Horticulture Club Constitution

The Constitution

of the

Missouri State University

Horticulture Club

ARTICLE I

The Name of this Organization Shall be called Missouri State University Horticulture Club.

ARTICLE II

The Missouri State University Horticulture Club was founded to promote and preserve the study, traditions and advancement of the art and science of horticultural practices which are enjoyed by, and benefit humankind.

ARTICLE III

Persons wishing to seek out, attain, and retain membership in the Missouri State University Horticulture Club may be any individual student, faculty or staff member affiliated with Missouri State University whom exhibit a desire in horticulture. Such persons do not have to be working toward a major or minor in horticulture, plant science, or related fields. Prospective members can be affiliated with any department, college, or degree of study.

ARTICLE IV

The officially elected positions of the Missouri State University Horticulture Club shall be President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Scribe, and Website Coordinator. Each officially elected position will comprise the entirety of an academic year: from election in the spring semester, through the proceeding fall semester, and election in spring the following semester. The aforementioned positions must, and shall be elected by a simple majority three weeks prior to, or, during the second-to-last meeting of the spring semester, or which ever one shall occur first.

ARTICLE V

Whence forth officers and members are to congregate at a designated place to discuss current business proceedings, these said meetings are to be held bi-monthly occurring every other Wednesday. The hour of time will be set for all future meetings at the beginning of each semester, unless otherwise noted. The official place for said business meetings shall be designated on the campus of Missouri State University in Karls Hall unless otherwise noted. Emergency meetings may be requested and called by the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, or Scribe, if there is pertinent information that is to be disseminated before a regularly scheduled meeting. If the unelected body of the organization desires to hold an emergency session, two-thirds of the majority of the organization body must vote to have said session initiated.

ARTICLE VI

The Missouri State University Horticulture Club may have the Constitution amended by a two-thirds majority vote of combined student body and elected officials, at a regular business meeting so long so the Constitutional Committee has received a notice (via electronic mail, paper, or other communiqué) two weeks prior to when the subject in question is to be debated and voted on. The Constitutional Committee shall notify the elected officials (via electronic mail, paper, or other communiqué) one week prior to an action being taken on the issue.

ARTICLE VII

The organization shall see to following and abiding all rules, policies, and laws set forth by Missouri State University.

ARTICLE VIII

The mission statement of the organization is as follows: The Missouri State University Horticulture Club is dedicated to learning and teaching about the diverse realm of the horticultural sciences. It strives to broaden members' perspectives and experiences in the agricultural sciences as well as provide awareness and service to the surrounding community.

Revised January 2006

Bylaws

of the

Missouri State University

Horticulture Club

ARTICLE I Membership

A1§1 Missouri State University Horticulture Club does not discriminate against any individual based upon the guidelines set forth by the University.

A1§2 Monetary dues required for admission into Missouri State University Horticulture Club are paid per semester in the amount of five dollars ($5.00), or per two semesters (academic year) in the amount of ten dollars ($10.00).

ARTICLE II Elections, Nominations, and Appointments

A2§1 There shall be set an election date three weeks prior to the end of the semester, or, the second-to-last meeting of the semester in spring, whichever one occurs first. Any unelected member may nominate any person for any position, with the majority proceeding to elect said person.

A2§2 In the event of a vacancy of office, the Executive Committee will announce a special election one week prior to said election.

A2§3 Upon a vacancy, for whatever reason(s), the next ranking office shall assume the position where the vacancy was made void. All positions shall temporarily fill that position until an official, non-emergency election can be held.

A2§4 All elections shall be by majority vote of the assembly. No votes are to be cast by proxy or in absentia.

A2§5 The President, immediately upon election, may appoint (with the advice of the Executive Committee and Advisors), a chairperson of all committees.

A2§6 The Executive Committee may remove any persons they appoint, so long so, there is sufficient and due reason.

A2§7 No one person of elected official position may hold office more than once concurrently, unless extenuating circumstances deem it necessary.

A2§8 Positions of the President and Vice-President shall only be filled by persons nominated by another person who has been active in the organization at least one semester. The nominee must exhibit the capabilities of fulfilling the required duties of the position in regard. The nominee must also accept the nomination to proceed to election.

AMENDMENT 1:A2§7 Officers removed from the elected position they were nominated for, or held otherwise will not be allowed to hold the same or future different positions.

ARTICLE III Officers, Terms, and Duties

A3§1 The officially elected and recognized positions of the Missouri State University Horticulture Club are President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Scribe, and Website Coordinator.

A3§2 Each officially elected position will last the entirety of one academic year.

A3§3 DUTIES of ELECTED OFFICERS

1. PRESIDENT

The President shall preside over all business meetings, Executive Committee meetings, and any emergency meetings. The President shall see that all policies and decisions of the Missouri State University Horticulture Club are carried out in a timely fashion, and conduct all organization business between regular meetings and the Executive Committee meetings. The President will reserve the power of appointment when assigning chairperson to committee(s). The President will also be required to disseminate information regarding future meetings to the secretary to be published and distributed to the members and officers of the organization.

2. VICE-PRESIDENT

The Vice-Presidnet sall preside over all meetings in the absence of the President. The Vice-President shall assume all Presidential duties during absence or vacancy of the President. The Vice-President is to assist the President in accomplishing tasks and seeing to abidance of the organizations’ policies. The Vice-President shall serve as an ex-officio member of all committees.

