Constitution of Gamma Theta Upsilon- Geographical Honor Society:

Epsilon Iota Chapter at the University of Idaho

 

ARTICLE I: NAME

  1. This organization shall be known as Gamma Theta Upsilon- Geographical Honor Society: Epsilon Iota Chapter at the University of Idaho, otherwise herein referred to as GTU or the Society.

 ARTICLE II: PURPOSE

  1. GTU is an academic honor society dedicated to the following principles:

    1. Furthering novice & professional interest in Geography by affording a common organization for those interested in the field.
    2. Strengthening student and professional training through academic experiences in addition to those of the classroom and laboratory.
    3. Advancing the status of Geography as a cultural and practical discipline for study and investigation at the University of Idaho.

ARTICLE III: AFFILIATIONS

ARTICLE IV: MEMBERSHIP

    1. Persons seeking membership must be initiated through an established Chapter of Gamma Theta Upsilon. A chapter is also an "Omega Omega" chapter maintained for Alumni after graduation. There are two classes of membership in GTU:

    2. Regular Member: Initiates must be currently registered undergraduate or graduate students of the University of Idaho. They must have completed a minimum of 3 geography courses, have a B average in geography, have an overall GPA of 3.25 and shall have completed at least 3 semesters or 5 quarters of college course work. Only currently registered members will be extended voting privileges.

    3. Honorary Member: A chapter may extend honorary membership to anyone whom it feels has, by exploration, research, lecturing, publishing, teaching, or any other way contributed to marked advancement in any phase of Geography. The fees for honorary membership are paid for by the local chapter.

    4. Every voting member is required to fulfill a membership requirement. To maintain voting eligibility, members must participate in 50% or more of Society activities throughout the semester (i.e. scheduled meetings, fundraisers, field trips, guest lectures, etc…). Members may still attend meetings if their participation drops below 50% but their voting privileges will be suspended until a board, appointed by the President or one of his/ her officers, convenes and votes on the matter. If participation drops below 50% due to extenuating circumstances (i.e. pregnancy, family problems, illness, etc…) voting privileges may be kept.

    5. Revoking of membership in GTU will be conducted by secret ballot. Any Society officer may recommend the removal of a member with cause. A simple majority vote of the voting members is required for the member to be removed. The member in question may submit a written statement before the voting members convene. The statement will be read and made available to all voting members before a vote is cast.

    6. Membership in GTU will be based on the above criteria without regard to a persons race, color, gender, class, nationality, disability, religion, or sexual orientation.

ARTICLE V: OFFICERS

  1. The Society’s officers shall consist of a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Additional officers may be elected to fill such roles as activities chair, charity director, social coordinator, etc… Only members in good standing can be selected to be an officer. All officers will be elected through nomination, and a majority vote of the voting members. No individual can hold more than one office at any time unless in unusual circumstances.

  2. Responsibilities of Officers:

    1. President: Top executive officer of the Society.

      1. Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

        1. Overall responsibility for all aspects of the operation and organization of GTU.
        2. Primary representative of the society for all Department, College, and University meetings and/or events.
        3. Preside over all society meetings.
        4. Fiduciary responsibility as a cosigner on all accounts and funds held in the society’s name.
        5. Appointment of members to head ad hoc committees positions with the approval of society officers.

      2. Qualifications for position:

        1. Member of the Society for one year, except in unusual circumstances.
        2. Declared major in the Department of Geography.

    2. Vice President: Second executive officer of the Society.

      1. Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

        1. Provide counsel to the President when needed.
        2. Assume all of the President’s duties when directed by the President or in his/her extended absence.
        3. In the event the President either resigns his/ her position, graduates or is voted out of office (other than during regular elections), the vice president will assume all duties until either a new president is voted into office or he/ she can be either voted into the office of President.
        4. Delegate the President’s directives about the formulation and duties of various ad hoc and standing committees.
        5. Carry out any other directive of the President.

      2. Qualifications for position:

        1. Member of the Society for one year, except in unusual circumstances.
        2. Declared major in the Department of Geography.

