UPEACE Environmental Club

Environmental Club Bylaws
May 2006

Article I. Name

• “UPEACE Environmental Club” (hereinafter the “Club”)

• Raise awareness of sustainability practices and local ecology within the Club, the UPEACE community, and neighboring El Rodeo and Ciudad Colon through educational activities, initiatives, and proposals that seek to reduce our ecological footprint on the Earth and to enrich our appreciation for the environment.

• Inclusive membership; collaboration with UPEACE and surrounding communities; consensus decision-making; transparency; active non-violence; diplomacy; and sensitivity to a range of opinions and perceptions.

• Members: Students, faculty, and staff who are currently enrolled or employed by UPEACE may be Members of the Club.
• Friends: Friends of the Club include all former Members and those who wish to receive Club e-mails, including minutes (enviroclub@upeace.org).
• Visitors: Meetings are open to guests or other interested parties.

• Titles: Facilitator, Secretary, Treasurer, in addition to Members and Friends.
• Responsibilities of the Facilitator: The Facilitator convenes meetings and, in consultation with other Members, creates an agenda for each meeting. She or he offers support to other Members, ensures that sufficient communication concerning the Club’s activities transpires, and seeks to keep the Club’s activities consistent with its Mission. The Facilitator is the contact person for the Faculty Advisor and larger UPEACE community.
• Responsibilities of the Secretary: The Secretary takes attendance at each meeting and keeps track of membership. The Secretary ensures that new Members and Friends are added to the e-mailing list (write to Manuel: mcerdas@upeace.org). During meetings, she or he takes minutes and then sends them to the e-mail list in a timely manner.
• Responsibilities of the Treasurer: The Treasurer is responsible for the Club’s funds. This includes monitoring the account at UPEACE and keeping an independent accounting book of all financial activities. The Treasurer makes regular reports as appropriate, and organizes fundraising events and campaigns.
• Elections: Elections are held during the second meeting of each semester, specifically in January, May, and September. Candidates must be present and individuals may nominate themselves or another Member. Candidates may choose to make a short speech before voting commences. Candidates should fully understand the responsibilities of officers contained in these bylaws. Decision-making proceeds as per Article VI, E, supplemented by the following. In the case of a tie between two candidates, both make an additional short speech and another vote is taken. If another tie results, a coin is flipped to decide the outcome. If more than two Members are running for the same position and no one achieves a simple majority, a second round of voting commences to decide between the top two candidates. The Faculty Advisor should be present. Elected officers should closely read these bylaws. The term of office ends at the next semester’s successful election.
• Absences and Vacancies: Officers are responsible for finding a substitute from the Club’s Members if they are unable to attend a meeting. In the case of a permanent vacancy, a replacement must be found or another election held to finish out the semester.
• Removal: Any Member may call for a vote of “no confidence” of an officer by informing the Faculty Advisor. The Faculty Advisor should confidentially inform said officer of the impending vote. At the next meeting, the Faculty Advisor must be present. The officer in question may make a short statement. With nine Members constituting quorum, an anonymous vote is taken. A 2/3 vote of “no confidence” removes the officer from her or his position. If she or he chooses, the officer may remain in the Club as a Member.
• Faculty Advisor: The UPEACE Environmental Sub-Committee is responsible for identifying a Faculty Advisor for the Club. The Faculty Advisor should fulfill the responsibilities included in these bylaws until another Faculty Advisor has been identified. If the Environmental Sub-Committee is unable to identify a Faculty Advisor, the Club may approach someone independently. The Club may remove the Faculty Advisor using the voting format in Article IV. G., and request a replacement.

• The frequency, duration, and place of meetings: Should be determined each semester after elections take place. These can be modified as the group sees fit.
• Special meetings: Can be proposed by any Club Member.
• Attendance: The Secretary takes attendance at each meeting and records those present in the minutes.
• Consensus: Consensus is the preferred means of decision-making. If consensus on an issue cannot be reached in two sequential meetings, a vote must be taken.
• Voting: Quorum consists of 5 Members, except in the case of amendments (Article VI, F) and removals (Article V, G and H). Voting is conducted anonymously using simple majority (50% plus one for a motion to pass). Members should be present in order to vote, except in extenuating circumstances. Voting concerning elections, substantial spending, amendments, and removals should be announced at least a week in advance.
• Amendments to the Bylaws: Any Club member may propose an amendment to the bylaws. The Club must be notified at least one week in advance of the proposed changes. At the following meeting, 9 members will constitute quorum. A 2/3 majority vote is required to pass proposed changes.

• Spending: Spending of Club funds will be decided according to Article VI, D and E. Funds should be spent in accordance with the Club’s mission.
• Account: The Club Treasurer and Faculty Advisor are both given permission to deposit and withdraw funds from the UPEACE Club account.

Ratified: May 2006  

By: Dominic Stucker

Gabe Lavoie

Abigail Stucker

Rachna Toshnival

Jeff Follett