CONSTITUTION OF NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY WOMEN FILMMAKERS ALLIANCE

Transcription

1 CONSTITUTION OF NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY WOMEN FILMMAKERS ALLIANCE ARTICLE 1: Name The official name of this organization is the Northwestern University Women Filmmakers Alliance. Subsequently in this document it will be known as NUWFA. ARTICLE II: Mission Statement NUWFA seeks to unify, educate, and promote filmmakers who identify as women, trans, and/or gender nonconforming not only within the Northwestern community, but also beyond the educational sphere. We accomplish these goals by encouraging this community's involvement as leaders in Radio/Television/Film at Northwestern and promoting the development of visual media created by filmmakers excluded from the structures of the patriarchal film community. In addition to behind the scenes, NUWFA also advocates for dynamic representations of women, trans, and/or gender nonconforming people on the screen. ARTICLE III: Executive Board A) General duties of Executive Board members: a. All members are expected to attend weekly scheduled board meetings. After two missed meetings in a quarter, the board member will be issued a warning by the president(s). After three missed meetings, the board member will officially be on probation and is expected to make up the missed meeting time by three hours of service at fundraising or volunteering events. The specific manner of service will be determined in a meeting with the board member and the president(s). Anyone in the probationary period who fails to complete the three hours of additional service by the end of the following quarter will be dismissed from the board. b. All events sponsored by NUWFA are mandatory for members to attend. If a board member has a conflict, they must notify the president(s) at least 24 hours in advance. It is then under the president(s) s discretion as to whether or not the absence will be excused. Unexcused absences will warrant a meeting with the president(s) to determine any disciplinary actions. c. All members must spend at least one day on set for the NUWFA Grant, or roughly twelve hours during pre or post production. B) Specific positions and duties of the Executive Board listed here: 1) The President(s) shall: a. be responsible for the general direction of the

2 organization b. be the official spokesperson(s) for the organization and the Executive Board c. preside over meetings; enforce deadlines; ensure policy implementation d. serve as the official liaison between NUWFA and the School of Communication e. delegate additional responsibilities as they become necessary f. respond to all s and opportunities in a timely and professional manner 2) The Treasurer shall: a. be responsible for the general direction of all financial obligations of the organization b. comply with all SOFO rules and regulations c. assist Fundraising Chairs with the ASG funding applications to keep track of how much money NUWFA needs and is receiving 3) The Fundraising Chairs shall: a. be responsible for overseeing all NUWFA fundraising efforts to make sure there are enough funds raised annually for workshops and the annual Industry Panel b. oversee all applications for funds from the Radio/TV/Film Department and ASG c. create and execute at least one project per quarter that raises NUWFA additional funding 4) The Production Chairs shall: a. oversee the NUWFA Grant, meeting with recipients at least once a month and acting as a liaison between the grant recipients and the board b. coordinate advertising and promotion of the NUWFA Grant c. preside over the NUWFA Grant process creating written applications, reserving necessary rooms, scheduling the pitches, etc. d. monitor previous grant recipients and their production progress e. provide feedback to submissions that did not receive the grant f. be responsible for NUWFA archives consisting of, but not excluded to, digital or DVD copies of past NUWFA Grants g. be responsible for producing any publicity videos for events, along with original education production content (at least 1 per quarter) for the NUWFA website and Facebook page.

3 5) The Industry Chairs shall: a. coordinate and implement at least one event per quarter with a lecturer, open to the public, and be responsible for a follow up thank you note b. organize and oversee the annual Spring Industry Panel c. make all arrangements for these events including travel and hotel for the speakers, booking a room for the event, necessary AV equipment, food, and thank you gifts e. Keep a database of past speakers and contacts for potential future events f. plan and run NUWFA s Wildcats in LA, an 8 week program g. serve as a liaison between NUWFA and Northwestern Alumni. 6) The Programming Chairs shall: a. coordinate and implement at least two workshop or outreach events per quarter, open to the public b. make all arrangements for the workshop event including booking rooms, necessary equipment, food and/or workshop teacher(s) c. serve as the liaison between members of the board and the RTVF community d. work with faculty to promote gender equality in the classroom e. connect students with both on campus upperclasswomen and alumni mentors f. facilitate NUWFA s General Membership Program 7) The Public Relations Chair shall: a. oversee general publicity for NUWFA and its events b. oversee and maintain the NUWFA website and social media outlets c. assist in the PR for the NUWFA Grant d. design merchandise and arrange orders 8) The Board Manager shall: a. take minutes at all meetings and subsequently send these out to members at the end of every meeting. b. update the NUWFA calendar and shared RTVF student group calendar based on events brought up during or outside of meetings. c. communicate with the PR chair and other NUWFA committees to create Facebook events in a timely manner. C) Officer Selection Process 1) Officer selection will occur at the end of winter quarter, except for presidential elections which will occur mid winter quarter. Each officer will serve a one year term. 2) Officers will be subject to the re selection process should they wish to remain on the board after more than one year.

4 3) President(s) selection will be decided by an application process and then deliberation between the outgoing president(s). 4) Prospective officers will complete both a written and verbal application, as devised by the new president(s). 5) The new president(s) holds petitions for the new executive board to select officers. 6) If a board member must drop out during the school year, the president(s) will use their discretion as to whether or not to replace that position. If a replacement must be found, the board will hold petitions, first internally, for that single position, and then externally. F) Impeachment Proceedings 1) All petitions for impeachment should be submitted to the president(s) to discuss concerns. The president(s) will then give a warning to the member under inquiry. 2) If improvement has not been shown within 2 weeks, the president(s) will bring concerns to the board for a vote of removal. 3) Before the vote, the member under inquiry will have a chance to defend themselves to the board. They will then leave the room during the vote. A member can only be impeached with a 3/4 vote of the board. 4) In the event that a president is brought up for impeachment, a public relations chair will oversee these responsibilities. ARTICLE IV: The NUWFA Grant A) In spring of every year, NUWFA will give money to students for use in the production of a short film in which a woman, trans, and/or gender nonconforming student is the writer or director. B) The Grant must be completed and ready for screening by the date agreed upon at the time funds are distributed. C) Board members are not eligible to pitch. D) Within a week of selecting a grant, the production chairs will coordinate a meeting with the recipients to provide feedback and give them the grant information packet. All members of the board must also be available to provide information relevant to their chair s expertise if requested. E) Funds awarded to the NUWFA Grant are subject to be repossessed by the group if not utilized by the recipients by a date agreed upon by the board and the grant recipients. ARTICLE V: Amending Procedures A) This constitution can be ratified by a majority vote of the board. B) All major additions or changes to the procedures of NUWFA must come before membership for a majority vote. ARTICLE VI:

5 A) NUWFA complies with Northwestern University s position on student behavior and hazing as it appears in this position statement: It is the responsibility of all students/student organizations to encourage an atmosphere of learning, social responsibility, and respect for human dignity and to provide positive influences and constructive development for members and aspiring members. Students/organizations are expected to use good judgment to determine the abilities of individual students as they relate to organization activities and requirements. If a healthy team or organization is being created and the values and purpose of the organization are being upheld, chances are the organization will not have to worry about whether or not an activity is hazing. Hazing leads to dysfunction within the organization and is ineffective at creating teamwork, respect, and unity, and it is an unproductive and hazardous custom that is forbidden by the University.