The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Queer Coalition at Arizona State University
Last Revised: Fall 2008
Ratified: (September 2008)
The LGBTQ Coalition at ASU is home to the many lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer organizations and their allies that impact the ASU community. As a student organization, we provide programming, events, and advocacy. As a coalition, we organize the available resources for LGBTQ members of the ASU community and their allies on campus and around the valley.
Our purposes include making ASU campuses safe for LGBTQ persons, organizing resources, services, and support for the LGBTQ community at ASU, connecting to one another in a positive social setting, advocating for LGBTQ interests at ASU and in the world, taking action to demonstrate those interests, and engaging our community in the spirit of civic service.
We envision the establishment of an LGBTQ Center on the main ASU campus where all the purposes and organizations of the Coalition could be rooted and cultivated under the leadership of a dedicated staff member.
For official purposes, our name is the LGBTQ Coalition. We adopt the acronym LGBTQ as incompletely representative of infinite variation in our community. Throughout this document, we are referred to as "the Coalition".
1.1 The term of all elected offices is one semester.
1.2 Elections will be held each semester.
1.3 Officers may hold their positions up to two (2) consecutive terms. When neither co-director is able - under section 1.3 - AND willing to continue to serve, one of the co-directors may remain for an extra, consecutive term such that the professional quality and knowledge of previous administrations is not lost. This amendment shall neither override the need for co-directors to be elected to their position nor shall it provide for co-directors to remain in office indefinitely. If a Co-Director wishes to run for any consecutive term past two already-served terms, there must be a two-thirds majority decision on the Executive board to allow said Co-Director to enter the election process. A Co-Director may not serve more than four consecutive terms.
2.1 Any member of the Coalition may nominate any members of the Coalition, including themselves.
2.2 Nominations must remain open for one week.
2.3 Eligible nominees must accept their own nominations.
2.4 Member Organization Representatives may hold any office excluding Co- Director.
2.5 Any officer may not hold more than one elected office in the Coalition.
3.1 Officers are elected by a majority of those members present.
3.2 All candidates will be allowed equal time to address the Coalition before their election.
3.3 All candidates must leave the room while the Coalition discusses and votes.
3.4 If two people running for office agree to share the office, they may do so if they are so elected.
4.1 Officers may be removed by a vote of no confidence, requiring a 3/4 majority of those members present.
4.2 Officers may resign their office in writing at any time.
4.3 In the event of a vacant office, the acting Co-Director(s) may appoint an officer.
4.4 Appointed officers may be confirmed by a voice vote acclamation.
The Coalition's Executive Board includes the following officers:
A. Co-Director
Executive leadership will be shared by two co-equal offices of Co-Directors. Each Co-Director will represent the LGBTQ Coalition as a liaison to faculty, staff, students, and other organizations. Co-Directors will set the Coalition's agenda and run the meetings.
B. Membership
This officer will oversee all issues of membership in the Coalition, including recruiting student organizations for membership, retaining current members,
administrating requirements for membership, and taking attendance at Coalition meetings.
C. Administration
This officer will archive Coalition documents, including records, documentation, and meeting minutes. This officer will also officiate elections and votes using Robert's Rules of Order as needed.
D. Funding
This officer will oversee distribution of Coalition resources in the budget, as well as
file requisitions and requests for funds from ASU and other organizations, including fundraising and seeking grants.
E. Promotions
This officer will oversee the design, printing, and distribution of flyers and other promotional material for the Coalition and its events. This officer may also maintain the Coalition's scrapbook.
F. Community Relationships
This officer will establish and maintain relationships with other organizations at ASU and around the Valley. This includes maintaining a list of Coalition contacts, members, affiliates, and sponsors; inviting organizations to table at or attend Coalition events; and keeping track of guest organizations at Coalition events.
G. Booking and Rooms
This officer will reserve meeting, tabling, and event spaces. This officer will be responsible for maintaining and caring for the Coalition's spaces, including the Coalition office.
H. Web Architect
This officer will maintain the Coalition's website, blog, Facebook, MySpace,
Blackboard, email address, and other web presences.
