By Laws

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CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS BLACK FACULTY AND PROFESSIONAL STAFF ASSOCIATION

ARTICLE I. NAME

The name of the organization shall be Black Faculty and Staff Association (BFASA).

ARTICLE II. PURPOSE

The purpose of this organization shall be to promote and enhance identity, sense of community, professional welfare and development among faculty, staff and students. This purpose shall be reflected in programmatic efforts to:

1. Address quality of life issues
2. Promote the development of leadership skills
3. Facilitate professional welfare and development;
4. Enhance student growth and development through mentoring, role modeling, and cultural awareness;
5. Stimulate a sense of social responsibility and improve communication among faculty, staff, and students; and
6. Promote scholarship and cooperative research among faculty, staff, and students.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP

Membership in this association shall consist of faculty, administrators, clerical, and other staff personnel.

ARTICLE IV. MEMBERSHIP & DUES

A. Class of Membership - There shall be one class of members of the Association, namely, faculty and staff.
B. Term of Membership - Membership shall be on an annual basis corresponding to the academic year. Upon payment of annual dues, the applicant shall become active.
C. Application for Membership - Application for active membership shall be made to the Secretary.
D. Dues -
1. Dues shall be based on the academic year payable in September.
2. Dues shall be determined by the Executive Board and approved by the membership.

ARTICLE V. VOTING PRIVILEGES

Active members shall have voice and vote at all meetings of the Association and shall be able to run for office and chair committees.

ARTICLE VI. OFFICERS

A. The administrative responsibility of this Association shall be vested in an Executive Board as defined by the By-laws.
B. The elected officers of this Association shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, two Members-at-Large (1 faculty and 1 staff member) and a Parliamentarian, who must be active members.
C. Vacancies shall be filled as specified in the By-laws.

ARTICLE VII. EXECUTIVE BOARD AND OFFICERS

A. Executive Board - The administrative responsibility of the Association shall be vested in an Executive Board comprised of the elected officers, immediate past president, and current committee chairs. The Executive Board shall be empowered to act on behalf of the Association.
B. Officers - The officers of the Association shall be the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, two Members-at-Large and a Parliamentarian.
C. Election and Terms of Office - The officers of the Association shall be elected at the annual business meeting. The President shall serve two years. The Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Members-at-Large, and Parliamentarian shall serve for one year.
D. Vacancies - In the event of a vacancy in the President's office, the Vice-President shall succeed to that office. With the majority approval of the Executive Board, other vacancies shall be filled by the President.

ARTICLE VIII. DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS

A. The President is the chief executive officer of the Association. The President shall:
1. Preside at all meetings of the Association;
2. Serve as Chairman of the Executive Board;
3. Serve as chief spokesperson for the Association;
4. Appoint all chairpersons and members of the committees, unless otherwise provided for in the By-laws by the Executive Board;
5. Serve, ex-officio, on all committees;
6. Authorize expenditures and have the authority, in addition to the Treasurer, to pay bills of the Association; and 7. Submit an Annual Report to the Association; and
8. Co-sign checks as authorized by the Executive Board.

B. The Vice-President shall:
1. Perform all duties as designated by the President;
2. Serve as Chairman of the Program Committee and coordinate all Programs;
3. Serve as Parliamentarian in the absence of the parliamentarian of the Association;
4. Serve on other committees as appointed;
5. Perform all duties of the President in the absence of that officer; and
6. Succeed to the office of President in the event of a vacancy in that office.

C. The Secretary is the scribe of the Association and the custodian of its records. The Secretary shall:
1. Take or arrange to have taken, and keep in permanent form the minutes of the Executive Board and of the Association;
2. Receive and file copies of the official annual membership list, the official list of the Executive Board members, and the proceedings of each meeting of the Association, and all committee reports;
3. Keep and update the permanent file of all official documents of the Association;
4. Keep a permanent file of all publications of the Association and the Executive Board;
5. Assist with the collection of the dues for meetings of the Association; and 6. Upon the completion of a term of office, submit to the new Secretary thirty (30) days after the first annual business meeting the Association's records.

D. The Treasurer is the Finance Officer of the Association. The Treasurer shall:
1. Receive all Association monies and keep the books of the Association;
2. Co-sign checks of the Association within thirty (30) days of authorization by the Executive Board;
3. Prepare, publish, and circulate annually to the Executive Board and the membership a financial statement of the Association;
4. Upon the completion of a term of office, submit to the new Secretary thirty (30) days after the first annual business meeting the Association's records;
5. Submit an annual report at the Annual Business meeting within sixty (60) days of the close of the academic year; and
6. At the discretion of the Board, be bonded at the expense of the Association.

E. The Members-at-Large shall:
1. Serve as voting members of the Executive Board; and
2. Serve on such other committees as appointed.

F. The Parliamentarian shall:
1. Be responsible for responding to all procedural issues arising within the Association.

ARTICLE IX. COMMITTEES A.

The standing committees of the Association shall be the:
1. Membership Committee;
2. Program Committee;
3. Social Committee; and
4. Publications Committee

B. Chairmen and members of the standing committees shall be appointed annually by the President with the approval of the Executive Board, unless otherwise provided for.

C. Duties of the standing committees shall be as directed and defined by the President with the approval of the Executive Board.

D. Ad Hoc: The President shall have the power to appoint such other committees as he/she deems necessary.

ARTICLE X. MEETINGS

A. A meeting of the entire membership shall be held at least four times a year and as called by the Executive Committee. The annual business meeting shall be held in September of each academic year.
B. Notices of all meetings shall be mailed to all members at least two weeks prior to the date of the meeting.

ARTICLE XI. OMBUDSMAN

The President shall appoint from among the membership a person to the position of Ombudsman. This person shall serve as general trouble-shooter regarding professional concerns as well as liaison officer for development between units on the regional campuses. The Ombudsman shall serve at the discretion of the President and his tenure shall be conterminous with that of the Chief Executive.

ARTICLE XII. PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

The rules contained in the most recent edition of Robert's Rules of Order shall govern the Association in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the Constitution, these By-laws, and any special rules the Association may adopt.

ARTICLE XIII. AMENDMENTS

This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of those voting at a meeting so designated provided that each amendment shall have been proposed in writing to the Secretary. Such proposed amendments shall be distributed to the membership by the Secretary two weeks prior to voting.

Adopted September 1986: Amended 1987

Amended October 1987

Amended September 22, 1995