The APO Constitution (this is long, and I am sorry)

The Alpha Delta Zeta Cast
of Alpha Psi Omega
Christopher Newport University

Drafted: September 2003

Article 1 – Name
The name of this theatre honorary fraternity shall be the Alpha Delta Zeta cast of Alpha Psi Omega at Christopher Newport University.

Article 2 – Purpose
The purpose of this cast of Alpha Psi Omega is to stimulate professionalism, edutactional opportunities and interest in dramatic activities at Christopher Newport University, to secure for the University all of the advantages and mutual support by a large national honorary fraternity, and to recognize student participation in University theatre productions.

Article 3 – Membership
Section 1 – To be considered for membership the candidate must be enrolled as a full or part time student at Christopher Newport University.

Section 2 – To be considered for membership, the candidate must have a 2.0 cumulative grade point average.

Section 3 – To be considered for memebership, the candidate must have accrued ten points on the following point system, at least fifty percent of which must have come from Theater CNU productions, while demonstrating a high degree of professionalism in all qualifying activities.
For TheaterCNU productions or professional work at a theatre under an Actor’s Equity Association (AEA) contract:

Lead Roles – 4 Points
Principal Acting Roles
Directing
Stage Management
Design

Supporting Roles – 2 points
Character or Supporting Actor with assigned text or vocal parts
Assistant Designer
Assistant Director
Assistant Stage Manager
Master Electrician
Props Manager
Costume Mistress

Minor Roles – 1 point
Non Speaking Roles or roles with less than five lines
Volunteer Running Crew (10 hour minimum for credit)*
Volunteer Electrician, Set Construction, etc. (10 hour minimum for credit)*
Publicity
*Required crew assignments do generate points for APO. (Scenes for classes and lab hours have been struck from this amendment)

For Off Campus Activities (i.e.: other collegiate productions, community theatre, workshops, non-AEA professional work:

Lead Roles --- 2 points
Supporting Roles --- 1 point
Minor Roles --- 1/2 point
(Off-campus points accrue only after the student’s first participation in a TheatreCNU production)

For Understudying any role, the point values will be cut in half. If the Understudy performs the role more than once, he receives full credit.

For Lunch Boxes, Directing Studios, and related activities:

All Roles – 1 point by approval of the Alpha Psi Omega Executive Board

In order to receive full credit for a performance in a One Act Play, the show must run longer than 25 minutes and be more than a one night engagement.

Musicians performing on any CNU stage or in an orchestra shall earn 2 points.

Additional points may be assigned on a case-by-case basis upon Executive Board evaluations of the activity based on a unanimous vote of the Executive Board.

Section 4 – After initiation, every member must accrue not fewer than 2 points per semester, attend at least fifty percent of regular meetings and maintain a 2.5 grade point average within their major. Members who maintain a 3.0 or higher cumulative grade point average will be designated Alpha Psi Omega Scholars.

Section 5 – Exemptions to any requirements can be made by a two thirds simple vote of active members.

Section 6 – Interested students who are working towards their membership requirements may participate in all meetings and activities, excluding initiation meetings. Those non-voting members will be known as Understudies.

Article 4 – Faculty Advisors
The Alpha Delta Zeta cast of Alpha Psi Omega will require at least one, but not more than two faculty or staff advisors. At least one of these advisors should be a TheaterCNU faculty member. Preference shall be given to Alpha Psi Omega members.

Article 5 – Induction Process
The induction process will be conducted twice every academic year, once in the fall and once in the spring.

Section 1 – Nominations will be open for the first three weeks of the semester. Nomination letters will be accepted from anyone connected with TheaterCNU. TO nominate a candidate, one must submit a letter to the Alpha Delta Zeta cast explaining why they feel the candidate is worthy of membership and have it signed by one other affiliated person. Any person demonstrating outstanding participation in theatre at CNU is eligible for nomination.

Section 2 – The fourth week of the semester, members of the Alpha Delta Zeta cast will meet to review nomination letters and make additional nominations if necessary to insure that all worthy persons receive consideration.

Section 3 – By the end of the fourth week of the semester, accepted nominees will be notified in writing of their nomination to the Alpha Delta Zeta cast and asked to submit an acceptance letter if they wsh to be considered for membership.
(Original Section 4 eliminated)

Section 4 – The Alpha Delta Zeta cast will notify all nominees of the election results in
person as soon as possible. AFKAPS are required to memorize the Greek alphabet and twelve consecutive lines of Shakespeare, and to learn the required technical vocabulary and the history of this cast of Alpha Psi Omega in preparation for their induction. The lines cannot be from a production in progress. AFKAPS must be informed of the required dues, to be collected at the induction ceremony.

