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The Phi Alpha 2017

the official publication of the

July 6-8, 2017 | BOSTON, MA

161st Anniversary Convention of Sigma Alpha Epsilon

T h e 1 6 1 s T A N N I V e R s A R Y C O N V e N T I O N . J u l Y 6 - 8 , 2 0 1 7 . B O s T O N , M A 3

Welcome to convention 4Program Details 5scheDule of events 6oPtional events 7logistics & Planning 8requirements for creDentials 9canDiDates for suPreme council 1 0ProPosals to amenD the fraternity laWs 1 3rules for Parlimentary ProceDure 2 5rules of orDer 2 7reimbursement for miles travelleD/convention mileage funD 2 8fraternity laWs revision 3 2anthems 7 3sPonsors 74venue maP 75

C o n t e n t s

T H E P H I A L P H A . S I g m A A L P H A E P S I L o n ’ S o f f I c I A L c o n v E n T I o n P u b L I c A T I o n4

W e l C o m e t o C o n v e n t i o n

As co-chairs of the Convention Host Committee, we are proud to welcome you to the historic and cutting edge city of Boston. Convention returns to Boston for the first time since 1926, as it travels from the Pacific to the Atlantic coast. This event will bring forward important business of the Fraternity, including debate and voting on important law proposals which will frame the direction of the Fraternity over the next two years. It will also include the election of Supreme Council members who volunteer their time as the Fraternity’s Board of Directors. Most importantly, this event will bring together undergraduate and alumni brothers from across the Realm to share ideas, enjoy one another’s company and to get acquainted with our fair city.

Located downtown, moments from Copley Square, our hotel venue is steps away from captivating attractions such as Boston Common, the historic Boston Public Library, Trinity Church, and Fenway Park. World class shopping is available next door on historic Newbury Street, as well as the indoor mall of interconnected buildings at the Prudential Center. The hotel rooms are spacious with modern bathrooms, and the hotel itself offers a vibrant sports bar, fitness center, and heated indoor pool in addition to the meeting facilities we all will enjoy.

The Host Committee has carefully selected a host of à-la-carte events that highlight a flavor of the area. A visit to historic Fenway Park is scheduled for Thursday. A dinner-cruise with fellow SAEs is available Friday night, where you will see the Boston waterfront, the harbor islands and flurry of boating activity. Compete in our very own poker tournament and participate in community service at our blood drive. The guest program includes shopping, lunch at the Harvard Club and tours of the North End and Faneuil Hall.

The city surrounds our convention site; it is easy to walk, ride share or travel by public transportation to enjoy our landmarks, restaurants, waterfront, Boston Common, and the Swan Boats at Boston Public Garden.

We are excited to join you at this significant event for our Fraternity. May these few days of camaraderie and adventure prove to be a highlight of your summer. Thanks to all the efforts of our host committee and to our collective and individual sponsors who help make this all happen.

P h i A l P h A !gavin maxfielD & Kevin neumann

convention host committee

Along with the members of the 161st Anniversary Convention Host Committee:

On behalf of the 161st Anniversary Convention Host Committee; our host Province, Alpha; and the many brothers who have made this event possible,

W e l C o m e t o b o s t o n !

John Breyer

Brandon Calamito

Steve Churchill

Josh Cohen

Matt Dougherty

Doug Haber

Alex Hall

Kenny Hall

Dick Hooker

Jason Kleban

James Latimer

Michael Lear

Eric Maxwell

Jesse Ouelette

Matthew Prokator

Bryan Quinn

Paul Revere IV

Matt Schultz

Matt Sirios

Zholl Tablante

James Williams


P R o G R A m D e t A i l s

F e e s F o R C o n v e n t i o ncollegiate members$425 (early bird) February 1 – March 15

$475 (priority) March 16 – April 30

$525 (regular) May 1 – June 6

$600 (on-site) June 7 and after

alumni members$475 (early bird) February 1 – March 15

$525 (priority) March 16 – April 30

$575 (regular) May 1 – June 6


sPouse, guest or colonies$275 (regular) February 1 – June 6


mileage rate$0.18/mile

no-shoW fine for chaPters$1,500

i n D i v i D u A l e v e n t P R i C e s convention mealsOpening Luncheon $55

Closing Banquet $95

boston harbor cruiseAlumni & Guests $25

Collegiate $10

fenWay ParK guiDeD tourAlumni & Guests $25

Collegiate $10

PoKer tournamentAll Free

C o n v e n t i o n o F F i C i A l sPresiDing officer Steven W. Churchill (Iowa State ‘85) Eminent Supreme Archon

secretary F. Michael Sophir (Nebraska ‘85) Eminent Supreme Recorder

convention manager James P. Irwin (Nicholls State ‘05)

Director of Educational Programs

marshal Matthew W. Jones (Cal Poly-Pamona ‘97)

DePuty marshal Brendon H. Krall (Washington ‘18)

Parlimentarian Thomas J. Dement II (Middle Tennessee State ‘90)

DePuty Parlimentarian Gregory D. Brandt (Drake ‘84)

sergeants-at-arms Michael M. Allison (Oakland ‘14) Alan G. Fischer (Kansas ‘12) Shane R. Gragg (Appalachian State ‘11) John E. Kovalan (Youngstown State ‘05) Brett S. Polen (Michigan State ‘11) Timothy P.K. Sirota (UC-San Diego ‘14) Everet C. Thompson (Youngstown State ‘14) Sigma Alpha Epsilon Field Staff

organist Fred D. Phelps (Eastern New Mexico ‘64)

C o m m i t t e e C h A i R m e nauDit & finance Stephen A. Schneider (New Mexico ‘68)

fraternity laWs Martin D. Wiglesworth (Centre College ‘84)

creDentials Barrett E. Zehner (Colorado-Colorado Springs ‘12)

resolutions David M.B. Griego (New Mexico ‘83)


s C h e D u l e o F e v e n t s

WeDnesDay, July 52:00Pm – 6:00Pm Registration Registration Desk A

2:00Pm – 5:00Pm Supreme Council Meeting * Hyannis

5:30Pm – 7:30Pm Official Family Reception * (Sponsored by Alexander, Thompson, Arnold CPAs) Top of the Hub, Prudential Center

thursDay, July 68:00am – 5:00Pm Foundation Board Meeting * Arlington

8:00am – 5:00Pm Financial & Housing Board Meeting * Hyannis

8:00am – 2:00Pm Registration Registration Desk A

8:00am – 8:30am Official Family Briefing * Brandeis

8:00am – 12:00Pm Council of Province Archons Meeting * Provincetown

9:00am – 11:00am Past ESA Meeting * Orleans

9:00am – 12:00Pm Fraternity Laws Committee Meeting * Exeter

12:00Pm – 1:30Pm Opening Luncheon Salon F

1:30Pm – 4:30Pm First Plenary Session Salons A-E

3:00Pm – 6:00Pm Committee Meetings º

4:30Pm – 6:00Pm Candidates’ Forum Salons A-E

6:30Pm – 8:00Pm Dignitaries Reception * Vineyard/Yarmouth

6:00Pm – 7:00Pm Fenway Park Guided Tour ^ (Sponsored by SAE Financial & Housing Corporation) Collegiate: $10 Alumni & Guests: $25

friDay, July 77:00am – 9:00am Merit Key Breakfast * Vineyard

8:00am – 5:00am Committee Meetings º

9:00am – 12:00Pm Second Plenary Session Salons A-E

12:00Pm – 1:30Pm Lunch Salon F

12:00Pm – 5:00Pm Red Cross Blood Drive St. Botolph (2nd Floor)

2:00Pm – 5:00Pm Third Plenary Session Salons A-E

7:00Pm – 8:30Pm Boston Harbor Sunset Cruise ^ Collegiate: $10 Alumni & Guests: $25

9:30Pm – 12:30am Poker Tournament ^ All: Free

saturDay, July 88:00am – 5:00Pm Committee Meetings º

9:00am – 12:00Pm Fourth Plenary Session Salons A-E

12:00Pm – 1:30Pm Lunch On Your Own

2:00Pm – 5:00Pm Fifth Plenary Session Salons A-E

6:30Pm – 7:30Pm Outgoing Eminent Supreme Archon’s Reception Salon F

7:30Pm – 10:30Pm Closing Banquet Salons A-E

^Event is offered as an a-la-carte option. Admission is not covered in the cost of registration. Tickets may be purchased pending availibility. Details are listed on page 7.

committee meeting locations:

Audit & Finance Committee BerkeleyFraternity Laws Committee ExeterResolutions Committee ClarendonCredentials Committee MIT (Wednesday) Vineyard (Thursday AM) Dartmouth (Thursday PM) Dartmouth (Friday & Saturday)

*Event is invitation only

ºCommittee meeting location is listed in the next column.


o P t i o n A l e v e n t s

P R o G R A m F o R G u e s t sEach convention includes a program for guests of brothers who attend the event. Alumni who wish to bring guests should choose the proper category during registration that includes the “with guest/spouse” option. In addition, the admission for the guest program includes attendance at all official convention events, including meals and banquets. The host committee will provide a list of tourist attractions, shopping and local landmarks and museums that guests can peruse at their own leisure during their time in Boston. Guests who do not wish to register for the program may also purchase a-la-carte tickets to individual events. The cost to participate in the ladies/guest program is $275 during registration ($350 on-site).

thursDay, July 610:00am – 10:30am Meet & Greet: Coffee & Tea Harvard Room (3rd Floor)

10:30am – 12:00Pm Prudential Center Shopping / Free Time 800 Boylston Street

12:00Pm – 1:30Pm Opening Luncheon * Salon F

2:00Pm – 5:00Pm Old Town Trolley Bus Tour (Hop On/Off) Lobby

6:00Pm – 7:00Pm Fenway Park Guided Tour ^

friDay, July 711:30am – 10:30am Lunch at the Harvard Club 374 Commonwealth Ave

2:00Pm – 3:30Pm Harvard University Walking Tour

7:00Pm – 8:30Pm Boston Harbor Sunset Cruise ^

9:30Pm – 12:00am Poker Tournament ^

saturDay, July 810:00am – 11:00am Trinity Church Tour 206 Clarendon Street

11:30am – 1:30Pm Lunch at Union Oyster House 41 Union Street

2:00Pm – 5:00Pm Faneuil Hall or Self-Guided North End Walking Tour 4 South Market Street

7:00Pm – 10:00Pm Closing Banquet * Salons A-E

h o s t C o m m i t t e e e v e n t sThe Host Committee has arranged for a number of optional evening events that allows convention delegates and guests to enjoy some of the best sights that Boston has to offer. Although these optional events are not in-cluded in our registration price, the Host Committee has arranged for spe-cial rates to that you can participate. Tickets may be purchased online and

are subject to availability.

thursDay, July 6fenWay ParK guiDeD tour(Sponsored by SAE Financial & Housing Corporation)6:00 Pm - 7:00 Pm (bus DeParts 5:15)“America’s Most Beloved Ballpark” is uniquely nestled in the city of Boston. Fenway Park is a place where dreams are made, traditions are celebrated and baseball is forever. See the home of the legendary Boston Red Rox and sit atop the world famous Green Monster, which stands 37 feet 2 inches high overlooking leftfield. Experience even more of Boston with several food trucks featuring Boston cuisine. Collegiate: $10

Alumni & Guests: $25

friDay, July 7reD cross blooD Drive 12:00 Pm - 5:00 Pm (st. botolPh room, 2nD floor)The Red Cross plays a leading role in increasing the availability of blood. Providing life-saving blood and blood products to patients is a key component of the Red Cross mission to help people in times of emergency and disasters. All presenting donors have the chance to win 2 Boston Red Sox tickets and a chance to be honored on the field as the “Blood Donor of the Game”. Sign up for your time slot at RedCrossBlood.org and enter sponsor code: SAEBoston or download the App (search “American Red Cross Blood” in your App store).

friDay, July 7boston harbor sunset cruise7:00 Pm - 8:30 Pm (bus DeParts 5:30Pm)Guests will be provided a fully narrated, 90-minute sightseeing tour of Boston Harbor. Everyone will enjoy circumnavigating the harbor while being introduced to the history and lore, including the USS Constitution’s traditional ritual as she fires her cannon and lowers her flag to signal the day’s end. Other sights include historic islands, cultural landmarks and breathtaking lighthouses. Collegiate: $10Alumni & Guests: $25

friDay, July 7PoKer tournament9:30 Pm - 12:30 am (exeter room)Join us Friday night afor the traditional SAE Poker Tournament. No real cash, no real winnings, just plenty of fun and brotherhood. All: Free

*Event with Convention Delegation

^Event is offered as an a-la-carte option. Admission is not covered in the cost of registration. Tickets may be purchased pending availibility. Details are listed on the column to the right.


l o G i s t i C s A n D P l A n n i n G

convention registration Register online and find comprehensive information at www.sae.net/convention. You can pay using a credit card or check. Checks should be made payable to Sigma Alpha Epsilon and sent to Ross A. Pometta (Director of Member Services) at 1856 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60201-3837. If you are paying by check, please note “Convention Registration” on the note field. All registrations after June 6 must be made on-site in Boston. Registration fees include attendance at all official convention meal functions and social events. The Guest Program is included in the spouse/guest registration fee.

hotel reservations The Boston Marriott Copley Place, located in the Back Bay and within walking distance of many great sites, is the official convention property. Sigma Alpha Epsilon members and guests are extended a special rate for our event, which is $169 per room per night plus tax. Our special rate is available July 3 through July 10. Delegates and guests may choose from one king room or one double-bedded room. Be advised, that not all room types may be available before, during and/or after our official program dates. Information about the hotel can also be found at www.sae.net/convention. Please note, the cutoff date to book a room under our official block is June 13, 2017. After that time, reservations and rates are subject to availability. Make sure to note the reservation’s cancellation/change policy, as the national headquarters is not responsible for individual hotel reservations or fees. The Loews Boston, brief 10-minute walk from the main property, serves as the overflow hotel.

For questions or problems with lodging, please contact Convention Manager James Irwin at [email protected] or at (847) 424-3032.

air travel The preferred and closest airport to our convention hotel is Logan International Airport (BOS). The Boston Marriot Copley Place does not run an airport shuttle but can be accessed easily via taxi or rideshare options. The hotel is located at 110 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, 02116.

WeatherJuly is the warmest month of the year for Boston. The average high is around 80 degrees dur-ing the day and 65 in the evenings. You can expect rain on an average of 10 days a month. While almost all of the official events are inside the hotel, delegates will have the chance to see the surrounding areas as well. Boston is a great walking city, so pack accordingly.

Dress All convention sessions and meetings require business/badge attire (coat and tie). Business casual attire is acceptable at other official events. The closing banquet on Saturday is black-tie optional. Women who attend the closing banquet should plan to wear formal evening attire.

tuxeDo rentalsThe closing banquet, in keeping with a longstanding tradition, will be black-tie optional. Members of the Supreme Council and other leaders and dignitaries will be dressed in a tux-edo, and we have provided a means for you to do the same if you’d like. Sigma Alpha Epsilon has arranged for a company that will rent tuxedos to our members.

The Men’s Wearhouse is proud to partner with Sigma Alpha Epsilon to offer a special of $40 on tuxedo rentals. Simply visit your local Men’s Wearhouse and reference group number 7453031 to receive your savings. Please pay in full at booking as the tuxes will be delivered to the hotel for you.

A 40% off retail discount is also available for you. Give the store this code for savings:

AISE 1010101

Members who wish to rent a tuxedo can choose from their own style and colors provided in the on-site catalog. Each member is responsible for his own payment for the rental. All tuxedoes will be delivered to the hotel bell stand by mid-afternoon on Saturday, July 8, in time for the final banquet. Please be fit before 7/1/2017.


R e q u i R e m e n t s F o R C R e D e n t i A l s

chaPter Delegates

At least 30 days prior to convention (by June 6, 2017), a chapter will report the name of its delegate and, if applicable, alternate, to the Fraternity Service Center per Fraternity Laws Section 40.A.1.

Delegates must be in good standing with the chapter. Per Fraternity Laws Section 49.A, a member is in good standing unless 1) he is delinquent in accounts; 2) he is delinquent in scholarship; 3) he is under suspension; 4) an accusation exists against him; or 5) he has not been graduated and is not currently enrolled in the institution where his chapter is domiciled.

The Eminent Archon of the chapter should have completed his Eminent Archon Report by May 15 per Fraternity Laws Section 37.A.10. Both the 2016 and 2017 reports must be on file for this requirement.

The chapter must be in good financial standing with the Fraternity Service Center per Fraternity Laws Section 57.C.2. A chapter enters bad financial standing if its total indebtedness exceeds an average of $100 per active member for more than three months. The chapter must submit a copy of appropriate IRS Form 990 as required by IRS regulations.

Chapters that fail to send at least one delegate will be fined $1,500 per Fraternity Laws Section 40.A.2.

Delegates from chapters not in good standing will not receive a vote but will be entitled to receive their designated allowance from the convention mileage fund.

alumni associations

At least 30 days prior to convention (by June 6, 2017), an alumni association will report the name of its delegate. Please note Sec. 45B of our Fraternity Laws that states that no charter for an alumni association shall be granted within 90 days immediately preceding a Convention.

Delegates must be in good standing with the association per Fraternity Laws Section 45.H.2. In order to be in good standing, the member must have donated at least $10 in the current fiscal year or have achieved aggregate giving of at least $100 to the Fraternity (not an individual chapter) or the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Foundation per Fraternity Laws Section 59.

Every delegate from an area alumni association must live in the vicinity of the location where the association is domiciled per Fraternity Laws Section 60.H.2.

The alumni association must have paid its annual dues of $100 to the Fraternity Service Center by January 15 per Fraternity Laws Section 45.F. The alumni association president, or a designated member of the association, should have completed an Alumni Association Annual Report by April 1 per Fraternity Laws Section 45.G. Both the 2016 and 2017 reports must be on file for this requirement.

Province archons

At least 30 days prior to convention (by June 6, 2017), a province will report the name of its delegate. The Province Archon should have completed a report within one month following his province convention on the state of his province per Fraternity Laws Section 28.A.5.

Delegates must be in good standing with the Fraternity. In order to be in good standing, the member must have donated at least $10 in the current fiscal year or have achieved aggre-gate giving of at least $100 to the Fraternity (not an individual chapter) or the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Foundation per Fraternity Laws Section 44.

suPreme council

At least 30 days prior to convention (by June 6, 2017), Supreme Council members should report their intent to attend convention.

Each member of the Supreme Council should have completed a report of his work during the biennium per Fraternity Laws Section 18.H.1.


Past eminent suPreme archons

At least 30 days prior to convention (by June 6, 2017), Past Eminent Supreme Archons should report their intent to attend convention.


colonies, guests anD sPouses Colonies are encouraged to attend the convention but will not be allowed to vote. Additional chapter delegates registered as alternates may vote for their chapter once credentialed, one vote per chapter notwithstanding. Those alternates must fulfill the same obligations that are spelled out above under “Chapter Delegates.” Guests and spouses who register for the convention may attend all official business but will not be allowed to vote.


eminent suPreme WarDen

michael J. corelli northern illinois ‘01

C A n D i D A t e s F o R s u P R e m e C o u n C i l

eminent suPreme archon

thomas J. Dement ii miDDle tennesee state ’90

eminent suPreme DePuty archon

gregory D. branDtDraKe ‘84

Dement pledged the Tennessee Beta chapter at Middle Tennessee State University in the fall of 1987 and was initiated in the spring of 1988. As an undergraduate, he served his chapter as Risk Manager, Recruitment Chairman and Eminent Preceptor, a role he still continues to fill in Province Iota and throughout the Realm. He also served in many leadership positions with the Interfraternity Council, including President. On a national level, he was appointed to serve as an undergraduate member of the first Permanent Committee on Risk Management. Dement earned Bachelor of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees from Middle Tennessee State University and a law degree from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama.

After law school, he served for one year as a judicial law clerk in the 16th Judicial District of Tennessee. He currently is a partner with Leitner, Williams, Dooley & Napolitan, PLLC, a regional law firm with five offices throughout the Southeast. Dement’s areas of practice include general civil litigation, intellectual property litigation, insurance defense, employment law, corporate and commercial litigation and corporate and business transactions. He is a past Province Iota Archon, a position he held from 1998-2007, and was the Chairman of the Council of Province Archons from 2004-2007. He is also a past Chairman of both the Permanent Committee on the Ritual and the Permanent Committee on Fraternity Laws and has served on the Leadership School faculty on numerous occasions. Dement has served as chapter adviser for several groups in Province Iota and has held positions of leadership with the Tennessee Beta Alumni Association and Tennessee Beta Housing Corporation.

A well-known ritualist, he has participated in numerous chapter installations over the past several years and conducted many special initiations throughout the Realm. He also served as Parliamentarian of the past six Fraternity conventions. Dement is a Bunting Member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Foundation. He is a two-time recipient of the Order of the Lion and received the Merit Key in 2005 and the Order of Minerva in 2009.

He lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with his wife, Helen, and their two children: Alexandra and Thomas III. He can be reached at:

[email protected]

Brandt pledged Iowa Delta at Drake University in the fall of 1983 and was initiated in the spring of 1984. As a pledge, he was elected Eminent Deputy Archon for the chapter. Brandt earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with majors in accounting and corporate finance. After graduation, Brandt attended Drake University Law School and was elected Student Body President. After law school, he served as a judicial law clerk for the 8th Judicial District for the State of Iowa. Brandt was an Assistant Polk County Attorney specializing in the area of drug and gang prosecution.

In 1995, he went into private practice in a general-litigation law firm and, three years later, was appointed as a District Associate Judge for the Fifth Judicial District of the State of Iowa. At the time, Brandt was the youngest District Associate Judge in the state. He is past Province Tau Archon, a position he held from 1999-2007. Brandt was the Chairman of the Council of Province Archons from 2001-2003. He has served on the Permanent Committee on Fraternity Laws for many years and as the chairman of the Convention Committee on Fraternity Laws twice. Brandt has served on faculty for the John O. Moseley and several province Leadership Schools. Furthermore, he has been Chapter Adviser for Iowa Delta for many years and has held several positions on the Iowa Delta Alumni Association and house corporation boards.

At the 2007 Convention in Washington D.C., Brandt was elected as a director for the Financial & Housing Corporation, where he served as the secretary for two-and-a-half years. Brandt is a Founder Member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Foundation. He is a recipient of the Order of Minerva, two-time recipient of the Order of the Lion, and received the Merit Key in 2004. He has also been selected as an Outstanding Chapter Adviser.

He lives in Des Moines, Iowa, with his wife, Julie, and their two children: Nick and Katie. He can be reached at:

[email protected]

Corelli pledged and was initiated into the Illinois Gamma chapter as part of its phoenix colony in 1998. He held many roles in the chapter, most notably three-term Eminent Archon. Corelli served the Fraternity on the national level as a Leadership School Staff Member, undergraduate representative on the Permanent Committee on the Fraternity Laws and undergraduate liaison of the Province Mu Council.

He has been recognized by Northern Illinois University as Student Organization Advisor of the Year, Outstanding University Staff Member in the Division of Student Affairs, University Administrator Employee of the Year and is a member of the University’s Strategic Planning Committee. In addition, Corelli is part of the University’s re-accreditation committee and serves as a committee chairperson for its Quality Enhancement Plan, an initiative to enhance the learning and involvement opportunities for the university’s students and campus community.

In 2001, Corelli joined the Fraternity Service Center staff and aided in the growth of the organization and in chapter development for six years. As the Director of Extension and Chapter Development, he oversaw the addition of 54 new and phoenix colonies across the Realm as well as the overall chapter development, recruitment, risk management and expansion of the brotherhood. As an alumnus, Corelli served in various roles, including both Illinois Gamma and North Carolina Omega Chapter Adviser, faculty member for both province and regional Leadership Schools and faculty member for the John O. Mosley Leadership School since 2001. He also served as Province Omicron Archon, member of the National Education Advisory Council and chairman of the National Recruitment Committee.

Since joining the Fraternity, Corelli has been awarded the Outstanding Eminent Archon Award and is a recipient of both the Order of the Lion and Order of Minerva Awards and, in 2013, the Supreme Council awarded him with the Merit Key Award.

Corelli resides in Western North Carolina with his wife, Kimberly and their two daughters, Kaitlyn and Khloe. He can be reached at:

[email protected]


eminent suPreme heralD

richarD b. shanahanfort hayes state ‘02

eminent suPreme chronicler

marK W. mcDonoughyoungstoWn state ‘96


michael s. roDgersWilliam & mary ‘92

11

Shanahan is a founding father of Kansas Delta at Fort Hayes State University and was initiated in 2000. As an undergraduate, he served as Eminent Recorder, Eminent Deputy Archon, Pledge Educator, Eminent Treasurer, and as Eminent Archon during the colony’s yearlong push to gain their charter. He also was IFC President and served as Treasurer for Province Zeta.

Since graduation, Shanahan has been a consistently engaged alumnus for the Fraternity with a strong bias toward creating and supporting local/regional alumni, undergraduate leadership, and engagement programs. He has served as the chapter advisor for Washington City Rho since 2004, as well as a member of the Washington City Eta-Sigma advisory board. He is an active member of the Province Gamma Council, serving as Province Archon for 7 years. His time as Province Archon lead him to oversee the first Ritual Institute conducted in Richmond and the creation of an Emerging Leaders Retreat for sophomores throughout the Province. He has collaborated with other alumni and undergraduates in the region through planning and participation with the Quint Province Leadership School since 2005.

Due to the density of chapters in the mid-Atlantic region, Shanahan has welcomed alumni and undergraduates from neighboring Province chapters to Province Gamma events. He has lead the DC Area Alumni Association as President since 2004. Annual DC events include Founders’ Day and the Annual Capitol Hill SAE Reception. On the national level, he served as a member of the Extension Advisory Committee for four years, co-chaired the 2007 Convention Committee, and is a current member of the Fraternity Laws Committee. He is a 2-time graduate of the John O. Mosely Leadership School, past Leadership School Ambassador and faculty member. He is a proud recipient of the Merit Key, Order of Minerva, Order of the Lion, Outstanding Chapter Advisor, and Order of Province Gamma. He is a Bunting Society contributor to the SAE Foundation.

Shanahan is an active member of St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Washington, DC. He can be reached at:

[email protected]

Rodgers pledged Virginia Kappa at The College of William & Mary in 1990. He served his Chapter in several roles, including Eminent Deputy Archon and Special Events Chairman. He graduated from The College of William & Mary in 1992, where he earned a bachelor of arts degree, with honors, in public policy. In 1996, he graduated from Emory University’s School of Law with a juris doctorate degree.

