Constitution of Native American Cultural Association
Article 1 – Name
Section I.
The name of this organization shall be Native American Cultural Association
(herein referred to as “NACA”).
Article II – Mission Statement
Section I –
The mission of this organization shall be to establish and steadily increase the
awareness of Native American identity - past, present and future – within the
Rutgers University community and the surrounding communities. Tied to this
mission is the goal to create a network of students of Native American
background and to help them to connect with their collective culture and
indigenous cultures in general, as well as to help them to appreciate and know
more about their specific tribal affiliation/lineage. This will assist others in
learning about specific aspects of Native American history.
Article III – Eligibility of Membership
Section I.
Membership shall be open to al Rutgers University students and MUST comply
with federal laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, sex, handicap,
age, sexual orientation, and religious affiliation. Compliance with these laws
means that membership, benefits and the elections of the officers will not be
made on the basis of these factors.
Article IV – Executive Board Officers
Section I.
Section II
The executive board shall consist of President, Vice-President, Secretary,
Treasurer, Education/Awareness Coordinator, and Public Relations Coordinator.
The Executive Board shall lead by example by being present at all meetings and
programs, etc. In addition to the duties described below, they shall also perform
all other duties deemed necessary.
A. The President is responsible for: running the general meetings, organizing
and managing the implementation of all programs, resolving conflicts that
may arise, maintaining and developing relationships with all organizations on
campus (especially those whose goals coincide with those of this
organization), and representing NACA in the Rutgers University community
and the community at large.
B. The Vice-President is responsible for: providing assistance to the President,
performing the role of the President in the President’s absence (unless
otherwise agreed upon by the executive board officers), supervising the
Chairpersons and maintaining rapport between the members of the
executive board (officers and chairpersons), as well as the general body, and
creating agenda for meetings.
C. The Secretary is responsible for: taking the minutes at both Executive Board
and General meetings, assisting in the planning of an agenda each week that
a meeting is scheduled, managing all functions related to correspondence
(whether mail or electronic correspondence), and running any meeting at
which both the President and Vice-President are absent.
D. The Treasurer is responsible for: acquiring funds for programs and events
sponsored by NACA, providing information regarding the financial status of
the organization, presenting the budgets in all proposals in a clear, concise,
accurate manner, working in conjunction with the Chairpersons and
Programming committees, developing and maintaining relationships with
potential sponsors/donors.
E. Education/Awareness Coordinator is responsible for: managing the collection
of educational materials and resources (contacts for speakers, books,
internet research, etc.) that will enlighten members and the general public
about Native American culture, creating and taking charge of programs that
concern Native American culture.
F. The Public Relations Coordinator is responsible for: creating and maintaining
networks with media and other organizations in general, increase the RU
community’s awareness of NACA’s presence and purpose.
Section III.
The Advisor of the organization must be a full-time faculty or staff member of
Rutgers University. The Advisor must have the rank of Instructor or above. The
Advisor shall be a non-voting member of the organization.
Article V – Chairpersons
Section I.
Section II.
The titles of the chairpersons are as follows: Community Service, Historian,
Latino Student Council Representative and Latino Student Council Alternate
Representative, United Black Council Representative and United Black Council
Alternate Representative, Parliamentarian, Political Chair, Social/Cultural Chair ,
Tribal Affiliations Chair, Language Chair, and Dance Chair.
The Chairpersons (who are members of the Executive Board) shall lead by
example by being present at all meetings, programs, etc. In addition to the
duties described below, they shall also perform all other duties deemed
necessary.
A. The Community Service Chair is responsible for: developing community
service programs, acting as a liaison to the Rutgers community at large.
B. The Historian is responsible for: documenting all events in which NACA takes
part as well as hosting programs that depict NACA’s mission and legacy,
organize and execute programs focused on Native American history and
living culture as well in conjunction with other chairpersons.
C. The Latino Student Council Representative and Alternate Representative are
responsible for: ensuring that NACA is represented at each Latino Student
Council meeting, informing the rest of NACA as to the information about
each Latino Student Council meeting, and informing Latino Student Council
about NACA activities.
D. The United Black Council Representative and Alternate Representative are
responsible for: ensuring that NACA is represented at each United Black
Council meeting, informing the rest of NACA as to the information about
each United Black Council meeting, and informing United Black Council about
NACA activities.
E. The Parliamentarian is responsible for: knowing the Robert’s Rules of Order
in order to run a meeting, knowing all the information in the constitution,
attaining permits needed for any activity.
F. The Political Chair is responsible for: raising awareness regarding political
issues that concern the Native American/indigenous peoples of America both
locally and nationally, organizing and executing programs that address
political issues.
G. The Social/Cultural Chair is responsible for: developing and organizing
cultural events, contributing to fundraising efforts, working with other
organizations concerning social/cultural events.
H. Tribal Affiliations Chair is responsible for: researching procedures for
members to become recognized by their specific tribe, if applicable, or
possible, managing research and database of all tribes in North and South
America (including the Caribbean area).
I. The Language Chair is responsible for: researching and maintaining an
information source on languages used by Native American Tribes, creating
programs or information sources on current use of language in Native
American culture (i.e., conversation and song)
J. The Dance Chair is responsible for: creating programs that highlight Native
American dances, and, if possible, coordinate a dance performance each
year.
