Pre-Dentistry Club Constitution
Article I: Name and Purpose
Section 1: Name
Pre-Dentistry Club
Section 2: Purpose/Mission
To inform any and all CSB/SJU students who are interested in the Dentistry profession. The Pre-Dentistry Club will bring Dental professionals to campus that will be able to give insight that can help current students define their personal and professional aspirations. This club will also strengthen connections between current students and alumnae in Dental school. The Pre-Dentistry Club will recognize and follow the J-Book and Every Woman's Guide. The club will also abide with rules of both institutions.
Section 3: Affiliation
University of Minnesota Dental School
Article II: Membership
Section 1: Eligibility for Membership
Any and all students who are interested and show that interest in the Dentistry profession qualify for membership. Active membership will require attendance at 50% of all club meetings. An active member may participate in voting and running for all officer positions.
Section 2: Voting Member Criteria
Students must attend informative meetings on the positions and candidates, and be a current and active member of the Pre-Dentistry Club.
Section 3: Removal of Members
The process to remove any member who is not in good standing with the club is as follows. The officers will give the person notice of their bad standing. The person will then have one month to change their standing. If they have not cooperated with the requests made by the officers and remain in bad standing, a special meeting will be called. E-mail will be sent to all members about the situation with the date of the special meeting when the voting for the removal will occur. A quorum of 60% is needed to vote. A 2/3 vote will remove the person who is not in good standing with the club. The removed member will have one month to appeal his/her case to the officers and club advisor. If the officers and club advisor agree that their appeal is valid, another special meeting will be held for the removed member to state their case. At this meeting a 60% quorum is needed to vote and a 2/3 vote will make the decision.
Article III: Officers
Section 1: Officer Qualifications
In order for a student to be eligible for an officer position, he or she must be a Pre-Dentistry Club member for at least one year. No necessary experience is required although it will be looked upon as beneficial.
Section 2: Elected Offers
President, Vice-President (JCB), Secretary, Treasurer (CFB)
Section 3: Duties of Officers
President: preside at meetings, call special meetings, primary contact with the institutions, appoint committee chairs, runs the election process, other Vice-President: assume President's duties in his/her absence, schedule meeting/practice rooms/facilities, primary contact with the JCB, plans member/officer training programs, other Secretary: takes and distributes minutes of all club meetings, recorder keeper (current and past members, files minutes, etc), other Treasurer: keeps all financial records, submits monthly audit statements to CFB contact (this is a mandatory requirement if you receive CFB funds), notifies organization of financial issues, prepares budget/allocation requests.
Section 4: Vacancy in Office
In the event that the President leaves office the Vice President will assume those duties. In the event that the Vice President leaves office the Secretary will assume those duties. In the event that the Secretary leaves office the Treasurer will assume those duties. In the event that the Treasurer leaves office the President will assume those duties. Therefore, the appointed officers will fulfill the duties until a special election is held as described in Article IV.
Section 5: Removal of Officers
A petition to remove the officer in question must be submitted to another officer. This petition must contain the signatures of 65% of voting members. When such petition is received, the officer shall call a meeting of the club to determine whether or not the officer should be removed. Grounds for removal are to be presented by the officer in charge at a regular or special club meeting. The officer in question shall be provided an opportunity to present a defense either in person or in writing.
A quorum shall be present, and a (75%, 3/4, simply majority) vote of the voting members shall decide upon removal. The club advisor has the ability to give the officer in question a period of time after removal to prove they deserve to be an officer, if the club advisor feels this is necessary.
Section 6: Appeal of Removal of Officers
A removed officer will have the ability to appeal the club's decision. The officer must first provide his/her reason for appeal to the remaining officers and the club advisor. If the officers and club advisor agree that the removed officer has significant reasons for appealing his/his removal, a special meeting will be held. At this meeting, the removed officer will plead his/her case to the club members; at the end of this meeting a vote will take place. No quorum will be necessary for the special meetings held for an officer appealing his/her removal. A 2/3 vote will decide to pass or turn down the appeal.
