Constitution of the Philippine United Students’ Organization Preamble We, the Philippine United Students’ Organization are determined, to create a nontraditional and progressive Filipino students’ organization, to unify and optimize our presence and efficiency in the Academe, to attain a socially, intellectually, culturally integrated Filipino academic base that promotes Filipino cultural awareness to all, harmonious interaction and co-partnership with any other culture, do ordain and establish this Constitution. Article I Name Section 1: The name of this organization shall be the Philippine United Students’ Organization, hereafter referred to as P.U.S.O. Article II Purpose Section 1: With heart and complete dedication, we swear to enrich the Filipino scholastic experience in Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) by: A. Inspiring oneness and good will amongst Filipinos; B. Providing unparalleled service to the Filipino student population; C. Securing their interests, continuously generating solutions to their problems, and instituting general guardianship of their well being; D. Manifesting the diverse Filipino cultural heritage; E. Promoting multilateral, multicultural cooperation and understanding with the various organizations and peoples in the Community College; F. Probing into the social, political, and economical issues that affect the Filipino student, the Filipino Family, and Filipino Nationhood. G. Establishing a Scholarship Program which strictly is intended to provide financial reward to aspiring students in the Philippines, mostly of poverty status, to further improve their quality of education, as well as to imbue others to the same. H. Committing to serve the Reno Community through means of Community Service as well as promoting cultural awareness to the community at large. Article III Membership and Fees Section 1: As long as a student is currently enrolled in at least one credit at TMCC, membership shall be offered without exclusion or preference to race, color, age, ideology, socio-economic status, gender, and handicap. Section 2: The membership fee shall be voted upon right after the yearly election of officers. Payment can be made annually or semiannually depending upon the enrollment of the member, payable to the elected treasurer. Article IV Committees Section I: Executive Committee The Executive Committee shall have the following duties: A. B. C. D. E. F. G. Represent the name, policies and interests of the organization and its members, to various College and Non-College functions and programs. Advance the image and recognition of the organization on and off campus. Recruit new members. Ensure unobstructed operations for all the other committees. Revise the constitution. Monitor the growth and stability of the organization. Facilitate internal communication amongst members and committees; and external communication with faculty, other campus-based organizations, and school administration. The Chairperson of Executive Committee is the President of P.U.S.O. The Chairperson shall have the following duties: A. B. C. Supervise the affairs and performance of the executive committee. Head and organize representation for the organization. Promote the organization’s name and image. D. E. F. Section 2: Assess the organization’s growth and performance. Appoint a Co-chair who will assist in accomplishing the tasks of the Executive committee. Organize and conduct meetings, to ensure the success of the Executive committee’s projects. Activities Committee The Activities Committee shall have the following duties: A. Oversee the overall planning, funding, hosting, organization, advertisement, and preparation of all P.U.S.O. activities and events. B. Submit an expenditures outline to the Finance Committee along with other necessary financial recommendations for review. The Chairperson of the Activities Committee is the Vice-President of P.U.S.O. The Chairperson shall have the following duties: A. B. C. D. E. F. Section 3: Oversee the overall progress of the Activities committee. Create a P.U.S.O calendar of events. Distribute work activities work among the P.U.S.O. members. Construct reports of all P.U.S.O. events. Appoint a Co-chair that will assist in accomplishing the tasks of the Activities committee. Organize and conduct meetings to ensure the success of the Activities committee’s projects. Finance Committee The finance committee shall have the following duties: A. Receive, review and recommend requests for new and unbudgeted items. B. Suggest and identify potential sources of funds. C. Assist the organization in the review and preparation of the budgets. D. Keep track of all expenditures in order to identify any emerging problems. E. Collect all dues, assessments, contributions, and donations. E. Provide support to the other organization committees as requested. The Chairperson of the Finance Committee is the Treasurer of P.U.S.O. The Chairperson shall have the following duties: A. Manage the general financial affairs of the organization. B. Maintain financial records for the organization. C. Monitor club expenses and budgetary allotments. D. Review the organization’s financial statements and construct a semi-annual financial report. E. Provide safekeeping of the organization’s financial resources. F. Appoint a Co-chair that will assist in accomplishing the tasks of the Finance committee. G. Organize and conduct meetings to ensure the success of the Finance committee’s