Baldwin-Wallace Allies

Gay and Straight Student Services and Activities

Constitution

 

I.                   Name

 

Allies Gay and Straight Student Services and Activities

 

II.                Purpose

 

We strive to educate others and ourselves about issues concerning the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender, and Straight Community. As a resource we provide support for those who embrace any sexual identity.

 

III.             Membership

 

A.     Eligibility

1)     All Baldwin-Wallace students are welcome to be members. 

2)     Faculty, staff and other visitors are also welcome to become members. 

3)     Only students will have voting privileges. 

 

B.     Sexual Orientation

1)     Sexual orientation is not a deciding factor for membership in the organization.

2)     Likewise, assumptions will not be made about the sexual orientation of any members or visitors.   

 

C.     Notification of meetings

1)     The name, purpose, time and meeting place of the organization will be placed in advertisements in the Exponent and other media sources. 

2)     Potential members are encouraged to call the staff or student advisor for specific information pertaining to the organization. 

3)      

D.    Voting privileges

1)     Membership and attendance records will be kept in full by the secretary. 

2)     Full voting privileges will be given to those who have been in attendance of no less than 40% of all meetings per semester. 

3)     Any exceptions will be taken into consideration by the staff advisor and the executive board.

 

IV.              Executive Board Officer Selection and Qualifications

 

A. Qualifications

1)     Officers must be regular attendees of all meetings, meaning in attendance of at least 75% of all meetings per semester. 

2)     Exceptions to this can be discussed with the staff advisor and the executive board. 

3)     Officer candidates must be in good standing with Baldwin-Wallace College, with a GPA of at least 2.7. 

B.     Selection process

1)     An application, including several short answer questions, will be made available to all interested members during the Fall semester of each year. 

2)     The applications will be read by the staff advisor and any current board members.

3)     On the day of the executive board elections each applicant will explain to the members at the meeting why they would like to hold an executive board position in Allies. 

4)     The new executive board members will be chosen by secret ballot which will be made available to all members attending the meeting on that day.  Each applicant will be listed on the ballot, and each voting member can vote for one person in each position.  (Refer to Article 3, Section E.)  Elections will take place during fall semester.  The new executive board will be chosen by majority vote and removal will take place by majority vote also. 

5)     Announcement of a new executive board will be made in the first three weeks of Spring semester. 

C.     Terms of office

1)     An executive board member will remain in office for one calendar year. 

2)     At the end of the term, board members will be eligible to seek a consecutive term by following the same application process as other candidates. 

3)     Any board member may be removed from office for any of the following reasons: a) failure to meet requirements of office

b) break of confidentiality standards

c) breaking of Student Senate guidelines and/or

d) failure to regularly attend meetings. 

f) unanimous vote of the executive board

g) decision of the Administrative Advisor

4)     Any vacant position will be filled through an application and interview process, overseen by the remaining members of the executive board and the staff advisor. 

5)     In the event of the Director’s resignation or removal, the following steps will be taken:

a)      if the student advisor position is vacant, the applications will become available to current executive board members. 

b)      The selection will be made by the staff advisor and any executive board members not seeking the position. 

c)      The replacement of the now-vacant executive board position will include an     application process and will be offered to the members in attendance at the meetings.

6)     In the event of an Executive Board Member’s resignation or removal, the following steps will be taken:

a)      By majority vote of the Executive Board it will be determined whether time and other possible constraints allows an elected replacement or an appointed replacement.

b)      If it is determined that an election is to take place, than the applications will be made available to the general membership.

c)      If it is determined that time or other constraints do not allow for an election than they executive board will by majority vote and administrative advisor’s approval will appoint a new replacement

 

 

V.                 Executive Board Meetings

 

A. Purpose

1)     The executive board will have meetings no less than once every week.

2)     These meetings serve to:

a)      discuss current functions,

b)      plan future events, and

c)      direct attention towards any other issues that are directly affecting the organization and its mission.

d)      develop procedures and policies

3)     Minutes of the meetings will be made available to any member of the organization that would like them. 

 

VI.              Executive Board Positions and Responsibilities

 

A. Director

1)     The student Director will serve as the head of the executive board and work jointly with the college advisor. 

2)     With the input of the rest of the Executive Board the Director will write the agenda for Executive and Regular meetings.

3)     The advisors will give approval of all expenses and decisions when concerning the budget. 

