CONSTITUTION OF Active Minds at Georgetown University

Transcription

1 CONSTITUTION OF Active Minds at Georgetown University Preamble We, the members of, Active Minds at Georgetown University, do hereby establish this Constitution on October 10, Article I. Name The name of the organization will be Active Minds at Georgetown University henceforth referred to as Active Minds. Article II. Purpose 1. Active Minds is an organization devoted to destigmatizing issues surrounding mental health through the fostering of an open and genuine dialogue about mental health on Georgetown s campus. Georgetown students face many pressures and difficulties, and this club intends to provide resources for all those who face challenges both personally and mentally. Ranging from the diagnosable mental illness to the brief duress of anxiety or stress, we would have these challenges be discussed openly, without fear of these difficulties being indicative of one s own strength as a student or one s value as a person. Respecting the individual s agency in approaching their own mental health, we aim to disseminate literature and information, provide a middle-ground between students and campus resources, raise awareness for the reality of the situation on college campuses, and promote the correct attention for our fellow students regarding such salient an issue. We adopt the WHO s definition for mental health, as it effectively addresses the term on many of the main points of issue: Mental health is defined as a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community. 2. Active Minds understands and is committed to fulfilling its responsibilities of abiding by Georgetown University s policies. Article III. Membership 1. Membership shall be limited to persons officially connected with the University as enrolled full time undergraduate students in good academic and judicial standing with the University. Members are expected to join a committee and attend at least one committee meeting per month as well as one organizational event per month.

2 2. Active Minds openly admits undergraduate students to its membership and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, disability, gender, ethnicity, national origin, religion or sexual orientation. Article IV. Officers 1. Officers of Active Minds must be full-time undergraduate students enrolled at Georgetown University in good academic and judicial standing with the University. 2. Active Minds is structured to have seven board members. With the exception of Spring 2015, each board member s term will be for the calendar year. This number is subject to change based on the need of the organization. Below are the titles of officers and a list of their duties: A. The President will preside at all board meetings of Active Minds. The President will be responsible for managing organizational operations for the club as a whole. The President will lead all large-group meetings. The President will work with the Director of Finance to establish communication between Active Minds and SAC, and the Center for Student Engagement. The President will have the ultimate role of maintaining the direction/mission of Active Minds and work to collaborate/establish relationships with other Georgetown organizations/resources with similar objectives. B. The Treasurer will be in charge of the finances of Active Minds. The treasurer will be in charge of creating the semesterly budgets to be submitted to SAC and will ensure that the organization complies with all SAC and CSE policies. The Treasurer will also assist the events coordinators with any planning and event execution as necessary. C. Marketing Director will be responsible for the creation of digital media/flyers for events. The Marketing Director will also be responsible for literature disseminated by those tabling, namely resource pamphlets, information/schedule quarter-sheets, and other items relating to raising awareness of mental health. Finally, Marketing Director will be responsible for taking point on tabling scheduling/developing a core group for regular weekly tabling. Marketing Director will serve as a co-leader of the marketing sub-committee. D. Membership Director will be responsible for the management of the roster and will operate the main account, which will involve a) sending out weekly s to member body b) responding to member s c) notifying president/other board members when other groups reach out to collaborate. The membership director will also assist the events coordinators with any planning and event execution as necessary.

3 E. The two Events Coordinators will be responsible for the logistical planning of Active Minds programming events. The Event Coordinators will act as leaders of the Events sub-committee, and will have the responsibility of communicating directly with their committee/planning committee meetings. F. Social Media Director will be responsible for the management of Active Minds digital presence, namely the Facebook page, Twitter, YouTube Channel, and What s a Hoya blog. Facebook duties will revolve around creation of events in order to effectively market Active Minds programming and post articles of interest that relate to the subject of mental health. For the blog, the Social Media Director will have the responsibility of censoring posts/approving submitted entries as well as developing the resources offered on the blog. Social Media Director will be responsible for the uploading of approved Speaker Series videos and the overall management of the YouTube channel. Social Media Director will also serve as a co-leader of the marketing sub-committee. The Social Media Director will also assist the events coordinators with any planning and event execution as necessary. Article V. Operations 1. Transition Process A. The transition process will begin with the selection of the President. The President shall undergo an application and interview process conducted by all board members. After all candidates have interviewed, the current President will facilitate a discussion about the qualifications of the candidates. At the conclusion of the discussion, there will be an anonymous vote by all in attendance. The applicant with the most votes will be selected as President. In the case of a tie, another discussion will be held, and the candidates with the same amount of votes will be put up for re-election. A second vote will occur, and the candidate with the most votes will be selected as President. B. All other officers will undergo an application and an interview process. The President and the outgoing board members shall select the officers. C. With the exception of the Fall Spring 2015 school year, this process should be completed the semester before the transition is to occur. The outgoing board members are expected to be available the semester after their term ends to ensure a smooth transition process. 2. Removal

4 Any officer of Active Minds in violation of the Organizations purpose or constitution or failure to fulfill duties as stated may be removed from office by the following process. A. A written request by at least three members of the board. B. Written notification to the officer of the request, asking the officer to be present at the next meeting prepared to speak in their own defense. C. Written notification to the Board. D. If 75% of the Board votes in favor of the removal of the officer, that officer will be expelled from his/her position. 3. Replacement Should an officer resign or be removed, a special application process will be held one week after written notification to all members/potential applicants. Mid-term applications shall be conducted as specified in Article V, Section 2. Article VI. Finances 1. Membership dues will not be required 2. Active Minds will submit a budget to SAC each semester and request funding appropriate for the effective operation of the organization for each year. 3. As the need arises, the Treasurer will submit additional funding requests for the operations and events of Active Minds 4. Active Minds will conduct all financial activities in accordance with university policy and place all funds in its university account. Article VII. Affiliation 1. Active Minds at Georgetown University is affiliated with Active Minds, Inc. and is bound by all policies and rules of Active Minds, Inc. 2. Active Minds must be an officially recognized, registered student organization at Georgetown University and abide by all the rules and policies of said educational institution.

5 3. Active Minds, Inc.is not financially responsible for Active Minds chapters. 4. Active Minds, Inc. does not provide counseling or any form of clinical mental healthcare, and an Active Minds chapter is therefore not, nor will ever form, a peer counseling or support group 5. Usage of the official Active Minds logo must adhere to the following requirements: A. The bubbles image should not be removed or separated in any usage of the logo. B. The logo may be used with or without the tagline changing the conversation about mental health but no other tagline may be used in its place. Article VIII. Amendments 1. Amendments to the constitution may be proposed in writing by any board member of Active Minds at any meeting at which 3/4 of the board is present. 2. These amendments will be placed on the agenda for the next Board meeting. 3. Proposed amendments will become effective following approval of a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote by board members. Ratified on November 10, 2014