Queer-Straight Alliance (QSA) - By-Laws

October 18, 2004
By-Laws

I. Article- Name

a. The name of this organization shall be called the Lane Community College Queer Straight Alliance, and shall also be known as the QSA.

II. Article- Purpose

a. Establish an alliance between the QSA and Associated Students of Lane Community College (ASLCC) to include other student organizations.

b. Educate the Lane Community on issues of heterosexism, homophobia, and other types of oppression.

c. Outreach to local youth and community members in the Lane County Area.

d. Create awareness of LGBTQ legislation in the Oregon political system in a non-partisan way.

e. Establish and maintain a working relationship with U of O's LGBTQA student organization.

III. Article- Membership

a. Membership into the Lane Community College Queer Straight Alliance is open to all Lane registered students (staff, community members) regardless of age, gender, race, religion, ability, sexual orientation, or gender identification.

IV. Article- Officers

a. Officers will consist of President, Vice President, and Treasurer.

b. Each Officer position shall be considered as equal with one vote each.

V. Article- Nominations and Elections

a. At the second regularly scheduled general membership meeting in April, nominations from the officers and the floor shall be allowed.

b. New nominees shall have been active group members for one complete term prior to being eligible for nomination. Members shall be considered active members and eligible for election into an office if they have attended 75%, or more, of all meetings and club events for at least one full term prior to elections. c. Elections shall take place with the attendance of at least two Advisors, and shall be conducted by either secret ballot or a show of hands.

VI. Article- Terms

a. Officers will be elected for a term of one year or until there successors are elected. Elections shall be held at the annual meeting in May. Officers shall take office June 1st.

b. Each person elected shall hold only one office at a time. Each person can serve no more than two consecutive terms in the same office.

VII. Article- Vacancies

a. Executive Officer vacancies shall constitute the formation of a special election, which shall be held no later than two regularly scheduled meetings after vacancy notification. The official duties of the vacant position shall be distributed amongst the other officers during the interim on a volunteer basis.

VIII. Article- Removal from Office

a. Officers can be removed from office with or without cause by a 100% unanimous Officer and Member vote at a regularly scheduled general membership meeting where previous notice has been given.

b. Causes for removal from office shall include but are not limited to:

i. Non-Participation: Defined as missing three consecutive meetings without notification. See also Section ((())) for definition of an active member.

ii. Enforcement of Safe Space Agreement and / or official By-Laws.

IX. Article- Duties of Officers

i. President is a voting member, representative to council of clubs, and duties include marketing, planning and developing, and organizing.

ii. Vice President is a voting member, alternate representative to council of clubs, and duties include assisting president in public relations, preparing agenda, taking minutes, distributing minutes to Webmaster and to the club listserv, and maintaining office schedule.

iii. Treasurer is a voting member, representative to council of clubs, and duties include maintaining Safe Space Agreement, maintaining resource folder, and maintaining the club budget.

b. All officers' duties include that which is listed under Article II. Purpose sections A-E

X. Article- Meetings

a. Regular General Membership Meetings: The regular general membership meetings of Queer Straight Alliance occur at least once per week during the standard academic year (September-June) at a time and location to be determined by the officers of the organization.

b. Subcommittee meetings: Subcommittee meetings shall be organized and scheduled as needed for productivity of specific projects.

i. Subcommittees shall report regularly to the general meetings on their progress and require a quorum in accordance with section ((())) of this document to vote in any decisions.

c. Special Meetings: Any two officers may call a special meeting; or five general members, submitting a written request to the officers may call a special meeting. Previous notice of the meeting shall be sent to all members of the organization at least three days prior to the meeting. Effort must be taken to attempt to contact every member of the organization with the commitment of being as inclusive as possible. The notice can be given by hand, delivered flyer, flyers posted on campus, ads in the torch, email, postal mail, telephone or fax.

d. Quorum: The general membership-meeting quorum shall be five active members of Queer Straight Alliance.

e. Conflict Resolution and Expulsion of General Members: After every reasonable attempt has been made toward peaceful resolution of a conflict, removal of general members based on enforcement of Safe Space Agreement, the Mission Statement, or the By-Laws, or for non participation shall follow the same procedures as for Removal From Office as outlined in Article ((())) of this document.

f. Meeting and Procedure: Meetings shall be conducted in a respectful manner that remains mindful of the core values of Queer Straight Alliance as described in the Mission Statement, By-Laws, and Safe Space Agreement.

g. Each meeting shall have a volunteer facilitator to help keep order and to ensure that all voices are heard. This duty shall alternate amongst the general members voluntarily. Anyone interested in facilitating a meeting should make an effort to acquire facilitation skills and to avoid using the position to dominate the meeting. While facilitating, one should keep their personal comments to a minimum.

XI. Article- Advisor

a. The Advisor(s) sole responsibility is to serve as a resource by assisting the club in adhering to college policies and procedures.

XII. Article- Amendments of By-Laws

a. This document can be amended at any regular or special meeting provided that previous notice was given at the prior general meeting and then sent to all active members of the organization by the Vice President.

b. Any amendment of this document or the Queer Straight Alliance Mission Statement must be approved by a 100% unanimous vote by all active members present.