Korean-American Cultural Club Constitution
Article I: Name and Purpose
Section 1: Korean-American Cultural Club (KACC
Section 2: The purpose of our club is to promote the deep relationship between Korea and America with students on campus, as well as abroad. We will be discussing various global issues and promoting the culture on campus through International Relations, Business, Technology, and Academic discussions about the Korean culture itself in South Korea, North Korea, and the United States.
Article II: Membership
Section 1: Eligibility for Membership
KACC is open to all members of the CSB/SJU community, both faculty and student body. KACC does not discriminate against age, race, or background, as long as they are devoted to learning about the Korean American relationship and strives to follow the Benedictine values. Any member who is a part of the student body is entitled to vote if they are regular attendees of the club and are committed members who abide by this constitution.
Section 2: Voting Member Criteria
Membership will be determined by who attends the first meeting of the academic school year through the promotion made by the board members, and only those who have attended general meetings within the top 50% of regular attendees will be given voting rights during the planning of large events. Voting rights given to general club members may be waived with cause by majority vote by the officers.
Section 3: Removal of Members
Members who are not upholding the Benedictine values will be sent a warning email by the Secretary. If the club member feels wronged, they may appeal to the board members in writing through the Secretary. In the case that no appeal is made, members who violated the constitution will be set on probation for the semester, removing their rights to vote during that time. If they continue to not uphold any Benedictine values or do not uphold the constitution after a warning has been made, then they will be completely removed from the membership list after a conducted hearing by the officers with the verification of the club advisor is made, and will then be judged through majority vote within the board members.
Article III: Officers
Section 1: Officer Qualifications
Any student who is a part of the CSB/SJU student body is qualified to apply for an officer position. The electing of officers will be based on academic standing and knowledge of the KACC mission and purpose as well as their roles and duties as part of the KACC board. All terms of office run for a full academic year, starting in March of the year that officers are elected. Applicants are not required to be knowledgeable of all campus resources, but should be willing to learn of all campus resources (i.e. CSB/SJU Events & Catering, CSB Security, SJU Life Safety, CSB/SJU Media Services, etc.).
Section 2: Elected Officers
President:
The President Officer runs for a full academic year and will act as the club's primary contact within the institution and the Student Activities Leadership Development. Their duties will be as follows:
•a. Oversee all other officer positions, assign necessary tasks accordingly, and oversee election processes (in the case that there are ties, the President will act as the tie-breaker).
•b. Presides and calls all meeting sessions into order, and can call special meetings as stated under Article VI; Section 2.
•c. Act as a resource to other officers following the CSB/SJU Student Activities Leadership Development Policies, and must be knowledgeable of all campus resources (i.e. CSB/SJU Events & Catering, CSB Security, SJU Life Safety, CSB/SJU Media Services, etc.).
•d. Creates agenda for KACC board meetings and will send out weekly meeting schedules to all officers before each meeting. Reviews all minutes recorded during board meetings by the secretary.
•e. Must meet with all board members at the start of each election during the election time frame as noted in Article III, Section 1. Must also meet with the Vice President and update on all necessary information once a week or two, and must meet with the advisor to update every month.
Vice President:
The Vice President Officer runs for a full academic year and will assume the duties as said in, Article II; Section 2, for the President in his/her absence, and will attend necessary meetings as a temporary liaison for any resource gatherings, necessary assistance, attendance of events, or collaborations in the event of an absence. The main duties of the Vice President will be as follows:
•a. Must meet with the President once a week or two weeks to get updates on all necessary information, and also meet with the President before weekly board meetings to go over the meeting agenda for clarification or changes. Will work with the President to connect with the International Intercultural Student Services and other clubs for information on needed assistance or attendance of events.
•b. Must lead one general meeting during their academic year of office, and report to the President on the results of attendance and outcome factor. Will follow Article VI; Section 1 in the event of planning a general meeting.
•c. Must be knowledgeable of all campus resources (i.e. CSB/SJU Events & Catering, CSB Security, SJU Life Safety, CSB/SJU Media Services, etc.).
Korean Representative:
The Korean Representative Officer will run for a full academic year. Their duties are as follows:
•a. Must work together with the American Representative to bring events and awareness of Korean based studies and cultural celebrations to campus.
•b. Work with the American Representative to lead Korean based recreational/game retreats.
•c. Work together with the President and Vice President as a liaison between KASO and other campus organizations and clubs/departments. Must lead one general meeting, and report to the President and Vice President on the results of attendance and outcome factor.
•d. Representative must be knowledgeable of campus resources (i.e. CSB Security, CSB Health Office, counseling, etc.).
American Representative:
The Korean Representative Officer will run for a full academic year. Their duties are as follows:
•a. Must work together with the American Representative to bring events and awareness of Korean based studies and cultural celebrations to campus.
•b. Work with the American Representative to lead Korean based recreational/game retreats.
•c. Work together with the President and Vice President as a liaison between KASO and other campus organizations and clubs/departments. Must lead one general meeting, and report to the President and Vice President on the results of attendance and outcome factor.
