Student OrgsHabitat for Humanity

Constitution of Gustavus Habitat for Humanity Preamble Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry that has helped to build over 500,000 decent, affordable houses and served 2.5 million people worldwide. It was founded in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller, whose vision (a world where everyone has a decent place to live) is still the vision of Habitat for Humanity today. The Gustavus chapter of Habitat for Humanity is an official Campus Chapter. A campus chapter is defined as, “a student-led, student-initiated organization on a high school or college campus that partners with the local Habitat affiliate to fulfill the four functions of a campus chapter.” These four functions are: 1. Building 2. Fundraising 3. Advocating 4. Educating Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope. The Gustavus Adolphus College Campus Chapter contributes to these objectives by sending students on Collegiate Challenge trips, coordinating Act! Speak! Build! Week, and volunteering locally. Article I – Name 1. The name of this organization shall be Gustavus Habitat for Humanity. 2. This organization is affiliated with Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) and Habitat for Humanity of South Central Minnesota (Habitat SC), as well as the programs within them. 3. This organization shall also be recognized as Gustavus Adolphus College Habitat for Humanity Campus Chapter (the official name given by Habitat for Humanity International), GAC Habitat, and Habitat (the shortened name). Article II – Purpose 1. The purpose of this organization shall be to make Gustavus students active in the attempt to ensure that decent housing is available to everyone. 2. This organization shall adhere to Habitat for Humanity International’s mission statement, which reads, “Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, community, and hope.” Article III – Composition 1. Membership is open to all Gustavus students who support the mission of Habitat for Humanity and wish to provide affordable housing for those in need. All members must be in good standing with the college. The following categories of membership exist within the organization: a. Executive Board Officers b. Volunteers Article IV – Executive Board 1. The following officer positions shall exist in the organization: Co-Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, Public Relations, Spring Break Intern, Volunteer Coordinator, and Fundraising Coordinator. All executives must be full-time students in good standing at Gustavus Adolphus College. 2. The Executive Board shall consist of the following officers, whose duties and responsibilities are detailed below. a. Co-Presidents: i. To organize and preside over weekly executive board meetings. ii. To act as liaisons between Gustavus Habitat for Humanity and: 1. Habitat for Humanity International 2. Habitat for Humanity of South Central Minnesota 3. The Center for Servant Leadership (CSL) 4. The organization’s advisor 5. The Student Activities Office 6. All other affiliations and partnerships iii. To oversee all programming done by the organization. b. Secretary: i. To keep a written record of all executive board proceedings. ii. To attend and support all executive board programs c. Treasurer: i. To maintain the finances of the organization and keep records of all financial matters. ii. To be a liaison between Habitat, Student Senate, and the finance office. iii. To assist in fundraising efforts. iv. To attend and support all executive board programs. d. Public Relations i. To promote and publicize all events through social media, graphic design, and video production, as well as traditional publicity. ii. To attend and support all executive board programs. e. Volunteer Coordinator i. To work with Habitat for Humanity of South Central Minnesota to provide building and volunteer opportunities for Gustavus volunteers. ii. To coordinate and manage volunteers for builds and events. iii. To coordinate transportation to and from build sites for Gustavus volunteers. iv. To attend and support all executive board programs. f. Spring Break Intern i. To plan and execute the spring break work trips (officially known as Collegiate Challenge trips). ii. To work with advisor and Co-Presidents to select leadership for Collegiate challenge trips iii. To attend and support all executive board programs g. Fundraising Coordinator i. To raise funds necessary to support Gustavus Habitat for Humanity programs as well as donations to Habitat for Humanity International. ii. To attend and support all executive board programs. h. Advisor i. To meet weekly with the Co-Presidents to discuss and plan for upcoming events and projects. ii. To facilitate reflection iii. To attend board meetings and events as necessary iv. To serve as a liaison between the CSL and Habitat 3. Executive board members must have been active with Habitat the semester prior to the start of their term. 4. To be eligible for Co-Presidency, one must have served at least one year on the executive board prior to the start of their term. 5. Spring Break Interns will be chosen by the advisor in conjunction with Center for Servant Leadership staff. This person will automatically be given a spot on the executive board. 6. Office terms shall last one calendar year, with the month of May as a transition month between old and new officers. 7. Prospective executives must apply at the end of April the year before their anticipated year of service. The Co-Presidents elect will hold interviews during the final week of April. Co-Presidents elect will vote on membership and applicants will be notified no later than one week after the last interview. 8. Co-presidents shall facilitate a meeting of old and new board members each May so that the new members might receive training from old members before the end of the school year. 9. Officers may be removed at the discretion of the co-presidents. Article V – Meetings 1. Meetings will be held weekly during the academic year, with the exception of J-term. 2. Co-Presidents will be responsible for scheduling weekly meetings that all board members can attend regularly. 3. Co-presidents will set the agenda for each meeting and email it to the executive board at least a day in advance. 4. Decisions shall be made by voting—a majority shall allow the vote to pass. 5. Any executive board member may request for a special meeting to be held. If a majority of board members agree to hold a special meeting, it shall be held. 6. Co-Presidents shall begin each meeting by facilitating reflection and giving an overview of what is to come, followed by updates from other board members. Meeting time may be used to work on projects as a group. Voting will take place as necessary. 7. The executive board should try to always be working on something. If a project does not exist, they should create one. 8. Co-Presidents and interested board members shall be responsible for facilitating reflection and talking about issues related to Habitat for Humanity. Ideally, each meeting should be meaningful in some way. Article VII – General Volunteers 1. Any Gustavus student may volunteer with Habitat for Humanity at any time, as determined by the executive board. 2. Volunteers are not required to participate in any set amount of service. 3. Volunteers may serve as team leaders or site coordinators during the Collegiate Challenge spring break trips, after an application process. Article VIII – Finances 4. Funds for the organization shall be obtained through fundraising and the Gustavus Student Senate, along with support from the Center for Servant Leadership. 5. Upon dissolution of Gustavus Habitat for Humanity, any financial assets will be credited to Habitat for Humanity International 6. The Treasurer, in conjunction with the Co-Presidents, shall be responsible for handling all financial matters. Article IX – By-Laws 1. By-laws may be established by board members and reviewed each September. They will be prepared for voting by the executive board and submitted to members in writing prior to the meeting where voting is to take place. 2. All board members in good standing are eligible to vote, but must be present at the meeting to do so. A majority vote is needed to allow the by-law to pass. Article X – Amendments 1. All executive board members that are in good standing may propose amendments. The proposed amendments will be reviewed by the executive board members and submitted to members in writing at least two weeks before voting is to take place. 2. All members in good standing are eligible to vote, but must be present at the meeting to do so. A two-thirds (2/3) majority is needed to allow the amendment to pass. 3. If amendments are passed, they take effect at the end of the meeting during which they are passed. Date of Ratification: Thursday, September 20, 2012