SECTION 2 — TYPES AND CONDITIONS OF MEMBERSHIP
(1) PLEDGE MEMBERSHIP
GENERAL INFORMATION. Pledge membership shall be conferred upon students enrolled at Drake University who are selected to participate in a period of preparation and training in the ideals and purposes of Alpha Phi Omega. The pledge ceremony shall be according to the official ritual of the fraternity. The duration of the pledge period shall be a minimum of eight weeks and shall not surpass ten weeks ending on the night of pledge voting. All pledging requirements must be in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation, the National Standard Chapter Articles of Association, and the operating policies of the National Fraternity.
INTENTION TO PLEDGE. Any person who wishes to pledge Omega Chapter must submit their intention to the Pledge Educator in writing ninety-six hours prior to the Initiation Ceremony. In their letter they must agree to fulfill all of the pledge requirements and attend pledge meetings, attend set required pledge events, and attend Initiation and Activation as set.
PLEDGE REQUIREMENTS. During the pledge period, pledges shall complete a minimum of twelve service hours, four fellowship events as defined by the current Fellowship Committee, and four general chapter meetings or executive committee meetings. In addition, pledges must attend all chapter mandatory events, the pledge class fellowship event, the pledge class service event, the pledge class retreat, and must also serve on a pledge committee or serve as the pledge class president. All pledges will pay Initiation and Activation fees. All pledging requirements must be completed and all pledge quizzes must be passed achieving eighty percent or higher correct) must be completed before approval of the applicant by this chapter. Pledges must return their pledge pin or provide chapter with a five-dollar replacement fee before being activated into this chapter.
PLEDGE COMMITTES AND PLEDGE CLASS PRESIDENT. The requirement of serving on a pledge committee is fulfilled by attending all committee meetings unless excused by chair and by contributing to the tasks of the committee to aid in task completion. If a committee does not complete their assignment, then the people on the committee must go through pledge voting for failure to adequately serve on a pledge committee.
PLEDGE CLASS PRESIDENT. The pledge class president must attend all executive committee meetings, serving as a liaison between the pledge class and the chapter.
SPECIAL PROJECTS COMMITTEE. This committee is to arrange the sale of a pledge class item, a chapter item, and to create and complete a pledge class paddle before Pledge Voting, to be presented to chapter at Activation.
INTERCHAPTER RELATIONS COMMITTTE. This committee shall plan either a service or fellowship event and invite a minimum of one other chapter. In addition they shall arrange a form of recognition for that semesters graduating seniors at the final meeting of the semester.
FELLOWSHIP COMMITTEE. This committee is to plan and run the pledge class fellowship event and a chapter fellowship event, the dates of which must be set before the midpoint of the semester.
SERVICE. This committee is to plan and run a service event for the pledge class, the date of which must be set before the midpoint of the pledging period.
HISTORIAN. Create a pledge class scrapbook before Pledge Voting to be presented at Activation.
VOTING RIGHTS OF ALL PLEDGES. Pledges shall only be granted voting rights on issues inside their pledge class meetings (i.e. president, chairs of committees, and awards committee representation).
(2) ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP
GENERAL INFORMATION. Active membership in this chapter shall be conferred upon students enrolled at Drake University who demonstrate the principles of Alpha Phi Omega. Active members must have successfully completed a pledge semester structured in accordance with the guidelines established in the National Pledging Standards and the Membership Policies of the Fraternity, and they are encouraged, but not required, by this chapter to be a registered member of a Scout movement. Active membership shall carry all rights and responsibilities in this chapter. This chapter shall determine the degree of participation of Members in graduate school. Active membership shall continue so long as the member remains in good standing in this chapter, does not become an associate member, and continues enrollment at Drake University. A member of Alpha Phi Omega, transferring to Drake University from another institution, may affiliate with Omega chapter with the approval of a majority of the executive committee.
ACTIVE REQUIREMENTS. To remain in good standing, active members are required to pay chapter dues and Annual Active Membership Dues by the date set by the Treasurer. Active members must complete a minimum of twelve service hours, as defined by the current Service committee, per semester. They will also attend at least five chapter or executive council meetings and five fellowship events, one of which is a pledge meeting, as defined by the current Fellowship committee, per semester. Active members will participate on at least one chapter committee each semester, as defined by the chair. They will be expected to complete one fundraising event during the fall semester as well as one shift of a Relays fundraising event during the spring semester, as defined by the current fundraising committee. Finally, active members should attend all events designated by the Executive Committee as mandatory.
OPTIONAL REQUIREMENTS
PLEDGE PARENTS. Pledge parents are brothers who sign up to be a mentor to a pledge. The requirements of a pledge parent are to create a personalized binder cover for pledge kid by the first pledge meeting, create a personalized door dec. for pledge kid and place it on their door (unless they live off campus) by the first pledge meeting, attend two pledge meetings, plan one non-Alpha Phi Omega sponsored event with pledge kid, and give their pledge kid an activation and initiation gift. Any other requirements set by the pledge educator at the beginning of the semester, before initiation.
(3) ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP
GENERAL INFORMATION. The chapter may confer associate membership on an active member who finds it necessary to cease full involvement in chapter affairs because of other commitments of time and effort, and who petitions for such membership in writing. The chapter must approve by a majority vote.
ASSOCIATE REQUIREMENTS. Associate members are required to pay dues set by Treasurer and shall continue to receive chapter mailings but may not vote, serve as an officer, or serve as a pledge parent. Associate members shall perform six hours of service with the fraternity, as defined by the current Service committee, and attend three general meetings or executive committee meetings and three fellowship events each associate semester. Associate membership may continue for up to two semesters after which time it must be renewed. A member may not petition for associate membership during his or her first semester following activation.
(4) TEMPORARY INACTIVE STATUS
(4) TEMPORARY INACTIVE STATUS. If a member studies abroad they are granted temporary inactive status. If a member in good standing petitions the executive council at the beginning of the semester for temporary inactive status and the executive committee believes the reasons for temporary inactive status are warranted, the person may be granted a single occurrence for one semester as a temporary inactive member. A member who is temporarily inactive may not participate in any Omega chapter events. At the end of the one semester the member returns to their previous status of membership.
(5) ADVISORY MEMBERSHIP
This chapter may confer advisory membership upon persons approved by the Chapter to serve on its Advisory Committee and they shall have all rights and privileges of active membership, except voting, directing the supervision of pledges or the establishment of Pledge or Active Membership programs and policies, or holding office other than Chairperson of the Advisory Committee. Such membership may not be conferred upon undergraduate students. These persons shall be subject to annual approval by the chapter at the Annual Business Meeting.
(6) HONORARY MEMBERSHIP
This chapter may confer Honorary Chapter Membership upon persons who have contributed significantly to the ideals and purposes of Alpha Phi Omega. Persons so honored shall have all rights and privileges of active membership except those of voting or holding office. Honorary chapter membership may not be bestowed upon undergraduate students. The approval by a vote of at least three-fourths vote of this chapter's active members shall be required for the conferring of honorary chapter membership.
(7) LIFE MEMBERSHIP
Life membership recognition shall be granted to any Active, Advisory, or Alumni Member who contributes to Alpha Phi Omega Endowment fund an amount as specified by Article VIII, Section 7. If requested, Life members shall receive a free subscription to the Fraternity magazine, renewable at no cost every five years.
(8) ALUMNI MEMBERSHIP
Upon leaving this chapter, without currently being on probation or having been suspended or expelled by this chapter or the National Fraternity, all who have held active, advisory or honorary membership in this chapter shall be recognized as alumni members. Advisory members shall also be recognized as alumni members when they become Life Members.