•d. Representative must be knowledgeable of campus resources (i.e. CSB Security, CSB Health Office, counseling, etc.).
Public Relations Representative:
The Public Relations Representative Officer will run for a full academic year. Duties are as follows:
•a. All events and general meetings must go through the PR rep before promotion or publication. Promote KACC events, and holds responsibility for all of posters (creation and promotion - will be advised to reach out to resources on campus), social networking (Facebook page and connecting between SN groups), and media (KJNB, media services, etc.), following the CSB/SJU policies.
•b. In charge of the KACC Email, and will inform CSB/SJU community with emails and posters after working with the board member in charge, and finalizing with the President and Vice President. Events by KACC must be submitted onto the master calendar by the PR Rep.
•c. Representative must be knowledgeable of all campus resources (i.e. CSB/SJU Events & Catering, CSB Security, SJU Life Safety, CSB/SJU Media Services, etc.).
Secretary:
The Secretary Officer will run for one full academic year. Their duties are as follows:
•a. Will be in charge of all administrative and secretarial work, responsible for taking and distributing minutes of all club meetings. Must record all board meetings labeled as "Minutes" with the date, and distribute to all officers directly following that board meeting.
•b. In charge of the KACC Secretary Binder that includes KACC email passwords, previous minutes, documents, and/or updated school policy for future reference. Responsible for holding onto the files of past and current members, and keeps track of all general meeting attendance and records for the academic year.
•c. Must lead one general meeting, and report to the President and Vice President on the results of attendance and outcome factor.
•d. Must be knowledgeable of all campus resources (i.e. CSB/SJU Events & Catering, CSB Security, SJU Life Safety, CSB/SJU Media Services, etc.).
Treasurer:
The Treasurer Officer will run for one full academic year. Their duties are as follows:
•a. Will be liaison between KACC, the Co-Funding Board, Student Activities Leaders Development office head, and any sponsors of any event. Must lead one general meeting, and report to the President and Vice President on the results of attendance and outcome factor.
•b. Must abide by given rules and policies given by SALD (submitting monthly audit statements, preparing budget/allocation requests to SALD and the Co-Funding Board). Must report financial standing during Board Meetings, and must notify the organization of any financial issues if they arise. Must send copies of all expenses and revenues to President and Vice President upon request, and must first present their requests to the President and Vice President to be checked before submission.
•c. Will be responsible for holding onto files and records of all finances that are available to them in the HAIS archives, and should record all current finances and documents/proposals/audits.
•d. Must be knowledgeable of all campus resources (i.e. CSB/SJU Events & Catering, CSB Security, SJU Life Safety, CSB/SJU Media Services, etc.).
Section 3: Vacancy in Office
In the event that a vacancy occurs, whether through resignation or removal, the duties of that office will be distributed among the remaining officers until further notice of a newly founded member to fill the vacancy. In the event of a vacancy, current board members will nominate a general member who they feel will abide by the laws stated under Article III; Section 2. Before nominating a person, the board member who nominates the member must first recommend to them the opening, and if interest is shown, then the nomination will be finalized with a submission of a resume and application by the nominated member. Final decisions will be made after a group discussion within the officers and will be decided by majority vote and final call of the President and Vice President.
Section 4: Removal of Officers
In the situation where an officer is not in good standing with the club, the process will be as followed:
•a. In the event that an officer or club member feels that an officer is not doing their duty or abiding by the laws as stated under Article III; Section 2, a written complaint with reasoning must be submitted to another officer in office, and if needed, a petition may be submitted as well for support. Petitions must have at least ten signatures to be accepted as valid, and written reasoning for their approval must be present with the petition.
•b. When the written complaint is submitted and reviewed by an officer, it must be discussed with the President (or Vice President if petition seeks removal of President). After discussion, President must seek out the Vice President to speak to the officer who is being petitioned for removal.
•c. A final meeting with all the board members who are not directly involved will occur with the President, Vice President, and club advisor. Separate meetings will be scheduled for the testimonies of the participating parties. Majority vote at a final meeting without the direct affiliates will determine the removal of the officer who is being petitioned.
Section 5: Appeal of Removal of Officers
If an officer who has been petitioned for removal, they may submit a written appeal of plea that states exactly their reasoning for claiming innocence. Officers who are claiming guilty may still submit a written appeal, stating their reflection and understanding of the situation. Any officer may submit an appeal for another officer if they feel that they are being wronged; the officer who is making the appeal shall be subjected to the review of the board members and advisor. If the appeal should pass, it will be followed up by a vote in which the majority will rule.
Article IV: Elections
Section 1: Nomination Process
Nominations may only take place in the event that an officer has resigned, has been removed from office, or if a position is vacant from either the failure to find the personnel through general elections or a newly created position. A call for nominations will be sent out to club members through mass email and will be open for no later than ten days. Nominations for an officer position can only be made by a current officer, member, or advisor, and may not be self-nominated. The nominee must be an active KACC member, and must have attended at least 50% of the overall KACC general meetings and events to be considered a valid nomination. Following nomination, nominees will be notified and must go through an application process following the order of tasks under Article III; Section 4.
