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Saint Ambrose Habitat for Humanity    Constitution and Bylaws

Our Mission Statement

The Saint Ambrose University Campus Chapter of Habitat for Humanity International is a Christian housing organization that seeks to alleviate deserving individuals and families from the clenches of impoverished housing and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. Habitat invites people from all walks of life to work together in partnership to help build houses with families in need.

          Habitat for Humanity
  Constitution and Bylaws

Article I - Membership

         Section 1: Eligibility

A) Any full-time or part-time student, faculty member, staff member, alumnus or administrator of Saint Ambrose University may become a member of the chapter.
B) No one shall be excluded from membership based on race, gender, age, national origin, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, citizenship, or physical disability.
C) To be a member, one must attend two meetings of the chapter in a single semester.

Section 2: Meetings

A) The chapter shall hold meetings of its members at least once a month during the academic year.
B) The chapter shall provide reasonable notification for the members concerning the time and location of the meetings.
C) Meetings will be scheduled at a time that is convenient for a majority of the members and when the advisor can attend.
D) The time and frequency of Executive Board meetings shall be determined by the officers, but shall meet at least twice a month during the academic year.
E) The President or any two officers of the Executive Board may call special meetings of the executive board. The person or persons calling the special meeting may choose the time and location of the meeting. Written notice of any special meeting of the Executive Board must be given. If the purpose of the meeting is to remove an officer, or to modify the chapter in any way, the written notice shall so state.
F) All members may attend Executive Board meetings.


Section 3: Quorum

A) A quorum for transaction of business at any regular or special meeting of the Executive Board shall consist of at least 50% of the elected officers.
B) A quorum for transaction of business at any meeting of the General Membership shall consist of at least 25% of the members.


Article II - Executive Board

Section 1: Membership

A) The Executive Board shall consist of the following officers:
President
Vice-President
Secretary
Treasurer
Fundraising Chair
Events Chair
Public Relations Chair
Educator

Section 2: General Powers

A) Except as otherwise stated herein, all chapter activities shall be exercised under the authority of the Executive Board, and all affairs shall be managed under the direction of the board.
B) The Executive Board shall adopt rules and regulations for the conduct of chapter meetings and the management of the chapter that they deem proper. They may not be in violation of these bylaws, the covenant agreement between Habitat and the chapter, the rules and regulations of Saint Ambrose University or the laws of the state of Iowa.

Section 3: Qualification of Officers

A) The officers of the Executive Board shall be enrolled students at Saint Ambrose University and have attended a majority of Habitat meetings and events.
B) The officers shall maintain a minimum of a 2.5 GPA at Saint Ambrose University.
C) To be elected, officers must be in good disciplinary standing at Saint Ambrose University, and remain in good disciplinary standing.
D) Since Habitat is a Christian organization, officers must show values consistent with Christian beliefs.
E) Officers must attend all meetings of the General Membership and the Executive Board, unless excused.
F) Must notify the President and Secretary when he/she cannot attend a meeting.
G) Must work toward the common goal of Habitat for Humanity.
H) Must accomplish the tasks of his or her position.

Section 4: Election

A) The Executive Board shall have a new board elected each year.
B) Elections shall take place at the end of the spring semester by means of an anonymous vote where a simple plurality will determine the winner.
C) The Executive Board shall receive nominations one week prior to the election.
D) Nominations are open to all qualified members who meet the qualifications for officers in Article II - Section 3.
E) All members of the General Membership and Executive Board are eligible to vote.

Section 5: Term

A) The term of all elected officers shall be from April 14th until April 15th of the following year.


Article III - Duties of the Executive Board Officers

Section 1: The President’s duties shall be:

A) The President shall be an official spokesperson for Habitat for Humanity at Saint Ambrose University.
B) Chair all meetings of the General Membership and the Executive Board.
C) Make a report on all chapter activities at all General Membership meetings.
D) Determine the time and location of all Executive Board meetings.
E) Be an ex-officio member of all committees.
F) Have an agenda prepared for each meeting of the general assembly and the Executive Board.
G) Notify the Vice-President in case of an inability to perform any of the above duties.
H) Be a liaison for Quad Cities Habitat for Humanity.

Section 2: The Vice-President's duties shall be:

A) Assume the duties and responsibilities of the President when he/she is unable to fulfill term.
B) Be an ex-officio member of all committees.
C) Serve as a liaison between the chapter and other campus organizations and departments.
D) Aid the President and other officers in the fulfillment of their duties and responsibilities.

Section 3: The Secretary/Treasurer’s duties shall be:

A) Assume the responsibilities of the President when the Vice-President is unable to do so.
B) Take accurate minutes at each meeting and distribute them to the members in a timely fashion.
C) Take attendance of all members at each meeting.
D) Maintain a budget for the entire organization.
E) Keep accurate, up-to-date records of all the financial affairs of the chapter.
F) Disburse all organization funds with the approval of the Executive Board in accordance with the Treasurers guidelines.
G) Present a monthly report on all financial issues to the General Membership.

