BYLAWS of the Hmong Organization Promoting Education

Preamble

We, the Hmong students of the University of Wisconsin La Crosse, do hereby establish these bylaws in order to form a Hmong 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 known as Hmong Organization Promoting Education, henceforth known as and referred to as HOPE.

Section B: National Affiliation

There is no national affiliation to this organization.

Section C: Purpose

The purpose of this organization shall be to:

1. Promote higher education.
   
2. Address the concerns and needs of students and Hmong community.
   
3. Serve as a resource for students wanting to learn more about the Hmong people.
   
4. Serve as a channel for Hmong students to develop leadership skills.
   
5. Serve as a bridge between students, campus community, Hmong community, and the broader American community.
   
6. Assist Hmong student in adjusting to the campus and associate with other students.
   
7. Provide Hmong students with academic, cultural, and social opportunities.
   
8. Help create a better community by educating the campus and community about the Hmong culture and heritage.
   
9. Retain Hmong heritage and culture.

ARTICLE II: MEMBERSHIP & FINANCES

Section A: Eligibility

Membership shall be open to any individual both on campus and the community who is interested in promoting the ides of this organization upon payment of the dues as outlined in Section C.

Section B: Restrictions

A majority of the membership will be UW-L students; however, no person will be restricted because of age, race, creed, color, handicap, gender, sexual orientation developmental disability, national origin, ancestry, martial status record, or criminal record.

However, due to UW-L policy, members who are minors (under the age of 18) will need parental consent (unless they are an existing UW-L student) to participate in certain HOPE activities. (Non-UW-L student members are also advised that they may not be able to participate in ALL of HOPE’s activities due to liability issues.)

Section C: Finances

The Executive committee and advisor shall advise, by the members shall have the power of decide on the membership fee during each administration.
A two-thirds (2/3) vote is required by the members. Money raised by the organization shall be spent in support of the purpose of HOPE. If the organization shall cease to exist, left over monies shall be contributed to appropriate charities.

Section D: Finance Responsibility

The Executive Committee and Advisor(s) shall have the power to decide on the money spent in support of HOPE when HOPE meetings are not in session.

ARTICLE III: OFFICERS

Section A: Officers

The officers shall be a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Public Relations, Historian(s) and Senator.

Section B: Eligibility

The officers shall be full-time UW-L students. The President and Vice-President should be a member of HOPE for at least one year and knowledgeable about the purpose of the 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 vote cast for that office.

Section D: Term

The officers shall server for one year and have the option to rerun for office.

1. The office of the President shall be limited to two (2) one-year terms.
   
2. All other officers shall have the privilege to run for re-election or another office as many times as he/she wishes.
   
3. The newly elected officers shall assume their position immediately after all paper work is transferred over to the new administration.

Section E: Vacancy

If a vacancy occurs in the office of the President, the Vice-President shall assume the office for the remainder of the term. If there is a vacancy in any other office, the President shall have the authority to appoint a replacement for that position with approval from the remaining officers or by a special election.

Section F: Impeachment

If an executive member is not fulfilling his/her duties, members of HOPE can call for an impeachment. The executive member will then be impeached with a 2/3 majority vote.

Section G: Resignation

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

ARTICLE IV: DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section A: President

The duties of the President are to:

1. Maintain, promote, and execute HOPE’s goals.
   
2. Preside at meetings, Vote only in case of a tie.
   
3. Represent the organization.
   
4. Appoint committee chairpersons subject to the approval of the Executive committee.
   
5. Server as ex-officio member of all committees except the nomination committee.
   
6. Sign letters for documents necessary to carry out the will of the organization.
   
7. Sign checks with approval from the Executive Committee.

Section B: Vice-President

The duties of the Vice-President are to:

1. Assume the duties of the President in his/her absence.
   
2. Assist and help the President to maintain, promote, and execute HOPE’s goals.
   
3. Serve as the President’s chief representative or corresponding officer of the organization.
   
4. Serve as the liaison between HOPE and other organization.
   
5. Recruit new members and encourage member participation in the organization.

Section C: Secretary

The duties of the Secretary are to:

1. Record the minutes of all meetings.
   
2. Keep a file of the organization’s records.
   
3. Maintain a current roster of membership.
   
4. Issue notices of meetings and conduct the general correspondence of the organization.
   
5. Bring to each meeting the minutes, a copy of the Constitution and Bylaws, a list of members and a list of standing and special committees.
   
