Constitution of the Queer Action
VirginiaCommonwealthUniversity
Est. February 2004
Article I: Name
The name of this organization shall be Queer Action of Virginia Commonwealth University.
Article II: Purpose
The purpose of this organization shall be:
Section 1: Acceptance
To provide a sense of community and belonging to all queer, questioning and straight ally students attending VirginiaCommonwealthUniversity.
Section 2: Communication
To provide a means of communication between queer, questioning and straight ally students and the VirginiaCommonwealthUniversity community, the Richmond Community, and other sexual minority communities.
Section 3: Outreach and Education
To provide a source of positive information using outreach and education to the VirginiaCommonwealthUniversity community, the Richmond community and other sexual minority communities.
Section 4: Representation
To represent queer, questioning, and straight ally students enrolled at VirginiaCommonwealthUniversity.
Section 5: Activism
To be involved with and aware of local and national queer political and legal issues and current events.
Article III: Executive Board
The officers of Queer Action and their duties shall be as follows:
Section 1: President
The President shall provide visible and viable group leadership. This shall entail having a sense of control over the proceedings of meetings, and awareness of what other officers are doing and the necessary power to make any and all final decisions. The president has the power to break ties in executive votes if needed. The president shall have the authority to delegate duties to other officers, committee and subcommittee heads. The president shall be the official representative of the organization and is the liaison between Queer Action and the university. The president shall have the duties of checking the organization’s mail and making sure appropriate paperwork is completed.
Section 2: Vice President
The vice president shall take over the responsibilities and duties of the president in his/her absence. The vice president shall provide a visible and viable example of leadership. The vice president shall share the responsibility of planning and leading meetings with the president. The vice president shall also take on secretarial duties of keeping and reading minutes at meeting.
Section 3: Treasurer
The treasurer shall manage all fiscal matters including preparing and maintaining the Queer Action budget.
Section 4: Webmaster
The webmaster shall be in charge of managing and updating the Queer Action website as well of the listserv of members and supporters. This role may also be served by the president or vice president.
Section 5: Removal from office
Any member of the executive board may be removed from office with a simple majority of a quorum of the organization’s membership . An officer may be removed from office if their duties are not being completed and/or if the officer misses more than one meeting per month, including executive board meetings.
Article IV: Membership
Membership in Queer Action shall be open to all students, faculty and staff of the VirginiaCommonwealthUniversity as well as members of the Richmond community at large, regardless of race, creed, color, gender, sexual orientation, disabilities, age or other non-merit factors. No membership dues will be collected. An individual may only request membership after having attended three consecutive general body meetings.
Article V: Elections
The election of officers of the executive board shall be performed as follows:
Section 1: General Procedure
Officers of Queer Action shall be elected by a simple majority vote of membership present when an election is held in April. Terms of office are for one year, running from April to April.
Section 2: Nominations
Nominations for officers shall be held during the month of March of each academic year. The person being nominated must be a student attending VirginiaCommonwealthUniversity. Nominees must also be official members of Queer Action. Nominations can be either written or verbal.
Section 3: Elections
The elections of officers shall be held during the first meeting held in the month of April of each academic year. This is necessary in order to prepare new officers for their duties in the upcoming year.
Section 4: Special Elections
The executive board shall call special elections in the event an officer is removed or resigns from his/her position during the term of office or in the beginning of each semester if all positions on the executive board are not filled.
Article VI: Committees and Subcommittees
Committees and subcommittees shall be established as the need arises based on organization expansion or shift in focus. Each committee shall have a representative on the executive board that shall be responsible for reporting on the progress of the committee/subcommittee’s work. Any member may call for the establishment of a committee or subcommittee.
Article VII: Meetings
Section 1: General Meetings
General Meetings of the membership shall be held throughout the academic year. Prior to the first meeting, the time and location shall be determined by the executive board.
Section 2: Board Meetings
Meetings for the board shall be held at least once a month during the academic year. These meetings shall be announced to members and shall be open to all members of the organization.
Section 3: Executive Board Meetings
Meetings for the executive board shall be held at least once a semester during the academic year. Any member of the executive board may call an executive meeting. These meetings are not open to general membership.
Article VIII: Budgets and Fiscal Planning
The executive board shall meet at least once within the first month of each school year to write a budget for the organization for that academic year.
Article IX: Amendment of the Constitution
The constitution may be amended during a board or executive board meeting by a simple majority vote of the membership present. The constitution shall be updated and rewritten every three years.