Written by Tuan Nguyen | 
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Bylaws of the
San Jose State University
Vietnamese Student Association
One Washington Square #56 e San Jose, CA 95192-0038
Year 2008-2009
Article I
Name
The name of this organization shall be the Vietnamese Student Association.
Article II
Purpose
The purpose of the Vietnamese Student Association of San Jose State University is serve the Vietnamese community by preserving and promoting Vietnamese culture and traditions. We strive to maintain the Vietnamese culture to generations that were born and/or raised outside of Vietnam. We promote diversity to all ethnic groups willing to learn the Vietnamese culture. We strive to unite with other colleagues to create an enlightening atmosphere and encourage education as well as leadership. We strive to promote cooperation, participation, and communication to work towards a common goal.
Article II.5
Definition
Section 1 – References
For the purposes of these bylaws, the following terms shall be referred to as follows:
Section 2 – Definitions
For the purposes of these bylaws, these terms shall be defined as follows:
Article IV
Membership
Section 1 – Conditions of Membership
Sub-section 1 – Membership shall be open to all students of this university, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, age, creed, and religion, in accordance with California Administrative Code (Title V, Sec. 41500) and California Education Code (Education Amendment of 1972, Title IX).
Sub-section 2 – Fees shall not be established by these bylaws. However, these bylaws shall not restrict the officers of this organization from adopting a fee and the amount of that fee.
Sub-section 3 – At least eighty (80) percent of all members of this organization must be currently enrolled matriculated students of this university.
Section 2 – Removal of a Member
Removing a member from this organization shall be the decision of the elected officers. That member must be notified of the reasons why they are being considered for removal and be allowed an opportunity to defend themselves before all the elected officers. Reasons for removal may include, but are not limited to, unproductiveness, failure to pay any fees required, and any other reasons that show that person to be unbeneficial and harmful to this organization. Reasons shall not be based on race, gender, religion, and other characteristics classified under California state law that are deemed as discriminatory. The decision to remove a member from this organization for that one (1) academic year must be approved by at least two-thirds of all elected officers.
Sub-section 1 – Absence from any three (3) mandatory meetings of this organization without excuse constitutes an immediate removal from this organization. Excuses will only be accepted for two (2) days following the missed meeting, excluding extenuating circumstances.
Sub-section 2 – Removals may be appealed to the general membership only on the grounds that procedures established in these bylaws were not followed.
Section 3 – Voting
The voting membership is restricted to members who are currently enrolled matriculated students of this university. Officers may only vote in officer meetings. They may vote in general meetings in this event of a tie.
Section 4 – Prohibit Discrimination
Membership in the organization will not be denied to anyone on the basis of race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, color, age, gender, martial status, citizenship, sexual orientation, or disability. The prohibition on discrimination on the basis of gender does not apply to social fraternities or sororities or to other university living groups. (Title 5, California Code of Regulations, Section 41500).
Section 5 – Hazing
No member of this organization shall engage in hazing, participate in hazing, or commit any act that causes or is likely to cause bodily danger, physical harm, or personal degradation or disgrace resulting in physical or mental harm to any fellow student or person attending this institution (California Education Code, Article 8, Sections 10851-10853).
Article V
Officers
Section 1 – Elected Officers of this Cabinet
The officers of this organization shall be an external president, an internal president, a vice-president, an executive secretary, an executive treasurer, a director of publicity, a fundraising chair, an event coordinator, a cultural chair, a newspaper chair, a historian, and a webmaster.
Section 2 – Officer Enrollment Grade Requirement
All officers of this organization must be matriculated, currently enrolled students at San Jose State University. The President and Treasurer of this organization must maintain a minimum overall 2.0 grade point average, must be enrolled in at least 6 units, and must be in good standing with San Jose State University during their term of office.
Section 3 – Education Training
All officers and advisors of this organization are required to complete an Alcohol Education Training offered by Student Involvement.
Section 4 – Grade Requirement
The President and Treasurer of this organization must maintain a minimum overall 2.0 grade point average, must be enrolled in at least 6 unites, and must be in good standing with San Jose State University during their term of office.
Section 5 – Advisors
All officers and advisors of this organization are required to complete an Alcohol Education Training offered by Student Involvement.
Article VI
Duties of Officers
Section 1 – Officer Duties
Sub-section 1 – The President shall:
1. Chair all general and officer meetings
2. Appoint the chairperson for all committees. All appointments must be approved at an officer meeting by two-thirds (2/3) of all officers present and voting. All appointments must be announced at a general meeting of this organization.
3. Appoint new officers to fill vacancies. These appointed officers must be approved by at least two-thirds (2/3) of all elected officers. These appointed officers have all the duties of normally elected officers. However, they will not be able to vote to approve presidential appointments.
