BYLAWS
Article I. Name
The name of this organization shall be the University
of Tennessee Black Faculty & Staff Association, hereinafter referred to as
the Association.
Article II. Purpose of the Associate
The
formation of the Association is the result of the collective efforts of
concerned Black Faculty and Staff of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville,
to:
1. Provide a forum for association among Black faculty, staff, and students.
2. Function as an advisory board on behalf of the entire Black UTK campus
community.
3. Support and maintain the cultural traditions of persons of African descent
within the context of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Article III. Membership
Section I. Membership in the Association
shall be open to all and any persons of African descent currently on the staff
or faculty of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Section II. Persons within the categories stated in Section I of this article
may affiliate with the Association at any time during the school year.
Article IV. Officers
Section I. The
elected officers of the Association shall be a Chairperson, Co-Chairperson, Recording
Secrelary, Corresponding Secretary, and Treasurer.
Section II. The officers shall be elected by the membership.
***PROPOSED CHANGES ARE IN BOLD PRINT (Revised 11/08/96)
Section III. The officers shall serve a term of one year. The duration of the term
shall be one year following election ***to commence at the beginning of the
next Fall Semester.
Section IV. The Election of officers.
A. The election of officers shall take place at the first meeting in November.
***A. The election of officers shall take place by the end of the Spring
Semester.
***PROPOSED CHANGES ARE IN BOLD PRINT (Revised 11/08/96)
B. A separate election shall be held for each office. Candidates shall be
nominated: 1) from the floor, one regular meeting prior to the election date, or,
2) by write in to the Recording Secretary of the Association, five (5) business
days prior to floor nominations.
C. Nominations shall be accepted and placed on the ballot only when the
Recording Secretary has received verification by the nominee that the nominated
person accepts the nomination.
D. A simple majority of ballots received shall be necessary to elect each
officer. Absentee ballots will be allowed and counted if received by the
Recording Secretary no less than twenty-four (24) hours before the election.
E. Officers may be re-elected to the same office only once.
F. Absence from three (3) consecutive meetings without notification of cause by
any officer shall render that officer's position vacant.
G. Vacancies may be filled by a majority vote of the membership at special
elections.
Section V. Duties of the Chairperson.
A. To preside over meetings of the Association.
B. To call and preside over special meetings of the Association.
C. To designate committees and to appoint committee chairpersons.
*D.To appoint officers in the event of vacancies prior to the elections.
E. To represent the Association at public meetings, University sponsored
affairs (and other authorized occasions).
Section VI. Duties of the Co-Chairperson.
A.To assume the duties and responsibilities of the Chairperson in the event of
his/her absence.
*This means that the chairperson may exercise the option to fill vacancies via
direct appointment or by calling for a special election.
B. To preside over Association elections and to form an elections committee to
assist in this function.
C. To assume the office of the chairperson for the following year.
Section VII. Duties of the Recording Secretary.
A. To keep and distribute the minutes of each meeting and executive session.
B. To handle, receive and retain the administrative paperwork of the
Association.
C. To assume duties and responsibilities of the Chairperson in the advent of
the absence of both the Chairperson and the Co-Chairperson.
Section VIII. Duties of the Corresponding Secretary.
A.To assume the duties and responsibilities of the Recording Secretary in the
advent of his/her absence.
B.To assist the Recording Secretary in the implementation of the Recording
Secretary's duties.
C.To handle the distribution of all meeting notices and formal correspondence.
Section IX. Duties of the Treasurer.
A.To collect and disburse all monies of the Association according to the
directives of the Executive Committee.
B.To assume the duties and responsibilities of the Chairperson in the advent of
the absence of the Chairperson, Co-Chairperson and Recording Secretary.
C.To keep accurate records and accounts of all monies of the Association and
present financial reports at least once every month.
Article V. Executive Committee
Section I
The executive committee shall consist of the officers of the Association, and
the immediate past Chairperson of the Association, who shall preside over the
above committee sessions.
Article VI. Meetings
Section I
The Association shall meet on those days authorized by the Executive Committee.
In the event of special meetings, the members of the Association shall receive
notification of the date, place, and time of said meetings.
Section II
Votes shall be effected by a simple majority of those present at a meeting. The
Chairperson shall vote in the event of a tie.
Section III
The Chairperson shall rule on all questions of procedure.
Article Vll. Dues
Dues will be
assessed as necessary at the discretion of the Executive Committee. The assessment
of dues shall be effective by a majority of the members present at a designated
regular meeting.
Article VIII. Amendments and Official Procedure
Section I
Two third's of the members present when voting, providing at least fifteen (15)
members are present, shall be necessary to approve amendments to these bylaws.
Section II
Proposed amendments to these bylaws shall be presented to the Association by
Association members only. Voting shall take place at the next Association
meting following the proposal of the amendments.
Section III
The amendment procedure shall be followed for the abolition of these bylaws.
Article IX. Dissolution
In the event of
formal dissolution of the Association, all funds shall be given to the Minority
Scholarship Fund of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.