6. Make facility reservations.

Section D: Treasurer

The duties of the Treasurer are to:

1. Receive all funds and pay at the same time on orders of the Executive Committee and signed by the President.
   
2. Keep an itemized account of all receipts and expenditures and make reports as directed.
   
3. Make a yearly audit to the membership at the end of each school year and file a copy with the Student Activities Office.
   
4. Collect dues or fees.
   
5. Coordinate fund-raising efforts.
   
6. Sign checks with approval from the Executive Committee.

Section E: Public Relations Officer

The duties of the Public Relations are to:

1. Publicize and promote the ideas, goals, and activities of the organization.
   
2. Act under the direction of the President and the Executive Committee.
   
3. Attend outside organizational meetings as necessary.
   
4. Be the Master of Ceremony for all activities of the organization or delegation to someone else.
   
5. Serve as the spokesperson for the organization.
   
6. Update and maintain HOPE’s homepage.

Section F: Historian

The duties of the Historian(s) are to:

1. Keep records of the activities and events that the group hold or participate in.
   
2. Photograph or videotape the events/activities.
   
3. Be responsible for slide show presentations about the group.
   
4. Be in charge of the appreciation dinner at the end of the year.

Section G: Senator

The duties of the Senator are to:

1. Represent the voice of the Hmong students on the UW-L Campus.
   
2. Attend all Student Association meetings.
   
3. Report information from the Student Association to the organization.

ARTICLE V: MEETINGS

Section A: General Meetings

Regular meetings shall be held monthly during the regular school year as the Executive Committee see 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 or 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

The President with the approval of the Executive Committee may call special meeting.

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 and officers.

ARTICLE VI: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section A: Responsibility

Management of this organization shall be vested in an Executive Committee responsible to the entire membership to uphold these bylaws. The executive committee shall have the power to make decisions for HOPE in the best interest when HOPE meetings are not in session.

Section B: Membership

The committee shall consist of the officers as listed in Article III and the advisor(s).

ARTICLE VII: ADVISOR

Section A: Selection

The Executive committee shall select at least one advisor to advise the organization with approval of the members.

Section B: Duties

The responsibilities of the advisor(s) shall be to:

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 and philosophy.
   
4. Attend meetings and activities regularly.
   
5. Sign checks with approval from Executive Committee.

Section C: Removal

If an advisor is not fulfilling his/her duties, members of HOPE can call for a removal of that advisor. The advisor will then be removed with a two-third (2/3) majority vote.

Section D: Resignation

If an advisor feels that he/she can not perform his/her duties, then a letter of resignation is required.

ARTICLE VIII: COMMITTEES

Section A: Program Committee

The President shall appoint a program committee composed of the Vice-President as chairperson and four other members before the end of the spring semester, whose duty shall be to plan the overall program for the following school year.

Section B: Standing and Other Committees

The Executive Committee shall create standing committees in order to carry out the duties and activities of the organization.

Section C: Special Committees

The President shall have the authority to appoint any special committees, with the approval of the Executive Committee, from time to time as needed by the organization.

ARTICLE IX: AMENDMENTS

Section A: Selection

These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the chapter membership.

Section B: Notice

All members shall receive advance notice of the proposed amendment at least five days before the meeting.

Amendments:

12/04/98 Article I: Section B, Article II: Section D
Article III: Section G, Article IV: Section C and E
Article VI: Section A, Article VII: Section C and D

10/20/99 Article II: Section B, Article V: Section B
Article V: Section B

9/26/01 Article III: Section A (amended)
Article IV: Section F and G (added)