MIT Skydiving Club
CONSTITUTION
Index:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Name
Purpose
Membership
Officers/Elections
Meetings
Constitutional Amendments
Financial Matters
USPA Clause
ASA Governance Clause
1. Name
MIT Skydiving Club
2. Purpose
To give the members of the MIT community a chance to experience the thrill of skydiving and to provide
a forum for people interested in the sport to share experiences and further the bond that jumping out of
perfectly good airplanes creates.
This club will work to serve the needs of both experienced skydivers and those interested in or new to
parachuting. We strive to help anyone interested in skydiving both to learn more about it and to find safe
and congenial ways to participate in aspects of the sport.
3. Membership
Anyone, including any off-campus member of the MIT community, is eligible for membership in this
organization. In any term, an active member is one who has attended at least one club activity in the
current term or a preceding term. At least four MIT students must be enrolled as members at all times.
Hazing is not allowed, and all activities will be conducted in accordance with Massachusetts state law.
Membership will not be based upon race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, or
disability. Furthermore, this organization will not discriminate based on any characteristic listed in MIT's
Nondiscrimination Statement.
4. Officers/Elections
The MIT Skydiving Club will have a minimum of two distinct officers elected annually:
1. The club will be run and overseen by a President. The president shall be the official
representative of the group to any other organization and to MIT. The president is responsible for
organizing meetings and publicizing this to the group.
2. A Treasurer shall be responsible for the finances of the group. The Treasurer is required to sign
all checks/vouchers of the group.
The President and Treasurer must be separate, current MIT students (graduate or undergraduate). The
only requirement of experience for the President is that he or she have been a member of the club for at
least one year and must have completed a USPA accredited first-jump course.
These officers should ensure the smooth running and continuation of the club, including: keeping the club
in good standing with MIT, with the ASA, and with USPA; managing club funds; recruiting new
members; and facilitating skydive training and trips to wind tunnels and drop zones whenever the weather
permits.
New officer positions may be added by a two-thirds vote of active members and an amendment to the
constitution which specifies the duties of the officers. Additional offices could may include but are not
limited to Publicity Chair (creating advertisements and soliciting new members), Secretary (take minutes
during meetings, maintain the club’s email list), and Transportation Coordinator (organize transportation
to and from club events). All offices must be filled by members of the MIT community.
Officers will be elected in the spring for the following academic year with elections to take place before
the end of June at the club's spring general meeting each year. New officers will transition into office over
the course of the summer and will officially take office on the first day of classes of the fall term. Any
active member is eligible to run for office.
For election purposes, a quorum is two-thirds of all active members. Officers are elected by a majority of
the voting members. If more than two people are running for an office and no one wins a majority, then
the person with the fewest votes is dropped from the ballot and votes are cast again. Officers may be
removed by a two-thirds vote of the members.
5. Meetings
There will be a general club meeting held no less than once a term on the MIT campus. Meeting shall be
organized and presided over by the president, unless he/she is absent; in such case, the treasurer shall
preside. Quorum will be two-thirds of the total membership. All decisions shall be made by a majority
vote of the members present.
6. Constitutional Amendments
Amendments shall be presented by any member of the organization. Any constitutional amendments will
be made by a vote during a general meeting of the club. Quorum for amending the constitution shall be
two-thirds of all members of our organization. All decisions shall be made by a majority vote of the
members present.
7. Financial Matters
Finances will be obtained through MIT student activity funding and other club approved, low risk
fundraising activities. There will be no dues required of members or club activity participants.
8. USPA Clause
The club will be a Group Member in good standing of the U.S. Parachute Association. The club will
affiliate with a skydiving school or center that is a current USPA Group Member facility. All members
will observe and abide by USPA’s Basic Safety Requirements for skydiving and skydive training.
9. ASA Governance Clause
The MIT Skydiving Club agrees to abide by the rules and regulations of the Association of Student
Activities, and its executive board. This constitution, amendments to it, and the by-laws of this
organization shall be subject to review by the ASA Executive Board to insure that they are in accordance
with the aforementioned rules and regulations.