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Declaration Vision Mission Exec. Board Advisor Membership Mtgs & Attendance Participants Committees Parliamentary Procedure Voting & Elections Removal from Office (E-Brd) Funds & Finances Amendments, By-Laws Affiliations Non-Discrim. Clause Disclaimer & Differentiation

Active Minds @ UNCG Constitution

Declaration

The name of this organization shall be Active Minds at The University of North Carolina, Greensboro.  On campus, the organization shall be known as Active Minds @ UNCG or just Active Minds.

Vision
Active Minds hopes to reach all members of the community by promoting dialogue and developing interest in issues surrounding mental health, serving as a catalyst to decrease the stigmas and clarify the stereotypes associated with psychological disorders. 

Mission

1. To increase awareness among UNCG students about issues of mental health, symptoms of mental illness, and available resources in and around the UNCG community. 
2. To become a point of reference for UNCG students for information on the prevalence of various psychological, behavioral, and developmental disorders.  This will be accomplished through maintenance of a comprehensive website, campus distribution of fact sheet flyers, and hosting and/or sponsoring charity fundraisers, guest speakers, and related events.
3. To support advocacy for persons with psychological and related disorders, as well as the social support systems enabling them.

Executive Board

The officers shall be President, Business Manager, Administrative Chair, Student Government Association Representative (SGA Rep.), Community Outreach Chair, Recruitment Chair, Fundraising Chair, and Resource Development Chair. 

Requirements to Hold Office
An active member may seek office following fulfillment of these guidelines, as proposed by the University:

1. Categorized as a full-time student at UNCG
2. In good standing with the University and Active Minds (i.e., adequate attendance at meetings)
3. Cumulative 2.5 GPA, to be determined at the beginning of each semester by the Office of Student Life

Officers
NOTE:  All offices are vital to the success of Active Minds.  In addition to formal position duties, each officer will be named “Event Chairperson” for one major Active Minds @ UNCG event for the academic year.  Events may include: distribution of flyers on campus and throughout the community, coffee house, stress relief activities, guest speakers, educational seminars, etc.  Board members will collaborate to decide who will be in charge of what event.  If an event will be held for the purpose of raising funds, then that event will be coordinated by the Fundraising Chair. 

President
Preside over general and executive board meetings; take the role of the primary authority regarding decisions pertinent to Active Minds @ UNCG; be in charge of the Active Minds email account(s); be the liaison between the organization and other related UNCG authorities/departments, student groups, and external organizations (in conjunction with the Community Outreach Chair); be the primary liaison between Active Minds @ UNCG and the Active Minds, Inc. headquarters in Washington DC; act as SGA Representative alternate as needed.  The President will have the authority to deposit and withdraw funds from organizational bank account.  However, the primary financial responsibility of the President will be to track account activity by review of monthly financial reports submitted by the Business Manager. 

Business Manager
Be the primary consult on organizational account activity with the authority to collect funds, make deposits, and request withdrawals from the organizational account.  The Business Manager will submit monthly financial reports for review by the President and the Executive Board.  This position is similar to Vice President and Treasurer combined. 

Administrative Chair
Responsible for tracking meeting attendance, quorum/electoral votes, and recording notes/minutes.  The Administrative Chair is responsible for announcing election results via email and in a timely manner. 

SGA Representative  
Attend appropriate Student Government Association meetings and take responsibility for issues regarding SGA.  Remain knowledgeable about the organization’s financial standing, with and without regards to University funding, in order to present an accurate picture of the organization’s needs.  Work in conjunction with other Executive Board members towards the goal of the financial well-being of Active Minds @ UNCG.  Other general duties include establishing and maintaining a positive rapport with SGA and reporting SGA news and current events to Active Minds members during meetings.

Community Outreach Chair
Contact local schools, organizations, and UNCG departments that may be interested in attending Active Minds events.  The Community Outreach Chair will focus on increasing “Participant” base, as outlined herein.  Participants may be students, faculty, or community members who are not members of Active Minds @ UNCG, but remain interested in attending the organization’s activities or events.  The Community Outreach Chair will focus on reaching the community at large.

