CONSTITUTION OF
THE STUDENT ASSOCIATION OF GEOGRAPHERS AT ALABAMA
ADOPTED SEPTEMBER 2007
ARTICLE I
NAME
The name of this organization shall be the Student Association of Geographers at Alabama (SAGA).
ARTICLE II
PURPOSE
The purposes of this association are to promote interest in the history and development of geography and to provide opportunities for members for careers in geography.
ARTICLE III
MEMBERS
Section 1. Persons interested in becoming members may join after attending two consecutive meetings and paying the required dues. No formal application or interview is required.
Section 2. Active members shall be enrolled students at The University of Alabama. Associate members shall be faculty or staff interested in Geography.
Section 3. The number of active members in the organization must be one more than 50% of the total number of members. Associate members are not eligible to hold office or to vote.
Section 4. Annual dues of $5.00 shall be paid by September 30 of each year, after which a member will be dropped by nonpayment of dues.
Section 5. In order to maintain active membership status, a member must attend at least three (3) meetings per semester. Failure to meet this requirement will result in expulsion from the association. Expelled members must wait a semester (excluding summers) before they may seek active membership status.
Section 6. Membership in the Association shall be open to all students of The University of Alabama, without regard to race, religion, sex, disability, or national origin.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
Section 1. The officers of the association shall be President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. These officers shall comprise the executive committee.
Section 2. Officers shall be elected at the first meeting in September each year from the pool of nominations. Active members seeking office may be nominated by other members or by themselves.
Section 3. Elections shall be by secret ballot. Candidates receiving one vote more than 50% of the total number of votes cast shall be named to their respective officers.
Section 4. Officers shall be elected to serve for one year, beginning at the close of the meeting at which they are elected. Vacancies in offices shall be filled by nomination and voting by a quorum of active members.
Section 5. The President is responsible for presiding over all meetings and determining meeting dates of the next meeting of the association.
Section 6. The Vice President is responsible for setting up all meetings at each location and ordering new materials as needed.
Section 7. The Secretary is responsible for recording the minutes and the results of each meeting. Those records must be open to inspection to all members.
Section 8. The Treasurer is responsible for collecting membership dues and dispensing funds as needed for the association.
ARTICLE V
MEETINGS
Section 1. The regular meetings of the association shall be held on the first and third Wednesdays of each month from September to May unless otherwise ordered by the organization or by the Executive Committee.
Section 2. The regular meeting on the first Wednesday in September shall be known as the annual meeting and shall be for the purpose of electing officers, receiving reports from officers and committees, and for any other business that may arise.
Section 3. Special meetings may be called by the President or of the Executive Committee and shall be called upon the written request of 10 members of the association. The purpose of the meeting shall be stated in the notice, and three days notice shall be given except in cases of emergencies.
Section 4. Fifty percent of the active members shall constitute a quorum.
ARTICLE VI
RELATIONSHIP
The Student Association of Geographers at Alabama shall have no relationship to or be controlled by any other local, state or national organization.
ARTICLE VII
COMMITTEES
Section 1. The Executive Committee shall include the officers of the association. They shall supervise affairs of the association between its business meetings, make recommendations to the association and perform other duties as specified in these by-laws. The Executive Committee shall be subject to the orders of the association, and none of its acts shall conflict with actions taken by the association.
Section 2. Other committees, standing or special, shall be appointed by the President as the association or the Executive Committee deem necessary to carry on the work of the association
.
ARTICLE VIII
ADVISOR
One or more advisors shall be elected each year in the same manner as the association’s officers. Responsibilities shall be those assigned by The University of Alabama Student Handbook.
ARTICLE IX
PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised shall govern the association in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these by-laws and special rules of order the association may adopt.
ARTICLE X
AMENDMENTS
This constitution may be amended at any regular meeting of the association by two-thirds vote, provided the amendment has been submitted in writing at the previous regular meeting.
ARTICLE XI
BY-LAWS
By-laws to this constitution may be added at any regular meeting of the association by two-thirds vote, provided the by-laws has been submitted in writing at the previous regular meeting.