Article IV: Elections
Section 1: Nomination Process
A candidate must be nominated by March 1. An officer candidate may be nominated by self-nomination, current officer/member nomination, or club advisor nomination.
Section 2: Election
Sometime before March 20 elections will occur to determine the officers for the following school year. The set quorum will be 2/3 of the members. Voting members will be provided with a ballot with the names of nominees for each office position. The method of voting will be secret ballot. A person may serve for any length of years that they continue to be elected.
Section 3: Special Elections
If an officer leaves/is removed form office a club meeting will be scheduled within 2 weeks of vacancy occurring. The quorum will be 2/3 of the members. Voting members will be provided with a ballot with the names of nominees for each office position. The method of voting will be secret ballot. A person may serve for any length of years that they continue to be elected. Immediately after the election has determined the new officer the club members and the Department of Student Activities will be notified.
Article V: Advisor
Section 1: Selection
Nominations from club members will select Advisor candidates. A vote among the members will determine the Advisor, assuming the Professors accepts.
Section 2: Duties
The advisor will be help responsible to attend all meetings, attend all executive meetings, meet with the President/Chairperson before/after meetings, attend a specified number of club event, help to prepare the agenda for meetings, speak up during meetings with relevant information, challenge group members/officers to think creatively, take an active part in facilitating the development of group goals, and promote group activities to other faculty/staff.
Article VI: Meetings
Section 1: Regular Meeting/Club Activities
Regular club meetings will occur approximately once a month. Regular club activities (like bringing speakers from the U of M Dentistry School) will occur 2-3 times per year (once in fall and once or twice in spring). The process to notify members of meetings/activities will be by our club e-mail list. These meetings will be held in an informal manner under the direction of the President.
Section 2: Special Meetings
Special meetings will be held if an officer leaves/is removed, if we are notified of an event that we will participate in, or if any club members have any urgent concerns to discuss with all of the members. The process used to call these meetings/notify members will be by our club e-mail list. These meetings will be held in the same manner as regular meeting/club activities.
Section 3: Parliamentary Authority
The club meetings will be held in a very informal manner. Anyone who is willing to may speak at anytime. The President will lead to meetings however, the meetings will be held in a discussion manner.
Section 4: Quorum
2/3 (66.6%) of our current membership must be present for official club business to occur.
Article VII: Committees
Section 1: Committee Structure
There will be no committees for the Pre-Dentistry club.
Section 2: Special/Ad-Hoc Committees
Special committees may be formed if the club expands to an unmanageable numbers of members for the officers to handle all duties necessary. An election process, exactly the same as electing officers, will occur to elect committee members.
Article VIII: Finances
Section 1: Co-Funding Board
The Pre-Dentistry Club will apply for CFB monies and if allocated resources, we will follow all CFB and institutional regulations.
Section 2: Honorariums
No officer or members will receive a honorarium/stipend from the organization.
Article IX: Amendments
Section 1: Ratification
The process to be used regarding proposed constitutional amendments: A petition for an amendment will be brought to the club officers who will add the proposed amendment to the agenda. Proposed amendments to the constitution will be sent vie e-mail to the member in advance of the meeting where a vote on the amendment will take place. At a regularly scheduled meeting the vote on the amendment will take place. A quorum of voting members must be present and 80% of those in attendance must vote for the amendment. A 2/3 vote will pass the amendment. If the amendment is passed, the change will take place as soon as the DSA and JCB approve the amendment.
Submittal to Department of Student Activities and Joint Club Board
Any changes to this constitution will be submitted to the Department of Stunt Activities and the JCB
Article X:
The Pre-Dentistry Club admits students without regard to their race, religion, color, sex, age, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and other activities, generally accorded or made available to members of the organization.
Article XI:
The Pre-Dentistry Club considers hazing to be a degrading and destructive activity which is inconsistent with the standards of this student organization. The Pre-Dentistry Club recognizes the dignity of every person and opposes all forms of hazing
Revised: February 1st 2011