Black ball/De-lettering process?

[ThetaPrincess24]

Originally Posted by pspgps

We're a fairly new organization (within the last 20 years) so our alumni have never really encountered a situation such as this that called for removal of an individual. But, I suppose the suggestions are worth a try.

1 year or 20 years old, I guarantee you have alumnae that went through similar issues. I would find that extremely hard to believe otherwise.

[AOII Angel]

If you have no procedures for this, your group should really sit down and formulate a standard plan for this in the event of any case in which you think someone should be removed from membership. This is not something that should be done willy nilly. Having procedures voted on and written out to follow anytime a questionable event occurs is what more established groups do. From my experience, having members in question speak to a standards board to investigate, go into probation if needed and be removed from membership if the situation progresses that far is the usual way that things are handled. The matter of how many sisters are needed to vote to place a member on probation or to remove a sister from membership is what you need to decide and how fully involved you want your alumnae in this process. I would encourage you to have all of this well thought out and documented. Letting sisters know what these procedures are is also important so that everyone is on the same page as to what actions may lead to probation or dismissal from the group.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by pspgps

We're a fairly new organization (within the last 20 years) so our alumni have never really encountered a situation such as this that called for removal of an individual. But, I suppose the suggestions are worth a try.

My chapter is a mere 11 years old at this point (though we are a chapter of a well-established national NIC fraternity). We have membership removal procedures in place and used 'em early and often.

Our trial code procedures are fairly straightforward. There are basically two sets of categories for membership removal--conduct unbecoming of a member of our chapter or failing to timely pay dues.

In each case, a Plaintiff brother will draw up a complaint which essentially lays out the facts which that brother wants to call the other brother to trial over whether he shall remain a member. In your case, if you had our rules, I'd try to get together a multicount complaint citing each one of the alleged offenses. This document is typed up and is signed by our judicial officer (most often this is the President) and the complainant (plaintiff).

The document is then served upon the offending brother either by hand or by registered mail, return receipt requested with a requirement for his signature (I forget what that's called, I have a secretary who does that for me, ask one of them).

Within a specified amount of time, a trial is scheduled. A trial must at least have a quorum of members present.

The trial is conducted a lot like a real trial, except that there aren't any rules of evidence or anything like that. Non-members are not brought in to testify. When their testimony has been crucial, and in one particular case, the witness was in a sorority, I contacted their chapter adviser for permission to speak with the witness and we had her interviewed and the interviewer gave testimony about what she told him.

Also, the accused has the right to have someone help him prepare his defense.

We then have closing arguments and finally, the plaintiff and defendant leave. We then have jury deliberations and a vote. First to convict (simple majority) and then whether to expel, requiring 3/4.

A detailed record is kept and is sent to HQ.

That's how we do it. I suspect many of our NIC and NPC groups handle things entirely differently. Our system works for us. For whatever reason, a lot of our alumni are lawyers, so help is never hard to find.

Really though, it's your organization. If your bylaws allow, membership removal could be nothing more than a motion requiring a second and a simple majority with debate per Robert's Rules (if you use those).

[johansla]

Originally Posted by sigmagirl2000

The OP said her sorority is looking to "blackball someone". PSP isn't a sorority. Thus, it isn't the correct organization.

I see it now--I wasn't understanding what you meant, thanks! I'm at home on break so the noggin isn't as sharp these days, haha

[pspgps]

Originally Posted by Kevin

My chapter is a mere 11 years old at this point (though we are a chapter of a well-established national NIC fraternity). We have membership removal procedures in place and used 'em early and often.

Our trial code procedures are fairly straightforward. There are basically two sets of categories for membership removal--conduct unbecoming of a member of our chapter or failing to timely pay dues.

In each case, a Plaintiff brother will draw up a complaint which essentially lays out the facts which that brother wants to call the other brother to trial over whether he shall remain a member. In your case, if you had our rules, I'd try to get together a multicount complaint citing each one of the alleged offenses. This document is typed up and is signed by our judicial officer (most often this is the President) and the complainant (plaintiff).

The document is then served upon the offending brother either by hand or by registered mail, return receipt requested with a requirement for his signature (I forget what that's called, I have a secretary who does that for me, ask one of them).

Within a specified amount of time, a trial is scheduled. A trial must at least have a quorum of members present.

The trial is conducted a lot like a real trial, except that there aren't any rules of evidence or anything like that. Non-members are not brought in to testify. When their testimony has been crucial, and in one particular case, the witness was in a sorority, I contacted their chapter adviser for permission to speak with the witness and we had her interviewed and the interviewer gave testimony about what she told him.

Also, the accused has the right to have someone help him prepare his defense.

We then have closing arguments and finally, the plaintiff and defendant leave. We then have jury deliberations and a vote. First to convict (simple majority) and then whether to expel, requiring 3/4.

A detailed record is kept and is sent to HQ.

That's how we do it. I suspect many of our NIC and NPC groups handle things entirely differently. Our system works for us. For whatever reason, a lot of our alumni are lawyers, so help is never hard to find.

Really though, it's your organization. If your bylaws allow, membership removal could be nothing more than a motion requiring a second and a simple majority with debate per Robert's Rules (if you use those).

Thank you! this was really along the lines of what I was looking for. Not intending to steal it but really just tips like this to build our own process.