Rodgers alumnus service to the Fraternity spans 26 years. In 2015, Rodgers was elected to the Supreme Council as its Eminent Supreme Chronicler. Past positions include President and Director for SAE Financial & Housing Corporation, Province Epsilon-Alpha Archon, Province Epsilon Archon, Virginia Kappa Alumni Association President, Greater Atlanta Alumni Association Director and Georgia Phi Chapter Advisor. He has served as a Faculty Member at numerous national, regional and province leadership schools, including the John O. Moseley Leadership School, the Eminent Archon Institute and the Levere Leadership Institute. He has served on several Fraternity committees over two decades, including most recently for the Strategic Plan, Alumni Engagement, Awards and Program Evaluation. He has drafted numerous Fraternity laws and policies, including the law establishing the Fraternity’s reserve accounts and co-authoring the Good Samaritan Policy.

Rodgers is the recipient of the Merit Key, Order of Minerva and Order of the Lion Awards, and he has been recognized by the Supreme Council as Province Archon of the Year. He is also the recipient of the Bob Cousins Zeal Award for his sustained contributions to the Greater Atlanta Alumni Association. During his tenure as President, Virginia Kappa was bestowed with the Most Improved and the Most Outstanding Chapter Alumni Association Awards. Rodgers is an active supporter of the SAE Foundation and is a member of its Phoenix Society.

Rodgers originally hails from Staunton, Virginia, and he now resides in Atlanta, Georgia with his wife, Merideth, and daughter, Harper. He can be reached at:

[email protected]

McDonough, a legacy to his brother Matthew, was initiated at Ohio Alpha in January of 1993. During his time as an undergraduate, he served as Eminent Treasurer and two terms as Eminent Archon. Other roles held included Social Chair, Sports Chair, Rush Chair, Chaplain and Preceptor. On campus he served as a Student Government Representative and Executive Council Parliamentarian.

McDonough earned his BE in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Youngstown State University in 1998. While at Youngstown State he was recognized as a YSU Centurion, was awarded the Arby’s Leadership Scholarship and was elected as Homecoming King. After working in his industry for some time, he earned a Masters Degree in Business Administration in 2008.

Operating out of the Cleveland, OH area, McDonough is a Geographic Discipline Leader for the engineering firm Maser Consulting P.A. During his career, he has spent his time dedicated to the telecommunication aspect of Civil Engineering, helping to build and deploy America’s biggest wireless networks and safety systems. In his community, he volunteers for the local school district as a Blue Ribbon Committee member, dedicated to improving children’s academic growth, and serves on a team with his wife Jennifer in their churches pre-marriage program, helping guide engaged couples. He is also a proud Eagle Scout.

McDonough’s volunteer work in SAE started at home with his Ohio Alpha chapter serving as the Alumni Association Secretary and President, as well as Chapter Advisor. He has been recognized as the OHAL Outstanding Alumnus twice. In 2006, McDonough began an eleven-year period volunteering at the Province level, serving as Alumni Secretary and the Province Archon for ten years, which culminated with a term as Chairman of the Council of Province Archons. During this period, McDonough also served on the Alumni Services Committee, the Chicago Convention Finance Committee and was Chairman of the Alumni Recruitment and the Strategic Planning Committees. He has served on faculty for the John O. Moseley Leadership School three times. He was proud to initiate his father Ralph in 2014. He has been recognized with the Order of the Lion, the Order of Minerva and most recently the Merit Key in 2015.

McDonough resides in the Cleveland, Ohio area with his wife Jennifer, daughter Coraline, son Conor and their dog Ruby. He can be reached at:

[email protected]


All of the following proposals for changes in the Fraternity Laws were submitted before midnight on December 15, 2016, to the Eminent Supreme

Recorder, pursuant to Fraternity Laws section 73A. The Fraternity Laws Committee for the current biennium, also known as the permanent

committee, convened by telephone on February 3, 2017, to consider the proposals and formulate a recommendation on each, as shown below.

This committee, appointed by the Eminent Supreme Archon in 2015, has now fulfilled its mandate. The ESA will appoint a convention committee

on the Fraternity Laws, which will also consider each proposal and provide its recommendation. The convention committee may or may not include

any member of the permanent committee that provides the recommendations below. Furthermore, the recommendations provided by the two

committees on any given proposal may differ. Members of the permanent committee on Fraternity Laws for 2015–2017 were as follows:Austin

Evans, Chairman; Alan Moore, Vice Chairman; Tom Dement, Supreme Council Liaison; Clark Brown, General Counsel; Tim Sirota, Staff Liaison;

Edmond Noel Jr.; Steve Schneider; Richard Shanahan; Greg Williams.

All listings appearing below were copyedited prior to publication to ensure consistent formatting. However, the substance of the actual law

proposals were not modified in an effort to preserve the author’s original work. The rationales were written by the member who made the proposal

but were also copyedited. Text that is underlined represents proposed additions to the law’s language while text that includes a strikethrough

represents proposed deletions from the law’s language.

Proposals are ordered by the major section of the Fraternity Laws that the proposal amends or repeals. Text in underline will be added to the

Fraternity Laws and text in strikeout will be deleted from the Fraternity Laws.

ProPosal #1AMEND SECTION 12 (SESSIONS AND VOTING), SUBSECTION E, AS FOLLOWS:

E. Voting Between Conventions. The Eminent Supreme Archon, with the advice and consent of the Supreme Council, may submit to a direct vote of the Fraternity such measures as may benefit from resolution before the next Convention. Such direct vote shall be submitted by an e-mail/internet ballot to each individual and group entitled to representation in a Fraternity Convention at the latest address of record at the Fraternity Service Center. If any group or individual fails to vote within twenty-one (21) days after the date the vote is solicited, an affirmative vote will be implied, and the ballot shall make clear this stipulation.

AMEND SECTION 26 (PROVINCE CONVENTION), SUBSECTION F, AS FOLLOWS:

F. Direct Vote. Questions arising between sessions of the Province Convention may be submitted by the Province Archon to a direct vote of the Province. If any group or individual fails to vote by any means within twenty-one (21) days after the date the vote is solicited, an affirmative vote will be implied, and the ballot shall make clear this stipulation.

AMEND SECTION 31 (CHARTER), SUBSECTION B (PROCEDURE FOR GRANTING CHARTER), SUBSECTION 6,AS FOLLOWS:

6. Granting of Charter. On receipt of a petition and the report of the investigation team, the Supreme Council shall submit them to the next Fraternity Convention meeting not less than six (6) months thereafter or

may by a majority vote of the Supreme Council submit them to a direct vote by e-mail/internet ballot to each individual and group entitled to membership in the Fraternity Convention as provided in Section 11. If the petition is submitted to the Fraternity Convention and as many as two-thirds (2/3) of the accredited delegates present and voting vote in favor of granting the charter, or if the petition is submitted to a direct vote of the Fraternity and is approved by as many as two-thirds (2/3) of the individuals and groups entitled to vote thereon within twenty-one (21) days after the date of e-mailing of the ballots from the Fraternity Service Center, then the Supreme Council shall be authorized to sign and issue a charter and to install the group to which it is issued as a Chapter Collegiate of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. If any group or individual fails to vote within twenty-one (21) days after the date the vote is solicited, an affirmative vote will be implied, and the ballot shall make clear this stipulation.

Rationale: Mail ballots should be a means for the Fraternity Convention between its meetings, but they should not be either automatic or burdensome. As currently written, the Supreme Council has the authority to authorize a mail ballot; given the implied yes votes as currently written, those opposing a proposal would need to mount a significant effort to defeat a mail-ballot vote. Instead, mail-ballot votes should be decided on their merits, and the measures typically submitted to the Realm for approval (i.e., charter authorizations) already receive significant approval before factoring in implied votes. This proposal will boost the legitimacy of mail-ballot votes for all measures.

Submitted by: Austin Evans (Wisconsin-Madison ’05)

Recommendation: An equally divided Permanent Committee on Fraternity Laws makes no recommendation on the proposal.

ProPosal #2AMEND SECTION 13 (FINANCES) BY CREATING SUBSECTION D TO READ AS FOLLOWS:

D. Usage of Funds. No Fraternity funds shall be used to purchase alcohol. The Fraternity shall not purchase alcohol for any volunteer, staff, or other member, nor shall it purchase alcohol for any event or reimburse any expenses related to the purchase of alcohol. Alcohol may still be present at Fraternity events, so long as its presence complies with the health-and-safety policies of the Fraternity.

Rationale: This policy has already been adopted by the Supreme Council. The purpose of this law is to ensure that all Fraternity funds are used in compliance with our health-and-safety guidelines. Furthermore, the law protects the usage of funds paid in by the Fraternity’s members.

Submitted by: Daniel Gammon (Middle Tennessee State ‘06)

Recommendation: The Permanent Committee on Fraternity Laws does not recommend adoption.

P R o P o s A l s t o A m e n D t h e F R A t e R n i t y l A W s


ProPosal #3RENUMBER SECTION 15 TO BE SECTION 15, SUBSECTION A (QUALIFICATION).

AMEND SECTION 15 BY CREATING SUBSECTION B TO READ AS FOLLOWS:

B. Regional Representation. Each Region is entitled to representation on the Supreme Council, and no more than one member of the Supreme Council may reside in any Region.

AMEND SECTION 20 AS FOLLOWS:

20. Membership. The Supreme Council shall consist of the same number of individuals as the number of Regions designated by the Fraternity Convention, consisting of the following Fraternity Officers and at-large members, none of whom shall be a voting member of the Board of Trustees or the Advisory Council of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Foundation or of the Board of Directors of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Financial and Housing Corporation:A. Eminent Supreme ArchonB. Eminent Supreme Deputy ArchonC. Eminent Supreme WardenD. Eminent Supreme HeraldE. Eminent Supreme Chronicler.F. Any necessary additional at-large members

AMEND SECTION 25 AS FOLLOWS:

25. Province. There shall will be geographical districts, known as Provinces, embracing such territory and chapters, and there will be at least five geographical districts, known as Regions, embracing such Provinces, as the Fraternity Convention determines.

Rationale: Currently, there is no provision for Supreme Council members to have a regional balance or a prohibition that all members do not come from a single region. Furthermore, ensuring each region has a voice on the Supreme Council balances the regional issues we all face and offers different perspectives on how to solve them. The current system of having Supreme Council liaisons lacks sustained relations with these regions, if the Supreme Council members even foster that relationship to begin with. This proposal spreads the decision-making authority of our Supreme Council across the Realm and formalizes and vests the region apportionment with the Fraternity Convention.

Submitted by: Austin Evans (Wisconsin-Madison ’05), Patrick Fredricks (Central Michigan ‘10), Daniel Gammon (Middle Tennessee State‘09), Steve Kronenberg (North Georgia ‘06), Jesus Maldonado (Occidental ‘00), Gavin Maxfield (New Haven ‘12), John Sebalos (SUNY-Oswego ‘05), Shay Stewart (Sonoma State ‘96)


ProPosal #4RENUMBER SECTION 15 (QUALIFICATION) TO BE SECTION 15, SUBSECTION A.

AMEND SECTION 15 BY CREATING SUBSECTION B TO READ AS FOLLOWS:

B. Term Limits. No individual may serve on the Supreme Council for more than three consecutive terms.

Rationale: This proposal will limit the career nature of Supreme Council members. Currently, members are elected to the Eminent Supreme Chronicler role in sometimes—but not always—competitive elections then progress “up the chain” to the higher rungs, effectively enjoying election to the board for a ten-year term. Additionally, challenges to Supreme Council members in these latter elections is viewed as hostile and combative instead of part of a democratic process. This proposal limits the repetitive nature of members’ terms to keep them better accountable to the Realm that elects them.

Submitted by: Austin Evans (Wisconsin-Madison ’05), Patrick Fredricks (Central Michigan ‘10), Daniel Gammon (Middle Tennessee State ‘09), Steve Kronenberg (North Georgia ‘06), Jesus Maldonado (Occidental ‘00), Gavin Maxfield (New Haven ‘12), John Sebalos (SUNY-Oswego ‘05), Shay Stewart (Sonoma State ‘96)


ProPosal #5AMEND SECTION 18 (DUTIES), SUBSECTION D, AS FOLLOWS:

D. Eminent Supreme Warden. The Eminent Supreme Warden shall 1) act as the Eminent Supreme Archon in case of the absence or disability of the Eminent Supreme Archon and the Eminent Supreme Deputy Archon, 2) exercise particular supervision over the finances of the Fraternity and ensure the financial reports and budgets are published in accordance with Section 18G3f and 18H2 in a timely manner, and 3) perform any other duties assigned to him by the Eminent Supreme Archon.

AMEND SECTION 18 (DUTIES), SUBSECTION G (EMINENT SUPREME RECORDER), SUBSECTION 3 (AS FINANCIAL CUSTODIAN:), SUBSECTION F (FINANCIAL REPORTING TO THE REALM), SUBSECTION (1), AS FOLLOWS:

(1) To communicate the financial condition of SAE to all members, the Eminent Supreme Recorder shall publish at least semi-annually within 30 days of the end of each fiscal quarter, on a secure website, a report of the financial operations and condition of each unit of the Fraternity.

AMEND SECTION 18 (DUTIES), SUBSECTION H (REPORTS, AUDITS, AND BONDS), SUBSECTION 2, AS FOLLOWS:

2. Audits. The accounts of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity and any other entities associated with Sigma Alpha Epsilon shall be audited at least annually by a certified public accountant who shall make his report to the Eminent Supreme Recorder, who in turn shall make available such reports to the Board of each entity, the Fraternity Convention, and all members of the Fraternity within 90 days of the end of the fiscal year.

Rationale: One of the important means of understanding the financial health of the Fraternity is to have periodic and timely financial reports of the organization. These allow a review of the effectiveness of the operations and programs to the undergraduates, who provide the majority of the revenues. Other for-profit and not-for-profit incorporated entities publish their quarterly financial reports within 30 days of the end of their fiscal quarters.

The addition to the Eminent Supreme Warden’s duties in Section 18D serves to define one aspect of his “supervision over the finances” by ensuring the financial reports continue to be published. Section 18G3a requires that the budget for the upcoming year shall be prepared for the information of the membership of the Fraternity Convention and Section 18G3b states the budget for the following year shall be submitted to the Supreme Council for information and approval. Within the SAE Strategic Plan of 2016-18, Goal 4 stated that a three-year financial budget should be drafted to achieve the strategic initiatives; therefore, the cycle for the budget approvals could become at least become aligned with the biennial meeting the Fraternity Convention membership.

The changes proposed herein are intended to set a timeliness for reporting that is similar to standard reporting practices that other organizations have to their corporate membership (i.e., our membership of the Fraternity Convention, which exists in the interim between the biennial meeting of the membership of the Fraternity Convention). It also affords the opportunity for the FSC to “Lead by Example” to show how important the documenting, reporting and understanding of the financial health of the fraternity is at all levels.

Submitted by: Jonathan K. Witter (Rensselaer Polytechnic ’82)



ProPosal #6AMEND SECTION 18 (DUTIES), SUBSECTION G (EMINENT SUPREME RECORDER), SUBSECTION 5, AS FOLLOWS:

5. Any of the foregoing duties may be delegated by the Eminent Supreme Recorder to other employees or members of the Fraternity, except the duty to audit the accounts and countersign the checks of those employees authorized to draw checks.

Rationale: As the Fraternity’s Financial Custodian, the Eminent Supreme Recorder has the inherent duty to ensure that the Fraternity always stay current with obligations owed and that the Fraternity Service Center is always paying any bills in a timely fashion. Requiring that he countersigns all checks is an unnecessary burden, especially given his travel requirements. Money spent to accommodate his travel schedule and this requirement are not cost-effective, especially with allowing checks to be signed in his absence have no cost.

Additionally, having the Eminent Supreme Recorder as the sole auditor of accounts is a poor business practice. He should have the ability to dictate the Fraternity’s internal business practices, including these duties to members in his accounting and finance department so as to be briefed and brief the members of the Supreme Council regularly of the Fraternity’s financial performance. The Fraternity undergoes an external audit yearly. These external audits, coupled with the various routine internal audits already done by the accounting and finance department (including the routine posting of financial information), are more than sufficient.

These antiquated business rules hinder the Eminent Supreme Recorder from establishing proper financial policies and should be removed from Fraternity Law.

Submitted by: Patrick Stiff Jr. (Loyola ’04)

Recommendation: The Permanent Committee on Fraternity Laws recommends adoption.

ProPosal #7AMEND SECTION 21, SUBSECTION A, AS FOLLOWS:

21. Duties. The Supreme Council shall:

A. Represent the Fraternity Convention in all capacities in the interval between sessions. As part of representing the Fraternity Convention in the interval between sessions, if doing so is deemed time-sensitive and necessary to preserve and protect the Fraternity, the Supreme Council may amend the Fraternity Laws between sessions of the Fraternity Convention, except in regard to changes in the Ritual, by a two-thirds majority vote. If the Supreme Council amends the Fraternity Laws pursuant to this subsection, the amendment shall be presented for ratification to the

next Fraternity Convention. A two-thirds majority, affirmative vote of those entitled to vote at the subsequent Fraternity Convention shall be necessary to ratify the Supreme Council’s action taken pursuant to this subsection. If the Fraternity Convention does not ratify the Supreme Council’s action, then the Fraternity Laws shall read exactly as they did before the Supreme Council acted pursuant to this subsection.

Rationale: Under Section 58A, a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Fraternity Convention is required to amend or repeal the Fraternity Laws. As Section 21A currently exists, it is implicitly stated that the Supreme Council may provisionally amend the Fraternity Laws with a simple majority as opposed to a two-thirds majority, as required for amendments to the Fraternity Law made by the Fraternity Convention. Similarly, provisional amendments to the Fraternity Laws made by the Supreme Council may currently be ratified by a simple majority of the Fraternity Convention, whereas all other changes made to the Fraternity Laws require a two-thirds majority. This proposal allows the Supreme Council to maintain its ability to amend the Fraternity Laws in the interval between Fraternity Conventions, as it deems necessary, but ensures that such amendments are held to the same standard as any amendment to the Fraternity Laws proposed by the Fraternity Convention.

Submitted by: Benjamin Carter (Maryland-College Park ‘15)


ProPosal #8AMEND SECTION 23 AS FOLLOWS:

23. Removal from Office. The Supreme Council may by a majority vote remove from office any Fraternity, Province, Chapter Collegiate or alumni association officer, any Chapter Advisor, Faculty Advisor or Alumni Advisor, or the Eminent Supreme Recorder for neglect of duty or other offense against the laws, dignity, or interest of the Fraternity. Due notice of such intended action shall be given to the officer, member, or employee concerned and to all members of the Supreme Council.

Rationale: Although the vast majority of our advisors are supportive of the Fraternity’s mission and vision, there currently exists a loophole for these advisors who actively work against this mission to remain part of the chapter’s advisory apparatus. This provision closes such a loophole and subjects our advisors to the same removal accountability that elected officers have.

Submitted by: Austin Evans (Wisconsin-Madison ’05)


ProPosal #9AMEND SECTION 27 (PROVINCE COUNCIL), SUBSECTION D, AS FOLLOWS:

D. Term. Officers shall assume their duties immediately after the adjournment of the session at which they are elected and shall continue in office until their successors qualify. No Province Archon shall serve more than two consecutive biennial terms. If appointed within a biennium, time served shall not be counted against him and he shall have the opportunity to be elected by the Province body and serve two complete terms before being unable to run again. If passed, this Fraternity Law shall take effect on January 1, 2018, the beginning of the calendar year when Province Conventions will be held to elect new Province leadership.

Rationale: The Province, like any governance body (Fraternity or otherwise), needs fresh and rejuvenated leadership regularly. A four-year term provides sufficient time to promote, attain and achieve goals and objectives. For a Province to thrive and grow within the Fraternity, new leadership opportunities and new volunteers are needed. Past Province Archons are allowed to be voting members of Province Conventions under Section 41A1 and may continue to assist and serve the Province in a myriad of other ways.

Submitted by: Daniel H. Gladding (Salisbury ’78)


ProPosal #10AMEND SECTION 28 (DUTIES OF PROVINCE OFFICERS), SUBSECTION A, BY CREATING SUBSECTION 12 TO READ AS FOLLOWS:

A. Province Archon. The Province Archon shall:

12. Not hold any other office(s) within his province structure and/or under his direct purview to avoid any potential conflicts of interest. These offices may include, but may not be limited to: Alumni Advisory Board, Alumni Association, Alumni Commission, Chapter Adviser, House Corporation Officer, etc. If passed, this Fraternity Law shall take effect on January 1, 2018.

Rationale: The Province Archon needs to be an unbiased officer of the Province at all times and not be put in any potential position or situation where he might be perceived as showing favoritism or bias based on the direct office he holds under his own Province’s structure. Furthermore, some universities have questioned why a regional president is able to hold local offices within the Fraternity due to the same rationale. Sigma Alpha Epsilon has reinstated/created two alumni services’ Fraternity Service Center staff members to bolster and enhance alumni interaction and volunteer opportunities within the Fraternity. By adding this stipulation to the Fraternity


Laws, it provides the appropriate governance to help avoid potential conflicts of interest and bias within a Province and the Fraternity as a whole while creating additional volunteer opportunities.



ProPosal #11AMEND SECTION 31 (CHARTER) BY CREATING SUBSECTION D TO READ AS FOLLOWS:

D. Alumni Advisory Board.1. Each chapter shall have an Alumni Advisory Board (AAB) to assist the chapter in the various Core Areas of the fraternity and to assist with fostering its ongoing growth and perpetuation.2. Members shall initially be selected from local area alumni, members of the host university or community members with the assistance of the Extension Coordinator (and/or other FSC staff) assigned to develop the Colony or Phoenix Chapter.3. The mission of the Advisory Board is:a. To advise the chapter as it, and its members, conduct the business of the chapter.b. Assist chapter officers in their roles and help develop them as leaders of the Fraternity.c. Work with chapter members to help develop them as True Gentleman in all endeavors, as set forth by our creed.d. To be loyal to the interests of the chapter and officers.e. To hold all members to a high academic standard.f. To demonstrate leadership and community outreach.4. The AAB is constituted to serve only in an advisory function to the Chapter. The members of the AAB are to conduct themselves only in advisory roles and in assistance of chapter officers to fulfill their duties. At no time is an AAB member to supplant duly elected chapter officers in the carrying out of their duties as assigned by the Chapter By-Laws or the Fraternity Laws of Sigma Alpha Epsilon.5. The AAB will be comprised of at least five individuals who have been elected by the chapter. The individuals can be alumni of Sigma Alpha Epsilon or members of the University or community. SAE alumni must be in good standing with the Fraternity. The Eminent Archon of the Chapter shall be an ex-officio member.6. Election of AAB members shall take place in April of each year (concurrent with those specified elsewhere in the Fraternity Laws for Chapter Adviser) and those elected will serve a one-year term of office. Elections are to be held in the following manner:a. The Chapter Executive Board will work with the current Chapter Adviser to develop a slate of candidates for the chapter to consider. The slate cannot be less than five candidates. Candidates can be SAE alumni from the chapter or from other chapters, university professors or staff, or other community leaders interested in assisting the chapter.b. Once the slate is set, the Executive Board presents the slate to the chapter for approval. The chapter can elect the slate in totality, or can amend or modify the slate by individually electing each candidate by making

a motion to divide the candidates. No candidate can be nominated from the floor; all candidates must be presented to the chapter by the Executive Board. The slate, or individual candidates, need only attain a majority vote to be approved.c. If, at the end of the election process, there are not five elected members, the Executive Board and Chapter Adviser should work to identify further candidates to meet at least the minimum number and present those additional candidates to the chapter for approval.d. After a slate of at least five candidates is approved, either in a single election or over multiple elections, the chapter immediately moves into election for Chapter Adviser. All candidates on the approved slate are automatically considered for Chapter Adviser unless they have specifically removed themselves from consideration. The Chapter Adviser must be chosen from the candidates selected to sit on the AAB. Each candidate elected to the AAB can submit a written statement to the Eminent Archon of the Chapter as to why he or she feels they are the best candidate for the Chapter Adviser which the Eminent Archon will read to the chapter prior to discussion.e. The Chapter Adviser must receive a majority vote of those brothers of the chapter in good standing and present (50% +1). If no candidate receives a majority vote after two ballots, the candidate with the fewest votes is dropped and election continues in this manner until one candidate receives the prescribed vote amount.7. Any vacancy on the AAB that occurs between elections can be appointed by the Chapter Adviser with consent and approval of the Chapter’s Executive Board.8. The Chapter can remove a member of the Advisory Board by a 3/4 vote of the chapter at a special meeting called by the Eminent Archon or the Executive Board in accordance with Chapter By-Laws. The Eminent Archon should present evidence of a valid reason for removal of the member of the Advisory Board prior to a vote.9. Any Advisory Board member can resign his position on the Board at any time. If the Chapter Adviser resigns, the chapter should elect a new Chapter Adviser from the remaining Board members at the next scheduled meeting of the chapter.

Rationale: The Chapter needs a group of dedicated alumni from day one to assist it with the teachings and positive traditions of the Fraternity. The AAB provides a group of alumni volunteers who can assist with the chartering process and preparations for its installation. A group of alumni from day one will also help to prevent a single advisor from burning out and will create a pool of volunteers to ensure the Chapter has alumni presence and guidance at all meetings and events. This will also provide a level of redundancy to the Chapter should an alumnus become sick or have to move out of the immediate area, thus maintaining a continuity of alumni volunteers thus preventing any temporary setbacks to the Chapter’s forward progress and stability.



ProPosal #12AMEND SECTION 32 (MEMBERSHIP), SUBSECTION A, AS FOLLOWS:

A. Election. Election of collegiate members shall be the sole prerogative of the individual Chapters Collegiate, provided that no Chapter Collegiate may discriminate on a potential new member due to his race, his color, his religion, his sexual orientation, his national origin, his age or his physical ability, and that no Chapter Collegiate’s requirements for election shall fall below a positive vote by one half plus one of the members of the Chapter who are eligible to vote.

Rationale: At the 159th Anniversary Convention, the Fraternity Convention unanimously declared itself to be an exclusive organization: An organization that is exclusively for those men who live the True Gentleman each and every day of their lives; an organization that is exclusively comprised of members who are their brothers’ keeper; an organization that builds brotherhood among all in its ranks and not to the detriment of its newer generation; an organization that is exclusively for collegiate students who put their faith, family and academic work above their fraternal lives; an organization that is exclusively for alumni members who will continue to provide whatever form and amount of support they can to leave the Fraternity better than they found it; and an organization that is exclusively for those leaders who desire to have a positive impact on a global scale. This same resolution declared that a member’s experience should not be affected by those qualities embodied in this proposal. This proposal formalizes this sentiment in the most critical decision affecting a member’s status: his election as a brother in Sigma Alpha Epsilon.

