College of the Holy Cross | Purple Key Society

Founded in 1925, the Purple Key Society of the College of the Holy Cross is a select group of motivated and
dedicated students who work as leaders in the College community. Representing the Jesuit philosophy of service to others, the Purple Key Society is driven by three areas of discipline: community, spirit, and leadership. With a strong history of tradition, the Society continually adjusts to the changing needs of our College. By sponsoring social and service-oriented events, Purple Key’s initiative is backed by a unique mission of volunteerism, that when combined with charismatic leadership, leaves a permanent mark on the Holy Cross campus.

Article III . Membership

The Society has a target membership of seventy-five active members with the goal of forming a cohesive, unified and dedicated group. Interested freshmen, sophomores, and juniors are encouraged to apply for membership in the spring when a notice is sent to all students. At this time, members are selected on the basis of a completed application and interview. Moreover, candidates must participate in at least one spring event run by the Society. Applicants are selected by their commitment and dedication to the Mission Statement of the Purple Key Society.

The Membership Committee, which consists of the existing and newly elected Executive Board, will make all final decisions regarding membership. In addition, the Executive Board has the discretion on electing members during the year, as they deem necessary. The Membership Committee will not exceed eight in number.

The Review Board consists of the four Executive Board Members of the Purple Key Society. The function of the
Review Board is to evaluate members on the following attendance policy. Members are expected to participate at meetings and serve as chairs, committee members, or volunteers at Purple Key sponsored events. At the end of every year, each member will be evaluated by the Review Board on his/her participation. Each member’s unexcused absences from meetings and events will be considered. At this time, all members with acceptable records of participation will receive a letter of membership renewal from the Review Board. Members who are not fulfilling their duties will be asked to reevaluate the status of their membership. After a discussion with the E-Board, a decision will be made serving the best interest of the Society.

Article IV . Executive Board

The Executive Board of the Purple Key Society consists of a Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer and Secretary.

The Executive Board Members of the Purple Key Society are expected to:
-Represent the organization to the institution
-Meet weekly with the adviser
-Be aware of all money matters
-Assist other Executive Board Members
-Serve as spokespeople for the organization
-Provide motivation for the organization
-Prepare for all meetings
-Serve on various committees or task forces
-Be open to all opinions and input
-Provide follow-up to organizational tasks
-Prepare for the annual banquet
-Coordinate the executive board transition
-Serve as liaison to committees

The Chair of the Purple Key Society is additionally expected to:
-Preside at organization meetings
-Facilitate executive board meetings
-Inform the executive board of other meeting information
-Organize new member selection

The Vice-Chair of the Purple Key Society is additionally expected to:
-Preside at Purple Key Society meetings in the absence of the Chair
-Facilitate the executive board meeting in absence of the Chair
-Facilitate elections unless running for reelection there upon which senior E-board member will be responsible

The Treasurer of the Purple Key Society is additionally expected to:
-Prepare the organizational budget
-Prepare purchase orders, requisition forms, or supply requests
-Audit books twice per semester with adviser
-Maintain a financial history of the organization
-Maintain a working relationship with institutional accounting
-Inform the executive board of all financial matters
-Claim all stolen or lost equipment
-Make reports of all receipts and disbursements at every organizational meeting

The Secretary of the Purple Key Society is additionally expected to:
-Prepare an agenda with the Executive Board for all the organizational meetings
-Keep the organization informed
-Maintain attendance at all meetings
-Maintain a calendar of events
-Maintain a phone and e-mail directory of all members
-Reserve meeting rooms for organization meetings

In the event that one of the members of the Executive Board is not fulfilling his or her duties, any member of
the Purple Key Society may request his or her removal from office. At that time, the other Executive Board
members will consult and vote for impeachment. If the party in question is removed from office, a member
of the Society will be chosen by the Executive Board to serve for the rest of the year.

Article V. Elections for the Executive Board

Membership of one year to Purple Key is necessary to seek an office. Members who are studying abroad
are not eligible to run for office. The four official positions in Purple Key are: Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson,
Secretary, and Treasurer.

Any member interested in running for an office must fill out and return nomination papers that will be handed
out at the Purple Key meeting prior to the election meeting. Anyone running for office must also submit a letter
of intent, which is to be returned to the Purple Key office four days prior to the election meeting. Every
nominee is required to give a speech at the election meeting. The senior E-Board members at the election
meeting will count the ballots. In the event that there are no senior E-Board members, the Purple Key advisor
will appoint Purple Key members for the ballot counting process. Senior members are not eligible to vote.
The winners of the election will be announced at the end of the election meeting. All Purple Key members will vote through secret ballot. The terms of office are for one year.

Article VI . Advisor

The Advisor of the Purple Key Society will be a professional staff member of the Student Programs and
Involvement Office. Currently the Assistant Director of Transition and Leadership Development
serves as the Advisor.

The Advisor is responsible for meeting weekly with the Executive Board, attending all general meetings,
providing training and leadership development to the Executives and members of the Society and serving as a liaison between the Society and the College Administration.

Article VII . Meetings

The Executive Board will determine the meeting schedule at the beginning of each semester.

Article VIII . Committees and Committee Heads

In order to foster complete and full participation in PKS, it is expected that members will be active in all
events. All members are expected to serve on the committees, attend the events, and help facilitate the
events throughout the year.

Members will be asked to express an interest in serving as a Co-Chair of each committee. After reviewing
all potential candidates, the Executive Board will chose the Co-Chairs of each committee.

Members of PKS can voluntarily sign up for committee membership at the beginning of each semester. The
officers of PKS will select the membership of each committee.

