Sustainable Growing Club at The Ohio State University “The Sustainable Growing Club” Constitution
Article I - Name, Purpose, and Non-Discrimination Policy of the Organization.
Section 1.1
The name of the organization will be known as The Sustainable Growing Club. The leadership board can at any time change the name if they are in agreement to make such a decision.
Section 1.2
The Sustainable Growing Club is an organization that focuses on the dying art of gardening and permaculture. The purpose of the The Sustainable Growing Club organization comes from the passion that the group has for saving the environment and feeding the people in the community. Their mission is to educate and provide a ground for people to dabble in sustainable gardening, and then pass on their knowledge to others. They want this Ohio State Campus branch to spread around the world and change the now corrupt agricultural system, and help to satiate world hunger.
Section 1.3
The Sustainable Growing Club stands as an all-inclusive organization that does not discriminate against any individual (member or otherwise) for any of the following reasons (but not limited to): age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.
Article II - Membership
Section 2.1
The Sustainable Growing Club will be comprised of general The Sustainable Growing Club members. The members will be based on the consensus of the leadership board, and the willingness of the members to give their time and effort to the club. Members can come and go as they please to volunteer with the club throughout the year, but must make that clear in their initial survey. Any students currently enrolled at The Ohio State University are eligible to become a member.
The Sustainable Growing Club members will have no cap of members. A set number of The Sustainable Growing Club official members for each academic year is subject to change based on a vote amongst the current leadership board. Members will have the ability to stay in the organization until their graduation date if and only if they continue to give their time and effort to the group. There will not be a limit on unofficial The Sustainable Growing Club members.
Section 2.2
The Sustainable Growing Club members will be a part of a committee of their choice under the supervision of a member of the leadership council. The type and number of committees for each academic year will be determined by the current leadership board and coordinators.
Section 2.3
Once a The Sustainable Growing Club member has graduated, they will become a honorary member of the organization. Honorary members are encouraged to participate in any activities, or volunteer work, but will not be able to make any decisions regarding the direction of the club.
Article III - Leadership Board
Section 3.1
The leadership board will be re-elected annually every spring academic term (March/April). The election will be defined in further detail in Article V, Section 5.1. Any current official The Sustainable Growing Club member, who has been a member for at least two full semesters, has the option to run for a position on the leadership board except for the president. The leadership board will have the option to add any executive positions they deem necessary by a majority vote.
Section 3.2
The leadership board and the corresponding responsibilities are as follows (but not limited to):
Primary Leader:
● Coordinates and plans group and executive meetings
● Perform progress checks on projects
● Cognizant of university deadlines
● Maintains university paperwork (with the assistance of the other executive members)
● Maintains healthy relationship with the all members
Money Officer:
● Maintains financial records
● Councils with other executive members on financial spending/gain
● Maintains relationship with the bank
● Authorizes any spending before it happens
● Researches for potential grants and/or fundraising opportunities
Incorporator:
● Reaches out to new members
● Maintains outlet for member feedback
Campus Engagement Leader:
● Attend meetings with Advisor to coordinate with the student farm
● Follow up with campus officials regarding projects discussed
● Coordinate campus engagement events (with the assistance of the President)
Community Engagement Leader:
● Establishes and maintains contact with organizations in the community for service and community engagement opportunities
● Maintains list of known organizations and contact statuses
Education Outreach Leader:
● Prepares curriculum for members and schools
● Maintains contact with schools, communities and other education outreach opportunities
Online Presence Chair:
● Maintains and publicizes events and other announcements on any social media site that The Sustainable Growing Club uses
● Maintains meeting minutes for both leadership board and general meetings
● Sends out the emails
Liaison:
● Maintains contact with other organizations, activist groups and food-oriented initiatives on campus and keeps members notified of relevant events on campus
● Creates network of student volunteers
● Helps organize teach-ins and collaborative events with other student groups
● Coordinates recruitment activities
Article IV - Standing Committees
Section 4.1
The chairs and coordinators will be elected or run by the leadership board. They will report back to the leadership board and maintain a healthy relationship between the leadership board and general members of The Sustainable Growing Club.
Article V - Method of Selecting and/or Removing Officers and Members.
Section 5.1
Selection for the leadership board’s executive members will be as follows: The first year as a new organization will have a leadership board of the piloting members. Every year after, the positions of the leadership board will be up for election. Only members who have been active for a year or more are able to run for election as members of the leadership board. The members of the leadership board are the only members who are able to run for the positions of primary leader. The primary leader may be nominated by members of the organization, then review and finalized by the leadership board. Nominations for leadership board come from members within the specific committees of which they are a part.
Section 5.2
Selection of the general members of the organization will be based on a survey where they will define their own level of interest.
Section 5.3
The procedure for removal of an executive member is as follows:
● Any member is able to come up to an executive member or the leadership board with concerns about the impeachment of an officer. The board will then decide if additional action must be taken.
● A mandatory meeting will be called in front of members of the organization where;
○ The person who called the meeting will be able to express their concern to the current members.
○ The person in danger of being impeached will be allowed to explain and rebuke the case made against them.
● Members will then vote in favor of, or in negation of the impeachment of the officer in question at the meeting.
● A minimum of 75% of current members must agree to the removal of the executive member in order for a valid impeachment to occur.
Section 5.4
The removal of a general member is as follows:
● Any general member that the leadership board finds unfit for the organization or OSU regulations will be terminated if and only if there is a unanimous decision from the leadership board.
