The Catholic Student Association




The Catholic Student Association

By-Laws

November 1, 2005

 

 

The By-Laws of the Catholic Student Association outline the procedures by which the Association carries out its business. 

 

Article One: Elections

            Members of the Catholic Student Association may be elected as officers on the Executive Committee, including the Chair, Vise Chair, Treasurer, and Secretary.  Officers shall be elected each April for a term of one year.  An officer may be re-elected for up to four (4) total terms. 

            Members shall be elected by filling out the application for membership as an Executive Officer and submitting it to the Secretary of the CSA before the predetermined date in April.  By submitting the application the member is stating that he/she has read both the Constitution and By-Laws and agrees to fulfill all responsibilities outlined in the Constitution and the By-Laws.  Members currently serving as officers on the Executive Committee may reapply, just in case they have not already served a total of four terms. 

            After the predetermined submission date all the applications shall be made available to the general membership.  The membership shall then be polled to determine the preference of the membership.   Following the poll the applications and poll results are to be reviewed by the Executive Committee at a formal meeting.  Following the review the voting members of the Executive Committee shall select those who will become officers the following year.  The results of the election will be announced by May 1.

            Those selected to serve as officers must read both the Constitution and the By-Laws in their entirety, and will be given a copy of both the Constitution and the By-Laws. 

            Just in case there are no applicants for a particular position on the Executive Committee, the person currently serving that position may serve a second term with the assent of the entire Executive Committee, provided that he/she has not already served a total of four terms.

            Just in case an executive resigns a special election will be held to fill the vacant position.  If the Chair resigns the Vice Chair will assume the position of Chair making the Vice Chair position vacant.  Special elections will have the same format as regular elections except that the executive committee will have one week after the close of the poll to announce who will fill the vacancy.    

 

Article Two: Executive Committee Meetings

A.     Location and Frequency: The Executive Committee shall meet at least twice monthly, normally, but not exclusively, at the Catholic Center at UVM. 

B.     Attendance: The Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, and Secretary shall be in attendance at all meetings.  If the Chair cannot attend a meeting the Vice Chair may fulfill the responsibilities of the Chair, as well as his/her own responsibilities.  In the absence of the Vice Chair, Treasurer, or Secretary the Executive Committee may appoint a member of the Executive Committee to fulfill the responsibility of the person in absence.  At least three voting members of the executive committee must be present at all Executive Committee meetings, including the Chair or Vice Chair.  A meeting may not commence in the absence of both the Chair and Vice-Chair. 

The Faculty Advisor(s), Chaplain, and the current campus minister on faculty with the Catholic Center at UVM are invited to attend the Executive Committee meetings, though their attendance is not required.  The voting members of the Executive Committee may meet in the absence of the non-voting members

C.     Structure: Each meeting shall follow this outline:

1.      Opening Prayer

2.      Voting and Non-Voting Members Report on Unfinished Business

3.      New Business

4.      Communications

5.      Date and Time of next meeting determined

6.      Closing Prayer

D.     Voting: Voting is the only method by which a formal decision can be made concerning the governance of the CSA.  Voting is the normal method by which general decisions are made.   A vote may be called at anytime during a meeting by the Chair (Vice Chair in the absence of the Chair).  All voting Executive Committee members in attendance may request the Chair to call a vote and all voting Executive Committee members in attendance may vote.  A vote is passed if and only if all voting Executive Committee members in attendance vote unanimously in favor of that which is in question.  Those in attendance who are not voting members may not vote, nor impede or prevent a vote from occurring that has been called by the Chair. 

Votes shall be made by show of hand, or when deemed appropriate by the Chair, votes may be made by anonymous ballot. 

 

Article Three: Duties of Officers:

A.     The Chair: The Chair will be a club signer in accordance with SGA.  He/she will generally be present at all CSA meetings and it is his/her responsibility to call each meeting to order as well as to oversee the orderly progression of the meeting in accordance with Article Two C.  The Chair is the only executive member who can call a vote at a meeting.  In his or her absence the Vice Chair may call a vote.