Section 4: The Fundraising Chair's duties shall be:

A) Be the chairperson of the fundraising committee.
B) Lead all fundraising activities.
C) Make sure the committee members are contributing to the operation of the fundraisers.
D) Divide the work between members of the committee.
E) Organize and execute at least one Major fund-raising event per year as to follow with chapter requirements.

Section 5: The Events Chair's duties shall be:

A) Chair the Events committee.
B) Contact local Habitat organizations to stay updated on different events that are going on as well as to inform the membership.
C) Organize and facilitate 2 socials per semester and other special events.
D) Organize and facilitate Collegiate Challenge

Section 6: The Public Relations Chair’s duties shall be:

A) Chair the Public Relations committee.
B) Promote and encourage involvement.
C) Advertise information about the club around campus.
D) Keep campus and local community aware of organizations goals and current events.
E) Maintain and Update the website on a normal basis.


Section 7: Educator

A) Chair the Education and Act, Speak, Build! Week committee.
B) Keep the chapter educated about additional, current and historic Habitat for Humanity events information from local to international.
C) Work to get Habitat members and beneficiaries from the area to come to meetings of the general assembly to share their experiences with Habitat.
D) Contact local Habitat organizations to stay updated on different events that are going on as well as to inform the membership.
E) Be responsible for the dates of Builds.
F) Find individuals who are interested in participating in different builds.
G) Organize and facilitate Act, Speak, Build! Week.


Article IV - Removal of Officers

Section 1: Grounds for Removal of an Officer

A) Abuse of power.
B) Responsibilities to the chapter are suffering.
C) Violation of attendance policy.
D) Failure to fulfill duties.
E) Conduct unbecoming of an Executive Board officer as determined by the Executive Board.

Section 2: Procedure for Removal

A) Any chapter member may bring charges against an officer.
B) These charges must be presented in written form to the entire Executive Board for review.
C) Removal from office requires two-thirds majority vote of Executive Board.
D) The officer must be notified in writing and be given a chance to refute the charges at the proceedings.
E) Invite and notify all members prior to the meeting.

Article V - Provisions for the Replacement of Officers

Section 1: Resignation

A) An Executive Board member may resign by giving written notice to the board.
B) The resignation will take effect when the board receives the notice.
C) Approval from the board is not necessary.

Section 2: Vacancies

A) Should any office fall vacant, nominations and selections for the new officer will be held at the next meeting of the general membership.
B) The General Membership will have to have majority vote in order for the vacancy to be filled.


Article VI - Chapter Advisor

Section 1: Advisor

A) The chapter shall have at least one advisor who is a faculty or staff member at Saint Ambrose University, has been nominated by the membership.
B) The advisor should be supportive of the mission of Habitat for Humanity.
C) The advisor should work with the students and act as an ambassador to the University Administration and the Habitat for Humanity organization on behalf of the chapter.
D) The advisor should offer guidance to the chapter.
E) The advisor shall be an active participant in Habitat events and chapter functions.
F) The advisor does not have voting privileges except in the case of a tie.


Article VII - Committees of the Chapter

Section 1: Standing Committees

A) The executive board shall have the following standing committees:
Public Relations
Fundraising
Events
Education
Act, Speak, Build! Week
B) Other committees may be created when needed pending approval by the Executive Board.
C) Chairpersons of the committees shall be an Executive Board member.

Section 2: Duties of Standing Committees

A) Public Relations
Effectively publicize and promote chapter activities and goals to the Saint Ambrose University community.
B) Fundraising
Plan and coordinate creative fundraising activities to support chapter mission.
C) Events
Aid in the organization of Collegiate Challenge
Carry out and organize Social events
D) Education and Act, Speak, Build! Week
Organize Act, Speak, Build! Week and carry out events throughout the week.
Coordinate building days and volunteers.
Organize and plan work opportunities.

Section 3: Qualifications

A) To be appointed to a committee, one must be a member of the chapter.


Article VIII - Amendments and Revisions

Section 1: Amendment Procedure

A) Any member may propose an amendment to this Constitution.
B) The amendment shall be reviewed by the Executive Board in written form and presented to the General Membership at two meetings.
C) The amendment will be voted on at the second meeting.
D) A two-thirds majority vote is required to adopt the modification.
E) All amendments must be approved by the Student Activities Office and the Student Government Association.

Section 2: Revision

A) The Executive Board shall have the power to modify this Constitution or adopt a new Constitution by a two-thirds vote of the General Membership provided that the Constitution and Bylaws does not go against the Habitat for Humanity mission, Saint Ambrose University rules and regulations, or any state or federal law.