Our Constitution
Constitution and Bylaws of the Baptist Student Union
Of Western Carolina University
Preamble
We, the members of the Baptist Student Union of Western Carolina University do
hereby establish this Constitution on (October 10, 2002) in order that our
purpose be realized to its fullest extent.
Article I. Name
The name of this organization will be the Baptist Student Union of Western Carolina University, henceforth referred to as the Baptist Student Union.
Article II. Purpose
The Baptist Student Union is established for the purpose of worshiping, loving, and
serving God, loving others and spreading the gospel.
Article III. Membership
Active membership shall be opened to all persons within this community. The Baptist Student Union openly welcomes everyone to its membership and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, sex, national origin, or sexual orientation.
Article IV. Council Members
Council members of the Baptist Student Union must be enrolled at Western Carolina University with a minimum of nine (9) credit hours per semester while in office. Council members must be at least in their second semester of their sophomore year and must be considered an active participate for a minimum of one semester. Council members can not be in leadership at another Christian organization while being on council at the BSU. The Baptist Student Union will be governed by the following means:
1. Elected co-presidents (2) will preside at all meetings of the Baptist Student Union. The presidents shall present all motions to the body present at the Baptist Student Union. The presidents shall miss no more than two (2) Council meetings per semester and no more than three (3) BSU weekly worship meetings per semester. The presidents shall maintain a per semester grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 grading scale while in office. The presidents are responsible for communication between the Baptist Student Union, its advisors, and the Division of Student Affairs.
2. The Baptist Student Union Shall maintain an Executive council. The Executive Council Positions are as follows:
Campus Minister
Intern
Co-Presidents
Executive Council members may miss no more than two (2) Executive Council meetings per semester. Executive Council members must also maintain a per semester grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale while in office.
3. A member of council will be elected to perform the duties of Secretary. The duties consist of taking minutes at all council meetings, emailing the minutes to all members of council at least two days prior to the next meeting, and performing other duties specified in the constitution.
4. The Baptist Student Union shall also maintain a Council. The Council will consist of an elected varying number of persons interested in the leadership of the BSU and the ongoing of God’s Kingdom on this campus. The responsibilities of council will consist of, but are not limited to the following:
Planning Mission Trips (Fall Break, Spring Break, Summer, Local)
Fundraising to meet the Summer Mission’s Goal
Planning Worship
Leading the Worship Band
Intramurals
Action on Issues
Planning Freshman Crossings
Collecting Information and contacting those attending the BSU
Establishing a group of greeters for Pause
Updating bulletin boards and information posted throughout the building
Tending to the upkeep of the building
Planning environmental activities such as Road Clean ups and the Tuck River Clean up
Planning the Freshman Camping Trip
Facilitating Freshman Move in Day
Taking Notes at Council meetings
Orchestrating an event for the international students on campus
Attending Open House
Mail-outs to Incoming Freshmen
Delegate members of the Baptist Student Union to prepare a weekly Supper
Delegate members of the Baptist Student Union to lead weekly Bible Studies
Outreach Activities
Social Activities
Council members may miss no more than two (2) Council meetings per semester. Council members must also maintain a per semester grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale while in office. Council members are expected to attend the weekly worship meeting.
Article V. Operations
Voting eligibility is open to all members of the Baptist Student Union.
1. Election Process:
Those members wishing to be on council shall submit an application. A committee shall review these applications. The reviewing committee will consist of seniors, the intern(s), and the campus minister. The current co-presidents shall present the proposed council to the body at large. Voting shall be done from the floor. In the case of indistinguishable majority a secret ballot vote shall be conducted. The votes will be collected and tabulated by the current Secretary and one voting member of the Baptist Student Union, to be appointed by the current or outgoing co-presidents. Newly elected council members shall assume office as follows, depending on the office to which they were elected:
a. The co-presidents shall be elected before the first Fall Semester planning meeting. The term of office begins upon election and continues through the academic year, ending with the last day of the spring semester. The President shall be currently serving on council or have previous council experience.
b. Council members, excluding co-presidents, are elected to serve for one semester. The Fall council term begins the last day of the Spring semester and continues until the last day of the Fall Semester. The Spring council term begins the last day of the Fall Semester and continues until the last day of the Spring Semester.
2. Removal
Any council member of the Baptist Student Union in violation of the Organization’s purpose or Constitution or failure to fulfill duties as stated may be removed from office by the following process.
· Upon a written recommendation by Council, the council member must meet with a personnel committee consisting of two (2) advisors, and two (2) Council members.
