Cal Berkeley Habitat for Humanity

Constitution and Bylaws

 

Preamble

Habitat for Humanity International, Inc., a Georgia nonprofit corporation (“Habitat for Humanity” or “Habitat”) is an ecumenical Christian housing organization that works in partnership with people in need to improve the conditions in which they are forced to live.

 

For purposes deemed worth, a service organization, affiliated with Habitat for Humanity, is hereby established to assist Habitat for Humanity by working with any local affiliated or sponsored projects or the International headquarters and by submitting itself to be governed by and dedicated to upholding these Bylaws and any codes of social responsibility as outlined by the campus student government association.

 

Article I~Name

The name of the organization shall be:

Cal Berkeley Habitat for Humanity

 

Article II~Purpose

It shall be the primary purpose of the Campus Chapter to provide opportunities for its members to participate in all aspects of the work and ministry of Habitat for Humanity.  In furtherance of this primary goal, the Chapter shall endeavor:

 

Section One.  To assist and work with the local affiliated or sponsored project or to help community members form a Habitat project if one does not exist.

Section Two.  To organize and provide work camp groups and short or long term volunteers to work at local Habitat for Humanity work sites.

Section Three.  To raise money for the overall work of Habitat for Humanity and the local affiliated or sponsored project.

Section Four.  To spread the word while on campus about the Habitat organization and raise the level of awareness regarding the need to provide decent shelter for everyone, and to encourage Chapter members to continue their support of Habitat’s ministry after graduation or retirement.

Section Five.  The Campus Chapter will serve as an autonomous organization and is not to be established in conjunction with or aligned exclusively with any particular denominational ministry, church, club, or other campus group.  The Campus Chapter cannot operate as a project or single agenda item of any one group; it must be a separate organization representative of and open to the entire campus.

 

Article III~Membership

 

Section One.  All University registered students and/or faculty are eligible for membership. Section Two.  No restrictions, such as class standing or grade point average will be factored into determining membership status. 

Section Three.  Only currently registered students, faculty and staff may be active members of the organization.  Only active members may vote of hold office.

Section Four. We will not haze according to California State Law; we will not restrict membership based upon race, color, national origin, religion, sex, physical and mental disability, medical condition (cancer-related or genetic characteristics), ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship or status as a covered veteran (special disabled veteran, Vietnam-era veteran or any other veteran who served on active duty during a war or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized).

 

 

 

 

 

Article IV~Officers/Elections

 

Section One.  The board of directors shall consist of at least five (5) members and will meet at least twice a month during the school term in addition to the regular meetings of the Campus Chapter.  The Board of directors shall be composed of at least four (4) student officers:  President, Vice President, Secretary, and Financial Manager, and at least one (non-voting) advisor.  This non-voting advisor can hold one of the following positions:  faculty or administrator who is asked to serve as an advisor for a term to be no less than one year.  The advisor shall serve as a resource and liaison between the Habitat Campus Chapter and the administration and faculty.  The board may also name an affiliate or sponsored project representative to serve as a board member to act as a resource and liaison between the local Habitat project and the Chapter.

Section Two. The total active membership of the Campus Chapter shall be composed of voting active members and voting student officers.  Active members are those who have attended at least sixty percent (60%) of Campus Chapter meetings held since his or her first date of attendance of the school year, with a minimum of six (6) meetings attended and attendance in two (2) work days every semester.

Section Three. Elections shall be held during the second-to-last regular chapter meeting of the fall semester.  Quorum for elections shall be three-fifths (3/5) of the total active membership by at least thirty (30) active members, and student officers shall be elected by a simple majority of votes cast by all active members present.

Section Four.  The officers of the Campus Chapter shall be a President, Vice-president, Secretary, and Financial Manager.  The President and Financial Manager shall serve for no less than one year.  All other officers shall serve for one semester.  When possible there will also be officers of Fundraising, Education, Public Relations, Workday Coordinator, Social Director, Newsletter, Historian, Global village, and Webmaster, whose duties are outlined as follows:

President:  The President, who must be a student, shall serve as the chief of operating officers of the organization who ensures that fundraising, educating, and membership aspects of the organization are fulfilled.  The President shall preside at all meetings of the organization and shall attend at least one Habitat work site per semester.

Vice-President: The Vice-President, who must be a student, shall assist the President and serve in his or her absence, The Vice-President shall be supervisor of elections.

Secretary:  The Secretary, who must be a student, shall keep the minutes of the board and organization meetings along with records of attendance.  The Secretary is responsible for the correspondence of the chapter.  The Secretary shall inform members and advisors of meetings.

Financial Manager:  The Financial Manager, who must be a student, shall be responsible for all funds of the organization and keeping an accurate record of all monies received and disbursed.  The treasurer shall give a report at each meeting of the board and at least one meeting of the organization each semester.

