Constitution for Students Organizing for Sustainability at Georgia Tech
November 4, 2007
Article I – Name
Section I. This organization will be known as Students Organizing for Sustainability (A Georgia Tech Student Organization). Hereafter referred to as SOS.
Article II – Purpose
The purpose of SOS is to:
1. Run grassroots campaigns on a wide range of environmental, political, and social issues intended to promote the greater goal of building a more sustainable campus, community, and world.
2. Form coalitions with like-minded organizations to create an effective network of student activists.
3. Indoctrinate members with leadership and organizational skills that will allow them continue advocating sustainable practices long after graduation.
Article III - Membership
A. Members of SOS will be Georgia Tech students who meet eligibility requirements for participation in extra-curricular activities as stated in the GT Catalog and SGA policies. Only Georgia Tech students can vote or hold office.
B. Associate members are GT faculty, staff, or alumni and their spouses who are interested in the organization. They may not vote or hold office.
C. There will be no maximum number of members.
D. Membership will take effect when an interested party signs up on the membership roster and pays all dues.
Article IV – Officers
Section I. Only GT students eligible according to the GT Catalog can hold or run for office, and they must already be a member of the organization.
Section II. The duties of the Executive Committee will be as follows:
A. President: The President will be the executive officer of the Executive Committee, will have general supervision of the affairs of SOS, and will preside at meetings. The President will represent SOS at conferences, conventions and faculty or alumni meetings.
B. Communications Director: The Communications Director will be the lead organizer of all public relations and promotional efforts. He or she will also work to support an ongoing internal dialogue among group members. The Communications Director will also officiate at all meetings in the President’s absence.
C. Secretary: The Secretary will record the proceedings of each meeting, maintain member lists, act as a facilitator between group members and the executive committee, and keep records of all major SOS activities.
D. Treasurer: The Treasurer will maintain records of all expenditures, organize and manage fundraising efforts, and ensure that generally accepted accounting practices and monetary controls are in place. He or she will also be responsible for collecting dues during each semester that SOS is active.
E. Volunteer Coordinator: The Volunteer Coordinator will plan and supervise all SOS community service projects. He or she will also assist in recruiting participants for promotional and educational SOS events.
F. Social Chair: The Social Chair will arrange all group social activities and assist with inter-organizational relations. He or she will play a vital role in member recruitment as well as networking on and off campus.
G. Publicist: The Publicist will manage production of all printed materials to be distributed by SOS.
H. Research Coordinators: The Research Coordinators will be responsible for determining what issues need to be investigated in order to carry out successful campaigns. They will conduct independent research but may also delegate tasks to other group members as necessary.
I. Campaign Managers: The Campaign Managers will work directly with the Executive Board to organize and carry out functions associated with an individual campaign.
J. Field Managers: The Field Managers will be responsible for supervising a team of students during the execution of a specific campaign operation.
Section III. Officers will be elected in the following manner:
A. The elections for offices of the President, Communications Director, Secretary, Treasurer, Volunteer Coordinator, Publicist, and Social Chair for the forthcoming year will take place no later than April 1 of each year.
B. Any student member of SOS may campaign or be nominated for any elected position on the Executive Committee. The candidate names will be emailed out to the member list to be voted on at the following meeting.
C. The candidate for each office receiving a majority vote of members at the elections meeting will be considered the victor. If no candidate receives a majority vote, then there will be a run-off between the two candidates with the most votes. The candidate who receives the most votes will be the victor.
D. The President will appoint research Coordinator, Campaign Manager and Field Manager positions.
E. New officers take office at the last meeting of the spring semester.
Section IV. Officers shall be removed in this manner:
A. If an officer fails to maintain Institute requirements for holding office (good standing, for example), he or she shall resign immediately.
B. If it is believed that an officer is not fulfilling his or her constitutional duties, then a petition requesting his or her removal must be signed by at least half of the voting membership and presented at a general meeting. Then, upon verification of the validity of the petition, by the advisor, and, at least two weeks but no more than four weeks from the date of submission, another meeting shall be held at which the grievance will be presented, with both sides having the opportunity to present a case.