    3. Secretary: Third executive officer of the Society.

      1. Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

        1. Any and all official Society communications.
        2. All aspects of planning for Society meetings under direction of the President (including securing meeting area, date and time, and notification of Society members).
        3. Maintain an accurate roster of members and attendance.
        4. Keep official minutes of meetings including records of votes.

    4. Qualifications for position:

      1. Member of the Society for one year, except in unusual circumstances.
      2. Declared major in the Department of Geography.

    5. Treasurer: Fourth executive officer of the Society.

      1. Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

        1. Primary fiduciary responsibility regarding the creation, collection, and expenditure of all the accounts and funds held in the Society’s name.
        2. Primary signer on all accounts and funds held in the Society’s name.
        3. Formulate ad hoc fund raising committees.

      2. Qualifications for position:

        1. Member of the Society for one year, except in unusual circumstances.
        2. Declared major in the Department of Geography.

  3. Terms of office will be from the 1st of May to the 30th of April the following year except in unusual circumstances. The newly elected officers will assume a training role in their appropriate position after spring break of the election year.

  4. Removal of an officer: A special meeting can be called to consider removing an officer. A quorum of two-thirds of all members in good standing is required to conduct business. Once the quorum is met, a vote will take place to hold a special election for the purpose of removing the officer(s). The removal of the officer(s) will occur if a two-thirds majority is met in the special election.

ARTICLE VI: ELECTIONS

  1. Elections will be held the week before Spring Break. All elections will be held after a minimum two-week prior notification of members. Notification of the elections will be the responsibility of the Secretary via the means listed under Article VII.

  2. Voting will be by secret ballot of the present members, unless waived by a majority of voting members. Absentee ballots will be accepted during the notification period.

  3. The current Secretary will accept nominations for officers during the nomination period. All nominees must agree to accept the position and the responsibilities for that position as outlined in this document. The Secretary will design the ballot and make a ballot box available for members to submit their vote. No ballots will be accepted after 5:00 P.M. on the last day of the election week. Ballots will be counted by all current officers.

  4. When circumstances require it, special elections can be called, after a 2-week notification period. The 2-week notice may be waived by 2/3 of the voting members.

  5. A majority (50% + 1) of the votes cast will prevail.

 ARTICLE VII: MEETINGS

  1. Regular meetings will be scheduled monthly or as needed to conduct Society business. Meetings will be scheduled at times when a majority of members can be present. The Secretary shall have the responsibility of notifying Society members of meeting dates and times via the geo-cart e-mail list, posted notices at McClure Hall, and prior meetings. Notification should take place at least one week prior to a scheduled meeting.

  2. There must be a quorum present for Society business to be official. Unless otherwise stated, a quorum shall consist of a simple majority of voting members.

 ARTICLE VIII: ADVISORS

  1. There shall be one University of Idaho Geography Department faculty advisor who shall be a member ex officio with no voting privileges.

  2. The Society advisor will be selected by simple majority vote, from a nominating list of the Geography Department faculty willing to fill the position.

  3. The Society advisor’s role will be to facilitate interaction between the students and faculty and to offer the insights gained from their position and work.

ARTICLE IX: COMMITTEES

  1. The ad hoc committee system shall be used when necessary to gather and present information to the members for discussion or to carry out a delegated task.

  2. Committees shall be formed by voluntary agreement of a member or by appointment by the President. Committees shall be dissolved upon completion of their assignment.

 ARTICLE X: CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

  1. Amendments to this Constitution can only be proposed and formulated by the process of a motion, second, and scheduled meeting. To prevail, an amendment must carry 2/3 affirmative votes, by secret ballot, of the voting membership.

  2. All votes on Constitutional Amendments will be preceded by a minimum two-week notification of the members. Upon successful amendment, a revised copy of this constitution will be provided to all relevant parties, including the University of Idaho.

     

     

The above Constitution of the Gamma Theta Upsilon- Geographical Honor Society: Epsilon Iota Chapter at the University of Idaho was reviewed and approved by a 2/3 majority of the members on the _____ day of

___________________, 2000.

 

 

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Acting President

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Acting Vice-President

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Acting Secretary