Constitution

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Preamble

In an effort to unite Asian American groups across the Midwest, to voice the opinions of these groups in regards to pertinent issues, andd to promote the varying cultures that comprise the Asian American community, we hereby establish the Midwest Asian American Students Union

Article I: Name

The name of this aforementioned organization shall be called the Midwest Asian American Students Union and hereafter referred to as MAASU.

Article II: Membership

Any school falling within the Midwest region s eligible to join MAASU as set forth in the bylaws. All authority of MAASU shall ultimately rest in the member schools in conjuncture with the Executive Coordinating Committee.

Section I: Eligibility

  • Organizational: membership shall be open to one formally recongized Asian American studen organization per campus.
  • Individual: Non-voting membership shall be open to al interested individuals who do not belong to any formally recongized student organization.

Section II: Application of Membership

One Asian-American organization per campus desiring membership in MAASU shall demonstrate their interest and support by completing an application form and by paying an annual membership fee. The amount of this fee shall be determined at the MAASU Spring Conference meeting of the Executive Coordinating Committee. Upon review of the application and receivement of the membership dues, schools shall be considered members of MAASU.

Section III: Impeachment

Impeachment proceedings shall be a petition accompanied by a bill of particulars. Impeachment shall be done by a ?-majority vote of the Executive Coordinating Committee after a hearing consisting of the speaker for the petition of impeachment and a representative of the organization in question.

Article III: Regions

MAASU Shall be divided into two regions, which will consist of Region I and Region II. With the inclusion of further institutions, the ECC will assgn the corresponding states appropriately.

Region I: Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois.
Region II: Missouri, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, and Oklahoma.

Article IV: Midwest Representatives

Each member school shall designate a MAASU representative. This position shall be open to all students and the procedure of appointment shall be determined by the member school. There shall be only one representative per school and that representative shall have no more than one vote. Each representative shall also serve as a contact person who will have the responsibility to provide and disseminate information to and from MAASU.

Article V: Executive Coordinating Committee (ECC)

The Executive Coordinating Committee of MAASU shall consist of an Executive Chair, Public Relations Officer, Development and Outreach (2), Advocacy, Communications (2), Technical Networking, Programming, Secretary, and Finance.

Article: VI: Executive Officers

  • The Director(s) shall be the liaison to the Board of Advisors and act as an advisor to the ECC. In instances of the Executive Chair’s absence or resignation, the Director(s) will assume the position of Executive Chair.
  • The Executive Chair shall oversee the ECC and the business of the other chairs and co-chairs and facilitate their tasks by providing support, resources, advice, information, etc. The primary representative and contact for the ECC.
  • The Public Relations Officer shall promote MAASU sponsored programs and events via press releases, press kits, emails, flyers, etc.
  • The Development and Outreach Officers shall maintain relationships with existing member schools and develop new relationships with potential member schools.
  • The Advocacy Officer shall address issues affecting the APA community and work with the Public Relations officer to make sure the member schools are aware of these issues via press releases, emails, etc and with the Technical Networking officer to post issues on the MAASU website. The Advocacy Officer along with the Public Relations officer shall issue a MAASU newsletter on a bi-weekly to monthly basis.
  • The Communications Officers shall serve as the liaison to member schools and potential member schools and work with the M-Reps from each school.
  • The Technical Networking Officer shall maintain and update the MAASU website and develop an online archive of MAASU material.
  • The Programming Officer shall assist the Leadership Retreat coordinators and Spring Conference Coordinators in organizing and planning events and develop MAASU programs not related to the LR or SC.
  • The ECC Secretary shall maintain the records and files of MAASU and serve as a historian.
  • The Finance Officer shall maintain the financial records of MAASU, development fund-raising strategies, and solicit corporate sponsorships.

Article VII: Director(s)

  • There shall be a Director. Nominees will be made by the previous Director or the Board of Advisors. The ECC shall approve the nominee for Director by a 2/3 majority.
  • The Director position shall comprise of no more than one person at any given time. The position is not subject for re-election.
  • The Director shall sign a letter of agreement for a two-year period serving as mentor, advisor, and liaison between the Board of Advisors and the ECC. The Director has primary contact with the Executive Chair and the Board of Advisors contact person.
  • The Director, on behalf of MAASU and the ECC, has the authority to enter into contracts, purchase or dispose of property, take other actions as it deems necessary and appropriate, but only with approval of the Executive Chair.
  • The Director will be responsible for maintaining the MAASU accounts and financial records.

Article VIII: The Leadership Retreat

There shall be a Leadership Retreat as set forth in the bylaws. Each member school shall have one vote during the general assembly at the Leadership Retreat, as set forth in the bylaws. The general assembly at the leadership retreat shall, by 2/3 vote, have the authority to affirm, amend, or revoke any action any action taken by the ECC.

Article XI: The MAASU Conference

There shall be the MAASU Conference, as set forth by the bylaws. Each member school shall have one vote during the general assembly at the MAASU Conference, as set forth by the by laws. The general assembly at the MAASU Conference shall, by 2/3 vote, have the authority to affirm, amend, or revoke any action taken by the ECC. The general assembly at the MAASU Conference shall, by majority vote, elect the officers of the ECC, as set forth in the bylaws.

Article X: Board of Advisors

There shall be a Board of Advisors. Nominees will be made by the Director. The ECC will see all the applicants from the BOA (nominated or applied) and BOA makes their recommendations, but the ECC makes the final say (3/4 majority needed) There shall be at least three members of the Board of the Advisors during any given MAASU year.

