Constitution of Unidos

Preamble

UNIDOS was established to help bring together La Comunidad at Stockton University. UNIDOS will lead efforts to expand cultural and historical awareness of the contributions the Latino and Hispanic community has provided to Humanity. In addition, to the goals and aims of education, UNIDOS will seek to address the challenges within Stockton University, the State of New Jersey and within the United States by advocating for the rights of Latinos and recent immigrants to this country so that they can benefit fully from the American Dream.

We employ the term La Comunidad to describe a diverse group of peoples with origins from countries in Central America, South America, and other traditionally “Hispanic” or Spanish-speaking countries, while also recognizing other labels may apply. We also welcome allies and others who appreciate and support these individuals.

UNIDOS will strive to:

1. Unite La Comunidad at Stockton around the appreciation of the Latino culture, heritage and traditions.
2. Support each other academically, professionally, and personally.
3. Serve as a representative voice for all those who appreciate the Latino and Hispanic culture, heritage and traditions and/or identify as Latin@, Latino, Latina, LatinX, Afro-Latino or Hispanic.
4. Advocate for our students and work tirelessly to create pathways for their successful enrollment, retention and graduation from the University.
5. Provide leadership at the University by advocating for the establishment of structures and policies and procedures that further diversity and inclusion efforts at Stockton and increase the number of faculty and staff from Latin@, Latino, Latina, LatinX, Afro-Latino, Hispanic backgrounds to serve better the needs of growing diverse and multi-ethnic student-body.
6. Unite with existing organizations and develop new organizations within La Comunidad at Stockton and the surrounding community to become more effective in the accomplishment of these aforementioned goals.

Article I
Name

Section A: Name

The name of this organization shall be UNIDOS.  UNIDOS is a recognized organization of Stockton University.

Article II
Membership

Section A: General Membership

Any employee of Stockton is eligible for membership in UNIDOS. Any active member of the group has voting privileges.

LLU Student representative - is a non-voting and advisory member of the organization. The Student representatives have a voice and are able to work and contribute to the development of a 5-year plan addressing the strategic goals outlines during Unidos. 

Alumni representative - is a non-voting and advisory member of the organization. The Alumni representatives have a voice and are able to work and contribute to the development of a 5-year plan addressing the strategic goals outlines during Unidos. 

Unidos Affiliate Membership - is a non-voting and advisory member of the organization. It is a Membership for those individuals that are not part of the Stockton University community but would like to receive invitations to Unidos and other programs that align with the mission and goals of Unidos.

Unidos Affiliates have a voice and are able to work and contribute to the development of a 5-year plan addressing the strategic goals outlines during Unidos. 

Sponsorship - There will be the opportunity to sponsor specific programs/activities that further the greater strategic goals of Unidos.

Section B: Voting Members

In order to be considered “active” in UNIDOS and exercise voting privileges, a member must attend 5 meetings per year, pay dues, and volunteer on 1 committees or assignments.

Section C: Dues

Membership dues shall be determined by the Executive Board. Any change in dues will go into effect the next academic year. Dues are due by September 1st annually. For the year 2018-2019, dues shall be:

A personalized membership card will be included with your membership.

Article III
Executive Board

Section A: Executive Board

The governing body of UNIDOS shall be known as the Executive Board. 

The Executive Board shall consist of six Executive Officers, which include a President, Vice President, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer, Public Relations Officer, and Parliamentarian.

Section B: Officer Eligibility

At the time of appointment, an officer must have been a voting member for at least one prior semester. Other requirements: Attend 90-100% of all meetings – both Executive Board and full meetings

Section C: Powers and Duties of the Officers

The President shall:

1. Oversee the total operations of the organization.
2. Preside over every meeting.
3. Serve as an ex-officio member of all sub committees.
4. Vote only in the event of a tie.
5. The term of office shall be 2 years and then the President shall mentor the incoming President as needed.

The Vice President shall:

1. Assist in the total operation of the organization as directed by the President.
2. Report directly to the President.
3. Preside in the absence of the President.
4. The term of office shall be 2 years.

The Corresponding Secretary shall:

1. Coordinate information to and from the Executive Board.
2. Issue notices of meetings and conduct the general correspondence of the club.
3. Keep a roster of all voting members.
4. Generate all agenda items and report them to the President.
5. Keep a record of minutes and provide copies to all members upon request.
6. In the event of a vacancy of the Public Relations Officer, the Secretary shall take on those duties.
7. Report directly to the President.
8. The term of office shall be 2 years.

The Treasurer shall:

1. Oversee and be responsible for budgetary expenditure, funding requests and fund raising activities.
2. Keep an itemized account of all receipts and expenditures and make reports as directed.
3. Report directly to the President.
4. The term of office shall be 2 years.

Public Relations Officer shall:

1. Be responsible for addressing promotional needs of the organization.
2. Responsible for the marketing, social media, and Unidos website.
3. Work in conjunction with the Corresponding Secretary
4. Report directly to the President.
5. The term of office shall be 2 years.

Parliamentarian

1. Shall maintain basic order in all meetings
2. Shall be the mediator on all bylaw disputes.
3. Shall chair the Governing Committee.
4. Is non-voting, nonverbal member.
5. The term of office shall be 2 years.

Article IV
Committees

Section A: Committees 

The committees of UNIDOS shall be:

1. Academic –
2. Student Affairs -
3. Social/Cultural –
   1. Hispanic Heritage Month Planning – Flag raising Planning
   2. Latino Lecture Series
   3. Scholarship Dinner for March 2019
4. Marketing/Website/Social Media -
5. Legislative –
6. Mentoring
   1. Advising support to Los Latinos Unidos (Student Group) –

Section B: Committee Leadership

Members of the committees must elect a committee chair annually. Membership on the committees is self-appointed. The Executive Board may vote to dissolve committee leadership if necessary and call for a new committee election. 

Section C: Ad-hoc Committees

The President shall have the authority to appoint any temporary or special committees, with the approval of the Executive Committee, from time to time as need demands.

Article V
Removal of Executive Officer 

Any officer can be removed by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the membership present at two consecutive meetings. 

Article VI
Vacancies/Special Elections

In the event of a vacancy in the office of the President, the Vice President will automatically assume the office of the President.  All other vacancies shall be filled temporarily by majority vote of the membership upon recommendation of the executive board until a special election can be held.

Article VII
Resignation of Officers

Any officer wishing to resign his/her office must notify general members at a regularly scheduled meeting and should give two months’ notice in writing before the resignation takes effect.

Article VIII
Meetings

Section A: Types of Meetings

Regular Meetings – Regular meetings shall be held at least monthly during the academic year.
Special Meeting – Special meetings may be called by the President with the approval of the Executive Committee.

Section B: Meeting Rules

Quorum – A quorum shall consist of 50% plus one of the voting membership.
Parliamentary Authority – Robert’s Rules of Order/Bobby’s Rules of Order, shall govern this club in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the constitution or any bylaws of UNIDOS.

Article IX
Elections

Nominations shall be opened at a well-publicized, regularly scheduled meeting and run for at least two meetings.  The elections shall be held at a well-publicized, regularly scheduled meeting one week after the closing of nominations.  The candidate with the plurality of the vote shall be declared the winner.  Each year elections will be held before May 15th for the following year.  New officers will take office on September 1st.

Article X
Amendments

Any members of UNIDOS may sponsor an amendment to this constitution.  The amendment must pass the organization’s membership by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the members present. If approved, a fully amended copy must be put on file in the meeting’s minutes and maintained by the Secretary.

Article XI
Examination

All UNIDOS financial records, minutes and voting records are subject to examination upon request of any member of the University.