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Cornell Outing Club Constitution

Ratified: 9 March 1993
Amended: 16 May 1995
Amended: 7 Dec 2004

Preamble

The club promotes outdoor recreation, the appreciation of nature, and the development of a competent and self-sufficient outdoor community. We accomplish this through non-commercial, peer-led activities that share member knowledge and develop skills and experience required for safe and responsible use of natural resources.

Article I - Name

The name of this organization shall be the Cornell Outing Club.

Article II - Membership

Membership in this organization shall be open to all.

Section A

Membership shall be accorded upon payment of fees, the amount of which shall be approved by the general membership.

Section B

Honorary membership may be accorded to any person for outstanding service to the Cornell Outing Club. Honorary membership shall be conferred by the membership at large. Honorary members shall be entitled to all benefits and responsibilities of a general member.

Section C

The Advisory Board may revoke or restrict the membership privileges of an individual if there is just cause, subject to the approval of the general membership.

Article III - Executive Committee

The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. All decisions of the Executive Committee shall be subject to approval by the general membership in accordance with procedures in the by-laws. The Executive Committee shall conduct business between meetings, schedule and announce meetings and shall be responsible for the appointment of the Facilities Manager and Chairpersons of the Activity Committees.

Section A

The President shall be a member of the Cornell Outing Club and an undergraduate student of Cornell University. The President shall act as the chief executive officer of the organization, uphold the constitution and by-laws of the organization, direct and encourage activities which support and further the objectives of the organization and preside at all meetings of the organization unless otherwise provided in this constitution.

Section B

The Vice-President shall be a member of the Cornell Outing Club and a student of Cornell University. The Vice-President shall assist the president in the duties of that office, act as the chief executive officer in the President's absence, serve as general activities coordinator, assist the librarian in keeping a record of trips and written trip reports and serve as sergeant-at-arms.

Section C

The Secretary shall be a member of the Cornell Outing Club. The Secretary shall record minutes of any formal business transpiring at any meeting, record and post trip announcements each week and be responsible for any non-financial correspondence to or from the organization.

Section D

The Treasurer shall be a member of the Cornell Outing Club and an undergraduate student of Cornell University. The Treasurer shall be responsible for all financial affairs of the organization including preparation of an annual budget for submission to the general membership, submission of budget requests to the Student Finance Commission or its successor and presentation of periodic financial statements to the Advisory Board.

Section E

Members of the Executive Committee shall be referred to as officers.

1. No person may occupy more than one office concurrently.
2. No person may serve more than two terms in a single office.
3. No person may serve more than four terms as an officer.

Article IV - Activity Committees

Activity Committees shall be established to represent all activities that are sponsored by the organization, to maintain the club library and to publish a club newsletter. Each Activity Committee shall be established and defined in the by-laws.

Section A

Each committee shall be open to all interested members of the Cornell Outing Club and shall be chaired by a member selected by the membership or appointed by the Executive Committee.

Section B

The Chairperson of each Activity Committee shall attend meetings of the Advisory Board, promote instruction techniques, qualification standards, safety awareness and environmental sensitivity in that activity, orient new trip leaders and be responsible for purchase, care and maintenance of club equipment related to the activity. The Chairperson shall also have the right to approve or disallow any trip in that activity or use of equipment pertaining to that activity. The Chairperson shall maintain an up-to-date inventory of the equipment.

Article V - Advisory Board

The Advisory Board shall consist of the Executive Committee, the Chairperson of each Activity Committee and the Facilities Manager. The Advisory Board shall be responsible for formulation of policies, submission of budget requests and review of financial allocation.

Section A

The Facilities Manager shall be a member of the Cornell Outing Club and shall be responsible for maintenance and care of any facility utilized primarily by the Cornell Outing Club and distribution of keys to any such facility. Each semester, the Facilities Manager shall present an inventory of all club equipment to the Advisory Board.

Section B

No person may concurrently occupy more than two positions on the Advisory Board.

Article VI - Tenure of Office

Tenure of office for Executive Committee members shall be from time of election or appointment until the succeeding elections. For other Advisory Board members, tenure of office shall be from time of selection or appointment until the succeeding selections. A term of office shall be defined as one year or any part of one year greater than one semester.

Article VII - Meetings

Section A

The regular meetings of the Cornell Outing Club shall be weekly during University sessions. A quorum for these meetings shall consist of twice the number of members of the Advisory Board, as of the previous regular meeting, but shall not be less than twenty-four (24). A quorum shall be necessary to conduct any formal business that has not been announced at least three weeks in advance. Weekly meetings may be held at other times but no formal business may be conducted at these meetings. Formal business shall include, but not be limited to, selection, impeachment or replacement of Advisory Board members, amendment of the constitution or by-laws, and club affiliations.

Section B

The Advisory Board shall meet at least twice per semester. These meetings shall be open to all interested members unless announced as a closed meeting.

Section C

The Executive Committee shall meet or confer as necessary

Section D

Meetings of Activity Committees shall be held at the discretion of the chairperson unless specifically called by the Executive Committee.

