FASO Constitution

updated September 9, 2009

Article 1 – Official Club Name

Article 2 – Club Purpose

Article 3 – Membership

Article 4 – Membership Fees

Article 5 – The Executive Board and Comissioners

Article 6 – Club Advisor

Article 7 – Meetings

Article 8 – Disbursement of Funds

Article 9 – Amendments to the Club Constitution

 

Article 1: Official Club Name

The Filipino-American Student Organization of Notre Dame.

Article 2: Club Purpose

The purpose of the Filipino-American Student Organization are to promote awareness and appreciation of the Filipino culture, to act as a resource of Filipino culture for students and faculty, and to provide a comfortable setting for social interaction which in turn helps unify and strengthen the Filipino-American community with each other, as well as with the overall Notre Dame community, on the Notre Dame campus. The organization is also to maintain an active role in the Filipino community of the Michiana area.

Article 3: Membership

Section 3.01 Definition of Membership

A member shall be defined as anyone who has paid in full the membership fees as defined in Section 4.01.

Section 3.02 Membership Restrictions

Membership for the Filipino-American Student Organization shall be limited only to undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty, and staff from the University of Notre Dame, St. Mary's College, and Holy Cross College.

Section 3.03 Member Voting Privileges

Although faculty and staff are permitted to be members of the Filipino-American Student Organization, voting rights shall be strictly reserved for undergraduate and graduate students at the General Meetings. Faculty and staff also cannot run for office.

Section 3.04 Fully Privileged Members

Only undergraduates and graduates have the opportunity to become fully privileged members. Fully privileged members are members who have paid their membership fees in full by March 1st at 5:00pm at the Student Activities Office (therefore it mus be turned into the Filipino-American Student Organization Treasurer before this time) and therefore have full privilege to vote or run in that year's elections.

Article 4. Membership Fees

Section 4.01 Definition of Membership Fees

Fees for membership shall be $10 per school year. However, for some events, supplemental, out-of-pocket monies will periodically be requested of those participating (i.e. supplemental funds for a retreat or social activity).

Section 4.02 Collection of Membership Fees

The collection and accounting of membership fees shall be the responsibility of the club treasurer as described in Section 5.06 (c) and shall be done before March 1st at 5:00 pm in order for a member to be considered a fully privileged member.

 

Article 5. The Executive Board and Commissioners

Section 5.01 Definition of the Executive Board

The Executive Board consists of a President, two (2) Vice Presidents, a Secretary, and a Treasurer.

Section 5.02 Restrictions of the Executive Board

Only undergraduate students from the University of Notre Dame, St. Mary's College, and Holy Cross College can serve as a member of the Executive Board. Furthermore, a real majority (50% + 1 person) of those serving on the Executive Board shall be students from the University of Notre Dame.

Section 5.03 Duties of the Club President

(a) The Club President shall preside at all General Club Meetings, Executive Board meetings, and Officer meetings.

(b) The President shall act as chief representative and spokesperson of the Filipino-American Student Organization for the term he/she is elected.

(c) It shall be the responsibility of the President to draft and present the agenda for all meetings.

(d) In the term immediately after the one he/she is elected to, the President shall hold the position of President Emeritus on the Executive Board, which has voting privileges but is intended to be an advisory position.

Section 5.04 Duties of the Club Vice Presidents

(a) The Vice President shall preside over General Club Meetings, Executive Board Meetings, and Officer meetings in the absence of the Club President.

(b) The Vice Presidents are responsible for communication with the communities both on and off campus.

(c) From administration to administration, the additional duties of the Vice Presidents shall be defined as those delegated to them for the respective term by the President.

Section 5.05 Duties of the Club Secretary

(a) The secretary shall be responsible for taking minutes at all club meetings

(b) The secretary shall also be responsible for keeping club records and paperwork orderly during his/her term.

(c) The secretary shall be responsible for all mail (whether paper or electronic) sent to the club

(d) The secretary shall inform and remind members of club activities through both calendars, voice-mail, e-mail and other public relation propaganda.

(e) In the event that the Vice Presidents are unable to perform their duties, the Secretary shall take over their duties.

Section 5.06 Duties of the Club Treasurer

(a) The Treasurer shall be responsible for keeping a detailed record of club finances.

(b) The Treasurer shall also be required to periodically report on the financial status of the club.

(c) Collection of membership fees as mentioned in Section 4.02, shall be the responsibility of the Treasurer.

(d) In the event that the Secretary is unable to perform his/her duties, the Treasurer shall take over his/her duties.

Section 5.07 Duties of the Club Historian

(a) The Historian shall keep an up-to-date club website featuring all activities during the year.

(b) The Historian is to keep a record of the history of FASO.

