Article I: Name and Purpose
Section 1.
This organization shall be known as the Students of Reitz Humanist Society, also known as SRHS, and referred to as "the organization" within this document.
Section 2.
The purposes of the organization shall be to 1) foster safe, welcoming, and supportive spaces for humanist students on campus, 2) promote skepticism, innovative thinking, and the questioning of all personal and cultural beliefs using the tools of evidence and reason 3) embrace human and civil rights, social justice, and other ideals informed by the philosophy of humanism, 4) cooperate with individuals and groups who share our values, and 5) organize activities, such as forums for discussion, guest speakers, and outreach that educate Francis J. Reitz and surrounding community.
Article II: Membership
Section 1.
Membership shall be open to all Francis J. Reitz students, faculty and staff, alumni, and community members. Only active members may be voting members. All may be non-voting members.
Section 2.
To become a member, one need only inform the Communication Coordinator. Membership runs from the day of informing the Communication Coordinator to the day after the end of the spring academic term. At any time during the spring academic term a standing member may express their desire to renew their membership for the following year.
Section 3.
Membership ends upon 1) end of the normal membership cycle without a prior request to renew, 2) the member's request, 3) the member no longer being a student, faculty, staff or community member, 4) majority vote of the membership at a properly announced meeting with quorum to revoke that person's membership. Voting membership becomes non-voting membership when a voting member is no longer a student at Francis J. Reitz.
Section 4.
Members who are removed by a vote may not join the organization again until the next academic year. Members who are removed lose any officer positions they may have held within the organization.
Article III: Officers
Section 1.
The elected offices of this organization shall be President, Vice President, Parliamentarian, Historian, Communication Coordinator, and Online Director. These elected officers will appoint via majority vote additional officer positions as necessary. Additional positions may be created via a majority vote of the elected officers.
Section 2.
Officers shall be elected at least four weeks before the end of each spring term, more time is preferred to allow for full transitions. Members shall be notified of a pending election at least one month in advance. The elected officers shall appoint a nominating committee to recruit a slate of officers before the election, though nominations can also be taken from the floor. Only voting members that plan to remain voting members during the next year are eligible to run. Election shall occur by secret ballot of voting members at a meeting with quorum. The candidate with the most votes wins; uncontested candidates win by default. Terms shall begin after a two week shadowing period with outgoing officers, and shall last until the terms of the next officers begin. There is no limit on the number of terms an individual may hold office.
Section 3.
If for any reason an officer is unable or unwilling to fulfill their commitments, they may resign and the remaining elected officers and sponsor(s) may appoint, via majority vote, replacement(s) who will serve until the next election period.
Section 4.
Elected Officers:
The President shall 1) organize and preside over meetings, activities and events, 2) be the official representative for the organization, 3) maintain contact with related outside organizations, 4) have the final word in all decisions where a vote is not specifically called for in this document, 5) break any tie vote.
The Vice President shall 1) preside in the absence of the president, 2) design the group t-shirt, and 3) be responsible for ensuring that monthly service projects are completed.
The Parliamentarian shall 1) ensure this Constitution is followed, 2) record the results of all votes taken, and 3) aid in recruiting officer candidates.
The Historian shall 1) plan and prepare a scrapbook of all meetings and service projects, 2) be responsible for collecting memorabilia from service projects, 3) solicit contributions from SRHS members, and 4) send photos of completed scrapbook pages each month.
The Communication Coordinator shall 1) coordinate the advertising and publicity of the group and its events, 2) maintain contact with local media outlets, other organizations, and be the secondary representative of the organization, 3) create and maintain a list of students who have expressed interest in the organization, and 4) record meetings and events via ReCaps.
Online Director shall 1) maintain website, social media, university, or other web presences for the organization, 2) coordinate with other officers to make sure that information on the web presences is up to date, 3) moderate all lusters for the organization.
Section 5.
An appointed officer may be removed by a majority vote of the elected officers. Officers and members shall have the opportunity to present their sides at the meeting, before the vote. If the officer is removed, a new officer shall be appointed as quickly as possible per Article III Sec. 3.
Section 6.
In the event of the removal of an elected officer by the organization as a whole, they may be removed by a majority vote of the membership. Officers and members shall have the opportunity to present their sides at the meeting, before the vote. If the elected officer is removed, a new officer shall be appointed as quickly as possible by majority vote of the remaining elected officers.
Article IV: Meetings
Section 1.
General meetings shall occur at the discretion of the elected officers.
Section 2.
Project meetings shall occur at the discretion of the elected officers. Prior notice of at least one week should be given to all members.
Section 3.
