CONSTITUTION
Article I . NAME
The name of the organization will be Lambda.
Article II . PURPOSE
Section 1.
Lambda fosters and promotes an open and honest environment for homosexual, bisexual, and trans-gendered students, partners, faculty, staff and supporters in the State University of West Georgia community. Lambda promotes equality based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the UWG community and encourages advocacy and activism to achieve its goals. In addition, Lambda provides the UWG with opportunities for education, discussion, social services, and general resources based on GLBT life, history, culture and struggles.
Section 2.
Lambda shall achieve its goals each academic year by continuing the following agenda:
1. Hosting weekly meetings open to students, faculty, staff and the local community
2. Promoting positive visibility in the community
3. Encouraging a sense of community among GLBT and all friends and supporters of GLBT.
4. Organizing educational forums and seminars to help foster equality and understanding in the SUWG community on issues of sexual orientation and gender identity.
5. Coordinating and getting involved with other campus organizations to help establish a broader community of understanding and equality.
Section 3.
Recognizing diversity within the community it serves, Lambda maintains a policy of comprehensive inclusion and representation. Lambda respects and embraces the cultural diversity of the campus and fundamentally offers a safe place at the State University of West Georgia to be homosexual, bisexual, or trans-gendered.
Article III . MEMBERSHIP
Section 1.
Lambda shall have General and Official membership, including but not limited to SUWG students, faculty, and staff. At least 85% of the recorded membership must be registered students as pertaining to SUWG regulation.
Lambda shall actively encourage and pursue gender parity and ethnic diversity. Membership in Lambda shall not be contingent upon sexual orientation.
Section 2.
Membership in Lambda will be composed of the following types of membership.
A. General Membership
1. G.M. is open to all currently registered students, students on leave, faculty, staff, alumni, and other if so designated be the Executive Board.
2. A person must have attended at least (2) weekly meetings each semester to be considered a G.M.
3. A G.M. may participate in committees, event planning, and other group activities.
4. A G.M. can have voting rights after attending at least (4) meetings per semester, unless other wise determined by the Executive Board.
B. Official Membership
1. Official Membership is open to all students, faculty, staff and alumni who have paid dues for the current academic year.
2. Officers will establish dues at the beginning of the academic year
3. Official Members are eligible for committee chairmanship, co-chairmanship, elected office, and have voting rights.
C. All Lists of members will be kept confidential and will only serve for the purpose of election and voting rights.
Article IV . EXECUTIVE BOARD
Section 1.
A. Lambda shall elect the following officers:
1. President (or Co-Presidents)
2. Secretary
3. Treasurer
4. Campus Education Coordinator
5. Public Relations Officer
who shall serve as the Executive Board of officers
B. The Executive Board will be responsible for upholding Lambda Constitution and abiding by UWG regulations at all times.
C. General Guidelines
1. Elected officers may choose to swap tasks to accommodate preferences and skills
2. Officers will meet at least once a month to coordinate their activities
3. Officers must maintain open and constant contact with each other, the President/s, and the organization's advisor/s
Section 2.
A. Duties and Powers
1 . The President/s Shall :
a. formulate a yearly agenda for the organization, such as a list of planned activities and events. Goals and priorities will be determined.
b. be responsible for presiding over weekly meetings
c. ensure all activities of Lambda fall within the organizational goals as stated in the Constitution.
d. ensure that group activities and functions are properly managed and abide by SUWG guidelines and regulations.
e. be the official representative of Lambda in business and public opinion. Likewise, the President/s will make decisions for the organization in cases of emergency.
f. creating committees as needed
g. assigning duties of officers if positions are vacant or responsibilities are unfulfilled, and calling for elections if necessary
h. establishing and maintaining communication between all committees, general group body, and officers.
Note: If by general consensus Lambda decides to enact a Co-Presidency the Guidelines for such are as follows:
-Both shall have equal power and authority
-Each will have authority to serve in absence of the other
-Shall assist each other and coordinate efforts
-There will be two positions: Male and Female Identified
-Gender for which a person may run is determined by their declared gender identity
2. Secretary
a. Maintain the records for Lambda including:
-Minutes for executive and committee meetings
-records and information on activities and events
b. Maintain records of General and Official members, committee chairmanships, and officer boards.
c. Be responsible for coordinating the organization's web-page
d. Maintaining contact with alumni
2. Treasurer
a. Oversee finances of Lambda
b. Set up budget for upcoming year
c. Oversees fundraising activities
d. Compiling and presenting a financial report
e. Collecting dues
f. Maintain constant contact with Executive Board with a clear report of the distribution of funds.
