Beta Xi
Chapter Bylaws
Ratified January, 2013
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Beta Xi Chapter Bylaws
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America, Inc.
Beta Xi Bylaws Chapter Bylaws
Adopted on April 1st, 2012
ARTICLE I
Name and Governing Documents
Section One – Name
This organization shall be known as the BETA XI CHAPTER OF PHI MU ALPHA SINFONIA
FRATERNITY OF AMERICA.
Section Two – Constitutional Authority
The Beta Xi Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity is organized in accordance with the National
Constitution and Bylaws of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America.
Section Three – Governing Documents
The Beta Xi Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity shall be organized and shall function in
accordance with the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity National Constitution and Bylaws, the Province 3
Bylaws and the Beta Xi Chapter Bylaws.
Section Four – Eligibility
Title I, Article I, Section 2 of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity National Constitution and Bylaws
states that no man under the age of 18 shall be permitted to hold any class of membership. Additionally, no
man will be considered for membership if he is a member of any other secret national fraternal society in
music.
Section Five – Non-Discriminatory Clause
This organization and its members shall not discriminate against any individual(s) for reasons of color,
disability, gender identity or expression, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status.
Per the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity National Constitution and Bylaws, Title I, Article I, Section 2,
“Membership is restricted to males, as permitted under 20 U.S.C. 1681 (a)(6)(A) and as evidenced by the
letter of exemption from Title IX provided by the United States Department of Education received
December 21, 1983.”
ARTICLE II
Financial Obligations
*Section One – Chapter Dues
In addition to the national per capital tax detailed in Title I, Article X, Section 1 of the Phi Mu Alpha
Sinfonia Fraternity National Constitution and Bylaws, each collegiate member of the Beta Xi Chapter shall
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pay chapter dues of $42 annually, payable in two installments of $21 each, due at a time set by the chapter
treasurer no later than one week prior to October 15 and March 15 of the academic year.
Section Two – Initiation Fee.
Each probationary member shall be required to pay the Initiation Fee as set forth in the Phi Mu Alpha
Sinfonia Fraternity National Constitution and Bylaws, Title I, Article I, Section 10. This is a requirement
for initiation and is to be paid no later than the day of the National Exam. The Executive Committee will
consider any probationary member who has not paid his fee for removal from the probationary process.
Section Three– Failure to Remit Dues
All members in good standing who have failed to remit the sum total amount of dues owed to the chapter
shall be automatically suspended without the necessity of a chapter vote, per Title III, Article IX, Section 2
of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity National Constitution and Bylaws.
Section Four – Fines
Any member who has accumulated chapter fines is expected to pay them off at the next business meeting
after which the fine was given out. If a member in good standing has outstanding fines come the due date
for chapter dues, then the total due to the chapter will be the sum of national dues, chapter dues, and
outstanding fines.
Section Five – Chapter Accounts
The Beta Xi chapter shall hold at least one checking account, which shall serve as the chapter treasury. All
accounts shall require two signatures for the use of chapter funds. Any two of the following three chapter
officers can sign for the use of chapter funds: Treasurer, Faculty Advisor, and President.
ARTICLE III
Officers
Section One – Officer Slate
As defined by Title III, Article IV, Section 1 of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity National
Constitution and Bylaws, with the addition of a Province Council Representative
Section Two – Nominations
As defined by Title III, Article VIII, Section 1 of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity National
Constitution and Bylaws.
In addition, each member who has been nominated for a position must post a letter of intent to the Phi Mu
Alpha, Beta Xi Google account no later than the Friday following nominations.
Section Three – Elections
In addition to Title III, Article VIII, Section 2 of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity National
Constitution and Bylaws, elections shall be held during the last regularly scheduled meeting of the Autumn
Semester.
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Each candidate will be given three minutes to discuss his platform as well as two minutes worth of
questions. Additional time may be granted to questioning with a proper motion to extend debate. A person
will be granted extra time via 2/3 majority of the chapter.
Section Four – Installation and Term
Officers are installed within a week of being elected, using the official installation ceremony. The length of
each officer’s term shall be each calendar year, extending from the beginning of spring semester and
concluding at the end of the autumn semester. Each elected officer shall serve a term of one year, holding
any one office no more than two terms.
Section Five – Removal
Removal of an officer shall follow the policies and procedures laid out in the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
Fraternity National Constitution and Bylaws Title III, Article IV, Section 3:
A Chapter may remove an elected officer from office for due cause. At a regularly scheduled
meeting, a chapter collegiate member in good standing must give previous notice that he will make
a motion to remove an officer at the next meeting. The chapter must inform the officer of the
action immediately. The officer may respond to allegations against him. A majority of members
in good standing who are present and voting may remove an officer.
