The Biotechnology Club of Glendale Community College Constitution

 
 
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
   

The purpose of the Biotechnology Club of Glendale Community College (GCC) shall be primarily:
  To further the education of the membership in the area of biotechnology and to make it aware of ongoing research in the field as well as opportunities for training, internship, and employment.
And secondarily:
  To promote awareness and advance the knowledge of biotechnology in the community at large.
 
 

Article I – Name

 
 
Section I  The official name of this organization shall be “The Biotechnology Club of Glendale Community College” and shall be referenced as such.  Hereafter in this document, the official name shall be referred to as the BCOG.  This abbreviation is acceptable for use in any literature, documentation, bylaws, or amendments pertaining to the BCOG provided the aforesaid written material is intended for use within the organization.  All other written material for distribution outside the BCOG membership should use the official name.
 
 

Article II – Membership

 
 
Section I Membership in the BCOG is to be divided into two categories: Active Members and Honorary Members.
   
Section II  Active Members shall be defined as members with full member rights as well as voting privileges.  Active Members must be students of the GCC who are taking at least one (1) semester hour at GCC.
   
Section III Honorary Members shall be defined as members with full member rights, but no voting privileges.  Honorary membership may be extended, but is not limited to, any persons wishing to participate in the BCOG but who are not students of GCC.  Active Members losing GCC student status may, at their request, be automatically moved to Honorary Member status.
   
Section IV Membership rights include unrestricted access to any official lectures, events, and meetings organized by the BCOG.  Membership guidelines will adhere to all federal, state, and local laws regarding equal opportunity.
   
Section V Active membership may be involuntarily terminated if:
   -Active Member withdraws as a student from GCC
   -Active Member is suspended or expelled from GCC
   -Active Member is engaged in any illicit activity on GCC campus or property
   -Active Member is engaged in any illicit activity with GCC or BCOG resources
   -Active Member is engaged in illicit activity at a BCOG-sponsored event, program, activity, or      lecture
   -Active Member is convicted of any felony charge (speeding charges exempt)
   -Active Member provides non-approved BCOG materials or information to an outside person or      group
   
Section VI Honorary membership may be involuntarily terminated for any of the reasons Active Members may be involuntarily terminated (see Section V of this Article).
   
Section VII Any Member, Active or Honorary, may request an involuntary termination of another member by bringing the request, in writing with specific violations and supporting documentation, to an officers’ meeting.  The Secretary shall keep a copy of the request.  It shall be the sole responsibility of the officers to review and vote for the termination of any membership in a private proceeding with or without the member present.  A majority vote is needed for termination.  An officer, at his/her discretion, may choose to abstain, but a minimum of three (3) officers must vote.
 
 

Article III – Officers

 
 
Section I The officers of the BCOG shall consist of: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Public Relations, and Associated Student Government Representative.
   
Section II The term of all offices is one (1) semester.
   
Section III All officers must be concurrently enrolled in at least one course of the biotechnology curriculum to hold office.
   
Section IV An officer may be removed from office should s/he be absent from more than two (2) officers’ meetings without having obtained prior approval from the other officers.  The same rule applies to general meetings.
   
Section V Removal of an officer may be requested by any other officer in writing with supporting reasoning and documentation at any officers’ meeting.  The officer being considered for removal must be notified in writing of this action and the officer may defend himself in writing or at the officers’ meeting.  The Secretary will keep a copy of both the request and the notification.  All officers with the exception of the requestor and the officer in question shall form a committee to decide whether to proceed with a motion-to-remove vote by the general membership.  If the committee decided by a majority vote that the officer is to be removed, a second, three-fourths (3/4) majority, vote is needed at the next general meeting for complete removal.
   
Section VI Officers in violation of the GCC Code of Conduct or to whom apply any of the cases mentioned in Article II, Sections V and VI, do not need a vote from the general meeting to be removed.
 
 

Article IV – Elections

 
 
Section I Candidates for office will be nominated the first general meeting of the semester.  Once all nominations have been completed, voting by secret ballot will take place at the same meeting and the results tabulated and announced by the faculty advisor or other independent party.
   
Section II A majority vote is needed for the election of an officer.  Should no candidate acquire greater than 50% of the cast ballots, a run-off election between the two candidates with the highest number of votes will be had.
   
Section III

The order of elections and determination of officers is as follows: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Public Relations, and Associated Student Government Representative.  Other offices may be added as needed.
 
 

Article V – Meetings

 
 
Section I

General meetings shall be held no less than twice a month.  All officers are expected to attend general meetings.  Attendance rules from Article III, Section IV, apply.  Ad hoc meetings with the general membership may be held upon a majority of all officers.  Any member may request an ad hoc general meeting by contacting an officer.
   
Section II Officers’ meetings will be held at least once a month.  These meetings are open to officers and committee members, but only officers retain voting rights.  Ad hoc officers’ meetings must be scheduled three (3) days in advance and all officers must be notified and respond to the request for a meeting.
 
 
Article VI – Advisors
 
Section I

There shall be at minimum one (1) faculty advisor who shall be a member ex officio with no voting privileges.  All advisors will automatically become Honorary Members.
   
Section II Advisors are selected by the current officers by a majority vote
 
 
Article VII – Amendments and Bylaws
 
Section I

The constitution may only be amended at a general meeting and only by a combined vote of three-fourths (3/4) of the officers and two-thirds (2/3) of the remaining membership.
   
Section II Any procedural bylaws adopted may not supersede the constitution.  Bylaws can be amended by a majority of officers’ vote and must be presented to the next general meeting following the amendment.
 
 

Article VIII – Ratification

 
 
Section I This constitution is hereby ratified by the following members: