[24233] in APO-L
Re: [APO-L] Hey Everyone! I need some Feedback!
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Brown Michael-EMB021)
Wed Mar 31 11:19:46 2004
Date: Wed, 31 Mar 2004 11:15:56 -0500
Reply-To: Brown Michael-EMB021 <Michael.R.Brown@motorola.com>
From: Brown Michael-EMB021 <Michael.R.Brown@motorola.com>
To: APO-L@LISTSERV.IUPUI.EDU
All-
*Quorum.
The purpose of quorum is to set the number of members an organization needs to conduct business. Each group is free to set quorum as they see. The biggest mistake some organizations do is set it too high. Quorum should be set to be the number of members you would reasonably expect to see at meetings. If on average you have 50% of your membership at meeting, then set that as your quorum. If you only get 30%, then make that your quorum.
Quorum should be stated in your Chapter Bylaws. Thus to change your bylaws you need to see what your rules are for amending them.
*Pledge voting.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, obtain copies of the Pledge Master Leadership Series book, and more importantly, the National Pledging Standards. These are available on the National website. If you are a pledge master for your chapter (or planning on being one), you need to make yourself familiar with the National Pledging Standards, APO Membership Policy, APO Risk Management Policy, and the Pledge Master Leadership Series booklet (in that order).
Please note that 'black ball voting' on pledges is strongly discouraged by the NPS. Do not be confused by the term 'black ball voting'. While the term came about by the mechanics used (white & black balls for yes and no), the issue with black ball voting is that ONE or VERY FEW "No" votes would prevent you being voted in. You need a majority vote (half + 1) to win an election in your chapter. But 1 "No" vote (or a couple) will prevent a pledge getting in? think about it...
This whole matter is a difficult issue with most chapters, and I recommend chapters speak with their Section Chairs &/or Regional Directors.
*Pledge Requirements.
Jason Risner's recent note on pledge requirements made some very good points. Let me add a little to it.
Always keep in mind the purpose of the Pledge Program: an education program to turn pledge into Brothers AND get them into the habits we (ie their chapter) expects of them as Brothers.
Pledge requirements should reflect Active requirements, both defined (ex: service hours) and implied (ex: wearing your pin). Pledge requirements should not (and I think can not) be harder then active requirements. If you require 50 hours for actives, you can't require more then 50 for pledges.
Also, if a pledge failed to complete some requirements, like say, service hours, why? That should have an effect on whether or not a chapter votes them in. Did your chapter fail to provide enough service hours? Then the chapter failed the pledges and its not their fault that they didn't get the hours in. Did the pledge failed to get all their hours? Then you have to find out why. If a pledge couldn't for legitimate reasons (work, classes, medical issues, etc), that's one thing. If they didn't show up because they didn't want to, that's another. I would hope that most chapters can tell the difference between the two, and do the right think with those pledges when that time comes.
YiLFS
Michael Brown
APO LM & TB
