Alumnae - Omega Phi Alpha National Service Sorority

National NewsHighlights from Convention 2008by Heather Pritchard, VP Leadership DevelopmentThe following is a wrap-up of important legislation passed and topics discussed at Convention 2008. They have been grouped into topicswith a copy of the legislation passed (if changes were made to the Constitution and Bylaws). New constitutions and Convention minuteswill be distributed to the chapters later this semester.Convention 2009Convention 2009 will be held in Philadelphia from July 22-26. Convention will be held at the Crowne Plaza Philadelphia, Center City.The National Executive Board voted at their August meeting that any active voting delegate from a chapter who registers and pays in fullby April 1 will have her travel fully reimbursed.Conditional StatusIn addition to prior reasons, a chapter may now be placed on Conditional Status if it fails to send representatives to an official “districtrally” for two consecutive years.National Constitution - Article XII, Section 1A chapter may be placed on conditional status for the following reasons:A. Failure to send a delegate to two consecutive national ConventionsB. Failure to perform at least six service projects per yearC. Failure to send a written report to the National President for a period of one yearD. Failure to pay national dues within thirty days of the due dateE. Failure to attend at least one event planned as a district rally per school year for two consecutive yearsF. Any other reason(s) the NEB feels are necessaryDisassociation ProceduresDisassociation procedures have been clarified by the National Executive Board. These new procedures are attached with all ChapterAssistance Plans and are also available on the National OPA Forum.OPA members must be disassociated if they do not meet local/financial obligations for an entire year, for violation of the hazing, drugand/or alcohol policy, or for committing an illegal act that impacts OPA.National Constitution – Article III, Section VIA disassociated member is one whose lifetime membership has been revoked at the local and national level.Clause 1. Members may be disassociated only for the following reasons:A. At the written request of the member via the voluntary disassociation form (available in the National Handbook).B. Failure to complete local and/or national service requirements.C. Placement on disciplinary probation by the university.D: Failure to attend the locally required number of chapter meetings and/ or functions listed in the chapter’s local constitution.Clause 2. Members must be disassociated for the following reasons:A. Failure to meet national and/or local financial obligations for an entire school semester or longer.B: The member is found guilty of an illegal act impacting the sorority.C: Violating the national hazing, drug and alcohol or discrimination policy.District RalliesA “district rally” consists of a workshop and a sisterhood activity. The date and location for a district rally must be approved by the VP ofLeadership Development no less than 14 days before the rally. Active district officers must work together to plan the rally. Additional districtactivities may be held in addition to a district rally, and a district rally may have additional activities included.By Laws – Article IXSection 1. All active chapters in a district shall attend and participate in at least one District Rally per school year,planned by the Active District Officers of each chapter.Section 2. To qualify as a district rally:A. The rally date and location must be approved by the Vice President of Leadership Development, and allchapters in the district must be notified no less than 14 days before the rally date.B. A workshop must be given by either a sorority representative or an outside consultant with knowledge in aspecific area.C. A sisterhood activity must take place.Section 3. Other activities may occur at a district rally, such as a service project or a fundraiser.Section 4. Chapters may hold other district-level events in addition to a district rally.National Pin DayTo promote sisterhood, unity and awareness of Omega Phi Alpha on college campuses, the first Monday of every month will be declared NationalPin Day. Members from every chapter shall wear business casual clothing along with their active pin or pledge pin when they are on campus.Fall 2008 y Chevron 3