The Constitution
Our Mission Statement
Our mission as the Vietnamese Student Association is to strengthen the Vietnamese-American awareness in our college and community. We will accomplish this by having our members well-informed and active in social and cultural events. Our goals are to participate in community service and contribute to charitable organizations. Most importantly, we aim to create a sense of unity between the Vietnamese and American societies.
Preamble
We, the members of the Vietnamese Student Association, do hereby establish this constitution in order that our purpose be realized to its fullest extent.
Article I - Name
Section 1: The name of this organization shall be the Vietnamese Student Association at Louisiana State University and Agriculture and Mechanical College at Baton Rouge. The short form of the organization name, hereafter, will be VSA LSU.
Article II - Purpose
Section 1: VSA LSU is a social and cultural in orientation.
Section 2: VSA LSU as a social organization will provide opportunities for entertainment decided by the majority of the current executive board.
Section 3: VSA LSU as a cultural organization will provide opportunities for enhanced understanding of Vietnamese language, history, cuisine, music, fashion and dance as decided by the current executive board.
Article III - Basic Policies
Section 1: The organization shall be non-commercial.
Section 2: The name of the organization or the names of any members in their official capacities shall not be used in connection with commercial concern.
Section 3: VSA LSU shall cooperate with Louisiana State University to support the improvement of education in ways that will not interfere with administration of the University.
Section 4: VSA LSU may cooperate with other organizations and agencies, but persons representing the organization in such matters shall make no commitments that bind the organization.
Section 5: The organization agrees to abide by all University policies and local, state and federal laws.
Article IV - Membership
Section 1: Active membership shall be offered to any individual who expressed an interest in the Vietnamese culture and is restricted to students. Associate membership is restricted to LSU faculty and staff. Associate members are non-voting members.
Section 2: Any individual who subscribes to the purpose and basic policies of the organization may become a member of this organization, subject only to compliance with the provisions of the constitution. No student who meets the other criteria for membership can be denied membership on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veterans status, or sexual orientation.
Section 3: Any member who violates this constitution or whose character is deemed unworthy may be deprived of his/her membership. Charges must be presented in writing to the Executive Board at least one week prior to a scheduled meeting and a vote for dismissal by two-thirds (2/3) of the attended voting members is necessary.
Section 4: In the event this organization becomes inactive, all monies left in the treasury after all outstanding debts and claims have been paid shall be donated to a charity chosen by the Executive Board.
Article V - Office and Their Election
Section 1: Eligibility for office
1. In order to be eligible for election or appointment to any office under this constitution, an individual must have the following qualification:
must be a voting member of the Vietnamese Student
Association (VSA) must not be on any type of disciplinary or deferred
suspension as defined by the University regulations must be a full-time student as defined by the
University regulations must have attended LSU for at least one full semester must have at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA.Section 2: In order to be eligible for the Office of President:
must have completed at least one term on the
executive board within VSA LSU must not have been a previous president of VSA LSUSection 3: The legislative and executive powers shall be vested in the Executive Board.
Section 4: The governing body, further defined in the by-laws, shall be the Executive Board and shall be composed of the following members:
The Presidenta. Call Meetings, both general and executive, to order and dismisses them
b. Organizes events and approves of all decisions by the executive board
c. Maintain veto power in all executive and general decisions with the exception of officer elections
d. Presidential decisions, including the power to veto, are subject to an overrule by a unanimous vote of the Executive Board
The First Vice-Presidenta. The First Vice-President is also known as the Internal Vice President
b. With the President, has meetings with the current organization adviser
c. Books locations for events (not general meetings)
d. Organizes community service events
e. Facilitates communication and organizes with other organizations on campus
f. In the event that the President is unable to continue his/her duties, assumes the role of Acting President for a time period of no longer than a third (1/3) of the semester, at which time an emergency Presidential election is held. If the VP does not wish to assume this role, refer to Section 5.
The Second Vice-Presidenta. The Second Vice-President is also known as the External Vice President
b. Represents VSA LSU with the Asian-American Student Intercollegiate Association
c. Facilitates communication with the board of AASIA
d. Organizes events with AASIA board members
The Secretarya. Facilitates communication with the official VSA LSU email to members of the organization and forwards emails to the correct executive board member
b. Take minutes of each executive and general meeting and makes them available to the general members or executive board
c. Keeps historical accounts of members with Historian’s help
The Treasurera. Keep accurate records of VSA LSU monies
b. Handle all financial transactions
c. Prepare budget requests
d. Facilitates sponsorships with VSA LSU
The Historiana. Takes pictures at every single event and uploads them
b. Creates videos throughout the year for members to view
The Public Relationsa. Books all General Meeting Rooms
b. Keeps relations with all members
c. Facilitates online communications between VSA LSU and the general public personally and via social networks
The Webmastera. Maintains VSA LSU website in order to keep the members informed of current events
b. Designs all VSA LSU related designs for the current year or outsources
c. Revises documents used for General Meetings
The Freshman Representativea. Voted in during the first General Meeting
b. Officially enters the Executive Board the Spring Semester and serves the full year
c. Must be a full-time entering Freshman of the current year
d. Facilitates communication between their Freshman Class and the Executive Board
Section 5: Voting privileges are bestowed upon active, student members. Associate members shall not receive voting rights in any election regarding this organization. Each voting member shall be entitled to cast one vote by secret ballot in all general elections.
Section 6: Intention of candidacy
A person shall become a candidate for office by filing his/her intention and choice of office. Filing shall be open at the general meeting prior to the election. The Executive Board shall decide with a majority vote whether to extend the filing period beyond that meeting.
Section 7: Election procedure; Terms of office
Elections shall be held in the spring of each year, with the date and time to be determined by the Executive Board. All persons elected must receive a majority of votes cast. If no candidate receives a majority of the votes cast, the top two candidates will compete in an immediate run-off election. After validation, elected officers shall be installed and assume their duties in the fall semester following the election and shall serve until the completion of the ensuing spring semester or the termination of their office. No person shall simultaneously hole more than one elected or appointed office established under this constitution.
Article VI - Meetings
Section 1: Regular meetings shall be held at least three (3) times each semester. The time and place shall be determined at the discretion of the President with a majority approval of the Executive Board.
Section 2: Special meetings may be held upon seventy-two (72) hours notice by:
The President A majority vote of the Executive Board A petition signed by one-third (1/3) of the voting membership.Section 3: In the event of a voting members excusable absence, a vote by proxy may be allowed with sufficient verification.
Section 4: No business, other than adjournment, may be conducted without the presence of a quorum. This quorum shall consist of one-third (1/3) of the voting membership.
Article VII - Parliamentary Authority
Roberts Rules of Order Revised shall govern this organization in all cases in which they are applicable.
Article VIII - Amendments
Section 1: Amendments to this constitution may be proposed by either of the following:
A member of the Executive Board A petition signed by at least ten percent (10%) of the voting membership Section 2: Following a period of at least seven (7) days from the date of proposal, amendments may be ratified by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the voting membership of the Executive Board.
Section 3: Amendments must be further approved by a majority of the voting membership. Amendments must be published and made available to the voting membership upon passage by the Executive Board and at least one (1) week prior to a ratification election.
Section 4: Amendments not ratified by the Executive Board within a month of date of proposal shall be considered "dead" and will not be considered without resubmission.
Section 5: All amendments proposed are subject to the approval of the Dean of Students or his/her designee.