Article XI: Amendments

Any member organization in good standing can propose an amendment to the constitution, and must receive a 3/4 approval from the ECC and general assembly for it to be implemented.


Article I: Objectives

  • To build unity and pride among Asian American students in the Midwest.
  • To promote leadership among Asian Americans through programs and scholarships.
  • To address any issues affecting the Asian American community.
  • To offer guidance, resources, advice, mentoring, etc. to Asian American groups in Universities across the Midwest.

Article II: Membership

  • Any school falling within the Midwest Region is eligible to join MAASU.
  • A member in good standing shall be defined as a school which has paid its membership dues for the current year.
  • Only member schools in good standing may attend MAASU Conferences and have the benefit of voting.

Article III: Executive Officers

  • The executive officers shall be elected during the general assembly meeting at the MAASU Spring Conference. The term of office shall be on year, which has commence two weeks after the closing of the MAASU Spring Conference. Officers may-be re-elected.
  • Candidates for the Executive Board must be students from member schools in good standing.
  • To be nominated for election as an officer, a representative must file a one-page statement of candidacy by 12pm of the second day of SC and must be a student from a good-standing member school.. All candidates shall be afforded a maximum of 5 minutes of speaking time before the general voting assembly. In case there is no majority, then there shall be a runoff election between the two highest vote getters.
  • The assembly may remove its officer by a 2/3 majority vote of the member schools in good standing attending the assembly. If the assembly is unable to meet, the ECC by a ? majority vote may remove the officers if it determines that the officer in question is no longer capable of executing duties of the office.
  • At the end of the term or office, the officers must relinquish all paper, materials, and property of MAASU to the central office. A final report should be filled by the officers, which shall detail all the activities of the officer during the term of office. The final report shall also include suggestions for future officers of MAASU.

Article IV: Executive Coordinating Committee

  • The ECC shall establish subcommittees as it deems appropriate
  • The ECC shall meet at least 5 times per year: one transitional meeting after the MAASU Spring Conference, one ECC retreat before the Leadership Retreat, one meeting at the Leadership Retreat, one meeting at the MAASU Conference, and again at the transitional meeting. Additional meetings of the ECC may be called by any member of the ECC. Quorum is designated by ? plus 1.
  • The Executive Chair shall address the general assembly on the activities of the ECC at each general assembly meeting.

Article V: The Leadership Retreat

  • The Leadership Retreat shall be held before November 15th of each year.
  • The LR shall be planned, organized, and approved by the ECC through the Programming Officers.
  • The location of the LR shall be determined at the MAASU Spring Conference. Only member schools in good standing may bid for the Leadership Retreat. Each member school will have 15 minutes before the voting general assembly to speak. Only member schools in good standing can vote on the location of the LR and only one vote per school.
  • A final report by the host institution should be submitted no later than 30 days after the closing of the LR.
  • The LR shall be planned and organized by the host school but must have all approval by the ECC. ECC highly encourages students from the host school to join ECC. Host school directors must come to the ECC board meetings.

Article VI: The MAASU Spring Conference

  • The MAASU Spring Conference shall be held prior to April 15 th each year.
  • The MAASU Spring Conference shall be planned, organized, and approved by the ECC through the Programming Officers. The host university and the ECC will determine together the fees and honoraria to be paid to eligible speakers and presenters. This process will occur before any programming can begin.
  • The location of the next MAASU Spring Conference shall be determined at the current MAASU Spring Conference. Any member in good standing may apply for a bid to host the MAASU SC. Each member will have 15 minutes to speak in front of the voting general assembly.
  • A final report by the host institutions should be submitted no later than 30 days after the closing of the MAASU SC
  • The MAASU Spring Conference shall be planned and organized by the host school but must have all approval by the ECC. The host university and the ECC will determine together the fees and honoraria to be paid to eligible speakers and presenters. This process will occur before any programming can begin. ECC highly encourages students from the host school to join ECC. Host school directors must come to the ECC board meetings.

Article VII: Board of Advisors

  • There shall be a Board of Advisors (BOA). Nominees will be made by the Director. The ECC shall approve nominees to the Board of Advisors by a 2/3 majority.
  • The BOA shall be comprised of no more than 10 members and no less than 3 members at any given time and who shall be subject to re-election every two years.
  • Members of the BOA shall sign a letter of agreement for a two-year period serving as mentors to the organization of MAASU.

Article VIII: Budget and Dues

  • A financial states report shall be made available by the Finance Officer at the Spring Conference.
  • Upon request, the ECC shall make available to each member school in good standing, a copy of the annual budget and other financial information.
  • Dues to MAASU shall be collected on an annual basis. The dues shall be based on a scale determined by the ECC. Dues shall not increase by more than 10% of the previous year’s dues.
  • The method of collection shall be determined by the ECC.
  • All member schools who wish to attend the Leadership and Spring Conferences and be considered a member in good standing must pay their dues by the required due date as specified by the ECC.

Amendments

  • Amendments to the constitution or these by-laws may be presented to the general assembly meeting at the LR, SC, or to the ECC Meeting. Any member in good standing or ECC board member may propose a change or addition of an amendment. All amendments must be approved by a ? majority of the member schools in good standing at the next available general assembly conference.

Revisited Jan. 2004