Bylaws

Preamble:
We, the University of Wisconsin of La Crosse students, do hereby establish these Bylaws in order to form an Asian student organization to promote higher education, cultural preservation, cultural awareness, and self-sufficiency.

ARTICLE I: NAME & PURPOSE

Section A: Name
The name of this organization shall be the Asian Student Organization.

Section B: National Affiliation
There is no national affiliation.

Section C: Purpose
1. To assist Asian and UW-L students in adjusting to the campus, to associate with other Asians in the community, and to provide a safe place for Asian students.

2. To bring together those who are interested in learning more about the Asian heritage.

3. To help create a better community by educating the campus and community so that they are more aware about Asian cultures.

4. To provide Asian students with academic, cultural, and social opportunities.

ARTICLE II: MEMBERSHIP & FEES

Section A: Eligibility
Membership shall be open to any individual. Any students, faculties, and members of the community interested in Asian cultures are welcome.

Section B: Restrictions
A majority of the membership will consist of UW-L students, but no person will be restricted because of age, race, creed, color, gender, sexual orientation, disabilities, national origin, ancestry, marital status, arrest record, or conviction record.

Section C: Fees
There will be a $3.00 membership fee per academic year or $2.00 per semester. This will allow members to participate, hold office, and have full voting rights in the meetings. Ones that do not pay the fee will not have these privileges extended to them.

Clause I:
Membership must be established prior to participation in any cultural, educational, and social events.  Only PAID ACTIVE members who do take part in any past A.S.O. events and/or fundraisers will be allowed to go on trips.

Clause II:
Members must be actively involved with A.S.O. and its activities such as helping in the planning and coordination of an event(s).

ARTICLE III: OFFICERS

Section A: Officers
The officers shall consist of the president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, diversity organization coalition representative (DOC), historian/webmaster, and student senate representative. Officers are also required to attend all meetings, both general and executive.

Section B: Eligibility
The officers shall be full-time UW-L students. The president and vice-president should be a member of A.S.O. for at least one year, and is knowledgeable about the purpose of the Asian Student Organization.

Section C: Election
The officers shall be elected by ballot or hand count near the end of the spring semester, by a majority of the votes cast for that position.

Section D: Term
The officers shall serve for one year and have the option to return for office. The office of the president shall be limited to two one-year terms. The newly elected officers shall assume their position immediately after all paper work is transferred over to the new administration.

Section E: Vacancy
If there is a vacancy in one of the officer’s position, the president shall appoint a replacement for that position with approval from the remaining officers. If the president’s position should become vacant, the vice-president will automatically fill that vacancy. If there is more than one vacancy of offices, then those vacancies shall be filled by a special election.

Section F: Impeachment
If an executive member is not fulfilling his/her duties, members of the A.S.O. can call for an impeachment. The executive member will then be impeached by a 2/3-majority vote.

Section G: Resignation
If an officer feels he/she cannot perform his/her duties, then a letter of resignation is required.

ARTICLE IV: DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS

Section A: President
The duties of the President are:

1. Preside at meetings.

2. Represent the organization.

3. Votes only incase of a tie.

4. Organize events with programming committee.

5. Delegate assignments.

6. Authorized to make ASO financial decisions.

7. Perform such other duties as ordinarily pertain to this office.

Section B: Vice President
The duties of the Vice-President are:

1. In the event that the president is not present, the vice-president shall take over that office and whatever duties pertaining to it.

2. Plan social, cultural, and educational functions with the assistance of volunteer committee.

3. Assist and help the president.

4. Responsible for recruitment of members and publicity.

5. Encourage participation and commitment to the organization.

Section C: Secretary
The duties of the Secretary are:

1. Record the minutes of all meetings.

2. Keep files of organizational records.

3. Maintain a current roster of membership.

4. Issue notices of meetings and conduct the general correspondence of the organization.

5. Make facility reservations.

Section D: Treasurer
The duties of the Treasurer are:

1. Receive all funds and pay at the same orders of the executive committee and signed by the president.

2. Coordinate fund-raising efforts.

3. Keep in file a record of the budget, expenses and expenditures and things pertaining to this office/organization.

4. Collect dues or fees.

5. Sign checks with approval from the executive committee.

6. Keep an itemized account of all receipts for that year and expenditures and make reports as directed.

7. Make a yearly audit to the membership at the end of each school, and file a copy with the student activities office.

Section E: Diversity Organization Coalition (DOC)
The duties of the Public Relations are:

1. Publicize and promote the ideas, goals, and activities of the organization as the spokesperson.

2. Act under the direction of the President and the Executive Committee.

3. Attend outside organizational meetings as necessary.

4. Attend, or find another member to do so, the All Student Organization Meetings.

5. Be the Master of Ceremony for all activities for the organization or delegation to someone else.

6. Serve as the spokesperson of the organization.

Section F: Student Senate
The duties of the Student Senate are:

1. Required to attend Student Association meetings

2. To represent the voice of the Asian student body on campus.

3. To inform and update both the A.S.O. and Student Association about events, issues, and concerns.
 
Section G:  Historian/Webmaster
The duties of the historian/webmaster are:

1. To update ASO webpage about events.

2. To record and take pictures of events/activities by ASO.

3. Provide documentation of ASO events for the future (i.e., yearbook, videos, journals, etc.).

ARTICLE V: MEETINGS

Section A:
General Meetings
Regular meetings shall be held monthly during the regular school year as the Executive Committee sees fit in order to carry out the activities of the organization.

Section B: Executive Meetings
The Executive Committee shall meet at least once between regular meetings of the organization to plan, to organize and to discuss future matters of activities of the organization. It shall be that an advisor is strongly encouraged to be present at the Executive Committee meetings.

Section C: Special Meetings
Special meetings may be called by the President with the approval of the Executive Committee.

Section D: Quorum
1. A quorum for an Executive Committee meeting shall be two-thirds (2/3) of the members.

2. A quorum for a General Meeting shall be two-thirds (2/3) or the members of and officers.

ARTICLE VI: ADVISOR

Section A: Duties
The duties of the advisor(s) are:

1. Advise and stimulate interest in the organization.

2. Provide guidance in the development and implementation of programs and activities.

3. Serve as liaison between the university and the organization, interpreting, if necessary, university policy or philosophy.

4. Provide information that will help to improve the organization.

5. Attend meetings and activities regularly.

6. Assist the organization treasurer in monitoring expenditure, fundraising activities, and corporate sponsorship to maintain an accurate and up-to-date account ledger.

7. Meet on a regular basis with the President of the A.S.O. to discuss up coming meetings, long range plans, goals, and problems of the organization.

8. Assist in the orientation of new officers.

Section B: Removal
If an advisor is not fulfilling his/her duties, members of A.S.O. can call for the removal of that advisor. A 2/3-majority vote will then remove the advisor.

Section C: Resignation
If an advisor feels that he/she cannot perform his/her duties, then a letter of resignation is required.

ARTICLE VII: COMMITTEES

Section A: Program Committees
A program committee composed of members of the organization that plan and organize programs or activities for the university and community.

Section B: Selection
The program committee will be selected or appointed by the executive committee with the approval of the members. A committee chairperson will be appointed or selected by the executive committee.

Section C: Duties of Committees
1. The duties of the committees are to plan, organize, and supervise cultural programs.

2. The Chairperson has the power to appoint members to help him/her with the programs.

3. Committees should seek ways to improve the organization.

4. The committees should be responsible and productive.

Section D: Special Committees
The President shall have the authority to appoint any special committees, with the approval of the Executive Committee, as need demands.

Bylaws updated: Fall 2009