CUW CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS

CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I

The name of this organization shall be the Council of University Women.

ARTICLE II

The purpose of this organization is to serve in the spirit of friendliness, to grow personally and to perpetuate the CUW Endowed Scholarship Fund established in 1990.

ARTICLE III

Membership

A. Eligibility: Membership shall be open to all university-employed classified, unclassified and auxiliary staff, with the exception of student assistants.

B. Types: There shall be two types of membership - active and honorary.

1. Active membership shall be open to those eligible who wish to participate in the activities of the Council.
2. Honorary membership shall be of two classes:

a. Class A honorary membership is extended to any CUW retiree and the spouse of the president and past presidents of the university.

b. Class B honorary membership shall be offered to all active members upon their withdrawal from univeristy employment and granted if they so desire.

ARTICLE IV

Officers

A. The officers of the Council shall consist of president, vice president, secretary and treasurer.

B. Qualifications: No one shall serve as an officer who has not held active membership for at least one academic year (interpreted as September to March, the date of the annual election), and no member shall hold the same office for two consecutive years.

C. Election: The election of the officers shall be at the March meeting.

1. A candidate shall be considered elected when a majority of all votes cast is received.
2. When there is one candidate for an office, upon motion, a unanimous vote can be cast.

D. Installation: Installation of officers shall be held at the May meeting.

E. Term of office: An officer shall assume the duties of the office at the close of the installation, with the exception of the treasurer. The new treasurer shall not assume duties until the books are closed and audit is complete (July 15). Duties of the office shall continue until the successor is installed.

F. Executive Board: The president, vice president, secretary and treasurer shall constitute the executive board. The immediate past president shall serve in an advisory capacity.

G. Vacancies: Per Article IV, Sections A and B, vacancies in office shall be appointed by the executive board, the appointee taking office immediately.

ARTICLE V

Meetings: Held in a room of appropriate size within the Rhatigan Student Center unless otherwise designated.

A. Monthly meetings are held during the Fall and Spring semesters scheduled on the second Wednesday of the month.

B. The holiday social is traditionally held in December at the WSU presidents residence. (Please check with the first lady to confirm the date).

C. The joint meeting with the WSU Women's Association (formerly the WSU Dames) is held annually on the second Wednesday in February. (Meeting responsibilities alternate between selecting the speaker/managing the program or menu selection/table decorations).

D. The scholarship fundraiser is held in April.

E. Business meetings in addition to those mentioned above shall be at the call of the executive board.

F. Program meetings shall be held as authorized by the executive board and carried out by the hostess and her committee.

ARTICLE VI

Amendments

A. Quorum: This Constitution may be amended at any business meeting by a two-thirds vote of the active members present.

B. Mail vote: At the president's discretion, a mail vote may be required to amend this Constitution. For the purposes of a mail ballot in which all active members are sent a ballot, a quorum shall be those ballots received by the executive board within the time period stated on the ballot and the votes shall determine the will of the Council.

BY-LAWS

ARTICLE I

Dues and Assessments

A. Membership shall be offered to all university-employed classified, unclassified and auxiliary staff during the months of August and September.

B. Dues for active members and Class B honorary members shall be set by the executive board with the approval from the members payable on or before October 1.

1. A current membership list shall be established.

C. There shall be no dues for Class A honorary members.

ARTICLE II

Duties of Officers

The duties of the officers shall be those specified in Robert's Rules of Order and such other duties are set forth in these By-laws under Article IV.

ARTICLE III

Duties of the Executive Board

A. The executive board shall outline the general program for the year, and shall appoint all committee chairpersons necessary to host or develop the program.

1. Sign-up sheets shall be available at the August and September meetings to secure additional program committee members.
2. The executive board shall include committee information in the yearbook.

B. In January the executive board shall appoint a nominating committee of three members advising them of their duties.

ARTICLE IV

Special Duties of the Officers

A. Special duties of the President

1. The president shall be the official representative of the Council.
2. The president shall have power to appoint any special committees not covered by Article III, Section A of these By-laws.
3. The president shall recognize all guests in attendance at program meetings.
4. The president and the treasurer shall serve as co-trustees of the CUW Endowed Scholarship Fund as authorized in Polices and Procedures for administration of the Council of University Women Scholarship Fund, dated November 5, 1990. They shall also serve as co-trustees of the operating account and vending account.
5. The president shall pass on all presidential files to the successor at the installation of officers.

B. Special Duties of the Vice President

1. The vice president shall act as the official representative of the Council in the absence of the president.
2. The vice president shall coordinate the year's programs, securing and facilitating: (a) Facility(ies); (b) Featured speaker; (c) Audio visual equipment and special needs.
3. The vice president shall forward and handwritten thank you note to the featured speaker within the week following the presentation.
4. The vice president shall serve in an advisory capacity on the program committees.
5. The vice president shall pass on all vice presidential files to the successor at the installation of officers.

C. Special Duties of the Secretary

1. The secretary shall compile all records of the meetings and executive sessions of the Council.
2. The secretary shall compile regular monthly meeting minutes. The meeting minutes and the treasurer's reports shall be provided to the program committee chair for distribution in meeting announcement mailings.
3. The secretary and the treasurer shall coordinate permanent name tags for members, and the compilation and distribution of the member yearbook in a timely fashion.
4. The secretary shall pass on all secretarial files to the successor at the installation of officers.

D. Special Duties of the Treasurer

1. The treasurer shall be responsible for the collection of all dues and monies and payment of all bills incurred; (a) Meals will be ordered per reservations received as required by RSC Reservations; (b) To improve security, funds collected at events shall be deposited in the CUW Service Fund in the Controller's Office and transferred to the Board of Trustees by check requisition; (c) Requisitions shall be approved by the treasurer and the president.
2. The treasurer and the secretary shall coordinate permenant name tags for members, and the compilation and distribution of the member yearbooks in a timely fashion.
3. The treasurer shall compile regular monthly treasurer reports. The treasurer's reports and monthly minutes meetings from the secretary shall be provided to the program committee chair for distribution in meeting announcement mailings.
4. The treasurer shall and the president shall serve as co-trustees of the CUW Endowed Scholarship Fund as authorized in Policies and Procedures for Administration of the Council of University Women Scholarship Fund, dated November 5, 1990. They shall also serve as co-trustees for the operating account and the vending account.
5. The treasurer along with other executive board members and appointed scholarship committee members shall choose the scholarship recipient(s) from recommendations received from the WSU Office of Financial Aid.
6. The treasurer shall administer scholarships as authorized in Article IV, Section D, paragraphs four and five.
7. An audit committee consisting of two (2) CUW members unrelated to treasury functions shall review the financial records prior to officer transition.
8. The treasurer shall pass on all treasurer files to the successor after the books are closed and an audit is completed (July 15). The treasurer shall also provide the current procedures manual to the successor.

ARTICLE V

Amendment

A. Quorum: These By-laws may be amended at any business meeting by two-thirds vote of the active members present.

B. Mail Vote: At the president's discretion, a mail vote may be required to amend these By-laws for the purposes of a mail vote in which all active members are sent a ballot, a quorum shall be those ballots received by the executive board within the time period stated on the ballot and the votes recorded shall be the will of the Council.