The following is a list of event and standing committees to be established for each academic year. The
number of chairs for each committee as well as the number of members of each committee is to be
determined by the Executive Board. The Executive Board may add or remove committees as they deem
necessary. The Society is not limited to these events. Events can be added or removed as the Purple Key
Society sees necessary.

Event Committees:
-Co-Curricular Extravaganza
-Blood Drives
-Fall Open Houses
-Spring Open House
-Family Weekend
-Holiday Banquet
-The Giving Tree Project
-100 Days Banquet for Seniors
-Welcoming Friends
-First-Year Student Facebook
-Purple Pride Day

Standing Committees:
-Historical Committee: photographs all PKS events and establishes a yearly album. Occasionally reports on PKS history.
-Publicity Committee: publicizes events for all other committees
-Web-site Committee: maintains and updates the PKS Website

Article IX . Amendments

Two-thirds of the total membership of Purple Key Society constitutes a quorum. Any amendment to the
Constitution is made with the voting approval of the Society, providing there is a quorum. Announcement
or notification of any amendment to this Constitution must be given at least one meeting prior to the vote.

Purple Key Society
Constitutional Amendments

Amendment I. Committees and Committee Heads

In order to update Article VIII. "Committees and Committee Heads" the following additions and changes are proposed:

A. Committee Leadership

Each active member of the Society shall serve as the co-chairperson of at least one event during each academic year (Fall or Spring Semester).

B. Committee Participation

Each member of the Society shall actively serve on at least one committee per semester (Fall and Spring Semester).

C. Updated Event Committees:

Full Year Committees-

First Year Facebook
Newsletter
Historical
Publicity
Website

Co-Curricular Extravaganza
Blood Drives (2 per semester)
Fall Admissions Open House (2)
Family Weekend
The Giving Tree

Blood Drives (2 per semester)
100 Days Dance for Seniors
Spring Admissions Open House (1)
Administrative Professionals Day
Kiss a Senior Goodbye

To Be Scheduled through Membership Decision:
Purple Pride Day

Amendment II. Adoption of the Executive Cabinet Committee

According to Article II. "Purpose"

The Purple Key Society must "continually adjust to the changing needs of our College." In order to accommodate the changing needs of our membership and to include more active members in the executive decision process of the Purple Key Society, the Society moves to adopt the Executive Cabinet Committee:

A. Purpose & Criteria

The Executive Cabinet Committee shall exist to advise the Executive Board on matters including, but not limited to, the following: New Member Selection, Membership Review, and selecting Committee Overseers. Any active member of the Society is eligible for appointment to the Executive Cabinet Committee. The Executive Cabinet Committee shall consist of no more than five total members. No more than two members shall be from the same academic class year. No less than one member shall be from each academic class year. The Committee shall be appointed solely by the Executive Board. Executive Cabinet Committee members shall serve one semester, renewable terms that shall not exceed one academic year and can not be carried over through consecutive academic years (i.e. A person can serve Fall 2005 and Spring 2006, but not Spring 2006 and Fall 2006, consecutively).

The Executive Cabinet Committee shall meet as needed and as instructed by the Executive Board. The Executive Cabinet Committee shall report pertinent matters to the membership during general meetings as needed.

Amendment III. Membership

According to Article II. "Purpose"
The Purple Key Society must "continually adjust to the changing needs of our College." In order to accommodate the changing needs of our membership, and maintain and continually improve the quality of participation of the active members of the Society, the following amendments are proposed:

A. Membership Review Board

The Membership Review Board shall exist to review the membership status of the members of the Purple Key Society. The board will consist of the current Executive Board and the current Executive Cabinet Committee. The board will meet as needed throughout the academic year, but must convene to vote on membership status at the end of each semester. At which time, decisions will be rendered on Society members who have been placed "on review" throughout that semester.

The review board shall not exist to punish Society members for low participation, but rather to further encourage all society members to: 1) Conduct self-evaluations of their continued commitment to the Society, 2) Provide a forum for Society members to voice their concerns about participation to the Executive Board, and 3) Provide a more democratic means for reviewing membership status of the Society.

B. Membership Duty Guidelines

According to the current Constitution, Society members are required to "participate at meetings and serve as chairs, committee members, or volunteers at Purple Key sponsored events." In order to uphold the spirit of these expectations, the following policies will be implemented:

Failure to fulfill the above guidelines will constitute an "on review" status for any applicable members, who will then be notified of their status and encouraged to meet with the Executive Board.

C. Membership Review Process

The membership review process will be ongoing throughout each academic year. However, the review board will make voting decisions at the end of each semester, at which time, the involvement records of all Society members who are "on review" will be evaluated.

Society members who are "on review" will be evaluated on a case-by-cases basis through the following criteria (in particular ranking order):

Before voting, Society members who are "on review" will have an opportunity to meet with the review board and discuss their status in the Society. The review board will vote before the end of the semester and decisions shall be submitted in writing before the beginning of the following semester. A 2/3 majority constitutes a quorum.

Society members are encouraged to communicate with the Executive Board as much as possible in order to ensure that all members are evaluated fairly.

D. New Member Selection Committee &Process

The New Member Selection Committee shall consist of the current Executive Board, current Executive Cabinet Committee, and incoming Executive Board for the next academic year, once such board has been established. The Committee shall be chaired by one of the Executive Board Members, as appointed by the other three board members.

New Member Selection is essential to the overall success of the Society. The Society is looking for interested rising sophomores, juniors and seniors who, as determined by the current Membership Review Board, will be committed and dedicated to the purpose of the Purple Key Society as stated in Article II. The following process will be implemented by the chair of the committee to ensure the recruitment of such suitable individuals: