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| Missouri State University's World Affairs Council ● UNA-USA ● UN |
ARTICLE I – Name and Affiliation.
The name of this Association shall be “Springfield, Missouri Area United Nations Association Chapter 178.” This chapter is affiliated with the United Nations Association of the United States of America, Incorporated.
ARTICLE II - Purpose and Function.
The purpose of the Association is expressed in its national Charter as follows: The Association shall carry on educational and informational activities so that the people of the United States of America and their government may participate to the greatest extent practicable in the United Nations and other official international and regional organizations functioning in various fields of international cooperation and international law. The Association, in order to implement its over-all purpose, conducts programs of research, study, and information to:
(a) heighten U.S. public awareness and increase public knowledge of global issues and their relation to the United Nations system;
(b) encourage, where appropriate, multilateral approaches in dealing with those issues;
(c) build public support for constructive U.S. policies on matters of global concern;
(d) enhance the effectiveness of the United Nations and other international institutions.
ARTICLE III – Membership and Meetings.
Membership is of two kinds:
1. Individual Members
a. Voting members shall be United States residents who support the concept of the United Nations and the purposes of the UNA-USA.
b. Individual membership in the Chapter carries with it membership in the National Association and in the regional division and/or metropolitan area.
2. Member Organizations
a. Organization memberships can be open to local units of national organizations in the Council of Organizations and to other local groups supporting the purposes of UNA-USA.
b. Service fees and voting rights within the Chapter for member organizations can be determined the Chapter Board of Directors.
Meetings:
1. Annual meeting will be held as near the end of the fiscal year as practical. Officers and members of the Board will be elected at the annual meeting. Other business as deemed necessary by the President and the Board will be conducted.
2. A minimum of one meeting a year, in addition to the annual meeting, to carry out the education program of the Chapter.
3. Notice and purpose of all business meetings shall be circulated to each member at least ten days in advance of the meeting. Those members present at the meeting shall constitute a quorum.
ARTICLE IV – Officers.
Qualification:
Any person who shall have been a voting member of the Association for a period of one year prior to the date of election. The Officers and their duties shall be as follows:
a. President. Shall preside at all meetings of the Association and the Executive Committee. S/he shall perform all duties ordinarily incident to this office, call special meetings whenever s/he deems it necessary and shall recommend such action as he or she deems proper.
b. Vice-President. Shall act as aide to the President and shall perform the duties of the President in the absence or disability of that officer.
c. Secretary. Shall keep the minutes of all meetings of the Association and of the Executive Committee; send out notices; be custodian of correspondence filed and membership records; and perform such other duties as may be assigned from time to time by the Board of Directors.
d. Treasurer. Shall have custody of all the funds of the Association; shall keep a full and accurate account of receipts and expenditures; shall make disbursements in accordance with the approved budget, or as authorized by the Board of Directors; shall present a financial statement at every meeting of the Association and at other times when requested by the Board and shall make a full report at the Annual Meeting.
Term:
The term of office shall be two years with the privilege of reelection for one additional consecutive term in the same office. Officers shall take office immediately following their election at the annual meeting.
Nominations:
By the Nomination Committee, which shall be composed of three members: two to be members of the Board of Directors, appointed by the President, and one from the general membership, also appointed by the President, with approval by the Board. Election: By a majority vote of the membership present at the annual meeting.
Vacancies:
For the Presidency, the Vice-President shall assume the duties as Acting-President until the Board of Directors elects a new President. The Board-elected President will serve until the next annual meeting. Other offices vacated will be filled by a Board member appointed by the President, until the next annual meeting. Any officer or Board member may be removed from office by a vote of two-thirds of the Board with the approval of a simple majority of the membership.
ARTICLE V – Board of Directors.
Function: To conduct the affairs of the Chapter. Qualification: Any member of the Chapter. Number: No fewer than five nor more than fifteen, including Officers, but not including student members.
Term: The Directors shall be elected at the annual meeting for a term of two years with the privilege of reelection for an unlimited number of terms.
Nomination: By the Nomination Committee. Election: Same as for Officers, in Article IV. Vacancies: Occurring between elections, to be filled by the Board. Recall: Any officer or Board member may be removed from office by a vote of two- thirds of the Board with the approval of a simple majority of the membership.
Meetings: At least one meeting in every three-month period. Quorum: Thirty-three percent of Board members.
ARTICLE VI – Committees.
Activities: To organize projects and activities in specified areas of the Association program for the membership and for the community. Proposed designation of standing committees:
1. Membership: To carry on continuous work to increase membership of the Chapter. To raise adequate funds, in addition to the membership dues, with which to carry out an effective Chapter program, and contribute substantially to the services of UNA-USA.
2. Program: To coordinate educational programming activities of other committees and to develop additional programs for members and the community. To work with member organizations’ local affiliates and other groups to further the purposes of the Association in the community. To be responsible for work with schools and colleges. To study issues related to United States participation in the United Nations and other international organizations and to act as an advisory and resource committee for the Chapter on these matters. To recruit, train and promote a group of speakers who will be available to accept speaking engagements under the auspices of the Chapter.
3. United Nations Day: To help initiate a Mayor’s Committee and to work with the Committee and other organizations in planning and coordinating the programs, activities and projects for the annual observance.
4. Public Relations and Publicity: To interpret the UNA-USA to the public and to work with media on United Nations affairs. To stock publications. To plan promotion of their use among the members and by the public. Appointment: The President of the Chapter shall appoint committee chairpersons with the approval of the Board. All committee chairpersons shall serve on the Board and, with the advice of the President, shall appoint their own committees.
ARTICLE VII – Financial Administration.
Fiscal year: The fiscal year shall coincide with that established by the National Board of Directors (January 1 – December 31).
Budget: A proposed budget shall be submitted by the Board for adoption at the Annual Meeting. A copy of the adopted budget and the annual financial audit shall be filed with the National Association upon its adoption.
Dues: Annual membership dues and distribution of such dues with the National Association shall be as agreed upon by the Biennial Convention of the Association and approved by the National Board.
ARTICLE VIII – Ratification and Amendment of the By-Laws.
By-Laws shall be adopted by a two-thirds vote of those present at any membership meeting of the Chapter provided that they shall have been approved by the national UNA-USA and that all members shall have been notified ten days in advance of the meeting. By-Laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote through the same procedure. Parliamentary Authority Robert’s Rule of Order Revised shall govern this Association wherever they are applicable and are not inconsistent with these By-Laws and special rules. (11/10/03)