Section 2: Election
Applications will be sent out according to the time table as stated under Article III; Section 1. Applicants should meet the deadlines as promoted, and will be interviewed by the entirety of office personnel (group interview). Officers who are reapplying for office will be seen as applicants and may not participate as an interviewer during this time. Final decisions will be made with votes done by the majority. In the event of a tie, the President and Vice-President will meet with the advisor to make a final decision.
Section 3: Special Elections
Within the first week of vacancy in a KACC officer position, the special elections process will follow according to Article II; Section 4. In the event that there are vacancies due to the failure to find office personnel, refer to Article IV; Section 1.
Article V: Advisor
Section 1: Selection
The position of advisor for KACC is open to faculty and non-faculty members of the CSB/SJU campus. Before officially taking office, candidates for the advisor position must have attended at least one KACC general meeting or event in the past two academic school years. Failure to meet the required attendance as stated above will result in the call for nominations following the process as found in Article IV; section 1. If a board member feels that a candidate is perfect for the job but has not met the required attendance, a request may be made. After reviewing the request, the candidate will be given leniency by majority vote of the current board.
Section 2: Duties of an Advisor
The Advisor position runs for a full academic year, and may continue to the following years through majority vote of the board members, or in the event that there is a resignation or removal by petition. Their duties are as follows:
•a. Will provide continuity for the club/organization every year and act as a resource to the group. Attend officer and membership first and last meetings during the academic year they are acting as advisor, and should be kept up to date with the President and Vice President every month following the first board meeting. Must meet with the executive board and officers when it is necessary and when it is requested.
•b. Should be obligated, but not subjugated, to promoting the group activities and events to other faculty, staff, or students.
•c. Help to formulate the goals of the group and attend at least one KACC event during the academic year that they are in office. Should be a trusted resource for any KACC officer and member.
Article VI: Meetings
Section 1: Regular Meeting/Club Activities
KACC will meet once every two weeks for an hour for their club meeting to discuss issues, current events, different genres, and topics that involve the Hmong community. The officers will meet separately the week prior to the KACC meeting to plan the agenda and topic of the general meeting. During board meetings, general meeting topics will be proposed to the group. Proposals must be made at least three weeks prior to the actual date that has been proposed and should correspond to the current issues of the community, national holidays, etc. The group will also meet at various times through the semester for speakers, events, etc.
Section 2: Special Meetings
If any special meetings are needed, KACC members will be informed with as much notice as possible by the officers and/or advisor. Special meetings will only occur in the event that there is no time until the deadline of an event or meeting, if there are any violation against the laws listed in this constitution, and if it is requested by any current officer. Officers who feels that a special meeting is necessary may request one to the President and/or Vice President. The final call for a special meeting will be made by the President and Vice President in agreement to the necessity of having to meet. If a special meeting is needed, KACC members will be informed with a notice within the first three days of the decision being made.
Article VII: Finances
Section 1: Co-Funding Board
KACC will make requests according to all Co-Funding Board guidelines when requesting for allocations of funds. All allocations, audits, and requests to the Co-Funding Board must be done by the Treasurer, and meetings will be attended by only the treasurer, and the officer leading the event the request was made for or by the President/Vice President. Treasurer must present a complete outline of their request to the board members before attending a Co-Funding board meeting. Failure to do so will result in a special meeting as stated in Article VII; Section 2.
Section 2: Honorariums
No dues will be collected from any KACC member. There will be no stipends given out to any officer or KACC members. Exceptional honorariums must be authorized by a majority vote after mandatory board meetings along with the advisor. Any honorarium given must come from the organization's generated funds.
Article VIII: Amendments
Section 1: Ratification
This constitution may be ratified or amended upon the necessity to do so. If any changes are to be made, a constitutional committee will be formed with the current officers and a select number of club members from the top 20 percentile of regular attendees.
Section 2: Submittal to Student Activities Leadership Development and Co-Funding Board.
A special meeting will be called following Article VI; Section 2. Calls for amendments must be made through petitions with signatures from more than 10 members of the organization and must be made with reasonable clause. Requests and recommendations for a ratification or amendment may be made during these special meetings. Following the decision to accept the requests for a ratification and amendment, an official submitted request will be sent to the Student Activities Leadership Development office and the Co-Funding Board. Any changes made to this constitution must be submitted to the Student Activities and Leadership Development and the Co-Funding Board.
Article IX: Voting
Final decisions of votes will be made through majority vote, and in the event of a tied vote, the President will act as the tie-breaker. In the event that there are an even number of officers, the President will still remain left out of the voting for a fair vote. If the minority of the votes feel strong about a cause or motion that was not voted for, then the President will step in to make the deciding vote.
Article X: Non-discrimination
The KACC organization 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 KACC organization considers hazing to be a degrading and destructive activity to the community which is inconsistent with the standards of this student organization. The KACC organization recognizes the dignity of every person and opposes all forms of hazing. Any act of hazing will result in the removal of the member or officer, follow the order of Article II; Section 3. Those who are found guilty of the charges for hazing and who do not request for an appeal, will be removed and then be reported to CSB Security/SJU Life Safety and the Academic Office.