ARTICLE IV
Officer Duties
Section One – President
The President shall be responsible for all the duties appointed to him in Title III, Article IV, Section 5 of
the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity National Constitution and Bylaws.
In addition, the President shall be the chair of the Executive Committee.
Section Two – Vice President
The Vice President shall be responsible for the duties appointed to him in Title III Article IV, Section 6 of
the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity National Constitution and Bylaws.
In addition, the Vice President shall serve as the coordinator of all chapter standing committees, excluding
the Executive Committee. He shall oversee each committee meeting at least once per semester. The Vice
President shall also serve as the chapter’s parliamentarian, being the keeper of the National Constitution,
General Regulations, the Province Three By-Laws, Chapter By-Laws, and Roberts Rules of Order.
Section Three – Secretary
The Secretary shall be responsible for the duties appointed to him in Title III, Article IV, Section 7 of the
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity National Constitution and Bylaws.
In addition, the Secretary shall keep track of attendance of active members to all meetings and chapter
events. The Secretary shall be the recorder of all chapter meeting and Executive Committee meeting
minutes, and shall be responsible for the distribution of each to the chapter. He shall notify all active
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members of the date and time of all chapter functions, as well as any changes in scheduled programs. He
will provide an ushering schedule for all major School of Music events at the beginning of each semester.
Section Four – Treasurer
The Treasurer shall be responsible for the duties appointed to him in Title III, Article IV, Section 8 of the
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity National Constitution and Bylaws.
In addition, the Treasurer shall submit a semi-annual chapter budget. He shall be responsible for collecting
and keeping an accurate record of all dues from collegiate members, as well as any money owed or other
excessive fines. He shall present a weekly update as to the status of the chapter’s funds at the weekly
business meeting. The Treasurer shall serve as the chair of the finance committee.
Section Five – Historian
The Historian shall be in responsible for the duties appointed to him in Title III, Article IV, Section 9 of
the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity National Constitution and Bylaws.
In addition, the Historian shall keep an up-to-date, photographic record of all chapter activities. He will
create a yearly scrapbook highlighting all chapter events that have taken place over the last year. He shall
update and preserve the family trees, update the chapter bulletin board with upcoming chapter events on a
regular basis, and be responsible for the slideshow presented at Omega Night (The Ceremony for
Graduating Brothers).
Section Six – Warden
The Warden shall be responsible for the duties appointed to him in Title III, Article IV, Section 10 of the
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity National Constitution and Bylaws.
In addition, the Warden shall be in charge of reserving locations for chapter functions, as well as
maintaining the quality of all chapter materials in the Beta Xi chapter room. The Warden shall be in charge
of all keys of the chapter and distribute them to chapter officers as necessary.
Section Seven – Alumni Relations Officer
The Alumni Relations Officer shall be responsible for the duties appointed to him in Title III, Article IV,
Section 11 of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity National Constitution and Bylaws.
In addition, the Alumni Relations Officer shall update all chapter alumni of current chapter events on a
regularly basis, He shall inform any local alumni associations of graduating brothers, as well as adding
them to the alumni listserv associated with the chapter prior to sending their permanent information on to
nationals.
Section Eight – Fraternity Education Officer
The Fraternity Education Officer shall be responsible for the duties appointed to him in Title III, Article
IV, Section 12 of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity National Constitution and Bylaws.
In addition, the Fraternity Education Officer shall organize the voting process for probationary members,
as well as handling all bid disbursement. The Fraternity Education Officer shall also be responsible for
continuing member education among the active members of the chapter. He shall be the chair of the
membership development Committee.
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Section Nine – Province Council Representative
The Province Council Representative shall be the primary liaison between Beta Xi and other chapters
located within the province. He is responsible for organizing trips to obtain the traveling province trophy,
knowing the date, time, and location of all province workshops, as well as being the primary informant of
all major province events such as chapter initiations, fundraisers, etc.
Section Ten – Faculty Advisor
The Faculty Advisor shall be responsible for the duties appointed to him in Title III, Article IV, Section 13
of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity National Constitution and Bylaws.
ARTICLE V
Committees
Section One – Executive Committee
The Executive Committee shall act in accordance with Title III, Article IV, Section 14 of the Phi Mu
Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity National Constitution and Bylaws.
