UMA - Mental Health and Human Services Club

University of Maine at Augusta
Mental Health & Human Services Club
­Augusta Campus
CONSTITUTION & BYLAWS

CONSTITUTION
Article I: Name of the Organization

The name of the organization shall be the University of Maine at Augusta (UMA) Mental Health and Human Services (MHHS) Club­Augusta Campus. The responsibility and authority inherent to the MHHS Club shall be defined in this Constitution, Bylaws and in University policy.

Article II: Purpose

It shall be the purpose of the MHHS Club to provide students with an opportunity to pursue topics and activities that will support and enrich the quality of their MHHS education. Activities include events on campus, as well as field trips and volunteer work in the community.

Article III: Membership

Membership in the MHHS club is open to all interested students currently registered to take classes through the University of Maine at Augusta, regardless of their degree program.

Article IV: Executive Board

The Executive Board must be comprised of a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. All officers must be members of MHHS Club in good academic standing. Good academic standing is defined as having completed at least 80% of all courses attempted and maintaining a minimum GPA of 2.0. Duties and responsibilities of the Officers will be determined as outlined in the Club Bylaws.

Article V: Advisor

The MHHS Club will nominate a UMA faculty/staff member to serve as the club advisor. The advisor should have an interest in the field of Mental Health and Human Services. The responsibilities and duties of the MHHS Club Advisor are:

1. Ensure compliance with the policies of the MHHS Club and University.
2. Serve as a source of information and instruction for club members.
3. Attend and monitor meeting and events.

Article VI: Meetings

Section 1: The MHHS Club will hold a minimum of two official meetings every semester, excluding the summer session. Meetings shall be scheduled at the discretion of the Advisor and President of the MHHS Club. To have an official meeting, there must be a minimum of three people, including at least one officer.

Section 2: All meetings must be posted to the general membership and student body at least seven (7) days prior to each regular meeting.

Section 3: Special or emergency meetings may be called by the Executive Board and Advisor with a lesser period of notice. These meetings must be used only in urgent circumstances when business needs cannot be delayed to the next regularly scheduled meeting.

Section 4: Each member of the MHHS Club, in good academic standing (refer to Article IV), has the right to vote on all business matters on the table for discussion. Voting on events can be done through BlackBoard. Proxy voting is not allowed.

Article VII: Quorum

A minimum three members, including at least one officer, must be present in order for the MHHS Club to conduct business. No business may be conducted if at any point in the meeting the attendance falls below the number required to meet quorum.

Article VIII: Vacancy and Dismissal

Section 1: In the event that a vacancy occurs or a member of the Executive Board can no longer fulfill their duties, the members of the MHHS Club will hold a vote to fill the position within two weeks. Solicitation of members to fill those positions must begin immediately after they are vacated. Any party nominated for the vacant office must be voted into the office by a simple majority vote of the membership in attendance.

Section B: Any member of the Executive Committee may be removed from their position for violation of MHHS Club and/or UMA policies. Officers subject to removal have the right to participate in the debate over their removal from office, and have the right to appeal any decision of removal. The officer may then be reinstated by a two­thirds vote of approval by the members.

Article IX: Amendments

The Constitution may be amended with a two­thirds majority vote by the current membership. A notice must be issued to the MHHS Club members two weeks prior to voting. All amendments must be approved by the UMA General Assembly and the Dean of Students.

Article X: Ratification

The requirements for adopting this Constitution and Bylaws are as follows:

1. A committee of no less than three shall be established by appointment of the Advisor.
2. The committee will then make a recommendation to adopt the Constitution and
Bylaws to the Executive Board.
3. With approval of at least two­thirds of the Executive Board, the Constitution and
Bylaws will be posted for fifteen days for review of the UMA MHHS Club.
4. Following fifteen days of review and a seven day advance notice of the reading of the Constitution and Bylaws at a regularly scheduled meeting, attending members will vote on the adoption.
5. Adoption will take place with a two­thirds majority vote of the current members present. Upon final approval of the Student Government Association (SGA) and the Dean of Students, the Constitution and Bylaws will be in effect.

BY­LAWS

Article 1: Membership

To become a member of the Mental Health & Human Services (MHHS) Club, current students at the University of Maine at Augusta (UMA) must contact the Club Advisor, any officer, or come to a meeting. To be a member of the MHHS Club, it is necessary
to attend, at a minimum, one scheduled meeting per semester with the exception of the summer session.

Article II: Officers

Section 1: Any member wishing to run for an office must be enrolled at least half­time (6 credit hours). Elected executive officers serve a one (1) year term. Normally, elections will be held at a meeting the first full week in April that school is in session. Elections can also be held on BlackBoard. Elected officers will begin their term the day after commencement. There will be no limit to the number of terms a member of the Executive Board can serve. Those wishing to run for office may obtain nomination papers from the current President, Vice President, or Advisor, to be on the ballot two (2) weeks prior to the election.

Section 2: Duties

President: The President of the MHHS Club will be responsible for calling and coordinating club meetings. Duties will also include coordinating with the advisor to arrange club trips and club representation.

Vice President: The Vice­President will be responsible for assisting the President with his/her duties and standing in for the President when needed.

Treasurer: The Treasurer of the MHHS Club will be responsible for tracking and managing all MHHS Club accounts. The Treasurer will submit a budget report of all transactions at regularly scheduled Club meetings. Expenditures that are voted and authorized by the MHHS Club will require written approval by the Treasurer and Club Advisor.

Secretary: The Secretary will be responsible for recording and distributing all minutes from club meetings, and making approved changes to the constitution and bylaws. The secretary will also be responsible for taking attendance at club meetings, and when necessary assisting with the writing of the newsletter. In the absence of the Secretary, and prior to the meeting, s/he will appoint another member of the Executive Committee to keep the minutes.

Article III: Executive Board

Section 1: Executive Board members must be University of Maine at Augusta Students who
have attended at least one meeting during the prior year with the exception of the first year of the existence of the MHHS Club. The Board will consist of four officers: President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. During the first year of the MHHS Club, the students attending the first meeting will vote on the officers for the Executive Board.

Section 2: The Executive Board will be voted on once a year every April. Nominations should be finalized at least two weeks prior to the April meeting. All members of the MHHS Club in attendance will be given the opportunity to vote for whom they would like to be on the Executive Board. There will be no limit to the number of terms a member of the Executive Board can serve.

Article IV: Committees

Event committees must consist of at least one officer and two other members of the MHHS Club, for a total of three (3) committee members. The committee will elect a chairperson to lead their meetings.

Article V: Finances

Funds may be available through various grants from outside institutions, organizations, or foundations. Funds may also be sought from the University of Maine at Augusta Student Government Association (SGA), subject to their approval. All budgetary transactions
must be voted on at a regular MHHS Club meeting with a majority vote to gain approval by the club. All expenditures must have written approval by the Treasurer and Club Advisor. In the absence of the Treasurer, the Vice President will be responsible for the Treasurer's responsibilities including reporting the budget to the Club Advisor.

Article VI: Hazing

In accordance with the policies of the State of Maine and the Board of Trustees of the University of Maine System the injurious hazing of any student enrolled in the University of Maine at any campus location is prohibited. This organization or its members shall not create, or permit to exist, any situation that recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health of a student enrolled in the University of Maine System. If this organization violates these rules it
shall lose all right to conduct activities in the University of Maine System and all benefits of affiliation with the University of Maine System. Any student member, who conduct violates these rules, shall be subject to suspension, expulsion, or other appropriate disciplinary action through the University of Maine System Student Conduct Code.