Constitution of the Kansas State University German Club

ARTICLE ONE: NAME AND PURPOSE

Section One: This organization shall be known as the Kansas State University (KSU) German Club.

Section Two: The purposes of this club will be threefold: 1) to provide interaction among German-speaking KSU students and between these students and the local German community through conversation and creative activities; 2) to enhance members’ understanding of German culture; and 3) to improve all members’ ability to understand and use the German language.

ARTICLE TWO: MEMBERSHIP

Section One: Membership shall be open to anyone interested in German language and/or culture. Membership is not based on class enrollment, student or academic status, or any other criteria. Membership is also open to non-university local communities.

Section Two: Attendance of a minimum of two meetings per semester (exempting the Spring 2005) is required to retain membership in the club.

ARTICLE THREE: OFFICERS

Section One: Officers for the organization shall be: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Publicity Official, and Web Coordinator.

Section Two: Officers shall be elected every semester by non-secret ballot. Elections for the following semester shall occur at the last meeting of the regular semester. During elections, nominees must not be present inside the voting room, and two volunteers shall assist the club’s faculty sponsor in conducting the election. Thus, officers must not vote for offices for which they are running. Officers will be elected by a simple majority vote. Terms for each office last one semester, and an officer may run for re-election in subsequent years.

Section Three: Duties

1) President: Acts as Chief Executive, conducts meetings, sets the agenda

2) Vice-President: Assists President in all tasks; acts as Chief Executive in the event of the President’s absence

3) Secretary: Records minutes of each meeting and all business transactions, manages listserv

4) Treasurer: Manages funds of the club

5) Publicity Official: Contacts media and advertising to announce meetings; creates flyers and chalks sidewalks; prepares press releases regarding the club

6) Web Coordinator: Runs and maintains German Club Web site

Section Four: Special Cases for Officers

1) If the club President is not in attendance at a meeting, the Vice-President presides over the meeting. If both the President and Vice-President are absent, the Treasurer shall preside over the meetings (allowing the Secretary to record minutes). The Publicity Official shall conduct the meeting in the event of the Treasurer’s absence. In the absence of the Publicity Official, the Web Coordinator shall conduct the meeting. If all officers are missing for a meeting, said meeting shall be rescheduled.

2) In the event that the President cannot perform his or her duties (i.e. graduates, moves, passes away, etc.), the Vice-President shall become President. A new Vice-President shall then be elected by a simple majority.

3) Other vacated offices shall be subject to immediate elections at the time of the next meeting.

ARTICLE FOUR: MEETINGS

Section One: Meetings shall occur every two weeks, as schedules determine. The organization will vote on all aspects of activities at these meetings.

Section Two: Special meetings or activities not regularly scheduled may be called by the President or Faculty Sponsor.

Section Three: Quorum and Order of Business shall be employed per Robert’s Rules of Order.

Section Four: Minutes shall be recorded by the Secretary at every meeting. Minutes will be available and will be read at the subsequent meeting. Minutes of meetings may be requested by any member of the club at any time.

Section Five: Executive meetings may be called on a semi-regular basis and will include the following members of the club: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Publicity Official, and Web Coordinator.

Section Six: A sign-in sheet will be provided at all meetings and will become a permanent part of the minutes of each meeting.

Section Seven: A copy of Robert’s Rules of Order as pertains to the club shall be present at every meeting, in order to settle disputes and to ensure adherence to said Rules.

ARTICLE FIVE: COMMITTEES

Section One: Issues requiring committee work shall be formed on a volunteer basis. Numbers for committees shall be determined as they are needed.

Section Two: The Publicity Officer may ask for volunteers for a committee to post flyers or work on publicity campaigns. The Publicity Officer is the ranking leader of such committees and is the authority in all situations pertaining to committee work.

Section Three: All committees must inform the Faculty Sponsor and all other club members of their activities.

ARTICLE SIX: PUBLICITY

Section One: All flyers and press releases must be approved by the officers of the club.

ARTICLE SEVEN: VOTING AND AMENDMENTS

Section One: All amendments to this constitution must occur by a simple majority vote.

Section Two: Voting shall be conducted by hand-raising. Two individual counts will be administered to ensure fairness and accuracy.

Section Three: All members of the club are entitled to one vote and one vote only. In the event of a tie, the President will cast a vote to break said tie. Otherwise, the President does not vote. All other members are entitled to one vote each in every voting situation.