· At the conclusion of this meeting, if the council member is found to be in violation of the Constitution or has failed to fulfill their responsibilities, a recommendation is made to Council for the removal of the council member and voting will commence.
· 75% of the Council must be in attendance to vote on the removal of a council member. A two-thirds (2/3) majority is necessary to remove the council member.
3. Replacement
Should a council member resign or be removed, another council member will assume their responsibilities. If no existing council member wishes to fulfill the exiting member’s responsibilities, a special election will be held to elect a member of the body at large to assume those responsibilities. The newly elected council member shall assume the responsibilities of the resigned or removed council member immediately following the voting and installation.
4. Meetings
Officers of the Baptist Student Union must attend all scheduled planning meetings. For the Fall Semester, the first meeting will be held at the end of April before summer break. The second meeting will be in August before students return to campus. For the Spring Semester, the planning meeting is held in December before Christmas Break. An absence from any planning meeting counts as two absences. Council members of the Baptist Student Union are also expected to attend all meetings throughout the semester. All Council meetings will occur on a weekly basis at a time selected by the members of the Council of the Baptist Student Union.
Article VI. Finances
The Baptist Student Union will finance the activities it engages in by the following
means:
· The Baptist Student Union will submit a budget to the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina on an annual basis requesting funding appropriate for the effective operation of the organization each year.
· The members of the Baptist Student Union shall contribute by participating in fund-raisers, local mission opportunities, and through the collection of a weekly offering.
· Any funds in an university designated account shall be used in accordance with the policies of the university.
· The Baptist Student Union will conduct all financial activities in accordance with the policies of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina and will place all funds in its general accounts payable account.
Article VII. Amendments
1. Amendments to the constitution may be proposed in writing by any member of the Baptist Student Union at any Council meeting at which two-thirds (2/3) of the members are present.
2. These amendments will be placed on the agenda for the next regular meeting of the Council.
3. Proposed amendments will recommended to the general membership of the Baptist Student Union following approval of two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of Council members.
4. Recommended amendments will become effective following approval of a simple majority of the members present at a general meeting of the Baptist Student Union.
Article VII. Ratification
1. This constitution of the Baptist Student Union shall be ratified by two-thirds vote of the members present and voting at a general meeting of the Baptist Student Union called with one week’s notice.
Bylaws
Article I.
A. Council is required to attend: Spring or Fall Conference, of the semester that they are serving. If for some reason you are unable to attend, you are expected to complete one of the following:
· Make contribution to BSU Funded Ministry equivalent to cost of event or
minimum contribution of $35.00.
· Use as your two council absences during the semester in which the event was
missed. (An additional absence will be recognized as a form of resignation.)
· Work six hours in a leadership capacity on a BSU activity or event beyond
your council position and write a three page reflection paper on choices.
Fulfilling these expectations are the responsibility of the council member.
These expectations must be met before the event.
B. Sports Ministry Bylaws
We are excited that you want to play intramurals for the BSU, but we must remember whom we represent on the playing field. Even if you are not a part of the BSU, you are representatives of the BSU when you play for us. We want everyone to have fun and enjoy him or herself. Therefore here are just a few rules that we ask you to abide by.
- If a player uses inappropriate language or attitude, then that player is to sit out the rest of the game.
- No negative comments to the other team, official, or your own teammates. The player will be given one warning and then on the second offense they will sit out the rest of the game.
- No throwing of equipment. If equipment is thrown, the player must sit out the rest of the game.
- Must shake hands of the other team.
- No challenging rule interpretations to the referee, except by the coach, captain, sports chair, intern, president, or vice president.
- If a player gets unsportsmanlike technical, then the player is to sit out the rest of the game.
- If the player gets ejected from any game by the referee then the player must meet with the Sports Ministry Committee to decide the outcome (possible suspension from the sport.)
- If a player is ejected from a game a second time in the same semester , then they cannot play for the BSU for the remainder of the semester.
- If any coach breaks any of these rules then they must meet with the Sports Ministry Committee before they can coach again.
- For any repetitive violations the player will have to have a meeting with the Sports Ministry Committee before they can play another game.
- Have Fun.
The above rules are not meant to be harsh but to help the BSU to have a good reputation for having good sportsmanship and Christ-like attitude.
If all else fails if you feel like you are no longer having fun then, by all means take yourself out of the game. That way you can come back in when you are ready and able to have fun again.
Sports Participants must sign a copy of the rules saying they agree to abide by the rules and accept the punishments given if they break the rules.
