Bowling Club Constitution

The CSB/SJU Bowling Club

Article I: Name and Purpose

Section 1: Name

The name of this club shall be the College of St. Benedict and St. John's University Bowling Club, hereafter known as the Bowling Club.

Section 2: Purpose/Mission

The mission of the Bowling Club is to provide an outlet for CSB and SJU students to actively learn about, participate in, and enjoy the sport of bowling across all skill levels. The Bowling Club will provide a safe, comfortable, welcoming, and friendly environment in which all are welcome to bowl and socialize.

Section 3: Affiliation

The Bowling Club is not affiliated with any organizations.

Article II: Membership

Section 1: Eligibility for Membership

All students at CSB/SJU in good academic standing are eligible to participate in the Bowling Club. Members must not be under academic or disciplinary probation. Members should express an interest in Bowling. Faculty and staff are not allowed to be full members, but they can be non-voting, affiliate members and can be present at events.

Section 2: Voting Member Criteria

There shall be two types of members in the Bowling Club. These types shall include Non-Voting Members and Voting Members. Any student attending the College of Saint Benedict or Saint John's University or any faculty or staff thereof shall be allowed to obtain a Non-Voting Membership. Non-students (e.g. faculty/staff) are not allowed to be full members, but they can be non-voting, affiliate members. To obtain a Voting Membership one must meet the requirement of Non-Voting Members as well as attend/participate in one bowling event (e.g. meeting, league bowling) per school year.

Section 3: Removal of Members

Any member can be removed from the club by a two-thirds vote of a quorum of the Voting Members. To call said vote, a member must address the President, and the President will initiate a vote on the issue at the beginning of a meeting in a timely fashion. Prior to the vote, the member advocating for the removal of another member will be allowed a maximum of 15 minutes to address the club to argue their point of view. The member being voted upon will also receive a maximum of 15 minutes to defend themselves in this same manner.

Article III: Officers

Section 1: Officer Qualifications

All officers must be current CSB/SJU students, active Voting Members of the club, and maintaining their academic grades.

Additionally, all officers must have attended at least 5 Bowling Club events prior to election*.

*This clause will become effective August 1, 2017.

Section 2: Elected Officers

The elected officers of the Bowling Club include the President and Treasurer. Additional elected offices may be created by a three-fourths vote of the Voting Members. The appointed offices are the CSB Captain and the SJU Captain. New appointed offices may be created by a two-thirds vote of the Voting Members. All officers shall make up the Executive Board. The Department of Student Activities contact person is the President. The Co-Funding Board (CFB) and Joint Club Board (JCB) contact is the President.

Section 3: Duties of Officers

President: It is the duty of the President to preside at meetings, call special meetings, be a member of the Executive Board, be the primary contact for the institutions, appoint all appointed officers, select a faculty advisor, run the election processes, be the primary contact for the JCB, schedule meetings/facility reservations, plan competitive bowling events, notify members of meetings, as well as being a leader for the club. The President shall have the power to appoint an Interim President who can hold office for up to one semester. The President shall also have any other powers that are deemed necessary and proper to execute its responsibilities enumerated above.

Treasurer: It is the duty of the Treasurer to keep all financial records, submit monthly audit statements to CFB contact, notify organization of financial issues, prepare budget/allocation requests, and be a member of the Executive Board. The Treasurer shall have the power to appoint an Interim Treasurer who can hold office for up to one semester. It is also the duty of the Treasurer to assume the President's duties in his/her absence.

Captains: It is the duty of the Captains to represent the interests of their teams at all meetings. The Captains have the duty of rallying their teams members' spirits before, during, and after competitive bowling events.

Section 4: Vacancy in Office

In the event a vacancy should occur in an elected office (resignation, graduation, removal, etc.), one of the remaining elected officers will take on the duties of the vacant office until the office is filled again. After an office has been vacated, a special election will occur to replace the open position. Should a vacancy occur in an appointed office, the President shall have the power to appoint a new officer to that position.

