The Aardvark Tiddlywinks Student Organization
(adopted May 2000)
(revised May 2018)
Article I: Name
The name of this organization shall be the Aardvark Tiddlywinks Student Organization.
Article II: Purpose and Scope
Section 2.1
The purpose of this association is to promote an interest in the history and development of tiddlywinks and to provide opportunities for members to play tiddlywinks.
Section 2.2
In the pursuit of this general purpose, the Aardvark Tiddlywinks Student Organization will work to:
- host social events that provide opportunities for members to play tiddlywinks;
- advocate for issues and policies important to the playing of tiddlywinks;
- encourage the academic study of tiddlywinks;
- partner with other student organizations to further the goals above.
Article III: Relationship
The Aardvark Tiddlywinks Student Organization is unaffiliated with any local, state, or national organization or entity. Although this organization has members who are students at The University of Alabama and may have University employees associated with or engaged in its operations, the University does not direct, supervise, or control the organization and is not responsible and cannot be held liable for the organization’s contracts, acts, or omissions.
Article IV: Membership
Section 4.1
Active membership in the Aardvark Tiddlywinks Student Organization shall be limited to students who are currently enrolled at The University of Alabama. Active members are eligible to vote and hold office in the Aardvark Tiddlywinks Student Organization.
Section 4.2
Associate membership in the Aardvark Tiddlywinks Student Organization shall be open to all faculty and staff of The University of Alabama. Associate members are not eligible to vote or hold office in the Aardvark Tiddlywinks Student Organization.
Section 4.3
The number of active members in the organization must be one more than 50% of the total number of all members of the Aardvark Tiddlywinks Student Organization.
Section 4.4
Persons interested in becoming active members in the Aardvark Tiddlywinks Student Organization may join after attending two consecutive meetings and paying the required dues. No formal application or interview is required to obtain active member status.
Section 4.5
Annual dues of $5.00 shall be paid by September 30th of each academic year, after which a member will be dropped from active status by nonpayment of dues. Individuals seeking active membership in the organization after September 30th shall pay annual dues of $5 at the next business meeting of the Aardvark Tiddlywinks Student Organization.
Section 4.6
Membership in registered student organizations shall be open to all students of The University of Alabama, without regard to any federally protected class, except in cases of designated fraternal organizations exempted by federal law from Title IX regulations concerning discrimination on the basis of sex.
Article V: Organizational Leadership
Section 5.1
The officers of the Aardvark Tiddlywinks Student Organization shall be the President, the Vice President, the Secretary, and the Treasurer. These officers shall comprise the Executive Committee. All executive officers must be current University of Alabama students.
Section 5.2
The President shall:
- lead all meetings of the Aardvark Tiddlywinks Student Organization;
- serve as the primary point of contact between the Aardvark Tiddlywinks Student Organization and The University of Alabama;
- assist the other officers with the completion of their responsibilities;
- ensure that the actions of the Aardvark Tiddlywinks Student Organization remain consistent with the vision and purpose of the organization.
Section 5.3
The Vice-President shall:
- plan and execute all social activities of the Aardvark Tiddlywinks Student Organization;
- organize all advocacy initiatives of the Aardvark Tiddlywinks Student Organization;
- schedule and supervise community outreach/service opportunities;
- oversee the social media accounts of the Aardvark Tiddlywinks Student Organization.
Section 5.4
The Secretary shall:
- keep minutes of all meetings of the Aardvark Tiddlywinks Student Organization;
- record attendance at all meetings of the Aardvark Tiddlywinks Student Organization;
- maintain the list of active members of the Aardvark Tiddlywinks Student Organization;
- archive all official documents of the Aardvark Tiddlywinks Student Organization;
- record any committee assignments the Aardvark Tiddlywinks Student Organization
Section 5.5
The Treasurer shall:
- attend finance meetings and trainings held by the Financial Affairs Committee (FAC;
- collect, record, and deposit any funds allocated to or collected by the record attendance at all meetings of the Aardvark Tiddlywinks Student Organization;
- report on the financial status of the group at business meetings;
- plan and organize any fund raising activities or events; and
- maintain all financial records with the appointed financial institution.
