Constitution
October 13th 2007
Article I: Name and Purpose
Section 1.
This organization shall be known as Manitoban Atheists, Skeptics, and Humanists, also known as MASH, and referred to as “the organization” within this document.
Section 2.
The purposes of the organization shall be to
- promote and practice the open, rational, and scientific examination of the universe and our place in it,
- and that ethics and morality can be meaningfully based on rational and humanistic ideals and values,
- promote skeptical inquiry,
- provide community for atheists, agnostics, humanists, skeptics, naturalists, et cetera,
- organize activities, such as forums for discussion, guest speakers, and debates that educate the University of Manitoba and surrounding community,
- foster acceptance of non-theists, and
- advocate for the separation between church and state.
Article II: Membership
Section 1.
Membership shall be open to all University of Manitoba students, faculty, and staff, and community members. Only students may be voting members. All may be non-voting members.
Section 2.
To become a member, one need only inform a member of the executive. Membership runs from the day of informing the executive member to the day after the end of the Summer academic term. At any time during the Summer academic term a standing member may express their desire to renew their membership for the following year.
Section 3.
Membership ends upon
- end of the normal membership cycle without a prior request to renew,
- the member’s request,
- the member no longer being a student, faculty, staff or community member,
- majority vote of the membership at a properly announced meeting with quorum to revoke that person’s membership.
Voting membership becomes non-voting membership when a voting member is no longer a student at the University of Manitoba.
Section 4.
Members who are removed by a vote may not join the organization again until the next academic year. Members who are removed lose any officer positions they may have held within the organization.
Section 5.
In certain cases, honorary membership can be granted to those who cannot qualify as members. Honorary membership is a symbolic way to show affiliation with the organization for interested parties and to give organizational acknowledgment for the honorary member’s support for the organization. Honorary members do not have the privilege of voting. Honorary membership may be extended to anyone via a majority vote of the elected officers.
Alumni membership can be granted to members of the group that have graduated from the University of Manitoba. Graduates will be given the option to be Alumni members at their discretion. Students that transfer out but do not graduate cannot be Alumni members but can still be honorary members. Alumni members do not have the privilege of voting.
Section 6.
The organization has the power to levee annual dues against the membership. The dues must be approved by a majority vote of the membership at a normal business meeting.
Article III: Executive
Section 1.
The elected offices of this organization shall be President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. Additional positions may be created via a majority vote of the elected officers.
Section 2.
The offices of President and Vice President must be filled. If no member is nominated for Secretary or Treasurer, the position shall remain vacant until a voting member volunteers. Duties of the vacant position will be taken over by the other officers. If no members are nominated for President or Vice President, the organization shall dissolve as per Article VII.
Section 3.
Officers shall be elected within two months of the beginning of the Fall term. Members shall be notified of a pending election at least three weeks in advance. Nominations will be accepted from the beginning of the Fall term until five days before the election. Only voting members that plan to remain voting members during the next year are eligible to run. Election shall occur by secret ballot of voting members at a meeting with quorum. The candidate with the most votes wins; uncontested candidates win by default. Terms shall begin at the general meeting following the election, and shall last until the terms of the next officers begin. There is no limit on the number of terms an individual may hold office.
Section 4.
If for any reason an officer is unable or unwilling to fulfill their commitments, they may resign and the remaining elected officers may appoint, via majority vote, replacement(s) who will serve until the next election period.
Section 5.
An elected officer may be removed by a majority vote of the membership. Officers and members shall have the opportunity to present their sides at the meeting, before the vote. If the elected officer is removed, a new officer shall be appointed as quickly as possible by majority vote of the remaining elected officers.
Article IV: Duties of Officers
Section 1.
The President shall
- organize and preside over meetings, activities and events,
- be the official representative for the organization,
- build and maintain relationships with other organizations,
- ensure this Constitution is followed,
- have the final word in all decisions where a vote is not specifically called for in this document,
- break any tie vote.
The Vice President shall
- assist the president in performing main duties,
- represent the organization when the president is unavailable,
- keep the organization current with all paper work that needs to be filed with the University of Manitoba.
The Treasurer shall
- be responsible for all financial matters,
- be responsible for keeping records and possession (on behalf of the group) of all merchandise,
- prepare a budget for the following academic term by the last meeting of the current academic term
- if there is not an elected secretary, the Treasurer shall take on the roles of processing membership requests and keeping a current roster of all members.
The Secretary shall
- record the results of all votes taken,
- record briefly what occurred at each meeting,
- collect attendance at each meeting,
- process membership requests,
- keep a current roster of all members.
Article V: Meetings
Section 1.
General meetings shall occur at the discretion of the elected officers; however a schedule of meetings for an academic term must be created prior to the beginning of said term.
Section 2.
Executive meetings shall occur at the discretion of the elected officers. Prior notice of at least one week should be given to all members.
Section 3.
Officers may call special meetings at any time for important matters. Prior notice should be given to all members as soon as possible.
Section 4.
Voting may only take place at a meeting.
Section 5.
A quorum is 1/5 of the voting membership. If a quorum is not present, voting shall be postponed until the next meeting. The number constituting 1/5 of the membership shall be determined by the officer in charge of keeping the membership roster.
Section 6.
Meeting minutes shall be posted to the web site.
Article VI: Amendments to the Constitution
Section 1.
Any member may propose a constitutional amendment. Members shall be notified at least two weeks in advance of a pending vote on an amendment. The amendment shall be read aloud and discussed on the day of the vote and at the meeting two weeks previous. An amendment can be adopted only by a two-thirds majority vote of voting membership at a meeting with quorum.
Article VII: Non-Discrimination
Section 1.
This organization and its members shall not discriminate against any individuals for reasons of race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, sex, age, handicap, or veteran status.
Article VIII: Dissolution
Section 1.
The organization may be dissolved upon a unanimous vote of members present where the vote is taken. Dissolution may only occur at a general or business meeting, not a special meeting.
Section 2.
Quorum for a meeting with a dissolution vote is 2/5 of the current membership.
Section 3.
The organization may not dissolve while in debt or with a balance in the bank.