Article VI – Advisor Qualification Criteria
Section 6.1
The advisor selected to represent The Sustainable Growing Club must be an active member of The Ohio University faculty or administrative & professional staff. The advisor is expected to fulfill the mandatory advisory paperwork.
Article VII – Meetings of the Organization
Section 7.1
General assembly meetings with the entirety of the club will be held at minimum monthly (duration,topic and times subject to discretion of leadership board). These will be used to update other students on the activities of the various committee sections as well as gauge interest in new activities/volunteer opportunities and open up opportunities for new ideas. The committees of the club will have separate meeting times and dates set by the officers. Attendance is preferred yet not mandatory to the large general meetings. For the smaller committee meetings, a minimum of two attendances is required per semester. The leadership board will have a minimum of two mandatory meetings per semester to make sure all officers are up to date.
Article VIII – Method of Amending Constitution: Proposals, notice, and voting requirements.
Section 8.1
To amend the constitution, the process is as follows:
● Concerned member must get a 75% vote from the leadership board to agree to the amendment change
● Concerned member must draft out the new amendment and send it to the leadership board to review.
● The advisor must review the constitutional change and either sign off on the change or discard it.
Article IX – Method of Dissolution of Organization
Section 9.1
For the organization to dissolve, the entire leadership board must decide to hold a vote on the matter. If agreed, there must be a unanimous vote amongst the entire The Sustainable Growing Club organization to make the decision. During any time of the dissolution of The Sustainable Growing Club, any The Sustainable Growing Club member that desires to continue with The Sustainable Growing Club may assume leadership in order to refute the dissolution. If dissolution of The Sustainable Growing Club continues, any and all assets of The Sustainable Growing Club will be donated to a chose community partner or other Ohio State University sponsored club.
BY-LAWS of “The Sustainable Growing Club”
Article I – Parliamentary Authority
Section 1.1
The rules noted in this constitution will hold in all scenarios. If something is not clearly outlined in the constitution, the members of the leadership council will have a meeting and take a vote on the issue at hand.
Article II - Membership
Section 2.1
To begin as a member of the organization, a student is required to fill out a survey on his/her interest in the club. After initiation, the student will pay a certain amount for dues that will be determined on a semester basis. Attendance is strongly encouraged for all members. Members must attend at least two sub committee meetings per semester. If head of a committee, they must attend all pertinent meetings.
Section 2.2
Any member that fails to meet the requirements of dues and/or attendance will be put on probation and their case will be put under review by the leadership board. If any member has an issue with one of his/her committee members, they must first talk to his/her committee head, and then come together with the leadership board to address the issue. Any member can request termination anytime, but must submit an official statement to do so. The official statement of termination may be submitted electronically so we can remove from email list.
Section 2.3
There will be no member cap as there are many on going diverse projects that occur and constantly need more people to assist with. There will be a list of members in a priority ranking, so that if any official member of The Sustainable Growing Club is terminated or resigns, a volunteer can take his/her place. Volunteers can request to be put at a low priority level if they don’t have the time to give to the group, otherwise the list will be made on a first come first serve basis.
Article III- Election / Appointment of Executive Board
Section 3.1
Elections for the new executive board will be discussed by the executive board before official selections are held. Voting will be held for the president position by the retiring executive board to ensure that all executive members can participate. Procedures and eligibility for elections can be referred back to Article V, Section 5.1. If an executive member wishes to resign, they must first finish their duties in their respective position for the semester. At the end of the semester, an election will be held to fill their position in the executive board.
Article IV- Executive Board Responsibilities
Section 4.1
President and Advisor:
● Meet every semester to set goals and a vision for the upcoming semester.
● Discuss the growth of The Sustainable Growing Club.
● Decide what will be discussed at meetings.
Leadership Board:
● Must attend every meeting and stay up to date with club activities and events.
● Must maintain contact with new members.
● Update contact information of new members.
Article V - Sub Committee Responsibilities
Section 5.1
Campus Engagement Leader:
● Attend meetings with Advisor to coordinate with the student farm
● Follow up with campus officials regarding projects discussed
● Coordinate campus engagement events (with the assistance of the President)
Community Engagement Leader:
● Establishes and maintains contact with organizations in the community for service and community engagement opportunities
● Maintains list of known organizations and contact statuses
Education Outreach Leader:
● Prepares curriculum for members and schools
● Maintains contact with schools, communities and other education outreach opportunities
Article VI - Advisor Responsibilities
Section 6.1
The role of the advisor is expected to shift as the club grows and matures. In the first year of the club, the advisor is expected to attend as many general meetings as possible - at least 75%. The advisor’s roles are as follows:
- To connect the club to new opportunities, both within campus and outside of campus with community organizations.
- To help maintain relationships formed.
- To play a central role in leading and overseeing the beginning stages of all projects.
- To supply resources and educational materials to the group.
- To help organize summer activities.
- To help seek out and secure funding.
- To approve or deny amendments to the constitution.
As the club matures, the role of the advisor will gradually shift from a leading role to a supportive role.
Article VII - Meeting Requirements
Section 7.1
The executive board as well as the general members will determine the frequency of meetings. Frequency and duration will be determined based on purpose, events and tasks per each individual committee and the overall club. For committees, meetings will be scheduled at the discretion of the sub committee head. Members must attend at two of these meetings. Voting may occur in order to gauge interest in specific topics at meetings but may also take place electronically. There will be at least two meetings a month. Any voting will take place electronically and therefore will not be done during meetings.
Article VIII - Method of Amending By-Laws
Section 8.1
The executive board must approve all amendment changes with a 75% majority pass. The advisor can then approve or disapprove the change.