Submitted by: Austin Evans (Wisconsin-Madison ’05), by and for the Permanent Committee on Fraternity Laws


ProPosal #13AMEND SECTION 32 (MEMBERSHIP), SUBSECTION B, AS FOLLOWS:

B. Pledge Programs Prohibited. Each newly elected member shall be fully initiated into Sigma Alpha Epsilon no later that 96 hours than four (4) weeks after he accepts an invitation to join the Chapter, unless his invitation is rescinded prior to initiation. Pledge programs in any form are prohibited by the Fraternity. No chapter may operate a pledge program of any sort, no matter the duration or content of the program. Under no circumstances whatsoever may a newly elected member participate in a pledge program, even if he agrees to do so voluntarily. The invitee shall be inducted to the Chapter Collegiate in a mutually agreed probationary period and be considered an Associate Member with rights and responsibilities to the Chapter; however, not fully engaged with the privileges of the full formal initiation ritual ceremony. No newly elected


member may be referred to as a pledge.

AMEND SECTION 32 (MEMBERSHIP), SUBSECTION D (INITIATION), SUBSECTION 1 (REQUIREMENTS FOR INITIATION), SUBSECTION A, AS FOLLOWS:

a. All newly elected members of the Fraternity shall be fully initiated into Sigma Alpha Epsilon no later than 96 hours four (4) weeks after he accepts an invitation to join the Chapter and has completed the Baseline Experience modules of the True Gentleman Experience program, unless his invitation is rescinded or the individual resigns prior to initiation.

AMEND SECTION 33 (FEES, DUES AND FINES) BY CREATING A NEW SUBSECTION A, AND RE-LETTERING ALL SUCCESSIVE SUBSECTIONS ACCORDINGLY, TO READ AS FOLLOWS:

A. Associate Membership Fee. Every newly elected Associate Member is subject to an associate membership fee of eighty-five ($85.00) made payable to Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity, to be collected and submitted by the Chapter Collegiate no later than ten (10) days after induction of said candidates.

AMEND SECTION 33 (FEES, DUES AND FINES), SUBSECTION A, RE-LETTERED TO SUBSECTION B ABOVE, AS FOLLOWS:

B. Membership Fee. Every newly elected initiated member is subject to a membership fee of three hundred and ten dollars ($310.00) two hundred and twenty-five dollars ($225.00) made payable to Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity, to be collected and submitted by the Chapter Collegiate no later than ten (10) days after initiation of said candidates.

Rationale: This proposal is to extend time between accepting a bid for membership and the formal initiation ceremony into the secrets of the Fraternity by incorporating the completion of the Baseline Experience modules of the True Gentleman Experience program as a prerequisite to full initiation. The implementation of the True Gentleman Experience (TGE) by the Supreme Council in March of 2014 with no vote by the membership of the Fraternity Convention caused dramatic changes to the intake and assimilation of the new members and the development of sustainable and healthy chapter operations for the brotherhood. Many other not-for-profit, for-profit, religious and governmental organizations have a period of familiarization, assimilation and/or vesting that helps to ensure the decisions made by the organization and the recruit were sound and appropriate. Because each campus has different rush/recruitment timelines and the ability to offer bids for membership is often limited by campus rules and protocols, it is frequently the case that potential new members and the chapter membership find themselves in quite the bind with the 96-hour bid-to-initiate requirement.

Membership is intended to be for life and thus it is prudent to have some period of time for the associate members to learn more about Sigma Alpha Epsilon

nationally and locally and for the Chapter to learn more about the associate member outside the pressure of the campus formal rush period before the full formal initiation ritual ceremony occurs. By allowing some period of time for assimilation and affinity building with the Chapter, it gives the opportunity for Chapters to more effectively deal with the situation in which a new member reconsiders and wants to drop out. The maximum of four weeks for the vesting period fits within the academic semester or trimester of most colleges to allow completion to not extend into the academic break periods.

With the current 96-hour requirement for formal initiation, in order to relinquish membership, it requires the expulsion or resignation of the member. This also requires, however, an obligation of the full membership fee due to the Fraternity Service Center within 10 days of the initiation. The proposal, therefore, includes splitting the membership fees back to the two-stage process, which should make a more practical logistical situation for the finances and the enrollment of the new members into the local Chapter.

Additionally, at the time of the change to the prohibition of pledge programs in 2014, it was stated there would be reporting and engagement on the assessment of the success or faults of the TGE in terms of membership numbers, retention and chapter strength. Some good evolutions of the TGE programming have occurred; however, there are some logistical and sustainability aspects that still need to be addressed. In this proposal, by extending the time between bid acceptance and the full initiation into the Realm of SAE, it can lend confidence to the decisions made by the Chapter and the new member as well as strengthen the fundamentals of chapter operations and esprit de corps of the brotherhood.



ProPosal #14AMEND SECTION 32 (MEMBERSHIP) BY CREATING A NEW SUBSECTION D, AND RE-LETTERING ALL SUCCESSIVE SUBSECTIONS ACCORDINGLY, TO READ AS FOLLOWS:

D. Any Chapter in good standing may petition the Eminent Supreme Recorder for approval to extend the “bid to initiation” period by no more than eight days in order for the Chapter to initiate its new members at the Levere Memorial Temple. Chapters must present a logistics need for the extension.

Rationale: There needs to be a way for chapters to extent the bid to initiate 96 hours so they can initiate at the Levere Memorial Temple. Any extension would not exceed 8 days (we had 8 founding fathers).

Our school (University of Evansville) has a structured rush and bid night for all the Fraternities that has traditionally been on a Saturday night. Due to the distance between the Temple and our Chapter, initiating at the Temple can only be done on a weekend. Ever since the 96-hour limit, our Chapter has not initiated at the Temple. We would like the opportunity to initiate at Temple again by allowing us to have enough time to visit the Temple the following weekend.

Submitted by: Richard Shipley (Evansville ’79)


ProPosal #15AMEND SECTION 32 (MEMBERSHIP), SUBSECTION D (INITIATION), SUBSECTION 1 (REQUIREMENTS FOR INITIATION), SUBSECTION B, AS FOLLOWS:

b. No member shall be initiated until he has attained at least a cumulative grade-point average of 2.5 2.7 or its equivalent on a grading system under which a 2.0 represents a C grade unless the newly elected member is a first-term freshman or transfer student in which case he may be initiated upon successful completion of requirements for initiation during the same term he joined the Chapter. The grade-point requirement set forth herein may be waived by the Chapter Advisor or Province Archon for a newly elected member with a documented learning disability.

Rationale: This proposal increases the cumulative grade point average from 2.5 to 2.7, in order to align with the requirements set forth by the National Interfraternity Conference (NIC), as detailed by the below excerpt from the NIC Standards. With the member GPA requirement set at 2.7, the Fraternity is better equipped to meet and exceed the chapter GPA requirement issued by the NIC. For reference, the national SAE average for spring 2016 was 3.02, with seventeen (17) out of 232 chapters with cumulative GPAs below 2.7. Comparatively, twenty-three (23) chapters were below the 2.7 cumulative GPA in spring 2015.

“ESTABLISHMENT AND ENFORCEMENT OF POLICY ON MINIMUM UNDERGRADUATE CHAPTER ANNUAL CUMULATIVE GPA REQUIREMENTS:

Each member organization shall:•Have and enforce a policy establishing a minimum annual cumulative GPA requirement for its undergraduate chapters by requiring either a cumulative GPA of 2.70 or higher; or that is at or above the all men’s GPA for the host institution where an undergraduate chapter exists, if the all men’s GPA for the host institution is below a 2.70.


• Provide ongoing education to its undergraduate chapters on its chosen policy establishing minimum annual cumulative GPA requirements.”

Submitted by: Jeffery D. Hall (Christian Brothers ’07), Clark J. Brown (Arkansas-Fayettville ’07), James P. Irwin (Nicholls State ’05)


ProPosal #16AMEND SECTION 33 (FEES, DUES AND FINES), SUBDIVISION B, AS FOLLOWS:

B. Annual Fraternity Dues. Every Chapter Collegiate is subject to annual Fraternity dues effective July 1, 2007, of one-hundred and five dollars ($105.00) one-hundred and fifty dollars ($150.00) for each collegiate member, made payable to Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity on the first day of February for every collegiate member, whether fully initiated or newly elected, in the Chapter Collegiate as reported in the latest Active Membership Roster (formerly Form C) due in the Fraternity Service Center the previous November 15.

Rationale: The Annual Dues have not been raised since 2007, thus eroding the ability of the Fraternity to properly fund the programs and resources of the general Fraternity business unit line items in the annual budget. Using an average inflation rate of ~3.25% over the last 10 years (http://inflationdata.com/Inflation/Inflation_Rate/Long_Term_Inflation.asp) and looking forward one more year, results in the annual dues needing to be set at $150. According to the fiscal reports posted online, the Fraternity has experienced at least this amount of growth in its operating expenses. The increase of $45 will add more than $425,000 to the general fraternity budget (assuming current reported membership numbers). An option to keep the “total cost of membership” constant would be to reduce the baseline fee of the Health & Safety program by $45, since it has recently had excess income as reported in the CPA Audit reports. The feasibility to do this adjustment could be realized after a review of the operations by either the Finance and Audit Committee or the Strategic Plan team as instituted by Goal IV in the Strategic Plan 2016-18 (http://data.sae.net/docs/StrategicPlan.pdf).



ProPosal #17REPEAL SECTION 36 (CHAPTER OFFICERS), SUBSECTION C.

C. Trustees or House Corporation. For the purpose of acquiring and holding title to or for the lease of real property, acquiring or erecting a chapter house, and conducting all such transactions as may be necessary for the proper maintenance, administration, or disposition thereof, a Chapter Collegiate may either 1) elect a Board of Trustees consisting of not more than five (5) Trustees, in addition to whom the Eminent Archon and the Eminent Treasurer shall act as ex-officio members, or 2) organize a corporation to be known as a house corporation in accordance with the laws of the state where such chapter is located.1. Chapter House Forever to Benefit Chapter. A chapter house, other real property Interest or any portion thereof (a “Chapter House”) held by a Board of Trustees, a House Corporation or any other entity holding title to such property for the primary benefit of a Chapter Collegiate (collectively, a “House Corporation”), including any assets derived directly or indirectly from the sale, exchange or casualty of such Chapter House, shall forever be held in trust for the primary benefit of said Chapter Collegiate, subject to the terms of subsection 2 below. Any House Corporation that has accepted consideration from a Chapter Collegiate or its members in exchange for their occupancy of a Chapter House or that has accepted a donation from a member of the Chapter Alumnus for the betterment of the Chapter House shall be subject to the terms of this Section 36C. Furthermore, any member of a Chapter Collegiate or the Chapter Alumnus who serves in any capacity on a House Corporation shall be compelled to adhere to the terms of this Section 36C and, upon request, shall provide the Eminent Supreme Recorder with reasonable evidence that the applicable organizational documents of the House Corporation comply with these Fraternity Laws, as the same may be amended from time to time. This Section 36C shall be subordinate to any mortgage loan.2. Conveyances Prohibited. Except for a Permitted Transfer described below, each House Corporation shall be prohibited from making a Chapter House Conveyance and any attempt to make an unauthorized Chapter House Conveyance shall be null and void and shall be deemed an unauthorized and unlawful act of the House Corporation. All House Corporations shall notify the Eminent Supreme Recorder at least ninety (90) days prior to marketing for sale a Chapter House, prior to transferring ownership of a Chapter House by any manner to a third party, including by threatened foreclosure sale or a taking by eminent domain, or prior to leasing a Chapter House to a third party for a term, including all options to extend, of greater than five years (collectively, a “Chapter House Conveyance”). Upon such notice, the Eminent Supreme Recorder shall consult with the Board of Directors of SAE Financial and Housing Corporation on the proposed Chapter House Conveyance, and SAE Financial and Housing Corporation shall timely advise the House Corporation in good faith as to viable alternatives to the proposed Chapter House Conveyance so as to maintain the Chapter House for the future use and benefit of the affiliated Chapter Collegiate, whether or not said Chapter Collegiate is then active and in good standing

with the Fraternity. A “Permitted Conveyance” shall mean one of the following:

a. A Chapter House Conveyance made to a newly comprised House Corporation as part of a corporate reorganization of the original House Corporation;b. A Chapter House Conveyance made pursuant to a binding asset maintenance agreement by and between the House Corporation and SAE Financial and Housing Corporation that provides for all assets derived from the Chapter House Conveyance, including net sale proceeds and all other forms of personal and real property, to be held in trust by the House Corporation for the future acquisition and/or construction of a Chapter House for the affiliated Chapter Collegiate, whether or not said Chapter Collegiate is then in good standing with the Fraternity; provided, however, said agreement shall specify that the assets so being held by the House Corporation (i) shall be transferred to Sigma Alpha Foundation to provide scholarships to the members of the affected Chapter Collegiate if, at any time and in the reasonable opinion of SAE Financial and Housing Corporation, it is not likely that the Chapter House can be timely replaced (for example only, the host university mandates on campus fraternity housing), and (ii) shall be transferred to SAE Financial and Housing Corporation if, within two years of the date of the asset maintenance agreement (as such time period may be extended for any period of suspension of the Chapter Collegiate), the House Corporation fails to acquire or commence construction on a replacement Chapter House. SAE Financial and Housing Corporation is expressly authorized to prepare and prescribe a form asset maintenance agreement that incorporates the above and other reasonable terms which, upon acceptance of the Supreme Council, shall be deemed reasonable and binding upon all affected House Corporations that may choose to enter into said asset maintenance agreement;c. A gift donation of the Chapter House to SAE Financial and Housing Corporation, which accepts the same subject only to the then existing encumbrances on the Chapter House, including but not limited to any existing mortgage loan, whether or not in default and subject to a pending foreclosure action, and any pending taking by power of eminent domain;d. A Chapter House Conveyance made within one hundred and eighty (180) days after SAE Financial and Housing Corporation refuses in writing (or within sixty (60) days of a written offer being so made and not accepted) to accept the Chapter House by gift donation as described in subsection c above; and e. Any other Chapter House Conveyance made with the advance written consent of the Eminent Supreme Recorder, which consent shall be provided pursuant to a duly adopted resolution of SAE Financial and Housing Corporation.

REPEAL SECTION 37 (DUTIES OF CHAPTER OFFICERS), SUBSECTION N.

N. Trustees and House Corporations. The Trustees or


House Corporation shall be responsible for providing to the Eminent Supreme Recorder each year a written statement from a licensed inspector proclaiming the chapter house, hall, and facilities safe for habitation or regular use.1. Trustees. The Trustees Shall:a. Hold and administer such property as may be placed under their control.b. Furnish, if required by the Chapter Collegiate, bonds for the faithful performance of their duties, the premiums therefor to be paid by the Chapter Collegiate. All leases and conveyances of land or buildings shall be in the name of the Trustees and their successors. No change shall be made by the Trustees in any investment of the Chapter-Collegiate funds or in the title of the Chapter-Collegiate property without the written approval of all the Trustees.2. House Corporations.a. House Corporations organized as provided in Section 36C shall have not less than five (5) Directors who shall elect officers from their own membership including a president, a vice-president, a secretary, and a treasurer, except that the offices of secretary and treasurer may be combined if desirable.b. Each such House Corporation shall make an annual report as of October 30 of each year to the Supreme Council on a form prescribed by the Supreme Council, with the advice of the Fraternity Service Center, such report to be forwarded to the Eminent Supreme Recorder not later than November 30 of each year. Copies of such report shall be furnished to the Chapter Collegiate and the Fraternity Service Center.c. Each Treasurer of a House Corporation shall be under corporate security bond of not less than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) and maintain 1) comprehensive liability insurance of not less than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) and 2) separate and additional umbrella liability coverage of not less than ten million dollars ($10,000,000), for both of which the Chapter shall pay the premiums. Said bonds and insurances are to be handled through the Fraternity Service Center as required for Eminent Treasurers under Section 36G.d. Each House Corporation must prepare or have prepared the appropriate IRS Form 990 as required by IRS regulations at the close of the House Corporation’s fiscal year. A copy of this form must be sent to the Fraternity Service Center.

Rationale: House corporations are incorporated under the laws of the states where they hold property title. As separately incorporated entities, like the SAE Foundation and SAE Financial & Housing Corporation, they should be removed from Fraternity Laws so to avoid similar legal concerns as were present when the other two entities were removed.

Submitted by: Richard Shanahan (Fort Hays State ’03


ProPosal #18REPEAL SECTION 36 (CHAPTER OFFICERS), SUBSECTION C (TRUSTEES

OR HOUSE CORPORATION), SUBSECTION 2.

2. Conveyances Prohibited. Except for a Permitted Transfer described below, each House Corporation shall be prohibited from making a Chapter House Conveyance and any attempt to make an unauthorized Chapter House Conveyance shall be null and void and shall be deemed an unauthorized and unlawful act of the House Corporation. All House Corporations shall notify the Eminent Supreme Recorder at least ninety (90) days prior to marketing for sale a Chapter House, prior to transferring ownership of a Chapter House by any manner to a third party, including by threatened foreclosure sale or a taking by eminent domain, or prior to leasing a Chapter House to a third party for a term, including all options to extend, of greater than five years (collectively, a “Chapter House Conveyance”). Upon such notice, the Eminent Supreme Recorder shall consult with the Board of Directors of SAE Financial and Housing Corporation on the proposed Chapter House Conveyance, and SAE Financial and Housing Corporation shall timely advise the House Corporation in good faith as to viable alternatives to the proposed Chapter House Conveyance so as to maintain the Chapter House for the future use and benefit of the affiliated Chapter Collegiate, whether or not said Chapter Collegiate is then active and in good standing with the Fraternity. A “Permitted Conveyance” shall mean one of the following:a. A Chapter House Conveyance made to a newly comprised House Corporation as part of a corporate reorganization of the original House Corporation;b. A Chapter House Conveyance made pursuant to a binding asset maintenance agreement by and between the House Corporation and SAE Financial and Housing Corporation that provides for all assets derived from the Chapter House Conveyance, including net sale proceeds and all other forms of personal and real property, to be held in trust by the House Corporation for the future acquisition and/or construction of a Chapter House for the affiliated Chapter Collegiate, whether or not said Chapter Collegiate is then in good standing with the Fraternity; provided, however, said agreement shall specify that the assets so being held by the House Corporation (i) shall be transferred to Sigma Alpha Foundation to provide scholarships to the members of the affected Chapter Collegiate if, at any time and in the reasonable opinion of SAE Financial and Housing Corporation, it is not likely that the Chapter House can be timely replaced (for example only, the host university mandates on campus fraternity housing), and (ii) shall be transferred to SAE Financial and Housing Corporation if, within two years of the date of the asset maintenance agreement (as such time period may be extended for any period of suspension of the Chapter Collegiate), the House Corporation fails to acquire or commence construction on a replacement Chapter House. SAE Financial and Housing Corporation is expressly authorized to prepare and prescribe a form asset maintenance agreement that incorporates the above and other reasonable terms which, upon acceptance of the Supreme Council, shall be deemed reasonable and binding upon all affected House Corporations that may choose to enter into said asset maintenance agreement;c. A gift donation of the Chapter House to SAE Financial and Housing Corporation, which accepts the same subject only to the then existing encumbrances on the Chapter House, including but not limited to any existing mortgage loan, whether or not in default and subject to

a pending foreclosure action, and any pending taking by power of eminent domain;d. A Chapter House Conveyance made within one hundred and eighty (180) days after SAE Financial and Housing Corporation refuses in writing (or within sixty (60) days of a written offer being so made and not accepted) to accept the Chapter House by gift donation as described in subsection c above; ande. Any other Chapter House Conveyance made with the advance written consent of the Eminent Supreme Recorder, which consent shall be provided pursuant to a duly adopted resolution of SAE Financial and Housing Corporation.

Rationale: The SAE Supreme Council, SAE Fraternity and Financial & Housing Corporation and the SAE Foundation should not have authority over where a state-registered corporation (e.g., local Housing Corporation – property owner) deposits or utilizes proceeds from the sale of a property previously used as fraternity housing/lodge. The aforementioned state-registered corporation is governed by the laws of the state, and the governing board of the body may or may not consist of SAE members (i.e., there may be certain board members who are not SAE members). Further, the sale of property could be the result of an endless series of actions outside of the control of the House Corporation but that affect the properties’ viability, financial survival and physical condition. Examples could include, but not be limited to, the following: chapter closure/suspension, host institution’s elimination of Greek student groups as a whole, litigation and liability due to chapter/tenant behavior, change in local governance ordinance (zoning, rental, cohabitation laws/policies), catastrophic loss not fully covered by property insurance and/or chapter alumni (supporters) deciding to eliminate property for any number of sound reasons. For many of these corporations, their Articles of Incorporation specifically differ from this Fraternity Law and were established prior to the creation of the current Fraternity Law.

Another reason for the change is based on recent action taken at and surrounding the last Fraternity Convention. At the 2015 Convention in Newport Beach, the SAE Supreme Council, SAE Fraternity, Financial & Housing Board and the SAE Foundation were formally separated (even more than before) as it relates to Fraternity Laws, IRS-designations identity and with distinct missions and independent modes of operation. It seems that having the Fraternity with a law that requires an outside state-registered corporation (House Corporation) deposit proceeds from a sale of their property based on Financial & Housing Corporation recommendation to enforce a Fraternity Law with the action resulting in a deposit/fund opening with the SAE Foundation. This seems to present a significant amount of shared benefit, oversight and action between the three distinct SAE entities.

Submitted by: James G. Sakers (Maryland-College Park ’69), Jason P. Andrick (Frostburg State ‘97), George C. Fugler (Louisiana State ‘48), Michael W. Dunn (Frostburk State ‘90), Michael J. Keane (Johns Hopkins ‘09), Gary Armstrong (Towson ’91), Dwight Marshall (Salisbury ‘89), Corey Turner (Towson ‘16)



ProPosal #19AMEND SECTION 36 (CHAPTER OFFICERS), SUBSECTION C, AS FOLLOWS:

C. Trustees or House Corporation. For the purpose of acquiring and holding title to or for the lease of real property, acquiring or erecting a chapter house, and conducting all such transactions as may be necessary for the proper maintenance, administration, or disposition thereof, a Chapter Collegiate may either 1) elect a Board of Trustees consisting of not more than five (5) Trustees, in addition to whom the Eminent Archon and the Eminent Treasurer shall act as ex-officio members, or 2) organize a corporation to be known as a house corporation in accordance with the laws of the state where such chapter is located.1. Chapter House Forever to Benefit Chapter. A chapter house, other real property Interest or any portion thereof (a “Chapter House”) held by a Board of Trustees, a House Corporation or any other entity holding title to such property for the primary benefit of a Chapter Collegiate (collectively, a “House Corporation”), including any assets derived directly or indirectly from the sale, exchange or casualty of such Chapter House, shall forever be held in trust for the primary benefit of said Chapter Collegiate, subject to the terms of subsection 2 below. Any House Corporation that has accepted consideration from a Chapter Collegiate or its members in exchange for their occupancy of a Chapter House or that has accepted a donation from a member of the Chapter Alumnus for the betterment of the Chapter House shall be subject to the terms of this Section 36C. Furthermore, any member of a Chapter Collegiate or the Chapter Alumnus who serves in any capacity on a House Corporation shall be compelled to adhere to the terms of this Section 36C and, upon request, shall provide the Eminent Supreme Recorder with reasonable evidence that the applicable organizational documents of the House Corporation comply with these Fraternity Laws, as the same may be amended from time to time. This Section 36C shall be subordinate to any mortgage loan.2. Conveyances Prohibited. Except for a Permitted Transfer described below, each House Corporation shall be prohibited from making a Chapter House Conveyance and any attempt to make an unauthorized Chapter House Conveyance shall be null and void and shall be deemed an unauthorized and unlawful act of the House Corporation. All House Corporations shall notify the Eminent Supreme Recorder at least ninety (90) days prior to marketing for sale a Chapter House, prior to transferring ownership of a Chapter House by any manner to a third party, including by threatened foreclosure sale or a taking by eminent domain, or prior to leasing a Chapter House to a third party for a term, including all options to extend, of greater than five years (collectively, a “Chapter House Conveyance”). Upon such notice, the Eminent Supreme Recorder shall consult with the Board of Directors of SAE Financial and Housing Corporation on the proposed Chapter House Conveyance, and SAE Financial and Housing Corporation shall timely advise the House Corporation in good faith as to viable alternatives to the proposed Chapter House Conveyance so as to maintain the Chapter House for the future use and benefit of the affiliated Chapter Collegiate, whether or not said Chapter Collegiate is then active and in good standing with the Fraternity. A “Permitted Conveyance” shall mean one of the following:

a. A Chapter House Conveyance made to a newly comprised House Corporation as part of a corporate reorganization of the original House Corporation;b. A Chapter House Conveyance made pursuant to a binding asset maintenance agreement by and between the House Corporation and SAE Financial and Housing Corporation that provides for all assets derived from the Chapter House Conveyance, including net sale proceeds and all other forms of personal and real property, to be held in trust by the House Corporation for the future acquisition and/or construction of a Chapter House for the affiliated Chapter Collegiate, whether or not said Chapter Collegiate is then in good standing with the Fraternity; provided, however, said agreement shall specify that the assets so being held by the House Corporation (i) shall be transferred to Sigma Alpha Foundation to provide scholarships to the members of the affected Chapter Collegiate if, at any time and in the reasonable opinion of SAE Financial and Housing Corporation, it is not likely that the Chapter House can be timely replaced (for example only, the host university mandates on campus fraternity housing), and (ii) shall be transferred to SAE Financial and Housing Corporation if, within two years of the date of the asset maintenance agreement (as such time period may be extended for any period of suspension of the Chapter Collegiate), the House Corporation fails to acquire or commence construction on a replacement Chapter House. SAE Financial and Housing Corporation is expressly authorized to prepare and prescribe a form asset maintenance agreement that incorporates the above and other reasonable terms which, upon acceptance of the Supreme Council, shall be deemed reasonable and binding upon all affected House Corporations that may choose to enter into said asset maintenance agreement;c. A gift donation of the Chapter House to SAE Financial and Housing Corporation, which accepts the same subject only to the then existing encumbrances on the Chapter House, including but not limited to any existing mortgage loan, whether or not in default and subject to a pending foreclosure action, and any pending taking by power of eminent domain;d. A Chapter House Conveyance made within one hundred and eighty (180) days after SAE Financial and Housing Corporation refuses in writing (or within sixty (60) days of a written offer being so made and not accepted) to accept the Chapter House by gift donation as described in subsection c above; ande. Any other Chapter House Conveyance made with the advance written consent of the Eminent Supreme Recorder, which consent shall be provided pursuant to a duly adopted resolution of SAE Financial and Housing Corporation.

