Constitution

LAKE FOREST COLLEGE

LATINOS UNIDOS

CONSTITUTION

 

LITTLE HISTORY ABOUT LATINOS UNIDOS

MISSION STATEMENT

 

Latinos Unidos is founded on members’ deeply embedded traditions stemming from our individual cultures.  Together, we are a support group for people that are both interested in and a part of the Latino Culture.  Based on the aforementioned commonality, the support group accommodates the needs of each member.  Our ultimate goal is to advocate unity, respect, and knowledge of Latino Culture.

 

ARTICLE 1

NAME AND PURPOSE

 

SECTION 1           The name of the organization shall be Latinos Unidos.

SECTION 2           The goals of this organization shall be the following:

               

1.            To build a strong sense of community within Lake Forest for current and former Lake Forest College students;

 

2.            To inform club member of academic, social, and community activities;

 

3.            Dedicated to making the Latino culture know throughout Lake Forest College and the surrounding community through social and cultural events, and educational field trips;

 

 

ARTICLE 2

MEMBERSHIP

 

SECTION 1           Membership shall consist of current Lake Forest College students

Interested in the Latino culture.

SECTION 2           All members shall be treated as equals while also capable of providing

unique experiences and knowledge to the organization

SECTION 3           The rights of voting and holding an office are reserved for any active

Latinos Unidos member

SECTION 4           An active member attends minimally 50% of all club meetings.

 

 

ARTICLE 3

 OFFICERS AND DUTIES

SECTION 1           The officers shall be the following:

1.            Presidents or Co-Presidents (When applicable)

2.            Vice President

3.            Secretary

4.            Treasurer

5.            Historian

 

SECTION 2           Duties of officers:

1.            The Presidents or Co-Presidents

a.    Be present at all club business and executive meetings.

b.    In case of absence make provisions to advice the Co- President or Vice President.

c.     Work directly with the club advisor and the Vice President.

d.    Organize and chair club meetings, and propose new policy as required.

e.    Maintain order of club meetings, and propose new policy as required.

f.     Work closely with members of the executive board.

g.    Attend Cultural Coalition meetings.

 

2.            The Vice President

a.    Carry out the duties of the President when he/she is absent.

b.    Be in charge of the club elections with the President,

c.     Have the power to appoint members to committees with agreement of President.

d.    In case of absence make provisions to advise the Secretary.

e.    In charge of amendments

f.     Attend Cultural Coalition meetings

g.    In charge of community service projects

h.    Attend Cultural Coalition meetings.

 

3.            The Secretary

a.    Record the minutes of all club meetings.

b.    Record executive meetings and send them out within 24 hours of club meetings.

c.     Perform reading of minutes as requested.

d.    Keep a calendar of events, activities, records of club.

e.    In case of absence make provisions to advice the Treasurer

f.     Keep copies of all minutes and calendar events

g.    Submit proper documentation to the Gates Center for Leadership and Personal Growth at the end of Spring Semester

h.    Attend Cultural Coalition meetings.

 

 

4.            The Treasurer

a.    Maintain all financial records.

b.    Prepare financial records as requested.

c.     Deposit and withdraw funds from the Latinos Unidos account with the approval of the club advisor and the President/Vice President.

d.    Required to meet with the business office regarding procedures for completing financial transactions.

e.    Attend Cultural Coalition meetings

 

5.            Public Relations

a.    Publish the posters and the flyers for Latinos Unidos’ activities and events.

b.    Works directly with Board members to distribute out flyers for current activities.

c.     Works directly with the President/Vice President.

d.    Increase awareness of club activities and events throughout Lake Forest College and the surrounding community.

e.    A monthly campus wide outreach in the event that there is no large Latinos Unidos event.

f.     Attend Cultural Coalition meetings

 

6.            Historian

a.    Creating a scrapbook each academic year.

b.    Maintenance of Scrapbook.

c.     Responsible for cataloguing documentation and photographs of every Latinos Unidos event.

d.    In case of absence make provisions for another person to take their place.

e.    Attend Cultural Coalition meetings

 

SECTION 3           A Co-President position will be optional depending on a majority vote during the elections by active members of Latinos Unidos.

SECTION 4           To stay in office, members must meet the following requirements:

1.    Attend 75% of events

2.    Executive board members must not miss more than 3 board meetings without 24 hour notice

a.    If not met, it will result in automatic resignation of position

SECTION 5           To be eligible for office, candidates shall be an active club member and must show interest in the club.

                                1.  Attend 50% of Latinos Unidos  monthly meetings

 

ARTICLE 4

ELECTIONS

 

SECTION 1           Election of Officers

1.    Only current Latinos Unidos Members should hold officer positions.

2.    Candidates shall be selected by nomination.

a.    The method of election shall be by nomination from 2 active members on the last week of March.

b.    Active Member Definition: Club members that attend 50% of Latinos Unidos monthly meetings

c.     All nominated candidates must present a speech to the club of why they feel they are qualified for the position they are running for.

d.    Only after speeches have been made by all candidates shall the club choose by majority vote who is the most qualified for the position they are running.

 

SECTION 2           Committees

1.            President/Vice President shall appoint committee chairperson on an as needed basis.

2.            Membership of committees shall be determined by the availability of active club members

3.            Committees shall be created at the beginning and throughout the year.

4.            Committees shall report to the chairperson as needed, and the chairperson shall report back to the President/Vice President.

 

SECTION 3           Vacancies

1.            If the duties of the officers are not being fulfilled, the executive board and advisor shall review the officer in question.

2.            Should an officer position become vacant the executive board can decide how to fill the position whether by appointment or by election

 

 

ARTICLE 5

MEETINGS

 

SECTION 1           Club Meeting

 

SECTION 2           Executive Meetings

1.            The Executive Board shall consist of all elected officers and club advisor.  They have the power to call emergency meetings and make decisions as defined by the board.

 

 

ARTICLE 6

ADVISOR

 

SECTION 1           Club Advisor

1.            The Latinos Unidos Advisor shall be a Lake Forest College Faculty Member.

2.            The Advisor shall provide the club with guidance, direction, and focus to ensure that the organization has a productive year.

3.            Any other faculty that wishes to help can become a club advisor.

 

 

ARTICLE 7

AMENDMENTS

 

SECTION 1           Amendments shall be added or changed only with the approval of a majority vote from the body of active club members.

                                                                                               

ARTICLE 8

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

SECTION 1           The Amended Latinos Unidos Constitution will come into effect as of April 17, 2007.