C. The Faculty Advisor, if appropriate, shall preside over the removal hearing. After all arguments have been heard, a secret-ballot vote shall be held. If at least two-thirds of the voting members present vote for removal, the officer shall be removed immediately.
D. If the President is removed or resigns, the Communications Director will take his/her place in the interim. If any officer other than the President is removed or resigns, the President will take his/her place in the interim. Regular election procedures will be followed to elect any vacant elected positions during the next meeting.
Article V – Advisor
Section I. A full time GT faculty or staff member will serve as advisor to the organization.
Section II. Nominations for advisor will take place within the Executive Committee. An advisor will be chosen within two weeks’ vacancy. The Executive Committee will choose the advisor by a majority vote, and invite him/her to serve as advisor for the next academic year.
Section III. During officer elections, the organization will vote on whether to continue the advisor appointment or not. The vote must be two-thirds majority of those voting in order to retain the advisor for the next academic year.
Section IV. The duties of Advisor include: meeting with organization officers, reviewing the yearly budget, signing all required paperwork and advising on issues of risk management, organization leadership, and Georgia Tech policy.
Section V. The Advisor can be removed for not carrying out the duties and expectations as defined in this document. Any member can bring concerns to the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee will then meet with the Advisor to discuss the concerns. After this meeting, the Executive Committee will vote on whether to remove the Advisor. If there is a majority vote, then the Advisor will be removed.
Section VI. If an Advisor steps down, is removed, or their appointment is not continued the Executive Committee will follow the process stated in Article V Section II.
Article VI - Dues
Dues will be determined at the beginning of the fall semester by the Executive Committee by a majority vote, and then voted on by the membership. If the majority of members vote to approve the dues amount set by the Executive Committee, the specified amount will take effect immediately. Dues will not be less than the required amount designated by SGA. Due are to be paid by the third week of the semester or by the second week of membership.
Article VII – Parliamentary Procedure
The rules governing parliamentary procedure for meetings held by SOS will be as follows:
1. All meetings will be conducted in a professional manner (no profanity, etc.)
2. Discussions will be open to all members of SOS provided that they are courteous and respectful of whoever has the floor, allowing him or her to finish speaking before addressing the group.
3. The President will maintain order and calm at all times and may reserve the right to suspend discussion temporarily if necessary.
4. Any member of SOS may present a motion to the group that, if seconded, will be discussed and voted on at a time specified by the President.
Robert’s Rules of Order will be used in instances not covered in this constitution.
Article VIII – Campaign Adoption
Section I. SOS must run at least one, but no more than three, grassroots campaigns each semester (including summer semester), provided there are at least 10 active members who meet all requirements outlined by the GT Course Catalog and SGA for participation in student organizations.
Section II. A list of possible campaigns will be generated at the first meeting of each semester. Any member of SOS may propose a campaign, but only campaigns deemed by the Executive Committee to be advantageous and relevant to the overall goal of sustainability will be included on the list.
Section III. A campaign election will be held at the second meeting of each semester. SOS members will be allowed to vote for one campaign that they would like to run. Members may vote in person or by absentee ballot submitted up to the start of the second meeting. The campaign receiving the most votes will be adopted for that semester. It is then up to the Executive Committee to decide whether or not to run the second and third place campaigns.
Section IV. A campaign may last for any length of time, but must be one of the top three campaigns (as decided by the campaign election) in each semester that it is run.
Section V. Every campaign undertaken must have a set of specified semester goals. These goals will be decided on by the Executive Committee at the beginning of each semester and should be scheduled for completion by the end of that semester.
Article IX – Constitutional Amendments
Section I. Amendments to the constitution shall be submitted to the Executive Committee in writing for consideration.
Section II. Written notification of the proposed amendment to all voting members must be made by mail or email, at least two weeks in advance of any proposed change in the constitution.
Section III. A two-thirds vote of members present will be required for adoption.
Section IV. Amendments are subject to approval by the Student Government Association and the Student Activities Committee.