Recruitment Chair    
Function as the liaison between the UNCG student population and the organization, in an effort to increase “Active Member” base.  Contact local academic institutions about upcoming events, with the intent of reaching potential members from diverse community populations.  Responsible for intermittent review of Active Minds members in an effort to maintain a seventy-five percent UNCG-enrolled student membership base.

Fundraising Chair   
Aid in the maintenance of the financial stability of Active Minds @ UNCG.  Any events held with the intent of accruement of new funds will be organized and managed by the Fundraising Chair.  

Resource Development Chair                      
Webmaster and Research Liaison combined.  Responsibilities include set up and maintenance of a comprehensive and current website for the organization, as well as reporting current mental health news (local, national, and international in scope) to members at meetings and via the website and email.  Other duties include general research involving organizations such as NAMI and NIMH.  Since this position is skill-specific, the duties performed by the Resource Development Chair may be performed by various qualified Executive Board members if no member formally assumes the office.

Advisor
In good standing with University policy, the organization will retain a full-time UNCG faculty or staff member to serve as advisor to the group.  The advisor will be selected based upon an expressed interest in furthering the organization’s vision.  The advisor should have an experiential background, whether academically or vocationally, in a related human services field.  The advisor is responsible for providing information about community resources and serving as general consult to the Executive Board.  The advisor will attend organizational meetings, board meetings, and group events as available.  The advisor’s term will be for at least two years, after which the advisor will remain, at will, until it is either mutually agreeable to part or until there is a passing vote on the removal of advisor from office.  If removal of Advisor from office is necessary, it will be based on upon lack of fulfillment of duties, agreed upon at the discretion of the Executive Board, and must be passed by a majority vote once quorum is satisfied.

Membership
Active Minds membership is open to the entire UNCG population - students, faculty, and staff alike.  However, at least seventy-five percent of Active Minds @ UNCG members must be UNCG students.  This ratio of student membership base will be under frequent review.  All members are required to register with the Recruitment Chair for attendance and quorum purposes.  There are no academic requirements for membership in Active Minds @ UNCG.  Only Active Members, not Inactive Members or Participants, will count towards a quorum and have electoral voting rights.  UNCG staff and faculty who are members will count towards quorum, have voting rights, and may serve on committees, but may not hold office on the Executive Board.  

Members at Large
Membership of individuals outside the University is limited to those with current student status, as confirmed by their Greensboro area academic institution.  Members of Active Minds @ UNCG who attend other academic institutions may not hold office on the Executive Board, but may serve as on committees and will have voting rights.

Rules for Membership: Executive Board

1. Executive Board members are required to attend all Active Minds organizational meetings each semester, with the exception of any given two.

2. Executive Board members are required to attend any scheduled officer meetings, with the exception of one. 

Rules for Membership: Active Members
1. Members must attend at least three organizational meetings per semester. 

2. Members must agree to assist in the planning of at least one event per semester. 

3. If a member should have an expected absence from a meeting, they must inform the Administrative Chair of the situation with an acceptable excuse twenty-four (24) hours in advance. 

4. Any member that has a class schedule conflicting with meeting times must submit a copy of their class schedule to the Executive Board for excusal from meetings for that semester and follow up each missed meeting by reading the minutes, as posted on the internet or in the office.

Rules for Membership: Inactive Members

1. Members who miss more than three consecutive organizational meetings will be deemed “inactive”, and will not reclaim voting rights or count towards a quorum until “active” status has been re-established.

2. “Active” status may be re-established by attending three consecutive organizational meetings.  It will be at the fourth consecutive meeting that the member may once again be deemed an “active” member for quorum and voting purposes. 

3. The “inactive” status is in lieu of actual removal of a member from Active Minds @ UNCG.

Meetings and Attendance
Meetings will be held in the Fall and Spring semesters only, at a minimum of once per month, and more often as the President deems necessary.  The first meeting of each semester will normally be held during the second or the third full academic week after the semester begins.  All members will be notified of the first meeting each semester, and all meetings thereafter, via an email reminder.  Reminders and organizational information will be sent always to the student’s school email address.   

