Bylaws
CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS OF THE NATIVE AMERICAN FACULTY
AND STAFF ASSOCIATION AT OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY
PREAMBLE
We, the Native American Faculty and Staff at Oklahoma State University do, hereby, establish a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting the matriculation and graduation of Native American students; the promotion and support of Native American Faculty and Staff; and the celebration and sharing of our unique heritage in a higher education environment.
CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS
ARTICLE 1
NAME
The name of the organization shall be the Native American Faculty and Staff Association at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater Campus.
ARTICLE II
PURPOSE
The purpose of this organization is to:
Create an organization, receptive to the needs of all Native Americans at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater Campus.
Provide an institutional forum that will improve the education of Native Americans.
Create a vehicle that can advise the administration on issues affecting Native Americans at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater Campus.
Provide programs and services that will assist in the recruitment and retention of Native American students, faculty, and staff at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater Campus.
Support other appropriate minority organizations and services at Oklahoma State University on the Stillwater Campus.
ARTICLE III
MEMBERSHIP
SECTION 1 – ELGIBILITY
Voting membership is open to faculty and staff at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater campus who self-identify as Native American upon receipt of annual dues. Non-Native American individuals are also eligible for membership upon payment of membership dues; however, they may not hold voting privileges.
SECTION 2 – DUES
Annual membership dues will be determined by the membership annually at the regular September meeting. Dues become payable at the first meeting of the Fall Term in late August or early September and qualify an individual as a member for a full year or twelve months. Those individuals who join after the initial pay period will enjoy membership status until the next annual dues pay period.
SECTION 3 - DEFINITION OF BOARD
Board shall be defined as voting members.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
SECTION 1 – OFFICERS
The elected officers of the association shall be: President, President-Elect, Secretary, and Treasurer.
SECTION 2 – ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible as a candidate for any office of this organization, a person must be a Board member of the Oklahoma State University, Stillwater Campus Native American Faculty, and Staff Association.
SECTION 3 – TERM OF OFFICE
The term of office shall be two (2) years from September First to August Thirty-first.
Officers can serve no more than one (1) full term in one office.
An officer shall continue to fulfill the obligations of the office until the newly elected officer has been duly installed in that position.
SECTION 4 – ELECTION
Membership shall submit nominations to the Executive Committee members at least one (1) week prior to the regularly scheduled April meeting. Nominations from the floor shall be accepted during the April meeting.
Election of officers, by Board members present, shall be held during the regularly scheduled May meeting and every year thereafter.
Voting shall be by secret ballot.
SECTION 5 – DUTIES
The President shall preside at all meetings, appoint Ad Hoc committees as needed, appoint standing committee chairs; establish and maintain liaisons with administrative, advisory and diverse networks on the Oklahoma State University, Stillwater Campus; and perform all other necessary and responsible duties relevant to the stated purposes of the association.
The President-Elect shall become Acting President in the absence of the President. The President-Elect at the end of the President’s term shall be ratified by the Board.
The Secretary shall take minutes at each meeting and maintain a typed written record of these meetings to be read and approved at the next regularly scheduled meeting. The Secretary shall network with the Personnel Department at Oklahoma State University – Stillwater campus to develop accurate and current listings of active potential members of the organization. The Secretary is responsible for providing members with advance and reasonable notice of scheduled meetings or special functions.
The Treasurer is responsible for an accurate record of all financial transactions of the association. The treasurer will maintain a current record of paid voting and non-voting members. The Treasurer shall present and distribute a financial report at each regularly scheduled meeting and an annual final report in August. The Treasurer shall serve on the Project Committee and assist in the coordination of all financial and fund raising activities.
SECTION 6 – VACANCIES
The President shall appoint eligible individuals to fill vacancies left by an officer or committee member unable to complete their term of service. This appointee shall complete the remaining term of service. In the event the President is unable to complete a service term, the President-Elect will serve as Acting President for the remainder of the term.
ARTICLE V
COMMITTEES
SECTION 1 – STANDING COMMITTEES
Executive
Scholarship Awards
Project Planning
SECTION 2 – FUNCTIONS OF STANDING COMMITTEES
Executive Committee: This committee shall consist of the President, President-Elect, Secretary, and Treasurer. The Executive Committee shall also include Standing Committee Chairs. It shall be the responsibility of the Executive Committee to plan the agenda for the regular meetings, to advise the President, and to oversee the functions of the association when the group is in session as well as when not in session.
Scholarship Awards Committee: This committee shall bear the responsibility for developing the process, guidelines, and criteria for awarding scholarships. The Scholarship Awards Committee is charged with implementing the goals and purposes of the association as it pertains to the promotion of student graduation. The committee shall, then, be responsible for advertising the availability of the scholarship(s) in appropriate forums, including Native American publications, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater Campus college, and organizational networks and within the Native American community.
Project Planning Committee: It shall be the responsibility of the Project Planning Committee to plan growth and outreach activities for the association, including: sponsored leadership workshops; the creation of a Native American speakers bureau list and strategies for arranging for these individuals to come to campus to speak; and to participate in other activities that promote the goals and purposes of the association.
ARTICLE VI
CONDUCT OF MEETINGS
SECTION 1 – VOTING
All issues to be voted on shall be decided by a simple majority of Board members present. There shall be no voting by proxy.
SECTION 2 - QUORUM
Two (2) officers and three (3) or more Board members shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting regularly scheduled or special meetings of the Board.
ARTICLE VII
MEETING DATES
There shall be at least one regularly scheduled meeting each month. The Executive Committee at its discretion may cancel one (1) meeting per the associations’ fiscal year (9/1-8/31). Special meetings shall be called by the President when necessary. Members shall be notified of special meetings by the most efficient means available. Meetings will be conducted under Robert’s Rules of Order.
Committee meetings will be called by the Committee Chair.
ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENT(S)
The Constitution and By-Laws may be amended when such amendment(s) are submitted to the Secretary in writing, are distributed at least one week prior to the next regularly scheduled meeting, are read at a regularly scheduled meeting and when ratified by a majority of the Board members present.