Active Minds Constitution

Article I: Name and Purpose

Section 1: Active Minds
Section 2: Purpose/Mission
The purpose of Active Minds is to “empower students to speak openly about mental health in order to educate others and encourage help-seeking,” (ActiveMinds.org/about).

Section 3: Affiliation
Active Minds is affiliated with ‘Active Minds Organization,’ a national organization.  

Article II: Membership

Section 1: Eligibility for Membership
Active Minds club participation is open to all current CSB/SJU students.  

Section 2: Voting Member Criteria
A student becomes an active member of Active Minds by attending monthly club meetings. Members will be encouraged to participate in fundraising opportunities for the club.

Opportunities to take part in leadership positions are open to all members. Voting will be done democratically at the beginning of the academic year, unless otherwise needed (i.e. open position during the spring).

Section 3: Removal of Members
Members who display disrespectful behavior within or outside of the club will be asked to withdraw from the club, and will lose their membership status.

Disrespectful behavior will be determined on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the leadership board. 

Article III: Officers

Section 1: Officer Qualifications
Members eligible to obtain leadership status must be in good academic standing, as determined by CSB/SJU policy. Members interested in joining the leadership board must be active in the club for at least one semester before running for a leadership position.

Section 2: Elected Officers
President

Vice-President/Co-leader

Treasurer

Secretary

Section 3: Duties of Officers

President: preside all meetings, call special meetings, primary contact with the institutions, appoint committee chairs, and runs the election process. 

Vice-President/Co-leader: assume President’s duties in his/her absence, schedule meeting/practice rooms/facilities, primary contact with the JCB, and plans member/officer training programs. 

Treasurer: keeps all financial records, submits monthly audit statements to CFB contact, notifies organization of financial issues, and prepares budget/allocation requests. 

Secretary: takes and distributes minutes of all club meetings, recorder keeper (current and past members, files minutes, etc), club historian, notify members of meetings, and handles the official correspondence of the club.

Terms of office are the length of the academic year, September 1 – August 31.

Section 4: Vacancy in Office
In the event a vacancy should occur (resignation or removal), provisions will be made to fill the vacancy via “chain of command” (e.g., in the event that the President leaves office, the Vice President will assume those duties until a special election is held).

Section 5: Removal of Officers
Grounds for removal of an officer must be clearly identified. Similar to the removal of members, due process must be followed. (see above) Make sure you note the role of your club advisor.

One example:
A petition to remove the officer in question must be submitted to another officer. This petition must contain the signatures of 67% of voting members. When such petition is received, the officer shall call a meeting of the club to determine whether or not the officer should be removed.

Grounds for removal are then presented by the officer in charge at a regular or special club meeting. The officer in question shall be provided an opportunity to present a defense either in person or in writing. A quorum shall be present, and a (67% or 2/3 majority) vote of the voting members shall decide upon removal.

Section 6: Appeal of Removal of Officers
Article IV: Elections

Section 1: Nomination Process
Candidates for nomination will be selected either by self-nomination or at the suggestion of another group member at least one week before the chosen election date. 

Section 2: Election
A person can serve in a maximum of one position at a given time, and can remain in that position for a maximum of two years. The officer elections take place in the spring of each year for the following academic year. The Department of Student Activities will be notified of the new officers. Selection of club leaders will be democratic in nature and all official club members will have a voice in the club election process.

Section 3: Special Elections
In the event that an officer leaves or is removed from office, a special election will be held to fill the open position within 2 weeks of the vacancy occurring. Until the election is held, provisions will be made to fill the vacancy via “chain of command.”

Article V: Advisor

Section 1: Selection
The advisor will be selected based upon their interest and accreditation with mental health organizations.

Section 2: Duties
The advisor will be present at monthly meetings and will attend club-sponsored campus events. The advisor will also be the point of contact regarding assistance with fundraising, affiliation with the national organization, and other club activities. 

Article VI: Meetings

Section 1: Regular Meeting/Club Activities
Club meetings will occur on a monthly basis. Members will be notified of meetings via e-mail.

Section 2: Special Meetings
Special meetings will be called for special elections. Members will be notified of special meetings via e-mail.

Section 3: Parliamentary Authority
Meetings will be run according to the following process: Call to Order, Introductions, Purpose of Meeting, Roles and Responsibilities, Resources Available, and Exchange of Ideas. A synopsis of the ideas discussed will conclude the meeting. Meetings will run no longer than 120 minutes.

Minutes of all meetings will be e-mailed to members within one week.

Section 4: Quorum*
Half of the club members must be present for official club business to occur. Two-thirds of voting members must be present for a vote to occur.

Article VII: Committees

Section 1: Committee Structure
At the installment of the Active Minds Club, no committees will be formed.

Section 2: Special/Ad-Hoc Committees
Special/ad-hoc committees may be formed as needed.

Article VIII: Finances

Section 1: Co-Funding Board
Currently, Active Minds is not seeking addition funds. Active Minds will follow all CFB and institutional regulations when applying for CFB monies.

Section 2: Honorariums
Officers or members will not receive an honorarium/stipend from the organization.

Section 3: Dues (optional)
Members may be asked to assist in fundraising events. Participation in these events is encouraged, but not required.  

Article IX: Amendments

Section 1: Ratification
Amendments to the constitution will be made upon democratic vote and a special election will be called to vote on amendments within two weeks of amendment proposal.

Section 2: Submittal to Department of Student Activities and Joint Club Board
Any changes made to this constitution will be submitted to the Department of Student Activities and the JCB.

Article X (The following is a required statement for all clubs and organizations)

The Active Minds agrees that it’s activity, mission statement and goals are consistent with the Benedictine Values.

Article XI (The following is a required statement for all clubs and organizations)

The Active Minds Club admits students without regard to their race, religion, color, sex, age, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and other activities, generally accorded or made available to members of the organization.

Article XII (The following is a required statement for all clubs and organizations)

The Active Minds Club considers hazing to be a degrading and destructive activity which is inconsistent with the standards of this student organization. The Active Minds Club recognizes the dignity of every person and opposes all forms of hazing.

Date of recognition/revision: 20 September 2017