Epsilon Beta Constitution

CONSTITUTION OF MISSOURI EPSILON BETA LIBRARY CLUB

(An organization of Student Library Advocates)

Article I  Name

Section 1. The name of this organization shall be Epsicopoi Tes Bibliothekes. It

stands for "Keepers of the Library." The organization shall be known

 by the Greek initials Epsilon Beta.

Article II

Purpose and Objectives

Section 1. The purpose of this organization is to provide exemplary  

Literary and service opportunities in the local school library.

 A. Develop communication, cooperation, and exchange of ideas

       among existing chapters.

B. Unify major objectives, activities, and programs.

C. Aid in the organization.

D. Provide opportunities for leadership training.

E. Provide the ideals, history, ethics, and programs of libraries.

F. Provide experiences where students can explore literary interests.

G. Establish and meet local, state, and national goals for school

 library service.

Article III

Membership

Section I. Membership in this organization shall be open to all clubs who pay dues  

to the state organization.

Section II.   Sponsors of the local clubs and librarians who wish to affiliate

membership must pay state dues but have no voting powers, and shall

not be able to hold any office.

Section III. Local clubs who are considering affiliation with the State organization

 shall be permitted to attend their first convention without having

paid state dues for that year, However, they must pay the

 registration fees for that convention,

Section IV.  Membership is open to grades 6-12.. Only 8-12th grade students may

 attend the state convention.

Article IV

Officers

Section 1. The officers of Epsilon Beta Library Club shall be president,

 vice-president, secretary, and communications director. They must

 have the approval of their library sponsor.

 In case of resignation that student's school shall be responsible for

 filling the office until the next convention.

Section II.   The Liaison will be a member of the MASL Board of Directors.

The purpose of the Director shall be to coordinate the activities of the organization.

Section III. The executive board shall consist of the liaison, the committee

members and the student officers.This board shall meet twice a year, once after the convention for the change over of officers, once to plan the spring convention and whenever necessary.  

Article V

Duties of State Officers

Section I. The president of Epsilon Beta:

 ...shall attend and preside at the meetings of the association and of

the Executive Board.

... shall be ex-officio member of all committees of the association. ...shall appoint, with the help of the Executive Board, members of all committees.

...shall cast a deciding vote in case of a tie

...shall represent Epsilon Beta on public occasions.

... shall be responsible for turning over the records of office to his or

 her successor at the end of his term of office.

...shall call any necessary meeting of the Executive Board.

Section II.   The vice-president of Epsilon Beta:

 ... shall attend all meetings of the association and executive board.

 ...shall assume full duty and responsibility in case of absence or

 resignation of the president.

...shall generally assist the president in his executive duties, 

....shall automatically become president of the organization at the end

of his term as Vice-president.

Section III. The secretary of Epsilon Beta:

... shall attend all meetings of the association and the executive board. ...shall conduct the correspondence of the association and the executive board.

 ...shall keep a file of all correspondence.

...shall take minutes of business meetings at membership meetings of

the association.

...shall read minutes of business meetings at membership meetings of

the association.

... shall duplicate and send the minutes of meetings to all executive

board members.

...shall secure a mailing list of all Missouri High Schools and Junior

High Schools eligible for membership

...shall write letters of appreciation as necessary.

... shall be responsible for roll call at meetings of the association and

 shall give ballots to each voting delegate present,

...shall be responsible for turning over the records of the office to

 this or her successor at the end of his term of office.

Section V.    The Communications Director of Epsilon Beta:

...shall attend all meetings of the association..

...shall keep an accurate record of all club activities.

...shall add the history of the organization for the year to the copy received and turn this over to his successor at the end of his or her term of office.

... shall be responsible for turning over the records of office.

...shall attend all meetings of the association and the executive

board,

 ...shall report publicity news to media outlets.

 ,,.shall, with the help of his local club, put out a newsletter called "Epsilon Beta Newsletter."

