Earth Spirit Constitution
2001
Preamble
The purpose of Earth Spirit is to bring knowledge and
enlightenment
to the truth behind ways of life and religions around the world.
Objectives
- Earth Spirit will provide a forum for the discussion of many alternative forms of spirituality.
- Earth Spirit will conduct activities and celebrate holidays from varied belief systems.
- Earth Spirit will actively participate in community activities.
- Earth Spirit will be an open and accepting forum for all positive religious and spiritual
experiences.
Article I
The organization shall be known as Earth Spirit
Article II
Membership
Section A
- Membership is open to students, faculty and staff of FSU, and members of the community.
Section B
Membership qualifications
- Membership in Earth Spirit shall not be denied because of creed, religion, race, color,
national,origin, age, sex, marital status, veteran status, handicap, sexual orientation, political
ideology, size, stature, or any other irrelevant or prejudicial criteria.
- A member with voting priveleges is one who attends at least one meeting per month or regularly
participates in other activities sponsored by Earth Spirit, member must be current on
their dues and thought of the week, and have student status.
Section C
- The Earth Spirit membership list shall only be made available to the Earth Spirit executive
board,and/or the faculty advisor, and/or the office of student activites unless the individual
gives written consent for release.
Article III
Officers
Section A
- General: All elected officers have the following responsibilities:
- Each officer shall train his or her successor.
- Delegating persons to assist with the responsibilites of office.
- Attend both business and general meetings.
- Will contact another executive board member if a meeting cannot be attended.
- Be a voting member
Elected officers and responsibilities
Section B
- 1. The Presidents responsibilities shall include:
- A. Direct both business and general meetings.
- B. Be the main link between Earth Spirit, the faculty advisor, and the office of student
activities.
- C. Turn in all required paperwork on time to the office of student activities.
- D. Public relations on campus such as posting flyers, checking the mail, advertising, and press
reviews.
- 2. The Vice Presidents responsibilities shall include:
- A. Become the acting president in case of an absence of the president.
- B. Work with the membership to program and organize activities.
- C. Keeping the focus of the group during business meetings.
- D. Assist other executive board members as needed.
- 3. The treasurers responsibilities shall include
- A. Keeping a detailed record of the groups funds.
- B. Noting who has participated in thought of the week.
- C. Making financial transactions for Earth Spirit.
- D. Keeping receipts for purchases, transactions, and other business done by and for Earth
Spirit.
- E. Reviewing the finances of Earth Spirit with the faculty advisor and the exutive board at
each business meeting.
- F. During breaks of extended length the group funds shall be left with the president or the
group advisor.
- 4. The secretary's responsibilities shall include:
- A. Taking minutes of all meetings.
- B. Recording activities.
- C. Keeping an archive of Earth Spirit activities.
- D. Keeping a phone and e-mail list of current members.
- E. Tallying the election votes.
Qualifications of holding an elected office
Section C
- Any active member who has been found responsible for violation of University policies through
student judicial services during his/her term of office will be asked to resign until the assigned
sanction or probationary period has been fulfilled.
- An elected member must be registered for at least three credit hours at FSU during each
semester of his or her term of office.
- An elected officer must have paid his or dues.
Selection of officers
Section D
- Elections shall take place during the eleventh or twelfth week of spring semester.
- Nominations for elected and appointed officers shall take place two weeks before the election.
- Elections will be held by secret ballot.
- The new officer shall be determined by a simple majority.
- New officers shall assume their duties at the start of the fall semester.
- An elected term shall not run for more than one year.
- No member shall hold the same office longer than five semesters.
Filling vacancies
Section E
- In the case of a vacancy of an elected position, the other officers shall divide the
responsibilities of that officership among themselves until a new election can be held.
- Nominations for a vacant office shall be held at the following business or general meeting. The
Election shall take place at the meeting following nominations.
Recall of officers
Section F
- An officer shall be removed from office if he/she:
- A. Is no longer eligible to be an officer as stated in article III. Section C.
- B. Consistently fails to perform his or her duties.
- C. Is no longer eligible to be a member as outlined in the bylaws.
- An elected officer shall be removed from office through the agreement of three fourths of the
membership.
Article IV
General meetings
Section A
- Frequency, day, time and location of general meetings shall be determined by a majority vote of
the membership. The officers shall determine the time and place of the first meeting of the fall
semester.
Business meetings
Section B
- The officers shall hold a business meeting no fewer than four times a semester. Such meetings
shall be open to all members but only voting members may decide future action of the group.
- Official business meetings shall follow the procedures detailed in Robert's Rules of Order.
Article V
Dues
Section A
- Each member shall participate in the group by bringing a thought of the week or one dollar to
all meetings attended.
Article VI
Amendments
Section A
- Any voting member at any business meeting may propose a written amendment, final action on
which will be delayed until the next business meeting. An affirmitive vote of three-fourths of the
voting members shall be required for adoption of an amendment.
Bylaws
- Any member or visitor whose behavior disrupts an event or meeting shall be removed, and barred
from any future events and/or meetings by 3/4 vote from Earth Spirit members.
- Proselytizing is forbidden at any Earth Spirit function. Violators shall be removed and barred
from any current and/or future events and/or meetings.
- Any barred member or visitor may return only with approval of the exutive board and the advisor
