at least five (5) alumni members must be appointed to the committee.  None of the appointed members shall be directly involved in the petition causing the formation of the special committee.
A minimum of five members are required for a judicial investigation in order to provide for a fair cross-section of the membership to be involved.  Members involved in the petition or charged in the petition should not serve on the judicial committee.

ARTICLE 3 - MEETINGS

Section 1	The Alumni Organization shall hold a minimum of six (6) meetings per year on a bimonthly basis.  Alumni Meetings may be held together with the Corporation Meetings held at Homecoming and Founders' Day, the Corporation Meeting being recessed to convene the Alumni Meeting if necessary.
At least six meetings per year.  Monthly meetings would be preferred, but are not mandated.  The meetings should be held on a consistent schedule that is published in the chapter newsletter.

Section 2	A quorum at any regular or special meeting of the Alumni Organization shall consist of a minimum of six (6) members in good standing of the Alumni Organization, and must include at least three (3) members of the Alumni Board.
Quorum mandates at least half the elected officers be present and a total of six members who are eligible to vote.  Hopefully this requirement can be increased if the Alumni Organization succeeds in growing in the future.

PART III - THE ACTIVE ORGANIZATION

ARTICLE 1 - OBJECTIVES OF THE ORGANIZATION

The objectives of the Active Organization are:
1.	Provide the best fraternity experience possible to each member during what is the beginning of their life as a TRIANGLE member;
2.	Provide a supportive environment for academic achievement; and
3.	Provide opportunities for the social, professional, and personal growth of each member. 
The objectives should be reviewed at the beginning of every term to reinforce their value to the membership.  These define the results that the organization's interim goals are trying to achieve.

ARTICLE 2 - RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF MEMBERS

Section 1	All members of the Active Organization shall enjoy the privilege to:
1.	Have an equal voice and vote in matters of election to pledgeship, election to membership, election of officers, constitution and bylaws, and all other matters brought before the chapter;
2.	Enjoy a reasonable environment in which to study;
3.	Live in the chapter house;
4.	Participate in Active Organization and Pitt Chapter functions;
5.	Hold an Active Organization office; and
6.	Conduct himself so as to participate in any activity, public or private, which is not in direct violation to the Ritual of TRIANGLE, the rules established by the chapter, or the rights of another member.
Each member has these privileges, and they are listed here so that they are clearly known.  They should be enforced and respected by all members of the entire chapter.  Furthermore, these privileges should also be applied to alumni members where they are applicable.  Alumni members are expected to conform their actions accordingly.  Also, note that voting and social privileges can be revoked for disciplinary reasons.

Section 2	All members of the Active Organization shall assume as a condition of membership, the responsibility to:
1.	Help maintain the chapter house;
2.	Pay all debts to the chapter promptly;
3.	Attend all chapter meetings;
4.	Conduct himself as a proper representative of TRIANGLE and the Pitt Chapter;
5.	Abide by the rules established by the Pitt Chapter;
6.	Assist the officers in fulfilling their duties and responsibilities; and
7.	Accord each other member his rights as established in the Ritual of TRIANGLE and Article 2.1 above.
With privileges come responsibilities.  These responsibilities echo the Code of Ethics and establish the basis upon which brotherhood is built; respect of each other and respect for the chapter.  Violation of these responsibilities leads to disciplinary action and loss of privileges since failure to abide by one side of the equation invalidates the other side. 

ARTICLE 3 - OFFICERS

Section 1	The government of the Active Organization shall be vested in an Executive Board.  The board shall consist of the following elected officers; a President, a Vice-president, a Treasurer, a Rush Coordinator, a House Manager, and a Recording Secretary.
Here is the third board.  Corporate Board for the entire chapter.  Alumni Board for the Alumni Organization.  Executive Board for the Active Organization.  The amount of actual authority invested in the Executive Board is dependent upon the chapter membership.  The board could be granted a great deal of autonomy in making decisions, which would be communicated to the organization at meetings.  Or the board could be used for agenda setting and preliminary discussion of issues, which will be discussed, and decided by, the entire membership at meetings. Be warned that the chosen method will greatly affect the length of chapter meetings, and should be considered in relation to the size of active organization membership as well.