4. Create ad hoc committees for purposes deemed necessary by a super majority of the elected officers.
5. Represent or appoint a representative of this organization in any setting that pertains to the public, the Associated Students, Incorporated of this university, or the continuation of this organization.
6. Call special meetings for specific purposes. The procedure for calling special meetings shall be defined in Article VIII.
7. Enforce these bylaws equally and fairly to all members of this organization.
Sub-section 2 – The Internal Vice-President shall:
1. Chair all general meetings and officer meetings in the event the President cannot perform his duties.
2. Represent this organization to any entity that represents or is a functioning part of this university and/or its administrators.
3. Act as a liaison between the Student Life Center, the MOSAIC Cross-Cultural Center, and this organization.
4. Aid and advise the President on any concerns that pertain to the policies of this university.
Sub-section 3 – The External Vice-President shall:
1. Represent this organization to any entity that represents a community business organization that is and/or willing to participate within the Vietnamese community.
2. Act as a liaison between VSA and other similar associations within California and this organization.
3. Be the direct line of report for all committee chairs that are organizing an event for this organization. He/She shall bring any major concerns before the President and if necessary, the Cabinet.
4. Aid and advise the President on any concerns that pertain to the view and opinions of our community patrons.
Sub-section 4 – The Executive Secretary shall:
1. Take minutes at every general and officer meeting.
2. Keep records of all decisions made by the officers and the members of this organization.
3. Send out minutes of general meetings to all members and minutes of officer meetings to all officers.
4. Keep records of official members of this organization.
5. Receive any and all official correspondence to this club. This officer shall distribute copies to the President and all officers and parties concerned and respond to them according to the opinions and decision of the majority of the officers.
6. Aid and advise the President on any concerns pertaining to these bylaws and other procedural questions.
Sub-section 5 – The Executive Treasurer shall:
1. Keep records of all expenditures.
2. Have the power to authorize any expenditure not exceeding fifty (50) dollars and be responsible for the reimbursements of any personal expenditure for this organization.
3. Report to all officers on all expenses and profit of any event thrown by this organization.
4. Be familiar with all budget and financial policies of this university and of the Associated Students.
5. Make monthly reports dealing with the financial state of this organization at officer meetings.
6. Work with the President and the Vice-President on this organization’s budget.
7. Aid and advise the President on any concerns pertaining to this organization’s finances.
8. Collect membership fees if a fee is ever imposed upon the members of this organization.
Sub-section 6 – The UVSA NorCal Intercollegiate Council Representative (ICC Rep) shall:
1. Supporting the mission and activities of UVSA;
2. Assisting with the overall direction and goals of UVSA;
3. Maintaining thorough communicative links among the member schools of UVSA and its associates;
4. Being present at least ninety percent (90%) of the ICC meetings; and
5. Coordinating and overseeing intercollegiate activities.
Sub-section 6 – The Event Coordinator shall:
1. Organize events for the purpose of recreation and enjoyment.
2. Present an itemized list of all expenditures and, if appropriate, income to the cabinet after each and every social event.
3. Be in charge of the biannual membership drive.
4. Organize all community service events that include students of this university and the surrounding Vietnamese community.
5. Work with the External Vice-President in organizing community service efforts that include the surrounding Vietnamese Community and other statewide organizations.
6. Work with the Internal Vice-President in organizing community service efforts with other organizations on campus.
7. Be responsible for any and all funds relating to charities and similar entities.
Sub-section 7 – The Cultural Chair shall:
1. Be the chair of Ban Van Nghe, the committee charged with organizing the annual culture show or appoints the Culture Show Director.
2. Take care of the annual float during Tet
3. Organize events that share our culture with the general campus community as well as the Vietnamese community.
Sub-section 8 – The Historian shall:
1. Create a record of the term year for this organization.
2. Cooperate with the Director of Publicity to create the annual scrapbook.
3. Assist the webmaster in supplying content for the website.
Sub-section 9 – The Publicity Director shall:
1. Be responsible for the distribution of any and all information regarding campus and community events.
2. Keep track of all people participating in this organization’s events if that event requires that it be done.
3. Be in charge of any committee created to advertise this organization during membership drives.
4. Aid and advise the President on any concerns that pertain to the general members of this organization.
Sub-section 10 – The Fundraising Chair shall:
1. Work with Treasurer and Event Coordinator to organize events to help the club with funding
2. Put together sponsorship team for the annual culture show as well any other events that needs funding
Sub-section 11 – The Newspaper Chair shall:
1. Be responsible for all aspects of yearbook and its production.
2. Assemble a newspaper committee to accomplish this purpose.
3. Compile the yearbook and have it ready for distribution at the end of the year.
4. Prepare a narrative account for the club’s activities during the current administration, subject to the approval of the Cabinet.
