Ethiopian Students Association of Oklahoma State University (ESA-OSU) CONSTITUTION ARTICLE I

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1 Ethiopian Students Association of Oklahoma State University (ESA-OSU) CONSTITUTION ARTICLE I Name of Association: The name of this association shall be called The Ethiopian Students Association (ESA-OSU) hereinafter referred to as the association. Purpose: ARTICLE II To help new Ethiopian students adjust themselves to campus life To introduce the cultures, values, history and current development of Ethiopia to students and the community at large To create strong relations,among Ethiopian students and other communities throughout the United States To create a strong relations with other student and non-student associations To celebrate Ethiopian national festivals and events Officers: ARTICLE III Section 1: The executive committee shall compose the officers of the association, namely the president, treasurer, vice-president, and if necessary a secretary. Section 2: The officers of this association should be active participating fellows, having good relations with the members and other communities in the campus. Beside this, the officers should be full-time student of Oklahoma State University with at least a 2.0 grade point average. Section 3: The duties and responsibilities of the executive committee members: 3.1 The President: 1

2 3.1.1: The president shall be the chief executive of the association and shall preside over the executive committee and general assembly meetings : The president shall have a single vote during all votes, however incase of a tie the president s vote will determine the winner : The president shall have the power to appoint special committees to investigate any matter affecting the association : The president should represent the association in public gatherings university activities, communicating with the university concerned bodies, with other student associations and Ethiopian communities in the United States. 3.2 The Vice President: 3.2.1: The vice president shall represent the association in the absence of the President : The vice president shall perform all duties assigned to the office when the president is unable to act : The vice president shall perform those functions which are, from time to time, delegated to him/her by the president. 3.3 The Secretary: : The secretary shall be responsible for the general conduct of the association s correspondences and a liaison with other organizations and OSU departments : The secretary shall have the care and custody of the constitution; the members roll book, minutes book, manuscripts and archives belonging to the association : The secretary shall be responsible to file associational reports to the Department of Campus Life as outlined in Article VIII. 3.4 The Treasurer: : The treasurer shall receive all sums of money due or payable to the association and shall pay and disburse all sums of money due from or payable by the association : The treasurer shall keep up to date accounts of both receipts and payments : The treasurer shall keep receipts of all sums of money spent and issue receipts for all sums of money received. 2

3 Section 4: Elections 4.1 General Elections: 4.1.1: General elections shall be held within the first month Spring and Fall semesters each year : All members of the executive committee shall be elected during the general elections. 4.2 By-Elections: 4.2.1: By-elections shall be held any time of the year and no later than four (4) weeks after a post has fallen vacant. Section 5: Faculty Advisor 5.1 The faculty Advisor must be a full-time faculty or staff member at OSU and must have the approval of his department head or dean. 5.2 The faculty advisor is responsible for meeting with and advising the association, signing vouchers etc. ARTICLE IV Quorum: 1. 50% + 1 members shall form a quorum during any executive committee meeting. 2. In the event that a quorum is not formed at the first calling of a General Assembly meeting, any number shall form a quorum in a subsequent calling for the same meeting. This article is subject to the decision of the president. Membership: ARTICLE V Section 1: Ordinary Members Any person who is a citizen of Ethiopia and is a student, faculty or a staff member at Oklahoma State University, is eligible for the ordinary membership of the association, 3

4 Section 2: Associate Members 2.1 Associate memberships shall be granted to non-student relatives of ordinary members. Any other nationality, student or otherwise, shall be granted associate membership status upon a written request and an approval of 2/3 of the ordinary members 2.2 An associate member shall be entitled to all non-executive and nonvoting rights and privileges to which ordinary members are entitled, By-Laws: ARTICLE VI A by-law, relevant to and in harmony with the provisions of the constitution of the Ethiopian Student Association, shall be passed at any regular business meeting by two-thirds majority vote. Treasurer Duties 1. The treasurer shall not withdraw more than a total of $10.00 without the prior consent of the executive committee for his/her petty cash. 2. The executive committee shall not authorize the withdrawal of more than a total of $ without the prior consent of the general assembly. General Elections 1. All elections shall be by secret ballot and the winners shall be determined by simple majority. 2. Each member of the outgoing executive committee shall furnish a written annual report of the association on the day of the general elections. 3. All outgoing officers shall handover to the newly elected officers immediately after elections. By-Elections, Resignation 1. Any member of the executive committee shall resign upon a vote of no confidence by a two-third (2/3) majority of the active members present at the meeting. 2. Any member of the executive committee who wishes to resign shall do so in writing to the executive committee. 3. Any member of the executive committee who is absent from three (3) consecutive executive committee meetings without reasons that are not acceptable to the executive committee shall automatically lose the appropriate office and such an office shall be deemed vacant by the executive committee. 4

5 ARTICLE VII Reports to the Campus Life Office Section 1: At the beginning of the fall semester, Ethiopian Student Association shall report the name of its officers and advisors to the Department of Campus Life, 060 Student Union, and shall promptly report any changes that occur during the school year. Changes in officers and/or faculty advisor which occur during the year must be reported to the Department of Campus Life promptly in order that the associational records are kept current. Section 2: At the beginning of the fall semester, Ethiopian Student Association will file with the Department of Campus Life a signed Affirmation of Compliance. Section 3: The funds of Ethiopian Student Association will be deposited with the university banking services and these will be audited yearly, preferably at the time a new treasurer is installed. Section 4: It is understood that failure to submit such materials, either through continued negligence or willful omission, may result in the suspension of the charter/ of this association by the Committee of Student Organizations. ARTICLE VIII Amendment: The constitution or any part of it can be amended if and only if the amendment is approved 2/3 vote of ordinary members at the general assembly. Any idea of amendment can be presented to the general assembly if it gets the consent of at least 1/5 or ordinary members. All constitutional changes must be submitted to the Department of Campus Life, for approval by the Committee on Student Associations. 5