3. Campus Education Coordinator
a. Organize and manage class discussions
b. Organize campus forums and events providing education and outreach
c. Promote and suggest group activities for providing further education and outreach
d . Organize and manage programs to poll and keep record of GLBT life on the SUWG campus. For example: surveys, interviews and testimonies
4. Public Relations Officer
a. Maintain contact with other university organizations
-encourage joint work and activities
-inform them of seminars and activities tha tmay be beneficial
b. Promote and increase publicity of Lambda
-distribution of flyers, newspaper ads, and other advertising
-maintaining awareness around campus of our organization, its duties, activities, and general presence.
c. Help maintain communication between the executive board, members, and advisors.
Note : Both the Campus Education Coordinator and Public Relations Officer will be responsible for helping manage Lambda's office
B. Terms of Office
All officers shall serve one full academic year. Starting in the Fall Semester and ending at the closing of Summer sessions.
Section 2.
A. Elections
1. Elections will take place in the first or second week of April, and must be ended by April 15, before the group reregisters. Sufficient public notice must be made for ALL elections whether annual elections or those called by the President/s.
2. A person can hold only one position at a time, however, during elections can run for multiple possible positions.
3. Candidates may nominate themselves. Candidates must be prepared to prove their ability to serve and improve the desired position. Candidates must be registered students, and must be planning to be registered students for the duration of their office.
4. Officers will be elected by a majority vote of all members with voting rights. Voter can only vote for one candidate per position.
5. Vote shall be collected and tabulated by the current President and Secretary, however, if not possible, two current officers. If necessary, the tabulation can occur in the presence of the faculty or staff advisor.
6. Votes by electronic mail may be accepted, if printed and shown in hard-copy and show no sign of fraud.
7. Current officers must allow and create time to train their replacing officers on performing their duties and responsibilities
8. Candidates can not votes for themselves.
B. An officer may be impeached by unanimous consensus of the general assembly of a majority of all voting members of Lambda, the advisors, and remaining Executive Board.
Section 3.
Officers can create temporary positions with approval from the President/s, to assist in performing the duties of office
Article V . STANDING COMMITTEES
Section 1.
Lambda shall form standing committees to manage and coordinate on going projects of the organization.
A. Suggested Committees
1. Social/Main Events Committee
a. Chaired by selected officer or official member designated by Executive Board
b. Responsible for maintaining regular group events:
-National Coming Out Day
-Homecoming Activities
-World Aids Day
-Fall and Spring Festivals
-Other Events as determined by Lambda
c. Responsible for encouraging other social and public activities
d. Since some of the events organized by this Committee fall into the agenda of some of the officers, those officers are expected to actively guide and participate in this Committee.
Section 2.
A. General Guidelines for Committees
1. *All committees will elect chairs and co-chair that, upon approval of designation by Executive Board, will be responsible for management of committee activity
2. Chairs will be responsible for providing reports of committee progress to Lambda Executive Board and Members
3. Standing Committees will meet preferably once a month at least, and all other committees must schedule regular meetings as necessary.
Article VI . MEETINGS
Lambda will host weekly meetings at a regular time and place as determined by the Executive Board.
Article VII . AMENDMENTS
Amendments to the Constitution may be suggested by any Member, Officer, or Advisor and must be submitted to the President/s in writing. They will be discussed at a regular business meeting and at least one general weekly meeting. Voting will occur no later than one or two weeks after proposal of amendment.
-Proper notification to all Members and officers must take place.
-Email votes will be accepted, however, must have a printed hardcopy and show no sign of fraud.
-All votes will be collected and counted by the President/s
-A two-thirds majority votes of the total of members and officers and advisors is required for the amendment to pass.
-The amendment must state whether it is to be put into effect immediately or at the end of the present semester.