PREAMBLE We, the African students and interested parties at the University of Delaware, having established the Delaware African Students Association, realizing the need to promote awareness of African issues within the University community and surrounding communities, hereby adopt this constitution as the fundamental law of this Association.
ARTICLE I NAME OF THE ORGANIZATION The name of this organization shall be the Delaware African Students Association hereafter referred to as DASA.
ARTICLE II MEMBERSHIP
(1) Membership shall be open to all bona fide students of African origin and any interested student at the University of Delaware.
(2) Active membership shall be those with 50% attendance for the semester and without outstanding dues.
(3) Honorary membership shall be open to dependents of regular members and any individuals who have supported the activities of the Association and who have shown interest in African affairs. Membership to such persons shall be conferred, after having been nominated by any interested regular member in writing to the Secretary of the Association, by a simple majority vote of the general meeting.
ARTICLE III PURPOSE The purpose of DASA shall be:
(1) To promote unity and mutual understanding among its members and the University of Delaware community at large.
(2) To promote cultural and social exchanges in conjunction with other organizations with common goals in and outside the University.
(3) To create and promote a forum that will allow the exchange of ideas on issues affecting Africa.
(4) To stimulate African students involvement in University affairs.
(5) To render assistance to new African students in settling down at the University and their general integration into the community.
(6) To promote and campaign for a larger African student population at the University of Delaware. ARTICLE IV EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
(1) The executive Committee shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Secretary and Public Relations Officer.
(2) The Executive Committee shall conduct the administrative affairs of the Association.
(3) Members to be voted into office must have completed at least one semester at the time of assumption of office.
(4) All executive officers shall be in good standing with the University.
ARTICLE V FACULTY ADVISOR
(1) There shall be one
(1) faculty advisor who shall be appointed by a simple majority vote of the general membership upon the recommendation of the Executive Committee.
(2) Their term of office shall be the same as that of the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE VI VOTING, ELECTION AND TERM OF OFFICE
(1) Only active members of DASA are eligible to vote, and voting shall be by a show of hands.
(2) Only active members are eligible to hold office.
(3) The term of office shall be one school year and the officers are eligible for re-election.
(4) Vacancies in the Executive Committee shall be filled by temporary appointment by the Executive Committee until filled by a special election called for by the Executive Committee. The nominee may be from within the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE VII DUTIES OF OFFICERS
(1) The President shall:
(a) Convene and preside over all meetings of DASA and those of the Executive Committee.
(b) Cast the deciding vote in the event of a tie in the Executive Committee.
(c) Coordinate DASA's activities with the other university organizations.
(2) The Vice-President shall:
(a) Assist the President in the discharge of presidential duties.
(b) Shall, in the absence of the President, assume the duties and responsibilities of the President.
(3) The Secretary shall:
(a) Record the minutes of all meetings of the Association and circulate copies to the Executive Committee members.
(b) Be responsible for all correspondence of the Association.
(c) Notify members of all meetings.
(d) Circulate the agenda to the Executive Council at least one
(1) week prior to the meeting.
(4) The Assistant Secretary shall:
(a) Assist the Secretary in the discharge of presidential duties.
(b) Shall, in the absence of the Secretary, assume the duties and responsibilities of the Secretary.
(5) The Treasurer shall:
(a) Be responsible for all financial transactions of the Association.
(b) Collect all dues and funds.
(c) Submit a financial report to the general meeting once a year.
(6) The Public Relations Officer
(PRO) shall:
(a) Be responsible for promoting, and coordinating support for DASA activities.
(b) Be the liaison between DASA and other interested parties and the University community at large.
(c) Plan all social activities of the Association
(7) The Faculty Advisor shall:
(a) Act as an advisor to DASA.
(b) Be the liaison, together with the Public Relations Officer
(PRO), between DASA and the University administration.
(8) The Executive Committee shall present a tentative program and a budget for each semester no later than two weeks before the end of the preceding semester.
(9) The Executive Committee will hold at least one
(1) meeting a month.
ARTICLE VIII MEETINGS
(1) At least two
(2) general meetings shall be held every semester with the exception of the summer and winter sessions.
(2) The President, Secretary, and Treasurer shall constitute the quorum for the Executive Committee.
(3) 50% of the active members shall constitute the quorum for a general meeting.
(4) The first meeting of the school year shall be held within two weeks of Fall Semester, and the last meeting shall be held no later than two weeks before the end of the semester.
(5) Meetings during the summer and winter sessions are optional unless the Executive Committee determines otherwise and such meetings are in accordance with
ARTICLE VIII, section 2 and 3.
(6) Any executive member missing two
(2) executive meetings and/or missing two
(2) general/special meetings without genuine reasons and/or prior notification shall be removed from office.
ARTICLE IX DUES
(1) Membership dues shall be twenty dollars
($20.00) per school year or ten dollars
($10.00) per semester.
ARTICLE X BY LAWS
(1) DASA may solicit funds or accept funds from outside sources only on condition that such funds have no strings attached, and are in accordance with the University of Delaware laws.
(2) The Executive Committee shall expend funds of the Association as set forth in the budget approved by the general body. In cases of emergency, the Executive Committee may spend no more than $100, provided such expenditures are in accordance with the goals of the Association.
ARTICLE XI AMENDMENTS
(1) Two members may propose an amendment to the Constitution by a formal notification to the Secretary at least two weeks prior to the next general meeting.
(2) This Constitution can only be amended with a two-thirds approval vote of active members present.
(3) All amendments shall be submitted for approval to the relevant university authorities.
ARTICLE XII RULES
(1) All contingencies not covered by the Constitution shall be governed by the by-laws, the "Robert's Rules of Order"
(Revised).
(2) By-laws shall be formulated from time-to-time for the smooth- running of the Association affairs.
