The Bylaws of the Gamma Mu Chapter of Delta Omicron International Music Fraternity

ARTICLE I. Purposes and Objectives

This organization, known as the Gamma Mu chapter of Delta Omicron, is a professional music fraternity for students at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. In addition to the purposes and objectives of the national organization of Delta Omicron, the purposes of the Gamma Mu chapter are as follows:

To provide a climate to enhance the study of music at VPI & SU;

To promote the Department of Music at VPI & SU;

To encourage fellowship for music students and faculty at VPI & SU;

To provide a liaison between the Department of Music at VPI & SU and other institutions of higher learning.

ARTICLE II. Membership

  1. Students invited into membership must meet the following requirements:
    1. Must have completed one semester of classes at Virginia Tech.
    2. Must be a music major, music minor, or the equivalent.
    3. Must have at least a 3.0 music average and a 2.4 accumulative average.
    4. Must not be a member of another professional music fraternity.
  2. Any transfer student, upon request, may become a member of this chapter if involved in Delta Omicron at his/her previous institution.
  3. All members must pay the national fee, the badge fee, and any fees voted on and approved by this chapter.
  4. Members must plan and perform in semiannual musicales.
  5. The types of membership shall be defined as follows:
    1. Prospective Member – A person who has expressed interest in joining Delta Omicron;
    2. Associate Member – A person who has gone through the Pledge Ceremony of Delta Omicron but who has not yet gone through initiation;
    3. Active Member – A member of Delta Omicron in good standing with the chapter and who is able to participate fully in the functions of the chapter;
    4. Probation – A member of Delta Omicron in questionable standing with the chapter.  S/he has missed the maximum points allowable according to the Membership Point System, and risks Secondary Probation following one more absence.  Members of the fraternity will have the right to raise concern over a member’s status and determine whether or not the member is to be considered active or on probation.  The status must pass by a majority rule;
    5. Secondary Probation – A member of Delta Omicron who is in poor standing with the chapter.  This status may be achieved by two different means, either by attaining the number of points as per the Membership Point System, or by vote.  Members of the fraternity will have the right to raise concern over a member’s status and determine whether or not the member is to be considered active or secondary probation.  The status must pass by a majority rule;
    6. Inactive – A member of Delta Omicron who has requested and received inactive status due to time conflicts (good standing). A request to be considered inactive with good standing must be proposed to the fraternity on or before the last day to drop a class without penalty; however, extenuating circumstances may be considered after this time. Members who are inactive and in good standing are still responsible for all financial commitments, but do not have to attend every event.
    7. Alumnus – A former active member of Delta Omicron who does not return to active status due to graduation or withdrawal from school

    Good standing shall be defined as an active member that has paid all fees (national and local) and resolved any fines;

    Poor standing shall be defined as a member that has not paid all fees due (national and local), a member that has a high number of unexcused absences (concurrent or variable), or a member who has failed to meet the requirements outlined in the Membership Point System.

ARTICLE III. Officers

  1. Duties shall be as stated in the national bylaws.
  2. Elections:
    1. Shall be held each Spring, with supplemental elections as absolutely necessary;
    2. Nominations shall be held the first week;
    3. Elections shall be held the second week;
    4. Voting shall be done by closed ballot and shall pass by a majority vote;
    5. The incoming officers shall overtake the present officers’ duties upon the occurrence of their induction

ARTICLE IV. Standing Committees

  1. Service: includes the Department of Music and community service activities.
  2. Fundraising: includes special activities for the Department of Music and fundraising.
  3. Membership: this committee will oversee prospective membership requirements and membership requirements.
  4. Social: any respectable social activity that the Gamma Mu chapter sponsors.
  5. Music: this committee will plan monthly musicales and assist in other musical events planned by Gamma Mu
  6. Public Relations: this committee will help to promote the fraternity and assist in advertising events sponsored by Gamma Mu
  7. Alumni: this committee will assist the 2nd Vice President with alumni relations and work with the chapter mother/father and other alumni in the creation and maintenance of an alumni chapter or club for Gamma Mu
  8. Each committee will have an appointed chairperson who is in charge of scheduling meetings and overseeing activities of the individual committee.