Section 5: Removal of Officers

If club members feel an officer should be removed, the following steps must be taken. A petition to remove the officer in question must be submitted to the highest officer who is not in question of removal of office. This petition must contain the signatures of 3 voting members as well as an Executive Board member, totaling 4 signatures at a minimum. When such petition is received, the officer shall call a meeting of the club to determine whether or not the officer should be removed. Any officer can be removed from office by a two-thirds vote of a quorum of the club. To call said vote, a member must address the highest officer who is not in question of removal of office, and this office member will initiate a vote on the issue at the beginning of a club meeting in a timely fashion. Grounds for removal are to be presented by the officer in charge at a regular or special club meeting. Prior to the vote, the member advocating for the removal of an officer will be allowed a maximum of 15 minutes to address the club to argue their point of view. The officer in question shall also be provided 15 minutes to present their defense.

Section 6: Appeal of Removal of Officers

To appeal this vote, the removed officer must call for a vote during a meeting. The officer can be reinstated with a two-thirds vote of a quorum of the club.

Article IV: Elections

Section 1: Nomination Process

If a member seeks an officer position during an elected office vacancy, any Voting Member meeting the requirements to hold office can nominate themselves for the vacant position. Members are not allowed to nominate other Members for the vacant position; a Member can only nominate him/herself to the vacant position. An election will be held. The nominee can campaign for the position desired and will be voted on by other members of the club.

Section 2: Election

To be elected into office, a candidate must meet the officer requirements and must have the plurality of a quorum vote. A quorum shall be defined as two-thirds of Voting Members present. Voting shall take the form of a secret ballot.

Section 3: Special Elections

If an officer resigns or is removed from office, a special election will take place. The same process as a regular election will be held.

Article V: Advisor

Section 1: Selection

Any staff/faculty member of SJU or CSB willing to advise is allowed to come under consideration. The President alone shall officially select the Club Advisor.

Section 2: Duties

See advisor contract.

Article VI: Meetings

Section 1: Regular Meeting/Club Activities

The Bowling Club shall hold at least one meeting per year. Voting and Non-Voting Members are allowed to attend all regular meetings. Meetings shall consist of an amount of time for the addressing of issues brought up by Voting Members concerning the various aspects of the Bowling Club. Additionally, meetings will occur when officers deem it necessary. Club Activities can occur in the form of league bowling, practice bowling, bowling tournaments, or other events centered on the sport of bowling. The President is responsible for notifying the club's members of all Meetings and Club Activities.

Section 2: Special Meetings

Special meetings will occur when it is necessary and proper for such a meeting to be held. Members will be notified in the same way as regular meetings. It is up to the discretion of the officers to deem it necessary to run the special meeting.

Section 3: Parliamentary Authority

It is at the discretion of the President to amend the regular meeting procedure outlined in Article VI Section 1.

Section 4: Quorum

Two-thirds of Bowling Club Voting Members must be present at meetings or elections for any significant changes or votes to occur..

Article VII: Committees

Section 1: Committee Structure

The Bowling Club will have no regular committees. Members are allowed to have committees and a special meeting will be held to organize them.

Section 2: Special/Ad-Hoc Committees

Special/Ad-hoc committees are allowed if necessary. Special committees will be created at the discretion of the President. Should a member wish to create a committee, this member must present the idea to the President and make a convincing case, the President will then announce the creation of the new special committee at the beginning of a club meeting in a timely fashion if he/she wishes to do so.

Article VIII: Finances

Section 1: Co-Funding Board

The Bowling Club will apply for CFB monies, and if allocated resources, will follow all CFB and institutional regulations and will not have an off-campus account.

Section 2: Honorariums

Honorariums will not be provided to any members of the Bowling Club.

Section 3: Dues

Members are not required to pay dues.

Article IX: Amendments

Section 1: Ratification

Any amendment to the Constitution may be brought up during club discussion. Amendments to the Constitution must receive a four-fifths vote in a quorum of Voting Members.

Section 2: Submittal to Department of Student Activities and Joint Club Board

Any passing amendment must be submitted to the Department of Student Activities and the JCB.

Article X: Acceptance

The Bowling 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 XI: Hazing

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

Article XII: Benedictine Values

The Bowling Club agrees that its activities, mission statement and goals are consistent with the Benedictine Values.