REPEAL SECTION 37 (DUTIES OF CHAPTER OFFICERS), SUBSECTION N (TRUSTEES AND HOUSE CORPORATIONS), SUBSECTION 2 (HOUSE CORPORATIONS), SUBSECTION A.

a. House Corporations organized as provided in Section 36C shall have not less than five (5) Directors who shall elect officers from their own membership including a president, a vice-president, a secretary, and a treasurer, except that the offices of secretary and treasurer may be combined if desirable.

Rationale: In 2015, the Fraternity voted to remove the Financial & Housing Corporation from Fraternity Law as it is a separately incorporated entity. This edit furthers that goal by eliminating directions from the Fraternity to the F&H Corporation which would be an improper comingling of the two entities.

Further, Housing Corporations are, likewise, separately incorporated entities. It is improper for the Fraternity Laws to direct one separately-incorporated organization into a superior position to another separately-incorporated organization, specifically when the laws of the several states take precedence over the Fraternity Laws. The laws of the state under which the house corporation is incorporated, and the articles of incorporation that establish the entity, would be more binding on the house corporation than a conveyance of the Fraternity, and the conveyance could be written in a manner that is in opposition to state laws or the articles of incorporation. It must also be up to state laws and the articles of incorporation as to the make-up of the house corporation members, and this directive in Fraternity Law of the number of members is superfluous.

Submitted by: Richard Shanahan (Fort Hays State ’03)


ProPosal #20AMEND SECTION 37 (DUTIES OF CHAPTER OFFICERS), SUBSECTION N (TRUSTEES AND HOUSE CORPORATIONS), SUBSECTION 2 (HOUSE CORPORATIONS), BY CREATING A NEW SUBSECTION A, AND RE-LETTERING ALL SUCCESSIVE SUBSECTIONS ACCORDINGLY, TO READ AS FOLLOWS:

a. Each House Corporation, including its officers, directors and governing documents, must adhere to, recognize and comply with the minimum housing standards as adopted from time to time by the Fraternity in support of insurance carrier directives, building code compliance and life safety best practices as well as any other applicable requirement of these Fraternity Laws relating to House Corporations.From time to time, the Eminent Supreme Recorder, with the approval of the Supreme Council, shall develop, modify and distribute to House Corporations such minimum housing standards, and each House Corporation shall promptly adhere to and adopt such minimum housing standards. The Eminent Supreme Recorder shall annually report to the Supreme Council regarding compliance with these minimum housing standards by each House Corporation. The Fraternity is expressly authorized to penalize any House Corporation, House Corporation officer or director and any Chapter Collegiate residing in said Chapter House


for a violation of these minimum housing standards, which penalties may include but not be limited to the revocation of the right to use Fraternity trademarks and other intellectual property, withdrawal of Fraternity provided insurance coverage, revocation of the right to use the Fraternity’s group tax exemption, excluding the Chapter Collegiate’s members from programs and resources intended to promote or enhance Chapter House operations, assessing additional health and safety requirements on the Chapter Collegiate, and any such other penalty or requirement which the Supreme Council may adopt from time to time or as permitted by these Fraternity Laws.

AMEND SECTION 36 (DUTIES OF CHAPTER OFFICERS) BY CREATING SUBSECTION O (CHAPTERS THAT OCCUPY A HOUSE OWNED BY NON-SAE ENTITY) TO READ AS FOLLOWS:

O. Chapters that Occupy a House Owned by Non-SAE Entity. Each Chapter that occupies a house owned by a non-SAE entity must adhere to, recognize and comply with the minimum housing standards as adopted from time to time by the Fraternity in support of insurance carrier directives, building code compliance and life safety best practices as well as any other applicable requirement of these Fraternity Laws relating to Chapters Collegiate. The chapter’s officers must be assigned duties related to the safety of all members that reside or enter the property and the chapter’s governing documents must conform to property and safety standards.

Rationale: A Board of Trustees or House Corporation is an independent entity and generally has to comply with individual state law. Created to satisfy the housing needs of Chapters Collegiate, these entities are granted privileges by the Fraternity.

Chapters that occupy a house, whether owned by SAE entities or rented, receive unique benefits from the Fraternity and, as such, they have additional obligations to their alumni and the Fraternity due to the added complexity and risk associated with the property. Similarly, Boards of Trustees or House Corporations receive unique benefits and privileges from the Fraternity and, like-wise, have additional obligations to the Chapter, donating alumni and to the Fraternity due to the added risk and fiduciary responsibility associated with the property:

• The Trustees of a house or a House Corporation set up for the acquiring and holding title to or for the lease of real property, acquiring or erecting a chapter house, and conducting all such transactions as may be necessary for the proper maintenance, administration, or disposition thereof, a Chapter Collegiate house will organize under the laws of the state in which it resides and incorporate under the terms of their Articles of Incorporation.

• A Chapter that resides in a house other than one owned by Trustees or a House Corporation (e.g. school owned, rented, etc.) will organize like all chapters, under a chapter granted by the Fraternity, and managed by a chapter by-law.

Privileges Granted and Support Provided: A Board of Trustees or House Corporation is granted a number privileges as well as support by the Fraternity. Additionally, a Chapter that resides in a house other than one owned by Trustees or a House Corporation is also granted a number of privileges as well as support by the Fraternity including: 1) Brand - A license to use SAE trademarks and related intellectual property, including, but not limited to, affixing and displaying SAE letters on the exterior and interior portions of the property, affixing and displaying other SAE insignia (such as the coat of arms and badge, for example), use of the True Gentleman creed (either in the entirety or portions) on and within the physical property, flying the SAE flag, and use of the lion, Minerva and Phoenix images in connection with the above. 2) Insurance - To the extent made available to the Fraternity by its insurance carriers, insurance coverage for house corporation volunteers, such as general liability, directors-and-officers liability and fidelity-bond/dishonest-acts coverage. Through the Fraternity’s ownership interests in a dedicated insurance cooperative for Greek letter organizations, house-corporation access to competitive property insurance programs. Periodic visits from the SAE owned insurance brokerage firm to inspect chapter house properties in an effort to identify potential liabilities and code-compliance issues (all to minimize the potential for claims against the house corporation and its officers) as well as providing recommendations on chapter-house improvements to provide a safer housing environment for our members. 3) Tax Exempt Status – The Fraternity group exemption allows house corporations to not have to go and get a tax-determination letter as to their 501(c)7 status as a house corporation. By applying the Fraternity’s group exemption to their return each year, the IRS confirms we have them listed as a subsidiary of our group exemption. 4) Service Center Investment - SAE Fraternity Service Center “investment” in SAE chapters, such as regular site inspections and consultative reviews, chapter-officer development (including specific to chapter housing operations), member leadership programs, and health-and-safety resources and training, all of which contribute to a stronger and more “bankable” tenant for each house corporation. 5) Support - SAE Fraternity Service Center efforts and programs to promote strong working relationships with the professional staff of each host institution, including attendance and participation at national and regional programs that cater to collegiate Greek-life staff and involvement with house corporations. 6) Health and Safety - A professional response team to deal with crisis and other risk-management situations involving the chapter and university with the goal of creating the best possible outcome for all involved constituents, including house corporations. Similarly, and when requested, active intervention in matters involving chapter tenant damage to house corporation assets. 7) Trade and Government Programs - Through our membership in national trade organizations, Fraternity sponsored advocacy with state and federal governmental initiatives that benefit fraternity house corporations. For example, Fraternity sponsorship, promotion and funding of the Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act, which would amend the federal tax code to allow tax deductible donations to be made

directly to house corporations. 8) Tax Deductible Gifts - In cooperation with the SAE Foundation, the promotion of Chapter Allocation Funds which allows alumni members and chapter parents to make tax-deductible gifts that benefit the educational aspects of SAE fraternity houses. 9) Property Management Support - In cooperation with the SAE Financial & Housing Corporation, the development and dissemination of training programs and best practices information for our house corporations as well as the availability of loan funds for emergency repairs to chapter houses.

Compliance - These privileges require that the board of Trustees or House Corporation codify in their Articles of Incorporation their agreement to the following. It also requires that a chapter that resides in a house other than one owned by Trustees or a House Corporation codify in their by-laws their agreement to the following: 1) Governance – A minimum standard of governance for the Trustee and House Corporation and a chapter must be agreed to and implemented both the Trustee and House Corporation governance document, generally through the Articles of Incorporation, and a Chapter through its by-laws, must recognize and require the compliance with minimum Fraternity housing standards as adopted from time to time by the Fraternity in support of applicable insurance carrier directives, as well as building-code compliance and life-safety best practices, and the Trustee and House Corporation governance document, generally through the Articles of Incorporation, must recognize and require the compliance with the minimum requirements of the Fraternity Laws relating to the preservation of house-corporation assets for the benefit of its members in the event of a fraternity house sale. 2) Standards - The house corporation and its directors and officers, as well a chapter officers, must operate the chapter house facility and its business operations in compliance to the minimum standards promulgated by A & B above. When operated poorly or with reckless indifference to the common sense, minimum standards, a chapter house and house corporations put the entire Fraternity and our undergraduate members at risk. As a collective body (including those many chapters that do not have privately owned houses) we must insist on some minimum level of standards: a) the quality of the chapter collegiate housing experience, b) financial fiduciary accountability, including the day-to-day management of the property, long term capital improvements, and the accountability to the many alumni donors, and c) adherence to the ideals of the True Gentleman by the chapter collegiate and alumni members.

Non-compliance - For those that for any reason choose to not accept and implement with the compliance items above: 1) Brand - The license to use Fraternity owned trademarks and other intellectual property may bewithdrawn and denied. 2) Insurance - Coverage under Fraternity insurance policies which extend to and benefit the house corporation and its volunteers (including but not limited to general liability, D&O and fidelity bond) may be withdrawn and denied. Additionally, through cooperation with our insurance carrier partners, potential denial of property insurance coverage for non-compliant properties. 3) Tax Exempt Status – The permissive use of the Fraternity’s group tax exemption may be withdrawn and denied. 4) Service


Center Investment - SAE Fraternity Service Center regular site inspections and consultative reviews, may exclude chapter-officer development specific to chapter-housing operations. 5) Support – The Fraternity’s response to chapter risk-management issues and other crisis situations involving the host university may be made without house corporation representation and without consideration of the impact such responses may have on the house corporation. 6) Health and Safety - A professional response team to deal with crisis and other risk-management situations involving the chapter and university may not be available when the issue is related to housing. Fraternity chapters and their members may be subject to additional health-and-safety requirements, including prohibition of residing in chapter houses that are non-compliant with the minimum standards. 7) Trade and Government Programs – Benefits accrued by involvement in state and federal programs may not be available. 8) Tax Deductible Gifts – Gifts at a Foundation CAF may not be allowed. 9) Property Management – Assets related to property development and management may not be made available.

Non-compliance mays also lead to potential disciplinary actions against directors, officers and volunteers of non-compliant house corporations, including expulsion from the Fraternity.

Submitted by: Charles Boyd (Mississippi State ‘65), by and for the SAE Financial & Housing Corporation, W. Gary Westling (Cal State-Long Beach ‘83), Gary L. Garnand (Idaho ‘70), R. Mark “Hondo” Davids (Maryland-College Park ‘77), Thomas L. Hodges (Arkansas-Fayettville ‘64), Steven Churchill (Iowa State ‘85), Thomas J. Dement II (Middle Tennessee State ‘90), Gregory D. Brandt (Drake ‘84), Michael J. Corelli (Northern Illinois ‘01), Michael S. Rodgers (William & Mary ‘92), Ed Fuller (Boston ‘68), Robert H. Watts (Boston ‘68), Lloyd K. Everson (North Dakota ’65), Fred Kleisner (Michigan State ‘66), Col. William B. Woods (Colorado State ‘58)


ProPosal #21AMEND SECTION 43 (CHAPTER ADVISORY BOARD) AS FOLLOWS:

A. Requirement. If the Province Archon or Eminent Supreme Recorder determines, in consultation with the Chapter Collegiate and its Chapter Advisor, that a Chapter Collegiate would benefit from the institution of a chapter advisory board, either the Province Archon or Eminent Supreme Recorder may require the Each Chapter Collegiate to must have a Chapter Advisory Board which shall will advise and counsel the Chapter Collegiate in the administration of its affairs and represent the Supreme Council and the Province Archon in perpetuating the Fraternity’s standards, policies, and traditions.B. Members.1. Ex Officio. The Chapter Advisory Board shall include as ex-officio members the following:a. The President of a chapter alumni association with

respect to the Chapter Collegiate and the President of any Area Alumni Association located in the area of the college or university at which the Chapter Collegiate is situated.b. Any faculty advisor(s) of the Chapter Collegiate on the staff of the college or university at which the Chapter Collegiate is situated, who need not be a member of the Fraternity and who shall be selected by the Chapter Collegiate.2. Other. The remaining members of the Chapter Advisory Board shall consist of such alumni members in good standing of the Fraternity as the Chapter Collegiate appoints, subject to Province Archon shall deem appropriate approval. Such members shall be appointed by the Province Archon, by the end of the institution’s academic year or as soon thereafter as practical, after consultation with the alumni of the Chapter Collegiate or residing in the area where the Chapter Collegiate is located, to serve for the following two (2) academic years. The Province Archon Chapter Collegiate may replace any such member who resigns or becomes inactive with another member, subject to Province Archon approval, who shall serve for the unexpired duration of the on a new term of office of the member being replaced. Both ex-officio members and members appointed by the Province Archon Chapter Collegiate shall serve until their respective successors are elected or appointed and shall have the right to vote upon any matter coming before the Chapter Advisory Board.C. Officers. The Chapter Advisory Board shall elect a President.D. Meetings. The Chapter Advisory Board shall meet monthly during the regular academic year of the respective college or university. Additional meetings may be called by the President or by any two members of the Board. Reports shall be submitted to the Province Archon and the Eminent Supreme Recorder when requested by either of them or as deemed appropriate by the Chapter Advisory Board. The Board may request assistance from the Province Archon or the Eminent Supreme Recorder with any problems it is unable to resolve.

Rationale: To some level, all chapters need an advisory board, not just ones who may be failing in some respects. Requiring chapter advisory boards will supplement the efforts already in place as part of the Fraternity’s health-and-safety model and serve as a means for us to fulfill our mission-based and strategic initiatives to increase our alumni involvement.

Submitted by: Austin Evans (Wisconsin-Madsion ’05)


ProPosal #22AMEND SECTION 45 (ALUMNI ASSOCIATION), SUBSECTION A, AS FOLLOWS:

A. Charters. An alumni association may be organized only by virtue of a charter granted by the Supreme Council. Such an association may be either an area alumni association, of which members must be alumni

who reside in the same city or locale, or a Chapter-Collegiate alumni association, of which members may or may not be alumni of the same Chapter Collegiate. Application for a charter shall be in writing, shall be signed 1) in the case of an area alumni association by at least ten (10) alumni members residing in the same city or locale or 2) in the case of a Chapter-Collegiate alumni association by ten (10) alumni of the same Chapter Collegiate, and shall be accompanied by an application fee of twenty-five ($25.00) fifty dollars ($50.00) and initial annual dues (for the current calendar year) of one-hundred dollars ($100.00) two-hundred fifty dollars ($250.00).

Rationale: This proposal change takes into account the application fee and annual dues for Alumni Associations have not increased since 2007. This increase helps account for the hiring of 2 additional staff members directly supporting alumni engagement and the increase in resources being made available to support alumni engagement initiatives. The annual dues increase also brings our costs more in alignment with what other large nationalorganizations charge annually. Our historical data from annual alumni association reports indicates the average association has 54 members, charges $22 per person for annual dues.

Submitted by: Deran C. Abernathy (Texas-Dallas ’04), James Balandran (Texas-Dallas ’10)


ProPosal #23AMEND SECTION 45 (ALUMNI ASSOCIATIONS), SUBSECTION F, AS FOLLOWS:

F. Annual Dues. Each Alumni Association is subject to annual, calendar-year dues of one hundred ($100.00) two-hundred fifty dollars ($250.00), payable to Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity on or before January 15.

Rationale: This change aligns the annual dues charge with the submitted law proposal relating to Section 45A. This proposed change takes into account the application fee and annual dues for Alumni Associations have not increased since 2007. This increase helps account for the hiring of 2 additional staff members directly supporting alumni engagement and the increase in resources being made available to support alumni engagement initiatives. The annual dues increase also brings our costs more in alignment with what other large national organizations charge annually. Our historical data from annual alumni association reports indicates the average association has 54 members, charges $22 per person for annual dues.

Submitted by: Deran C. Abernathy (Texas-Dallas ’04), James Balandran (Texas-Dallas ‘10)


Recommendation: The Permanent Committee on Fraternity Laws does not recommend adoption as written, but would recommend adoption of the proposal upon adoption of an amendment changing the increase from $250.00 to $125.00.

ProPosal #24AMEND SECTIONS 47 (RULES GOVERNING ALL COMMITTEES), SUBSECTIONS A & B, AS FOLLOWS:

A. Organization. The Fraternity Convention or the Supreme Council may establish committees to advise the Fraternity Convention and the Supreme Council on the state of affairs in the Fraternity, to analyze problems in their respective areas and propose solutions, and to bring forward innovative ideas for improving the Fraternity. Unless prescribed by these Fraternity Laws, each committee’s scope of work and a timetable for the completion of that work shall be initially prescribed by the body establishing the same, provided that any committee’s scope of work and timetable for completion may be later amended by the Supreme Council.B. Appointment and Term of Service. Each The members of each Committee and its Chairman shall be appointed by the Eminent Supreme Archon, with the advice and consent of the Supreme Council, and given a scope of work and a timetable for the completion of that work. All committees shall be disbanded at the conclusion of the first Fraternity Convention held after their establishment unless earlier disbanded by the Supreme Council.

Rationale: It has been the historical practice of the Fraternity for the Eminent Supreme Archon and the Supreme Council to establish committees that serve on an ad-hoc basis (as opposed to standing committees recognized in the Fraternity Laws) as well as to appoint committee members to the same. Most of these committees are created, appointed and disbanded between Fraternity Conventions. This law proposal clarifies that either the Fraternity Convention or the Supreme Council (as opposed to just “Fraternity” as presently written) may establish such ad-hoc committees and that the Supreme Council may later amend a committee’s scope of work and timetable for its work to be completed as may be needed (for example, as new issues or tasks arise). Additionally, this law proposal clarifies that the Supreme Council may disband any such committee prior to the next Fraternity Convention (for example, when its work has been completed).

Submitted by: Michael S. Rodgers (William & Mary ’92), Gregory D. Brandt (Drake ’84)


ProPosal #25AMEND SECTION 50 AS FOLLOWS:

50. Official Action — Voting. Whenever official action by any regularly constituted body of the Fraternity is required, such action may, unless a different amount or standard is otherwise required by these Fraternity Laws or other lawful authority, be taken by a majority vote at any meeting of such body at which a quorum of members in good standing is present. Only collegiate members who are present and in good standing shall be counted in determining the voting strength of a Chapter Collegiate, and in proceedings taken under Title XII the accused shall have no vote, nor shall he be counted as a member of the Chapter Collegiate. Wherever used in these Fraternity Laws, the term “advice and consent of the Supreme Council” (or any similar derivative of said phrase) shall mean the active participation and deliberation of the Supreme Council in the matter presented as well as the majority vote of the Supreme Council at any meeting duly called and held for such vote.

Rationale: The term “advice and consent” as used in the Fraternity Laws was likely adopted from the same term expressed in the U.S. Constitution whereby a President is required to obtain the Senate’s majority vote in favor of certain presidential appointments to executive and judicial branch positions in our government. Inherently, the process of “advice and consent” of the U.S. Senate provides a system of checks and balances on the executive powers of the President. However, this same term is not defined in the Fraternity Laws and, over the past several years, Eminent Supreme Archons have interpreted the phrase “advice and consent of the Supreme Council” differently and inconsistently (for example, sometimes with and sometimes without the vote of the Supreme Council). This law proposal provides a consistent basis for interpreting the terminology going forward.

Submitted by: Michael S. Rodgers (William & Mary ’92), Gregory D. Brandt (Drake ’84)


ProPosal #26CREATE A NEW SECTION 57, AND RENUMBER ALL SUCCESSIVE SECTIONS ACCORDINGLY, TO READ AS FOLLOWS:

57. Alcohol Free Housing. All Sigma Alpha Epsilon recognized fraternity houses and lodges shall be alcohol free in the common areas of the chapter house or lodge. Individuals of legal age and in compliance with all Federal, state, university, and fraternity laws and regulations may drink in the privacy of their own bedrooms in the chapter house.

Rationale: This is a compromise from previous law proposals where they want a 100% ban on alcohol in the house. The goal is trying to move the partying out of the chapter house or lodge and into locations that are administered by third parties. This will cut down on legal liability for the Fraternity and decrease damages to the chapter house. This also will allow a 21-year-old to enjoy a beverage in his room while watching sporting events, thus not discouraging upperclassman from living in.

Hopefully the Fraternity will justify a break in Health and Safety fees for eliminating alcohol in the common areas and the Chapters can use those savings to apply towards the cost of events at off-site, third-party locations.

Submitted by: Gregory P. Somers (Michigan State ’98), Ryan Martin (Wichita State ’01)


ProPosal #27AMEND SECTION 60 (JURISDICTION), SUBSECTION A, AS FOLLOWS:

A. Original Jurisdiction. Every member of the Fraternity is under the original jurisdiction of the Chapter Collegiate of which he is, or was last, a member (except as provided for unaffiliated transfers in Section 47E1) and of the Supreme Council, and a member of a Chapter Collegiate is under the original jurisdiction of such Chapter Collegiate. Charges may be filed against such member either with his Chapter Collegiate or with the Supreme Council, and he shall be tried by the body before which the charges are filed, subject, however, to certain exceptions hereinafter set out under “change of venue.”

Rationale: Based on how this section is read, an alumnus member could be expelled by his chapter because that alumnus brother is still subject to the original jurisdiction of the chapter he was last a member of. Although disciplinary proceedings over alumni are rare, they are sometimes needed. However, a potential for abuse exists where members of the Chapter Collegiate could try an alumnus member without due process for that member.

Submitted by: Austin Evans (Wisconsin-Madison ’05), by and for the Permanent Committee on Fraternity Laws



ProPosal #28AMEND SECTION 62 (PENALTIES), SUBSECTION A, AS FOLLOWS:

A. If the accused pleads guilty or is found guilty, the Chapter Collegiate or the Supreme Council shall immediately impose on him one or more of the following penalties: 1) expulsion, 2) suspension, 3) fine, and 4) reprimand, 5) removal from any Fraternity-related position(s) held, whether or not formally recognized by these Fraternity Laws, and 6) suspension from holding any Fraternity-related position(s), whether or not formally recognized by these Fraternity Laws, for a designated term. A two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members of the trial tribunal present and ingood standing at a lawful special meeting is necessary to impose a penalty of suspension or expulsion. A majority vote of the members of the trial tribunal present and in good standing is necessary to impose a fine, or a reprimand or for removal from a position or suspension from holding a position related to the Fraternity. During the pendency of an appeal, the member shall be temporarily suspended from the rights, privileges, and immunities of the Fraternity.

Rationale: This law proposal provides two additional and possible sanctions against a member found guilty of a recognized offense. In many instances, particularly with respect to alumni volunteers, a desirable outcome may be to simply remove that member from one or more positions in the Fraternity and, thereafter, prohibit the member from holding a volunteer position for a number of years. Otherwise, the only available remedy to achieve the same result is to suspend the member’s membership in the Fraternity which may be overly burdensome given the applicable offense.

Submitted by: Michael S. Rodgers (William & Mary ’92), Gregory D. Brandt (Drake ’84), Clark J. Brown (Arkansas-Fayettville ‘07)



i. main motions

The steps leading to the adoption of a main motion are: 1. obtaining the floor; 2. making the motion; 3. seconding the motion; 4. stating the motion; 5. discussing the motion; 6. putting the motion; 7. voting.To obtain the floor, rise, address the chair (the presiding officer), who recognizes the member by calling him by name. Then, and not before, the member states his motion. If several mem-bers rise at the same time, the chair decides which rose first and is thus entitled to the floor.

To make the motion, say “I move that ...” Do not say, “I make a motion that ...,” “I want to make a motion that ...,” or “I move you,

Mr. Chairman ...” A motion must always be in the affirmative form.

To second the motion say “I second the motion.” It is not necessary to rise or to be recognized by the chair.

Discussion

Before allowing any discussion of the main motion, the chair must state, that is repeat, the motion. Until the chair has stated the motion, the maker can withdraw or alter it without asking the consent of the meeting.

After the chair has stated the motion, the maker may ask permission to withdraw or amend it, and such permission is granted by the chair if there is no objection offered. If there is any objection, a motion to withdraw or amend may be made.

After the chair has stated the motion, he asks, “Is there any discussion?” The maker of the motion has the right to speak first, and should be recognized by the chair, even if another member has risen first and addressed the chair. Speakers must address their remarks to the chair. If a member desires to ask a question of the speaker, he rises, says, “May I ask a question?” In cases of an emergency a member rises, and without being recognized, says, “I rise to a question of privilege.” The chair interrupts the member who has the floor and says, “State your question.” It may be to have better ventilation, to have disorder, such as whisper-ing among members, checked. It may be a request for information as to some statement made by a speaker. When the questions of privilege have been settled, the member who was interrupted continues the discussion.

The discussion must be relevant to the motion.

voting

The discussion may be closed by the chair, who asks, “Are you ready for the question?,” or by a call from the floor. This is usually done in small bodies by a call of “Question.”When the members are ready to close debate (end the discussion), the chair puts the question, that is, restates it. Exception: if a motion is simple and plainly understood by the members, the chair can call for a vote without putting the motion.

As soon as the chair has put the motion, he must call for the vote. “All those in favor of the motion say ‘Aye,’” or “Stand,” or “raise the hands.” If the meeting seems closely divided in opinion, the chair should call for a rising vote. After those in favor of the motion have voted, the chair must call for the negative vote, “Those opposed …,” even though he thinks the vote unanimous.

If the vote is by “Ayes” and “Nays,” and the chair is not sure of the result, he should call for a second vote, asking for a rising vote. The members must remain standing or hold their hands raised until the chair announces the result by saying, “The motion is carried (or lost).”