Section 5 – Members of the cast will plan an induction ceremony.

Article 6 – Executive Officers
Section 1 – The officers of this cast shall be President, Vice President, Business Manager, Secretary, Liaison, and Public Relations Director.

Section 2 – The President of the cast shall preside at all meetings, cast meetings, appoint committees and have general supervision of the affairs of the fraternity.

Section 3 – The Vice President shall assume the responsibilities of the president in his absence, oversee the preparations for induction ceremonies and other fraternity functions, keep accurate records of membership requirements for all members, pledges and understudies.

Section 4- The Secretary shall be responsible for maintaining minutes for every meeting and distribute minutes to all members for the following meeting. If any changes need to be made to minutes, the Secretary will make them. The secretary acts as webmaster for Alpha Psi Omega at CNU. The secretary is the point of contact for any member who has to miss a meeting.

Section 6 – The Public Relations Director shall publicize all Alpha Psi Omega activities to the University and to the community, keep an up-to-date file of all outside opportunities, post all outside opportunities on the Alpha Psi Omega bulletin board, and provide that information to members.

Section 7 – The Liaison shall serve as head of a committee of which he is also a member. The committee will be responsible for maintaining contacts to SGA, CAB area theatres, and any other group that Alpha Psi Omega deems worthwhile.

The previously-existing position of Historian shall be ad-hoc.

Article 7 – Elections
Section 1 – Elections shall be held every spring semester.

Section 2 – Officers shall be elected by a t 2/3 majority vote of the active cast.

Section 3 – Nominations shall be made at regular spring semester meetings.

Section 4 – Elections shall be held by secret ballot over the course of the week after nominations. All cast members shall fill out a ballot, sign it, and deposit it into a locked ballot box. The faculty advisor(s) shall retrieve an d count the ballots after the week of voting period has passed.

Section 5 – Officers will be sworn in no later than commencement at a mandatory transition meeting.

Section 6 – In case officers fail to return to school, new officers shall be elected to fill vacancies at the next meeting.

Section 7 –In the event that an officer fails to perform their duty or acts in a way that is detrimental to the interests of the fraternity, he or she may be removed by a two thirds majority in a formal vote.

Article 8 – Meetings
Section 1 – Regular meetings shall be held every other week during both fall and spring semesters. Special meetings shall be at the discretion of the Executive Board.

Section 2 – meeting shall be conducted informally unless the president chooses to invoke Robert’s Rules of Order.

Section 3 – A quorum shall consist of 2/3 of the active cast membership. A quorum must be present for all formal votes.

Section 4 – A simple hand vote can suffice for informal voting, but all fomal votes require a secret ballot.

Section 5 – Attendance: If AFKAPS miss more than three meetings during their semester of induction, they will not be initiated in that semester. If a cast member misses more than three meetings in any semester without prior notice to the Secretary of the Board, the member will be fined five dollars. The AFKAP and cast member can be exempted from this fine by vote of simple majority.

Article 9 – Dues
Section 1 – There shall be an initiation fee, as specified by the national fraternity, paid before any prospective member can be initiated.

Section 2 – Dues of $10 shall be paid at the first regular meeting of each semester following initiation.

Article 10 – Amendments
Section 1 – This constitution may be amended or altered in whole or in part at any meeting by a 2/3 vote of the members of the fraternity provided such amendment or proposal be given in writing at the previous regular meeting at least two weeks prior to the vote.

Section 2 – Additional by-laws may be adopted at any meeting by a 2/3 vote of the active members of the cast.

Section 3 – The President shall convene a constitutional review committee annually. All proposed changes must be ratified in accordance with Article 10, Section 1.

Section 4 – In the event of any outstanding dues or fines, any benefits or privileges provided by the Alpha Delta Zeta cast shall be revoked until debts are paid.

Article 11 – National Membership
Section 1 – Plays to be produced by the department or the fraternity shall be reported at the beginning of each school year to the National Grand Business Manager.

Section 2 – The colors shall be moonlight blue (L 183) and bastard amber (R 02).

Article 12 – Ratification
This constitution shall become effective upon ratification by unanimous vote of the founding constitutional convention, submission to the National Grand Cast and approval of the Student Government Association.