S.P.I.R.A.L.S. Constitution
Amended October 23rd 2007
Article
:: name ::
SPIRALS is the acronym standing for the Student Pagans Integrating Religion and Life, Spiritually. It is a resident undergraduate student group run by UMass undergraduates for undergraduate students and other members of the community. We do not necessarily endorse these links
Article
Two :: Mission Statement::
This organization shall act primarily to build a community for Pagans and anyone else who wants to learn. We shall also act as a resource/referral, information, and networking center with the Pioneer Valley collegiate and Pagan communities, and Beyond. This organization shall work to educate students and the community about Paganism, as well as oppression and defamation of our Religions.
Article Three :: Membership::
Section One :: Qualifications of Membership::
A member is deemed active after continuous significant participation (including attendance at least once a month at meetings and/or rituals; tabling; and/or office hours).
Section Two :: Entitlement of Membership ::
A
member may take part in all decision making, except for those
involving our financial account.
Section Three :: Removal Vote ::
If a member of SPIRALS is not behaving acceptably within the codes of conduct, an officer should be notified and an officer will talk to said individual. If, after being approached and reasoned with by an officer of the club at least three times, a written warning will be issued. If things are still not settled then a removal vote may be enacted, where in which one or more members may bring to bear within a SPIRALS meeting, and seconded by another member. Then a blind ballot will be orchestrated by one of the officers. To have removal succeed, a 2/3rds vote will need to pass. The member in question does not get a vote.
Section Four :: Member Removal ::
A member who has been removed is barred from events and meetings for the remainder of the semester. He or she may return the following semester. If they continue to be destructive, they will be verbally warned by an officer one time. If more action is required, they will be asked to leave again without a re-vote. This barring expires one year after the original vote.
Section
Five :: Officer Removal ::
If the members of SPIRALS notice that an officer is neglecting his or her duties, or behaving in a way that is destructive to the group, the remaining officers should approach him or her immediately. If said officer can not be reasoned with, and it continues, then a removal vote may be called for, and must be seconded by another member. Then a blind ballot will be orchestrated by one of the officers. To have removal succeed, a 2/3rds vote will need to pass. The officer in question does not get a vote.
This only removes them from office, it does not remove them from the group.
Sub Section A :: Voting ::
For numbers of voting members between 2 and 5 will have to be unanimous. Between 5 and 10 people, 90% of persons present will be required for motions to pass. For every additional ten persons present and able to vote, the required percentage for passing a motion will be reduced by 10%. For further details, consult the chart below.
For non-major decisions:
1-5 100%
6-10 90%
11-20 80%
21-30 70%
31-40 60%
41- 51%
Clause: Major decisions will revert to a 2/3rds majority in groups larger than 31 voting persons. Major decisions include, but are not limited to: Constitution changes, if an event will take place, Major Budget concerns (over 25$), Deciding on workshop and paid or unpaid consultants, and Elections.
Section Three :: Membership Termination ::
A member is deemed inactive after a month lacking physical communication with the group.
Section Four :: Financial Members ::
Financial members are SATF-paying undergrads who have met the requirements of membership. They may take part in decision making involving our financial account. All SATF-paying undergrads are eligible to be financial member.
Article Four ::Meetings::
Meetings will be held at least once per week during the>Fall and Spring semesters, while classes are in session. Activities such as:
rituals
planning/business meetings
social activities
will be scheduled at meetings. All meetings and activities on-campus must adhere to the Undergraduate Code of Conduct.
Article Five :: Officer Procedures::
The officers will form an Executive Board.
Section 1:: Elections:
Elections of Officers shall take place a semester prior to the vacancy of the position. The officer Elect will be in training for that semester, learning the responsibility and time management requirements of the position. If the person being trained does not feel that they are capable of fulfilling the requirements of the position, they are responsible for training a new officer the following semester. The officer elect, although they do not hold any administrative authorities, they are still expected to aid the officer who holds the position they are training for. The officer elect may hold optional office hours at least one hour a week.
Section 2:: The Executive Board will act as:
steering committee to guide the organization
our chief contact with the Administration and public
we shall meet together for a one to one-and-one-half hours each week, or as often as deemed necessary.
Other officer positions may be created as deemed necessary over time. This requires a Constitutional Amendment. Other offices maybe created for a temporary purpose, that will last only for that officer’s term: it does not carry over to the next person in that position.
All officers must hold at least 1 office hour per week. Office hours for each officer for the week will be posted on the door. Each officer will be informed of the locker combination for the office key and responsible for signing-in/signing-out the key upon each use.
Article :: Officers::
Section One :: In-Reach and Out-Reach Chairs ::
The In-Reach and Out-reach chairs will handle all the activities and will work together extensively.
The responsibilities of the In-reach Chair include, but are not limited to, the following:
reserving space for the organization’s meetings
leading the agenda of meetings
coordinating all of the other officers
aiding in planning all of the organization’s activities
organizing on-campus educational efforts.
The In-reach Chair will send members to the Outreach Chair to locate resources off-campus. The In-reach chair will hold Signature Responsibility.
The responsibilities of the Outreach Chair include, but are not limited to:
aiding the In-Reach chair with duties when deemed necessary
networking with the area Pagan groups, collegiate and otherwise
formulating a community bulletin board of events, workshops, and rituals to be posted in the office.
The In-reach and Out-reach Chairs will work together to arrange at least one large open ritual (ex. Samhain or Beltane) each semester and facilitate the organization of one large event (ex. Paganism 101, Witches Ball or conference) each year.
Both the In-Reach and Out-Reach Chairs are granted this power: in case of the absence of an office, they may take over the responsibilities temporarily until the position is filled and responsibilities properly carried out.
Section Two :: Financial Chair ::
The Financial Chair officer will handle all of our finances. This will include, but is not limited to:
writing all purchase orders (PO’s), and IAR’s
recording all financial transactions in our books and balancing books with the monthly statement
making sure that money is spent on the proper allocations
writing our budget each spring.
The Financial Chair will hold Signature Responsibility.
Section: Three :: Secretary ::
The Secretary’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
taking minutes at meetings;
maintaining updated membership lists
making phone and email distributions
creating posters/flyers for organizational events
maintaining correspondence.
Section Four :: Web Master ::
The Webmaster’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
maintaining and updating the web page
updating and moderating the web-based group(s)
performing other internet duties as deemed necessary.
Section Five :: Workshop Coordinator ::
The Workshop Coordinator’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
seeking out and finding speakers/teachers to lead workshops
scheduling workshops for the appropriately reserved times.
Section Six:: Historian::
The Historian’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
upkeep of the bulletin board
maintaining of archives
keeping a scrapbook historical account of all major club activities.