CONSTITUTION
AGRICULTURAL COMMUNICATORS OF
Article I
Name
Section 1. The name of this organization shall be Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow of WSU (ACT/WSU).
Article II
Affiliation
Section 1. ACT/WSU shall be a member of the National Association of Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow.
Section 2. ACT/WSU shall be a member of the Washington State University RSO’s (Registered Student Organizations).
Section 3.
ACT/WSU shall be a member of the AHNRSS (
Article III
Purpose
Section 1. The purposes of this organization shall
be:
(a) to stimulate interest in the profession of agricultural communications;
(b) to promote the interchange of ideas among students, faculty members and
professional agricultural communicators for their mutual benefit; and
(c) to broaden knowledge about agricultural communications.
Article IV
Membership
Section 1. All students currently enrolled at
Section 2. All dues-paying members in ACT/WSU are automatically members of the American Association of ACT and are eligible to enter the National ACT Contest and Critique.
Section 3. Membership of the ACT/WSU will not be denied to any student because of race; religion; sex; age; color; creed; national or ethical origin; physical, mental, or sensory disability; marital status; sexual orientation; and status as a Vietnam-era or disabled veteran.
Article V
Dues
Section 1. Dues shall be collected annually for ACT/WSU and the National Association of ACT are subject to change annually.
Article VI
Officers
Section 1. The officers of ACT/WSU shall be: President; Secretary; Treasurer; PR Coordinator; Web Coordinator, and AHESS Representative.
Section 2. To qualify for an officer position, a member must be active and paid in-full.
Section 3. The duties of the officers shall be:
President
Presides at all meetings; prepares an essentially complete schedule of programs and activities for the coming academic year beginning in August; calls all regular and special meetings; appoints such committees as deemed necessary; and enforces the provisions of this constitution.
Secretary
Records all minutes of meetings and offers the minutes for approval at subsequent meetings; maintains chapter calendar; carries on correspondence for the club; notify all members of meetings by indirect notice (posters, Collegian listings) and, when deemed necessary by the Executive Board, by direct notice (post card, telephone).
Treasurer
Coordinates membership drives; handles the financial affairs of the group; and assemble, publish, and distribute the official club roster to all members no later than October 15. Re-submits recognized student organization material to the CUB at the beginning of the fall semester.
PR Coordinator
Submits news stories and photographs of club activities to the editor of the National ACT Newsletter; maintains a comprehensive scrapbook for the club.
Web Coordinator
Maintains and updates the club website in partnership with the CAHNRS Information Department.
AHESS Representative
Attends all AHNRSS (
Section 3. The term of office shall be for one calendar year beginning with their election at the first meeting in April. The newly-elected officers will have counsel from the retiring officers for the remainder of the school year.
Section 4. The executive committee shall be composed of the officers of the organization with the president as chairperson. It shall be the responsibility of this committee to: (a) handle all matters of policy between meetings of the group; (b) plan and arrange, under the leadership of the president, the group's program of activities for the entire year. The president-elect shall call the new executive committee together for a planning session immediately following the elections at the first April general meeting. Section 5. Officers are expected to attend all regular and executive committee meetings. An unexcused absence will result in loss of the office. The executive committee determines whether an absence is excused or unexcused.
Article VII
Meetings
Section 1. The meetings shall be determined at the beginning of the academic year by the President in cooperation with the members' schedules. The meetings will be set on the chapter calendar as maintained by the chapter Secretary.
Article VIII
Faculty Adviser
Section 1. This club shall have a faculty adviser. It shall be the duty of the faculty adviser to advise the club in its activities; provide guidance as deemed necessary and appropriate; and perform such liaison as may be necessary between the club and other agencies. He/she shall also advise members of opportunities for both permanent employment and internships.
Article IX
Election of Officers
Section 1. A nominating committee shall be appointed by the president at the first March meeting. Nominees should voice their willingness to serve and to accept the responsibilities of the office no later than the second March meeting. Nominations from the floor will be accepted.
Section 2. Any paid-up member is eligible to one vote in any matter concerning the club and to one vote for any candidate for each office.
Section 3. Election shall be by a majority vote of those present having the power to vote, provided that a quorum (majority) of the paid membership is present.
Section 4. In case of a tie in voting, the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes will be re-considered and voted on again. In the event of a tie when only two candidates are up for consideration, the president shall cast the deciding ballot.
Article X
Amendments
Section 1. Club members shall have the power to alter or amend these articles by a two-thirds vote of the members present at any regular meeting, provided motion for such amendment shall have been made and passed at a previous regular meeting, and provided that all members are informed of the motion.
Article XI
Review Committee
Section 1. The club shall have a review committee to evaluate the year's program as it unfolds. The president-elect will appoint three members to serve on this committee at the second meeting of April.
Section 2. The review committee will hold a special meeting during the first two weeks of September to evaluate the proposed club activities and programs for the year.
Section 3. The review committee shall meet separately from the regular meeting during November and March with the club adviser, for the purpose of evaluating the current activities of the club and the performance of the club officers. The committee will present its majority report on these activities and performances at the first December and April meetings, together with its recommendations for changes.
Submitted February 10, 1997, Updated 2002, Updated December 2004