BYLAWS CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN BUSINESS WOMEN'S
ASSOCIATION AT TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
ARTICLE I. NAME
The name of this organization is and shall continue to be the AMERICAN
BUSINESS WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION.
ARTICLE II. CHAPTER GOALS
SECTION 1. The goals of this chapter are to: increase the business efficiency of all
members; improve the earning power of all members; promote good relations between
employers and employees; assist members in securing employment; advance members in
a social, business and educational way; and assist women in the community to better
themselves through education.
SECTION 2. The Texas A&M University chapter, located in College Station,
Texas, is a charter member of the national American Business Women's Association
Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. The Association shall be non-partisan,
nonsectarian and nonprofit organizations whose members shall have the sole right to
govern and control all of its activities through officers set forth in these bylaws.
ARTICLE III. MEMBERS
SECTION 1. Chapter membership is a valued privilege. Candidates for
membership in this chapter shall meet the requirements set forth in the National Bylaws.
Membership shall be limited to individuals who support the mission of the Association
and who are Texas A&M students in good standing with the University working towards
a major or minor in the Mays Business School. I ALWAYS UNDERSTOOD THAT
ANYONE CAN JOIN EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT MINORING IN BUSNFOR THE
OPEN HOUSE WE NEED TO BE CLEAR THAT YOU HAVE TO MAJOR/MINOR
IN BUSN.Candidacy shall be initiated by the student and upon payment of dues and
meeting attendance they shall be welcomed into the organization. Any individual, by
accepting membership into the Association, does thereby agree to abide by all the
provisions of the bylaws, rules, procedures and policies of the Association.
SECTION 2. The dues of this chapter shall be $60, THIS SHOULD REFLECT
THE NEW AMOUNT $75 BECAUSE OF THE WIN $15 FEE payable in advance
annually to the chapter treasurer. Any member who shall not pay the chapter dues within
forty-five (45) days after such are due and payable shall be removed from the chapter
membership roster. No special assessments nor chapter initiation fees may be levied.
SECTION 3. Only members in good standing locally and nationally shall be
eligible to vote and participate in any other chapter activity.
SECTION 4. Procedures for disciplining and/or removing a member will
begin with a notice to the member/officer of the issue. The member/officer will
thereby be given an opportunity to share his/her perspective of the issue with the
officers and the officers will compare actions with the national bylaws and decide to
exempt this member from the organization or not.
ARTICLE IV. EXECUTIVE BOARD
SECTION 1. The executive board of the chapter shall consist of the chapter
officers. The president shall act as chairman of the chapter executive board.
SECTION 2. The executive board shall have general supervision of the affairs of
the chapter between business meetings, set the time and place of executive board
meetings, make recommendations to the chapter membership and perform such other
duties as specified in these bylaws. The board shall constitute chapter authority in
deciding matters of the chapter policy not otherwise decreed. The majority of the
executive board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of all business at executive
board meetings.
ARTICLE V. OFFICERS
SECTION 1. The officers of this chapter shall be a president, vice president of
organization, vice president of recruitment, secretary, treasurer and any other officers the
chapter shall deem necessary to achieve the goals of the chapter.
SECTION 2: A Nominating Committee, consisting of three members, shall be
elected by the membership no later than March 31, and an Auditing Committee,
consisting of two or more members, shall be appointed by the president by the July
chapter meeting.
SECTION 3. With the exception of the office of president, a vacancy in any other
office shall be filled by a majority vote of the executive board. Should the office of
president be vacated, the vice president of organization shall serve as president through
the term of office. In the event the vice president of organization cannot serve as
president, the vice president of recruitment shall assume all duties. In the event that the
neither vice president cannot serve as president, the executive board shall appoint a
member to serve as president until her successor takes office.
SECTION 4. All officers shall be elected in May by secret ballot to serve for one
year or until their successors are elected. Their term of office shall begin August 1.
SHOULD THE DATE CHANGE TO JUNE/JULY 1ST SINCE WE ALREADY MET
THIS SUMMER? A majority of the members voting shall elect. No member shall serve
more than two consecutive fun terms in the same office.
SECTION 5. Compliance
To align itself with University regulation the Association requires of this chapter
that each officer shall have a minimum grade point ratio (GPR) as stated below and meet
that minimum GPR in the semester immediately prior to the election, the semester of the
election and semesters during the term of office.
The minimum GPR is a 2.00 (3.00 for graduate students). In order for this provision
to be met, at least six hours (half-time credits) shall have been taken for the semester
under consideration (four hours for graduate students). In a single limited circumstance,
summer semester hours may be applied to this provision. In order for summer
coursework to qualify toward a GPR prior to election, at least six (four for graduate
students) credit hours shall have been taken during the course of either the full or two
summer session(s).
