Black Community Council By­-Laws

 

Article I­ - Name and Mission

Section 1­ - Name: The name of this organization is the Black Community Council (BCC). It is an organization at the University of San Francisco.

Section 2­ - Mission: The USF Black Community Council (BCC) aims to build and maintain a supportive community for black students, staff, faculty, and alumni. We do this by bringing together representatives from all the African American and African ­theme and related organizations at USF to develop programs, coordinate efforts, and sponsor events. The BCC also serves as a vital link between Black alumni and the University through collaborative programming with the USF Black Alumni Society.

Article I­ - Membership

Section 1­ - Full Members: All Faculty, staff and students at the University of San Francisco are eligible for full membership in the BCC. These individuals are considered to be voting members of the BCC. These individuals have the right to serve as executive officers of the BCC.

Section 2­ - Electing Executive Committee Members: The Black Community Council shall have the power to elect its own officers and to fill any vacancies on the executive committee.

Section 2­ - Membership Dues: Members will not have to pay dues as a part of their membership in the Black Community Council.

Section 2­ - Voting Members: All full members of the BCC have the right to cast votes on all Council issues and during the elections of executive officers of the BCC.

Section 3­ - Non-­voting Members: The executive committee shall have the authority to establish and define non­voting categories of membership. Individuals from the greater Bay area community may be invited to participant as non­voting members of the BCC by the executive community.

Article III - Meetings

Section 1­ - Regular Meetings: Regular meeting shall be held twice a semester, at a time and place designated by the chair.

Section 2­ - Special Meetings: Special meetings may be called by the chair, the executive committee, or a simple majority of the voting members of the BCC.

Section 3 -­ Notice of Meetings: Printed notice of each meeting shall be given to members, by electronic or paper means, not less than one week prior to the meeting.

Section 4­ - Quorum: At least one member of the executive committee, along with all the voting members present at a meeting shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. No business shall be considered by the BCC at any meeting at which a quorum is not present. 

Section 5­ - Voting: All issues to be voted on shall be decided by a simple majority of those present at the meeting in which the vote takes place. No issues shall be voted upon at which a quorum is not present. In the case of tie vote, the chair or executive committee member presenting the chair shall hold the tie-breaking vote.

Article IV­ Executive Committee

Section 1­ - Executive Committee Function: The executive committee is responsible for implementing the overall bylaws, directing the Black Community Council, leading the meetings of the Black Community Council, and delegating responsibility of the operations of the Black Community Council to the members.

Section 2 -­ Executive Officers: There shall be four officers on the executive committee, consisting of a chair, vice­chair, secretary, and treasurer. Their duties are as follows:

Chair­ - The chair shall convene regularly scheduled board meetings, shall preside or arrange for another member of the Executive Committee to preside at each meeting in the following order: vice-chair, secretary, treasurer. Chair is authorized to call special meetings whenever, in the chair’s judgment, the interest of the BCC shall require special meetings.

Vice-­Chair­ - The vice­chair shall chair committees on special subjects and perform duties as designated by the chair. Vice-Chair shall perform the responsibilities of the Chair in the event of the absence, or a vacancy in the office, of the Chair. The Vice­-Chair will serve as the Chair­ elect of the BCC. Upon completion of Chair’s term, the Vice­-Chair will assume the office of Chair of the BCC. Additionally, the Vice-­Chair shall shadow the chair as a means of learning the duties and responsibilities of the Chair.

Secretary­ - The secretary shall be responsible for keeping records of executive committee and general BCC actions. The secretary shall oversee the taking of minutes at all BCC meetings, sending out meeting and announcements, distributing copies of minutes and the agenda to each board member, and assuring that records are maintained.

Treasurer­ - The treasurer shall make a report at each BCC meeting regarding financial matter of the BCC. The treasurer shall chair any formed finance committee, assist in the preparation of the budget, help develop fundraising plans, and make financial information available to BCC members and the University.

Section 4­ - Terms: All executive committee members shall be elected to serve a one­-year term, however the term may be extended until a successor has been elected.
a) Executive committee members may serve terms in succession.
b) The term of office shall be considered to begin on the first day of August and end on the last day of July, unless the term is extended until such time as a successor has been elected.

Section 3­ - Managing Vacancies: When a vacancy on the board exists, the secretary must inform the BCC members of the vacancy and request nominations to fill the vacancy from voting members of the BCC. These nominations shall be sent out to the BCC membership with the regular board meeting announcements, to be voted upon at the next regular meeting. In the absence of any nomination, the chair may appoint a voting member to serve the remainder of the term for said vacancy.

Article V­ - Sub­-Committees

Section 1­ - Committee Formation: The executive committee may create sub­committees as needed, fundraising, membership, marketing, programming, etc. The chair shall appoint all sub-committee chairs.

Section 2­ - Executive Committee: The four officers serve as the members of the executive committee. Except for the power to amend the articles of bylaws, the Executive Committee shall have the authority to act on behave and in the interest of the BCC in the intervals between meetings of the BCC. The executive committee shall act in the best interests of the BCC.

Amendments: The Black Community Council bylaws may be amended when necessary by two-thirds majority vote of the Council. Proposed amendments must be submitted to the Secretary to be sent out for review and. Bylaws Amendments shall be voted at the first meeting after the proposed amendments were sent out to members.