Constitution

As our guest blogger and active member, Sabrina suggested, we must make the governing process of the HWRC more transparent. In a small step toward that attempt, please find below our constitution, which will be worked on over the summer.

Hunter Women’s Right Coalition (HWRC) CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I: NAME

The name of this organization shall be the Hunter Women’s Right Coalition (HWRC).


ARTICLE II: PURPOSE

The Hunter Women's Rights Coalition is dedicated to furthering gender equality and reproductive justice. Our mission is to raise awareness of, and promote student-led activism on these issues while empowering members and fostering student leadership.


ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP

Currently, the club consists of approximately 100 members whose purpose is to promote and achieve our goals and objectives throughout the community. Membership is open to all Hunter College students, faculty, and alumni.


ARTICLE IV: EXECUTIVE BOARD

Section 1: Officers


*The following list of tasks was custom made for the strengths and weaknesses of the current E-board. Future officers may change tasks according to their interests.


President:

1. Charter Club

2. Creates meeting Agenda

3. Facilitate meetings, time-keeper

4. Schedule and book a time/date/room for meetings

5. Monitors listserv

6. Photograph events, etc

7. Write press release for events

8. Act as media contact person

9. Works with treasurer to obtain cash advance or reimbursement form in timely fashion

10. Is contact person for co-sponsorship/ Recruit co-sponsors

11. Acts as USG liaison


Vice President:

1. Assure adequate publicity on campus of HWRC events/outreach/on-goings

2. Notify USG and other clubs of event

3. Announces meetings to listserv

4. Creates group polls

5. In charge of group thank-yous: writes & asks people to sign

6. Recruit members to table and make classroom announcements

7. Obtain members’ schedules and create schedule for tabling and class announcements

8. Schedule tabling session and get tabling permit from 1103E

9. Obtains free stuff

10. Is contact person for free stuff distribution


Treasurer:

1. Acts as CA liaison

2. Reports at meeting (or on listserv) an account of budget once a month

3. Keeps photocopy of all receipts and records of all money handled

4. Submits paperwork for cash advances in timely fashion

5. Go over with, and updates members on, what they need to know when spending money

6. Buys food, drink, and utensils for meetings and events

7. Buys not free stuff

8. Leads in the purchase of room furniture and decorations


Secretary:

1. Collects the list of who-does-what: group AIM session

2. Checks USG office club mailbox weekly

3. Create, print, and duplicate club fliers

4. Obtain USG stamp on master flier from USG

5. Update membership list

6. Add new members to listserv

7. Email new members when they join

8. Delegate the posting of fliers on campus

9. Takes meeting minutes

10. Accounts for meeting sign-in sheet

11. Posts action items from meeting minutes (post one day after meeting)

12. Keeps HWRC members informed of club activities

13. Maintain group scrapbook



Section 2:


Eligibility for Executive positions may take place after one member nominates another and is seconded by another member, or a member can express interest her/himself. No candidate may run for more than one position simultaneously. Eligibility of running based on active participation in club. Interested members must participate in at least two prior meetings, unless at least three officers of the executive board make an exception.


The election meeting may take place at the ending of the spring semester or the beginning or the fall semester. Eligibility for voting based on active participation in club. Interested members must participate in at least two prior meetings, unless at least three officers of the executive board make an exception. Candidates with the majority of votes are elected for position.


In the event that a board member is unable to fulfill his/her duties (such as in choosing to resign), the remaining executive board officers may appoint an acting officer to take on the position for the remainder of the term. This should be decided during an official executive meeting and should be documented.



Section 3:


REMOVAL OF OFFICERS FROM OFFICE

Impeachment may take place in the event that an officer fails to fulfill his/her duties. Including and not limited to carrying the club’s objectives. Quorum must be achieved for this decision to take place.


1. Executive Board members shall be automatically removed from office if that said member should be absent from two successive meetings and or events or a total of three meetings and or events a semester without a reasonable excuse.
2. Failure to execute the duties of their office.
3. Failure to communicate with fellow officers, including failure to respond to repeated phone calls, voice mails and or e-mails.
4. Incompetence in the performance of their office.
5. Commission of acts of willful wrongdoing in office, including violation(s) of this constitution and/or any violation(s) as described in the Hunter College and/or CUNY By-laws.
6. Conflict of interest, which would tend to place the official in a position of using their office for personal gain, and placing that gain above the welfare of the members of the entire HWRC body.
7. Violation of a standing order of the HWRC Executive Board while charged with its execution as a delegate of the HWRC

1. Any HWRC member can have charges brought up against him/her investigated by an elected committee chosen from the HWRC body at large excluding the accused person(s) and the accuser(s) for any of the above violations as well.
2. The committee shall conduct an investigation lasting no more than ten (10) days and shall report its findings at a meeting specifically held for this purpose composed of all members of HWRC, or quorum reached as described herein.
3. At this meeting, a full report of the committee and a recommendation of Impeachment (or disciplinary actions) of the accused or the dismissal charges shall be made by the committee.
4. The HWRC shall determine to accept or reject the recommendation of the committee by a 2/3 vote of the members present at this meeting, or by quorum, including vetoing power, as described herein. The accused person(s) and the accuser(s) shall be excluded from this vote.
5. At the time a charge is made against the accused, the attendees of this meeting may decide to suspend the accused pending the outcome of the decision.
6. The accused person(s) may bring forth any arguments and/or documents to defend his/her case.


ARTICLE V: MEETINGS

Meetings are held every Wednesday in the clubroom, TH309, at 1:00 PM, unless otherwise indicated. Discussions of upcoming events, new ideas and actions will take place. Minutes, taken by the club’s Secretary, will be taken and filed at every meeting.


ARTICLE VI: QUORUM

In order to achieve quorum, four members, including at least two officers, are required at meetings in which important decisions are to be discussed and agreed upon. At least two officers must agree to the decision, and a majority vote is needed from present members. Elected officers may have veto power with at least two officers agreeing to the veto.


ARTICLE VII: AMENDMENTS

If an amendment to the constitution is proposed and discussed, voting will take place in a specified meeting. Quorum and majority votes from all elected officers are necessary to decide for an amendment.

Posted by:
Jerin Alam
National NOW Young Feminist Task Force
President, Hunter Women’s Rights Coalition (HWRC)