If a member doubts the result of the vote as announced by the chair, he can ask to have it retaken by calling, “Division.” He need not rise to make this call. It needs no second. It calls for a rising vote.

A vote by ballot is a secret, written vote. Unless called for in the Bylaws, it can be ordered by “general consent.” That is, without waiting for a motion, the chair says, “If there is no objection, the vote will be by ballot.” If there is any objection, the chair may ask for a motion, or a member may make such a motion.

The motion to vote by ballot cannot be debated, and as soon as the motion is made and seconded, the chair must call for the vote. This motion should be used in all cases where the question is such that members would hesitate to express their viewpoints openly.

The chair does not vote, except in case of a tie, or, when the vote is by ballot. While there can be only one main motion before the meeting at a time, we see that there can be two motions, a main motion, and the motion to vote by ballot.

There are several “secondary” motions that can be made when a main motion is before the meeting: vote by ballot, amendments, motion to refer to a committee, and the motion to adjourn.

F o R R e F e R e n C eThe fundamental elements of parliamentary procedure are presented here. For a more extended treatment, consult Roberts Rules of Order or Marie H. Suthers’ Primer in Parliamentary Procedure.

The business of an organization is introduced at meetings by means of main motions, committee reports, or communications.

R u l e s F o R P A R l i A m e n t A R y P R o C e D u R e


amenDments

Any motion can be amended by:1. Adding or inserting.2. Striking out.3. Striking out and inserting.

Examples: The motion before the meeting is “That we buy a Jones radio.”

I move to amend the motion.

(a) by inserting the word “walnut” before the word “Jones.” (b) by adding the words “and stand” after the word “radio.” (c) by striking out the word “Jones” before the word “radio.” (d) by striking out the word “Jones” before the word “radio” and inserting the word “Smith.”

An amendment must be germane to the main motion. The above motion could not be amended by striking out the words “Jones radio” and inserting the word “refrigerator.”

A pending question is one that has been stated, but has not been put by the chair.

An immediately pending question is the one last stated by the chair. A vote on the immediately pending question must always be taken before the vote on the pending question.

The amendment to a motion is the immediately pending question, and must be discussed and put to a vote before any discussion of, or action on, the main motion. Discussion must relate to the amendment only. If the motion concerns the purchase of a radio, and the amendment would substitute the word “rent” for the word “buy,” the discussion must be confined to the question as to whether if you have a radio, you rent or buy it.

When the chair is ready to put the motion, he asks for the vote on the amendment.

If the amendment is carried, there follows a discussion of, and a vote on, the amended motion.

If the amendment is lost, another amendment may be offered, or there follows a discussion of and vote on the main motion. Note that a favorable vote on the amendment does not do away with a vote on the main motion.

Before any amendment is entertained by the chair, the text must be provided to him in written form.

PostPonement

If a main motion needs to be studied more carefully than is possible in the meeting, the motion to commit should be make. “I move to refer the motion to a committee.” This motion can be debated, but the discussion must refer strictly to the desirability of having the motion considered by a committee. The motion can be amended.

If the motion is in the simplest form, as above, the chair asks for suggestions as to the number of members on the committee, and as to when they shall report. The suggestions made can be treated as amendments.

The motion to commit may take the complete form: “I move that the question be referred to a committee of five, to be appointed by the chair, with instructions to report at the next meeting.”

The member making the motion to commit is usually made chairman of the committee.

ii. committee rePorts

The committee report may be placed on file if it merely gives information to the meeting. If it contains specific recommendations, the committee chairman, as soon as he finishes reading the report, should move that it be adopted.

iii. aDJournment

A motion to adjourn may be made at any time. It becomes the immediately pending question. It cannot be amended or debated. It must at once be put by the chair. But remember – the meeting is not adjourned until the chair makes an announcement to that effect.

iv. summarySome of the rules of a seemingly more technical nature, involving the priority of motion, etc., are simplified in the chart.

The Rules of Order to be adopted by the 157th Anniversary Convention supersede any information presented herein. These guidelines are intended to simply guide the delegates with regard to common parliamentary procedures.

REQUIRES MAY BE REQUIRED TYPE OF MOTION PURPOSE SECOND DEBATABLE AMENDED FOR PASSAGE Main (Ordinary) To introduce business Yes Yes Yes Yes Main (Privileged) To raise question of privilege No No No No Regarding question of privilege Yes Yes Yes Yes To adjourn Yes No No Yes Tofixtimeorplacewhichtoadjourn Yes Yes Yes Yes Subsidiary Toamend Yes Yes Yes Yes Toamendaproposedamendment Yes Yes No Yes To refer Yes Yes Yes Yes Topostponeindefinitely Yes Yes Yes Yes Tolimitdebate Yes No Yes 2/3 Tocallforthepreviousquestion Yes No No 2/3 Tolayonthetable Yes No No Yes Towithdrawamotion No No No Yes To raise a point of order No No No Yes Todeterminemannerofvoting Yes Yes Yes Yes

reference chart


scheDuleThe sessions of the Fraternity Convention and other scheduled events will be at such times and places as are set forth in the official program approved by the Eminent Supreme Archon. The times and locations of events may be changed as announced at the convention.

quorum A quorum for the transaction of business shall consist of one-fourth (1/4) of the persons entitled to seats in the convention, as set forth in Fraternity Laws Sec. 11, provided that delegates are present from at least one-fourth (1/4) of the Chapters Collegiate in good standing. In the event that less than a majority of delegates eligible to vote at a Fraternity Convention are from the Chapters Collegiate, then one registered alternate delegate from every eligible Chapter Collegiate shall also be entitled to a vote at that Convention as per Fraternity Laws Sec 12.G.

floor PrivilegeThe privilege of speaking on the floor of the convention shall be granted to: a) Convention members as outlined in Fraternity Laws Sec. 11 b) General Counsel of the Fraternity c) An alternate delegate shall have the privilege of the floor and the right to vote only in case of absence from the floor of the official collegiate chapter or alumni association delegate for whom he is an alternate.

Pursuant to the adoption of these Rules of Order by three-fourths (3/4) vote of the conven-tion, the following shall also be granted floor privilege: a) Members of the Board of Directors of the SAE Financial & Housing Corporation b) Members of the Board of Directors of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Foundation c) Initiated members of the Fraternity Service Center

sPeechesNo Convention member or person who has floor privileges shall speak more than twice on the same question. Speech times responding to a question are as follows unless a majority vote extends the time to a ten-minute maximum: a) Five minutes for the first speech b) Three minutes for the second speech

Speakers may not yield more than once to another member and the time consumed by both cannot exceed that set forth above.

literature anD camPaign materialsCandidates for any elected office may distribute no more than one piece of literature per Plenary Session. Literature may not be more than one standard-size sheet of paper (8.5” x 11”), but sheets may be doubled-sided. No literature before or during convention may be distributed anonymously, and the candidate or his campaign must list authorship on any materials. Futhermore, the same regulations apply to any literature by any member regarding Fraternity Laws proposals.

committee rePorts Interim and final reports from committees shall be received at such time as permitted by the Eminent Supreme Archon and are not subject to the time limits.

roll call votesThe roll call vote order shall be as follows: a) Members of the Supreme Council b) Honorary Eminent Supreme Archon c) Eminent Supreme Recorder d) Past Eminent Supreme Archons e) Each Province alphabetically beginning with the Province Archon, followed by delegates representing Chapters Collegiate and Alumni Associations.

Committees in session shall be notified of roll call votes and compelled to return to the Convention floor for the vote. Roll-call votes will not be allowed when there is only one candidate for election.

amenDments to fraternity laW ProPosalsNo motion to amend a proposal to the Fraternity Laws shall be entertained by the presiding officer unless the proposal is submitted to the presiding officer in writing.

fraternity laW susPensionNo matter requiring suspension of the Fraternity Laws by unanimous consent (Fraternity Laws Sec. 10) may be considered or voted upon while any convention committee is absent from the floor.

nomination of officer canDiDatesEach candidate is allowed one nominating and one seconding speech. These speeches shall take place during the plenary session in which the elections occur. Unopposed candidiates on the Supreme Council will be allowed one nominating speech that is limited to four (4) minutes. For opposed candidates on the Supreme Council, the first nominating speech is limited to four (4) minutes, and the second nominating speech is limited to two (2) minutes. In addition, for races that are uncontested, the chairman will recognize a verbal nomination of the candidate from the convention floor, followed by a second from the convetion floor, and a verbal vote of affirmation.

election of officersSupreme Council elections shall be held at the second plenary session on Friday, July 7, 2017, and shall be held in the following order: a) Eminent Supreme Archon b) Eminent Supreme Deputy Archon c) Eminent Supreme Warden d) Eminent Supreme Herald e) Eminent Supreme Chronicler f) Eminent Supreme Recorder g) Honorary Eminent Supreme Archon

Parliamentary ProceDureAll questions of parliamentary procedure not provided for under the Fraternity Laws or the Rules of Order are governed by Robert’s Rules of Order as newly revised.

R u l e s o F o R D e R

T H E P H I A L P H A . S I g m A A L P H A E P S I L o n ’ S o f f I c I A L c o n v E n T I o n P u b L I c A T I o n28 28

Province alPhaConnecticut Lambda West Hartford, CT 104 $18.72

Connecticut Nu-Eta West Haven, CT 139 $25.02

Connecticut Omega New Haven, CT 135 $24.30

Maine Alpha Orono, ME 244 $43.93

Massachusetts Beta-Alpha Roxbury Crossing, MA 1.6 $0.29

Massachusetts Delta Worcester, MA 44.7 $8.05

Massachusetts Epsilon Boston, MA 3 $0.54

Massachusetts Gamma Cambridge, MA 4.5 $0.81

Massachusetts Iota-Tau Boston, MA 3 $0.54

Massachusetts Sigma Boston, MA 3 $0.54

New Hampshire Beta Hanover, NH 65.5 $11.79

Quebec Alpha Montreal, QC 308 $55.48

Rhode Island Alpha Kingston, RI 84 $15.23

Province betaPennsylvania Alpha-Zeta State College, PA 437 $78.66

Pennsylvania Chi-Omicron Pittsburgh, PA 570 $102.60

Pennsylvania Phi Pittsburgh, PA 570 $102.60

Pennsylvania Xi Pittsburgh, PA 570 $102.60

Province gammaMaryland Beta College Park, MD 429 $77.22

Virginia Alpha Ashland, VA 527 $94.86

Virginia Delta Fairfax, VA 454 $81.72

Virginia Kappa Williamsburg, VA 588 $105.84

Virginia Omicron Charlottesville, VA 622 $111.96

Virginia Upsilon Hampden-Sydney, VA 608 $109.44

Virginia Zeta Blacksburg, VA 700 $126.00

Washington City Alpha Washington, DC 435 $78.30

Washington City Eta-Sigma Washington, DC 435 $78.30

Washington City Rho Washington, DC 435 $78.30

Province DeltaOhio Chi-Sigma Dayton, OH 843 $151.74

Ohio Epsilon Cincinnati, OH 850 $153.00

Ohio Tau Oxford, OH 889 $160.02

Ohio Theta Columbus, OH 775 $139.50

West Virginia Alpha Huntington, WV 794 $142.92

West Virginia Gamma Morgantown, WV 589 $106.02

Province ePsilonAlabama Iota Birmingham, AL 1173 $211.14

Alabama Mu Tuscaloosa, AL 1230 $211.40

Alabama Nu Florence, AL 1195 $215.10

Florida Sigma Pensacola, FL 1397 $251.46

t h e C o n v e n t i o n m i l e A G e F u n D amounts to $56,005.34. This amount is established by

the Supreme Council as directed by Section 13A in the

Fraternity Laws. Delegates eligible to a share as well as

the individual shares for each are listed in this Phi Alpha

publication. Each delegate will receive a proportional

mileage allowance for the distance he travels in relation to

the total distance traveled by all delegates. Google Maps

was used to determine one-way mileage from the city in

which the group or person is located. The total mileage

determined to be divided among eligible delegates in

attendance at the 161st Anniversary Convention amounts

to 311,140 miles, allowing 18 cents per mile.

Convention mileage-fund checks will be distributed

during the final session of the convention to all eligible

individuals as specified in Section 13A in the Fraternity

Laws. Chapter delegates and alternates should make

arrangements regarding travel costs and any other

additional expenses prior to arriving. All attendees should

be prepared to pay their expenses to and from Boston

and through the days of the convention. Checks are made

payable to the chapter, not to the individual delegate.

In the event that a Province Archon is unable to attend,

a designated province officer representing the Province

Archon may share in the fund. As provided in Section

55.A.2 in the Fraternity Laws, any chapter not represented

at the convention by a regularly elected delegate shall

forfeit its share of the convention mileage fund and will

be assessed a fine of $1,500, unless excused by the

Supreme Council.

The provinces and Province Archons appear in Greek

alphabetical order. The Past Eminent Supreme Archons

appear in chronological order by their terms.

R e i m b u R s e m e n t F o R m i l e s t R A v e l e D


Province ePsilon-alPhaGeorgia Alpha Statesboro, GA 1026 $184.68

Georgia Beta Athens, GA 1023 $184.14

Georgia Delta Dahlonega, GA 1047 $188.46

Georgia Epsilon Atlanta, GA 1073 $193.14

Georgia Eta Atlanta, GA 1073 $193.14

Georgia Mu Milledgeville, GA 1070 $192.60

Georgia Omega Marietta, GA 1106 $199.08

Georgia Phi Atlanta, GA 1073 $193.14

Georgia Psi Macon, GA 1100 $198.00

Georgia Rho Savannah, GA 1009 $181.62

Georgia Sigma Valdosta, GA 1187 $213.66

Province ZetaKansas Alpha Lawrence, KS 1451 $216.18

Kansas Beta Manhattan, KS 1522 $273.96

Kansas Delta Hays, KS 1695 $305.10

Kansas Gamma Wichita, KS 1623 $292.14

Missouri Alpha Columbia, MO 1306 $235.08

Missouri Delta Kansas City, MO 1413 $254.34

Missouri Kappa-Chi Kansas City, MO 1413 $254.34

Province Zeta-alPhaIllinois Beta Champaign, IL 1074 $193.32

Illinois Delta Decatur, IL 1123 $202.14

Illinois Delta-Lambda Charleston, IL 1068 $192.24

Missouri Beta Saint Louis, MO 1190 $214.20

Missouri Gamma Fulton, MO 1270 $228.60

Missouri Zeta St. Louis, MO 1190 $214.20

Province etaColorado Chi Boulder, CO 1984 $357.12

Colorado Delta Fort Collins, CO 1948 $350.64

Colorado Lambda Golden, CO 1977 $355.86

Colorado Phi Colorado Springs, CO 2015 $362.70

Wyoming Alpha Laramie, WY 1975 $355.50

Province thetaLouisiana Alpha Lafayette, LA 1626 $292.68

Louisiana Chi Thibodaux, LA 1571 $282.78

Louisiana Epsilon Baton Rouge, LA 1571 $282.78

Louisiana Tau-Upsilon New Orleans, LA 1515 $272.70

Mississippi Delta Jackson, MS 1409 $253.62

Mississippi Delta-Sigma Cleveland, MS 1418 $255.24

Mississippi Gamma University, MS 1322 $237.96

Mississippi Sigma Hattiesburg, MS 1405 $252.90

Mississippi Theta Mississippi State, MS 1314 $236.52

Tennessee Eta Jackson, TN 1224 $220.32

Tennessee Rho Memphis, TN 1348 $242.64

Tennessee Sigma Memphis, TN 1348 $242.64

Tennessee Tau Martin, TN 1239 $223.02

Tennessee Zeta Memphis, TN 1348 $242.62

Province iotaTennessee Alpha Johnson City, TN 842 $151.56

Tennessee Delta Cookeville, TN 1018 $183.24

Tennessee Kappa Knoxville, TN 918 $165.24

Tennessee Nu Nashville, TN 1096 $197.28

Tennessee Omega Sewanee, TN 1076 $193.68

Province KaPPaCalifornia Alpha Stanford, CA 3132 $563.78

California Iota Fresno, CA 3107 $559.26

California Xi Sacramento, CA 3011 $541.98

California Zeta San Jose, CA 3130 $563.40

Nevada Alpha Reno, NV 2880 $518.40

Province lambDaAlaska Alpha Anchorage, AK 4556 $820.08

Oregon Alpha Corvallis, OR 3100 $558.00

Oregon Beta Eugene, OR 3101 $558.18

Oregon Gamma Salem, OR 3134 $564.12

Washington Alpha Seattle, WA 3028 $545.04

Washington Gamma Tacoma, WA 3041 $547.38

Province muIllinois Delta-Pi Chicago, IL 981 $176.58

Illinois Epsilon Peoria, IL h1120 $201.60

Illinois Gamma Dekalb, IL 1042 $187.56

Illinois Psi-Omega Evanston, IL 993 $178.74

Illinois Sigma-Sigma Macomb, IL 1198 $215.64

Wisconsin Alpha Madison, WI 1132 $203.76

Wisconsin Lambda-Chi La Crosse, WI 1267 $228.06

Wisconsin Sigma Menomonie, WI 1325 $238.50

Province mu-DeltaMaryland Alpha College Park, MD 429 $77.22

Maryland Delta Frostburg, MD 526 $94.68

Maryland Mu Westminster, MD 426 $76.78

Maryland Sigma Salisbury, MD 435 $78.30

Province nuNew York Beta Brookville, NY 219 $39.42

New York Chi Hempstead, NY 217 $39.06

New York Epsilon Troy, NY 171 $30.78

New York Omega Binghamton, NY 303 $54.54

New York Zeta Oswego, NY 339 $61.02

Province nu-ePsilonFlorida Alpha Coral Gables, FL 1491 $268.38

Florida Alpha-Mu Saint Leo, FL 1312 $236.16

Florida Beta Tallahassee, FL 1302 $234.36

Florida Gamma Lakeland, FL 1336 $240.48

Florida Lambda Boca Raton, FL 1448 $260.64

Florida Nu Jacksonville, FL 1141 $205.38

Florida Omicron Winter Park, FL 1279 $230.22

Florida Rho Daytona Beach, FL 1229 $221.22

Florida Upsilon Gainesville, FL 1209 $217.62

Province xiKentucky Beta Bowling Green, KY 1078 $194.04

Kentucky Delta Richmond, KY 917 $165.06

Kentucky Epsilon Lexington, KY 916 $164.88

Kentucky Gamma Morehead, KY 857 $154.26

Kentucky Kappa Danville, KY 948 $170.64

Kentucky Sigma Louisville, KY 967 $174.06


Province omicronNorth Carolina Beta Charlotte, NC 834 $150.12

North Carolina Chi Winston-Salem, NC 771 $138.78

North Carolina Delta Wilmington, NC 802 $144.36

North Carolina Epsilon Boone, NC 843 $151.74

North Carolina Nu Durham, NC 693 $124.74

North Carolina Omega Cullowhee, NC 952 $171.36

North Carolina Sigma Greenville, NC 709 $127.62

North Carolina Theta Davidson, NC 836 $150.48

North Carolina Xi Chapel Hill, NC 706 $127.08

Province PiOhio Alpha Youngstown, OH 594 $106.92

Ohio Kappa Bowling Green, OH 761 $136.98

Ohio Lambda Kent, OH 630 $113.40

Ohio Nu Toledo, OH 753 $135.54

Ohio Phi Akron, OH 638 $114.84

Ohio Rho Cleveland, OH 637 $114.66

Ohio Sigma Alliance, OH 627 $112.86

Province rhoSouth Carolina Beta Spartanburg, SC 903 $162.54

South Carolina Delta Columbia, SC 914 $164.52

South Carolina Gamma Spartanburg, SC 903 $162.54

South Carolina Sigma Rock Hill, SC 859 $154.62

South Carolina Upsilon Mount Pleasant, SC 970 $174.60

Province rho-etaDelaware Alpha Newark, DE 342 $61.56

New Jersey Iota-Tau Newark, NJ 221 $39.78

New Jersey Omega Glassboro, NJ 327 $58.86

New Jersey Rho New Brunswick, NJ 256 $46.08

New Jersey Rho-Sigma Galloway, NJ 336 $60.48

New Jersey Tau-Gamma Ewing, NJ 290 $52.20

Pennsylvania Beta-Phi Mansfield, PA 384 $69.12

Pennsylvania Delta Gettysburg, PA 421 $75.78

Pennsylvania Kappa Kutztown, PA 341 $61.38

Pennsylvania Sigma-Mu Reading, PA 340 $61.20

Pennsylvania Tau-Gamma West Chester, PA 332 $59.76

Pennsylvania Theta Philadelphia, PA 317 $57.06

Province sigmaArkansas Alpha-Upsilon Fayetteville, AR 1533 $275.94

Oklahoma Mu Stillwater, OK 1646 $296.28

Texas Alpha Lubbock, TX 2021 $363.78

Texas Beta Fort Worth, TX 1791 $322.38

Texas Chi Plano, TX 1763 $317.34

Texas Delta Dallas, TX 1759 $316.62

Texas Epsilon Houston, TX 1839 $331.02

Texas Omega Wichita Falls, TX 1825 $328.50

Texas Phi Nacogdoches, TX 1719 $309.42

Texas Rho Austin, TX 1954 $351.72

Texas Sigma San Marcos, TX 1997 $359.46

Texas Tau College Station, TX 1852 $333.36

Texas Zeta Tyler, TX 1700 $306.00

Province tauIowa Chi Cedar Falls, IA 1274 $229.32

Iowa Delta Des Moines, IA 1298 $233.64

Iowa Sigma Indianola, IA 1313 $236.34

Minnesota Alpha Minneapolis, MN 1393 $250.74

Minnesota Gamma St. Peter, MN 1423 $256.14

Nebraska Iota Omaha, NE 1436 $258.48

Nebraska Lambda-Pi Lincoln, NE 1486 $267.48

North Dakota Alpha Grand Forks, ND 1625 $292.50

North Dakota Beta Fargo, ND 1628 $293.04

South Dakota Sigma Vermillion, SD 1534 $276.12

South Dakota Theta Brookings, SD 1608 $289.44

Province uPsilonArizona Alpha Tucson, AZ 2638 $474.84

Arizona Delta Prescott, AZ 2644 $475.92

New Mexico Phi Las Cruces, NM 2358 $424.44

Province PhiIdaho Alpha Moscow, ID 2802 $504.36

Montana Alpha Bozeman, MT 2373 $427.14

Montana Beta Missoula, MT 1553 $279.54

Washington Beta Pullman, WA 2806 $505.08

Province chiCalifornia Alpha-Beta Pomona, CA 2953 $531.54

California Delta Los Angeles, CA 2981 $536.58

California Epsilon Los Angeles, CA 2981 $536.58

California Mu Los Angeles, CA 2981 $536.58

California Nu Northridge, CA 3002 $540.36

California Upsilon La Verne, CA 2951 $531.18

Province chi-alPhaCalifornia Alpha-Gamma San Marcos, CA 3012 $542.16

California Chi La Jolla, CA 3043 $547.74

California Omicron Riverside, CA 2949 $530.82

California Psi Irvine, CA 2978 $536.04

California Theta San Diego, CA 3042 $547.56

Nevada Beta Las Vegas, NV 2713 $488.34

Province PsiIndiana Alpha Franklin, IN 954 $171.72

Indiana Beta West Lafayette, IN 955 $171.90

Indiana Epsilon Evansville, IN 1088 $195.84

Indiana Gamma Bloomington, IN 997 $179.46

Indiana Iota-Pi Indianapolis, IN 935 $168.30

Indiana Sigma Terre Haute, IN 1024 $184.32

Indiana Zeta Muncie, IN 884 $159.12

Province omegaMichigan Alpha Adrian, MI 791 $142.38

Michigan Delta-Omega Mt. Pleasant, MI 811 $145.98

Michigan Epsilon - Section A Flint, MI 722 $129.96

Michigan Epsilon - Section B Flint, MI 722 $129.96

Michigan Gamma East Lansing, MI 768 $138.24

Michigan Sigma-Sigma Rochester Hills, MI 709 $127.62

Michigan Zeta Big Rapids, MI 859 $154.62


Province archonsJose Alarcon Province Zeta-Alpha Charleston, IL 1068 $92.24

Tracy Anderson Province Epsilon Pensacola, FL 1420 $255.60

Joe Anderson Province Xi Lexington, KY 916 $164.88

Jason Andrick Province Mu-Delta Flinstone, MD 504 $90.72

John Antonio Province Upsilon Albuquerque, NM 2228 $401.04

James Balandran Province Sigma Richardson, TX 1816 $326.88

Ronald Bell Province Rho-Eta Madison Township, PA 277 $49.86

Austin Evans Province Chi-Alpha San Diego, CA 3009 $541.62

Fred Fritz Province Psi Indianapolis, IN 947 $170.46

Daniel Gammon Province Iota Murfreesboro, TN 1096 $197.28

Jonathan Grossmann Province Mu Lake Zurich, IL 1030 $185.40

Scott Kerschbaumer Province Beta Pittsburgh, PA 570 $102.60

Michael Kimberlin Province Zeta Holton, KS 1,503 $270.54

Jesus Maldonado Province Chi Los Angeles, CA 2981 $536.58

Gavin Maxfield Province Alpha Canton, MA 29 $5.17

Christopher Mercado Province Lambda Shoreline, WA 3038 $546.84

Alan Moore Province Epsilon-Alpha Pineview, GA 1127 $202.86

Stephen Racine Province Theta Munford, TN 1327 $238.86

William Rauer Province Phi Boise, ID 2660 $478.80

Clark Schoening Province Tau Clive, IA 1307 $235.26

John Sebalos Province Nu Valley Cottage, NY 204 $36.72

Christopher Slott Province Nu-Epsilon Jacksonville, FL 1141 $205.38

Shay Stewart Province Kappa San Luis Obispo, CA 3133 $563.94

John Stringfellow Province Rho Charlotte, NC 834 $150.12

Alex Urban Province Omega Madison Heights, MI 711 $127.98

Larry West Province Omicron Raleigh, NC 713 $128.34

Robert Wood Province Gamma Yorktown, VA 599 $107.82

Daniel Woodcock Province Pi Toledo, OH 753 $135.54

Gage Woolley Province Delta Cincinnati, OH 850 $153.00

Barrett Zehner Province Eta Colorado Springs, CO 2015 $362.70

Past eminent suPreme archonsJ. Clarke Houston Denver, CO 1969 $354.42

David Lance Warsaw, KY 919 $165.42

William Chapman Ardmore, OK 1783 $320.94

Ronald Doleac Hattiesburg, MS 1405 $252.90

William Woods Fort Collins, CO 1948 $350.64

Richard Hopple Lockland, OH 844 $151.92

M. Todd Buchanan Tampa, FL 1337 $240.66

Marty Wiglesworth Greensboro, NC 745 $134.10

Brad Cohen Newport Coast, CA 2991 $538.38

eminent suPreme archonSteven W. Churchill Washington, DC 438 $78.84

eminent suPreme DePuty archonThomas J. Dement II Nashville, TN 1096 $197.28

eminent suPreme WarDen

Gregory D. Brandt Des Moines, IA 1298 $233.64


Michael J. Corelli Sylva, NC 947 $170.46

eminent suPreme chronicler

Michael S. Rodgers Atlanta, GA 1073 $193.14

honorary eminent suPreme archonChuck Hodge Sylvania, OH 765 $137.70

eminent suPreme recorDer

F. Michael Sophir Chicago, IL 981 $176.58

total miles 311,140

convention mileage funD $ 56,005.34


F R A t e R n i t y l A W s R e v i s i o n

2015–17 FRATERNITY LAWS REVISION

Permanent Committee on Fraternity Laws

Editor’s Notes:

This document is the public draft of the Permanent Committee on Fraternity Laws.

