Reference Committees

Reference Committees are found most commonly at National Conventions. Their purpose is to sift through all the proposed legislation and recommend refined versions to the floor during the Legislative Session.

There are roughly 15 committees, with some being created or disbanded from convention to convention depending upon the needs of the convention and the nature of the proposed legislation. The reference committees are determined by the National President.

While the reference committees are meant to distill all of the various proposals and reach a consensus, the delegates on the floor are by no means obligated to follow their recommendations.

Here is a listing to the committees more commonly used.

Leadership Development

Their focus is on proposals related to leadership programs such as CLW and other similar programs.

Alumni Relations

Focus is on finding ways to strenghten the alumni community and utilize their resources for the overall good of the fraternity.

Awards & Appreciation

This committee focuses on sorting through all the national awards that are to be presented at the national convention.

Chapter Operations

Sets requirements for the chapters to meet and other chapter related items.

Finance & Operations

Money, how to get it and what to do with it. Fees to Nationals is discussed here.

International Relations

How to expands APhiO beyond the USA and the Phillipines.

Long Range Planning

Mainly deals with ways to craft the Fraternity to set and meet long term goals.

National Organization I

Overall National Organization legislation.

National Organization II

Typically dealing with National Board organization and responsibilities.

Membership & Extension

Legislation on how to expand and retain members. Particularly focused on petitioning chapter requirements.

Nominating

This committee decides who to nominate for the national board positions. While they do recommend a group of candidates, it is common for additional people to be nominated on the floor and to be elcted to office despite the committee's recommendations.

Rituals & Traditions

Thier focus in on dealing with legislation about changes to the various ceremonies and traditions of the Fraternity. They get the Toast Song issue, and other things.

Rules & Credentials

This group has the most arduous task, they verify delegates with questionable credentials, as well as go over all the other committees paperwork to ensure that it is in order to be presented to the floor. They work late, usually force at least one reference committee back to rewrite their proposals.

Time & Place

This group weighs the requirements of holding a national convention aalong with the proposals from bid cities and recommends a site.

Scouting and Youth Services

Sets how the fraternity associates with various youth organizations.

Service & Communications

Primarily determines National Service Week themes for the next two years, and some PR things.