Mu Alpha Theta State Constitution

Article I – Name

The name of this organization shall be the Louisiana Mu Alpha Theta.

Article II - Purpose

The purpose of this organization shall be to further the understanding of mathematics and to encourage a more intensive study of mathematics. Notwithstanding any other provision of those articles, the purpose for which the association is organized is exclusively religious, charitable, scientific, literary, and educational within the meaning of 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 or the corresponding provision of any further United States Internal Revenue Law.

Article III - Affiliation and Coordination

The association of Mu Alpha Theta shall be governed by the academic and financial policies laid down in the National Mu Alpha Theta constitution, as specified in the Handbook of Sponsors publication.

Article IV - Membership

Section 1. Any active chapter in Louisiana is eligible for membership in the association. Active is defined as a chapter which has paid national and state dues for all members by the designated deadline and which has not had this privilege suspended by the Executive Board.

Section 2. Active members are high school students who have completed four semesters of college preparatory mathematics and in addition have completed or are enrolled in a fifth semester mathematics providing their mathematics work was done with distinction (minimum B average).

Section 3. Associate members are open to high school students who have completed two semesters of algebra or their equivalent with distinction and who are enrolled in or have completed a semester of geometry or second year algebra.

Section 4. The duties of the chapters shall be to remain in contact with the state and district organizations and to abide by the provisions set forth in this constitution.

Section 5. A delinquent chapter is one which has not paid state and national dues and therefore cannot participate in any Mu Alpha Theta affiliated activities until such time that the state board allows for such participation. Schools will be notified and given a period of six (6) months to pay, after which time the school shall be declared delinquent. The state organization shall also declared delinquent any member chapter that fails to abide by the provisions of this constitution.

Section 6. The procedure for dismissal shall be as follows:

(a) the Executive Board will decide if any provision has been violated;

(b) if deemed necessary, the chapter in question will be sent a letter of notification of the possibility of dismissal, with the letter stating the nature of the violation(s) and the steps necessary to correct the situation;

(c) the chapter then has thirty days to show it is not guilty of the stated violation(s) or to comply with the directive(s) of the Executive Board. Further extension in time can be requested in writing. Failure to respond is grounds for dismissal.

Section 7. Should a chapter be declared delinquent and expelled from the state organization it may reenter the association by completing the guidelines stipulated by the Executive Board at the time of the infraction.

Article V - State Officers

Section 1. Any active member in Mu Alpha Theta, as specified in Article IV, Section 2 of this constitution, who is not a senior is eligible to seek office. These qualifications must be maintained during the term of office. The officers are President, President-Elect, Vice-President, Webmaster, Secretary, and Treasurer. A chapter may run no more than one person for state office, with the exception of the office of President-Elect.

Section 2.The duties of the President shall be: to make necessary arrangements for the state convention; to promote the activity of the association when necessary; to administer the policy as laid down in the constitution and by-laws.

Section 3. The duties of President-Elect shall be: to assist in planning the state convention and all other Presidential duties stated in Article V, Section 2; to serve as President the year following his current term as President-Elect.

Section 4. The duties of the Vice President shall be: to preside at the election of officers at the state convention; to act as parliamentarian for the presentation and discussion of proposed amendments and changes to the constitution; to preside at meetings when the President is absent or is unable to perform the duties of office; to serve as general assistant to the president; to keep reports of district activities on file; to highlight the district activities at the state convention; to revise the constitution according to the changes voted on at the board meetings and the state convention; to host (to provide refreshments) at one meeting of the state board during the elected year; to inform all chapters, at least two months before the state convention, that all candidates for state office must submit the requisite forms at least a month prior to the convention; to give a copy of all records to the president at the end of the elected term (no later than a week before the convention); to give a copy of all records to the next vice president; to be in charge of distributing the scholarship and stipend money as discussed in the by-laws.

Section 5. The duties of the Web Master shall be: to update and manage the official HTTP server for Louisiana Mu Alpha Theta; to update and mange the FTP server for Louisiana Mu Alpha Theta; to update and mange the Microsoft Access 2003 Database of Louisiana Mu Alpha Theta; to handle all the electronic correspondence between the Executive Board and the chapters, districts and national association; to prepare reports from the online registrations; to keep an accurate file of each correspondence; to post a report summarizing all winners, awards, and special events of the state convention on the website; to send a notice, one week prior to the meeting, to all state board members reminding them of the time, location, etc. of the upcoming meeting of the state board; to handle all electronic operations and changes dealing with the convention packet; to host (to provide refreshments) at one meeting of the state board during the elected year; to give a copy of all records to the president at the end of the elected term (no later than a week before the convention); to give a copy of all records to the next web master.