References to the original source of language is to the 2015 version of the Fraternity Laws, as amended by the 159th Anniversary Convention in Newport Beach, Cali-fornia, effective June 18, 2015, and by the Fraternity Convention by mail ballot, effective October 20, 2016.

The revision markup does not capture all revisions to the Fraternity Laws. Revisions to formatting, section titles, section numbers, or the division of a section into subsections are not tracked. Please see the separate comparison document for reference to the current ver-sion of the Fraternity Laws.

Text in SMALL CAPS denotes the defining reference of defined terms, as used in the Fraternity Laws.

Comments on this draft may be submitted to the Com-mittee at [email protected].

CURRENT AS OF DECEMBER 9, 2016


2015–17 Fraternity Laws Revision OFFICIAL REVISION DOCUMENT Page 1 of 35

The Fraternity Laws

We, the members of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity, in order to form a firmer brother-hood; to promote the intellectual, moral, and spiritual welfare of our members; and to raise the educational standards of our Chapters, do ordain and adopt through our Frater-nity Convention the following FRATERNITY LAWS:

Title I: Organization of the Fraternity – Symbols

1. Name. The name of this association is Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity (the “FRATER-NITY”).

2. Realm. The global reach of the Fraternity and its membership is the Fraternity’s REALM.

3. Creed. The creed of the Fraternity is “The True Gentleman.” The True Gentleman is the man whose conduct proceeds from good will and an acute sense of propriety, and whose self-control is equal to all emergencies; who does not make the poor man conscious of his poverty, the obscure man of his obscurity, or any man of his inferiority or deform-ity; who is himself humbled if necessity compels him to humble another; who does not flatter wealth, cringe before power, or boast of his own pos-sessions or achievements; who speaks with frankness but always with sin-cerity and sympathy; whose deed follows his word; who thinks of the rights and feelings of others, rather than his own; and who appears well in any company, a man with whom honor is sacred and virtue safe.

- John Walter Wayland 4. Colors. The colors of the Fraternity are royal purple and old gold. 5. Flower. The flower of the Fraternity is the violet. 6. Founders’ Day. The ninth of March is known throughout the Realm as FOUNDERS’

DAY, and that day, or another day which is more suitable and practical, will be ob-served in commemoration of the first meeting of the Fraternity on March 9, 1856.

7. Shrines & Sites. The Supreme Council, with approval of the Fraternity Convention, may select and designate certain sites, buildings, graves, or other items as shrines and sites as may be necessary to perpetuate the traditions, history, and memorials of the Fraternity.

Title I: Organization of the Fraternity – Governing Principles

8. Governing Bodies. The government of the Fraternity is vested in the following FRA-TERNITY BODIES, ranked in the order named: A. Fraternity Convention B. Supreme Council C. Province Conventions



D. Province Councils E. Chapters Collegiate F. Alumni Associations

9. Other Groups. The Fraternity recognizes the following other groups: A. The Board of Trustees of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Foundation B. The Board of Directors of SAE Financial and Housing Corporation C. The House Corporation or other entity holding title to a Chapter House D. The Council of Province Archons E. The Chapter Alumnus F. The Chapter Quiescent G. The Chapter Eternal

10. Fraternity Laws & Ritual. A. Amendment & Repeal. The Fraternity Laws and Ritual may only be amended

or repealed in the following manners. 1. By the Fraternity Convention.

a. A two-thirds vote of the Fraternity Convention may amend or repeal the Fraternity Laws or Ritual. Such vote may be taken at a session of the Fra-ternity Convention or by a Direct Vote.

b. Any member in good standing with the Fraternity may propose an amendment or repeal to the Fraternity Laws or Ritual by giving notice to the Eminent Supreme Recorder by the 15th day of December that imme-diately precedes a regular session of the Fraternity Convention. The Em-inent Supreme Recorder must publish such notice in the issue of The Phi Alpha for that session of the Fraternity Convention.

2. By the Supreme Council. a. As part of representing the Fraternity Convention in the interval between

its sessions and only upon a finding that doing so is deemed time-sensi-tive and necessary to preserve and protect the Fraternity, the Supreme Council may amend or repeal the Fraternity Laws—but not the Ritual—between sessions of the Fraternity Convention.

b. Any such amendment or repeal must be ratified by a majority vote of the Fraternity Convention at its next session.

c. Failure of the Fraternity Convention to ratify such amendment or repeal at its next session will render such amendment or repeal null and void.

B. Suspension. Any provision of the Fraternity Laws may be suspended by unani-mous consent of the Fraternity Convention.



11. Realm-Wide Governance. A. Decision Making.

1. Official Action. Unless a higher voting majority is required and except as otherwise provided for in these Fraternity Laws, a majority vote at any meet-ing of any regularly constituted body of the Fraternity at which a quorum of its members in good standing is present is the act of such body, and only those members of such body who are present, in good standing with the Fra-ternity and, if applicable, credentialed may vote or be counted in determin-ing the voting majority of such body.

2. Direct Vote. If authorized by these Fraternity Laws, a specified officer may solicit a DIRECT VOTE of a Fraternity Body to resolve such measures as may benefit from resolution before the Fraternity Body’s next meeting or session.

a. Solicitation. Such Direct Vote may be submitted by electronic ballot to each member of the Fraternity Body eligible to vote as of the date the officer solicited the Direct Vote at the latest address of record at the Fra-ternity Service Center.

b. Effect of Non-Response. If any member fails to vote within ten days after the date the Direct Vote is solicited, an affirmative vote will be im-plied, and the ballot must make clear this stipulation.

B. Officers. 1. Terms. Unless specified otherwise by these Fraternity laws, the full term of

office for any Fraternity, Province, or Alumni Association officer will begin either upon the adjournment of the meeting of the Fraternity Body that elected him to office or immediately upon his appointment, continuing until his successor’s term begins. Any officer will continue in office on an expired term until his successor is duly elected or appointed and qualified.

2. Qualifications. Unless specified otherwise by these Fraternity Laws, only a member in good standing with the Fraternity is eligible to hold any Fra-ternity, Province, Chapter Collegiate, or Alumni Association office.

3. Removal. The Supreme Council may remove from office any Fraternity, Province, Chapter Collegiate, or Alumni Association officer for neglect of duty or other offense against the laws, dignity, or interest of the Fraternity. Due notice of such intended action must be given to the officer concerned and to all members of the Supreme Council, and the officer must be given a reasonable opportunity to be heard.

C. Chapters Collegiate & Colonies. The term Chapter Collegiate includes the term Colony, all members of a Colony will have a status similar to that of Frater-nity Members, and both Colonies and Colony members are bound by the duties required by these Fraternity Laws for Chapters Collegiate and Fraternity mem-bers, respectively, except for the following.

1. Colonies are not members of the Fraternity Convention or their Province Convention and do not have the right to representation in these Fraternity Bodies.



2. Colony members may not be considered Fraternity members and may not enjoy the privileges of Fraternity membership, including the use of the Rit-ual, until their due initiation into the Fraternity.

12. Fraternal Duties. Chapters Collegiate and Fraternity members have the duties to honor the Fraternity’s secrets and to refrain from the commission of a Flagrant Of-fense. A. Secrecy. The Ritual and unwritten forms of the Fraternity, the names of mem-

bers voting against candidates for membership, and the reasons therefor must be secret.

B. Flagrant Offense. The Fraternity declares any of the following acts or omis-sions to be a FLAGRANT OFFENSE.

1. Hazing, as defined by the laws of the land, by a collegiate host institution, or by the Fraternity.

2. Sexual assault or verbal harassment on any individual, whether physical, mental, or emotional.

3. Failure to comply with any applicable law, rule, or regulation of a govern-ment, a collegiate host institution, or the Fraternity with respect to the pos-session, sale, use, or consumption of alcohol or other drugs.

4. Violation of the oath taken at initiation by revealing any secrets or private matters of the Fraternity

5. Affiliation with a chapter auxiliary collegiate women’s group, commonly re-ferred to as Little Sisters, which the Fraternity expressly prohibits.

6. Any act or omission which places any individual at risk of serious bodily harm or which brings the Fraternity into extreme disrepute.

Title II: Fraternity Membership – Rights & Responsibilities

13. Fraternity Membership. A. The Fraternity’s Chapters. A Fraternity member is a member of one of the

following chapters. 1. A Chapter Collegiate 2. The Chapter Alumnus 3. The Chapter Quiescent 4. The Chapter Eternal

B. Actions Affecting Membership. 1. Effect upon Initiation. Immediately upon his initiation, a brother be-

comes a member of the Chapter Collegiate which initiated him. 2. Effect upon Graduation. Any member of a Chapter Collegiate who grad-

uates or has graduated from a collegiate host institution with an undergrad-uate degree will immediately become a member of the CHAPTER ALUMNUS.

3. Effect upon Studying Abroad. Any member of a Chapter Collegiate who temporarily separates from his collegiate host institution to study abroad will remain a member of his Chapter Collegiate.



4. Effect upon Transfer, Withdrawal or Reenrollment. Except as pro-vided for regarding studying abroad, any member of a Chapter Collegiate who separates from his collegiate host institution, either by withdrawal or by transfer to another collegiate host institution, will immediately become a member of the Chapter Alumnus until such time as he affiliates with another Chapter Collegiate at another collegiate host institution, as provided for in this Title, thus immediately becoming a member of that Chapter Collegiate.

5. Effect upon Suspension. Any Fraternity member who is duly suspended will immediately become a member of the CHAPTER QUIESCENT.

6. Effect upon Inactivity. Any member of a Chapter Collegiate who is granted inactive membership status, as provided for in this Title, will imme-diately become a member of the Chapter Quiescent until such time as he graduates or separates from his collegiate host institution, thus immediately becoming a member of the Chapter Alumnus.

7. Effect upon Failure to Make Alumnus Gift. Any member of the Chap-ter Alumnus who is Delinquent in Accounts will immediately become a member of the Chapter Quiescent.

8. Effect upon Expulsion or Resignation. Any Fraternity member who is duly expelled or who resigns his membership, as provided for in this Title, ceases to become a Fraternity member or any of the Fraternity’s Chapters.

9. Effect upon Reinstatement. Any person whose membership in the Fra-ternity is reinstated, as provided for in this Title, from his suspension, ex-pulsion, or resignation will immediately become a member of the appropri-ate Chapter that he would be a member of had his suspension, expulsion, or resignation never taken place.

10. Effect upon Passing. Any Fraternity member who passes away will im-mediately become a member of the CHAPTER ETERNAL.

14. Membership Status. A. Membership Standing.

1. Good Standing. A Fraternity member is in good standing with the Frater-nity unless any of the following apply.

a. He is under probation. b. He is a member of the Chapter Quiescent. c. He is Delinquent in Accounts. d. He is Delinquent in Scholarship. e. A Formal Accusation exists against him.

2. Alumnus Good Standing. Good standing in the Fraternity for a member of the Chapter Alumnus requires a gift of ten dollars or more in a fiscal year or aggregate gifts totaling one hundred dollars either to the Fraternity or to the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Foundation.

B. Inactive Membership. An active member may become an inactive member at his own request and upon good cause shown if each of the following apply.

1. He is a member in good standing of the Chapter Collegiate.



2. He has been a member of the Chapter Collegiate for at least two years. 3. He is not Delinquent in Accounts. 4. His Chapter Collegiate has approved his inactive membership by a three-

fourths vote. 5. His Eminent Archon and his Province Archon have established that the

Chapter Collegiate has made every attempt that will allow the member to retain active membership.

6. He has obtained the written approval of his Province Archon. C. Resignation of Membership.

1. Qualifications. Any member of the Fraternity may resign his membership in the Fraternity as follows.

a. He must declare, in writing, his intent and specific rationale to the Emi-nent Supreme Recorder.

b. He must accompany his declaration with his membership badge, certifi-cate of membership, and membership card.

c. He must not be Delinquent in Accounts. 2. Required Vote. A two-thirds vote of the Supreme Council may accept any

member’s resignation. 3. Effect. The resigned member will lose all connection with the Fraternity,

including the rights and privileges of membership, but will not be released from the pledge of secrecy given at the time of his initiation. He will also forfeit the right to receive The Record.

4. Reinstatement. Any resigned member may petition the Supreme Council for reinstatement of his resigned membership. A two-thirds vote of the Su-preme Council will reinstate the resigned member.

15. Eligibility for Membership. A. Qualifications. Except as otherwise provided for in these Fraternity Laws, a

candidate is eligible for membership in the Fraternity if each of the following ap-ply.

1. He is a male student of either of the following. a. A collegiate host institution that is the domicile of an active Chapter Col-

legiate. b. A consortium of such collegiate host institutions approved by the Su-

preme Council. 2. He is of sound moral character. 3. He is of creditable intellectual attainments. 4. He is socially acceptable throughout the Fraternity.

B. Special Non-Student Initiation. A Chapter Collegiate may, by a three-fourths vote, initiate a non-student otherwise eligible for membership upon the recom-mendation of its Province Archon and approval by the Supreme Council.



C. Special Initiation. No person who is or has been a member of another college social fraternity is eligible for membership in the Fraternity, except that a Chapter Collegiate may, by a three-quarters vote, initiate a person otherwise eligible for membership upon the recommendations of its Province Archon and the Eminent Supreme Recorder and the unanimous approval by the Supreme Council, subject to any requirements, rules, or restrictions the Supreme Council may deem neces-sary in each individual situation, provided that each of the following apply.

1. He cannot have attempted to become a member of the Fraternity in any manner other than that prescribed in these Fraternity Laws.

2. He must have, in writing, resigned his membership in the other college so-cial fraternity.

3. He must not have ever been expelled from the college social fraternity of which he was a member, and that fact must be confirmed in writing.

D. Void Initiation. No Chapter Collegiate has the authority to initiate any person ineligible for membership under these Fraternity Laws, and the attempted initi-ation of any such person is null and void.

16. Election. Election of members of the Chapter Collegiate is the sole prerogative of the individual Chapters Collegiate, provided that no Chapter Collegiate’s requirements for election may fall below a majority vote of the Chapter Collegiate’s members who are eligible to vote.

17. Initiation. A. Pledge Programs Prohibited. Pledge programs in any form are prohibited by

the Fraternity, no matter the duration or content of the program. 1. Voluntary Participation. Under no circumstances may a newly elected

member participate in a pledge program, even if he agrees to do so volun-tarily.

2. Pledges. No newly elected member may be referred to as a pledge. B. Requirements for Initiation. No member may be initiated if any of the fol-

lowing apply. 1. He would be considered Delinquent in Scholarship. 2. He owes any sum to any Fraternity Body.

C. Initiation Activities. Any pre-initiation or initiation activities must be entirely consistent with the purpose and ideals of the Fraternity as expressed in the Ritual of the Fraternity and these Fraternity Laws, every possible provision must be made to assure dignity and serious demeanor in the Initiation Ceremony, and the following time limitations apply to any initiation.

1. Any pre-initiation activity and informal initiatory work not included in the Ritual of the Fraternity must be concluded at least eighteen hours before the Initiation Ceremony.



2. Any newly elected Fraternity member must be fully initiated into the Fra-ternity no later than ninety-six hours after he accepts an invitation to join the Fraternity, unless his invitation is rescinded prior to initiation or unless the Eminent Supreme Recorder, for good cause shown, extends this time requirement.

18. Insignia of Membership. Upon payment of the Initiation Fee, each newly initiated member will receive membership insignia from the Fraternity Service Center, includ-ing a membership badge, a certificate of membership, a membership card, and a Fra-ternity manual, The Phoenix. A. Loan. The Fraternity will loan a membership badge to each newly initiated

member. The membership badge will remain the property of the Fraternity and may only be worn by members in good standing.

B. Recall. For due cause communicated in writing, the membership badge or the certificate of membership may be recalled by the Fraternity.

C. Badge Design. The use of the membership badge or its design upon any article of jewelry is forbidden, except by authorization of the Supreme Council.

19. Member Education. The preferred course of member education is the TRUE GEN-TLEMAN EXPERIENCE, a program approved by the Eminent Supreme Recorder or his designee. The True Gentleman Experience must be in writing, must be distributed to all members of the Chapters Collegiate, and must be properly implemented during the course of education.

20. Fees & Dues. Members are responsible for such fees and dues as these Fraternity Laws authorize and require.

Title II: Fraternity Membership – Discipline

21. Offenses. A. Offenses Cognizable by the Fraternity. The Fraternity declares any of the

following acts or omissions to be an OFFENSE. 1. Commission of a Flagrant Offense 2. Violation of these Fraternity Laws or the bylaws and lawful orders of any

Fraternity Body or officer 3. Violation of the oath taken at the time of initiation 4. Conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline, or unbecoming a gentle-

man 5. Being Delinquent in Accounts 6. Being Delinquent in Scholarship 7. Failure to maintain the standards of Fraternity membership as proscribed

by the True Gentleman Experience B. Delinquent in Accounts Defined. A member is DELINQUENT IN ACCOUNTS if

any of the following apply. 1. At any time he is over thirty days delinquent in monies owed to any Frater-

nity Body, without a written payment plan.



2. Upon leaving the Chapter Collegiate, he owes any sum at all. C. Delinquent in Scholarship Defined. A member is DELINQUENT IN SCHOLAR-

SHIP if any of the following apply. 1. He has been placed upon academic probation by the academic authorities

of any collegiate host institution. 2. He ranks below the minimum grade standing for the previous term as re-

quired by the bylaws of his Chapter Collegiate. 3. He is not maintaining a cumulative grade-point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale,

or some other equivalent evaluation which the Supreme Council deter-mines; provided, however, the Chapter Advisor or the Province Archon may waive the grade-point requirement for a member with a documented learn-ing disability.

22. Jurisdiction. Each Fraternity member is under the jurisdiction of the Chapter Col-legiate of which he is, or was last, a member, such Chapter Collegiate’s Province Coun-cil, and of the Supreme Council.

23. Summary Actions. A. For a Flagrant Offense. Whenever a Fraternity member commits a Flagrant

Offense, the Supreme Council or his Province Council may summarily expel, sus-pend, fine, reprimand, or place on probation that member or some combination of these.

B. For an Offense. Whenever a member commits an Offense, the Province Archon or, with the consent of the Province Archon, either the Chapter Advisor or Chap-ter Advisory Board may summarily suspend, reprimand, or place on probation that member or some combination of these.

C. Appeal. Any summary action taken against a member may be appealed in ac-cordance with this Title.

24. Disciplinary Procedures. A. Initiating a Disciplinary Matter.

1. By Preferment of Charges. Any Fraternity member or any Fraternity Body, having reasonable cause to believe that any Fraternity member has committed an Offense, may prefer charges against him as follows.

a. Such charges must be in writing. b. Such charges must be signed by the complainant. c. Such charges must specify the alleged Offense. d. Such charges must be submitted by the complainant either to the Chapter

Collegiate holding jurisdiction over the accused or to the Supreme Coun-cil.

2. By Notice to a Chapter Collegiate. A Province Archon, House Corpora-tion President, Alumni Association President, or Chapter Advisory Board may give written notification to a Chapter Collegiate under its jurisdiction or affiliation of conduct of a member or members of the Chapter Collegiate which constitutes an Offense.



B. Trial Authority. The following Fraternity Bodies may act as a TRIAL AUTHORITY, having authority to try a Fraternity member for an Offense.

1. The Supreme Council; provided, however, that the Supreme Council may, upon issuance of a Formal Accusation, delegate its authority to a SPECIAL COMMISSION consisting of a chairman and no more than four additional members, each of whom are members in good standing of the Fraternity.

2. A Chapter Collegiate or a duly imposed Alumni Commission, provided it holds jurisdiction over the accused.

3. A Province Council, if, within thirty days after written notification to one of its Chapters Collegiate by its Province Archon, House Corporation Presi-dent, Alumni Association President, or Chapter Advisory Board of conduct of a member or members of the Chapter Collegiate which constitutes an Of-fense, the Chapter Collegiate fails to eliminate any such Offense.

C. Preliminary Procedures. The Trial Authority must make a preliminary inves-tigation of the charges submitted to it.

1. Resolution by Standards Board. If the matter is under the jurisdiction of a Chapter Collegiate and if the Chapter Collegiate’s bylaws provide for the authority of a Standards Board, such Standards Board may resolve the mat-ter before trial by mutual agreement with the accused by imposing upon the accused a probation, a fine, a reprimand, or some combination of these.

2. Formal Accusation. If the matter is not duly resolved before trial and if the charges appear to be well founded, the Trial Authority must issue a FOR-MAL ACCUSATION in writing.

a. The Formal Accusation must specify the alleged Offense, must substan-tively state the essential facts constituting the Offense, and must specify the time and place for trial of the matter.

b. The Trial Authority must cause notice of the Formal Accusation and trial to be given to the accused either in person at least ten days before the trial or by certified mail at his latest address of record at the Fraternity Service Center, with notice complete upon mailing, at least twenty days before the trial.

25. Trial. The trial hearing must be conducted at the specified time and place in the For-mal Accusation. A. Due Process. In all cases, the accused must be given a reasonable opportunity

to be heard and may appear personally or by a representative, including by attor-ney, who must be a member in good standing of the Fraternity.

B. Findings. Thereafter the Trial Authority will determine the guilt or innocence of the accused. A majority vote of the members present and in good standing, pro-vided there is a quorum present, is required to find the accused guilty.

C. Sentence. A separate vote is required to impose any penalty as permitted by this Title.

D. Special Trial Considerations.



1. By the Supreme Council. The Eminent Supreme Archon or any other member of the Supreme Council designated by the Eminent Supreme Ar-chon will act as presiding officer and the Eminent Supreme Archon will ap-point a clerk and a prosecutor, who will act on behalf of the Fraternity.

2. By a Special Commission. a. The chair of the Special Commission will act as presiding officer and will

appoint a clerk and prosecutor, who will act on behalf of the Fraternity. b. The Special Commission may not find an accused guilty or impose upon

him any penalty, but will rather report the evidence with its findings and its opinion to the Supreme Council, which will then act with the same force and effect as if it had conducted the trial.

3. By a Chapter Collegiate. a. The trial must take place during a special meeting of the Chapter Colle-

giate, thus requiring a two-thirds majority of its members in good stand-ing to be present to constitute a quorum.

b. For trials by a Chapter Collegiate, the Eminent Archon will act as presid-ing officer (or, if the Eminent Archon is among the accused, the Eminent Treasurer will act in his place) and the Eminent Deputy Archon will act on behalf of the Fraternity (or, if the Eminent Deputy Archon is among the accused, the Eminent Warden will act in his place).

4. By an Alumni Commission. The chair of the Alumni Commission will act as presiding officer and will appoint a clerk and a prosecutor, who will act on behalf of the Fraternity.

5. By a Province Council. The Province Archon or any other member of the Province Council designated by the Province Archon will act as presiding officer and will appoint a clerk and a prosecutor, who will act on behalf of the Fraternity.

E. Failure to Appear. If, after being duly notified of a Formal Accusation against him, the accused fails to appear for the trial hearing, he may not thereby be deemed guilty of the Offense charged, but the trial authority may either postpone the trial or proceed notwithstanding his absence.

F. Postponement. Upon due cause shown, a Trial Authority may postpone a trial hearing to such time as it sees fit.

26. Penalties. If the accused is found guilty, the Trial Authority must immediately im-pose upon him one or more penalties among expulsion, suspension, probation, a fine, or a reprimand. A. Required Vote. A two-thirds vote of the trial authority is necessary to impose a

penalty of suspension or expulsion, and a majority vote of the trial authority is necessary to impose probation, a fine or, a reprimand.

B. Expulsion. Each of the following will apply to any expelled member. 1. He will lose all connection with the Fraternity and all the rights and privi-

leges of membership, but will not be released from the pledge of secrecy given at the time of his initiation.



2. He must surrender the badge, certificate of membership, and membership card previously issued to him to the Eminent Supreme Recorder, by and through the Eminent Archon of the Chapter Collegiate who expelled him, if applicable.

3. He will forfeit his right to receive The Record. 4. He must be treated as any other imposter should he claim any connection

with the Fraternity or ask any hospitality from any Chapter Collegiate or member.

C. Suspension. Each of the following will apply to any suspended member. 1. He will temporarily lose all rights and privileges of membership. 2. He must surrender the badge loaned to him at the time of initiation to the

Eminent Archon, if he is a member of the Chapter Collegiate, or to the Em-inent Supreme Recorder or his designee, if he is a member of the Chapter Alumnus or the Chapter Quiescent, who will hold it during the period of suspension.,

3. He may not display the certificate of membership during the period of sus-pension, attend any collegiate or alumni meeting or social affair given under the auspices of the Fraternity, or enter any Chapter House for any purpose.

D. Notice. When a Chapter Collegiate expels or suspends a member, the Eminent Correspondent must at once, in a form prescribed by the Eminent Supreme Re-corder, notify the Eminent Supreme Recorder, his Province Archon, and any other interested parties.

E. Reinstatement. 1. Required Vote. Any member who has been expelled or suspended may be

reinstated by any of the following. a. A two-thirds vote of the Chapter Collegiate which imposed such penalty. b. A four-fifths vote of the Supreme Council. c. The Fraternity Convention.

2. Reinitiation. Any member reinstated to the Fraternity must, as a require-ment of reinstatement, participate in an Initiation Ceremony of the Chapter Collegiate under procedures recommended by the Permanent Committee on the Ritual and adopted by the Supreme Council.