In addition, the Executive Committee of the Beta Xi chapter shall consist of the President, Vice-President,
Secretary, Treasurer, Historian, Fraternity Education Officer, Alumni Relations Officer, Province Council
Representative, and Warden.
Another duty of the Executive Committee shall be to act as a disciplinary review board. The committee
shall review any case of active member “misconduct”, defined as any action that is deemed harmful to the
interests and reputation of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Any member under review shall be notified in writing
of the location and time of their hearing. The member in question can also represent himself in writing
given to the Executive Committee.
Section Two – Additional Standing Committees
The additional standing committees of the Beta Xi chapter shall be known as the, social, music, service
and fundraising, and officer assistants committees.
Section Three – Social Committee
The social committee shall plan social events within the chapter, such as brotherhood events, the chapter
semiformal, and the chapter formal. The social committee shall also be in charge of social events outside
of the chapter, such as the semi-annually barbeques as well as the School of Music Gala. The Vice
President shall appoint the chairman of the committee.
Section Four – Music Committee
The music committee shall be responsible for all stages of planning of chapter music events. This includes
Valentine’s Day serenades, American Music Recitals, chapter concerts, the chapter’s Mill’s Music
Mission, Homecoming sings, and Christmas Caroling. The chairman shall be made up of section leaders
for each voice part, appointed by the committee chairmen in collaboration with the Vice President. The
Vice President shall appoint the chairman of the committee.
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The chairman shall be responsible for setting the date for each of these events at least one month in
advance. This includes all publicity for said events. The chairman should arrange rehearsals and repertoire.
Section Five – Service and Fundraising Committee
The service and fundraising committee shall be in charge of organizing the creation and organization of
community service events within the chapter that expand out in the college and local community. It shall
also create opportunities to raise funds for the chapter. A collegiate member in good standing shall chair
the committee.
Section Six – Officer Assistants Committee
The officer assistants committee shall be in charge of assisting officers in any aspect of their jobs as
outlined in the National Constitution and Bylaws and the Beta Xi Chapter Bylaws. The committee shall
consist of no more than ten collegiate members. Individuals in this committee will choose the officer they
wish to assist. An officer is not required to take an assistant. The Vice President shall chair the
committee.
Section Seven – Special Committees
Special committees may be appointed according to the provisions set forth in Title III, Article VI, Section
2 of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity National Constitution and Bylaws.
ARTICLE VI
Special Events and Observances
Section One – Special Observances
The chapter shall observe both Founder’s Day (October 6) and Chapter Day (May 29) in accordance with
Article XII, Section IX of the National Constitution. Chapter Day will be observed on Omega Night.
Section Two – American Music Recital
The chapter shall present annually at least one program devoted exclusively to the music of American
Composers.
Section Three – Mills Music Mission
The Beta Xi Chapter shall annually present at least one Mills Music Mission in the community.
Section Four – School of Music Ushering
Each active member is responsible for ushering at least one concert per semester. If there are more
concerts than active members over the course of the semester, those who are able must usher more than
once. Each member must \make a conscious effort to usher at least one concert per semester.
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Section Five – Wearing of Letters
The brothers of the Beta Xi Chapter will be encouraged to wear fraternity letters and/or other memorabilia
in public every Wednesday of the academic year.
Section Six – School of Music Barbeques
Once per semester, the Beta Xi chapter shall host a public barbeque open to all university students (Ohio
Union regulations permitting). The School of Music may financially support the barbeque events. The Fall
Semester barbeque shall serve as a welcoming event and the Spring Semester barbeque as a farewell event.
Section Seven – School of Music Gala
The Beta Xi chapter shall organize and host a School of Music Gala (a dinner/dance) once per academic
year during the Spring Semester. This event shall be open to all students of the campus. In the case of
limited resources, the chapter may vote to suspend the dance by simple majority vote. This vote can occur
no later than the last meeting of Fall Semester.
ARTICLE VII
Discipline
Section One – Attendance
All active members in good standing are required to attend all chapter meetings and events. Active
members are also required to attend two probationary meetings, while those who have a little brother
during the current probationary process must attend three probationary meetings. The Secretary (meeting
or event) or the Fraternity Education Officer (probationary meetings) will record attendance. The
Fraternity Education Officer shall in turn report probationary member attendance to the Secretary. If the
secretary or Fraternity Education Officer is not present to take attendance, it is the Secretary’s and/ or the
Fraternity Education Officer’s responsibility to appoint an individual to take attendance. The appointee
will then report the attendance to the appropriate officer.