projects. Section 4: Student Services Committee The Student Services Committee shall have the following duties: A. Provide assistance to members who have any inquiries or concerns regarding admission stature to the college and records of their academic profile. B. Provide counseling to members who are in need of advice or have any inquiries regarding classes, and/or majors during the summer, fall, and spring semesters. C. Provide assistance to members in need of help with their college coursework. D. Provide information to students with general inquiries regarding The student organization and the college. E. Issue weekly announcements to other members concerning matters of importance to the organization, community, and the world. The Chairperson of the Student Services Committee is the Secretary of P.U.S.O. The Chairperson shall have the following duties: A. Provide members with services that will benefit them as students of the college. B. Attend to inquiries, complaints, or concerns of members of the organization. C. Coordinate the service requests of all members with those who are able to assist them. D. Make certain that all members are notified and aware of announcements, projects, and events of the organization E. Notify other officers of any and all changes, concerns, or problems within committee. F. Appoint a Co-chair that will assist in accomplishing the tasks of the Student Services committee. G. Organize and conduct meetings to ensure the success of the Student Services committee’s projects Section 5: Creation of a Committee An “Ad hoc” Committee can be created if a need for it arises. Like all actions of the organization, a motion has to be passed to approve its creation. Ad hoc committees have a definite purpose; its existence and leadership have to be determined immediately after its creation. Section 4: Media and Promotions Committee The Media and Promotions Committee shall have the following duties: A. B. C. C. D. Enact as a committee that would help with the marketing aspect of the club. Provide effective ways to advertise certain events, as well as activities of the club through means of mixed media tools, such as flyers, posters and brochures. Must be able to seek other means to provide up to date information on the website such application forms and scholarship forms, and Provide assistance to members in need of help with their college coursework. Provide information to students with general inquiries regarding the student organization and the college. The Chairperson of the Media and Promotions Committee is the Historian of P.U.S.O. The Chairperson shall have the following duties: A. Oversee the overall progress of the Media and Promotions Committee. B. Create a promotional tool in order to advertise all clubs upcoming events C. Distribute work activities such event decorations and website updates, among the P.U.S.O. members. D. Construct an effective way in promoting all P.U.S.O. events. E. Appoint a Co-chair that will assist in accomplishing the tasks of the Media committee. F. Organize and conduct meetings to ensure the success of the Activities committee’s projects. Section 2: Scholarship Committee The Scholarship Committee shall have the following duties: A. Receive and review all incoming scholarship application forms; preferably on a monthly basis. B. Suggest and identify potential scholars while following strict application or acceptance guidelines. C. Keep track of all applications in order to identify any emerging problems. D. Able to communicate both in English and Tagalog, or perhaps, on rare cases, a certain Filipino dialect, be it Ilocano, Kapampangan, Bisaya or other existing dialects in the Philippines. E. Provide support to the other organization committees as requested. F. To be able to respond to any questions concerning the program and most importantly, to provide accurate information, while maintaining sheer conduct and ethics with the applicants. The Chairperson of the Finance Committee is the Scholarship Coordinator of P.U.S.O. The Chairperson shall have the following duties: A. Manage the general financial affairs as well as the advertising aspect of the Scholarship Program “Edukasyon, Unang Hakbang sa Pagbabago”. B. Maintain a consistent flow of communication amongst schools on dfferent regions of the Philippines. C. Oversee the overall progress of the Scholarship Committee.. D. Able to respond to the needs of members of the scholarship committee E. Must be fluent in the Tagalog language as well as the English language. F. Review the organization’s statements and construct a semi-annual Scholarship report. G. Appoint a Co-chair that will assist in accomplishing the tasks of the Scholarship Committee H. Organize and conduct meetings to ensure the success of the Scholarship Program. I. Construct reports of all incoming and outgoing mail responses (letters, emails, and etc.) J. Organize and conduct meetings to ensure the success of the Activities committee’s projects. The Club Senator shall have the following duties: A. The PUSO Club Senator must serve as a liason in abridging all of the necessary information coming from ASTM as well as the entire TMCC Community B. Must attend the OSA meeting of the ASTM, which generally is conducted on a monthly basis. C. Must provide sheer and accurate information taken from the OSA meetings, such as upcoming events coming from both the ASTM and other neighboring clubs/organizations, in the PUSO General Assemblies. D. Must be able to