Constitution of the Virginia Tech
Faculty Women's Club

THE VIRGINIA TECH FACULTY WOMEN'S CLUB
CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I : NAME

Section 1 : The name of this organization shall be the Virginia Tech Faculty Women's Club.


ARTICLE II : PURPOSE

The purpose of this organization shall be to expand the intellectual and social horizons of its membership, provide scholarships, and promote the interests of Virginia Tech.


ARTICLE III : MEMBERSHIP AND DUES

Section 1 : Regular Membership. Regular membership shall be open to women connected with Virginia Tech who subscribe to the purpose of this club, pay the assessed dues, and are:

a. Women members of, or wives or widows of, instructional, research, and extension faculty, and the university administration;

b. Retirees, or wives or widows of retirees who meet the criteria for the categories listed in Section 1.a above;

c. Female relatives of those Virginia Tech faculty and administration listed in Section 1.a and Section 1.b above;

d. Women who have previously satisfied the eligibility requirements listed in Sections 1.a, 1.b, and 1.c above; and

e. Such other women whom the Board of Directors (hereafter known as the Board) may from time to time deem appropriate.

Section 2 : Honorary Membership. Honorary membership shall be awarded to:

a. The wife of Virginia Tech's president;

b. Women members and wives of Virginia Tech's Board of Visitors;

c. Such other persons whom the Board may from time to time designate.

Section 3 : Payment of Dues. The dues for this club shall be recommended by the board to the club at its annual meeting. Regular members shall be required to pay dues before participation in club activities, interest groups, etc. Honorary members are not required to pay dues.


ARTICLE IV : MEETINGS

Section 1: Regular Meetings. Three meetings of the club shall be held each academic year unless otherwise ordered by the club or by the Board. The annual meeting shall be held in April and shall be for the purpose of electing officers, receiving reports of officers and committees, and for any other business that may arise.

Section 2: Special Meetings. Special meetings of the club may be called by the President, the Board, or upon the written request of 15 members of the club. The purpose of the meeting shall be stated in the call, and except in cases of emergency, at least seven days' written notice shall be given.


ARTICLE V : BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1: The Board shall consist of the elected officers of the club, the standing committee chairs, the honorary president and the immediate past president.

Section 2: The Board shall supervise the affairs of the club between the club's regular meetings, fix the hour and place of meetings, make recommendations to the club, and shall perform such other duties as are specified in these bylaws. The Board shall be subject to the orders of the club, and none of its acts shall conflict with actions taken by the club.

Section 3: Unless otherwise ordered by the Board, regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held August to June inclusive. Special meetings of the Board may be called by the President and shall be called upon the written request of three members of the Board.

Section 4: The Board shall have the power to fill all vacancies on the Board not in conflict with these bylaws.


ARTICLE VI : OFFICERS

Section 1: Selection of Candidates for Nomination. When selecting a candidate for Vice-President, the Nominating Committee should act with the knowledge that the person selected for Vice-President be trained for the presidency in her respective term in order to serve as president the following year.

Section 2: Elected Officers. The elected officers of this club shall be President, Vice-President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer, Historian, and one Director at Large per 100 members, the minimum number being four. These officers shall perform the duties prescribed by the parliamentary authority adopted by this club. The president shall be ex officio of all committees except the Nominating Committee.

Section 3: Term of Office. The officers, except for the Directors at Large, shall be elected to serve for one year or until their successors are elected. Their term of office shall begin at the close of the annual meeting at which they are elected. The Directors at Large shall serve a two-year term that shall begin at the close of the annual meeting at which they are elected. No members shall hold more than one elected office at a time, and no member shall be eligible to serve more than two consecutive terms in the same elected office.

Section 4: Honorary Officers. The wife of Virginia Tech's president shall be designated as the Honorary President of the club. She shall have the same right to attend meetings, speak, and vote as the elected officers of the club. The board shall reserve the right to appoint such other honorary officers as it shall from time to time deem appropriate.

Section 5: Election of Officers. Nominated candidates shall stand for election at the annual meeting. Additional nominations from the floor may be accepted with prior consent of the nominee(s).


ARTICLE VII : COMMITTEES

Section 1: Standing Committees. The standing committees of the club shall be: Membership, Program, Hospitality, Yearbook, Scholarship, Cookbook, Interest Groups, Publicity, Finance, and Special Features. The Chairs of these committees shall be appointed by the President.

a. Membership. A membership committee may be selected by the Membership Chair. This committee shall develop and initiate means of obtaining new members, and shall maintain an official and current list of all members. This committee shall also maintain a list of potential members and a current list of retirees.

b. Program. A program committee may be selected by the Program Chair and shall plan the annual program of the club, submitting this plan for approval by the Board at its second regular meeting.

c. Hospitality. A hospitality committee may be selected by the Hospitality Chair, and shall arrange the club's major social events.

d. Yearbook. A yearbook committee may be selected by the Yearbook Chair and shall produce an annual yearbook, which includes: a roster of members, officers, the club's annual program, constitution and bylaws, and such other things as might appropriately be included in the yearbook.

e. Scholarship. A scholarship committee may be selected by the Scholarship Chair and shall select recipients and present the club's scholarships.

f. Ways and Means. A ways and means committee may be selected by the Ways and means Chair and shall oversee the fund raising activities of the club. All money raised by the Ways and Means Committee shall be deposited in the Scholarship Fund.

g. Interest Groups. An interest group committee may be selected by the Interest Group Chair and shall develop, coordinate, and oversee the activities of the interest groups of the club.

h. Publicity. A publicity committee may be selected by the Publicity Chair and shall promote the club's activities through electronic, print and other media.

i. Finance. The Vice President shall select and chair the finance committee which shall be composed of five members including the Treasurer. It shall develop and present the annual budget, oversee the club's funds and develop long range financial plans.

j. Special Features. A special features committee may be selected by the Special Features Chair and shall select, plan and oversee special events of interest to club members.


Section 2: Special Committees. Such other committees, standing or special, shall be appointed by the President as the club or the Board shall from time to time deem necessary to carry on the work of the club.

a. Auditing Committee. The President shall appoint three persons from the general membership, exclusive of the Board, to perform the annual audit of the club's accounts.

b. Nominating Committee. The President, with Board approval, shall appoint a committee which represents a cross section of the university, to nominate a slate of candidates for the offices to be filled. Those nominated shall also represent a cross section of the university.


ARTICLE VIII : PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the club in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with this constitution and bylaws and any special rules of order the club may adopt.


ARTICLE IX : AMENDMENT OF CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS

This constitution and bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present at any regular meeting, provided the members have received written notification of the proposed change at least four weeks in advance of the meeting.


Revised 2003

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