All Lifestyles Included - Official Constitution
All Lifestyles Included
The organization for gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender people and supporting allies.
Official Constitution
Amended and ratified this 1st day of October 2003
PREAMBLE
The purpose of ALI is to create and promote awareness for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community within Monmouth University.
This includes providing an open and safe atmosphere for students on campus, sharing ideas among one another, offering opportunity for social contacts, supplying resources to the GLBT community regarding health, well-being, and support, and educating each other and members of the campus community on issues of importance to sexual minorities. These actions will be done in an effort to encourage tolerance, understanding and acceptance at Monmouth University so no one is made to feel the need to either hide or deny their sexuality.
Our goals are to further acceptance for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students and to protect the existing rights of sexual minorities at Monmouth University. In addition, we intend to encourage positive role models in the community, provide a voice for our community, and sponsor a sense of pride for people of all lifestyles.
Privacy is assured to anyone participating in ALI unless he or she expresses a desire to relinquish that confidentiality.
ARTICLE I. Name
The name of the organization shall be All Lifestyles Included of Monmouth University; hereafter it may be referred to as ALI.
ARTICLE II. Membership
SECTION A - GENERAL MEMBERSHIP
All registered students who are in good academic standing, faculty, and staff who appreciate and respect the goals of the organization, according to Monmouth University policy, are eligible for membership in the organization at Monmouth University.
SECTION B - DIVERSITY STATEMENT
As an organization representing individuals of the sexual minority, ALI will not discriminate membership based upon age, race, religion, veteran status, disability, ancestry, national origin, ethnicity, sex, creed, and sexual orientation. All individuals willing to meet for the further education and support of sexual minorities are encouraged to participate.
SECTION C - ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS
All active members of ALI must maintain a minimum of an overall 2.0 grade point average.
SECTION D - FACULTY/STAFF ADVISOR
The membership shall be advised by a faculty/staff member chosen by the group and approved by the Office of Student Activities and Student Center Operations.
SECTION E - VOTING MEMBERS
Voting members shall be designated as those persons who have attended at least fifty percent (50%) of meetings during the present academic semester.
ARTICLE III. Meetings
SECTION A - OFFICERS
The regular meetings of ALI shall be held at least once every two weeks during the semester.
SECTION B - QUORUM
A quorum shall consist of at least half of the voting members in the general membership and at least two officers.
ARTICLE IV. Exectutive Board
SECTION A - OFFICERS
1 - The Executive Board shall consist of the following elected officers: President, Vice-President, and Secretary/Treasurer.
2 - The term for such officers shall be one academic year from June 1 - May 31.
SECTION B - ELECTIONS
1 - Elections for the new Executive Board shall be conducted on the first meeting date following April 15.
2 - Any general member is eligible to run for the role of Secretary/Treasurer.
3 - Any general member who has been involved for at least one (1) semester is eligible to run for President or Vice-President unless, at the time of an election, no general member meets this requirement.
4 - The general membership will be provided with a list of responsibilities for each Executive Board position. At this time, general members shall nominate any other member.
5 - At the meeting when the vote is conducted and prior to the election, the nominees are to present their platform to the rest of the membership.
6 - All members who fit the criterion as a voting member may cast a ballot in the election with the execption of the current President.
7 - The vote will be conducted by secret ballot and collected by the faculty/staff advisor. The faculty/staff advisor will then tally the votes. A member needs a plurality (highest number) of votes to win the election.
8 - In the event of a tie vote, the current President shall cast the tie-breaking vote.
9 - If one member has been elected to more than one position, he/she must select one position to drop. That position will then go to the member with the next highest total votes.
10 - The President shall then make the results of the election known to general members.
ARTICLE V.Management Duties
SECTION A - DUTIES AND POSITIONS
The duties of the officers are as follows:
(1) President
a. Uphold this Constitution of ALI.
b. Oversee the general administration of the organization.
c. Serve as chairperson of the Executive Board without voting privileges, except in a case of a tie.
d. Call special meetings of the Executive Board as necessary.
e. Chair of all ALI Executive Board meetings.
f. Train the Executive Board members in their respective areas.
g. Serve as a liaison to the Student Government Association.
h. Prepare a budget for the upcoming year, with the Vice-President, Secretary/Treasurer, and advisor(s).
i. Suggest amendments to the COnstitution, with the Vice-President, to be presented for general membership discussion.
