Constitution of The Harvard Polish Society
Article I. Name
Article II. Purpose
Article III. Membership
1. Membership shall be retained until the student severs relations with the University, whether by graduation or otherwise. Membership will be retained during the vacations and recesses of the University.
2. Any member may resign at any time by filing written resignation with the Vice-President.
3. A Voting Member shall be defined as any member, except faculty members, who attended at least five (5) meetings throughout the academic year.
Article IV. Officers
1. The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Society and shall have general supervision and control over its programs and day-to-day activities. He or she shall also be the primary contact with the Society’s faculty advisors.
2. The Vice-President shall assist the President and assume his or her duties if the President is unable to serve. He or she will handle all formal correspondence between members and officers of the Society.
3. The Treasurer shall have general charge of the Society’s finances, including the preparation of the Society’s annual budget and annual financial report(s). He or she shall keep accurate records of financial affairs and be responsible for grant applications within the University. The Treasurer shall present a semi-annual financial report to the officers. In addition, he or she shall coordinate other fundraising activities.
Article V. Elections
2. The President of the Society is to be nominated for election from among the current Voting Members who have attended at least ten (10) meetings in the current academic year. Should none of such Voting Members be interested in or eligible for the nomination, the nomination shall be open to all Voting Members of the society. The President shall be elected prior to the other officers.
3. Any Voting member of the Society may be nominated for election for the remaining officer positions. These officers shall be elected in the following order: Vice-president, Treasurer.
4. All Voting Members shall have one vote by a secret ballot for each position. Quorum for elections is at least ten (10) Voting Members of the Society, including proxy votes submitted to the appointed Election Commissioner at least 24 hours before the starting time of elections.
5. Candidates shall deliver short speeches explaining their candidacy immediately before voting procedure.
Article VI. Meetings
2. The President shall chair all meetings. In the President’s absence, the Vice-President shall chair.
3. Notice of regular and special meetings shall be communicated to all members of the Society by the Vice-President.
Article VII. Amendments
2. Any three members of the Society may propose an amendment. Proposals shall be filed in writing with the Vice-President prior to a meeting, and debated by the Society before the voting procedure. Amendments may be voted on during regular or special meetings.