Officers may call special meetings at any time for important matters. Prior notice should be given to all members as soon as possible.
Section 4.
Voting may only take place at a meeting.
Section 5.
A quorum is 1/10 of the voting membership. If a quorum is not present, voting shall be postponed until the next meeting. The number constituting 1/10 of the membership shall be determined by the officer in charge of keeping the membership roster.
Section 6.
Meeting minutes shall be posted to the web presence.
Article V: Committees
Section 1.
Possible purposes of committees will be to 1) take care of distributing out work equally on any given issue that the committee is created to address, 2) brainstorm and create new ideas to present at the organization business meetings 3) work through different ideas and issue and focus them so that they can be presented to the general membership in order to be voted on.
Section 2.
Any member or officer may propose the formation of a committee. The elected officers may create, structure, and dissolve committees through a majority vote.
Article VI: Amendments to the Constitution
Section 1.
Any member may propose a constitutional amendment. Members shall be notified at least two weeks
in advance of a pending vote on an amendment. The amendment shall be read aloud and discussed on the day of the vote and at the meeting two weeks previous. An amendment can be adopted only by a two-thirds majority vote of voting membership at a meeting with quorum
Article VII: Advisor
Section 1.
The advisor must be a full-time Francis J. Reitz faculty or administrative staff member. If the elected officers deem it so appropriate, they may appoint two full-time faculty or administrative staff members as co-advisors.
Section 2.
The nature of the advisor's role shall be determined by the advisor. However, the authority of the chair and the general membership of the organization aligns with the authority of the advisor.
Section 3.
The advisor may be removed by a vote among the elected officers. The advisor can voluntarily remove herself or himself. Prospects for a new advisor would then be contacted and a new advisor would be decided upon by the elected officers.
Article VIII: Non-Discrimination
Section 1.
This organization and its members shall not discriminate against any individuals for reasons of creed or worldview, race, ethnicity, color, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, veteran status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.
Article IX: Dissolution
Section 1.
The organization may be dissolved upon a unanimous vote of members present where the vote is taken. Dissolution may only occur at a general or business meeting, not a special meeting.
Section 2.
Quorum for a meeting with a dissolution vote is all active members of the current membership.
Section 3.
The organization may not dissolve while in debt or with a balance in the bank. If a balance exists, it may be donated to the Big Blue Fund.
Section 1.
This organization shall be known as the Students of Reitz Humanist Society, also known as SRHS, and referred to as "the organization" within this document.
Section 2.
The purposes of the organization shall be to 1) foster safe, welcoming, and supportive spaces for humanist students on campus, 2) promote skepticism, innovative thinking, and the questioning of all personal and cultural beliefs using the tools of evidence and reason 3) embrace human and civil rights, social justice, and other ideals informed by the philosophy of humanism, 4) cooperate with individuals and groups who share our values, and 5) organize activities, such as forums for discussion, guest speakers, and outreach that educate Francis J. Reitz and surrounding community.
Article II: Membership
Section 1.
Membership shall be open to all Francis J. Reitz students, faculty and staff, alumni, and community members. Only active members may be voting members. All may be non-voting members.
Section 2.
To become a member, one need only inform the Communication Coordinator. Membership runs from the day of informing the Communication Coordinator to the day after the end of the spring academic term. At any time during the spring academic term a standing member may express their desire to renew their membership for the following year.
Section 3.
Membership ends upon 1) end of the normal membership cycle without a prior request to renew, 2) the member's request, 3) the member no longer being a student, faculty, staff or community member, 4) majority vote of the membership at a properly announced meeting with quorum to revoke that person's membership. Voting membership becomes non-voting membership when a voting member is no longer a student at Francis J. Reitz.
Section 4.
Members who are removed by a vote may not join the organization again until the next academic year. Members who are removed lose any officer positions they may have held within the organization.
Article III: Officers
Section 1.
The elected offices of this organization shall be President, Vice President, Parliamentarian, Historian, Communication Coordinator, and Online Director. These elected officers will appoint via majority vote additional officer positions as necessary. Additional positions may be created via a majority vote of the elected officers.
Section 2.
Officers shall be elected at least four weeks before the end of each spring term, more time is preferred to allow for full transitions. Members shall be notified of a pending election at least one month in advance. The elected officers shall appoint a nominating committee to recruit a slate of officers before the election, though nominations can also be taken from the floor. Only voting members that plan to remain voting members during the next year are eligible to run. Election shall occur by secret ballot of voting members at a meeting with quorum. The candidate with the most votes wins; uncontested candidates win by default. Terms shall begin after a two week shadowing period with outgoing officers, and shall last until the terms of the next officers begin. There is no limit on the number of terms an individual may hold office.
