Art Club Constitution

Article 1: Name and Mission

Section 1: Name

Officially, this club shall be known as College of St. Benedict/St. John’s University Art Club.  It may also be known as the CSB/SJU Art Club or Art Club.

Section 2: Mission

Art Club is dedicated to the promotion of art at CSB/SJU and the surrounding area.  The intent is for the club members to work together, to support fellow art students, to facilitate student/faculty relationships, to promote a strong art community in the greater St. Joseph/Collegeville area and to bring visiting artists to the CSB/SJU campuses.

Article 2: Membership

Section 1: Eligibility

The Art Club is open to all CSB/SJU students, regardless of if they are art majors or not.  The Art Club invites those who have a passion for art and wish to contribute to the art community of CSB/SJU.  Those who are not members of CSB/SJU cannot become members of Art Club.

Section 2: Voting Membership Criteria

Upon joining Art Club, all members are “voters” and has the power to vote on issues which arise within Art Club meetings.  Along with this privilege comes the expectation and responsibility of attending a majority of the meetings.  The executive officials have the authority to revoke a member’s voting membership, but must agree that the member has unreasonably neglected his/her responsibility.  Upon losing voting membership, the member can regain their membership after going to all Art Club meetings for a period of time designated by the executive officials.

Members who are studying abroad automatically become non-voting members, but resume their voting membership when they return to CSB/SJU.

Section 3: Responsibilities

Besides voting, there are certain responsibilities that every Art Club member is expected to perform:

1.       Attend all general and special meetings

2.       Participate in club events and activities

3.       Contribute to ideas and help plan activities and volunteer to carry them out

Section 4: Removal of Members

No member of Art Club may lose his/her membership unless under serious circumstances.  These circumstances shall be determined by the present Art Club members.  The issue is brought before the entire Art Club.  The accused will have an opportunity for defense at a special meeting, with a special election being held.  The executive officials shall decide if and when a removed member can be allowed back into Art Club.

Section 5: Appeal

Any student removed from the Art Club by its members has the opportunity to appeal to the Joint Club Board.  Should a student’s membership still be denied, the Joint Event Board will determine if and when a student may rejoin the club.

Article 3: Executive Officials

Section 1: Qualifications

Any member of the Art Club may run for any executive office, regardless of length of membership in the club.  Those members running for offices should have taken an active part in Art Club over the last year/length of time, display leadership abilities and have ideas to keep the Art Club active on campus for the next year.

Section 2: Executive Officials

The following positions are executive offices: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Advisor.  Their term of office shall start on the first day of summer break and end on the last day of spring semester.

Section 3: Duties of the Executive Officials

President: The president calls and presides at all meetings.  The president also calls executive meetings when necessary.  The president oversees all events and activities, and appoints members to oversee a particular activity or event if necessary.  The president shall see that the Art Club follows the regulations set by the Co-Funding Board, the Joint Club Board, CSB/SJU, and this Constitution.  The president shall run and oversee any election process.

Vice President: The vice president shall assist the president in all roles.  The vice shall become president if the office is open before the end of the term.  The vice president shall also take an active part in bringing visiting artists to campus.

Secretary: The secretary shall record all the topics discussed at every meeting and shall post the minutes and file a copy in the club’s records.  The secretary shall also send out any email notifications to members/campus wide about meetings and activities.

Treasurer: The treasurer shall keep all financial records and submit monthly audits to the Co-Funding Board.  The treasurer shall notify the club of its finances upon request.

Advisor: The advisor must be CSB/SJU faculty/staff and give guidance to the Art Club.

Section 4: Vacancy in Office

Should a vacancy in the executive office occur, the other officials shall assume that office until the office is filled again by special elections.

Section 5: Removal from Office

If any member of the Art Club feels that any of the officials are not fulfilling or abusing their office, that member must bring it to the attention of either the president or the vice president.  Should both the president and vice president be under accusation, it shall e brought to the attention of the secretary, treasurer or advisor.  That official shall send out a petition which seeks the “removal of office” either by mail, clipboard or email.  The petition shall be sent to all members of the club.  Signatures from over 1/3 of the club roster are needed before the case is brought before the entire club.  At that time, the accused official will have the opportunity for defense at a special meeting.  A special election is conducted.  The club shall decide if the removed official can or cannot run for office again.

Section 6: Appeal

Any official removed from the office has the opportunity to appeal to the Joint Club Board.  The Joint Club Board may reinstate any removed official.  Should the appeal be overturned, the Joint Club Board shall decide if the member can or cannot run for office again.

Article 4: Elections/Special Elections

Section 1: Conditions for Elections

Elections are to be held to choose the executive officials for the next academic year.

Section 2: Nomination Process

Any member of the Art Club may be nominated for an executive office.  However, the nominee must accept the nomination in order to be on the ballot.

Section 3: Election Process

Elections are to be held in the beginning of every April, under the present executive officials.  In the case of a vacancy in office, an election should be held as soon as possible.  A list of candidates will be compiled at that meeting.  All positions need to have at least 3 persons nominated.  Candidates will be awarded offices based upon the most votes.  The president and other member chosen by the president shall be recorders: they shall not vote in the election and shall be unbiased in the discussion process.

Section 4: Special Elections

Special elections shall occur in the event of a removal of office or membership.  All members will take part in a special election, which is to be conducted after the defense of the accused.  The special election can be conducted “7-Up” style or by secret ballot at a special meeting.  The president or executive official in charge of the process shall decide which form is appropriate.  In order for the vote of removal be valid, 2/3 of the club must vote in favor of removal.

Article 5: Meetings

Section 1: Regular Meetings

Regular meetings are to be conducted every other Tuesday night.  Time and place will be set by the executives each year.

Section 2: Executive Meetings

On the Tuesdays when no meetings are to be held, the executives will conduct private meetings when necessary.

Section 3: Special Meetings

Special meetings shall be called when necessary.  In the case of a member or an executive official giving a defense, a special meeting will occur.  Unless dealing with a removal, a special meeting shall be conducted like a regular meeting.

Section 4: Conduction of a Meeting

At the beginning of every meeting, minutes shall be read.  Then, any unresolved issues shall be worked out and voted on.  Should any issue remain unresolved, it can either be brought up next meeting or voted to be put down.  By the end of the meeting, all issues should be dealt with and any tasks for members should be assigned.

Section 5: Voting at Meetings

When an issue is brought to be voted upon, it is to have two recommendations.  Over half of the voting members are needed for a vote to be valid.  Voting by club can be conducted verbally, by ballot or by “7-Up” style.

Article 6: Committees/Appointees 

Section 1: Committees

Should it become necessary, the president has the authority to create committees to oversee certain activities within the club.

Section 2: Appointees

Should it become necessary, the president has the authority to appoint members to oversee certain activities within the club.

Article 7: Finances

Section 1: Dues

Members of Art Club are not required to pay any dues.

Section 2: Honorariums

No honorariums are to be awarded.

Article 8: Amendments

Section 1: Proposing Amendments

This constitution may be changed at any time during the academic year.  The proposed change must be brought to the attention of the executive officers who will propose it to the entire club.

Section 2: Amending/Ratification

All Art Club members are responsible to vote on all amendments to the constitution.  Voting may be done verbally, ballot or “7-Up” style.  2/3 of the club roster must vote in favor to make the amendment valid.  Amendments may be incorporated into any part of the constitution.  It must be made sure that a past copy of the constitution is on file before revisions.  Any amended constitution created by the Art Club must be dated and filed.

Section 3: Submittal to Department of Student Activities and Joint Club Board

Any amendments to the constitution must be submitted to the Department of Student Activities and the Joint Club Board for final approval.