UNICEF at UGA Constitution Article I: Club Name The club name, UNICEF at UGA, conveys a group of UGA students coming together to spread awareness about UNICEF on the University of Georgia campus. UNICEF at UGA does not claim to be an organization created by UNICEF, the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, or the University of Georgia. It is a registered student run organization at the University of Georgia and a registered Campus Initiative Group. (All Campus Initiative Groups are recognized by the U.S. Fund for UNICEF as clubs founded and run by college and university students at their respective institutions to contribute to the work of UNICEF.) Article II: Statement of Purpose As a quickly growing grassroots movement, UNICEF s Campus Initiative at UGA s establishment is rooted in the firm belief that college students have the capabilities to bring positive change to the lives of children all over the world. In particular, UNICEF at UGA supports UNICEF s child survival work in over 150 countries. UNICEF at UGA emphasizes three central realms of interest: Education, Advocacy, and Fundraising. Through such areas of action, students have the opportunity to participate in community service that benefits children locally and internationally, spread awareness of UNICEF s work and global issues affecting children, and/or fund raise to support UNICEF s aid programs both on and off campus. Education: Awareness is a key component of UNICEF at UGA s campus programming. As delegates and representatives of UNICEF, it is crucial to educate our members, our campus, and our community about UNICEF s global movement for child survival. Such educational outlets include, but are not limited to: lectures, guest speakers, movies or discussions, local volunteer work which also includes special interest categories which focus on issues central to child survival, such as early childhood health, immunization, education, HIV/AIDS, and child protection and emergencies. Direct service is great way to grasp the importance of these issues in the United States. Advocacy: Education and political advocacy are the most crucial forms of promoting awareness to UNICEF s work. Educational advocacy includes activities that raise awareness about child survival issues. Political advocacy involves communicating with public officials or the general public to affect legislation and public policy. UNICEF's political advocacy efforts are highly structured and overseen by the U.S. Fund for UNICEF s Office of Public Policy and Advocacy. UNICEF at UGA is only engaged in political advocacy on behalf of UNICEF when the public is encouraged to participate in UNICEF supported legislation.
Fundraising: This is a critical component of the Campus Initiative Club work with UNICEF at UGA and essential to UNICEF s global success. Through fundraising efforts on and off campus and in the Athens Clarke County Area, participating in the Trick or Treat for UNICEF Campaign, raising funds online, et cetera, UNICEF at UGA works to advance the goals of UNICEF s global efforts. Article III: Structure To fulfill its goals, UNICEF at UGA is divided into three committees: Community Outreach Committee, Awareness and Publicity Committee, and Fundraising Committee. The President, Vice President, and Treasurer lead and manage the club, while the Chair of Community Outreach, Chair of Awareness and Publicity, and Chair of Fundraising oversee their respective committees. A total of four themes per academic year, translating as two themes per semester, should be created in order to promote excitement outside of the club, and more importantly, focus and organization within the club. Events and activities should have relevance to the theme of that respective period of that semester. Article IV: Officer Positions and Responsibilities President/Co Presidents* Responsibilities include: Leading UNICEF at UGA, which also includes being very active in all events; planning and runing the general and officer meetings; overseeing the committees; delegating responsibilities to other officers and members; managing the club e mail and mailing list accounts; tracking growth and communicating with new and continuing members; making room reservations; delegating himself/herself or another officer to maintain the club website and maintain its content; managing the club financial account with the Treasurer; attending all required workshops; checking club mail box weekly; e mailing mailing list weekly about upcoming events and meetings; keeping constitution updated; keeping President s manual updated; collaborating with other organizations and clubs; communicating frequently with the faculty advisor and U.S. Fund for UNICEF Campus Initiative representative. Vice President/Co Vice Presidents Responsibilities include: Participating actively in all events; assisting President in planning the officer meeting agendas; overseeing the committees; managing the club email and mailing list accounts; e mailing mailing list weekly about upcoming events and meetings; tracking growth and communicating with new and continuing members; making room reservations; assisting President and Treasurer in managing the club financial account; keeping minutes of officer meetings; creating and updating a calendar of events; keeping Vice President s manual updated; running meetings and undertaking relevant actions in the absence of the President. Treasurer Responsibilities include: Overseeing and managing all financial affairs within the club; manging the club bank account; overseeing and presenting budgets, accounts and financial statements to the President, Vice President, Committee Chairs, and Board; participating actively in all events; ensuring that record keeping and accounts meet the conditions of those funding or
statutory bodies and are recorded correctly and in a timely manner; ensuring compliance within University of Georgia s Center for Student Organization s relevant legislation regarding club funding; delegating responsibilities to other officers and members, specifically the financial representatives of each committee; keeping the Treasurer s manual updated; communicating with the U.S. Fund for UNICEF Campus Initiative representative about donation strategies and other financial philanthropic actions. Chair(s) of Fundraising Responsibilities include: Leading the Fundraising Committee; being very active in all fundraisers and major club events; organizing at least three fundraisers per semester; making contacts for donations; applying for campus funding; assisting President and Vice President in managing club financial account; providing a summary of committee activities via e mail to the President and Vice President after each general meeting; completing Event Log for each fundraiser; keeping officer manual updated. Chair(s) of Community Outreach Responsibilities include: Leading the Community Outreach Committee; actively participating in all community service and outreach as well as major club events; creating