Article
I: Name
§1 The
official name of this organization is the Chamorro Club at the
University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Article II: Purpose
§1 The
board members and general members of the Chamorro Club, in accordance
with all RIO (Registered Independent Organization) policies, declare
the following main objectives:
1. To provide
an environment that is suitable for the transition process for
incoming or transfer students from Guam and the Commonwealth of
the Northern Mariana Islands as well as individuals with ties
to the Mariana Islands.
2. To interact
with previous residents as well as visitors of any Mariana Island
who are either currently residing on the island of Oahu or are
visiting from abroad.
3. To invite,
inform and educate all members of the University of Hawaii community
of the language and culture of the Chamorro people -- the indigenous
inhabitants of the Mariana Islands, as well as the cultures of
the neighboring Micronesian and Pacific/Asian communities.
4. To inform
students of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands of issues affecting their island homes or related matters
that affect their living situation here in Hawaii.
5. To provide
a “home away from home” environment through various
cultural, social and political activities.
The Chamorro
Club, in fulfilling the above mentioned objectives will abide
by all established University of Hawaii policies.
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Article III: Membership
§1 Membership
is open to all persons within the University of Hawaii school
systems, students from non-UH affiliated learning institutions
and independent persons who express interest in the culture and
issues of the Mariana Islands. The Chamorro Club does not discriminate
on the basis of race, color, creed, sex, religion, disabilities
or sexual orientation.
§2 Membership
is attained by completing a Chamorro Club application form. Membership
is valid for one full academic school year, beginning in September
of the fall semester and ending at the end of the spring semester.
§3 There
are two types of membership: board and general. Board members
have the opportunity to govern the activities of the club as well
as oversee club committees. Within the board, members select four
main officers. General members have the opportunity to participate
in all club activities and committees. General members also participate
in the election of board members.
Board membership
is terminated/reinstated solely within the board. Impeachment
or reinstatement of any board member must be approved by fifty
percent plus one of all board members. General members who wish
to terminate their membership do so at their own free will.
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Article IV: Officers
§1 Composition
There are
a total of four main officers. The president, vice-president,
secretary and treasurer.
§2 Qualifications
Any interested
individual among the board is eligible for an officer position.
§3 Duties
and Responsibilities
The duties
of the president shall be to preside at all meetings of the organization,
to enforce the constitution and rules of the organization, to
decide questions of order, to call special meetings and to provide
availability to any member in need of assistance.
The duties
of the vice-president shall be to preside at all meetings in the
absence of the president, to assist the president in his/her duties,
to oversee and assist all committees and to provide availability
to any member in need of assistance.
The duties
of the secretary shall be to record minutes of meetings, to take
roll at all board meetings and to handle correspondence.
The duties
of the treasurer shall be to collect moneys from all committees,
to maintain financial records and to report financial information
to the organization at all meetings.
§4 Term
of Office
The position
of each officer is valid for one full academic school year, beginning
in Fall and ending in Spring.
§5 Removal
Removal and
recalling of officers is approved through a fifty percent plus
one vote by the board members.
§6 Vacancy
In the event
of vacancy where an officer is removed, the following successions
will occur:
1. At the
vacancy of the president, the vice-president will assume the title.
2. At the
vacancy of other officer positions, interested board members are
voted in through a special election.
Resigned
or recalled officers will assume board membership but will not
assume previous title.
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Article
V: Executive Board
§1 Composition
The executive
board will consist of a maximum of fifteen elected board members.
The board members will consist of the four executive officers
as well as the remaining board members.
§2 Powers
and Duties
The executive
board will be empowered to chair the committees. The four executive
officers will not be allowed to chair any committee, however they
may co-chair any committee voluntarily.
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Article VI: Committees
§1 The
following committees are necessary for the effective function
of this organization:
1.) Social/Sports
2.) Cultural 3.) Fundraising 4.) Historian 5.) Membership 6.)
