Our Mission
Our mission is to help the people of third world countries top live sustainably. We impart our knowledge so that they may maintain the knowledge and improve upon it in the future. Through our mentoring and our support of the National SMRC's building of latrines, we hope to do what we can to give them that initial push.
We stand for setting high goals, working hard to continuously meet those goals, transparency within the goal reaching process, teamwork/team spirit/ caring for the team, and spreading awareness to those outside of our team. In the end we are all human and we share a common need for survival and hope to reach our dreams.
SMRC Chapter Constitution
(Currently undergoing revision)
Introduction:
The Student Movement for Real Change (SMRC) chapter at the Georgia Institute of Technology is a division of the national organization, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that is officially registered in the state of Colorado.
Its stated mission is the following:
To be a leadership development organization that provides students in the United States with a vehicle by which to advocate for positive change in neglected regions of the World. We empower students to become leaders, giving them opportunities to improve health and education in developing communities worldwide.
The executive director of the SMRC has given us permission so establish a chapter in the Georgia Institute of Technology.
The official website of the SMRC is: www.studentmovementusa.org
I. Purpose and Methods of Realizing Said Objectives
The purpose of SMRC is to promote advocacy of issues facing neglected regions of the world and to offer students opportunities to improve health and education in developing communities worldwide. It will raise awareness of global issues among students at Georgia Institute of Technology and in the surrounding communities, provide non-partisan aid to neglected regions of the world, and join with students across the United States to take an active role in promoting the improvement of global social conditions.
A. The current goal of SMRC, the national chapters of SMRC, is the building of a public school, the Mashlati School, in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa. In addition, it will give students the opportunity be connected with preexisting internships, fellowships, and research grants.
B. This chapter of SMRC intends to achieve its purpose by holding weekly or bi-weekly meetings and initiating projects pertaining to the Student Movement for Real Change that can vary from fundraising to awareness. One major project must be undertaken per year, and can be done in conjunction with other member Chapters.
II.
Membership
A. Membership is open to all undergraduates, graduate students, alumni, faculty, staff, and the family members of those four types of Georgia Institute of Technology and its academic affiliates.
a. Co-op students in the Atlanta Metro area may be considered full time Georgia Tech students for the purpose of membership.
b. Students from institutions affiliated or allied with the Georgia Institute of Technology who also pay the Georgia Tech student activities fee are considered Georgia Tech students for the purpose of this policy.
c. In order to be members, students must be eligible for participation in extra-curricular activities as defined by the Georgia Tech student handbook.
B.
Active full time students have voting privileges at all meetings called by the President.
C. Members are considered active voting members if they attend meetings and events on a regular basis.
a. In order to vote, students must be eligible for participation in extra-curricular activities as defined by the Georgia Tech student handbook.
b. Members not considered active voting members are those who have attended meetings sporadically and have not expressed commitment to the organization.
D. Only student members may run for or hold office.
III.
Faculty/Staff Advisor Appointment
A. The Faculty/Staff Advisor will be appointed by the Officers – the President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Marketing Director, and Programming Coordinator.
i. A two-thirds (2/3) of the Executive Board must endorse the appointment of a particular Advisor. In the case of a tie, the appointment will be referred to a general vote amongst all voting members.
ii.
If the results are indeterminate, the President will cast the deciding vote, or if the President is not available at the time of the general vote, the deciding vote will be cast by the next in line of the hierarchy as follows: Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Marketing Director, and Programming Coordinator.
B. The Faculty/Staff Advisor will enter into contract with the Georgia Institute of Technology chapter of the SMRC which will entail the following:
i. The term to which he/she pledges to commit to serve as Advisor will be explicitly two (2) years per his/her employment to the Georgia Institute of Technology unless otherwise specified in writing and in cooperation with Executive Board members.
1. The term may be interrupted if the acting Advisor loses employment at the Georgia Institute of Technology unexpectedly due to disciplinary or legal action at the Institutional, State, or Federal level.
