CONSTITUTION OF TASA
(TASA is registered with the University of Minnesota, Campus Involvement Center. Its constitution and by-laws abide by the applicable rules and policies of the University of Minnesota. You may also download a copy of our constitution as a MS-Word document. )
ARTICLE I- GENERAL
Section 1:
The official name of this organization shall be the Turkish American Students Association (TASA) here after referred as the Association.
Section 2:
The Association shall operate as a non-profit organization.
Section 3:
The Association shall abide by the applicable rules and policies of the University of Minnesota pertaining to student organizations.
Section 4:
This organization shall exist for the following purposes:
a. To promote better understanding and friendship among Turkish, American, and other students, communities and organizations.
b. To disseminate accurate information and to stimulate interest in Turkish people, their history, and culture.
c. To provide social and intellectual contact for those who have such interests in common.
ARTICLE II _ MEMBERSHIP/IMPEACHMENT
Section 1:
Voting membership is open to all students, faculty and staff at the University of Minnesota.
Section 2:
No more than 1/3 of the voting membership shall consist of non-students.
Section 3:
Membership is open to all students without regard to race, religion, color, sex, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, creed, marital status, public assistance status, or sexual orientation.
Section 4:
To become a member, one must fill out the membership application form and return it to the secretary of the Association, and pay any membership fees as set and announced by the Executive Committee and approved by the membership.
Section 5:
Any member/officer may be impeached for violating this constitution and By-Laws. The member/officer shall be given a seven day notice and an opportunity to defend him/herself. This impeachment vote shall require a 2/3 majority vote of the voting membership.
ARTICLE III - OFFICERS
Section 1:
The officers of the Association shall consist of President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.
Section 2:
All officers must be currently enrolled students at the University of Minnesota and registered for at least six credits. Exceptions to the requirement are permitted for graduate students upon receipt of a letter from the Director of Graduate Studies of the student's department certifying that the student is actively pursuing a degree.
Section 3:
Officers shall be selected by the voting membership during October meetings and shall serve for a period of one year. Officers shall be elected by plurality of the voting members present providing a quorum is present.
Section 4:
The duties of the officers are as follows:
a. President - Preside over all meetings of the Association and serve as Chairperson of the Executive Committee. Act as official representative of the Association at other meetings and events.
b. Vice President - Preside at meetings of the club and the Executive Committee in the absence of the president. Succeed the president if the president were unable to complete his/her term of office. Coordinator of committees.
c. Secretary - Record and produce minutes of all meetings. Handle the Association correspondence.
d. Treasurer - Handle all financial transactions of the Association. Maintain thorough and accurate records of all transactions. Produce financial reports as required by the Association.
ARTICLE IV - COMMITTEES
Section1 Executive Committee:
Consists of the elected officers and chairpersons of all committees. Sets meeting dates for the club. Sets membership dues with approval of the membership. Acts on behalf of the club during the summer. The Executive Committee is responsible for planning and arrangement of all social events held by the club. It may establish special committees for planning and arrangement of events.
Section 2:
Special committees may be established by the executive committee to carry out special assignments as mentioned in Section 1. Special committees shall consist of a chairperson and at least one other member appointed by the Executive Committee among volunteering members of the Association.
ARTICLE V - MEETING
Section 1:
A regular meeting shall be held once each month during the academic year. A special meeting may be called by the Executive Committee or by a petition of ten percent of the voting membership.
Section 2:
A quorum shall be present in order to conduct official business of the club. A quorum shall consist of 50% of the voting membership plus one.
Section 3:
Decisions of the Association shall be enacted by a majority vote of the voting membership plus one.
ARTICLE VI - FINANCIAL MATTERS
Section 1:
The Association shall not provide monetary gain, incidentally or otherwise to its directors or membership. This does not restrict the payment of wages, salaries or incentives by the Association for services rendered.
Section 2:
Unless otherwise specified by the membership at the time of dissolution of the Association, residual assets shall be distributed to the Turkish American Association of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
ARTICLE VII - BY-LAWS
Section 1:
By-Laws may be proposed by the membership and may be adopted by a majority vote of those present at the meeting when a quorum is present.
ARTICLE VIII - AMENDMENTS
Section 1:
Amendments to the constitution may be proposed by any member of the club. Such proposals shall be submitted in writing to the Executive Committee for a first reading to the membership at the regular meeting prior to the meeting at which the proposed amendment is to be voted on.
Section 2:
Duty proposed amendments shall be submitted to a vote of the voting members providing a quorum is present. A two-thirds majority vote in favor shall be required for adoption of such amendments.