Title 5

Article V Suspension and Expulsion Procedures
Section 1: Procedures for Suspension or Expulsion from Membership (a) No Member may be suspended or expelled from Membership in the Society except upon written notice of the cause and an opportunity for a hearing. (b) The Colony or Chapter or the Board of Officers, whichever is to consider the matter, shall provide the Member written notice setting forth a statement of the alleged cause, the possibility that he may be suspended or expelled, the date, time and place at which the Colony or Chapter or the Board of Officers shall meet for a hearing on the matter and a statement of the rights and procedures to which the Member is entitled at such hearing. The Board of Officers may prescribe a form of written notice to be used in the Society's Policies. An appropriate officer of the Colony or Chapter or the KW of the Society shall cause the written notice to be delivered to the Member at least 14 days prior to the scheduled hearing. (c) The Colony or Chapter or the Board of Officers may appoint a committee to present the alleged cause at the hearing. The Member shall be entitled to the aid and assistance of any other Member to respond to the alleged cause. The Member shall be entitled to present such witnesses or other evidence as he feels appropriate and necessary to respond to the alleged cause. Should the Member fail to appear at the hearing as set forth in the written notice, the alleged cause shall be deemed admitted and conclusively established. During the course of the hearing and at all times, the Colony or Chapter or the Board of Officers shall extend to the Member every assistance to establish the truth or to present any mitigating circumstances. (d) At the conclusion of the hearing the Colony or Chapter or the Board of Officers shall vote first upon the alleged cause and, if found to be established, then upon whether to suspend or expel the Member from Membership in the Society. If a Member is suspended or expelled, an appropriate officer of the Colony or Chapter shall provide to the KW of the Society or the High Council shall record in its minutes a statement setting forth the cause found to be established, the vote and whether the Member was suspended or expelled. Until such statement is received by the KW of the Society no suspension or expulsion shall be effective. Upon receipt of such statement, the Member shall be suspended or expelled from Membership in the Society effective immediately, irrespective of whether any appeal has been or may be taken. A suspended or expelled Member's rights in the Society shall not be reinstated unless and until the period of suspension expires or the High Council reverses the suspension or expulsion and reinstates the Member. (e) Within 30 days of the vote of the Colony or Chapter or the Board of Officers, the Member may appeal the decision by sending a notice of appeal to the KW of the Society setting forth a brief statement of any substantive or procedural reason why he should not be suspended or expelled. The appeal shall be heard at the next High Council. The Colony or Chapter or Board of Officers and the suspended or expelled Member each may appear and may make a statement. The High Council by majority vote may affirm, reverse or modify the order of suspension or expulsion and to reinstate the Member. The Secretary of the Fraternity, at the direction of the High Council shall provide written notice of the decision of the High Council to the suspended or expelled Member and to his Chapter.