Constitution of the Birding and Ornithology Club

Transcription

1 Constitution of the Birding and Ornithology Club Organization name The official name of the club is the Birding and Ornithology Club. It may also be informally referred to as the Birding Club or the BOC. Acceptance and Compliance to Registration Requirements and Limitations The Birding and Ornithology Club and its membership accept and will fully comply with the requirements and limitations of registration. Limits of Registration The Birding and Ornithology Club and its membership accept and will fully comply with the limits of registration. Annual Re-registration The Birding Club will submit its annual re-registration application during the reregistration period following the election of new officers. Purpose The BOC is dedicated to the study, conservation, and enjoyment of birds. The organization is also committed to teaching, sharing tips about, and exploring aspects of avian ecology and identification. The BOC leads birding trips and holds talks by people who study birds. Activities The primary activity of the BOC is to go on bird watching trips, usually in parks or other public land, or sometimes on private land with the property owner s permission. Our goal is to observe birds in their natural habitats and learn about their habits and ecology and how to identify birds. We sometimes take trips to the Carnegie Museum s Powdermill Nature Reserve to observe bird banding and meet bird researchers, to the National Aviary, or to other similar educational facilities related to birds. We also have guest speakers give talks about bird-related research if and when possible or watch documentaries or other films related to birds and bird watching. Membership requirements 1. Membership is open to currently enrolled Pitt students as defined herein. 2. All members must accept and comply with all of the requirements and limitations of registration as a condition of membership. 3. Membership in the Birding Club is voluntary and all risk of personal injury, property damage or other losses that occur incidental to membership or participation in activities are assumed solely by the student organization and/or individual member(s) or non-member participant(s). Accordingly, the University of Pittsburgh, its officers and agents shall not be responsible nor liable for any claims or causes of action for damage or loss of property or personal injury of any kind or

2 nature which may arise out of or are incidental to the conduct of any organization s activities or that of any individual s participation in any group-related activity. it is further understood and agreed that it is the responsibility of the officers of the organization to assure that all of the organization s members and non-member participants in all activities sponsored by the Birding Club are fully informed and advised of this ASSUMPTION OF RISK, and in the event any individual member or participant should express or indicate non-acceptance, the organization s officers shall forbid participation and/or membership of such individual. In regard to the organization member or non-member participant Assumption of Risk, the Birding Club acknowledges that the University recommends that the organization members and non-member participants make every effort to arrange for the acquisition of liability insurance sufficient to protect all participants against those risks being assumed. For sport-related organizations, the University recommends that each individual have insurance sufficient to allow for any risks by participation, accident or by deficiencies in physical health. 4. No hazing or illegal discriminatory criteria for membership, including those listed in the University of Pittsburgh s non-discrimination policy, will be used as a condition for membership in the organization. These factors include race, color, religion (except for religious organizations which may restrict membership to those who share their faith-based beliefs), national origin, ancestry, sex (except same sex organizations permitted under Title IX), age, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, disability or status as a veteran. This non-discriminatory policy will be applied in a manner consistent with the requirements of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution and other laws applicable to student organizations. 5. All majors, years, and GPAs are welcome. However, members must maintain an attitude that is safe and respectful to both their fellow members and nature/the birds. 6. There are no financial obligations for membership. Membership Procedures Most recruitment takes place during the Student Activities Fair in August, but new members are welcome to apply at any time. The process of application begins when one asks to have his/her address added to our list; this can be accomplished by speaking to a club officer in person (e.g., at the Activities Fair) or by ing a request to pittbirdingclub@gmail.com. An applicant is approved if and only if the applicant demonstrates respect for nature, courtesy towards the membership, and enthusiasm for the Club s mission on a subsequent Birding Club field trip. The privileges of membership are the opportunity to join the Club on subsequent field trips and the ability to suggest sites for field trips. Members are made inactive if they have not attended a field trip in an entire academic year. Inactive members may be reinstated by attending a field trip. The conditions for maintaining membership are attending at a minimum one field trip per academic year. Voting Privileges