Section 5.6
The terms of all officers of the Aardvark Tiddlywinks Student Organization shall be one year; however, officers may serve multiple consecutive terms.
Section 5.7
One or more advisors shall be appointed or confirmed at the beginning of each academic year by the Executive Officers. The advisor(s) must be a full-time faculty, staff, or a full-time employee of The University of Alabama.
Section 5.8
The Advisor shall:
- advise the Aardvark Tiddlywinks Student Organization to ensure compliance with UA policies and procedures;
- attend all meetings of the Aardvark Tiddlywinks Student Organization;
- resolve internal disputes between members of the Aardvark Tiddlywinks Student Organization.
Article VI: Elections
Section 6.1
The Aardvark Tiddlywinks Student Organization will hold officer elections annually during the month of April in The University of Alabama’s spring semester. This meeting shall be open to all members of the Aardvark Tiddlywinks Student Organization. At this meeting, the only business that may be considers is the election of Executive Committee members for the next academic year. The primary advisor must be present at the election meeting.
Section 6.2
The President of the Aardvark Tiddlywinks Student Organization will open the election meeting by seeking nominations for each office in the following order:
- President
- Vice-President
- Secretary
- Treasurer
Section 6.3
Any active member of the Aardvark Tiddlywinks Student Organization may nominate any active member of the organization, including themselves, to any office. All nominations must be accepted by the nominee. An individual can only accept nomination for one (1) executive officer position.
Section 6.4
After accepting nominations for each office, the President will close nominations. In the event that only one individual accepts nomination to an executive officer position, that individual will assume the position for the next academic year. In the event that two or more individuals accept nomination for an executive officer position, the position will be put to a vote.
Section 6.5
Voting shall occur by secret ballot, distributed to the each active member of the Aardvark Tiddlywinks Student Organization present at the meeting. Each active member may cast one and only one vote. Proxy voting is not allowed.
Section 6.6
A simple majority vote is required to elect Executive Officers. In the event that a winner cannot be determined because two or more individuals receive the same number of votes, any individual who received less than those individuals will be removed from the list of potential candidates and a new vote will be conducted until such time as one candidate receives a simple majority.
Section 6.7
The new Executive Officers shall be immediately installed following the selection of each office. Outgoing Executive Officers are expected to assist the new officer-elect in learning about their new role and the duties and responsibilities associated with it.
Article VII: Committees
Section 7.1
The Executive Committee shall include the officers of the Aardvark Tiddlywinks Student Organization. They shall supervise affairs of the organization between its business meetings, make recommendations to the organization, and perform other duties as specified in this Constitution.
Section 7.2
Other committees, standing or special, shall be appointed by the President of the Aardvark Tiddlywinks Student Organization or the Executive Committee as deem necessary to carry on the work of the organization.
Article VIII: Vacancies and Removal of Executive Officers
Section 8.1
If, for any reason, an Executive Officer steps down or is removed from the position, the vacancy shall be filled by electing a replacement officer at the next meeting of the organization by following the applicable sections of Article VI above.
Section 8.2
In the event that the Council President steps down or is removed from office, the Vice President will automatically assume the role of President. At which time the organization will proceed to fill the vacancy in the role of Vice President.
Section 8.3
Executive Officers may be removed from their position before the expiration of their normal terms for failure to satisfactorily perform the duties of office, for repeated absences from meetings, or for conduct that is improper to their office.
Section 8.4
A motion to remove an Executive Officer may be made at any schedule meeting of the the Aardvark Tiddlywinks Student Organization; however, a vote shall not be taken until the next scheduled meeting. In order to remove an Executive Officer, the motion must receive an affirmative three-fourths (3/4) majority vote of those active members in attendance at the meeting.