(2) Vice-President
a. Uphold this Constitution of ALI.
b. Assume the duties of President in his/her absence.
c. Serves as an assistant to the President.
d. Chair all ALI general meetings.
e. Coordinate the recruitment of the organization to the student body.
f. Oversee the training of ALI general members.
g. Serve as a liaison to other organizations in areas such as, but not limited to co-sponsorship of activities.
h. Prepare a budget for the upcoming year, with the President, Secretary/Treasurer, and advisor(s).
i. Suggest amendments to the Constitution, with the President, to be presented for general membership discussion.
(3) Secretary/Treasurer
a. Uphold this Constitution of ALI.
b. Retain a written record of all business transactions at general meetings and distribute copies to all members.
c. Maintain and up-to-date roster of all members.
d. Have copies of ALI Constitution and past minutes available at all meetings.
e. Draft all ALI correspondence as directed by the President.
f. Inform all feneral members and Executive Board members of meetings.
g. Chair meetings in case of absence of the President and the Vice-President, but only after prior approval of the President or the Vice-President.
h. Act as accountant of ALI budget and grants.
i. Inform the general membership on a regular basis of expenditures and allowances for the organization.
j. Prepare a budget for the upcoming year, with the President, Vice-President, and advisor(s).
ARTICLE VI. Dismissal
SECTION A - GROUNDS FOR DISMISSAL
1 - Any Executive Board member who fails to fully execute the duties of the office, as defined in Article V, Section A, to the best of his/her abilities shall be subject to removal from office.
2 - Any general member, including Executive Board members, who intentionally engage in activity, which undermines the integrity of the organization set forth in this constitution, shall be subject to removal.
SECTION B - DISMISSAL OR IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS
The following procedure is to be followed for impeachment:
1 - Any member may present impeachment proceedings. Said member must first arrange a meeting with the advisor.
2 - If the matter cannot be resolved between the member and the advisor, the member must meet with the Vice-President to place the item on the agenda for the next general meeting.
3 - Two weeks after the impeachment presentation, the accused Executive Board member is given the opportunity to defend his/her case.
4 - Following the defense of the evidence presented, the voting membership must vote on the matter.
5 - Impeachment will take immediate effect with a 2/3 majority of the voting members present.
6 - In case of removal from office, the procedure for a vacant chair position will begin, as outlined in Article VII, Section B.
ARTICLE VII. Succession and Vacancies
SECTION A - SUCCESSION
1 - In case of absence of the President, the duties will temporarily be assumed by the Vice-President.
2 - In case of absence of both the President and Vice-President, those duties will temporarliy be assumed by the Secretary, but only adter prior approval of the President or Vice-President and advisor.
SECTION B - VACANCY
1 - In case of a vacancy of any position due to resignation, impeachment, ineligibility, or any other reason, the position will be assumed by the Vice-President.
2 - In the case of a vacancy of the Presidency, the Vice-President will then have the option to serve the remainder if the term or to hold a reaplcement election. In such an electino, the Vice-President assumes the role of the current President.
3 - For any vacancy other than President, the Vice-President will hold said position until a replacement election is held.
4 - In case of vacancy of the office of Vice-President, those duties will be temporarily assumed by the President, and a replacement election will be held.
5 - A replacement election will be scheduled as soon as a vacancy is evident.
6 - A replacement election shall follow the procedure for the regular elections as outlines in Article III, Section B.
ARTICLE VIII. Amendments
1 - An amendment proposal must be brought before the general membership and voted upon.
2 - The amendment will take effect immediately (or according to a time frame specified therein) upon a 2/3 vote of the general membership.
3 - The proposed amendment is then ratified after it is given approval by the Student Government Association.
ARTICLE IX. Ratification
1 - This Constitution shall be presented at the first general membership meeting and voted on by at least 2/3 of the general members.
2 - This Constitution is in effect after subsequent S.G.A. approval.