2. In other outstanding circumstances, the term may be wittingly and willingly terminated without resulting in a breach of contract dispute with the Faculty/Staff member.
Example:
if the term of the Faculty/Staff member’s employment ends.
ii. In the last semester before term end date, the Advisor term may be renewed by the Executive Board.
1. Renewal requires another two-thirds (2/3) vote. Any opponent to renewal must:
a. Present and ensure a replacement Advisor, whom they explicitly support.
b. Have, in writing, the replacing Faculty/Staff member’s commitment to the Advisory position.
2. The renewal will effectively account for another two (2) years.
3. A particular Faculty/Staff member may continue to renew his/her Advisory status as many times as the Ga. Tech SMRC chapter Executive Board permits.
C. The appointment of the Faculty/Staff Advisor may not conflict with the official February SMRC elections.
i. Conflicting appointments/renewals will be postponed until after the February elections.
ii. In conflict scenarios, the Advisor agrees to extend their term as necessary until elections are over.
IV.
Officers
All six succeeding officers compose the “Executive Board.” The President and the Treasurer shall be the primary members with financial responsibilities. In the case of a conflict of interest between board members on the chapter level, and members from the National Board of Directors who have financial powers, the power must be delegated in the following order until no conflict of interest exists.
i. Secretary
ii. Programming Coordinator
iii.
Marketing
iv.
Vice President
A. President
1. General elections shall be held on the first Tuesday of February, unless otherwise designated, to elect a President for each chapter. General elections are not necessary for the designation of a President if a consensus opinion is reached by the chapter.
2. There can be either one (1) or two (2) persons with the responsibilities of President, but no more than two (2).
3. Shall make the agenda for all Chapter meetings
4. Shall make sure the programs/project, as voted upon, are being carried out as intended.
5. Shall preside at all meetings.
6. Shall maintain cohesion among chapter Executive Board members, and see that each is doing his or her job.
7. In the event that all five officers of the Executive Board shall be away from the Georgia Institute of Technology campus during the course of scheduled events, the President may designate a member in good standing to serve in his/her stead.
B. Vice President
1. Shall assist the President for the Chapter.
2. Shall preside at meetings when the President is unavailable.
3. Shall be Primary Grant Writer and shall oversee a grant-writing committee.
C. Treasurer
1. Shall be the primary financial officer of the organization, in charge of maintaining and updating all ledgers and monitoring transactions and the budget for any and all accounts.
2. Shall be responsible for facilitating the transfer of reimbursements for organization expenses.
3. Must attend all Student Activities Commission General Assembly meetings.
4. Shall have check signing power, together with the President.
5. Shall report all financial activities at each monthly meeting.
6. Shall Chair/Co-Chair fundraisers or appoint substitute chairs.
7. Shall be responsible for all chapter bank accounts
8. Shall report all bookkeeping and bank account information to the National Treasurer bi-monthly or as is deemed necessary.
9. Shall help ensure that the member chapter has funding for approved projects, and communicate with the National Treasurer when the member chapter has insufficient funding for projects.
10. Shall report on the financial standing of SMRC at the Executive Board’s request.
11. Shall keep a record of the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement of the organization.
D. Secretary
1. Shall take minutes at Chapter meetings
2. Shall oversee all mailings.
3. Shall keep the President fully up to date on new regional and local projects and shall act in conjunction with the President as the outside contact for the organization.
4. Shall keep an attendance record of all meetings and events.
5. Shall create a membership directory and ensure its availability to all members.
6. Shall be responsible for the drafting and distribution of regular communications to the members of SMRC, which shall be to inform members of upcoming events, changes to the constitution or bylaws of SMRC, and other relevant information.
E. Marketing Director
1. Shall advertise the chapter to the campus and be responsible for attracting new members.
2. Shall draft press releases and contact local newspapers and TV stations for publicity on major projects.
3. Shall oversee the web page for the particular chapter, under www.StudentMovementUSA.org domain name, and report updates to the National Website Manager.
4. Shall increase the perceived value of SMRC on the member chapter’s campus through marketing campaigns and add value to SMRC as a brand name.
