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providing for the personal growth and fulfillment of those whose lives are affected by crossdressing
Bylaws of the ALPHA OMEGA SOCIETY
Section 1: Membership Support
The members of this chapter shall at all times abide by all written rules, directives, or principles and objectives of Alpha Omega. While the right is reserved to question and/or criticize any matter, individual members who cannot abide by a final membership determination should have the courtesy to withdraw. Top Section 2: Guest and Speaker Approval No speakers, professional persons, business persons, or other guests are to be extended an invitation to meetings or activities unless they have been vouched for by at least one active member of Alpha Omega and the Director of Membership or other chapter officer prior to attending. No media persons are to be extended an invitation to chapter meetings or activities unless being approved by the Board of Directors. All efforts will be made to announce in the chapter newsletter prior to the next monthly meeting a notice stating that a guest speaker(s), special guest(s) or the media will be attending a chapter meeting. In the event of a guest speaker canceling their appearance at a meeting, the officers reserve the right to substitute a prior approved speaker without notice to the membership. Top Section 3: Use of Alcoholic Beverages and Controlled Substances At chapter meetings, the use of alcoholic beverages and/or controlled substances will not be permitted. Any members violating this section of the by-laws will be given the choice of disposing of the alcoholic beverage or controlled substance or leaving. Food, snacks and/or desserts in which an alcoholic beverage was used as an ingredient must be labeled as such or it will be discarded. Top Section 4: Code of Conduct and Decorum At all times, the chapter requires that all members conduct themselves in lady-like or gentlemanly manner according to your gender expression. Our dress code requires that attire shall be appropriate to the gender being portrayed and that members will refrain from wearing bizarre or unusual attire to meetings (unless there is a special occasion and the chapter has voted to waive this ruling prior to the meeting in question.) We do not want to draw negative attention to the chapter or to our members. Top Section 5: Payment of Meeting Fees All chapter members are responsible for payment of the meeting fee in advance or upon arrival at the meeting, as well as being responsible for the meeting fee of their guest if other than a guest speaker or professional person invited to contribute to the group. A reduced meeting fee will be levied for spouses or significant others when accompanied by the crossdresser at chapter meetings. No meeting fee is required of professional persons, guests and speakers who are contributing to the chapter in their professional capacity and have been authorized in advance of the meeting. As a courtesy, meeting fees may be waived for visiting officers of crossdressing organizations upon approval by the officers. Top Section 6: Clothes Changing Facility Whenever possible, Alpha Omega will provide an area for individuals attending meetings to change clothes, prior to and after chapter meetings. A fee for use of chapter sponsored changing areas may be instituted by approval of the chapter membership, if deemed necessary. Section 7: Security The security of Alpha Omega Chapter and each of its members or prospective members must be protected. For this reason, membership names and other personal information are kept confidential for use solely by the chapter officers in the conduct of chapter business. Members are admonished to keep confidential all information they may receive in the mail, by email or by phone regarding meeting locations, telephone numbers or any information learned about other members. It is also understood that all officers will relinquish all rights to obtain or retain any information regarding the personal information of any member upon leaving her/his office. Failure to do so can be taken as willful misconduct against a member and may result in expulsion from the chapter and a report sent to Tri-Ess. As part of our ongoing outreach efforts, the media may be asked to attend an Alpha Omega meeting or activity. If the media does attend, they will be required to sign a media confidentiality agreement (see definitions) prior to being given our meeting or activity location. Once signed, copies of the media confidentiality agreement shall be filed by the Director of Communications and by the Secretary to the board. A copy of the signed agreement shall be made available to the media member upon request. Top Section 8: Logins, Passwords and Access Codes Copies of all logins, passwords, access codes and related information including, but not limited to, phone numbers, IP addresses, account names and domain names shall be held by the Chair of the Board, Director of Communications and the Secretary to the Board. Any changes to this information must be immediately communicated to Chair of the Board, Director of Communications and the Secretary to the Board. Failure to communicate such changes shall be considered a breach of security. Top Section 9: Website, Email, Phone Line(s) and Answering Service Ownership The chapter website, email account, phone line(s), answering service and any other such service that is used for the chapter shall be considered as to be owned by the chapter and wherever possible all information