Section 6. The duties of the Secretary shall be: to prepare and send to each chapter a state registration bulletin; to prepare and send to each active chapter a state convention bulletin; to handle all non-electronic operations and changes dealing with the convention packet; to keep a record of minutes of all meetings; to call roll at every meeting and keep a record of attendance at every meeting; to send a copy of the minutes to each executive board meeting to every active chapter within three weeks of the meeting; to prepare an annual bulletin to include a list of all active chapters, their sponsors, their addresses, and telephone numbers; to mail an update on constitutional changes to all chapters after the state convention in which the changes take place; to mail the constitution and by-laws to all new chapters; to make additional or replacement copies available to active chapters upon request; to take minutes at all meetings of the state board and the executive board; to take minutes at the delegate meetings at the state convention; to host (provide refreshments) at one meeting of the state board during the elected year; to give a copy of all records to the president at the end of the elected term (no later than a week before the convention); to give a copy of all records to the next secretary.

Section 7. The duties of Treasurer shall be; to be directly responsible for collecting association dues for keeping the common state treasury; to keep financial records of all obligations of the association; to pass on the records and funds remaining in the treasury to the succeeding Treasurer; to collect and preserve the association fund; to host (to provide refreshments) at one meeting of the state board during the elected year; to give a copy of all records to the president at the end of the elected term (no later than a week before the convention); to give a copy of all records to the next Treasurer.

Section 8. The candidates for these offices must be nominated by their respective chapters. All nominations for these offices must be registered with the state Vice-President one month preceding the state convention at which the candidate intends to run for office. Delinquent chapters may not submit nominations.

Section 9. There will be no election for the office of President, unless there is an emergency where the incumbent President-Elect cannot fulfill the duty of succeeding to the office of President.

Section 10. The term of office shall be from the close of the state convention to the close of the next.

Section 11. Provision if no candidate is nominated for a particular office shall be to provide an emergency session at the state convention. At that time, each school will send two delegates to the meeting. Nominations will be received from the floor with sponsor approval.

If no candidate is nominated at this point, the rule restricting one nomination per club is suspended.

If no candidate is nominated at this point, the Executive Board has the power to appoint someone to the vacant office.

Section 12. Any state officer may be removed from the office for failure to perform the duties of that office as listed in this constitution. An officer may be removed from office by more than a two-thirds vote of the remaining members of the Executive Board. The school which an ousted officer attends will not be allowed to run a candidate for any office for one year from the time when the officer was removed. In the event of a vacancy of the board, excluding District Governors, the Executive Board has the power to appoint a replacement.

Section 13. State officers will be reimbursed for expenses to state and national conventions as follows:

(a) Officers and sponsors must have been in attendance of all the state board meetings unless under extenuating circumstances to be determined by the board. If attendance, then:

(b) Full reimbursement for the state convention; “full” is defined here to be the fee for one-fourth of a quad room fee for students and one-half of a double room for sponsors.

(c) Full reimbursement for national convention for the President and sponsor of the President.

(d) Other state officers and sponsor shall be reimbursed one-half for national convention.

Article VI - The State Executive Board

Section 1. There shall be an Executive Board composed of the association's officers, the District Governors, and their sponsors. The duties of this board shall be to appropriate funds from the common state treasury for the various activities of the association and to advise and to assist the President in carrying out the policies of the association. This committee will be responsible for hosting the state convention.

Section 2. In any referendum dealing with the decisions of the Executive Board, the President-Elect will not receive any votes.

Section 3. It will be expected of the sponsor(s) of the President from one year become(s) an ex-officio member(s) of the Executive Board to serve in an advisory capacity for the following year.

Section 4. The Executive Board shall decide on the site for the convention that will occur during its term of office and shall tentatively schedule the convention site for the following year.

Section 5. District governors and sponsors shall be reimbursed in the same manner as state officers, excluding the president, as stated in Article V, Section. 13.

Article VII - District Activities

Section 1. District caucuses are to be held within a six week period after the state convention. The purpose of these meetings is to elect District Governors and other officers the districts may need.

Section 2. The duties of the District Governor shall be: to correspond with all chapters in the district; to host and preside at district meetings and seminars; to attend Executive Board meetings; to keep an accurate file of district proceedings.

Section 3. The duties of the District Lieutenant Governor (an optional office) shall be: to encourage new and old membership participation; to seek new ways of recruiting chapters; to call roll at district meetings; to handle elections and nominations; to assist the Governor.

Section 4. The duties of the District Secretary/Treasurer shall be: to handle all correspondence for the district; to keep an accurate account of all treasury activities; to record and to mail of all district meetings.

Section 5. All districts are encouraged either to send a brief written report to the Vice-President or present an oral report at the next board meeting following the district activity mentioned (cross reference Article V, Section 4).

Article VIII - State Convention

Section 1. The annual state convention of the association shall be held in the state of Louisiana during the second semester of the high school year. All active Mu Alpha Theta chapters shall be notified of the specific date and location of the convention as early as possible prior to the convention but no later than November 30. Every person participating in any mathematical event at the convention must be an active member or associate member of the national Mu Alpha Theta and must be enrolled in and attending classes regularly at the school that the person represents at the time of the convention.

Section 2.The state convention shall be hosted by the Executive Board.

Section 3.Chapters attending the state convention shall be registered by the sponsor, or in the sponsor’s absence, by the designated faculty replacement. This registration shall include the names of active members of the chapter for the purpose of determining the number of votes allotted to each chapter set forth in Article VIII, Section 4.

