Online Constitution
Social Dance Club Constitution
Created: 1/17/07
Article I. Name
A. Social Dance Club
B. We bear no insignia as of this point.
1. Once the club is organized and includes more members, this matter will
be further discussed and the constitution may be amended here.
Article II. Aims and Objectives of the Organization
A. Social Dance Club seeks to:
1. Diversify dance on campus by teaching and offering lessons in several
types of dance that include but are not limited to Swing, Tango, Salsa,
and other Latin dances.
2. Provide a recreational activity that the campus community can enjoy.
Article III. Membership
A. Qualifications
1. The academic grade point requirement is equivalent with that of
university standards at a 2.0 cumulative.
2. Class standing does not matter, as long as it meets the above statement.
B. New Members
1. Can be anyone who attends the club more than once and who agrees to
pay a nominal fee.
2. No initiation requirements apply.
C. Compliance
1. Membership in Social Dance Club is in compliance with the Michigan
Technological University’s Board of Control Equal Opportunity Policy
effective July 20, 1990, the Association will not discriminate on the
basis of race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual
orientation, height, weight, or marital status. The organization must also
be committed to the policy of not discriminating against handicapped
individual’s or veterans.
D. Class of Members
1. Regular Members in compliance with the standards must be Michigan
Tech students.
2. Associate members such as staff and faculty are also welcome.
3. Other people including the campus community, greater community,
and family members are welcome to partake in club meetings and
participate in recreational dance activities even without membership
status.
E. Rights and Privileges of Members include:
1. The right to vote for seven elected officers – President, Vice President,
Treasurer, Secretary, Publicity, Scout, Dance Advocate.
a. Note: Members must first agree to pay a nominal fee per
semester to be granted these privileges. This will be
further discussed in section VII. of this constitution.
Article IV. Officers
A. Officer positions.
1. All of these positions are elected by a majority vote.
a. President
b. Vice President
c. Treasurer
d. Secretary
e. Publicity
f. Scout
g. Dance Advocate
B. Officer Qualifications
1. In accordance with university policy, officials must be Michigan Tech
students and have at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average at the
time of their appointment.
2. As is the case, with members, officer elections are also in accordance
with Michigan Technological University’s Board of Control Equal
Opportunity Policy which is stated verbatim in Article III, Section C.
C. Term of office
1. Offices will be held for the length of one school year. There is no limit
as to the amount of years a student may be voted in to an office, as long
as they remain registered with the university.
D. How officers are elected
1. Each officer is elected by a majority vote of club members.
a. Note: Members are university students or faculty who have paid
their nominal semester fee as is in accordance with university
policy.
E. Duties of officers
1. President
a. The president’s duties include carrying out group plans
b. Checking funds with the vice president and the treasurer
c. helping to set up events/fundraisers by overseeing the process
and organizing temporary committees.
2. Vice President
a. The vice president’s job will be to assist the president in his duties.
b. The vice president is also responsible for helping to check funds.
3. Treasurer
a. The treasurer will aid both the president and vice president in
checking funds.
b. He/she will also take care of the money and
costs for rooms, rentals, donations, and fundraisers.
c. They will also keep the overall accounting records and have possession of the moneybox.
4. Secretary
a. The secretary will keep track of events and records.
b. They will be responsible for notifying members and collecting their e-mails when the semester membership fee is paid.
c. Any information that needs to be distributed to group members will come from the secretary.
5. Publicity
a. This person will literally take care of club publicity. They will
advocate and spread the word for events, by advertising with
posters, table tents, radio talks, etcetera.
b. They will work in correspondence with the Dance Advocate.
6. Scout
a. The scout will avidly search for places to dance and prospective
teachers for different dances.
b. They will also look to acquire dance materials like mats for practicing aerials, videos for learning, music, etcetera.
7. Dance Advocate
a. The dance advocate will be similar to the Publicity officer, but
different in the sense that they will be looking to get people
interested in the club by word of mouth and visual
demonstration.
b. The dance advocate will work in correspondence with Publicity.
8. Note: All officers will be responsible for ensuring that the dance
atmosphere is fun and warmly inviting to everyone who attends.
F. Composition of Executive Board
1.The Executive Board will consist of five of the elected officials
including the President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary and
Publicity official.
G. Method of Impeachment
1. An officer may be removed from office on the grounds that they have
created an atmosphere that is not conducive to club goals. If their
appointment as an officer is not beneficial to the club or club image,
they can also be relieved of their duties as an officer. This will be
decided by a three fifths majority vote of five of the elected officials.
2. An officer also has the option of resigning their post.
Article V. Advisor
A. Our advisor will be expected to make sure that the club is running smoothly,
and that the environment remains welcoming and fun for both members and
others who frequent the club.
B. We as a group are the ones who elect our advisor, which in turn is approved by student activities.
C. As long as the advisor wishes to maintain his/her position, they may continue
as advisor.
Article VI. Committees
A. Standing Committees
1. The executive committee will consist of those members appointed to the
seven official positions. They will take care of passing amendments if
need be as well as organizing special meetings.
a. This committee will help coordinate events, analyze club
sentiment, check accounts, and vote on issues that come up.
2. There will also be a financial committee composed of three officials
(the President, Vice President, and Treasurer). These three officials will
take care of the money box, so that there are three people checking club
accounting. Finances will be reviewed every night after dance to assure
that new members are accounted for and existing funds remain safe
from embezzlement.
B. Temporary Committees
1. Temporary committees will exist when the club plans and event or
fundraiser and are created when the need arises by any Social Dance Club official.
a. Committees will be formed to organize events and distribute the
work that is required for these events.
i. Note: Responsibilities can range from promoting an event
to decorating to contacting musicians or renting floor
space off campus.
Article VII. Dues
A. Dues will be collected by the club.
1. The fee is determined as a nominal fee which is affordable to students
and also helps the club raise funds to hold dances and other activities.
B. Dues may be paid at any time throughout the semester by any student or
faculty member wishing to obtain voting privileges or membership.
C. Dues will be paid to the treasurer when he/she is elected.
Article VIII. Meetings
A. Types of meetings:
1. Regular meetings and times
a. These meetings will be to fulfill the goals of the club, meaning
dancing.
i. Sunday 6:30-9:30 pm
ii. Thursdays 6-9 pm
2. Special meetings
a. These meetings will only be called if something of urgency
requires attention and can only be called upon by the President, Vice president, or Secretary if need be.
i. Note: This could include a meeting for planning dances
off campus or discussing fundraising.
Article IX. Constitution
A. Adoption
1. The constitution must be approved by the majority of those responsible
for starting Social Dance Club.
2. “It will take effect when approved by the Office of Student Activities.”
B. Amendments
1. A written proposal must first be submitted for the executive committee
to review in order for an amendment to the constitution to take place.
2. Members will rely on the decisions of their executive board to vote on
proposed amendments.
a. Note: The executive board is composed of five elected officials
including the President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary,
and Publicity.
3. A vote of three fifths by the executive board will be necessary to
finalize all amendments.
4. “It will take effect when approved by the Office of Student Activities.”
C. No by-laws are included in our constitution.