Article VIII - Elections

Section A

Regular Elections shall take place at the third weekly meeting in April, or during the penultimate week of spring semester classes if that is earlier, after all other business of that meeting has been concluded. Elections shall be announced at each of the three preceding regular meetings.

1. Nominations shall be opened two weeks prior to the election.
2. President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer shall be elected in the order in which they appear in this constitution.
3. New officers shall take office at the conclusion of the meeting.

Section B

All other members of the Advisory Board shall be selected by the end of the regular meeting following the Regular Elections. They shall take office at the conclusion of the meeting.

Section C

Members may submit an absentee ballot as described below. These ballots will be treated as regular votes in the election meeting. Proxy votes will not be allowed. The votes shall be cast on separate slips of paper, one for each office up for election. Each ballot shall be folded with the office for the enclosed vote written on the outside. The ballots will be submitted in a sealed envelope bearing the name of the voting member. Absentee ballots will be submitted, in person, to a member of the Advisory Board no sooner than two weeks before the election meeting. The ballots will not be unfolded until votes for the particular office are counted.

Article IX - Impeachment

Section A

Impeachment proceedings against an officer shall be initiated upon presentation to any Executive Committee member of a petition for impeachment containing the signatures of at least as many members as would be required for quorum at a regular meeting. At the next regular meeting the impeachment proceedings shall be announced to take place within one week. Impeachment shall be carried if approved by a two-thirds vote of the members present at the impeachment meeting provided a quorum is present. Should the President be the officer subject to impeachment, that meeting shall be chaired by the Secretary.

Section B

Other members of the Advisory Board may be removed by action of the Executive Committee approved by the membership or according to the procedure for removal of an officer.

Article X - Replacements

Section A

In the event of a vacancy in the office of the President, the Vice-President shall succeed to that position.

Section B

In the event of a vacancy in any other office, the President may appoint a replacement for up to four weeks or until three weeks after the resumption of classes after a University break if the vacancy occurs during that break. Within that time, elections shall be held to fill the vacancy. The election must be announced and nominations opened at least two weeks before the election.

Section C

In the event of any other vacancy on the Advisory Board, the Executive Committee shall appoint a replacement subject to the approval of the membership.

Article XI - Trip Safety Policy

A policy regarding concerns about the safety of Club trips shall be established in the by-laws and shall be implemented by the Advisory Board.

Article XII - Equipment Policy

All members of the Cornell Outing Club shall abide by the guidelines established in the Equipment Policy which shall be part of the by-laws.

Article XIII - Summer Policy

Section A

If the Secretary or Treasurer will not be present during the summer, the Executive Committee shall appoint an acting officer to be responsible for the duties of the absent officer.

Section B

If the President and Vice-President are not present, the Secretary, acting Secretary or some member of the Advisory Board shall preside over any summer meetings.

Section C

The Chairperson of each Activity Committee, with the exception of winter activities, shall be responsible for appointing an acting Chairperson if they will not be present during the summer.

Section D

All summer appointments are subject to approval by the membership.

Article XIV - Advisor

The Cornell Outing Club may select a member of the faculty or staff of Cornell University who is also a member of the Cornell Outing Club to serve as the Advisor for the organization. The Advisor shall provide advice and long-term guidance to the organization and shall serve as a liaison between this organization and the administration of Cornell University. The Advisor shall also act as the ombudsman for the club. The Advisor shall be selected by the general membership for an indefinite term and shall be an ex-officio member of the Executive Committee and the Advisory Board. The Advisor may be removed according to the procedure for impeachment of an officer.

Article XV - Affiliations

The Cornell Outing Club may, upon approval of a two-thirds majority of the members at a regular meeting, affiliate with associations or societies considered to have sufficient mutuality of purpose and interest as to aid in the fulfillment of the objectives of the organization.

Article XVI - By-laws

Section A

By-laws may be passed for the purpose of clarifying the interpretation of this constitution. They may be passed or amended by a majority vote of the membership at a regular meeting.

Section B

The interpretation of this constitution if not determined by the by-laws shall be determined by a majority of the membership present at a regular meeting.

Article XVII - Amendments

This constitution may be amended by a two thirds majority vote of the membership of the Cornell Outing Club present at the amending meeting. A petition containing the signatures of at least as many members as would be required for quorum at a regular meeting must be presented to bring a proposed amendment before the meeting. The amendment must be read at at least two consecutive regular meetings, voting taking place at the second meeting. Written notice of the amending meeting must be posted in public locations at least one week prior to the meeting. In the interim between the two meetings, a copy of the amendment shall also be posted.

Article XVIII - Ratification

Section A

This constitution shall be ratified by a two thirds majority vote of the membership of the Cornell Outing Club present at the ratification meeting. The constitution must be read at at least two consecutive regular meetings, voting taking place at the second meeting. Written notice of the ratification meeting must be posted in public locations at least one week prior to the meeting. In the interim between the two meetings, a copy of the constitution shall also be posted.

Section B

This constitution abrogates all previous constitutions and by-laws.

-- AlanShieh - 11 May 2005