Ethiopian and Eritrean Student Organization

Ethiopian and Eritrean Student Organization Bylaws

Created: May 28, 2008

Revised: October 7, 2011

ARTICLE I – NAME 

The name of the organization shall be Ethiopian & Eritrean Student Organization.

ARTICLE II – PURPOSE 

The purpose of this organization is to give a forum for Ethiopian and Eritrean students at UIC to share experiences and challenges and seek support.

The organization has the following major objectives:

·         Providing academic support

·         Providing social support        

·         Promoting cultural exchange

·         Providing a link to UIC for Ethiopians and Eritreans in the Chicago area

ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS

1.      Membership is open to all current UIC students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

2.      Membership shall not be based on race, religion, sex or national origin.

3.      New members are accepted year around. Persons interested in becoming members of the organization must complete an application form to be reviewed by members. A new member shall be accepted upon an affirmative majority vote of the membership.

4.      To be considered an active member of the organization, an individual is expected to attend 75% of meetings, serve on at least one committee, and participate in organization activities and events.

5.      A member that does not fulfill the expectations of the organization may be removed by a majority vote of the membership.

ARTICLE IV – OFFICERS 

1.      The organization shall have four officers. These officers are:

a.       President

b.      Vice-President

c.       Secretary, and 

d.      Treasurer

2.      Officers need to be students at the University of Illinois at Chicago.  Officers must exhibit a strong interest in the purpose of the Organization. All elected officers must regularly attend meetings.

3.      Officers serve for a term of one year. The term begins in the fall semester. There is a 2 term limit for officers. 

4.      The duties of the officers are as follows: 

a.       The President will supervise and control the affairs of the Organization, including arranging meetings, setting agendas, and leading meetings. The President will serve as the spokesperson for the Organization. This individual will also chair the Community Outreach committee. 

b.      The Vice-President will assist the President with his/her duties and assumes the President’s role in the President’s absence or inability to act. In addition, the Vice-President will perform such other duties as may be prescribed from time to time by the Members. This individual will also chair the Academic Support committee.

c.       The Secretary will be in charge of maintaining the organization’s documents. The Secretary will keep minutes of all meetings of the Organization, will be the custodian of the Organization’s records, and generally will perform all other duties incident to such office and such other duties as may be prescribed from time to time by the Board of Directors. This individual will also head the Cultural Exchange committee.

d.      The Treasurer will have charge of and manage all funds of the Organization, will deposit the funds as required by the University policies (in COF account), will keep and maintain adequate and correct accounts of the Organization’s transactions, will render reports and accountings to the Members quarterly and, generally, will perform all duties as may be provided in these By-Laws or as may be prescribed from time to time by the Membership. This individual will also lead the Social Support committee.

5.      If the Membership decides it is necessary or if circumstance demands, Officers can be removed at any time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Members. An officer may resign at any time by written notice delivered to the Membership, the President or Secretary, and is effective when delivered unless the resignation specifies a certain date.  

ARTICLE V – ELECTIONS 

1.      Elections will be held every year during the last meeting of spring semester. Elected officers will begin their term in the fall semester. 

2.      The voting will be anonymous and only active members will be eligible to vote.

3.      A notice of elections will be distributed to the Membership by the Secretary, following elections.

ARTICLE VI – MEETINGS

1. Regular meetings of the organization shall be held once a month. The date and location of the next meeting will be set at each meeting.
2. Special meetings may be called by any officer of the organization. Members shall be notified via e-mail at least 1 week prior to meeting date.
3. A quorum shall consist of a majority of the members. If less than such a majority is present at said meeting, a majority of the Members present may adjourn the meeting to another time without further notice. 

ARTICLE VII – ADVISOR

The advisor of this organization shall be a full-time faculty or staff member at UIC.

ARTICLE VIII – COMMITTEES

The Organization will have four (4) standing committees.

These committees and their purpose are as follows:

1. Academic Support – This committee will work to address the academic needs and issues of members. Programs may include textbook sharing, scholarship and financial aid database, and to connect members to appropriate academic resources and support.
2. Social Support – This committee will be in charge of coordinating social support initiatives. This may include providing resources for housing and adjusting to college life in general.
3. Cultural Exchange – This committee will work to make the Organization’s presence known on campus. This may include event planning around cultural ceremonies common to both groups of members, and planning for Organization’s participation in UIC cultural program.
4. Community Outreach – This committee is responsible for outreaching to Ethiopian and Eritrean youth in the Chicago area to encourage higher education and introduce UIC and its programs.

Officers will serve as committee chairs.

Members of the organization are required to serve on at least one committee and volunteer for the committee of their choice.

ARTICLE IX – DUES

There will be no dues required for membership.

ARTICLE X – HANDLING OF FUNDS

1. The organization’s on-campus COF account will be managed primarily by the Treasurer/financial officer.
2. The registration form will indicate to University staff which officers are authorized to sign what types of documents concerning funds.
3. All monies collected on campus, with the exception of dues, will be deposited into the organization’s COF account.

ARTICLE XI – AMENDMENTS AND REVISIONS

1. Amendments (additions) and Revisions (changes) will be considered at a regular or special meeting, provided written notice of the purpose shall be given prior to said meeting.
2. The affirmative vote by a majority of the Members then in office shall be required to amend, repeal, alter or adopt new By-Laws.
3. Any officer/member can initiate the creation and distribution of the new/changed document.
4. The Secretary will be responsible for sending a copy of the revised document to Campus Programs staff.

This constitution was approved as printed above _____________ (date).