7.) Political Awareness 8.) Public Relations 9.) Publicity 10.)
Social/Sports
§2 Each
committee shall perform each of the following duties:
1.) Social/Sports:
To ensure the availability of all necessary resources at all all
social and sports activities at relevant club events.
2.) Cultural:
To organize and provide cultural awareness activities at every
club function.
3.) Fundraising:
To organize activities where funds can be raised for the club.
4.) Historian:
To collect and organize visual evidence of all club activities.
5.) Membership:
To maintain club roster and to handle all affairs dealing with
all club members.
6.) Political
Awareness: To make all club members aware of all political and
government issues affecting Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands, as well as political issues that affect their
living situation here in Hawaii.
7.) Public
Relations: To contact all individuals outside of the organization
who express interest in interaction with the club. To
advertise all club activities to all UH system schools as well
as non-UH affiliated institutions that express interest in the
club.
§3 Committee
Chairs
Committee
chairs will be elected by all board members. Chair position are
valid for one full academic school year, beginning in fall and
ending after the spring semester.
§4 Special
Committees
Special committees
will be designated by the executive board if the need arises.
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Article
VII: Elections
§1 Nomination
Officers
will be nominated openly by the executive board. Executive board
members are also eligible to volunteer for officer positions.
Executive board members will be nominated openly by all general
members. All current members are eligible to run for an executive
board position.
§2 Eligibility
All executive
board members are eligible for an officer position. All general
members are eligible for an executive board position.
§3 Voting
Officers
will be elected by the newly elected executive board the second
week of September during the fall semester. The election of officers
will be conducted through a secret ballot. Executive board members
will be elected the final week of April during the spring semester.
The election of executive board members will be conducted through
an open meeting.
§4 Installation
Executive
officers will assume office immediately after elections. Executive
board members will assume office on September 1 of each fall semester.
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Article
VIII: Meetings
§1 Time
and Place
General assembly
meetings will occur at a minimum of four times throughout the
academic year -- at the start and end of each semester. Executive
board member meetings will occur twice a month.
§2 Quorum
General assembly
meetings will not require a quorum. Executive board meetings must
have 2/3 of the board members present to occur.
§3 Voting
All major
actions of the club and executive board will be conducted through
open voting. For a motion to pass, there must be a fifty percent
plus one majority ruling in favor of the action.
§4 Order
of Business
The following
agenda will be used at all executive board and general assembly
meetings at the discretion of the president:
a.) Call
to Order b.) Roll Call c.) Minutes of Previous Meeting d.) Officer
Reports e.) Committee Reports f.) Old Business g.) New Business
h.) Privilege of the Floor i.) Adjournment
§5 Parliamentary
Authority
Parliamentary
authority shall be derived from Robert’s Rules of Order,
Newly Revised for decisions related to budget, officer elections
and constitution revision. All other decisions shall be by consensus.
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Article IX: Finances
§1 Dues
An initial
dues amount of $5.00 will be collected at the beginning of each
academic school year at the first general assembly meeting. Dues
are collected by the membership committee who in turn gives it
to the treasurer.
§2 Budget
All committees
must submit to the Fundraising committee a request for funds form
two weeks in advance of the activity. Once the budget is presented
to the board, approval will be granted provided the executive
board comes to a consensus.
§3 Disbursements
The signatures
of the president, treasurer and advisor are required for the expense
of funds.
§4 Audits
The fundraising
committee and the treasurer are responsible for auditing and double-checking
all expenditures of the organization. This will be done the first
week of January during the spring semester.
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Article X: Amendments
§1 Initiation
Proposals
for amendments to the constitution can only be initiated by executive
board members. Proposals can be made either orally or in writing
at executive board members.
§2 Voting
The executive
board will vote on the proposed amendment at the next executive
meeting. Voting will take place at an open meeting where 2/3 of
the executive board vote in favor of the amendment.