partnerships and collaborating with other youth focused organizations; organizing at least three different child based community service projects per semester relating to the bi semester theme; creating activities to do with local children; providing a summary of committee activities via e mail to the President and Vice President after each general meeting; completing Event Log for each community service event; keep officer manual updated. partnership Chair(s) of Awareness and Publicity Responsibilities include: Leading the Awareness and Publicity Committee; actively participating in all awareness and publicity activities and major club events; organizing at least one campus wide awareness and publicity event per semester; recruit new members; making and setting up various forms of propaganda announcing meetings and events; publicizing events in campus media; creating presentations to educate the club about local and global issues related to the quarterly theme; collaborating with other organizations and clubs; providing a summary of committee activities via email to the President and Vice President after each general meeting; completing Event Log for each awareness and publicity event; keeping officer manual updated. * In addition to these responsibilities during the academic year, the newly elected President must fulfill the following summer duties: Summer Officer Transitions: The newly elected President must attend the spring or summer UGA Center for Student Organization Re Registration meeting in order to register the club. The President must also include the names of newly elected officers on the re registration form and ensure that each officer signs it by the end of June. On Campus Reservations: Fall/Winter Activity Fair Reservations: The President must visit the UGA Scheduling Office to make reservations for Fall/Winter Activity Fair tabling spaces
at first availability. Room Reservations: The President must visit the UGA Center of Student Organizations Office upon the opening of room reservation period in Mid March to place a tentative room reservation for meetings during Fall and Spring Semesters of the next academic year. The meeting room needs to be reserved for all 16 18 weeks of the semester for at least one hour per week. The room must have a computer (laptop brought in by the student members of the orginzation). By early July, the President must confirm the meeting room reservation at the UGA Center for Student Organizations Office and sign the appropriate forms. Annual Club Re Registration: By the end of the summer (August), the President must attend the annual re registration on campus meeting in Tate Student Center and complete the annual club re registration forms during the re registration meeting and online at http://www.uga.edu/stuorgs/index.html. Club E mail and Mailing List Account: Throughout the summer, the President must maintain the club e mail and mailing list account. Article V: Officer Terms, Conditions, Elections, and Impeachment Officer Terms: There may be Co Presidents, Co Vice Presidents, and Co Chairs in any given academic year. There shall not be more than two persons occupying an officer position. There shall not be more than one person acting as Treasurer. A person cannot hold more than one officer position in any given academic year. All officers are responsible for fulfilling their respective officer duties for the fall and spring semesters of the academic year upholding ethical behavior and professional conduct, and abiding by the rules and regulations set forth in the most up to date UGA club re registration document. An officer s term officially starts in August of the year he/she will hold the position and officially ends in May of that academic year. Officer Conditions: Should an officer be absent for one semester due to reasons deemed excusable by the rest of the officer board (e.g. studying abroad), he/she may be granted On Leave Status (OLS) for that particular semester and may resume his/her responsibilities upon returning. During the absence, a fellow officer shall temporarily fill in. Should an officer be absent for longer than a semester, he/she may lose his/her position; the decision to withdraw an officer on the basis of an absence lasting for more than one semester shall be up to the discretion of the rest of the officer board. Elections: To be eligible for an officer position, all persons interested must have been an active club member (defined as participation in most of the club events and general meetings) for at least one semester, and should maintain at least a 3.0 GPA. All eligible persons interested must submit an officer application form by the end of the second week of Spring Semester and must undergo an interview with all current officers that shall take place between third through the fifth
week of that Spring Semester. Should a current officer chose to re run or run for a different position, he/she must also submit an officer application form by the end of the second week of Spring Semester and must also undergo the same interview provided to new applicants. Current officers interested in re running or running for a different position shall not be allowed to vote for themselves or be involved in the interview process for the position of which they are running. To be eligible for presidency, a person must have served as a club officer for at least one year. By the end of the eighth week of Spring Semester, a team of officers for the following academic year shall be elected by the officer board using the principle of majority rule. During the remainder of Spring Semester, the new officers shall attend all officer meetings and train for their new positions. Off time elections shall only take place when an officer position becomes unfilled or there is a need to induct a co officer. Implementation of an off time election shall be up to the discretion of the officer board; however, all eligible persons shall still be required to submit an officer application and undergo the interview process. Off time elections can only take place during Fall Semester. Conflict, Impeachment, and Removal: If there are conflicts/problems within the officer board at any given time, the Rules of Order should be implemented for a peaceful resolution. When meetings to resolve the conflicts/problems are called for, full and timely attendance is required of every officer. The decision to impeach an officer on the basis of misconduct shall be up to the discretion of the officer board. Misconduct includes, but shall not be limited to: stealing from/during club fundraising or tabling events, stealing from the club financial account, using club funds inappropriately, falsifying the club financial logbook, disrespecting fellow officers or club members, damaging the reputation of UNICEF, evading officer responsibilities, and breaking one or more of the rules and regulations set forth in the most up to date UGA club re registration document. The impeachment process is as follows: first, all current