Section 8.5
A motion to remove an Advisor may be made at any schedule meeting of the Aardvark Tiddlywinks Student Organization and a vote taken at that time. In order to remove the Advisor, the motion must also contain a nomination for a replacement Advisor. In order to pass, the motion must receive an affirmative vote from a simple majority (50% +1) of the active members present at the meeting and the replacement advisor must accept the nomination to serve as Advisor.
Article IX: Meetings
Section 9.1
At least one “business meeting” of the Aardvark Tiddlywinks Student Organization shall be held per semester during the University of Alabama’s fall and spring semesters. Proper notice must be provided before all business meetings.
Section 9.2
At least one “social meeting” of the Aardvark Tiddlywinks Student Organization shall be held per month during the University of Alabama’s fall and spring semesters. Social meetings of the Aardvark Tiddlywinks Student Organization should be announced and marketed in such a way as to reasonable inform the general membership of the organization of the social meeting.
Section 9.3
The Aardvark Tiddlywinks Student Organization will hold a separate “election meeting” during the month of April in The University of Alabama’s spring semester. This meeting shall be open to all members of the Aardvark Tiddlywinks Student Organization. At this meeting, the only business that may be considers is the election of Executive Board Members for the next academic year. In the event that an election meeting is not or cannot be held during the month of April, the election of new Executive Board Members must take place at the next business meeting of the Aardvark Tiddlywinks Student Organization.
Section 9.4
A quorum shall be required at any meeting of the Aardvark Tiddlywinks Student Organization in order to conduct official business. A quorum shall consist of at least twenty-five (25%) percent of active members at any business meeting and fifty (50%) percent of active members at the annual Election Meeting.
Section 9.5
Notice of each meeting shall be provided at least seven (7) days before the scheduled date of the meeting. Notice shall be given by email to the active membership of the Aardvark Tiddlywinks Student Organization. Notice must include the date, time, and location of the meeting, as well as an indication of any official business that will be considered and/or put to a vote at that meeting. Business items that do not appear in the meeting notice may be discussed but not considered or put to a vote at that meeting.
Article X: Finances
In the event that the Aardvark Tiddlywinks Student Organization becomes defunct or is terminated, all funds held in the Tiddlywinks Association account at the Alabama Credit Union shall be donated in full to “Name of Destination” and the account officially closed.
Article XII: Rules of Order
Section 12.1
The rules contained within the most recent edition of Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern this organization, to the discretion and better judgment of the Executive Officers, unless they are found to be inconsistent with the constitution of the organization.
Section 12.2
Words and phrases shall be read in context and construed according to the rules of grammar and common usage. Words and phrases that have acquired a technical or particular meaning shall be construed accordingly.
Section 12.3
If any section or portion of this document is ambiguous in terms of scope, application, or intent, then any such ambiguity will be presented to the Advisor for the Aardvark Tiddlywinks Student Organization, who will recommend an interpretation. Such interpretation will be binding until such time as the constitution can be amended to clarify the ambiguity, or overturned by the Office of Student Involvement.
Section 12.4
In the event that an issue, dispute, or situation arises that is not contemplated by the provisions of this document, the matter will be presented to the Advisor for the Aardvark Tiddlywinks Student Organization, who will recommend a solution, resolution, or course of action. Such recommendation will be binding until such time as the constitution can be amended to provide guidance, or overturned by the Office of Student Involvement.
Section 12.5
If the majority of the Executive Board disagrees with the interpretation of the advisor, as contemplated in Section 3 of this Article, or the recommendation of the advisor, as contemplated in Section 4 of this Article, then the matter can be presented to the Office of Student Involvement for consideration and final determination. The determination of the Office of Student Involvement shall be binding until such time as the constitution is amended.
Document History
Created: “date originally ratified by vote of the Organization“
Amended: “date approved by vote of the Organization“
Authorized
Signed By: “President“
Signed By: “Advisor“
Signed By: “Secretary“