27. Appeals. A. Jurisdiction. The following decisions are subject to appeal to the specified Fra-

ternity Bodies. 1. Any adverse action taken by a Chapter Collegiate or by a Province Archon

under his own authority or with his consent may be appealed to the Chap-ter’s or the Province Archon’s Province Council.

2. Any adverse action, including on appeal, taken by a Province Council may be appealed to the Supreme Council.



3. Any adverse action, including on appeal, taken by the Supreme Council, may be appealed to the Fraternity Convention to comprise a final appeal by the accused, with such appeal to be heard by the Council of Province Archons sitting as a court composed of all the Province Archons present at the next regular session of the Fraternity Convention.

B. Appellate Procedure. 1. Method. Any appeal must be in writing and must substantively state the

basis for the appeal. 2. Notice. Notice of the appeal must be given both to the Fraternity Body or

officer whose decision is being appealed and, for appeals to a Province Council, to the respective Province Recorder, or, for appeals to the Supreme Council or the Fraternity Convention, to the Eminent Supreme Recorder.

3. Timeline. Any appeal must be made within thirty days of the accused’s no-tice of the action being appealed.

4. Transmission of Record. If an appeal is duly taken, the body whose de-cision is being appealed must, within seven days, transmit to the appellate body a complete record of the matter.

5. Parties. The parties to an appeal will be the accused and the following rep-resentative of the Fraternity or his designee.

a. The Eminent Archon, for any matter originally tried by his Chapter Col-legiate.

b. The Province Archon, for any matter originally tried by his Province Council or for any summary action taken by his Province Council or him-self, either under his own authority or with his consent.

c. The Eminent Supreme Archon, for any matter originally tried by the Su-preme Council or a Special Commission or for any summary action taken by the Supreme Council.

6. Hearing. An appellate body may make rules governing the hearing of ap-peals before it; provided, however, that equal time must be given to the ac-cused and to the representative of the Fraternity.

7. Decision. a. A Province Council must give the accused notice of its decision on appeal

within thirty days of the appeal hearing. b. The Supreme Council must give the accused notice of its decision within

six months of the appeal hearing. c. The Council of Province Archons must, before the adjournment of the

regular session of the Fraternity Convention, report its findings to the Fraternity Convention for final action.

8. Judgment. The judgment on appeal will be one of the following. a. To affirm the conviction and the penalty. b. To affirm the conviction but reduce the penalty. c. To reverse the conviction and acquit the appellant.



C. Membership Status During Appeal & After Reversal. During the pen-dency of an appeal, the accused will be temporarily suspended from the rights, privileges, and immunities of the Fraternity; however, a judgment to reverse the conviction and acquit the accused restores the member to his original rights, but, if the penalty was expulsion or suspension, such reversal does not render him or his Chapter Collegiate liable for any obligation that would have accrued during the period between the imposition of the penalty against him and its reversal.

D. Failure to Appear. If the appellant fails to appear at the hearing of his appeal, his appeal must be dismissed, and no subsequent appeal may be entertained.

Title III: The Fraternity Convention

28. The Fraternity Convention. The supreme authority of the Fraternity is vested in the FRATERNITY CONVENTION. A. Membership. The Fraternity Convention consists of each of the following.

1. Past Eminent Supreme Archons who have served for a full term of office. 2. The Fraternity officers. 3. Each Province, represented by its Province Archon or, in the absence of such

Province Archon, the Province Deputy Archon or another Province officer designated by the Province Archon.

4. Each Chapter Collegiate, represented by one delegate. 5. Each Alumni Association, represented by one delegate.

B. Qualifications. Each member of the Fraternity Convention must be creden-tialed to vote by the Fraternity Convention during any session.

1. Chapter Collegiate Delegate. Each Chapter Collegiate is entitled to one delegate and one alternate delegate to any session of the Fraternity Conven-tion, provided that such Chapter Collegiate is current in its dues and reports to its Province and the Fraternity Service Center.

2. Alumni Association Delegate. Each Alumni Association having ten or more members in good standing in the Chapter Alumnus is entitled to one delegate to any session of the Fraternity Convention, provided that such del-egate is a member in good standing of such Alumni Association and pro-vided that such Alumni Association is current in its dues and reports to the Fraternity Service Center.

3. Single Vote. No individual is entitled to have more than one vote on any matter before the Fraternity Convention, including on any Direct Vote.

4. Collegiate Majority. If delegates from the Chapters Collegiate do not comprise a majority of the delegates credentialed at a session of the Frater-nity Convention, then the alternate delegate from each eligible Chapter Col-legiate must also be credentialed as a delegate of that session of the Frater-nity Convention.

C. Regular Sessions. The Fraternity Convention must meet biennially at such time and place as the Supreme Council selects.



D. Special Sessions. Special sessions of the Fraternity Convention may be called by the Eminent Supreme Archon with the advice and consent of the Supreme Council. No other business than that specified in the call may be transacted at such session.

E. Quorum. One-fourth of the members of the Fraternity Convention constitutes a quorum, provided that delegates are present from at least one-fourth of the Chap-ters Collegiate in good standing.

F. Rules of Order. The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised will govern the Fraternity Convention in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these Fraternity Laws and any special rules of order the Fraternity Convention may adopt.

G. Direct Vote. The Eminent Supreme Archon, with the advice and consent of the Supreme Council, may solicit a Direct Vote of the Fraternity Convention. For the purposes of this section, the delegate to the Fraternity Convention for a Chapter Collegiate is its Eminent Archon and for an Alumni Association is its President.

29. Finances. A. Mileage Allowance. Without regard to the status of a Chapter Collegiate, each

member of the Convention—except any delegate from an Alumni Association—will receive a mileage allowance from the Fraternity at an amount per mile set by the Supreme Council.

B. Penalty for Non-Representation. Any Chapter Collegiate not represented at a session of the Fraternity Convention by a delegate must pay a fine of one thou-sand five hundred dollars with payment due within ninety days after the adjourn-ment of the session of the Fraternity Convention. Any fine imposed under this section is subject to appeal to the Supreme Council within ninety days after the adjournment of the session of the Fraternity Convention.

30. Committees. The Fraternity Convention will have the following committees in ad-dition to any committee it may, by resolution, establish to carry out such duties as the Fraternity Convention or the Supreme Council may charge. A. The Permanent Committee on Extension.

1. Membership. Within sixty days following the adjournment of each regular session of the Fraternity Convention, the Eminent Supreme Archon, with the advice and consent of the Supreme Council, must appoint a Permanent Committee on Extension, consisting of a chairman and not less than two and no more than six additional members, who will serve until their succes-sors are duly appointed, in addition to one member of the Supreme Council and the Eminent Supreme Recorder, who will serve as recording secretary of the committee.

2. Duties. The Permanent Committee on Extension will cause the develop-ment, amendment, and implementation of a plan for deliberate and orderly growth of the Fraternity through the addition of new or revitalization of pre-viously chartered Chapters Collegiate, soliciting input from throughout the Realm.



3. Duties of the Eminent Supreme Recorder. The Eminent Supreme Re-corder will perform such duties as may be directed by the committee and will have primary responsibility for devising and implementing the commit-tee’s extension plan.

B. The Permanent Committee on Fraternity Laws. 1. Membership. Within sixty days following the adjournment of each regular

session of the Fraternity Convention, the Eminent Supreme Archon, with the advice and consent of the Supreme Council, must appoint a Permanent Committee on Fraternity Laws consisting of one chairman, one Province Ar-chon, one Alumni Association member, one Supreme Council member, one member of a Chapter Collegiate and any other members that the Supreme Council may direct, who will serve until their successors are duly appointed.

2. Duties. The Permanent Committee on Fraternity Laws will embody in the Fraternity Laws, with the advice and consent of the Supreme Council, each amendment adopted by the Fraternity Convention and will consider and re-port to the Fraternity Convention each amendment or repeal proposed to these Fraternity Laws with its recommendations thereon.

C. The Permanent Committee on the Ritual. 1. Membership. Within sixty days following the adjournment of each regular

session of the Fraternity Convention, the Eminent Supreme Archon, with the advice and consent of the Supreme Council, must appoint a Permanent Committee on the Ritual, consisting of a chairman and as many members as the Supreme Council may direct, who will serve until their successors are duly appointed.

2. Duties. The Permanent Committee on the Ritual will promote the con-sistent and proper use of every aspect of the Ritual at all appropriate times and will act to perpetuate the history and traditions of the Ritual.

D. Committee Operations. 1. General Responsibilities of Chairmen. The chairman of each commit-

tee is responsible for convening its meetings, setting its agenda, presiding over its meetings, and advising the Supreme Council on its work.

2. Compensation & Expenses. The members of committees will serve without compensation, but must be reimbursed for all expenses necessarily incurred in performance of their duties on the presentation of an itemized account approved by the Eminent Supreme Recorder.

Title IV: The Supreme Council

31. Fraternity Officers. The Fraternity’s officers are each of the following. A. The Honorary Eminent Supreme Archon B. The Eminent Supreme Archon (who may also be referred to as the “Fraternity

President” and the “Chairman of the Board”) C. The Eminent Supreme Deputy Archon (who may also be referred to as the “Fra-

ternity Vice-President”)



D. The Eminent Supreme Warden E. The Eminent Supreme Herald F. The Eminent Supreme Chronicler G. The Eminent Supreme Recorder (who may also be referred to as the “Chief Exec-

utive Officer” and the “Fraternity Executive Director”) 32. The Supreme Council. The SUPREME COUNCIL will represent the Fraternity Con-

vention in all capacities in the interval between its sessions, will perform the duties required by these Fraternity Laws, will enforce the orders of the Fraternity Conven-tion, and, as the Fraternity’s board of directors, will manage the affairs of the Frater-nity. A. Membership. The Supreme Council consists of the following Fraternity offic-

ers, none of whom may be a voting member of the Board of Trustees or the Advi-sory Council of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Foundation or of the Board of Directors of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Financial and Housing Corporation:

1. The Eminent Supreme Archon 2. The Eminent Supreme Deputy Archon 3. The Eminent Supreme Warden 4. The Eminent Supreme Herald 5. The Eminent Supreme Chronicler

B. Election. The Fraternity Convention will elect each Fraternity officer at each regular session of the Fraternity Convention. The Honorary Eminent Supreme Archon may only be elected upon the nomination of the Past Eminent Supreme Archons, and the Eminent Supreme Recorder may only be elected upon the nom-ination of the Supreme Council.

C. Vacancies. Vacancies occurring between regular sessions of the Fraternity Con-ventions must be filled by the Supreme Council.

33. Duties. Each officer must perform the duties required of him by these Fraternity Laws and any other duties assigned to him by the Supreme Council or the Eminent Supreme Archon. A. Honorary Eminent Supreme Archon. The Honorary Eminent Supreme Ar-

chon is the honorary head of the Fraternity and has no duties, except as may be designated by the Supreme Council.

B. Eminent Supreme Archon. The Eminent Supreme Archon is the President and Chairman of the Board of the Fraternity and he will preside over all sessions of the Fraternity Convention and all meetings of the Supreme Council; interpret, construe, and enforce these Fraternity Laws and the orders of the Fraternity Con-vention or the Supreme Council, issuing such orders as may be necessary; when-ever he deems it necessary, inspect and examine, or cause to be inspected and examined, all of the books, records, securities, and investments of the funds of the Fraternity or any Fraternity Body; and perform any other duties assigned to him by the Fraternity Convention.



C. Eminent Supreme Deputy Archon. The Eminent Supreme Deputy Archon will assist the Eminent Supreme Archon and will act as the Eminent Supreme Archon in case of his absence or disability.

D. Eminent Supreme Warden. The Eminent Supreme Warden will act as the Eminent Supreme Archon in case of the absence or disability of the Eminent Su-preme Archon and the Eminent Supreme Deputy Archon and, exercise particular supervision over the finances of the Fraternity.

E. Eminent Supreme Herald. The Eminent Supreme Herald will act as the Em-inent Supreme Archon in case of the absence or disability of the Eminent Su-preme Archon, the Eminent Supreme Deputy Archon, and the Eminent Supreme Warden.

F. Eminent Supreme Chronicler. The Eminent Supreme Chronicler will act as the Eminent Supreme Archon in case of the absence or disability of the Eminent Supreme Archon, the Eminent Supreme Deputy Archon, the Eminent Supreme Warden, and the Eminent Supreme Herald.

34. Finances. The members of the Supreme Council will serve without compensation, but must be reimbursed for all expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties on the presentation of an itemized account approved by the Eminent Su-preme Recorder or the Eminent Supreme Warden.

35. Committees. The Supreme Council may establish, dissolve, charge, and discharge such committees of itself as it sees fit. A. Appointment & Terms. Each committee will consist of one chairman and as

many members as the Supreme Council may direct, who will be appointed by the Eminent Supreme Archon, with the advice and consent of the Supreme Council, to serve at the pleasure of the Supreme Council.

B. General Responsibilities of Chairmen. The chairman of each committee is responsible for convening its meetings, setting its agenda, presiding over its meetings, and advising the Supreme Council on its work.

C. Compensation & Expenses. The members of committees will serve without compensation, but must be reimbursed for all expenses necessarily incurred in performance of their duties on the presentation of an itemized account approved by the Eminent Supreme Recorder.



36. Bylaws. The Supreme Council may adopt, amend, or repeal bylaws to assist it in carrying out its duties, not inconsistent with these Fraternity Laws or orders of the Fraternity Convention.

Title V: The Office of the Eminent Supreme Recorder

37. Eminent Supreme Recorder. The Eminent Supreme Recorder, under the direc-tion of the Supreme Council, may delegate any of his duties to such other employees or Fraternity members, with such staff to be known as the FRATERNITY SERVICE CEN-TER. A. Authority. The Eminent Supreme Recorder is the chief executive officer of the

Fraternity and its operating units and serves as the Fraternity’s custodian of rec-ords, editorial supervisor of the Fraternity’s publications, financial custodian, and general administrator. He must, under the direction of the Supreme Council, supervise the administration of the general business of the Fraternity and be re-sponsible for any duties prescribed by these Fraternity Laws and any other duties assigned to him by the Supreme Council. He will have the authority to issue any such orders as may be necessary to fulfill his duties.

B. Inspection. The Eminent Supreme Recorder must inspect each Chapter Colle-giate and Colony at least once each academic year, with such inspection to include the records, books, papers, accounts, and other documents of the Chapter Colle-giate; scholarship and general standing of the Chapter Collegiate at its collegiate host institution; sanitary conditions, fire escapes and insurance risks of the Chap-ter House or other premises occupied by the Chapter Collegiate; and the condi-tion and use of the Ritual and associated paraphernalia.

C. Salary. The Eminent Supreme Recorder and his staff may receive compensation for their services as determined by the Supreme Council.

38. Finances. A. Audits. The accounts of the Fraternity and any other entities associated with the

Fraternity must be audited at least annually by a certified public accountant who must make its report to the Eminent Supreme Recorder, who in turn must make such reports available to all Fraternity members.

B. Bonds. Each Fraternity officer or employee of the Fraternity charged with the collection or custody of any monies or funds belonging to the Fraternity must give a surety company bond for the faithful performance of the duties of his or her office. Bonds must be in such amounts as may be directed by the Fraternity Con-vention or the Supreme Council, must be approved by the Eminent Supreme Ar-chon, and must be paid from the general funds of the Fraternity.



Title VI: Provinces – Conventions & Councils

39. Province. There are geographical districts, known as PROVINCES, embracing such territory, Chapters Collegiate, and Alumni Associations as the Fraternity Convention determines.

40. Province Convention. The government of each Province is vested in a PROVINCE CONVENTION. A. Membership. A Province Convention consists of each of the following.

1. The Past Province Archons of the Province who reside in the Province and who have served for a full term of office, or who, having been elected to fill a vacancy, have served to the end of the term.

2. The Province officers. 3. Each Chapter Collegiate in the Province, represented by its Eminent Ar-

chon, or in his absence its Eminent Deputy Archon, and two additional del-egates.

4. Each Alumni Association in the Province, represented by one delegate. 5. Any present member of the Supreme Council, any Past Eminent Supreme

Archon or any Past Eminent Supreme Recorder residing in the Province. 6. The Chapter Advisor from each Chapter Collegiate in the Province, provided

he is a member in good standing of the Fraternity. B. Qualifications.

1. Chapter Collegiate Delegates. Each Chapter Collegiate is entitled to two delegates and two alternates to any session of the Province Convention, pro-vided that such Chapter Collegiate is current in its dues and reports to the Province and the Fraternity Service Center.

2. Alumni Association Delegate. Each Alumni Association having ten or more members in good standing in the Chapter Alumnus is entitled to one delegate to any regular or special session of the Province Convention, pro-vided that such delegate is a member in good standing of such Alumni As-sociation and provided that such Alumni Association is current in its dues and reports to the Fraternity Service Center.

3. Single Vote. No individual is entitled to have more than one vote on any matter before the Province Convention, including on any Direct Vote.

C. Regular Sessions. The Province Convention must meet biennially at such time and place as its Province Council selects in the calendar years alternating with those of the regular sessions of the Fraternity Convention.

D. Special Sessions. Special sessions of the Province Convention may be called by the Province Archon, with the advice and consent of the Province Council. No other business than that specified in the call may be transacted at such session.

E. Quorum. Delegates from at least one-half of the Chapters Collegiate in the Prov-ince, regardless of the Chapter Collegiate’s standing, constitute a quorum.

F. Floor Privilege. Any member in good standing with the Fraternity is entitled to the floor of the Province Convention.



G. Direct Vote. The Province Archon may solicit a Direct Vote of the Province Con-vention. For the purposes of this section, the additional delegates of the Province Convention for a Chapter Collegiate are the Chapter Collegiate’s Eminent Deputy Archon and its Eminent Recorder, and the delegate for an Alumni Association is its President.

41. Province Council. The PROVINCE COUNCIL will represent the Province Convention in all capacities in the interval between its sessions, will perform the duties required by these Fraternity Laws, will enforce the orders of the Fraternity Convention and the Province Convention, and will manage the affairs of the Province. A. Membership. The Province officers, who constitute the Province Council, are

each of the following. 1. The Province Archon. 2. One or more Province Deputy Archons, as the Province Convention deter-

mines. 3. The Province Recorder. 4. The Province Treasurer; provided, however, that the offices of Recorder and

Treasurer may be combined. 5. One or more Province Alumni Secretaries, as the Province Convention de-

termines. 6. Other Province officers as the Province Convention determines.

B. Qualifications. Only a member in good standing of a Chapter Collegiate located in the Province or a member of the Chapter Alumnus who resides either within the Province or within a reasonable commuting distance is eligible to hold a Prov-ince office.

C. Election. The Province Convention will elect each Province officer at each regu-lar session of the Province Convention.

D. Vacancies. Vacancies occurring between regular sessions of the Province Con-vention must be filled by the Province Council or, if a vacancy exists for sixty days, by the Eminent Supreme Archon with the advice and consent of the Eminent Ar-chons of the Chapters Collegiate in the Province.

E. Declaring an Office Vacant. 1. Declaration. Any Province office may be declared vacant by any of the fol-

lowing: a. A petition of two-thirds of the Chapters Collegiate in the Province. b. A two-thirds vote of the Province Council.



2. Due Process. Due notice of such intended action must be given to the of-ficer concerned, to all members of the Province Council and to all Chapters Collegiate within the Province, and the officer must be given a reasonable opportunity to be heard.

42. Duties. Each officer must perform the duties required of him by these Fraternity Laws and any other duties assigned to him by the Province Council or the Province Archon. A. Province Archon. The Province Archon will preside over all sessions of the

Province Convention and all meetings of the Province Council; enforce these Fra-ternity Laws and the orders of the Fraternity Convention, the Supreme Council or the Eminent Supreme Archon within his Province, issuing such orders as may be necessary; visit or caused to be visited each Chapter Collegiate and Alumni Association in his Province at least annually, submitting a full report of such vis-itation to the Eminent Supreme Recorder in a format prescribed by the Eminent Supreme Recorder, with all expenses for such visits to be paid from the Province’s funds; and perform any other duties assigned to him by the Fraternity Conven-tion, the Supreme Council, or the Province Convention.

B. Province Deputy Archon. The Province Deputy Archon will assist the Prov-ince Archon and act as the Province Archon in case of his absence or disability. For any Province with more than one Province Deputy Archon, the Province Con-vention must specify at least one Province Deputy Archon to act as Province Ar-chon.

C. Province Recorder. The Province Recorder will keep a record of the proceed-ings of the Province Convention and Province Council meetings.

D. Province Treasurer. The Province Treasurer will handle the funds of the Prov-ince, make any necessary disbursements, and give corporate security bond to be handled by the Fraternity Service Center of not less than one thousand dollars for the faithful performance of his duties for which the Province will pay the pre-mium.

E. Province Alumni Secretary. The Province Alumni Secretary will assist and foster the growth of the Alumni Associations and alumni engagement in the Prov-ince.



43. Finances. A Province Convention may provide for such dues and assessments as it deems proper. The Province Convention may make provision to pay the expenses of its Province officers.

44. Bylaws. A Province Convention may adopt, amend, or repeal bylaws for the govern-ment of the Province, not inconsistent with these Fraternity Laws or orders of the Fraternity Convention, and a Province Council may adopt, amend, or repeal bylaws to assist it in carrying out its duties, not inconsistent with these Fraternity Laws, or-ders of the Fraternity Convention or its Province Convention’s bylaws.

Title VI: Provinces – Council of Province Archons

45. Council of Province Archons. The COUNCIL OF PROVINCE ARCHONS is to act in an advisory capacity to the Supreme Council, to be a source of best practices for Prov-inces and to act as an appellate body as permitted by these Fraternity Laws. A. Membership. The Council of Province Archons consists of each Province Ar-

chon. B. Officers. The officers of the Council of Province Archons are the following.

1. The Chairman 2. The Deputy Chairman 3. The Secretary

C. Election. The Council of Province Archons will elect its officers at its regular meeting.

D. Regular Meeting. The Council of Province Archons must meet concurrently with each regular session of the Fraternity Convention and upon such regular meeting schedule as it may adopt.

E. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Council of Province Archons may be called by the Chairman, by the Eminent Supreme Archon, or at the request of a majority of the Province Archons.

F. Meetings with the Supreme Council. The Supreme Council must meet with the Council of Province Archons at least twice per biennium, to include once dur-ing the Supreme Council meeting held immediately preceding each regular ses-sion of the Fraternity Convention and a subsequent meeting at a time and place agreed upon by the Chairman and the Supreme Council.

G. Vacancies. Vacancies of officers occurring between regular meetings of the Council of Province Archons must be filled by the Council of Province Archons or, in case of the vacancy of both the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman, by the Eminent Supreme Archon on an interim basis until the next meeting of the Coun-cil of Province Archons.

46. Duties of Officers. Each officer must perform the duties required of him by these Fraternity Laws and any other duties assigned to him by the Council of Province Ar-chons or the Chairman. A. Chairman. The Chairman will preside at all meetings of the Council of Province

Archons.



B. Deputy Chairman. The Deputy Chairman will assist the Chairman and will act as the Chairman in case of his absence or disability.

C. Secretary. The Secretary will keep a record of the proceedings of the Council of Province Archons .

47. Finances. Province Archons or their designees must be reimbursed for all traveling expenses to its meeting with the Supreme Council outside of a regular session of the Fraternity Convention on the presentation of an itemized account approved by the Eminent Supreme Recorder.

48. Bylaws. The Council of Province Archons may adopt, amend, or repeal bylaws to assist it in carrying out its duties, not inconsistent with these Fraternity Laws or or-ders of the Fraternity Convention.

Title VII: Chapters Collegiate – Charter

49. Charter. No Chapter Collegiate may be organized or reorganized except by virtue of a charter granted by the Fraternity Convention.

50. Relation of Chapter to the Fraternity. In all respects, the Chapter Collegiate ex-ists as an independent entity from the Fraternity. A. No Authority to Act. No Chapter Collegiate has any authority to act for or bind

the Fraternity, and none of the Chapters Collegiate is a subsidiary of the Frater-nity.

B. Conditions of Charter. Each Chapter Collegiate, in accepting its charter, agrees to comply with the duties and responsibilities incumbent upon Chapters Collegiate as provided in these Fraternity Laws, including the payment of mem-bership fees and annual dues, the submission of reports, and permitting inspec-tion.

C. Limitations on External Authorities. It is the express policy of the Frater-nity that all decisions to colonize, to charter, or to suspend or to revoke the charter of a Chapter Collegiate will be made by the Supreme Council, the Fraternity Con-vention, or both, independent of and not in reliance upon similar decisions, pol-icies and regulations of a collegiate host institution or other similarly situated ex-ternal authority.

51. Procedure for Granting Charter. Whenever the Permanent Committee on Ex-tension deems extension to a collegiate host institution to be propitious, the Supreme Council may approve the formation of a Colony for eventual chartering as a Chapter Collegiate A. Petition. Whenever a Colony determines, in consultation with the Province Ar-

chon and the Eminent Supreme Recorder, that it has met all conditions required to be chartered as a Chapter Collegiate, it may submit a petition for charter, signed by at least twenty-five persons eligible for Fraternity membership, with the Eminent Supreme Recorder, accompanied by a charter fee of three thousand dollars subject to refund if no charter is granted.



B. Investigation. Before a petition may be considered by the Fraternity Conven-tion, a team appointed by the Eminent Supreme Archon consisting of one mem-ber of a Chapter Collegiate and two members of the Chapter Alumnus, none of whom may have been previously associated with the Colony, must investigate the Colony, with at least one member visiting in person. A report and recommenda-tion must be submitted to the Fraternity Convention, by and through the Eminent Supreme Archon.

C. Granting Charter. A two-thirds vote of the Fraternity Convention will author-ize the Supreme Council to sign and issue a charter and to install the group to which it is issued as a Chapter Collegiate of the Fraternity.

D. Signing Charter. Each charter must be signed by all members of the Supreme Council. A Chapter Collegiate disbanded may be reorganized under its original name, and if a Chapter Collegiate is so reorganized, the old charter, if it exists, must be returned to the Chapter Collegiate.

E. Equipment. If a charter is granted, all necessary Ritual regalia must be fur-nished to the chartered group without further payment other than the charter fee.

F. Installation & Initiation. Each Colony member eligible for Fraternity mem-bership, including alumni members and alumni of a local society being charted as a Chapter Collegiate, are eligible for prompt initiation upon the Colony’s in-stallation as a Chapter Collegiate, subject to reporting requirements the Eminent Supreme Recorder may prescribe.