have strong public relation skills and must possess the ability to provide information to all members concerning event in the college. E. Establish strong connections and ties by means of networking with other organizations from different institutions Article V Election, Voting, and Qualification Section 1: Elections A. Effective the following Fall Semester. Training shall start in the Summer. B. All candidates shall only be allowed to campaign two weeks before the election. C. Candidacy should be filed a week before the campaign period. A candidate can be self-nominated or constituent-nominated. A candidate has the right to decline nomination. Candidate may accept/ Decline one week before. D. Each candidate should meet the qualifications for membership for the entirety of the their term. Any elected official who shall fail to meet the qualifications shall automatically be disqualified. E. Vacant positions shall be filled by appointment with two-thirds approval from the general assembly. F. In the event that a candidate shall run unopposed, the candidate should at least come up with the support of two-thirds of the voter population for that election. G. To ensure voter anonymity and election transparency, voting shall be done in ballots, to be planned and conducted by the organization Officers. Voting will begin 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. election day. Winners shall be announced 9:00 p.m. on the same day. Section II: A. B. C. D. Overall Qualifications of PUSO Officers All aspiring officers must have a good and consistent record of attendance and commitment to the club. All officers must have paid the membership fees Able to work with P.U.S.O. schedule the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Scholarship Coordinator and the Club Senator, must at least be able to speak and understand the mother language, Tagalog, to a certain extent. Article VI Advisor Section I: The P.U.S.O. advisor shall fulfill the following duties: A. Make any recommendations to the P.U.S.O. with regards to organization issues at all meetings. B. Oversee Election procedures of executive officers and to ensure fair, impartial voting. C. Suggest and assist officers in the planning and implementation of various programs and activities. D. Make sure the organization abides to the relevant rules, policies, and procedures as outlined by the ASTM. E. Provide guidance, inspiration, and insight to the organization’s leaders and members with regard to academics and community service. Section 2: The P.U.S.O. Co- Advisor A. The Co-Advisor in general, shall mandate the same privileges that the advisor possesses abovementioned. B. Moreover, the Co-advisor must take full responsibility of the advisor’s duties especially in times of his or her absence, as well as serving as an intermediate person Article VII Meetings, Procedures and Motions Section 1: Meetings Each committee shall meet independently, depending upon their objectives, projects and schedules. General Assemblies shall be announced every time there is business that needs to be taken up with the members. Section 2: Procedures Every general assembly shall follow the Parliamentary Procedure according to Robert’s Rules of Order. They are as follows: 1. Call to order. 2. Roll call of members present. 3. Reading of minutes of previous meeting. 4. Officers reports. 5. Committee reports. 6. Unfinished business. 7. New business. 8. Announcements. 9. Adjournment. Section 3: Motions Every member has the right to express himself / herself to the general assembly in the form of a motion. Motions are to be presented as follows: 1. Make the motion. 2. Second the motion. 3. Debate the motion. 4. Vote on motion. A. Distribution of votes on motions President Executive Electorate Vice-President Activities Electorate Secretary Student Services Electorate Treasurer Finance Electorate 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 _______ 11 A. The president has no vote on motions, but has the power to veto one. B. Motions can be acted upon without particular attention to the number of members present during the general assembly. C. In order to grant or reject a motion a majority count of six votes has to be garnered. Article VII Constitution Implementation and Amendments Section 1: Implementation The constitution shall be implemented upon ratification of the majority of the members of the organization. Section 2: Amendments The constitution shall be amended by request of majority of the members of the organization. Ratified on: Witnesses Name Signature 1.____________________________ 2.____________________________ 3.____________________________ 4.____________________________ 5.____________________________ 6.____________________________ 7.____________________________ 8.____________________________ 9.____________________________ 10.___________________________ 11.___________________________ 12.___________________________ 13.___________________________ 14.___________________________ 15.___________________________ 16.___________________________ 17.___________________________ 18.___________________________ 19.___________________________ 20.__________________________ 21.___________________________ 22.___________________________ 23.___________________________ 24.___________________________ 25.___________________________ 26.___________________________ 27.___________________________ 28.___________________________ 29.___________________________ 30.___________________________