Section 2	The Active Organization officers shall be installed at the Founders' Day dinner by the President of the Corporation, as outlined in the TRIANGLE National Constitution.
Same procedure as installing alumni officers.  (Bylaws Article 3, Section 4)

Section 3	In the event of an officer vacancy, the vacant office will be filled by special election at the next Active Meeting.  Until a replacement is elected, the duties of the vacant office will be carried out by the remaining officers.  If the office of President becomes vacant, the Vice-president shall assume the office of President.
The Vice-president assumes the office of President, and then the vacant position of Vice-president is selected by special election at the next meeting.  This does differ from the method used to replace alumni officers since the alumni officers are specialized a bit differently than the active officers.  Newly elected officers shall take the Officer Oath when elected.

Section 4	Officer elections shall be held at the last regular meeting in February.  At least two (2) men shall be nominated for each position.  The candidate receiving a majority vote of the initiated members in good standing present shall be declared elected to office, to serve until his successor is elected.  In case no candidate receives a majority of the vote, a new ballot shall be taken, the two men receiving the largest number of votes on the previous ballot being the nominees.
The reason for the delay in installing officers is to allow for a training period to occur between elections and the new officers actually assuming office at Founders' Day in April.  The outgoing and incoming officers should meet multiple times to discuss the requirements of the office, go over the officer manual and notebook, and review any ongoing projects and planning that will carry over to the new officer's term.  The continuity of officer knowledge must be preserved.

ARTICLE 4 - DUTIES

Section 1	The Active Organization shall elect and send two representatives to each National Convention and/or National Meeting of TRIANGLE.
Representing the chapter at the National level is a duty and opportunity that should not be passed up.

Section 2	The Active Organization shall carry on suitable activities to fulfill its objectives and promote the welfare of the Pitt Chapter.
All activities and plans should be weighed against the objectives and core ideals of the organization and the Fraternity.  Those which do not advance and support those chosen ideals should not be carried out since they are wasting chapter resources that could be better spent on other activities that promote the goals of the chapter.

Section 3	The duties of the officers of the Active Organization shall be those described in the Bylaws to Part III of this constitution, plus any additional responsibilities that may be required by the Executive Board of the Active Organization or Board of Directors of the Pitt Chapter.
The bylaws list the major duties of each office.  Additional duties may be assigned for temporary reasons by the organization or the chapter Board of Directors.

ARTICLE 5 - AMENDMENTS

Section 1	Amendments to Part III of this constitution shall be submitted in writing at any meeting of the Active Organization, but cannot be voted on, and approved, until the next meeting.
Similar to the amendment process of Parts I and II, with the addition of a built-in delay between submission and approval to allow for evaluation of the proposed amendment.

Section 2	Amendments shall be adopted if they receive the favorable vote of three-fourths of the members in good standing present at an Active Meeting.

Section 3	Amendments to Part III of this constitution shall be reported in writing by the Recording Secretary to the National Office of TRIANGLE and all members of the Board of Directors, within one week of adoption by the Active Organization.
Note that responsibility for reporting belongs to an active officer instead of an alumni or chapter level officer.  The time and reporting requirements are the same though.

ARTICLE 6 - BYLAWS

Section 1	Amendments to the Bylaws to Part III of this constitution shall be adopted if they receive the favorable vote of two-thirds of the members in good standing present at an Active Meeting. 
Similar to Parts I and II.  Also see the comments in the above section.

Section 2	Amendments to the Bylaws of Part III of this constitution shall be reported in writing by the Recording Secretary to the National Office of TRIANGLE and all members of the Board of Directors, within one week of adoption by the Active Organization.

ARTICLE 7 - REGULATIONS

Section 1	Standing rules and regulations of the Active Organization may be made or amended by a majority vote of those members in good standing present at an Active Meeting.

Section 2	All standing rules and regulations of the Active Organization shall be recorded and maintained by the Recording Secretary of the Active Organization.  A list of regulations concerning the Active Organization shall be available at all Active Meetings.
Having an available list of the standing rules should prove helpful and perhaps necessary in chapter meetings.  Therefore, this was made a requirement that especially applies to the active organization since they will most likely have the largest body of standing rules.

BYLAWS TO PART III - ACTIVE ORGANIZATION BYLAWS

ARTICLE 1 - OFFICER DUTIES

Section 1	Each elected officer of the Active Organization is expected to maintain a notebook dedicated to his office.  The notebook will serve as an archive for the office, and a place to record useful observations, tips, policies, and experiences relevant to the office.  A group review of the officer notebooks by the Executive Board is recommended on a semiannual basis.  Each officer shall also hold transition meetings with his predecessor and successor in office.
Officer notebooks are an excellent way to remember and comment on how issues and ideas were handled previously.  It provides for continuity within an office and a history by which old information is passed on for future use.  Keeping a notebook in a useful format will be important, especially as information starts to accumulate.