5. Report to the President, Vice-President, and Executive Treasurer on the financial dilemma pertaining to the yearbook.
6. Raise funds to optimize yearbook production.
Sub-section 12 – The Webmaster shall:
1. Develop and maintain this organization’s website.
2. Bring electronic correspondence to the attention of the appropriate officer or if needed, the cabinet.
Section 3 – Terms
Each elected officer shall serve a term of one (1) academic year. The term shall begin on June 1 of the year that officer was elected and end on May 31 of the following year.
Article VII
Nominations and Elections
Section 1 – Elections
Sub-section 1 – Elections shall be scheduled within the last two weeks of April. If, for any reason, the election cannot take place within the same period, the election must be rescheduled to take place sometime before finals so that members may focus on what should be their first priority, their education. Elections may not be delayed once they have begun and must be completed within that day.
Sub-section 2 – Nominations will only be taken from members of this organization within one month of the week before the scheduled election. Nominations may be accepted or declined by the nominee. Any nominations taken before this time period may be noted but not made official until that nominee accepts within the time period stated. No nominations shall be taken after this time period. A person may only be nominated for one position. Nominees do not have to be present at the elected and may send a representative in their place.
Sub-section 3 – Only members who are students of this university are eligible to be officers.
Sub-section 4 – The winners of the election shall be those who receive the most votes of eligible members.
1. Officers may not vote in elections. They may only vote in case of a tie. Any officer running for a second term in the same office may not vote at all.
2. Voting shall be done by secret ballot.
Sub-section 5 – Results of the election shall be confirmed and verified by the officers. Results must be posted or distributed within one (1) week.
Section 2 – Line of Succession
In the event the both Presidents are no longer able to perform his or her duties, the line of succession is as follows:
1. Vice-President
2. Executive Secretary
3. Executive Treasurer
In the event that none of these officers can perform the duties of President, then the remaining officer shall organize a special election for an interim president who will serve for the remainder of the term.
Section 3 – Impeachment
Two-thirds (2/3) of all officers may choose to impeach any officer. That officer will have an opportunity to defend himself before all members of this organization and all present members of this organization will determine his/her eligibility for office by secret ballot.
Article VIII
Advisors
Section 1 – Eligibility
The organization must have a University advisor. This person must hold at least a bachelors degree and be employed as a faculty or staff member by San Jose State University. A Graduate Assistant/Intern may assume the advisor role if approved by the Student Involvement staff.
Sub-section 1 – The Advisor(s):
1. Assist the organization in fulfilling their mission, goals and purpose.
2. Be knowledgeable of the organization’s constitution and bylaws and assist the organization’s members in interpreting them.
3. Provide assistance in the form of advice, experience, knowledge to cabinet members and members
4. Be aware of the organization’s activities
Section 2 – Voting
The advisor shall be a non-voting member of the organization.
Article IX
Meetings
Section 1 – Meetings
Meetings will be held once every two weeks unless otherwise noted.
Section 2 – Special meetings
The presidents and committee chairs may call special meetings.
Article X
Committees
Section 1 – Ban Van Nghe
The purpose of this committee shall be to organize the annual culture show of this organization. The chair of this committee shall be the Cultural Chair. The members of this committee shall elect a co-chair.
Sub-section 1 – The chair of this committee shall be responsible for all financial concerns in regards to the arrangements of the culture show, such as sponsorship and budget arrangements.
Section 2 – Presenting Amendments
The proposed amendment must be read in a general meeting as an informational item. That amendment will be debated upon in that meeting. Changes to the amendment may only take place at an officer meeting scheduled not more than one week after the general meeting at which the amendment was proposed. All members of this organization, including the officers, may engage in full debate and change of the proposed amendment at the following general meeting.
Section 3 – Passing Amendments
Amendments must be passed by two-thirds (2/3) of all members present and voting.
Article X
Dues
Section 1 – Fees
There will be no fee collection for membership in the organization.
Article XI
Approval and Confirmation by These Bylaws
Section 1 – Requirements for Approval
These bylaws shall require the unanimous approval of all elected officers of the current year and signed by the External President, Internal President, and Vice-President. The Executive Secretary shall record all results of these votes within these bylaws and sign below.
Section 2 – Enactment
These bylaws shall take effect beginning in this organization’s elections for the following year.
This Constitution was adopted on June 19, 2008.
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President: Nghia Nguyen Date
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Vice-President: Triet Hoang Date
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Secretary: Angeline Ngo Date
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Treasurer: Angeline Ngo Date
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Culture Chair: Angeline Ngo Date
Etc.