Section 3.
If for any reason an officer is unable or unwilling to fulfill their commitments, they may resign and the remaining elected officers and sponsor(s) may appoint, via majority vote, replacement(s) who will serve until the next election period.
Section 4.
Elected Officers:
The President shall 1) organize and preside over meetings, activities and events, 2) be the official representative for the organization, 3) maintain contact with related outside organizations, 4) have the final word in all decisions where a vote is not specifically called for in this document, 5) break any tie vote.
The Vice President shall 1) preside in the absence of the president, 2) design the group t-shirt, and 3) be responsible for ensuring that monthly service projects are completed.
The Parliamentarian shall 1) ensure this Constitution is followed, 2) record the results of all votes taken, and 3) aid in recruiting officer candidates.
The Historian shall 1) plan and prepare a scrapbook of all meetings and service projects, 2) be responsible for collecting memorabilia from service projects, 3) solicit contributions from SRHS members, and 4) send photos of completed scrapbook pages each month.
The Communication Coordinator shall 1) coordinate the advertising and publicity of the group and its events, 2) maintain contact with local media outlets, other organizations, and be the secondary representative of the organization, 3) create and maintain a list of students who have expressed interest in the organization, and 4) record meetings and events via ReCaps.
Online Director shall 1) maintain website, social media, university, or other web presences for the organization, 2) coordinate with other officers to make sure that information on the web presences is up to date, 3) moderate all lusters for the organization.
Section 5.
An appointed officer may be removed by a majority vote of the elected officers. Officers and members shall have the opportunity to present their sides at the meeting, before the vote. If the officer is removed, a new officer shall be appointed as quickly as possible per Article III Sec. 3.
Section 6.
In the event of the removal of an elected officer by the organization as a whole, they may be removed by a majority vote of the membership. Officers and members shall have the opportunity to present their sides at the meeting, before the vote. If the elected officer is removed, a new officer shall be appointed as quickly as possible by majority vote of the remaining elected officers.
Article IV: Meetings
Section 1.
General meetings shall occur at the discretion of the elected officers.
Section 2.
Project meetings shall occur at the discretion of the elected officers. Prior notice of at least one week should be given to all members.
Section 3.
Officers may call special meetings at any time for important matters. Prior notice should be given to all members as soon as possible.
Section 4.
Voting may only take place at a meeting.
Section 5.
A quorum is 1/10 of the voting membership. If a quorum is not present, voting shall be postponed until the next meeting. The number constituting 1/10 of the membership shall be determined by the officer in charge of keeping the membership roster.
Section 6.
Meeting minutes shall be posted to the web presence.
Article V: Committees
Section 1.
Possible purposes of committees will be to 1) take care of distributing out work equally on any given issue that the committee is created to address, 2) brainstorm and create new ideas to present at the organization business meetings 3) work through different ideas and issue and focus them so that they can be presented to the general membership in order to be voted on.
Section 2.
Any member or officer may propose the formation of a committee. The elected officers may create, structure, and dissolve committees through a majority vote.
Article VI: Amendments to the Constitution
Section 1.
Any member may propose a constitutional amendment. Members shall be notified at least two weeks
in advance of a pending vote on an amendment. The amendment shall be read aloud and discussed on the day of the vote and at the meeting two weeks previous. An amendment can be adopted only by a two-thirds majority vote of voting membership at a meeting with quorum
Article VII: Advisor
Section 1.
The advisor must be a full-time Francis J. Reitz faculty or administrative staff member. If the elected officers deem it so appropriate, they may appoint two full-time faculty or administrative staff members as co-advisors.
Section 2.
The nature of the advisor's role shall be determined by the advisor. However, the authority of the chair and the general membership of the organization aligns with the authority of the advisor.
Section 3.
The advisor may be removed by a vote among the elected officers. The advisor can voluntarily remove herself or himself. Prospects for a new advisor would then be contacted and a new advisor would be decided upon by the elected officers.
Article VIII: Non-Discrimination
Section 1.
This organization and its members shall not discriminate against any individuals for reasons of creed or worldview, race, ethnicity, color, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, veteran status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.
Article IX: Dissolution
Section 1.
The organization may be dissolved upon a unanimous vote of members present where the vote is taken. Dissolution may only occur at a general or business meeting, not a special meeting.
Section 2.
Quorum for a meeting with a dissolution vote is all active members of the current membership.
Section 3.
The organization may not dissolve while in debt or with a balance in the bank. If a balance exists, it may be donated to the Big Blue Fund.