Section 2	The President shall carry out the following duties:
1.	Represent the chapter in ceremonial functions, and meetings with outside organizations;
2.	Act as presiding officer at all Active Meetings and Executive Board meetings;
3.	Complete any forms or requests from the National Office that require his participation or signature;
4.	Act as a coordinator to ensure the smooth functioning of the Active Organization;
5.	Ensure that his successor is properly trained to assume the office; and
6.	Perform such other duties as his office, the Executive Board, or the Board of Directors of the Pitt Chapter may require. 
The President is an organizer, facilitator, and coordinator for the active organization.  He will be the primary contact of the National Office.  His preparation and leadership will deeply affect how well chapter meetings will run.  His overall effectiveness is highly dependant upon the support he receives from the other officers and members of the organization.  There must be mutual trust and cooperation between officers above and beyond what is expected between fellow members. 

Section 3	The Vice-president shall carry out the following duties:
1.	Oversee the proper education, conduct, and initiation of all candidates for membership (pledges);
2.	Chair the Ritual Committee;
3.	Chair the Judicial Committee;
4.	Chair the Founders' Day Committee;
5.	Complete any forms or requests from the National Office that require his participation or signature;
6.	Foster and encourage individual participation by members in Active Organization,  Pitt Chapter, and National Organization activities;
7.	Ensure that his successor is properly trained to assume the office; and
8.	Perform such other duties as his office, the Executive Board, or the Board of Directors of the Pitt Chapter may require. 
The Vice-president has a wide range of responsibilities.  He can, and is almost expected, to delegate authority to other members in order to have the duties properly completed.  This can include working with appointed pledge educators, committee members, and soliciting help form other members to act as volunteers.

Section 4	The Treasurer shall carry out the following duties:
1.	Maintain custody of all funds and securities of the Active Organization;
2.	Keep regular books of account for the Active Organization, the records of which shall be held for at least seven (7) years;
3.	Sign instruments requiring his signature;
4.	Make a complete financial report of Active Organization accounts at the first Active Meeting each calendar  month during the academic year;
5.	Formulate, and present for approval, the Active Organization budget;
6.	Oversee the distribution of Active Organization funds;
7.	Complete any forms or requests from the National Office that require his participation or signature;
8.	Ensure that his successor is properly trained to assume the office; and
9.	Perform such other duties as his office, the Executive Board, or the Board of Directors of the Pitt Chapter may require. 
The chief financial officer of the active organization.  The budget process is a very important task since it can wreck havoc with fraternity operations if poorly written or followed.  However, the Treasurer must have massive cooperation form the other members since unreasonable demands or an unwillingness to pay debts by the membership can cause cash flow problems and damage chapter operations as well, even to the point of causing the chapter to fail. Communication between the Treasurer and membership are vital, thus the requirement for at least monthly financial reports.  Weekly or biweekly reporting is recommended.

Section 5	The Recording Secretary shall carry out the following duties:
1.	Maintain and update the membership book of the Pitt Chapter;
2.	Record the minutes at all Active Meetings and Executive Board meetings;
3.	Issue notice for all Active Meetings;
4.	Provide copies of Active Meeting minutes to all members who request them, and post a copy in the chapter house, within one week of each meeting;
5.	Complete any forms or requests from the National Office that require his participation or signature;
6.	Maintain and post a calendar of Active Organization events;
7.	Maintain a "To Do" list of tasks assigned at Active Meetings and Executive Board Meetings;
8.	Ensure that his successor is properly trained to assume the office; and
9.	Perform such other duties as his office, the Executive Board, or the Board of Directors of the Pitt Chapter may require. 
The chief record keeper of the organization.  This importance of this office should not be overlooked.  If CPA performance becomes a goal, this officer would be in a good position to track and ensure that forms are completed and sent in on time.  A "To Do" list is a compiled list of tasks and who has volunteered, or been assigned, to carry out said task.  It is used in order to track who is supposed to carry out what tasks and functions.

Section 6	The House Manager shall carry out the following duties:
1.	Verify that the chapter house and grounds are kept clean and continue to meet the requirements of local health and fire codes;
2.	Ensure that the chapter house has a sufficient supply of necessary, sundry items; 
3.	Complete any forms or requests from the National Office that require his participation or signature;
4.	Ensure that his successor is properly trained to assume the office;
5.	Act as vice-chairman of the chapter House Committee; and
6.	Perform such other duties as his office, the Executive Board, or the Board of Directors of the Pitt Chapter may require. 
This is another officer who needs a great deal of cooperation from the membership of the organization.  He is not intended to be the chapter janitor and/or maid service, cleaning is a membership-wide responsibility that he is earmarked to coordinate and schedule.  He is also expected to work closely with his alumni counterpart, the Vice-president of the Physical Plant. 