ARTICLE V. Prospective Membership Period

  1. The prospective membership period shall last four to six weeks. It will start the night of the Pledge Ceremony (at which time the prospective membership fees must be paid) and end at the Initiation.
  2. During the prospective membership period, associate members will be required to:
    1. Wear pins at all times. The associate member badge must be worn as well. The pin signifies the pride of the fraternity in the selection of its members and should be worn as such;
    2. Make, complete and have access to prospective membership training manuals at all times. Information in the prospective membership training manuals will be based on tradition and each individual prospective membership class. Clarification of access shall be left up to the First Vice-President;
    3. Schedule and complete one interview with each active chapter member. The purpose of the interviews will be to help members get to know one another on a one-to-one basis. Interviews should last at least one-half hour and must be in person. Interviews with the chapter mother/father and patron/alumnae are encouraged, but are not required. All interviews must be scheduled and one-half of the interviews must be completed prior to Second Interviews.
    4. Help plan and carry out a fundraising project during the prospective membership period that is intended to provide funding for a fraternity function. Must carry out at least one other project during the prospective membership period that is intended to bond the prospective class; this project may be assigned by the 1st Vice President or by another member of the fraternity upon the approval of the 1st Vice President. This project may be service-related, but it should not be a fundraising activity. This project may or may not have been completed by members during their prospective membership process, but it will not include any hazing.
    5. Help plan and carry out one service project during the prospective membership period;
    6. Attend all prospective membership meetings and chapter activities. Exceptions will be made on an individual basis;
    7. Memorize national and local chapter histories, music department history, crest information, and the Greek alphabet;
    8. Pay initiation fees by the time of Second Interviews;
    9. Participate in the chapter musicale;
    10. Learn the Prayer of Delta Omicron by the time of the chapter musicale.
  3. In addition, associate members shall have the right to:
    1. Attend a specified meeting after Second Interviews if progress has been found satisfactory at that time. Although the associate members may participate in debate, they may not vote during these meetings;
    2. Make three choices from the active membership for a Big Sister or Brother. The chapter will make every attempt to accommodate these choices

ARTICLE VI. Induction

A. Induction of new members will take place during the Fall and/or Spring semesters.

B. The induction will be a formal event. All are sworn to secrecy. No hazing will take place.

C. Induction will only be open to members of Delta Omicron.

ARTICLE VII. Retention Standards

  1. To remain a member, fees must be paid on time. These fees include yearly national and local dues to be paid as follows:
    Fall -- $30 on or before October 15, and Founder’s Day Pennies as specified for the given year.
    Spring -- $50 on or before January 31.
  2. A member should maintain a 3.0 music average and a 2.4 overall average.
  3. Members are expected to participate in projects, meetings, rituals, and other chapter events. Those members not participating will be penalized according to the Membership Point System.
  4. Members of the fraternity must follow the guidelines set forth by the music department, service committee, and service director when stage managing and/or ushering. Failure to follow these guidelines will also result in the same penalties outlined in the Point System.
    1. Members that believe they will not be present must fill out the Absentee Form and submit it to the President of Delta Omicron who will then decide whether or not the absence will be unexcused. Failure to properly fill out this form and submitting it prior to an absence, will result in an automatic unexcused ruling.
    2. If the absent party disagrees with the President’s ruling, the party may appeal to the chapter as a whole to uphold or overrule the decision. If an appeal is to be made, the appealing party must attend the next scheduled meeting and state the appeal. The chapter will then present a closed ballot vote to the President as to whether the appeal will be upheld or whether the penalty stands as ruled. The vote must pass by a ¾ majority vote, with the President and the appealing party not eligible to vote. There will be time allowed between each successive vote for discussion should the chapter fail to reach a ¾ majority concurrence. There may only be one appeal per penalty. The right to appeal may be revoked if the appealing member does not attend the next meeting (unexcused absence).
  5. Members will be expected to work for the chapters’ stated goals.

ARTICLE VIII. Amendments

  1. Amendments to these bylaws must be presented to the chapter in written or printed form.
  2. The amendment may be revised after being proposed and discussed, so long as it retains written or printed form. The revision(s) must be completed by the proposing member.
  3. The amendment must pass by a ¾ vote of all chapter members.