I. Risk Management
This officer will hold the Coalition to University policies relevant to our safety and welfare.
J. Photography
This officer is in charge of taking photographic documentation of all Coalition events, and assisting the office of Administration with scrapbooking or the Web Architect with uploading photos if/when necessary. This office may be held by more than one person, and is the only office on the Executive Board that may be held by an officer already holding another Executive Board position. By nature of this office, the officer is required to attend all Coalition events or find a replacement photographer if they are unable to attend.
All officers have one vote, except Co-Directors, who do not vote unless in the case of a tie.
The Coalition's Faculty Advisor will provide direction, guidance, continuity, and support. Any ASU Faculty or Staff member who wants to become an Advisor may do so by receiving a 3/4 majority of those members present.
1.1 Any student at ASU may join the Coalition as a member.
1.2 Any student organization at ASU may join the Coalition as a Member
Organization.
1.3 Member Organizations will be represented at Coalition meetings by a designated
representative.
1.4 Non-ASU community members, non-student organizations at ASU, services and
resources at ASU, and other community organizations may be represented in the
Coalition as Affiliates.
2.1 All members of the Coalition have the privileges to vote in elections, on Coalition events and business, and on the Coalition's participation in other events.
2.2 Coalition members should approve regular events at the start of each semester and other events as needed.
2.3 Each Member Organization's designated representative has two (2) votes.
2.4 Member Organizations have the privilege to request funding out of the Coalition budget.
2.5 Member Organizations are also invited to table at Coalition events when
appropriate.
3.1 Affiliates are invited to attend Coalition meetings and events and to table for their organizations when appropriate.
3.3 Affiliates may not vote.
4.1 An individual may become a Coalition member by attending three (3)
consecutive Coalition meetings.
4.2 A student organization may become a Member Organization by sending a
designated representative to three (3) consecutive Coalition meetings and being confirmed by a majority of those members present.
5.1 Any organization or group interested in becoming an Affiliate should send the Coalition a letter of intent, which will be reviewed by the Coalition at the next regular meeting. Affiliates may be confirmed by a majority of those members present.
5.2 Affiliates should renew their status each semester.
6.1 Members must attend at least half of the Coalition's regular meetings.
6.2 Member Organizations must be represented for at least 4/5 of the Coalition's regular meetings.
6.3 If a Member Organization's designated representative cannot attend a Coalition meeting for any reason, they must send another representative as their proxy.
6.4 If nobody from a Member Organization is able to represent that organization at a Coalition meeting for any reason, the designated representative must contact the Co-Directors ahead of time to let them know.
7.1 Members or Member Organizations may resign their membership in writing at
any time.
7.2 If a Member Organization misses three consecutive Coalition meetings without explanation, that Member Organization is on probation. Probation suspends voting, funding request, and tabling privileges.
7.3 An organization on probation may restore their membership privileges by
attending three consecutive Coalition meetings.
7.4 If an organization already on probation misses a fourth consecutive meeting, that organization loses their membership in the Coalition.
7.5 Organizations who lose their membership may restart the membership process the following semester.
1.1 Any Coalition member may propose an amendment to the Constitution by
submitting the amendment's text at a Coalition meeting.
1.2 The proposed amendment's text must be made available one week prior to the vote.
1.3 A written copy of the proposed amendment as well as a copy of this Constitution must be made available online and in hard copy in the Coalition office one week prior to the ratification vote.
1.4 An amendment may be ratified by a 3/4 majority of those members present.
2.1 In the event that this Constitution is to be superseded by a new draft, a 3/4 majority of all Coalition members must vote to initiate drafting.
2.2 Only current Coalition members may write a new Constitution.
2.3 Writers must present a summary of changes to the Coalition membership one week prior to the ratification vote.
2.4 A written copy of the new draft as well as a copy of this Constitution must be made available online and in hard copy in the Coalition office one week prior to the ratification vote.
2.5 A new Constitution may be ratified by a 3/4 majority of all Coalition members.