CONSTITUTION OF THE ERAU STUDENT SECTION OF BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF AMERICA Article I. ORGANIZATION Section 1.01 Name (a) The name of this organization shall be Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBS). Section 1.02 Purpose (a) To provide an organized group for individuals to meet fellow students interested in the objectives of BBBS. Also, to promote a support group, provide instruction and to gather members together in a social setting. The purpose of this organization is to work closely with the members of Big Brothers and Big Sisters located in Prescott, Arizona to recruit, foster, and advance the individual members, present and future, in their endeavors to fulfill the need for mentors to the community youth. This organization will work closely with the already established Big Brothers and Big Sisters national and local organization. Article II. MEMBERSHIP Section 2.01 Active members shall be: (a) A registered ERAU student, (b) In good academic standing with a GPA not below 2.0/4.0. (c) Voting student members who also have an opportunity of holding office. Section 2.02 Associate members shall be: (a) ERAU Faculty or Staff members, or friends/relatives of Active members, (b) Members not eligible to hold office. (c) Members eligible to vote on day-to-day business, excluding elections. (d) Members not eligible to benefit from SGA funding. Section 2.03 Membership Responsibilities include: (a) Respecting and obeying this constitution, (b) Respecting each member of the organization, (c) Active participation in club functions, defined as attendance of one meeting per semester, (d) Upholding the good name of the organization, (e) Assisting with the improvement of the organization, Section 2.04 Probation
(a) For all members not meeting the Membership Responsibilities as defined in Section 3 for one semester, they will be placed on Probation within BBBS. Probation will be defined as changing membership status from Active to Associate, and will be a period of no longer than one semester. At the end of the probationary period, members meeting the requirement will be placed back at Active membership status. Those not meeting the requirement will no longer be a member of BBBS, and will have the opportunity to rejoin the organization after a period of one semester. Section 2.05 Legal Liabilities (a) Completing all necessary precautions (if necessary) prior to participating in organization activities. It is highly recommended for each member to obtain his/her own personal health/life insurance prior to participating club activities. (If applicable). Article III. ORGANIZATION MEETINGS Section 3.01 Announcement of Meetings (a) Each meeting will be announced through calendar reminder at least one day prior to the set meeting day. Section 3.02 Frequency (a) Meetings will be held at least once per month, or at a different frequency deemed appropriate by the existing officers. Article IV. OFFICERS Section 4.01 Executive Officers The executive officers of the Student Section shall consist of the following: (a) President (b) Vice President (c) Secretary (d) Treasurer Article V. DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS Section 5.01 President The President of Big Brothers Big Sisters shall: (a) Preside at all meetings of the Student Section. (b) Prepare the annual and quarterly reports of this Student Section s activities, obtain the BBBS Counselor s and, if applicable, the Faculty Advisor s countersignature(s) and submit the reports to the Student Activities Committee Regional Coordinator prior to the close of the school year or May 1, whichever comes first. (c) Assume all other executive duties not otherwise delegated. Section 5.02 Vice President The Vice President of BBBS shall:
(a) Assume the President s duties in the event of the President s absence. (b) Coordinate the academic and social activities of the organization, as well as those between this and other organizations. (c) Shall be responsible for recruiting new members. Section 5.03 Secretary The Secretary of BBBS shall: (a) Be responsible for the maintenance of the organization s records. (b) Keep a current roster of membership. (c) Keep a calendar of all events. (d) Co-sign all announcements, documents, and records in conjunction with the President. (e) Take attendance at each meeting. (f) Keep minutes of each meeting and distribute them to each member in a timely manner. (g) Keep track of incoming correspondence including email and physical mail Section 5.04 Treasurer The Treasurer of BBBS shall: (a) Be responsible for all financial records. (b) Give a report of the organizations financial status at least once per month. (c) Execute all bank transactions. (d) Present a written financial status to the Executive Officers/Board each semester. (e) Co-sign all financial transactions in conjunction with the President. Article VI. QUORUM, NOMINATIONS, ELECTIONS, TERMS OF OFFICE, OFFICER VACANCIES Section 6.01 Quorum (a) A quorum shall consist of 2/3 of the active membership and must be present at the election meeting. (b) Absentee ballots will be accepted prior to the start of the election meeting and will count toward the election. Section 6.02 Nomination Procedures (a) Two weeks prior to elections, active members shall hold open nominations. To be eligible for office, candidates must meet the following criteria: (i) Shall be a registered student at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. (ii) Candidates shall be in good academic standing with the University. (iii) Candidates shall give a presentation to the voting body prior to elections. Section 6.03 Terms of Office (a) Officers will maintain their position for one academic year. (b) All Executive Officers have the option to run for office again.
(c) If officers are unable to maintain their position during the summer, the club will be temporarily inactive. Section 6.04 Officer Vacancies (a) The current officers will call an emergency Student Section election meeting to fill officer vacancies until the next regular election meeting takes place. Section 6.05 Elections (a) During the election meeting, the BBBS Faculty Representative shall be present in the event that a tie-breaking vote is required. In the event that the BBBS Faculty Representative cannot be present, the Executive Officers will vote amongst themselves to decide the victor. (i) If the vote of the Executive Officers result in a further tie, the President shall decide the victor through their own vote. (b) If no nominees for a given position have been received by the day of the election meeting, a second nomination period will begin for the vacant position, leading to a second vote solely to fill the vacant position. Article VII. IMPEACHMENT Section 7.01 Procedure If an officer fails to fulfill his/her duties, he/she shall be impeached. (a) Members of the Executive Officers/Board may be impeached by 2/3 of the voting membership. (b) Members of the Executive Officers/Board may be impeached by a unanimous vote of the remaining Executives. Article VIII. AMENDMENTS Section 8.01 Recommendations Recommendations must be submitted in written format at the opening of any meeting. Section 8.02 Procedure (a) Recommendations will be read to the membership of the Student Section after the Executive Officers/Board completes its review. Section 8.03 Voting and Acceptance (a) Upon approval of the Executive Officers/Board, an amendment must be ratified by 2/3 of the voting membership. Article IX. Non-Discrimination Clause:
Eligibility for membership or appointed or elected student officer positions may not be limited on the basis of race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, color, age, gender, gender identity, marital status, citizenship, sexual orientation, or disability. The organization shall have no rules or policies that discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, color, age, gender, gender identity, marital status, citizenship, sexual orientation, or disability. Section 9.01 National Standards Article X. University policy clause: This organization is a recognized student organization at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott and adheres to all campus policies as set forth by Student Activities & Campus Events. Article XI. BY-LAWS Where questions of by-laws arise, the SGA constitution supersedes the by-laws in question.