CONSTITUTION

of

ALIANZA LATINA

ARTICLE I

NAME AND PURPOSE

SECTION 1: The name of this organization shall be ALIANZA LATINA (LATINO ALLIANCE).

SECTION 2: The purpose of this organization shall be as follows:

A) to provide support to the Latin-American community of the University of Vermont (hereinafter called UVM);

B) to impress upon each other the value of cultures;

C) to encourage integration among the Latin-American student population on campus and in the community, without the loss of the latin culture;

D) to work witht eh university administration, faculty, and student body in order to make them aware of our collective needs;

E) to keep our culture alive among ourselfves and to share it with the rest of the university to enrich the interaction between students;

F) to increase the number of Latin-American applications received yearly by the university and to serve as a support network for those students who have been accepted;

G) to contribute to cultural awareness and to facilitate the transition of the incoming Latin-American groups into the Burlington community;

H) to promote interaction between the community and its Latin-American citizens through educational and social activities;

I) to serve as a support group for Burlington Latin-Americans;

J) to be in close contact with other Latin-American organizations in the United States so that we can keep abreast of the current issues and progressions of the Latin-American population in this country;

K) to enhance cultural diversity by implementing the sub-sections mentioned above.

ARTICLE II

MEMBERSHIP

SECTION 1:

A) Membership shall be opened to all persons who have paid the Student Activity fee collected by the university and budgeted by Student Activity.

B) The Alianza Latina (Latino Alliance) shall not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, handicap, color, religion, age, national origin, or Vietnam Veteran status.

C) Non-UVM students are welcome to attend meetings and participate in the activities.

ARTICLE III

OFFICERS

SECTION 1:

A) The elected officers must fulfill the following requirements during their term of office:

1) be an active member of the Alianza Latina;

2) attend one-half of all General Assembly meetings;

3) attend all executive meetings occurring every two weeks. Allowances for extradordinary circumstances shall be permitted;

4) serve as liasons between Student Association and the Alianza Latina;

5) shall have no more authority than any other member except those provided by the specific description of their office.

B) The President’s responsibilities shall include, but not be limited to:

1) to retain cohesion within the group;

2) to serve as a coordinator, supervisor and organizer and not as a policymaker;

3) to chair all executive meetings;

4) to moderate, or select someone to moderate, at all General Assembly meetings;

5) to act as official spokesperson for the organization.

6) The President will only vote in case of a tie breaker.

C) The Vice-President’s responsibilities shall include, but not be limited to the following:

1) to assist the president;

2) to take over the president’s responsibilities in case of absence;

3) to be the liason officer between the other clubs and organizations of the university, especially the Minority Student Panel, a/k/a President’s Commission on Cultural Diversity.

D) The Treasurer’s responsibilities shall include, but not be limited to the following:

1) to act as chairperson on the financial committee;

2) to be responsible for the financial affairs of the Alianza Latina;

3) to be responsible for the preparation of the budget for the organization and Student Association;

4) to act as a chairperson in the absence of the president and vice-president.

5) to be responsible for financial presentations to the assembly and/or executive meetings.

E) The Secretary’s responsibilities shall include, but not be limited to the following:

1) to keep minutes and attandance for executive and general assembly meetings;

2) to read the summary of the last meeting’s minutes at the beginning of each meeting;

3) to maintain permanent files on the following:

a) presidential Agenda;

b) budgets;

c) membership addresses and telephone numbers;

d) mailing lists and petitions;

e) activity/function attendance.

f) To be the chairperson of the Historic Committee.

ARTICLE IV

MEETINGS

SECTION 1:

A) There will be in effect two types of meetings namely, General Assembly and Executive Meetings.

1) General Assembly meeting is defined as follows:

a) meetings will be held at the same time and place and day as last semester;

b) meetings will be held once a week;

c) quorum will be defined as a simple majority of at least 51% of active members present;

d) meetings can be held without quorum, however, voting decisions without a quorum present will not be recognized;

e) absentee voting: active member should cast vote and inform the president/vice president;

2) Executive meetings are defined as follows:

a) executive officers, along with existing committee officers, will constitute a meeting;

b) meetings will be held at the discretion of officers regarding the place and time;

c) these meetings should be held prior to General Assembly meetings.

Section 2:

A) Pertinent input by members of Alianza Latina shall be made through recognition of president. Orderly conduct shall be followed at all times at these meetings.

ARTICLE V

CONSTITUTION

SECTION 1: Any active member may propose amendments to the Constitution.

SECTION 2: Amendments to the Constitution must be approved by a two-third vote of the active members present;

ARTICLE VI

COMMITTEE

SECTION 1: Executive Committee shall be made up of current executive officers. They shall perform the following duties: Review and approve the expenditure of all funds, activity seeking new members, insure the involvement within campus and the Burlington community, shall create special committees when necessary.

SECTION 2: Special Committees shall be created by the Executive Committee to perform special needs as they arise.

ARTICLE VII

BY-LAWS

The following require a simple majority to be changed:

A) General Assembly meetings shall be held on Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m.;

B) General Assembly meetings shall be held at the Center for Cultural Pluralism.

Alianza.Com

11/20/89

03/01/90 revised

05/01/90 revised