American Red Cross Southwest Washington Youth Council Constitution

Transcription

1 1 American Red Cross Southwest Washington Youth Council Constitution The mission of the American Red Cross is to prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. The role of the American Red Cross Southwest Washington Youth Council is to serve as the hub of the Southwest Washington Red Cross Youth. Approximately two members will be selected from every high school to serve on the Southwest Washington Youth Council. Members will report back to their Red Cross clubs about council news, as well as report to the council about club news. The Southwest Washington Youth Council will expand youth involvement in the mission of the American Red Cross. The Southwest Washington Red Cross Youth Council will accomplish this mission through activities organized by each of the council s five service committees: Blood Services, International Services, Service to Armed Forces, Health and Safety, and Disaster Services. In addition to these five service committees, two project committees will exist which will include a Leadership Development Conference committee, and a Youth Tea committee. (see pages 3 and 4 for descriptions of each committee s goals) Each member of the Southwest Washington Red Cross Youth Council is expected to participate in at least one service committee and one project committee. A committee Chair and Co-Chair will be assigned to each committee. Executive officers will not be allowed to Chair or Co-Chair any committee, but will be expected to oversee the committee and report back to the executive board on the progress of the committee. The executive officers will be made up of a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Historian. Executive officers are expected to meet at least once a month. (see page 2 for a description of the roles of each executive officer) Members who are interested in being executive officers must fill out an executive officer application. These applications will become available at the end of March and must be in by April 15 th. Senior members will review the applications and determine who is eligible to run for each position. Eligibility will be based on two main aspects including the application and amount of previous work done with the council. Elections will be held at the May meeting. New officers will assume their positions at the June meeting. New member applications will be available by the end of March, and must be in by May 1 st. New members will be expected to participate in new member orientation which will be held in June. Seniors are expected to find a new member from their high school to take their place on the council when they graduate. Applications turned in after the deadline will be considered on a case by case basis. Members who are not showing visible effort to maintain communication with the executive board, attend meetings and council events, or follow through with their committee duties, may be removed from the youth council. This will be based on an executive officer review of each council member every two months. Members may be removed with a majority rule by the executive board (3/5 of the executive members). A calendar of events is shown on page 5 and includes all of the events the council is expected to participate in throughout the year. A typical council meeting will follow the format shown on page 6.

2 2 Position and Committee Descriptions Executive Officers: President: Oversees all projects and committees Responsible for planning and scheduling events, setting Council meetings and agendas and conducting meetings Works with the chapter Youth Services Director to organize projects and activities. Vice President: Aide to the President Prepares agenda for Council meetings Ensures and updates all Council member paperwork and contact information Back up to Secretary Secretary: Records minutes at all Council meetings Types and presents minutes for adoption at council meeting and distributes via Historian: Shares all photos with chapter PR staff Ensures photo release information is documented Keeps a pictorial record of youth volunteer activities throughout the year. Compiles an annual yearbook Treasurer: Maintains funds for the Council Southwest Washington Chapter Board Members: Three positions, all full voting positions on the chapter Board of Directors Attend the Southwest Washington Red Cross Board of Directors meetings Share information about youth activities Inform the Youth Council about chapter activities Committees: Blood Services Committee Disaster Services Committee Health and Safety Services Committee International Services Committee Service to Armed Forces Committee Leadership Development Conference Committee Annual SW Washington Youth Council Tea Committee Committee Goals

3 3 Blood Services Mission: To increase youth awareness with blood services by increasing the amount of first time donors and blood drives with the youth, increasing blood donations, and decreasing deferrals. Priority Expectation: to put on the annual New Year s Eve Blood Drive Partnership with Pacific Northwest Blood Region Pint size heroes Red for life Involvement in youth blood drive campaigns o Warped Tour o Red Cross Racing o High School Blood Drive Challenge Disaster Services Mission: To increase awareness of disaster preparedness and disaster services in the community and to educate the youth through disaster services overview classes. Priority Expectation: At least one member attend each Emergency Services meeting Trick or Treat for Disaster Gatorade Drive Educate and train youth in disaster preparedness o Elementary school classes youth trained as disaster services volunteers Health and Safety Services Mission: To increase youth safety training and raise awareness of health and safety issues and programs in the youth. Mass CPR/First Aid training for youth Training as First Aid/CPR/AED instructors

4 4 CPR/First Aid training for Youth Council and clubs Safety Talks for elementary students Water safety for young during spring/summer International Services Mission: To increase awareness of international humanitarian law, promote international cooperation with youth in other countries, and participate in international initiatives. Priority Expectation: measles initiative in high schools and connecting with Red Cross clubs in other countries International Humanitarian Law training International pen pal relationship HIV/AIDS awareness Service to the Armed Forces Mission: To increase youth involvement and awareness in honoring and supporting veterans and active military members. Priority Expectations: Participation in the annual Veterans Day Parade; Make Cookies for Soldiers in December Letters of appreciation/holiday cards to armed forces overseas Veteran s Day Parade Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service volunteers