A collegiate member in good standing is allowed to have two unexcused absences per semester. If a
member accumulates more than two unexcused absences within a semester, the member will be fined
according to this schedule:
Third unexcused absence – five dollars
Fourth unexcused absence – ten dollars
Fifth and each consecutive unexcused absence – fifteen dollars each
Any member who accumulates more than four unexcused absences will be brought up by the Executive
Committee for suspension. If the executive committee deems it appropriate to put an active member on
suspension due to attendance, the member in question may appeal this decision to the Executive
Committee. The unexcused absences apply for weekly business and/or social meetings.
Any member who has an unexcused absence for a ritual defined as pinning ceremony, color nights, Omega
Night, Initiation, will be fined thirty dollars.
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Any member who misses a special event (defined as Mill’s Music Mission, American Music Recital,
Dinner Dance, or other large group event that requires the involvement of all collegiate members) will be
fined twenty dollars.
Any member who enters a meeting, ritual, or special event after it has begun and before thirty minutes
after the event has commenced, will be marked as tardy. Three tardies will count as one unexcused
absence.
Section Two – Excused Absences
Any member who must miss or be late to a chapter meeting must file his reason with the Secretary at least
two hours prior to the meeting. The decision as to whether or not the reason is acceptable is at the
discretion of the Executive Committee.
Any member who must miss a ritual or special event (As defined in Article VII, Section One) must file his
reason with the Secretary at least ten days in advance of the event. The decision as to whether or not the
reason is acceptable is at the discretion of the Executive Committee.
If emergency situations arise, such as serious illness or a family emergency, a simple notification to the
Secretary will suffice, regardless of how soon it is to the event. These emergency circumstances will be
reviewed by the Executive Committee and may serve as an excused absence.
Section Three – Failure to Usher assigned concerts
Any member failing to meet his obligation of ushering a concert for the School of Music, (as highlighted
in Article VI, Section 4 of the Beta Xi Chapter Bylaws), will be fined at the equivalent price of missing a
chapter meeting, increasing any amount owed as if a chapter meeting was missed. If a member is unable to
make his assignment it is his responsibility to find a replacement for the concert. No excuses, save for
emergency situations, will be accepted.
Section Four – Removal of Members
Per the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity National Constitution and Bylaws Title III, Article IX, Section 1,
“For conduct which is harmful to the best interests or good name of the Fraternity, the chapter may expel
any of its collegiate members from the Fraternity.”
A motion to start the expulsion process of a member must be made in a regularly scheduled business
meeting and must be approved by a majority of members in good standing who are present and voting.
Per the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity National Constitution and Bylaws Title III, Article IX, Section 3:
The chapter sends at lease one week’s written notification to any member being considered
for…expulsion by the chapter informing him of his right to an interview with the chapter executive
committee and the Faculty Advisor. The member may waive such interviews. The written
notification states the reasons for the proposed action, the time and place of the proposed interviews,
and the member’s right of appeal to the NEC if the chapter approves the…expulsion.
Three fourths of the members in good standing present and voting may…expel [a member] from the
Fraternity.
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ARTICLE VIII
Probationary Membership
Section One – Invitation and Ceremony
Probationary members will be chosen based Title III, Article III, Section 1 of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
Fraternity National Constitution and Bylaws
Section Two – Length of Probationary Process
The length of the probationary process is such as laid out in Title III, Article III, Section 4 of the Phi Mu
Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity National Constitution and Bylaws
In addition, the Beta Xi chapter shall hold two probationary classes. The first shall occur in the Fall
semester while the other occurs in the Spring semester
Section Three – Content
As defined in Title III, Article III, Section 4 of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity National Constitution
and Bylaws.
Section Four – Hazing
Title III, Article III, Section 5 of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity National Constitution and Bylaws.
Section Five – Fair Consideration
As defined in Title III, Article III, Section 6 of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity National Constitution
and Bylaws.
Section Six – Retention Voting
As defined in Title III, Article III, Section 7 of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity National Constitution
and Bylaws.
Section Seven – National Examination
As defined in Title I, Article I, Section 9 of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity National Constitution
and Bylaws.
Section Eight – Final Vote
As defined in Title III, Article III, Section 8 of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity National Constitution
and Bylaws.
ARTICLE IX
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Amendments and Reviews
Section One – Amendments
These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the collegiate members of Beta Xi
chapter who are present and voting at any regular business meeting, provided that the proposed
amendment was presented in writing at a previous meeting.
Section Two – Reviews
These bylaws shall be reviewed at least once every year and following any major changes to the governing
documents listed in Article I, Section Two of these bylaws. These bylaws shall be reviewed no later than
December of the year of a National Assembly.