Gymnastics Club Constitution

Article I. Name

1. The name of the club shall be "The Gymnastics Club of ND, SMC, & HCC"

Article II. Purpose of the Club

1. To pursue the sport of gymnastics through skill development in daily practices and through competition with clubs and teams from other universities.
2. To provide a relaxed and social atmosphere in which members of any and all levels of gymnastics experience can improve their skills while enjoying the company of those sharing the same interest in gymnastics.

Article III. Membership

1. The Gymnastics Club of ND, SMC, & HCC is open to any and all Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s and Holy Cross undergraduate and graduate students, as well as faculty and staff.
2. Faculty and staff members will be considered “associate members” of the Club do not have voting rights.
3. Alumni, parents, and community members are not allowed membership in the club

Article IV. Membership Fees

1. All members are required to pay the dues of at least $30 (although the official amount will be agreed upon by the club officers at the beginning of each year) by the first week of October.  If members join after the start of the school year, they must pay dues whenever they join the club. Club dues may be raised annually in small increments, as the officers deem necessary.
1. Members must pay their dues (and turn in their consent forms) to any of the officers prior to being allowed to attend practice.
2. The club shall do any necessary fundraising to pay for traveling and equipment expenses in any manner desired so long as it meets approval with the proper university officials. All funds obtained are to be used for club purposes only and are not for personal gain. Any misuses will be dealt with appropriately. Immediate action will be taken, as the President deems fit. (All club members are expected to and required to take part in any fundraising activity.)

Article V. Club Officers

1. The selection of club officers for the upcoming year must occur before March 1 of each year. The process is a simple plurality vote. A vote is to be held in which members in good standing (i.e. those who attend practices on a regular basis as determined by the presidents) will each vote for the four people they wish to represent the club for the following year.
2. The club operates in a committee form. Only ND and SMC students are permitted to hold positions as officers.  Therefore, when voting for the four positions (President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer), members taking part in the vote must vote for at least one ND and one SMC student.  However, of the four positions, it is required that one half (two officers) be ND students. In addition to having representation from both ND & SMC, it is important to have representation from both genders among the officers. 
3. Depending upon the wishes of potential officer candidates, the prior year’s officers will decide whether it would be appropriate to conduct an election of highest votes for president, or whether members run for specific officer positions.   Additionally, depending upon the wishes of potential officer candidates, it may be decided to have the positions of co-presidents as opposed to president and vice president.
4. Because of the great time commitment involved in being a cheerleader, Notre Dame cheerleaders and leprechauns will not be permitted to serve as club officers.
5. For University forms, the first-listed officer must be a Notre Dame student for purposes of University contact (although this person may not be the actual club president).
6. Committee member duties:
1. The President shall act as the official spokesperson for the Club and shall attend all RecSports presidents meetings (or find a substitute if unavailable).  The president will be in charge of organizing the meet schedule and plans for the weekends of meets and communicating this information on to RecSports.  The president will be the main communication point between the club and RecSports.
2. The Vice President shall attend all SAO required club meetings, becoming the communication point between the club and RecSports.  They will work jointly with the treasurer on big fundraiser events such as selling of club apparel and the concession stand.
3. The Treasurer shall take the steps necessary to secure the club AmEx card—both selecting the officer whose name it shall bear and checking the card out for meet weekends (should the treasurer be the one named). They will work jointly with the vice president on big fundraiser events such as selling of club apparel and the concession stand.
4. The Secretary shall take notes at all officer meetings and then communicate this information on to the club members at the following practice.  Additionally, the secretary will instigate the design process for club apparel—either by designing something or communicating with an artistically-inclined club member.
5. All committee members will be considered contact liaisons between the Club and the schools.  Additionally, all officers must assist in any and all duties required for the smooth functioning of the club.
6. For club finances, all members will work together. All officers should be well-informed of the Club’s present financial standing. However, at the beginning of the term, officers will decide amongst themselves who would be best as the team AmEx holder, as they must attend every meet. 
7. Impeachment: In the event that impeachment is deemed necessary, a president or committee member may be removed from office by a majority vote of active club members.