(c) The Historian is responsible to keep records of FASO events through programs, photos, and videos that are to be shared with the community.

Section 5.08 Commissioners

Commissioner positions shall be chosen at the discretion of the officers for the school year. Commissioner positions can be combined to be one position from administration to administration. Only the Fiestang Filipino Commissioner can be split into multiple commissioner positions. Suggested commissioners are as follows:

* Food Commissioner

· Buy and prepare food for any events where food will be served.

· Fill out Temporary Food Service Permits.

· Fill out Food Module on SAOnline. Arrange catering for those events that require it. Must be Food Trained.

* Ate/Kuya Commissioner

· Keep in close contact with freshmen throughout the year.

· Organize Ate/Kuya activities.

· Create committee of one freshman representative from each dorm.

* Community Commissioner

· Attend Filipino-American Association of Michiana meetings.

· Inform both organizations of the other's events and plans.

* Dance Commissioner

· Schedule dance practices: place, date, time, and instructors.

· Decide which dances are taught.

· Commissioners do not need to know the dances.

· Dancers themselves decide who performs.

* Fiestang Filipino Commissioner(s)

· Organize and plan Fiestang Filipino.

· Delegate responsibilities and organize committees in preparation of Fiestang Filipino.

* Social Commissioner

· Plan and schedule events other than general meetings.

· Inform members of upcoming conventions or retreats during meetings and take names and fees of those wishing to attend.

· Head club retention efforts by creating innovative strategies to track and maintain club membership. Suggested events include annual events such as: Halo-Halloween, Easter Brunch, Lumpia Nights, Simbang Gabi, Karaoke Nights, Dining Hall Meals, Mass/Grotto Trips, A Day Retreat,

* Service Commissioner

· Organize the mandated club service event each semester.

· Prepare various service programs and opportunities for the FASO community.

* Spiritual Commissioner

· Organize FASO retreats and spiritual opportunities for the FASO community.

· Help to grow the spirituality of the community.

Section 5.09 Election of the Executive Board

The executive board shall be elected by the general membership each year after the membership due date on March 1 at 5 pm. In all cases, a real majority must win (50% + 1 person). In the event of a re-run (which is done in the case a real majority is not obtained), votes must be retaken and a simple majority (candidates with the highest number of votes) shall fill the office. In the case of additional board members, candidates with the highest number of votes shall fill the office.

Section 5.10 Selection of Commissioners

Those wishing to become commissioners shall fill out an application indicating the position they wish to hold and reasons why they should be chosen. The General Members vote to select the commissioners. Commissioners shall be chosen by a simple majority vote plus two (+2) (ie: If a vote is 15-16-1, a re-run election will required in order to win the position. A re-run is not required if the vote was 15-17-0).

Section 5.11 Impeachment of Officers

Impeachment of officers shall be done by a real majority vote (50% + 1 person) by the club and approved by the Club Advisor.

Section 5.12 Filling of Vacancies

In the event where a club office is vacated during the school year, the Executive Board shall nominate candidates and receive approval from the general membership (50% + 1 person).

Section 5.13 Election Process

Election candidates can run as individuals. In no event is it allowed for a group to run as a ticket. (ie: An executive ticket consisting of a President, 2 Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer candidates are not allowed, as well as any combinations of tickets) The only positions in which multiple candidates can run together are the Vice President positions and the Fiestang Commissioner positions. In the case that a person is running individually for either of these positions and receives the proper vote count, they will fill the position individually for that administration.

Article 6. Club Advisor

Section 6.01 Restrictions upon the Club Advisor position

The Club Advisor must be a faculty or administrative staff member from the University of Notre Dame. The Club advisor shall not have voting privileges.

Section 6.02 Duties of the Club Advisor

(a) The Club Advisor shall approve all club expenditures via the club treasurer.

(b) The Advisor shall also consult the officers on club matters.

Section 6.03 Selection of the Club Advisor

The Club Advisor shall be nominated by the Executive officers by unanimous vote.

Article 7: Meetings

Section 7.01 General meetings

General meetings shall be held monthly at a time and place to be determined by the Executive Board.

Section 7.02 Executive Meetings

Executive meetings shall be held weekly at a time and place to be determined by the officers.

Section 7.03 Definition of Quorum

Quorum at all the above stated meetings shall be half of the active membership + 1.

Section 7.04 Emergency Meetings

Any member of the executive board and the advisor has the authority to call emergency meetings.

 

Article 8: Disbursement of Funds

All disbursement of funds must be approved by the President and Treasurer and signed by the advisor.

 

Article 9: Amendments to the Club Constitution

Any amendments to the club constitution shall be officially proposed by the Executive Board and will be approved by 2/3 majority by the general membership. Any amendments or changes to the Constitution must be submitted in writing to the Student Activities Office.