Title VII: Chapters Collegiate – Operations

52. The Chapter Collegiate. The essence of the Fraternity is carried out by each CHAP-TER COLLEGIATE chartered by the Fraternity Convention. A. Membership. The Chapter Collegiate consists of those Fraternity members as

these Fraternity Laws provide. B. Officers. In addition to any other officers as may be required for the proper ad-

ministration of the Chapter Collegiate, the required officers of the Chapter Colle-giate are:

1. The Eminent Archon 2. The Eminent Deputy Archon 3. The Eminent Recorder 4. The Eminent Treasurer 5. The Eminent Correspondent 6. The Eminent Chronicler 7. The Eminent Warden 8. The Eminent Herald 9. The Eminent Chaplain 10. The Member Educator 11. The Chapter Alumni Chairman 12. The Chapter Health-and-Safety Officer 13. The Chapter Recruitment Chairman



14. The Chapter Scholarship Chairman C. Qualification. Any member in good standing of a Chapter Collegiate is eligible

to hold office in the Chapter Collegiate. D. Election. The Chapter Collegiate will elect its officers and those officers’ terms

will begin at a time it determines provided that the term of office for the Eminent Treasurer must be one year, unless the Supreme Council shortens such term upon the recommendation of the Province Archon, and the terms of office for all other officers do not exceed one year.

E. Vacancies. Vacancies occurring during the officer’s regular term must be filled by the Chapter Collegiate.

F. Declaring an Office Vacant. A Chapter Collegiate may, by a two-thirds vote, declare any office vacant when the interests of the Chapter Collegiate demand. Notice of such intended action must be given to all members of the Chapter Col-legiate, and the officer must be given a reasonable opportunity to be heard.

G. Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of each Chapter Collegiate must be held weekly during the academic term.

H. Special Meetings. Special meetings may be called at any time by the Eminent Archon and must be called by him on the written request of five or more members in good standing of the Chapter Collegiate. Due notice must be given to all mem-bers of the Chapter Collegiate.

I. Quorum. At any regular meeting of a Chapter Collegiate, a majority of the mem-bers in good standing of the Chapter Collegiate will constitute a quorum. At any special meeting of a Chapter Collegiate, a two-thirds majority of the members in good standing of the Chapter Collegiate will constitute a quorum.

J. Report on Activities. Each Chapter Collegiate must, on April 1 of each year, render to the Fraternity Service Center on a form prescribed by the Eminent Su-preme Recorder a report of its current officers and activities for the preceding year.

K. Financial Reporting. If required by applicable law, each Chapter Collegiate must prepare or have prepared the appropriate IRS Form 990 as required by IRS regulations at the close of the Chapter Collegiate’s fiscal year, and a copy of this form must be sent to the Fraternity Service Center.

53. Duties. Each officer must perform the duties required of him by the Ritual, these Fraternity Laws and any other duties as his office may require or as may be imposed on him by lawful authority, including the Fraternity Convention, the Supreme Council by and through the Fraternity Service Center, the Bylaws of his Chapter Collegiate, or his Eminent Archon. A. Eminent Archon. The Eminent Archon will preside at all meetings of the Chap-

ter Collegiate, appoint officers and committees not otherwise provided, enforce the laws and lawful orders of the Fraternity Convention and the Chapter Colle-giate, supervise and direct the officers of the Chapter Collegiate, guard and pro-mote the Ritual, and provide any necessary report to the Fraternity Service Cen-ter.



B. Eminent Deputy Archon. The Eminent Deputy Archon will perform the du-ties of the Eminent Archon in his absence, assist the Eminent Archon in his du-ties, and be responsible for the discipline of the members of the Chapter Colle-giate.

C. Eminent Recorder. The Eminent Recorder will keep the records of the Chapter Collegiate and provide any necessary notice to the members of the Chapter Col-legiate.

D. Eminent Treasurer. The Eminent Treasurer will keep the books of the Chapter Collegiate, take custody of the funds of the Chapter Collegiate and account there-for, give bond as required by these Fraternity Laws, submit all necessary pay-ments to the Fraternity Service Center and other creditors and provide any nec-essary report to the Fraternity Service Center.

E. Eminent Correspondent. The Eminent Correspondent will conduct the cor-respondence of the Chapter Collegiate and provide any necessary report to the Fraternity Service Center.

F. Eminent Chronicler. The Eminent Chronicler will keep the history of the Chapter Collegiate.

G. Eminent Warden. The Eminent Warden will assist the Chapter Collegiate in keeping good order and promoting the health and safety of the membership of the Chapter Collegiate, assisting such officers or acting on his own accord as may be necessary.

H. Eminent Herald. The Eminent Herald will promote the proper use of the Rit-ual.

I. Eminent Chaplain. The Eminent Chaplain will promote the spiritual well-be-ing of the members of the Chapter Collegiate.

J. Chapter Member Educator. The Chapter Member Educator will facilitate the membership development of the Chapter Collegiate and implement the True Gentleman Experience within the Chapter Collegiate.

K. Chapter Alumni Chairman. The Chapter Alumni Chairman will promote and coordinate the alumni program of the Chapter Collegiate.

L. Chapter Health-and-Safety Officer. The Chapter Health-and-Safety Officer will have authority over all events of the Chapter Collegiate pertaining to the health and safety of its members, oversee the responsibilities of the Chapter Col-legiate’s social activities or Social Chairman, promote the health and safety of the Chapter Collegiate and minimize any risk to the Chapter Collegiate or its mem-bers.

M. Chapter Recruitment Chairman. The Chapter Recruitment Chairman will promote and coordinate the Chapter Collegiate’s recruitment program in accord-ance with the Chapter Collegiate’s specific needs.

N. Chapter Scholarship Chairman. The Chapter Scholarship Chairman will promote the academic development of the members of the Chapter Collegiate and advise the Eminent Archon on any member of the Chapter Collegiate who is or who may become Delinquent in Scholarship.



54. Finances. It is the policy of the Fraternity that a prompt and faithful observance and enforcement of financial obligation is a test of a member’s right to retain his mem-bership and of a Chapter Collegiate’s right to retain its charter. A. Dues & Fees. Each member and each Chapter Collegiate is responsible for the

following dues and fees: 1. Initiation Fee. Each newly elected Fraternity member is subject to an IN-

ITIATION FEE of three hundred and ten dollars, payable no later than ten days after initiation and payable by his Chapter Collegiate, except that the Su-preme Council may reduce this fee for non-student initiates, initiates who are alumni of a recently chartered local society, or for initiates who are or were members of another college social fraternity.

2. Annual Fraternity Dues. Each member of a Chapter Collegiate is subject to annual fraternity dues of one-hundred and five dollars, payable on the first day of February and payable by his Chapter Collegiate.

3. Health-and-Safety Allocation Model. Each Chapter Collegiate is sub-ject to such fees and fines as may be incorporated into a health-and-safety allocation model as the Supreme Council may implement.

4. Bonds. Each Chapter Collegiate is subject to payment for the premium of any corporate security bond of not less than ten-thousand dollars.

5. Province Dues. Every Chapter Collegiate is subject to Province dues in accordance with the bylaws of its Province Convention.

6. Chapter Dues. Each member of a Chapter Collegiate is subject to local chapter dues in accordance with the bylaws of his Chapter Collegiate.

B. Delinquent in Accounts. 1. Chapters Collegiate. Each Chapter Collegiate delinquent for one month

or more with respect to any sum due the Fraternity will be fined one-and-one-half percent of the amount due, with a minimum amount of twenty-five dollars, for each month of such delinquency.

2. Fraternity Members. If at any time a member becomes Delinquent in Accounts, the Eminent Treasurer must notify that member in writing. If the member remains Delinquent in Accounts after fourteen days of written no-tification, the Eminent Treasurer must prefer charges against him under the provisions of Title II.



55. Chapter Ritual. Each Chapter Collegiate must follow the prescribed course of per-formance for all Ritual ceremonies to include use of the Opening and Closing Cere-monies for all meetings of the Chapter Collegiate, the Ceremony for Installation of Officers, the Initiation Ceremony no later than ninety-six hours after a newly elected member accepts an invitation to join the Chapter Collegiate, and the Graduation Cer-emony.

56. Bylaws. A Chapter Collegiate may adopt, amend, or repeal bylaws to assist it in car-rying out its duties, not be inconsistent with the these Fraternity Laws or orders of the Fraternity Con-vention.

57. Chapter Advisor. Each Chapter Collegiate must have at least one CHAPTER ADVISOR who will counsel the chapter in the administration of its affairs and who will represent the Supreme Council and the Province Archon in perpetuating the Fraternity’s stand-ards, policies, and traditions. A. Qualification. Such advisor must reside near the Chapter Collegiate, but need

not be a Fraternity member. B. Election. The Chapter Collegiate will elect the Chapter Advisor annually, with

the approval of the Province Archon. C. Duties. The Chapter Advisor must visit the Chapter Collegiate at least twice each

month and will report to the Eminent Supreme Recorder and the Province Ar-chon any conditions that may need special attention.

58. Chapter Advisory Board. If the Province Archon or Eminent Supreme Recorder determines, in consultation with the Chapter Collegiate and its Chapter Advisor, that a Chapter Collegiate would benefit from the institution of an advisory board, either the Province Archon or the Eminent Supreme Recorder may require the Chapter Col-legiate to have a CHAPTER ADVISORY BOARD, which will advise and counsel the Chapter Collegiate in the administration of its affairs and represent the Supreme Council and the Province Archon in perpetuating the Fraternity’s standards, policies, and tradi-tions. A. Membership. The Chapter Advisory Board will consist of each of the following.

1. The Chapter Advisor of the Chapter Collegiate. 2. The President of a chapter Alumni Association or his designee with respect

to the Chapter Collegiate and the President of any Area Alumni Association or his designee located in the area of the college or university at which the Chapter Collegiate is situated.

3. Any faculty advisor(s) of the Chapter Collegiate. 4. Additional members as the Province Archon may deem appropriate.

B. Qualification. 1. Any faculty advisor(s) need not be a Fraternity member. 2. The additional members must be members in good standing with the Chap-

ter Alumnus. C. Officers. The Chapter Advisory Board will elect a President.



D. Election. 1. Any faculty advisor(s) will be selected by the Chapter Collegiate. 2. The additional members will be appointed by the Province Archon for a

term of two academic years. E. Duties. The President must submit reports to the Province Archon and the Em-

inent Supreme Recorder when requested by either of them or as deemed appro-priate by the Chapter Advisory Board.

F. Regular Meetings. The Chapter Advisory Board must meet monthly during the academic term.

G. Special Meetings. Special meetings may be called by the President or by any two members of the Board.



Title VII: Chapters Collegiate – Discipline

59. Grounds for Discipline. Any Chapter Collegiate may face discipline under this Ti-tle for any of the following reasons: A. Creating a culture that encourages, permits or acquiesces to the commission of a

Flagrant Offense by its members. B. Failure to send its reports and dues to the Fraternity Service Center. C. Offense against the institutional rules of the collegiate host institution of the

Chapter Collegiate on matters of behavior D. Permitting a total indebtedness exceeding an average of one hundred dollars per

active member, where such indebtedness is outstanding for more than three-months.

E. Election of an ineligible person for membership in the Fraternity. F. Flagrant violation of these Fraternity Laws. G. Bringing the Fraternity into extreme disrepute. H. Interfering with the proper functioning of the letter and spirit of these Fraternity

Laws. 60. Investigation & Cease and Desist Orders. Whenever an accusation exists

against a Chapter Collegiate, the Eminent Supreme Recorder must investigate the charges, and he or the Supreme Council may place the Chapter Collegiate under a Cease and Desist Order. A. Effect. During the duration of the Cease and Desist order, the Chapter Collegiate

must cease and desist any and all Chapter operations, excluding only those ex-pressly permitted by the Eminent Supreme Recorder or the Supreme Council.

B. Duration. The order will remain in place until such time as the Supreme Council or the Eminent Supreme Recorder completes his investigation of the accusation or determines that the reason for the violation is remedied.

61. Chapter Sanctions. Any Chapter Collegiate is subject to any of the following sanc-tions or any combination thereof. A. Surrender. A Chapter Collegiate, upon four week’s notice to its membership

and the Fraternity Service Center, may voluntarily surrender its charter unless five or more members in good standing, including members of the Chapter Alum-nus initiated by the Chapter Collegiate, demand its continuance.

B. Suspension & Revocation. 1. By the Fraternity Convention. A charter may, for due cause, be sus-

pended or revoked by the Fraternity Convention by a two-thirds vote, pro-vided the Chapter Collegiate had been notified in writing of the charges and given a reasonable opportunity to be heard.



2. By the Supreme Council. A charter may, for due cause, be suspended by the Eminent Supreme Archon, with the consent of four-fifths of the Su-preme Council, provided the Chapter Collegiate had been notified in writing of the charges and given a reasonable opportunity to be heard and subject to a full report to the next Fraternity Convention for its approval.

C. Effect. 1. Surrender of Equipment. Upon the surrender, suspension, or revoca-

tion of a charter, the property of the Chapter Collegiate, including the Fra-ternity paraphernalia, Rituals, and books of record, must be surrendered to the Eminent Supreme Recorder and kept by him subject to the orders of the Supreme Council.

2. Affected Members. Upon the suspension of a charter, all current mem-bers of the Chapter Collegiate will be considered suspended members until further notification by a Fraternity officer, and the charter will remain sus-pended until final action by the Fraternity Convention.

D. Further Chapter Discipline. 1. Alumni Commission. The Supreme Council may, by a four-fifths vote,

place the full authority of a charter in the hands of an Alumni Commission. a. Effect. The Alumni Commission will govern as the Chapter Collegiate

without a suspension of the charter until the Supreme Council finds that the due cause is remedied.

b. Duration. Upon such transfer of the authority of a charter, all current members of the Chapter Collegiate will be considered suspended mem-bers until further notification by a Fraternity officer or a member of the Alumni Commission.

2. Alumni Board. A Chapter Collegiate may, by a two-thirds vote and with the consent of the Supreme Council, place joint authority of the charter in the hands of an alumni board.

a. Effect. The alumni board and the Chapter Collegiate will jointly govern the Chapter Collegiate without a suspension of the charter until the alumni board and the Chapter Collegiate, with approval by its Province Archon, determines that the due cause is remedied.

b. Duration. While under the joint authority of an alumni board, the deci-sions of the alumni board and the Chapter Collegiate must be mutually ratified.

3. Probation. The Supreme Council or a Province Council may place on pro-bation any Chapter Collegiate under its jurisdiction which is determined to be deficient in the minimum standards of the Fraternity or which is placed on probation by the collegiate host institution where it is domiciled. A pro-bation imposed by a Province Council may be appealed to the Supreme Council within thirty days after notice of such action, who may overturn the Province Council’s decision by a four-fifths vote.



4. Chapter Membership Review. The Supreme Council may authorize a membership review of any Chapter Collegiate to be conducted by members of the Chapter Alumnus appointed by the Supreme Council.

a. Effect. During such review, any member of the Chapter Collegiate may be summarily expelled, suspended, placed on probation, fined, repri-manded, or any combination thereof.

b. Appeal. Any adverse action of the membership review may be appealed to the Supreme Council within thirty days after notice of such action.

Title VIII: Alumni Associations

62. Alumni Associations. No ALUMNI ASSOCIATION may be organized except by virtue of a charter granted by the Supreme Council; such an association may be either an area Alumni Association or a Chapter-Collegiate Alumni Association A. Membership. Members of an area Alumni Association must be members of the

Chapter Alumnus who reside in the same city or locale, and members of a Chap-ter-Collegiate Alumni Association may or may not be members of the Chapter Alumnus initiated by the same Chapter Collegiate.

B. Qualification. A petition for a charter must be signed by at least ten eligible members of the Chapter Alumnus and must be accompanied with an application fee of twenty-five dollars and initial annual dues of one-hundred dollars. No char-ter for an Alumni Association may be granted within a period of ninety days im-mediately preceding any regular session of the Fraternity Convention.

C. Officers. Each Alumni Association will elect a President and such other officers as the Alumni Associations deems necessary.

D. Report on Activities. Each Alumni Association must, on April 1 of each year, render to the Fraternity Service Center on a form prescribed by the Eminent Su-preme Recorder a report of its current officers and activities for the preceding year.

E. Financial Reporting. If required by applicable law, each Alumni Association must prepare or have prepared the appropriate IRS Form 990 as required by IRS regulations at the close of the Alumni Association’s fiscal year, and a copy of this form must be sent to the Fraternity Service Center.



63. Duties. The President of an Alumni Association will perform or cause to be per-formed all duties required by these Fraternity Laws and any other duties assigned to him by the Fraternity Convention or the Alumni Association.

64. Finances. Each Alumni Association is subject to annual dues of one hundred dollars,

payable to the Fraternity on or before January 15. 65. Bylaws. An Alumni Association may adopt, amend, or repeal bylaws to assist it in

carrying out its duties, not inconsistent with these Fraternity Laws or orders of the Fraternity Convention.

Title IX: Housing Corporations

66. House Corporation. A Chapter Collegiate or other Fraternity members may organ-ize a corporation or other business entity to be known as a HOUSE CORPORATION for the purpose of acquiring or holding title to real property domiciling a Chapter Colle-giate, known as a CHAPTER HOUSE.

67. House Corporations Subject to these Fraternity Laws. Each of the following House Corporations are subject to the requirements of these Fraternity Laws: A. Any House Corporation declaring its tax-exempt status by and through the Fra-

ternity’s group tax-exempt status. B. Any House Corporation holding insurance coverage through the Fraternity’s or

SAE Financial and Housing Corporation’s insurance policies. C. Any House Corporation that has accepted consideration from a Chapter Colle-

giate or its members in exchange for their occupancy of a Chapter House. D. Any House Corporation that has accepted a donation from a member of the Chap-

ter Alumnus for the betterment of the Chapter House. 68. Chapter Standing Irrelevant. These Fraternity Laws apply to any applicable

House Corporation regardless of whether the Chapter Collegiate is active and in good standing with the Fraternity.

69. Duties. House Corporations subject to these Fraternity Laws must abide by each of the following requirements. A. Chapter House Forever to Benefit Chapter. A House Corporation must for-

ever hold a Chapter House in trust for the primary benefit of the Chapter Colle-giate.



B. Conveyances Prohibited. The Fraternity, in association with SAE Financial and Housing Corporation, may take any action necessary to prevent any transfer-ring ownership of a Chapter House by any manner to a third party, including by threatened foreclosure sale or a taking by eminent domain, or prior to leasing a Chapter House to a third party for a term, including all options to extend, of greater than five years so as to maintain the Chapter House for the future use and benefit of the Chapter Collegiate. These actions may include a right-of-first-re-fusal to acquire the Chapter House, a binding asset purchase agreement protect-ing the net assets of the House Corporation for the future development of a Chap-ter House for the Chapter Collegiate, or a gift donation of the Chapter House.

C. Surety Bond & Insurance Coverage. Each House Corporation must be un-der corporate security bond of not less than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) and must maintain comprehensive liability insurance of not less than five hundred thousand dollars and separate and additional umbrella liability coverage of not less than ten million dollars. The Chapter Collegiate must pay the premiums for both bonds and insurances.

D. Report on Activities. Each House Corporation must, on October 30 of each year, render to the Fraternity Service Center on a form prescribed by the Eminent Supreme Recorder a report of its current officers and activities for the preceding year. Copies of such report must be furnished to the Chapter Collegiate.

E. Financial Reporting. If required by applicable law, each House Corporation must prepare or have prepared the appropriate IRS Form 990 as required by IRS regulations at the close of the House Corporation’s fiscal year, and a copy of this form must be sent to the Fraternity Service Center.


Defined TermsThe Fraternity Laws uses defined terms to assist our constituents in understanding the document and providing consistent meaning throughout the document. Below is a table of the defined terms as found in the Fraternity Laws, including a reference to the section where the Fraternity Laws give that term definition.

Alumni Association .........................................62Chapter Advisor .............................................. 57Chapter Advisory Board..................................58(The) Chapter Alumnus ..............................13B2Chapter Collegiate...........................................52(The) Chapter Eternal ............................... 13B10Chapter House ................................................66(The) Chapter Quiescent.............................13B4(The) Council of Province Archons.................45Delinquent in Accounts.................................21BDelinquent in Scholarship ............................21CDirect Vote .................................................. 11A2Flagrant Offense............................................12BFormal Accusation ..................................... 24C2Founders’ Day ...................................................6Fraternity Body .................................................8(The) Fraternity Convention...........................28(The) Fraternity Laws ......................... Preamble(The) Fraternity Service Center ......................37(The) Fraternity ................................................ 1House Corporation..........................................66Initiation Fee...............................................54A1Offense ..........................................................21AProvince Convention...................................... 40Province Council ............................................. 41Province...........................................................39(The) Realm ......................................................2Special Commission....................................24B1(The) Supreme Council ...................................32Trial Authority ............................................. 24B(The) True Gentleman Experience ................. 19


Proposed Standing RulesIn addition to proposing the Official Revision Document, the Permanent Committee on Fraternity Laws recommends contemporaneous adoption of the following standing rules for the Fraternity Convention. These rules will serve as the permanent procedural rules for sessions of the Fraternity Convention, subject to amendment from time to time as the Fraternity Convention sees fit.


Fraternity Convention Standing RulesPursuant to the Fraternity Laws, and subject thereto, the Fraternity Convention adopts the following standing rules of order:

Section One: General Principles1. Presiding Officer. The Eminent Supreme Archon is the presiding officer of the

Fraternity Convention, and he may delegate the chair as his discretion without in-tervening motion.

2. Committees. The Eminent Supreme Archon may appoint such ad-hoc committees as he deems necessary to conduct the business of the Fraternity Convention. Such committees may report to the Fraternity Convention at the discretion of the chair.

3. Convention Program. Subject to these Standing Rules, the sessions of the Fra-ternity Convention and other scheduled events will be at such times and places as are set forth in the official program approved by the Eminent Supreme Archon. The times and locations of events may be changed as announced at the convention ses-sions.

4. Standard Order of Business. Any session of the Fraternity Convention will op-erate under the following standard order of business:A. Consideration of Amendments to these Standing RulesB. Reports of Fraternity OfficersC. Special OrdersD. Election of Fraternity OfficersE. Report of the Permanent Committee on Fraternity Laws (Proposals to Amend

the Fraternity Laws)F. Unfinished Business and General OrdersG. New Business

Section Two: The Convention Floor1. Credentialed Delegates. The Fraternity Convention must credential those dele-

gates to the Fraternity Convention as the Fraternity Laws permit.2. Floor Privilege. The following individuals hold floor privilege at all sessions of the

Fraternity Convention:A. Credentialed members of the Fraternity Convention.B. The General Counsel of the Fraternity.C. An alternate delegate from a Chapter Collegiate; provided, however, such alter-

native delegate will only hold floor privileges if his Chapter Collegiate’s official delegate is absent.

D. By motion or by rule adopted by a three-fourths vote, any other person.


3. Debate. No person who has floor privileges may speak more than twice on the same question. Speech times responding to a question are as follows, unless a ma-jority vote extends the time to a ten-minute maximum:A. Five minutes for the first speechB. Three minutes for the second speech

4. Yielding the Floor. Speakers may not yield more than once to another member and the time consumed by both cannot exceed that set forth by rule.

5. Suspension of the Fraternity Laws. No matter requiring suspension of the Fra-ternity Laws by unanimous consent may be considered while any convention com-mit-tee is absent from the floor.

Section Three: Election of Fraternity Officers1. Closing Nominations. A motion to close nominations for a Fraternity office will

conclusively close nominations for that office; a motion to close nominations may not be reconsidered.

2. Question-and-Answer Period. For any contested election of a Fraternity officer, the Fraternity Convention must entertain a question-and-answer period for all can-didates.

3. Nomination Speeches. Each candidate for Fraternity office is allowed one nomi-nating and one seconding speech, subject to the following time limits:A. Four minutes for nominating speeches for opposed candidates, and three

minutes for nominating speeches for unopposed candidates.B. Two minutes for seconding speeches.

4. Order of Election. Elections of the Fraternity officers will be in the following or-der:A. Eminent Supreme ArchonB. Eminent Supreme Deputy ArchonC. Eminent Supreme WardenD. Eminent Supreme HeraldE. Eminent Supreme ChroniclerF. Eminent Supreme RecorderG. Honorary Eminent Supreme Archon

5. Majority Required to Elect. A candidate to Fraternity Office must receive a ma-jority of all votes validly cast to be elected. If no candidate receives a majority of all votes validly cast, the candidate receiving the lowest number of votes validly cast will be removed from consideration. If more than one candidates are tied for receiv-ing the lowest number of votes validly cast, each of them will be removed from con-sideration unless only one candidate will remain.


Section Four: Proposals to Amend the Fraternity Laws1. Report by Committee. Pursuant to the Fraternity Laws, proposals to amend the

Fraternity Laws are charged to the Permanent Committee on Fraternity Laws for its consideration and reporting.

2. Reporting. The Committee will review all proposals duly before it and report to the Fraternity Convention on those proposals it recommends for adoption.A. Proposals reported by the Committee will properly be before the Fraternity

Convention without a motion to approve.B. Proposals not reported by the Committee are subject to a motion to discharge.

Section Five: Roll Call Votes1. Chair May Order. The chair may, at his discretion, order a vote to be taken by roll

call if he is in doubt as to the division of the Fraternity Convention.2. Voting Order. The order of casting a roll-call vote will be as follows:

A. Members of the Supreme Council.B. Honorary Eminent Supreme Archon.C. Eminent Supreme Recorder.D. Past Eminent Supreme Archons.E. Each Province alphabetically, beginning with the Province Archon and followed

by the delegates representing Chapters Collegiate and Alumni Associations.3. Call of the Convention. Committees in session must be notified of any roll-call

vote and may be compelled to return to the floor for the vote.


the star-sPangleD banner

O say can you see,by the dawn’s early light,What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming,

Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?

And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;

O say does that star-spangled banner yet waveO’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

o canaDa

O Canada!Our home and native land!True patriot love in all thy sons command.

With glowing hearts we see thee rise,The True North strong and free!

From far and wide,O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

God keep our land glorious and free!O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

A n t h e m s


steven W. churchill (ioWa state ‘85)massachusetts Delta chaPter - Worcester Polytechnic institute

Kevin (rensselear Polytechnic ‘82) & carol neumann

Additionally, Sigma Alpha Epsilon & the Boston Host Committee would like to thank the following who have helped to make this year’s meeting possible:

Our optional evening outing at fenway park is Proudly sponsored by:

7kh 3kl $oskddata.sae.net/convention/phialpha2017.pdf · 2:00 pm – 3:30 harvard university...

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