4)      The student and staff advisors will also:

a)      run the executive board meetings and the organization meetings     

b)      work closely with the rest of the executive board to plan speakers, presentations and other functions of the organization .

c)      assist other executive board members when needed.  

d)      Help the treasurer submit the budget.

e)      Oversee the new executive board selection process

f)        Be available to executive board members and also to organization members to answer questions. 

g)      Design and Maintain the Allies website

 

B.     Assistant Director

1)   Serve as Acting-Director at Executive Board and Membership meeting when asked to do so by the Director.

2)   Keep accurate attendance records of all meetings, 

a)      thus determining which attendants are eligible for full membership and voting privileges. 

3)  Keep an updated phone, address and e-mail list that will be available within the bounds of the group,

a)      which will be used in notifying members about the meetings and special events. 

4)  Keep detailed minutes of all meetings,

a)      typing minutes by themselves or delegating to another member,

b)      copying minutes for each executive board member and the staff advisor, and any member who wishes to see them. 

 

C.     Financial Coordinator

1)   Implement and oversee all fundraising projects

2)   Be responsible for management and accounting of funds.       

3) Submit all requests for expenditures to the student and staff advisors for final approval. 

4) Follow all established Student Senate rules pertaining to funds. 

5) Be responsible for accurate budget records, budget considerations, and hearings; and

6) Write and Submit the Budget Proposal to Student Senate in the second semesters of each year.

7)     Assist in notifying members about meetings and special events. 

 

 

D.     Lambda Coordinator

1)     Be a liason between Allies and Lambda, which is the support group for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered students, faculty, and staff on campus; this will include:

a)      notifying both groups of meeting plans,

b)      communicating decisions made within both groups

2)     Act as the contact person for anyone interested in attending a Lambda meeting

3)     Assist the education chair in planning panel presentations, and

4)     Assist in notifying members about meetings and special events. 

5)     This position is appointed by the membership of Lambda and confirmed by the membership of Allies.  

 

E.     Campus Outreach Coordinator

1)      Oversee the Campus Outreach committee,            

a)      planning and conducting programs for the group, as well as for residence halls, Greek organizations, course assistant/resident assistant training, COL-101 courses, and other courses or organizations as requested. 

b)      Chairing Education Panels and Seminars

c)      Plan and design campus publicity and educational materials

 

2)     See that an advertisement is in the Baldwin-Wallace College Exponent each                  week, whether completed by the Publicity chair or delegated to any other member. 

3)     Maintain an updated list of the books and other materials currently held in the resource library. 

4)     Maintain a collection of news articles relevant to the organization

5)     Assist in notifying members about meetings and special events. 

 

F.      Community Outreach Coordinator

1)     Oversee the Community Outreach Committee

a)   attend local community events and meetings

      b)   act as a correspondent to other GSAs

c)   promote awareness of the organization

d)   promote campus-wide functions, such as speakers, presentations, or special   events sponsored by the group to community media and organizations

2)     See that an advertisement is in the Baldwin-Wallace College Exponent each week and if necessary appoint someone to regularly complete this task.

      3) Assist in notifying members about meetings and special events. 

 

 

VII.           Committees

 

A.     Formation of committees

1)     Committees will be formed from interested members of the organization and

2)     Committees will be headed by the appropriate executive board member. 

B.     Educational committee

1)     This committee will promote, plan, and conduct educational programs for the group, in meetings, in the classrooms, in residence halls, and/or for other campus purposes.

C.     Publicity Committee

1)     This group will promote the organization’s events and meetings on campus and elsewhere through:

a)      fliers

b)      newspaper advertisements

c)      e-mail messages

d)      contacting other colleges about events on campus,

e)      through other means, and;

      2) Keeping the organization updated of events on other campuses. 

 

D.    Social Committee

1)     This group will plan social events for the group, both on campus and elsewhere. 

2)     This group will be made up of volunteers who will delegate responsibility within the group.  There will not be an appointed social committee chairperson. 

 

 

VIII.        Finances

 

A.     Funding

1)     All funds will be obtained through Student Senate, fundraising and any other alternative sources/ donations. 

2)     The treasurer will be responsible for overseeing all funds and assuring that the funds are spent in accordance with Student Senate guidelines. 

3)     The staff and student advisors will have final approval of any and all expenditures. 

 

 

IX.              Ratification and Amendments of the Constitution

A.     The constitution will be adopted and ratified by two-thirds of all voting members of the organization, the executive board, the staff advisor, and the Student Senate. 

B.     The constitution can be altered, amended or otherwise modified with the approval of two-thirds of all members voting, the executive board, and the staff advisor.