Article VI. Advisor

1. The Notre Dame/St. Mary’s Gymnastics Club advisor must be a full-time faculty or staff member at the University of Notre Dame.
2. The advisor serves as a volunteer supervisor who can assist in the coaching and spotting of club members. Because gymnastics requires great safety restrictions, it is hoped that the advisor is knowledgeable of the sport and can provide assistance when needed.
3. The advisor does not have voting rights.
4. If a new advisor is needed, the committee members will select the candidate who they feel will best help the smooth functioning and improvement of the club.

Article VII. Meeting

1. The Gymnastics Club practices daily, Monday through Friday from 5:30PM to 8:30PM at Gymnastics Michiana. These practices are not required due to the relaxed nature of the club, but it is encouraged that members attend regularly twice a week (to be eligible for voting and benefits from club funding, as well as to allow them to improve their skills).
1. Club members are responsible for communication with those driving to practice in order to know the correct time and place to meet. Therefore, Club members are responsible for checking their e-mail on a regular basis to be informed of changes.
2. Officers must additionally meet at least once per month outside of practice in order to update each other on news and their actions related to the club.  All four officers must be present at these meetings—thus the meetings will not have a standard time or date; they will be set on a month-by-month basis according to the officers’ schedules.  The secretary is then responsible for communicating the meeting’s information on to club members at the following practices.  All four officers should be considered points of contact to the board of officers for club members to have their ideas and opinions heard at the monthly meetings.

Article VIII. Disbursement of Funds

1. When purchases are made for the benefit of the club, the purchasing member must bring the receipt to an officer. The receipt must be signed by the advisor, but following that the purchasing member will be reimbursed for the purchase as soon as possible.
2. All financial transactions of the Club will be managed through the University of Notre Dame’s accounting system, as stipulated by the Student Union Treasurer’s Office.

Article IX. Amendments to the Constitution

1. In the event that a dispute arises concerning one of the above articles, members may vote to make appropriate changes. A majority vote is needed to change the Constitution.
2. All amendments and changes to the constitution must be submitted in writing to the Student Activities Office for review or approval.

Article X. Safety

1. To ensure safety of members, it is required at the time of annual dues payment, to fill out and file the appropriate insurance forms for the schools.

Article XI. Competition

1. Any and all interested, dues paying members attending practice regularly are welcome to compete. Club funding will be used as best as possible to pay for traveling expenses, though it may be necessary for members to pay their own way. In the event that the Club can afford to attend Nationals, the number of competing members may be limited due to financial needs.
2. In order to attend Nationals, a member must have competed in two regular-season meets with the team.

Article XII. Home and Away Meets

1. The committee members are responsible for organization and planning of home and away meets, as well as providing housing and transportation.

Article XIII. Uniforms and Apparel

1. Gymnastics apparel--Any Club member or Non-Club member may purchase these items.
2. Club apparel—Any consistent members may purchase what the Club deems to be club apparel (jackets, sweatshirt, etc. intended only for team members).  These are distinct from general gymnastics apparel, which are sold with the intention of raising money for the club.
3. Uniforms and Warm-ups
1. Competition Uniforms and Warm-Ups—These are Club property and are issued to competing members at the beginning of the season. The member is responsible for the upkeep and cleanliness of the uniforms and warm-ups. They will be returned on time and undamaged, by the date decided upon by the President. Members will be asked to pay for the replacement of any damaged uniforms or warm-ups.

Article XIV. Affiliation
The Notre Dame/St. Mary’s Gymnastics Club is affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Gymnastics Clubs (NAIGC) which, per its website, states, “The purpose of the NAIGC is to expand opportunities for participation in the sport of gymnastics and to promote interaction among collegiate gymnastics clubs by providing structure for competition on local, regional, and national levels; facilitating communication; and building a community of support and camaraderie that encourages sportsmanship, leadership, teamwork, and fun.” When in conflict, University of Notre Dame’s policies will supersede the policies of the NAIGC.

© ND Gymnastics, 2010