regarding these services shall be in the chapter’s name rather than in a person’s or member’s name. The assigned contact name for these services and accounts shall be changed as officers of the applicable departments change so the new officer is designated as the contact person. Top Section 10: Misconduct or Non-feasance of Members and Officers Any member’s membership in Alpha Omega chapter may be revoked and disciplinary action may be levied it the member is found guilty of any of the following: a. Misappropriation of any funds of Alpha Omega. b. Willful disobedience of Alpha Omega constitution or by-laws. c. Verbal, written, or published statements detrimental to the security or peace of mind of individual members of Alpha Omega. or Alpha Omega as a whole. d. Any use of a controlled substance or abuse of alcoholic beverages to the detriment of the membership or the general public. e. Obtaining admission to Alpha Omega by false statements, concealment, deception or evasion of facts. f. Overt sexual behavior or behavior not conducive to peace of mind for all. This includes behavior or dress calculated to offend significant others, and specifically includes promotion of transsexualism. g. Appropriation of the personal property of any member or removal of such property. h. Unauthorized disclosures of confidential information affecting another member, or the member’s peace of mind or that of their family. i. Refusal to assist in a duly authorized internal investigation in a disciplinary matter, willfully suppressing evidence or facts with regard thereto or bearing false witness. j. Failure to comply with chapter rules, codes of conduct or any provision lawfully made by the officers with chapter majority vote, or failure to adhere to any chapter lawful regulations. k. Any member holding an office may be charged and removed from office if found guilty of any of the following: 1. Failure to comply with any state, federal or provincial laws. 2. Misconduct or nonfeasance. 3. Any cause rendering their continuance in the office injurious to the chapter or its members. l. In the event of disciplinary action, all proceeding will be conducted according to Robert’s Rules of Order. Top Section 11: Duties of Officers Each officer shall perform the duties customarily associated with their office, except that upon recommendation of the Chair of the Board and approval of the membership, certain duties may be delegated to other officers, departments or committees of the chapter. a. The Chair of the Board shall preside at all chapter meetings or activities as well as all Board of Directors meetings. b. The Director of Outreach shall be responsible for all the duties of the Chair of the Board in her/his absence. The Director of Outreach shall coordinate meeting programs, community outreach programs, coordinating with other departments with regards to advertising for the chapter, coordinating special guests, the media, etc. c. The Director of Family Support shall coordinate programs for significant others, parents, children and other family members and friends of crossdressers. d. The Director of Membership shall coordinate programs to assist new and potential members, coordinating and assigning interviewers with interested parties, etc. e. The Director of Finance shall receive all moneys payable to the chapter and disbursing funds in payment of obligations incurred and authorized by the chapter and/or Board of Directors. The Director of Finance shall be the designated contact person for the IRS and shall handle all such functions as may be required of that position. A financial report will only be given to regular members of Alpha Omega Chapter when requested; the Board of Directors, other departments and their respective members as needed for the performance of their duties. f. The Director of Communications shall coordinate all chapter communications including but not limited to the chapter newsletter, the chapter web site, chapter email address(es), the phone line(s) and/or answering service(s), media releases and any other issue in which communications is a function. g. The Secretary to the Board shall keep a record of all chapter meetings and activities, maintain an accurate membership roster, conduct correspondence, and receive all moneys payable to the chapter in the absence of the Director of Finance. Top Section 12: Board of Directors Meetings The Board of Directors shall meet a minimum of 2 times per year. Top Section 13: Rules for Conducting a Meeting Robert’s Rules of Order will be the authority for operating meetings if not otherwise covered by this constitution or by-laws. Top Section 14: Publications The newsletter and other publication(s) of the organization shall refrain from containing subject matter of a sexual, racial, partisan religious or partisan political nature and shall not disparage any transgender person or organization. Top Section 15: Meeting Time The Alpha Omega Chapter meeting shall be the second Saturday of each month. The Board of Directors may modify the meeting date in special situations. Top Section 16: Cash Reserve Amount (Petty Cash) and Discretionary Funds The amount held as a cash reserve, also known as petty cash, shall be determined by the Board of Directors. The Amount held for discretionary funds for use by the officers and/or Board of Directors for the conducting of necessary Chapter business shall be determined by the chapter membership with recommendation by the Board of Directors. Top |
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