F. Programming Coordinator
1. Responsible for chairing all programming committees.
2. Shall oversee all events that require contracts, transportation, speaking arrangements, fundraising events etc.
V.
Elections of Officers
A. General elections shall be held the first week of February, or as otherwise designated by the National Board of Directors.
B. Any person running for any office must be a member in good standing, have attended at least two (2) of the previous semester’s meetings, two (2) of the current semester’s meetings, and have a history of working for improving the quality of the club.
C. Each student chapter member has one (1) vote, pending their status as “active voting members” as specified in Article II, Clause C.
D. All nominations must come from the floor during the meeting of the actual election. Nomination must be seconded; both must come from members who have attended two consecutive meetings prior to elections.
E. Self-nominations are not allowed, and only one (1) may nominate, and only one (1) may second the nomination.
F. The president does not have a vote, only a tie-breaking vote when necessary.
G. A candidate not elected to his or her first choice position can seek to run for any one of the remaining positions. The decision to “drop down” must be made before the election begins and only one (1) drop down is allowed.
H. Election of a candidate will come from a plurality of votes. No run-offs will be necessary.
I. The president will run elections as follows:
i. Nominations and elections will follow the order stated in the constitution.
ii. Two minute floor speeches.
iii. Two minute question and answer period
J. The term limit of an officer shall be defined as:
a. A two (2) year term.
b. The term may be interrupted if the acting Officer loses enrollment status at the Georgia Institute of Technology unexpectedly due to disciplinary or legal action at the Institutional, State, or Federal level.
c. Such vacancy may be filled by an Executive Board nomination.
VI.
Impeachment of Officers/Advisors
A. In the event that an officer/Advisor is no longer meeting the requirements of the position to which he/she was elected, it is the duty of the President to present said problem to the board.
B. After the board has reviewed the impeachment charge, the board must vote by two-thirds (2/3) for impeachment
C. If an officer is impeached, a fill in election shall occur within two (2) weeks of the impeachment of the officer.
D. The powers of the impeached officer will be suspended during that interim period.
E. An Advisor’s impeachment/removal will be, along with supporting evidence/witnesses (etc.), reported to the Dean of Student Affairs who will exercise measures within the reach and scope of the Georgia Institute of Technology.
VII.
Meetings
A. Meetings will be held bi-weekly or weekly if necessary based on the decisions of the Executive Board.
B. The Meetings will be conducted under the Robert Rules of Order, so that all questions shall be discussed before taking action
i. Silence means consent.
ii. The speaker shall be the first to stand after the last speaker sits and also the first to address and be addressed by the President or the Vice President.
iii. The debate begins after the President or Vice President has introduced the resolution and asked, “Are you ready for the question?” If no one rises in objection, the vote begins.
iv. Each person can only speak once per round. Each round ends after everyone who wanted to speak has spoken once.
v. All speakers must speak directly to the President or Vice President in a polite manner.
VIII.
Amendments to this Constitution
A. All proposed amendments to this constitution must be passed by simply majority vote of the Executive Board of SMRC and must be passed by two-thirds (2/3) vote among the chapter’s membership present.
a. Amendments may be proposed by any member of the chapter.
b. Amendments must be approved by the Executive Board before being voted on in a general attendance meeting.
B. All final amendments to chapter constitutions must be presented to the National Board of Directors for records purposes.
C. All current members of the Georgia Institute of Technology chapter of the SMRC will receive an electronic notification of any amendments to the Constitution at least two (2) weeks prior to the voting meeting.
D. Amendments are subject to the approval of the Student Government Association and of the Student Activities committee of the Faculty Senate.
IX.
Statement of Non-Exclusivity
The Student Movement for Real Change is open to all members of the University Community. The Student Movement for Real Change does not discriminate against members on the basis of sex, race, religion, sexual preference, class, age, nationality, veteran status, or physical ability.
X.
Request to be Chartered
The Georgia Institute of Technology chapter of SMRC requests to be chartered. |