Each officer also shall be in good standing with the University and enrolled at least
halftime (six credit hours) if an undergraduate student (unless fewer credits are required
to graduate in the spring and fall semesters) during the term of office and at least halftime
(four credit hours) if a graduate level student (unless fewer credits are required in the
final stages of their degree as defined by the Continuous Registration Requirement)
during the term of office.
Each officer also shall be ineligible to hold an office should the student fail to
maintain the requirements as prescribed above.
Officer candidates also shall to be qualified and continue serving, conduct
themselves in accordance with the duties and responsibilities in effect when elected. A
(3/5) affirmative vote of the executive board, excluding the officer not in compliance,
may remove from office or otherwise censure any officer who fails to meet all duties and
responsibilities. The offending officer will receive written notice prior to their
ineligibility or removal is put to vote. Following receipt of this notice, the officer may
request the opportunity to object such a vote. In the event of such an objection, the officer
will meet with the faculty advisor and then with the executive board and faculty advisor
where they will be afforded the opportunity to discuss infractions of rules, inappropriate
conduct, etc. and articulate their perspective and propose alternative action.
SECTION 6. Duties The PRESIDENT shall preside at any meetings of the chapter
and the executive board. He/She shall appoint the committee chairman except the
nominating committee, which is elected. He/She shall countersign checks with the
chapter treasurer, or vice president in the treasurer's absence. He/She shall notify the
secretary, treasurer and vice president of recruitment when members are to be removed
from the chapter roster for nonpayment of National Annual Dues.
The VICE PRESIDENT OF RECRUITMENT and VICE PRESIDENT OF
ORGANIZATION shall serve as the official hostesses of the chapter. They will
coordinate the assignment of new member affiliates to committees of their choice. They
will schedule, plan and coordinate orientation sessions for new affiliates throughout the
year. One shall countersign chapter checks in the absence of either the president or
treasurer. The vice president of organization shall perform the duties of the president in
her absence or when called upon by the president.
The SECRETARY shall record the minutes of each chapter and executive board
meeting. She/He shall provide one copy of the minutes to the and president send a
monthly meeting report to National Headquarters. She/He shall preserve in a permanent
file all minutes and records of value to the chapter. She/He shall handle chapter
correspondence as requested. She/He shall receive payments of and give receipts for
chapter dues or other monies in the absence of the treasurer and shall turn over all
payments, accompanies by an itemized report to the treasurer. The secretary shall
maintain a roster of officers, committee chairmen and committee members. She/He shall
report all status, name and address changes to the chapter and National Headquarters.
The TREASURER shall have custody of the funds of the chapter. She/He shall be
responsible for all money collected, for depositing chapter money and collecting chapter
dues. She/He shall disburse money as approved by the chapter. All disbursements shall
be made by check countersigned by the president, or in her absence, the vice president of
recruitment or organization. She/He shall present a monthly financial report to the
chapter and shall be responsible for obtaining and filing all necessary tax forms. She/He
shall place on national status any member in good standing nationally who has not paid
chapter dues within forty-five (45) days after the due date, notifying her/him of this
action in writing. The treasurer shall provide the secretary and vice president of
recruitment with the names of chapter members who have been removed from the chapter
roster for nonpayment of chapter dues.
SECTION 7. The faculty advisor shall play an integral role in helping elected
officers create an environment that is productive, safe, enjoyable and educational. The
advisor shall be a Texas A&M University employee as defined by the Human Resources
Department and shall advise on level consistent with the Association. The advisor also
shall regularly attend executive as well as general meetings and be available outside those
meetings for advice and consultation related to the Association and its operation.
Statements from the Student Organization Financial Center (SOFC) shall be delivered to
the advisor who should review and be fami1iar with the financial status of the
organization at all times. The advisor shall also be expected to be familiar and in
compliance with the University Student Rules and other institutional guidelines. They
shall be expected to report all rules violations or potential violations to appropriate
university officials. The advisor shall be utilized as a resource for advice and information
but shall not be burdened with the duties of an officer or responsible for recruitment,
planning, or execution of Association Operations.
ARTICLE VI. MEETINGS
SECTION 1. Regular meetings shall be the third Tuesday THIS PAST YEAR IT
WAS NOT STRICTLY THE THIRD TUES, MAYBE REWORD TO SAY THIRD
TUESDAY, BUT HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHANGE TO ANOTHER TUESDAY IF
CIRCUMSTANCES DO NOT ALLOW THE CHAPTER TO MEET THE THIRD
TUESDAY OF THAT PARTICULAR MONTH of each month and shall usually consist
of food, program or speakers, and a business meeting. Members shall be notified in
advance of the time and place of each chapter meeting.