Section 7	The Rush Coordinator shall carry out the following duties:
1.	Instill in the members of the Active Organization a desire and favorable attitude toward rush.
2.	Ensure that the members of the Active Organization are trained in rush and recruitment techniques, practices, and necessary information about the chapter;
3.	Chair the Rush Committee, which will plan, budget, schedule and implement the chapter rush program;
4.	Complete any forms or requests from the National Office that require his participation or signature;
5.	Ensure that his successor is properly trained to assume the office; and
6.	Perform such other duties as his office, the Executive Board, or the Board of Directors of the Pitt Chapter may require. 
This officer is a planner, coordinator, and facilitator.  He is not intended to be the chief recruiter.  That, like cleaning, is a membership-wide responsibility.  Therefore, he also requires a lot of cooperation from the other members of the organization.  He is also expected to confer with the alumni Vice-president of Active Affairs in order to coordinate the amount and scope of alumni member support of rush and member recruitment.  This officer should also keep in mind and continuously remind that membership that rush is a year-round effort that never stops.

ARTICLE 2- COMMITTEES AND APPOINTED OFFICES

Section 1	Additional appointed positions, committees, and committee members may be appointed, or removed, at any time by a majority of the Executive Board.
This was previously a presidential prerogative.  It has now been delegated to the entire Executive Board acting as an appointment committee.

Section 2	A Social Committee shall be appointed to plan, budget, and implement the chapter Social program.
The activities of the social program show be weighed against the objective and ideals of the fraternity.  Care must be taken that activities are following the applicable fraternity, university, and chapter policies that may govern the planned actions.

Section 3	The Judicial Committee shall handle all Active Organization judicial proceedings.  The members other than the chairman shall be appointed by the incoming Executive Board between the time of their election and their installation in office.  Five members of the Active Organization shall be appointed, three to the committee and a first and second alternate member.  The committee shall operate according to the judicial process defined in this constitution.
The members are known at the beginning of each officer term.  Alternates are appointed in case committee members are directly involved in an actual case brought before the committee.  It is expected that at-large members of the organization will be appointed to the committee rather than it consisting of all Executive board members.  Otherwise, the committee would probably be seen simply as an extension of the chapter officers, not as a  representative group of the active membership.  The Vice-President is the chairman of the committee.

Section 4	The Ritual Committee shall schedule and implement all initiations carried out by the chapter, which will be carried out as prescribed in the Ritual of TRIANGLE.
Initiations should be carefully planned and carried out.  The Ritual defines the core ideals of TRIANGLE and is where its members are fully exposed to the meaning of the Fraternity.  Initiations should also provide an opportunity for the membership to familiarize themselves with the Ritual and its meaning.

Section 5	The Founders' Day Committee shall plan and implement an annual banquet to celebrate Founders' Day.
Founders' Day planning should begin at least 4-6 months before the actual date.  The date itself should be selected and published in the chapter newsletter as soon as possible.

Section 6	The Scholarship Committee shall develop and foster a program to support academic achievement by the members of the Active Organization.
Academics should never be ignored, it is the primary reason the active members are attending the university.  Achievement and distinction by members should be recognized, applauded, and rewarded if possible.

ARTICLE 3 - MEETINGS

Section 1	A regular meeting of the Active Organization shall be held each full week of the academic year.
Meetings are normally for the carrying out of business.  Substituting a membership meeting on a periodic basis in order to openly discuss membership issues and goals is recommended.  Such membership meetings can also be used for review of chapter policies, documents, and especially the Ritual.

Section 2	Special meetings shall be called at the discretion of the President of the Active Organization, or when the President of the Active Organization is presented with a petition signed by one-third of the members in good standing of the Active Organization.  All members of  the Active Organization and the Board of Directors of the Pitt Chapter must be given twenty-four (24) hours notice of the date and time of the meeting..
Special meetings should be limited to the vital business at hand and not used for other purposes.

Section 3	A quorum at a regular meeting of the Active Organization shall consist of two-thirds of the members in good standing of the Active Organization.  At a special meeting the quorum shall consist of a majority of the members in good standing of the Active Organization.
Note the "in good standing" clause.  Those who have lost voting privileges due to disciplinary action do not count for the purposes of quorum.