Fundraising:  The Fundraising Vice President (VP), who must be a student, shall be responsible for generating monies for the Habitat for Humanity.  The Fundraising VP shall be chief of a committee dedicated to fundraising efforts of the Campus Chapter.

Education:  The Education VP, who must be a student, shall educate the campus and community about the Habitat for Humanity.  The Education VP shall be responsible for operating the Affordable Housing Issues Decal and shall be chief of a committee dedicated to education.

Public Relations:  The Public Relations VP, who must be a student, shall be responsible for encouraging membership in the Campus Chapter and outreach to the community.  The Public Relations VP shall be chief of a committee dedicated to public relations.

Workday Coordinator:  The Workday Coordinator VP, who must be a student, shall plan and organize building projects.  The Workday Coordinator VP shall be chief of a committee dedicated to organizing building projects.

Social Director:  The Social VP, who must be a student, shall plan and organize social events open to all active members of the Campus Chapter.   The Social VP shall be responsible for planning non-building events to generate enthusiasm for the Habitat. 

Newsletter:  The Newsletter VP, who must be a student, shall be responsible for designing and publishing the Cal Berkeley Habitat for Humanity newsletter.  The Newsletter VP shall be chief of a committee dedicated to educating the Campus through the newsletter and shall publish at least one edition of the newsletter every semester.

Historian:  The Historian, who must be a student, shall keep a current history of the organization.  The Historian shall make a presentation once a semester of the history.

Global Village / Collegiate Challenge:  The Global Village / Collegiate Challenge Coordinator, who must be a student, shall coordinate building trips through the Global Village or Collegiate Challenge program.  The Global Village / Collegiate Challenge Coordinator shall be or shall train to be a Global Village or Collegiate Challenge trip leader and shall lead a Global Village or Collegiate Challenge trip.

Webmaster:  The Webmaster, who must be a student, shall design and publish the Cal Berkeley Habitat for Humanity website.  The Webmaster shall give a presentation of the website once a semester.

Section Five. In the event that an officer must be replaced before the end of his or her term, a special election meeting will be held, in which the criteria outlined above for elections will be followed.

Section Six.  A quorum must be present to vote to replace an officer from a position.  A Quorum for elections shall be three-fifths (3/5) of the total active membership by at least thirty (30) active members, and student officers shall be elected by a simple majority of votes cast by all active members present.

Section Seven. In the event that an officer resigns or is impeached, the Vice President of the organization will assume responsibilities of that position until a special election to fill the opening takes place.

Section Eight. There will be at least a two-week notice for all members that a regular election of officers for the semester will take place.  In the event of a special election or impeachment, there will be at lest a 24-hour notice.

Section Nine.  The student officers shall determine membership dues for the Campus Chapter at the beginning of each semester.

Section Ten.  Vice-Presidents (VP) may nominate up to three students to become Assistant Vice-president.  VPs shall work with their nominee for at least one semester and shall train the assistant VP.  After completing the semester of training the nominee will be an Assistant VP of the nominating VP.

Article V~Meetings

 

Section One.  The board of directors shall consist of at least five (5) members and will meet at least twice a month during the school term in addition to the regular meetings of the Campus Chapter.  The board of directors shall be composed of at least four (4) student officers and at least one (non-voting) advisor.

Section Two.  The Campus Chapter shall hold a meeting at least once a month during the school term to receive and communicate information and to transact other business.

Section Three.  Committees shall be formed by the board as necessary for development and support of all aspects of the organization (i.e. membership, fundraising, projects, social activities, community outreach).  A student advisor or faculty advisor shall serve on each committee. 

 

Article VI~Constitutional Amendments

 

Section One.  These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the voting members present at a duly convened meeting of the Campus Chapter.

Section Two.  Constitutional amendments can be proposed by any active member with the support of at least one other active member every other general meeting beginning with the second meeting.  All amendments, additions, or deletions must be filed with SAS, 102 Sproul Hall as well as with the ASUC Office of Student Affairs, 400 Eshleman Hall within one week of adoption.

 

Article VII~Dissolution

 

Section One.  Dissolution can only be achieved by the unanimous decision of all active members and is subject to veto by the faculty advisor.

Section Two. All unspent ASUC funds shall remain the property of ASUC.  All personally fundraised monies will be carried over to the following semester for use.

 

 

Article VIII~Fiscal Policies

 

Section One.  All funds received as gifts (whether designated or undesignated), contributions or grants from individuals, private or public corporations or foundations shall be deposited in appropriate banking accounts maintained by the chapter and dispersed in accordance with the policies and procedures determined by the board in accordance with these Bylaws, the Covenant, the Articles of Association, the rules and regulations of the college and all applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations, including Section 501©(3) of the Internal revenue Code of 1968, as amended. 

Section Two.  The fiscal year of the chapter shall begin on the first of July of each year and end of the following 30th of June.