Participants
Anyone not an Active Member will be considered an Active Minds Participant and will be kept on the list-serve to be notified via email of upcoming events by the President or the Community Outreach Chair.  Participants may be any member of the Greater Greensboro community interested in furthering the mission and purpose of Active Minds @ UNCG.  Participants may not serve on committees and will not have voting rights. 

Committees
Committees may be created as necessary by the President or Executive Board for specific events/projects.  Any Active Member may be selected as an Event Chairperson if no Executive Board member is acting as such.  Event Chairpersons will be appointed by the President and will coordinate the planning and execution of the event or committee project.  Any number of active members may be on an event committee.

Parliamentary Procedure
If a situation arises that is not covered by the Active Minds @ UNCG Constitution, the President may defer to Robert’s Rules of Order.

Voting and Elections

a.         Thirty (30) percent of active members are required for a quorum. 
b.         Elections shall be held at the end of each year for the following year.
c.         Offices are held for a one-year term. 
d.         Any Active Member who fulfills the requirements may run for office. 
e.         Nominations may be made from two weeks prior to the election meeting until the election for that specific office. 
f.          Once quorum is satisfied, officers must be elected by a simple two-thirds majority. 
g.         In case of a tie, the President determines the position holder.  Elections are to be made by secret ballot during a scheduled election meeting. 
h.         If a member is selected in absentia, the Administrative Chair will notify the selected member and make an announcement at the next group meeting. 
i.          Voting results will be distributed via email following the final count.

Removal from Office (Executive Board)
If an officer is not fulfilling the duties of his/her position, a member may make a motion to remove that individual from office, for the betterment of the organization.  The motion must be seconded and then voted upon at a meeting at which quorum is met.  Once quorum is satisfied, the board member may be removed by a two-thirds majority vote.  In case of an officer vacancy, the group may elect a replacement at the next formal group meeting. 

Funds and Finances
No dues will be required to be considered a member of Active Minds @ UNCG.  The President or Business Manager may formally authorize collection of funds and expenditures.  Available funds may only be used to further the mission and purpose of the organization.  The standard procedure for funds allotment should include proposal and approval by the executive board, if an expected expense, and approval for reimbursement by the Business Manager and/or executive board, if an unexpected or urgent expense.  Financial records, including receipts, will be handled by the Business Manager.  Funds will be stored in an off-campus account.   

Amendments to Constitution/Bylaws
Amendments may be proposed by any Active Member at any given meeting.  The proposed amendment will be reviewed by members of the Executive Board and then resubmitted at the following meeting for vote.  Once quorum is satisfied, a two-thirds majority is required to pass amendments.

In accordance with UNCG policy, any student organization must submit changes in writing to the Assistant Director for Student Life.  Student organizations may not implement changes to constitution/by-laws until written approval is received from the Assistant Director for Student Life, which may take up to ten (10) academic days for review and approval.

Affiliations
Active Minds @ UNCG may maintain relations with UNCG Departments, the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI), the National Mental Health Association (NMHA), the National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH), and other organizations.  However, Active Minds @ UNCG is formally a chapter of Active Minds, Inc. on the campus of The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.  Active Minds, Inc. is a non-profit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. and is nationally known as Active Minds or Active Minds on Campus, and formerly known as Open Minds.

Non-Discrimination Clause
Active Minds @ UNCG is open to all students and does not discriminate in our membership selection on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, personal appearance, disability, marital status, family responsibility, political affiliation, source of income, or other rights secured by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.   

Disclaimer and Differentiation
Active Minds @ UNCG does not offer mental health care services to students or the community.  Active Minds is not a support group nor is it only open to psychology majors.  Active Minds is a student-organized and student-led group focused on the decrease of social stigmas related to psychological disorders and the promotion of related dialogue.  This organization envisions a campus and community-wide interaction in the redefining of mental health and mental health awareness. 

Active Minds @ UNCG Constitution last revised: October 17, 2006