[14837] in APO-L
Re: National Convention
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Mu)
Mon Aug 12 22:40:39 1996
Date: Mon, 12 Aug 1996 21:13:53 -0400
Reply-To: Mu <qasama@DNS.BLUESKY.NET>
From: Mu <qasama@DNS.BLUESKY.NET>
To: Multiple recipients of list APO-L <APO-L@VM.CC.PURDUE.EDU>
In-Reply-To: <199608130025.UAA28299@dns.bluesky.net> from "Harli Quinn" at Aug
12, 96 08:24:56 pm
>
> I am also considering being a voting representative, if you could cc me any info
> you send to Tor, I would appreciate it.
Joanna, Tor, and others;
I'm sure you've heard someone in the fraternity (probably
someone with a title like Section Chair, or Region Director) tell you
that to be a voting delegate is the most important thing about
National Convention. Personally that sounds a little drippy to me,
and I'd never use something like that in my section (my undergraduates
would laugh too hard) But there is a big grain of truth in that. (fact
not bombast) Alpha Phi Omega is very blessed in that all power in this
fraternity risides in the undergraduate chapters. I as a Section Chair
and your other staff have no power, other than what you give us to
enforce the rules that you set up. The National Convention is a time
for you to propose legislation, discuss the issues that others feel
are worthy of changes, and set the course of the fraternity for the
next two years.
Until the 22nd of September you can propose legislation for
consideration by the National Convention. It can be anything from
choosing the official toilet paper of Alpha Phi Omega (just like the
olympic games :) ) to changing the wording of the toast song. At this
point no knew legisaltion can be proposed till the convention floor
(sort of there is a ctach). Ten days after this the national office
publishes all legislation. Then you need to go back to your chapters
and read and discuss this legislation.
How you do it in your chapter is up to you, but in some way
the chapter should discuss and prepare for the voting delegates there
opinions on these issues. I have seen sopme chapters lock there
delagates votes at this point. I would advise, that the best thing is
to ask your delgates to vote the way the chapter wants the first vote,
and then after that given them the freedom that with yoru opinions and
the discussion they can make a decision. Truthfully I say this as if
your voting delegates could very easily ignore edicts, and forcing
them to do it this way sort of defeats the purpose of travelling all
that way...
By mid-November you should have your voting delegates picked,
and have given those names to your regional director. Your Regional
Director will ask those people what committees they want to be on if
any. As the National Office collates the legislation it breaks it down
into committees. The committees serve the purpose of hearing input
from non-delegates, and a chance for detailed discussion of
legislation (and sometimes the weeding of legislation) Committees
recommend legislation to the floor, and sometimes they combine
legislation that is similar.
At National CVonvention once the committees have done there
work (they do it right after the opening session) the floor starts
hearing reports and woprking it's way through all the legislation that
is recommended. You do have a chance to bring up in at theend of this
any legislation that did not survive committee. National Officers like
Dave Emery are elected (or re-elected at this point)
In parralell with this are Regional Meetings where you elect
your Regional Director, and choose the site of your next Regional
Convention. And through out all of this your staff keeps you well fed.
All of this is important as it's the policies that your
fraternity functions on for the next two years. And just remember
voting delegates get to have fun too!
YiLFS
-John Grossi
Section 94 Chair
Maine, New Hampshire, & Vermont
Voting Delegate, Dallas '94
Alumni Omicron Iota - Worcester Polytechnic Institute
