United African Student Association Constitution

United African Students Association
The CSB/SJU United African Students mission is to serve our community, the minorities within the society and create awareness of the African culture. Thus we have this constitution to to make our work and the services we give become effective.

Article I: Name and Purpose

Section 1: United Africa Students Association (UASA)

Section 2: Purpose/Mission:

Fundraising
This club is going to raise the attention of the student body and faculty on campus about the problems and tragedies that take place in Africa such as: Hunger, HIV/AIDS and Malaria. First we the club will raise awareness through various events and then by creating awareness of these problems, the club will be able to achieve its goal of fundraising and finding solutions. The full amount of money raised through events and fundraisers is going to be donated to these people in need.

Expand study abroad
One of the club's goal is to promote study abroad within Africa and introduce the CSB/SJU community to a new experience. This will help increase the diversity of the campus and give students a chance to have a broad knowledge of Africa and its people.

Better understanding of Africa
Even though our main goal is to help people in Africa who are need, we will also focus on changing the image and perception of Africa. We will educate people about the many  different cultures in Africa. We will also work to clarify the difference between Africans and African Americans.

Section 3: Affiliation

Article II: Membership

Section 1: Eligibility for Membership
The club will be open to all CSB/SJU students and faculty. Faculty members can only participate as an affiliated member.

Section 2: Voting Member Criteria
Members - In order to vote, members must attend 60% or more of the events and meetings organized by the club.

Section 3: Removal of Members
If a member fails to attend more than 60% of the meetings and events held by the club and violates the school's rules and regulations that member will receive a warning. If not corrected the member will lose his/her club voting rights or even might result in disqualification.

Article III: Officers

Section 1: Officer Qualifications
In order to be an officer, a person must be a voting member of the club, must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better, must have leadership experience and should fully commit to the club.

Section 2: Elected Officers
President, Vice- President, Public Relations (3), Treasurer, Secretary, and Event planner. The president and vice president are the contacts for CFB and JCB.

Section 3: Duties of Officers

President:
preside at meetings, call special meetings, primary contact with the institutions, organize and approve of club events, keep the club focused, run the election process, and other.

Vice President:
Assist the president in decision making, and work in the place of the president when absent, schedule meeting/practice rooms/facilities, primary contact with the JCB, plan member/officer training programs, other.

Public Relations:
Relates the club with the public, provide information to the club and the public, in charge of publicity for the club, work with clients, such as non-profit organizations, universities and other organizations, maintain a positive relationship with the public through media and personal interaction, representative for the group.

Treasurers:
Keep all financial records, submit monthly audit statements to CFB contact, notify organization of financial issues, prepare budget/allocation requests.

Secretary:
Take and distribute minutes of all club meetings, record keeper (current and past members, file minutes, etc), club historian, notify members of meetings, handle the official correspondence of the club, other

Event Planner:
Plan fund raising events, contact sponsors and co-sponsors for events.

Section 4: Vacancy in Office
Vacancies shall be filled by elections of candidates drawn up by the executive board except in the case of the President where the Vice-President will succeed automatically. This election shall take place at the meeting immediately following the vacancy with new officer's term to last until the end of the school year in which elected

Section 5: Removal of Officers
An officer will be removed from his/her position if they fail to fulfill their assigned duties. Two third of the board of members need to vote to remove an officer.

Section 6: Appeal of Removal of Officers
The officer up for removal may write a statement pleading his or her case. They will then present it to the current officers who shall reconsider his or her removal.

Article IV: Elections

Section 1: Nomination Process
UASA members shall nominate themselves by responding to the "election" email sent at the beginning of a new term. (Self-nomination)

Section 2: Election
An election will take place at meeting where 60% of voting members are present. There will be a secret ballot where voting members can vote and votes will be tallied by the current officers (President). The winner will be the person who has the majority vote.

Section 3: Special Elections
An officer is removed if two thirds of the board members vote on it. The vacancy of officers must be filled with in two weeks of occurring.

Article V: Advisor

Section 1: Selection
The club will choose the advisor by looking at experience with the African culture and willingness to help. We will also look at their commitment to facilitate and assist the club and their availability.

Section 2: Duties
The advisor should facilitate and help the club achieve its goals according to the purposes outlined in this constitution. In addition, the advisor will give advice and lead the club in the right direction.

Article VI: Meetings

Section 1: Regular Meeting/Club Activities
There shall be regular meetings during the academic year, all of which will be open to the entire CSB/SJU student body.

Activities include: Teacher/ Student Teacher/Administrative Panels, Guest Speakers, African heritage week, Taste of Africa, and dance lessons. Meeting and activity notifications shall be made through email, flyers, and the club's bulletin board. The club will meet every two weeks but more often if needed.

Section 2: Special Meetings
If something is urgent and needs special attention the board members will meet to discuss the matter.

Section 3: Parliamentary Authority
Executive officers will state the issues that need to be addressed. From there each member/officer can freely give his or her input. The secretary will take the meeting's minutes.

Section 4: Quorum*
2/3 of the members must be present during voting.

Article VIII: Finances
Section 1: Co-Funding Board
The club will apply for CFB monies and if resources are allocated, the club will follow all CFB and institutional regulations.

Article IX: Amendments

Section 1: Ratification
The amendment process should take place in the beginning of the year and must be voted for by two third of members to pass.

Section 2: Submittal to Department of Student Activities and Joint Club Board
United Africa Student Association will submit any changes made to this constitution to the Department of Student Activities and the JCB.

Article X (The following is a required statement for all clubs and organizations)
United Africa Student Association 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 (The following is a required statement for all clubs and organizations)
United Africa Student Association considers hazing to be a degrading and destructive activity which is inconsistent with the standards of this student organization. United Africa Student Association recognizes the dignity of every person and opposes all forms of hazing.