3 Voting privileges are limited to currently enrolled Pitt student members in good standing with the organization. A member cannot vote unless he/she has attended at least one previous birding field trip. Associate Membership Associate members may not vote, hold office nor serve in a formal leadership role. They may participate in organization meetings and activities. Pitt student membership shall comprise of at least 75% of the total membership at all times. Associate members are subject to the same application, selection, membership maintenance, and membership removal policies as Pitt members. There is currently one associate member, John Hewitt of CMU. Officers The Birding and Ornithology Club shall have the following officers: president, vice president, business manager. Officers for the academic year are Sharon Amber Brownstein (president), Sabine Janssen (vice president), Lydia Olawaiye (business manager). Terms of Office Terms of office will begin and end on May 1 st. For example, the officers of the academic year will step down on May 1 st, 2018, and the officers will take over until May 1 st, Officer Responsibilities and Duties President shall plan, organize, and lead bird watching field trips. President shall manage correspondence with members, interested students, and the faculty adviser. Vice president will assist president in planning, organizing, and leading field trips. Vice president will assist president with electronic correspondence. Business manager will be responsible for any monetary concerns. Election of Officers (1) the nomination procedure Any member may nominate any other eligible member (including him/herself) for any of the three officer positions. Nominations will be public and oral. (2) the eligibility requirements for each office Any active member who will also be an active member in the following academic year (e.g., is not graduating and moving away) is eligible for all officer positions. (3) the election process including when, where and how the votes are to be cast, counted and announced Elections will take place towards the end of the spring term, before finals week. Elections will take place on our final birding field trip of the year unless exigent circumstances require some other time or place. President will reasonably promulgate the time and place of elections at least one week before elections take place. Voting will be public and oral. Votes will be counted by the president and winners publicly announced at the same time.

4 (4) the eligibility requirements for voting Voting privileges are limited to currently enrolled Pitt student members in good standing with the organization. A member cannot vote unless he/she has attended at least one previous birding field trip. (5) the vote required to elect an officer, e.g. a simple majority of votes cast versus a simple majority of eligible members A simple majority of votes cast is sufficient to elect an officer. (6) whether or not an officer can hold more than one position An officer may not hold more than one position. (7) whether or not absentee or proxy ballots can be cast Voting may be either in person or via . Anyone who wishes to cast an absentee ballot must submit their vote to the pittbirdingclub@gmail.com before the time and day of the election in order for it to be counted. (8) how contests of election results are decided and any other relevant policy or procedure In the case of ties, the winner will be decided by coin toss. The president is charged with providing the coin. Voting Powers of Officers All officers retain voting rights as long as they meet the same voting requirements that are applied to other members. Removal of Officers Only active members may move to remove an officer. Member must first make a good faith effort to resolve his/her motivating conflict with the officer. If after attempting to solve the problem this way the member feels that officer should still be removed, he/she must complain to the other officers via official Pitt , with the officer in question CC ed to the complaint. The other officers will then move to correct the problem. If the member is still dissatisfied, a special meeting will be called to vote on the officer s removal. Voting will take place according to the policies above, and a simple majority will decide; however, a quorum of 10 voting members will be required. If the member s proposal to remove the officer fails, he may not reinitiate removal procedures against the same officer. If the member s proposal succeeds, a replacement officer will be elected at the same time and place according to the officer election procedures described above. Vacancies A special election will be called to fill vacant officer positions within 3 weeks of the vacation of the position. Election procedures are the same as those described above for regular elections. Office term of new officer will be the remainder of the current term. Committees We will have no committees. Meetings President and vice president shall schedule meetings/field trips. The times and places of meetings/field trips will be promulgated via the official Birding Club account

5 Members and prospective members may attend meetings. The quorum shall be one officer and one other active member. The president and vice president may call special meetings; at least 24 hours notice must be given via the club account. The president, or, in her absence, the vice president, shall be the chairperson and preside over all meetings. Finances The business manager shall be responsible for raising and managing any club money. Business manager will document any and all monetary matters and provide accurate and complete records to president on request. Business manager may spend club money only with the written approval of the president or vice president. The Birding Club shall fully comply with the University fundraising policies and procedures for registered student organizations. The organization will not maintain an outside bank account if it receives funding from Student Government Board. Publications Code In compliance with the Publications Code for Student Organizations, all publications of the organization will comply with current copywriter laws, be distributed according to policies and procedures, refrain from expressions that are considered obscene or libelous according to current statute, advocate or insight the material interference or physical disruption of the educational process of the peace, order and decorum of the campus, or that advocate or insight imminent, lawless action or the violent overthrow of the government and identify the organization as publisher and specify that the group is a registered student organization at the University of Pittsburgh. Adviser Adviser shall be retained from year to year unless an officer moves to change the adviser or the adviser becomes unable or unwilling to perform his/her duties. New advisers will be nominated and selected according to the same procedures as officers. Adviser will advise the club on scientific issues when needed. External Affiliations The club has no external affiliations. Bylaws During meetings/field trips all members shall act in a manner that is respectful to their fellow members, nature, and birds. If present, the president will preside over all meetings/field trips and decide what regions and trails will be explored; if the president is absent, the vice president shall assume these duties. Amendments To amend this constitution, an officer must propose the amendment and his/her rationale for proposing it to the other officers. If at least one other officer agrees that the amendment should be considered, the president shall call a special meeting to vote on the amendment.

6 Voting will follow the same procedures as for officers, but a quorum of 10 voting members will be required. No amendment shall take effect until the close of the current terms of office. All constitution additions, revisions and deletions must be reported to the SORC.