officers, including the defendant officer, must agree on a date and time for a meeting (full and timely attendance is required of every officer for that meeting); second, the meeting must operate according to the Rules of Order and shall begin with one officer initiating a motion to question and a discussion over the defendant officer regarding his/her misconduct (at least one other officer must move to second the motion); third, the defendant officer must respond to all questioning and discussion; fourth, the defendant officer shall provide his/her final statements before exiting the room to allow for a closed voting session among the rest of the officers; fifth, one officer shall call for a motion to vote to impeach the defendant officer and at least one other officer must move to second the motion; finally, a closed voting session shall take place and the result, by a majority vote, shall be formally announced to the defendant officer once he/she is called back into the room. Only by a majority rule shall an officer be removed from his/her position. Article VI: Membership and Recruitment All UGA students, staff and faculty are welcome to join UNICEF at UGA. Non university
people can be club participants as Associate Members who cannot vote or be an officer. Members are highly encouraged to attend all general meetings, join a committee, and participate in club events. Although members are not required to remain in one committee for an entire year, they are expected to stay within a committee for the full semester before joining another one the following semester. Beyond his/her responsibilities within his/her commitment to his/her respective committee, a member is encouraged to engage in the activities of other committees. Members will be recruited during Fall and Winter Activity Fairs held in the Fall Semester and beginning of Spring Semester, as well as the first three weeks of the Fall and Spring Semesters. However, because UNICEF for UGA s new member recruitment encourages year round informal recruitment, various recruitment events will be held throughout the spring and fall semesters. Flyers, announcements in classes, tabling, and other outlets shall be used for recruitment. New members may join at any time throughout the school year after submitting an application that includes general contact information, a list of personal and club goals for the year, the Anti Harassment Policy, et cetera. Upon submitting an official membership application, a five dollar donation fee will be collected from the Official New Member. Article VII: Non Discrimination and Hazing UNICEF at UGA s club membership and all privileges, including voting and officer positions, shall not be denied to any individual on the basis of age, gender, ethnicity, color, national origin, sexual orientation, race, religion, disability, or veteran status; and moreover, must be extended as stated in the University of Georgia Non Discrimination and Anti Harassment Policy. The University of Georgia and UNICEF at UGA does not condone hazing in any form. Hazing is defined as any intentional, negligent, or reckless action, activity or situation that causes another pain, embarrassment, ridicule or harassment, regardless of the individual s willingness to participate. Article VIII: General and Officer Meetings There shall be five general meetings per semester. The meetings shall take place during every second week of every month in the semester, excluding exam week. General meetings shall not last less than thirty minutes and shall not run for more than one and one half hours. Each general meeting agenda shall entail an interactive educational activity for all members to participate in, a presentation or video, a description of upcoming events, and committee meetings. The officer board shall hold officer meetings as reasonably necessary to ensure the success of the club. All officers must be present at each officer and general meeting; granting excused absences shall be up to the discretion of the rest of the officer board. General and officer meetings shall be conducted in a semi formal manner. They shall be run according to a pre established agenda. All officers and members may be recognized to speak at all times. For general meetings, a quorum shall consist of at least ten voting members present in order to conduct any business decisions within the organizations, including but not limited to, elections, amendments, fiscal decisions, et cetera.
Article IX: Faculty Advisors UNICEF at UGA is student led organization that educates, advocates, and fundraises for the benefit of UNICEF in the United States. UNICEF at UGA requires a partnership with an appropriate ally on campus to serve as the on campus advisor. An advisor can be anyone employed by the school as a member of the faculty, staff or administration. Advisors are essential to the success of the student groups, as they provide consistency and sustainability to the Clubs; however, Advisors should not serve as the primary contact or leader of the group. They should serve, rather, as a mentor, coach, or guide. An advisor s role is defined as follows: Meet with student leaders on a monthly or at least regular basis. Provide interpretation of campus policies and guidance on navigating the schools campus activity environment. Provide help with annual planning and goal setting. Provide help with event planning. Provide guidance and oversight of annual leadership transition. Provide help with access to campus and community resources. Article X: Financial Account The names of the President, Vice President, Treasurer, and the Faculty Advisor, shall appear in the most up to date UGA club re registration document. A fifth club signer is optional, but the person designated must be a current officer. Only those officers whose names and signatures appear in the club re registration document, which includes the Faculty Advisor, shall have permission to access the club financial account. Only the President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Faculty Advisor can deposit money and checks, as well as withdraw money for donations and reimbursements. The club financial account shall be used to hold all funds raised for UNICEF donations and club expenses. All club financial activities shall be tracked using the club financial logbook. The logbook shall be maintained by the President, Vice President, and Treasurer, and may be reviewed by any current officer at any time upon request. Donations, reimbursements, and club spending must be approved by more than half of the officer board. Should the club become defunct, all remaining funds in the club financial account must be donated to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF within one month of the termination of the club. Article XI: Amendments and Ratification Amendments to the Constitution shall be made by the officer board through the principle of majority rule. An amendment must be approved by more than half of the officer board in order to be ratified.