SECTION 2. The quorum of the chapter shall not be less than one-third (1/3) of the
chapter membership. A quorum must be present for the valid transaction of chapter
business. The right to vote is limited to members in good standing who are present at the
time a vote is taken at a meeting.
ARTICLE VII COMMITTEES.
SECTION 1. The standing committees shall be Education, Fund-raising,
Membership, Newsletter, Program, Publicity and any other standing committees the
chapter shall deem necessary to achieve the goals of the chapter. ARE WE VIOLATING
OUR OWN BYLAWS BY NOT HAVING SOMEONE ASSIGNED TO EACH OF
THESE STANDING COMMITTEES OR ARE THEY ASSIGNED TO SOMEONE?
SETION 2. Special committees shall include the Nominating Committee, Auditing
Committee and any other special committees the chapter shall deem necessary to achieve
the goals of the chapter.
SECTION 3. All standing committee chairmen shall be appointed by the newly
elected president by June 30 and they shall serve for one year beginning August 1.
SECTION 4. Committee chairmen are empowered to select their committee
members immediately upon their appointment. The chairmen shall provide the names of
their committee members to the current and incoming (if applicable) secretary(s) and vice
president of membership promptly following their acceptance.
SECTION 5. Duties
The auditing committee shall audit the treasurer's accounts annually, upon a
vacancy of the office, or upon demand of the executive board. The education committee
shall inform the membership of seminars, leadership opportunities, and other educational
opportunities in the community. The committee shall also be responsible for presenting
recommendations of candidates to the membership for any scholarship the chapter may
wish to offer, or for sponsorship of a grant or loan from the Stephen Bufton Memorial
Educational.Fund.
The fund-raising committee shall present recommendations for projects that win
provide sufficient funds for the chapter. The committee shall be responsible for the
completion of the approved projects, including maintaining accurate records.
The membership committee shall encourage membership retention and promote
membership recruitment either in its chapter or in the formation of a new chapter. The
committee shall maintain an accurate chapter roster and report all status, name and
address changes to the secretary. The committee also shall assist the vice presidents in
performing their duties as chapter hostesses.
The newsletter committee shall publish a chapter newsletter and shall coordinate its
distribution. DID WE HAVE A NEWSLETTER LAST YEAR? I THINK IT IS A
GREAT IDEA TO EMAIL TO ALL THE LADIES MAYBE TWICE A SEMESTER
The program committee shall plan, select and schedule educational
programs/speakers for chapter meetings and other special events as requested. The
committee shall be responsible for planning the time, place, reservations, food and other
special arrangements needed for those meetings or events. The committee also shall
notify any members of the date, time and place of each chapter meeting and special
event.
The publicity committee shall send promotional information to all appropriate
media covering national, chapter and member achievements as well as chapter activities.
The committee shall send copies of major publicity coverage to National Headquarters.
The committee also shall list or file information about the chapter with sources for
potential member contact in the community, such as the local chamber of commerce or
public libraries.
ARTICLE VIII. FINANCES
SECTION 1. All monies belonging to the organization shall be deposited and
disbursed through a bank account established for the Association at the Student
Organization Finance Center and/or the Fiscal Office. All funds shall be deposited within
twenty-four (24) hours of collection. The faculty advisor shall approve and sign each
expenditure before payment.
SECTION 2. If the deactivation of this chapter should occur all funds remaining in
the treasury, after payment of all debts, shall be contributed to the Stephen Bufton .
Memorial Educational Fund or to such tax exempt (under Section 170 of the Internal
Revenue Code), charitable organizations as shall be specified by the executive board of
the chapter.
ARTICLE IX. AMENDMENTS
All proposed amendments to these bylaws shall be approved by National
Headquarters, with the exception of chapter dues amounts, before being put to a chapter
vote. Such amendments shall not conflict with the National Bylaws of the Association.
Before becoming effective, proposed amendments shall also require the majority vote .of
the entire active membership of record of the new chapter. The Constitution is
reviewed annually and subject to the approval of the Department of Student
Activities.
ARTICLE X. STATUS
SECTION 1. The chapter is organized not-for-profit and no part of net earnings
shall inure to the benefit of any members, and it shall not engage in a regular business of
kind ordinarily carried on for profit.
SECTION 2. If deactivation of this chapter should occur by vote of the
membership, written notice shall be provided to National Headquarters by the current
executive board, and the chapter charter returned.