B.     Vice Chair: The vice chair will generally be present at all CSA meetings and will fulfill the responsibilities of the Chair in his/her absence.  If the Chair resigns before the end of his/her term the Vice Chair will assume the position of chair.  

C.     Treasurer: The treasurer will be a club signer in accordance with SGA.  He/she will generally be present at all CSA meetings.  It is the responsibility of the treasurer to manage the associations monetary assets including but not limited to the SGA budget and revenue account.  The treasurer will be responsible for coordinating all monetary transactions and balances.  He/she must become familiar with SGA procedures and attend all required SGA meetings.

D.    Secretary:  The secretary will generally be present at all CSA meetings.  It is his/her responsibility to record and distribute the minutes of the meeting.  It will be the responsibility of the secretary to maintain the association’s electronic inbox, list-serve, and website.  Just in case the secretary requests not to maintain the website, the executive committee may appoint another member or non member to maintain it.  The secretary will be the official correspondent of the CSA and is generally responsible for communications with any other entity.   

E.     Faculty Advisor(s): Faculty advisors are non-voting members of the CSA, and are invited to attend all meetings and functions, though their attendance is not required.  They are welcome and encouraged to provide guidance and support in all aspects of the CSA, as this is their primary role.  The Student Government Association requires that faculty advisors not publicly represent the CSA without explicit permission from the officers.  Finally the faculty advisors are encouraged to pray for the CSA and its members in all their endeavors.

F.      Chaplain:  The chaplain’s main role is to guide, counsel and instruct the CSA officers in the tradition of the Catholic Church.  He is encouraged to participate in any and all CSA sponsored events. His blessing will be sought by the association and his counsel is to be considered by the executives in CSA matters.  The chaplain is a non-voting member of the executive committee.

 

Article Four: The Relationship of the CSA and the Catholic Center at UVM

            The CSA and Catholic Center at UVM are both Catholic institutions and should therefore have common goals as outlined by the Catholic Church.  The CSA should seek the blessing and support of the Catholic Center staff in its endeavors and should maintain clear, open, and organized communications with them.  Both institutions are encouraged to work closely in cooperation and collaboration to promote the mission of the Church.  The CSA is very fortunate and grateful to have the Catholic Center and its staff as a resource.  The CSA gives its support to the ministries of the Catholic Center.

            In requesting Catholic Center support for specific events, functions, and fundraisers the CSA may be expected to fill out a simple “Who, what, when, where, why” form to assist in maintaining clear, open, and organized communications.

 

Article Five: Electronic Inbox, List-Serves, and Website

  1. Electronic Inbox:  The electronic inbox is CatholicStudents@uvm.edu, and is the official email of the CSA.  All incoming e-mails will be automatically forwarded to the Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, and Secretary.  Only the secretary will have access to the inbox (to prevent confusion regarding what has been read and what has not been read).

  2. List-Serves:  There are two list serves for the CSA.

 CatholicGroup@list.uvm.edu has only the Executive Committee, Faculty Advisor(s), and the Catholic Center staff as subscribers and each may “mail to the list.”  The list is a convenient, official form of communication between the Catholic Center staff, the Executive Committee, and the Faculty Advisor(s).

            CatholicStudents@list.uvm.edu has the entire membership as subscribers, but only the Executive committee may “mail to the list.”  This list is, in general, used for informing the general membership of events, functions, and meetings.  The general membership must reply to CatholicStudents@uvm.edu, as they cannot reply to the list. 

  1. Website:  The website is a convenient way to publicize the CSA, its events and functions.  The website must be in accordance with the UVM Communications and Information Technology codes.  Normally the website will be maintained by the secretary, however, the Executive committee may appoint another member or non-member to maintain it.  In general, the website should be used to make announcements and promotions.  The CSA constitution and By-Laws shall be posted on the website.

 

Article Six:

            The CSA logo (below) may be used only by permission of the Executive Committee.  The logo has been approved by SGA for print on correspondence, apparel, pens, and other promotional distributions.  The logo may be printed on items for sale by the CSA for fundraising.  Items with the printed logo sold as fundraisers are not subject to UVM royalties. 




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