5 5 Calendar of Events (To be reviewed yearly) September 9/5 Council Meeting Council Set up October 10/3 Council Meeting Trick or Treat for Disaster Send Out New Member Applications April 4/3 Council Meeting Officer Applications Due Measles Initiative November 11/7 Council Meeting Veteran s Parade December 12/5 Council Meeting Cookies for Soldiers New Year s Eve Blood Drive January 1/2 Council Meeting LDC (Leadership Development Camp) February 2/6 Council Meeting Valentines for Veterans: Make valentine cards for veterans Real Heroes Breakfast: Club members can come and help set up, clean up, and escort people to their tables. This event is the chapter s main fundraiser and is a formal breakfast. March 3/6 Council Meeting Gatorade Drive at Chapter May 5/1 Council Meeting Council Applications Due Officer Elections Youth Tea June 6/5 Council Meeting Individual Volunteer Opportunities New Member Orientation Senior Send Off July Individual Volunteer Opportunities Disaster Fundraising Relay for Life Bonding Event August Individual Volunteer Opportunities Council Annual Planning Meeting

6 6 Youth Council Meeting Agenda Date Time Location I.Icebreaker II.Minute Approval III.Treasurer s Report IV.School News V.Old Business a. Topic 1 b. Topic 2 c. Topic 3 VI.Teambuilding VII.New Business a. Topic 1 b. Topic 2 c. Topic 3 VIII.Service Committee Meetings IX.Service Committee Meeting Reports a. Blood b. Disaster c. Health and Safety d. International Services e. Service to Armed Forces X.Project Committee Meetings XI.Project Committee Meeting Reports a. Leadership Development Conference b. Youth Tea

7 7 XII.Conclusion Amendments to Original Constitution I. Approximately two to five members are allowed from every representing club. No one individual shall be reviewed based on their school; unless however, the school is already representing the five member capacity. II. All representing members of the Youth Council shall be a part of both the Leadership Development Conference Committee and the Youth Tea and Fashion Show Committee while maintaining membership with one of the five service committees. III. All executives, including the President, shall be the chair of a service committee. It is up to the incumbent executive board to choose their positions. The council shall then be divided up equally among all service committees. A Co-Chair position shall only be given if a committee has grown over a member size of 7 people, including the Chairman. The position of the President shall be expanded as the Chair of all Committees as well as the Chair of his or her committee. IV. Committees are expected to review and update their mission every year by the November meeting to be presented to the Council. All Committees are also responsible to engage the council in one event annually. V. If a member is not participating in activities of the Council, he or she is subject to review by the executive board for a probation period of one month. The council member will be notified. At the end of the month, the executive board will vote; a 3/5 majority is needed to stay. If the member is an incumbent executive board member, an advisor will join the rest of the board in making a decision. VI. The Executive Board, if unable to meet outside of regular Council meetings, must meet either before or after the general meeting.

8 8 VII. The Youth Council must have at least one Advisor present at every meeting. The amount of Advisors shall not exceed a limit of 4. Applicants must be reviewed by an advisor and accepted by the President and the Executive board of the Council. If the limit is hit and the council feels that an addition another advisor is necessary, the person shall be admitted as a Co-Advisor with limited access to the Council until another advisor leaves duty; in which they may apply to fill the seat. VIII. The President is to schedule all meetings and events of the Youth Council with the aid of the Youth Services Director; meeting at a minimum of once a month. IX. The Youth Council Constitution must be reviewed annually by the November meeting. All amendments must be passed by a majority of the representatives present. If at a tie, it is the job of the executive board to decide. All amendments will go into effect at the November meeting of each year. All members must sign the constitution yearly. X. The role of the advisor is to add what they can to the council without overstepping their sphere of influence on the council. They are to be resources to the council. The role of an advisor will be reviewed as a perspective of commitment and not specific requirements met. However, the duties of an advisor are to be equivalent to that of a council member. The role of the advisor is not to be one of direct leadership.

9 9 SW Washington Red Cross Youth Council Constitution As members of the SW Washington Red Cross Youth Council we agree to abide by the following guidelines, and understand that failure to adhere to these guidelines may result in probation followed by expulsion from the council. Members must attend at least 80% of meetings and arrive on time Members are required to contact an officer or advisor if they will not be able to make a meeting Members are required to stay in contact through any possible means Members are required to complete their assigned tasks and attend events Three violations will result in probation for one month Receiving another violation during that month will result in expulsion from the council It is to be understood that the current youth council board will review every individual case and determine a path forward depending on the given situation. Contract I hereby abide to the constitution set forth by the SW Washington Red Cross Youth Council of the American Red Cross.