Section 4. Voting in elections and business matters shall be in the following manner: secret ballot and two votes per chapter plus one vote per every five members. The vote of a chapter may be split, provide that no fractional votes are recorded. A Majority vote is required for the election of officers.

Article IX - Amending the Constitution and By-Laws

At the association’s state convention, this constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of chapters registered. Proposed amendments shall be delivered to schools three (3) weeks before the state convention.

Article X - Exempt Status

Notwithstanding any other provision of these Articles, this organization shall not carry on any other activities no permitted to be carried on by an organization exempt from federal income tax under Sections 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 or corresponding sections of any prior or future Internal Revenue Code, or to federal, state, or local government for exclusive public purpose.

Article XI - Dissolution

In the event of dissolution, the residential assets of the organization will be turned over to the national Mu Alpha Theta which itself is exempt as organizations described in Section 501(c)(3) and 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 or corresponding section of in prior or future Internal Revenue Code, or to federal, state, or local government for exclusive public purpose.

By-Laws

Article I - State Headquarters

The state headquarters of the Louisiana Mu Alpha Theta shall be established at the school where the President is enrolled.

Article II - Finances

Section 1. Each member chapter shall submit to the state treasury the amount as determined needed by the board per chapter member for that designated year (never to exceed a one dollar increase in any given year). These dues are payable on or before the date specified as the deadline by the Executive Board. Checks should be payable to Louisiana Mu Alpha Theta.

Section 2. The record of the treasurer of the Louisiana Mu Alpha Theta shall be open to review by any sponsor of an active chapter of the Louisiana Mu Alpha Theta.

Article III - Districts

District I - Orleans, Plaquemines, St.Bernard.

District II - St.Charles, St.John, Jefferson, Lafourche, St.James, Terrebone, Assumption.

District III - St. Tammany, Washington, Tangipahoa.

District IV - Livingston, St.Helen, East Feliciana, West Feliciana, Pointe Coupee, East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Ascension, Avoyelles, Concordia, Iberville.

District V - St. Mary, Iberia, St.Martin, St.Landry, Lafayette, Vermillion, Acadia, Vangeline, Rapides, Vernon, Beauregard, Allen, Calceseiu, Jefferson Davis, Cameron.

District VI - Caddo, Bossier, Webster, Claiborne, Union, Morehouse, East Carrol, West Carrol, De Soto, Red River, Bienville, Lincoln, Jackson, Ouachita, Richland, La Salle, Catahoula, Madison, Tensas, Franklin, Caldwell, Winn, Grant, Natchitoches, Sabine.

Any district which would like to petition the Executive Board to divide a district can do so. After approval of the Executive Board, the change will be presented at the state convention.

Article IV - Annual Mu Alpha Theta Scholarship

Section 1. The amount of this scholarship shall be $500.00 plus 5% of the state treasury after the closing year’s expenses are paid. The net $500.00 shall be included in the state convention budget.

Section 2. Only seniors shall be eligible for this scholarship. The recipient shall be determined by an examination given each year at the state convention.

Section 3. The Vice President and his/her sponsor will be in charge of contacting the scholarship winner. The first place winner will have until October 1st to decide on receiving the award. Proof of enrollment (i.e., a copy of the paid fee slip) of the recipient as a full-time college student must be shown. If the first place winner declines the award, the second place winner will be notified. If the award reaches the third place winner, and he declines, the scholarship offer will not be awarded. All awards are to be presented by November 1st.

Article V - Stipend Winners

Section 1. The first place winners in the Theta Individual Test, the Alpha Individual Test, and the highest scorer on the Mu Individual Test from either level will be awarded a stipend to the national convention following the state convention, provided that the stipend recipients are eligible (defined in Section 4 below).

Section 2. The amount of the stipend shall be one half of the total convention costs.

Section 3. If any of the winners decline the award, the next highest scorer in each of the tests will be given the opportunity to claim the award. The stipend will not be awarded once the 5th place winner has declined it.

Section 4. A student is considered to be eligible if and only if he is an active member of both the Louisiana MAO organization and the National MAO organization, having paid his dues for both.

Section 5. If the winner of the stipend is the President, the 2nd place winner will be awarded the stipend. If the winner of the stipend is a member of the State Board, he will be awarded both stipends.

Section 6. All matters dealing with the stipend winners shall be handled by the Vice-President and his sponsor.

Section 7. All stipends are to be presented by May 1st.

Article VI - Delegates

Section 1. The purpose shall be to allow input from all chapters interested in the affairs Louisiana Mu Alpha Theta, especially those who are not necessarily represented on the Executive Board.

Section 2. At each annual state convention, there will be at least one delegate assembly. Each chapter shall designate a maximum of two members to attend the delegate assemblies.

Section 3. Each chapter will be allowed one vote.

Section 4. The delegate assembly will have the power to propose amendments.

Section 5. The adjournment of the delegate assembly will be seconded only by the Vice-President.

Section 6. A report of the delegate assembly activities should be made at a minimum of one of the business meetings. This report will be given by the Vice-President or an appointed delegate.