3. SECRETARY

The Secretary shall be responsible for keeping all organizational records current and minutes for all business and Executive Committee meetings. The Secretary will also be responsible for dissemination of any and all organizational correspondence. All proceedings of regular and Executive meetings shall be presented to the Website Coordinator for publication on the organization website.

4. TREASURER

The Treasurer shall be responsible for procuring and securing all monies of the organization. This shall include, but is not limited to: collecting dues at the beginning of each semester and producing a receipt of transaction for the payee; sending payments to whomever is requiring payment; collecting monies to deposit into a Federally-Insured banking institution; signing checks; seeing to a budget prospectus is postulated for the organization at time of election into position; recording and making public the financial status of the organization at each meeting time; et cetera.

5. SCRIBE

The Scribe shall be responsible for producing, advertising, and displaying all media that allows the University, organization, and others to know when meetings are to be held, when various activities are to take place, and when pertinent organizational information is to be circulated.

6. WEBSITE COORDINATOR

The Website Coordinator shall be responsible for upkeep, maintenance, and publication of the most current organizational information on the Missouri State University Horticulture Club website. The Website Coordinator shall see to posting meeting times, minutes, and other correspondence in an electronic archives in the organization’s website.

ARTICLE IV Impeachment and Removal Procedure

A4§1 Officers may be impeached and subsequently removed from their office for misconduct or lack of performance of duties. The President shall preside over such proceedings unless the charges are levied against the President, in which case an advisor and the remaining officers shall preside.

A4§2 The Missouri State University Horticulture Club members and officers must vote two-thirds majority for successful impeachment and removal of an officer.

A4§3 All officers and members of the Missouri State University Horticulture Club shall maintain at least a 2.0 grade point average (4.0 scale) to retain their position and/or membership in the organization.

ARTICLE V Meetings

A5§1 The regular business meetings shall be held bimonthly (every other Wednesday of the month) in Karls Hall at a designated time unless otherwise noted.

A5§2 Special meetings can be requested as deemed applicable in the Missouri State University Horticulture Club Constitution ARTICLE V:

A5§3 In order for business to be officially conducted, a quorum must be present; a quorum being one more than half of the total number of members.

A5§4 All official business meetings shall be conducted according to Robert’s Rules of Order, except where the Constitution and Bylaws of the Constitution supersede them.

A5§5 Voting in absentia or by proxy shall not be prohibited.

ARTICLE VI Executive Committees

A6§1 The Executive Committee is to consist of the five elected officers and the Chairperson of the Advisory Board. Only these members will have voting privileges.

A6§2 The Executive Committee reserves the power to remove or admit any member from its proceedings. The President shall act as Chairperson of the Advisory Board.

A6§3 The Executive Committee shall meet at some appropriate time prior to every regularly scheduled meeting.

A6§4 DUTIES of the EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

1. The Executive Committee shall:

a. conduct administrative business at intervals between regular all-member meetings

b. be responsible for carrying out all resolutions decided on by assembly during regular business meetings

c. advise the President on matters concerning the state of the organization

d. adopt a yearly program at the start of each academic year for submittal to the assembly

e. act as the finance committee and draw up a prospective budget at the start of each academic year

f. not adopt any policy (produced within the Executive Committee) until read and voted on by the general assembly prior to each regular business meeting.

ARTICLE VII Finane

A7§1 Dues are to be paid at the beginning of each semester. Dues per semester are five dollars ($5.00); per two semesters, ten dollars ($10.00).

A7§2 All budgets and assessments must be submitted by the Executive Committee for debate and approval.

ARTICLE VIII Advisory Board

A8§1 The Advisory Board shall meet once on a monthly basis, during the fall and spring semester.

A8§2 The Executive Committee shall be responsible for keeping the Advisory Board contemporaneous with any new information or pertinent findings.

A8§3 The Advisory Board shall consist of Professors who possess specialized degrees reflective of the organizations’ interests, id est, horticulture, plant science or similar studies.

A8§4 All past presidents of Missouri State University Horticulture Club may serve on the Advirosy Board.

ARTICLE IX Committees

A9§1 All committees shall be created by the Executive Committee.

A9§2 The committee chairperson shall be appointed by the President of Missouri State University Horticulture Club.

A9§3 Committee members will be involve members from the general assembly, or Executive Committee.

ARTICLE X Powers of the Members

All powers not in the aforementioned Constitution, or Bylaws of the Missouri State University Horticulture Club will rest solely with the members of this organization.

ARTICLE XI Parliamentary Authority

Parliamentary procedure shall be the order of all business meetings as outlined in Robert’s Rules of Order except in such case(s) where the Missouri State University Horticulture Club Constitution or Bylaws overrule such procedure.

ARTICLE XII Amendments

A12§1 The power to amend shall rest with the organizational assembly.

A12§2 Every proposed amendment must be submitted to the Constitution Committee two weeks prior to any action being taken on it. The Constitution Committee must then consider it and submit it to the members in written and oral form one week prior toe debate and voting on the proposal.

A12§3 Amendments must receive a three-fourths majority vote to become adopted by the assembly.

A12§4 The Bylaws of the Missouri State University Horticulture Club may not be lifted under any circumstances.

A12§5 Articles IV (A4§1-3) and VI (A6§1-4,a-f) shall take effect the first meeting after the passage.

Revised January 2006