Article VI – Active Members
Section I.
Section II.
An active member is defined as one who attends 75% of meetings and
events held by NACA.
Only active members may partake in nomination, election, impeachment
and other voting procedures.
Article VII. Nomination and Elections Process
Section I.
Section II.
Section III.
Section IV.
The method of nominations from the floor and self-nominations shall be used to
nominate all executive board members for the following year: President, VicePresident, Secretary, Treasurer, Education/Awareness Coordinator, Public
Relations Coordinator, Community Service, Historian, Latino Student Council
Representative and Latino Student Council Alternate Representative, United Black
Council Representative and United Black Council Alternate Representative,
Parliamentarian, Political Chair, Social/Cultural Chair , Tribal Affiliations Chair,
Language Chair, and Dance Chair.
A. The officers will preside over the election and will tabulate the results, unless
an incumbent officer is a candidate and in such cases he/she shall not
tabulate the results.
B. Nominations for the officers and chairpersons should be made at the
meeting prior to the elections.
C. No executive board officer may hold more than one office at a time.
D. If, after the close of the nominations, there are no candidates for a given
office, the present Executive Board shall appoint an individual to fill the
vacancy with the present memberships’ approval within three weeks of the
elections.
E. The above-mentioned officers shall be elected by the majority of votes cast
by secret ballot.
Voter eligibility shall be determined by the most current membership list on file
with the Student Activities Center at the time of elections. Membership list
updates or additions submitted less than 30 working days prior to the date of the
election are not valid for such election.
Should a vacancy occur in the office of Presidency, the Vice-President shall
assume the duties of the President until the next regular scheduled elections. If
the Vice-President cannot assume the duties of Acting President, a special
election shall be held to fill the vacancy.
A. Impeachment proceedings may be brought against any Executive Board
member of the organization by any three (3) active members of the
organization.
Section V.
B. These members must file charges in writing, with all Executive Committee
members. These charges must also be filed with the Student Activities
Center where chartered.
C. The organization must have a special meeting to discuss the charges two
weeks from the date where charges were filed.
D. Removal from the office requires a 2/3 vote from the voting procedures.
E. The Executive Board Member against whom proceedings are brought is
granted the following:
 A “no contest” impeachment if he/she agrees to the complaints raised and
attests to this in writing that must be kept in the organization’s file at the
Student Activities Center.
 Automatic impeachment if the Board Member in questions is absent for
proceedings, unless a valid excuse is presented within three days (before or
after the scheduled meeting. The executive board will determine the validity
of the excuse by a vote.
F. The Advisor can offer comment but may not vote nor suggest a vote to any
member of the Executive Board, not to any general member, regardless of
member’s activity status.
A. Quorum for an organization with less than 50 members is 50% plus one (1).
B. Quorum for any organization larger than 50 members is 25 members or 25%
plus one (1), whichever is greater.
Article VIII
Section I.
Section II.
Section I.
Section II.
Special meetings will be held when requested by any of the officers, the advisor,
and/or when petitioned by ten percent of the membership.
All Executive Board members are permitted three (3) excused absences for
executive and general meetings per semester distinctly. Excused absences are
deemed so by written notification received prior to the absence. The protocol for
unexcused absences will follow a four-tier system. The first unexcused absence
will result in a verbal warning, the second a written warning, the third probation,
and the fourth unexcused absence will result in request for forced resignation.
Article IX – Constitution
A. Any active member may propose an amendment to the constitution. A
written copy of the proposed amendment shall be submitted to the Executive
Board.
B. The Executive Board shall give written notification to the membership at the
meeting following the receipt of the proposed amendment. This Constitution
may be amended by a 2/3’s vote of the membership, provided that the
amendment was submitted in writing at a previous regular meeting and
notice was given to all members at least on week before the meeting on the
constitutional amendment. The amendment will go into effect after it has
been presented to and approved by the Student Activities Center where
chartered.
C. The effects of such an amendment are not retroactive.
Questions of parliamentary procedure shall be decided in accordance with forms
laid down in Robert’s Rules of Order, latest edition.
Article X. Funds
Rutgers College requires that all monies (including but not limited to dues, donations, and
student fees applications) of student organizations registered at Rutgers College and receiving
more than 50% of its funding from Rutgers College must keep its funds in the Rutgers College
Student Fund Accounting Office. Otherwise, all monies must be maintained in an account at one
of the residential undergraduate colleges where it is registered. Organizations must hold their
funds at only one college.
Article XI. University Policy
This organization shall abide by all applicable laws of the State of New Jersey and the United
States. Moreover, this organization shall abide by all applicable rules and regulations of the
University and under the privileges granted by the Office of Student Activities, Deans and Dean
of Students where chartered. This organization shall also abide by the rules and regulations of
the Board of Governors, the university and the Colleges as provided by the Board of Governors
and Deans of the Colleges.
Article XII – Constitution Renewal Date
Section I.
Section II.
The Constitution must be reviewed at maximum every three (3) years.
The next scheduled renewal date will be in May 2005.