...shall be responsible for turning over records of office to his or her successor at the end of his term of office.

.

Article VI

Elections

Section I. The election of officers shall be held at the spring convention.

Section II.,  Any member deciding to hold an office, should come to the convention

 prepared to campaign for that office, (paper buttons, signs, posters,

 etc.)

Section III. No school may hold the same office two years in succession.

Section IV. Each chapter presented at convention shall be allowed two voting

delegates selected by the local chapter,

.

Article VII

Meetings

Section I. A state convention shall be held in the spring of each year,

Article VIII

Newsletter

Section 1. There will be a state newsletter about local clubs to be published

after fall and winter executive meetings and spring conventions.

Section II.   Each local club will elect or appoint a member to be in charge of

 writing and sending materials about their club to the state reporter.

Article IX   

Dues

Section 1. Dues shall be paid for each member of the local Epsilon Beta.[1]  The

 amount shall be voted on at the spring convention on recommendation of the executive council.

Section II.   Dues shall be paid within the current school year.

Section III. No one may run for office unless his club's dues are paid before

spring convention.

Article X

Emblem

Section I. The emblem of Epsilon Beta Library Club shall be a green outline of

 the State of Missouri upon a yellow circular background which has a

green border. Inside the state outline shall be the green outline of an

open book with a torch. The letters E. B. shall be on the book in green

 print. Above the state outline and curved at the top of the circular

background shall be the words " Epsilon Beta" in green print, below

the state outline and curved at the bottom of the circular background

 shall be in green print the words "Keepers of the Library."

Article XI

Colors

Section 1. The colors for Epsilon Beta Library Club shall be yellow and green.

Section II.   Yellow shall represent loyalty and honor, and green shall represent

 youth and hope.

Article XII

Order of Business

Section I. The president shall call the meeting to order. Roll call will be read by

 the secretary. Guest speakers or the program will follow the roll call.

After the program the secretary shall read the minutes of the last

 meeting, the treasurer shall give the report, the committee reports

will be given, the introduction of the new clubs shall take place, Old

business will be discussed and the meeting will be adjourned.

Article XIII

 Scholarship

Section 1. State Epsilon Beta shall provide a scholarship in the amount of $150.00 toward continuing education at a two or four year college or trade school to one or two seniors who are members of Epsilon Beta.

Section II.   The recipient(s) of the scholarship must be a continuous State

 Epsilon Beta Library Club member for 2 years.

Section III. Those seniors who wish to receive the scholarship must fill out an

application prior to the State Convention. Completed applications must

 be sent to the State President and his/her sponsor prior to April ist

of that school year.

Section IV. The recipient(s) shall be chosen by a neutral party. The neutral party

shall be selected by the State President and President's sponsor. The

 neutral party shall choose the recipient by application results and a

 short interview at the State Convention.

Section V.    The chosen recipient(s) must attend the State Epsilon Beta Library

 Club Convention in the year the scholarship is awarded.

Section VI. The recipient(s) shall be announced at the State Convention.

Section VII. The student(s) receiving the scholarship must send proof of

 enrollment during the 1st semester of his/her first term and a

check for the scholarship shall be awarded in the fall of the year

when proof is received by the State Treasurer.

Revised June 2021.

We should take a look at this as well. Conferences have been held in the past for very little money, which is great, but also becoming more difficult. Right now dues are $3.00 each for the state organization. The money from dues goes to pay for scholarships and club expenses that cannot be covered by the fees for conference. We always try to get a reasonable hotel and try to get four people in each room to cut the cost. We have even had students share from other schools in the past. We have then usually charged $30 - $35 each for the cost of the conference, which is a real bargain. For that they get a party, dinner the first night, and lunch the second, medals, plaques or trophies for contest winners and any charge for rental or janitorial costs of the building we are using. It is also used to pay for whatever educational trip we take (Tour of The Mark Twain cave, etc admission). It is getting difficult to do it for that price, so this is something we can talk about later, but we should think about.