Southern California Pilipino American Student Alliance Constitution Modified as of March 15, 2011

ARTICLE I:

NAME AND PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION

Section 1.

The name of this organization shall be the Southern California Pilipino American Student Alliance, and hereafter be referred to as SCPASA.

Section 2.

The purpose of SCPASA shall be: To support the SCPASA member organizations, to promote closer unity and cooperation amongst Pilipin@/Pilipin@-American students in Southern California by coordinating meetings and events, to maintain and propagate the cultural and historical heritage of Pilipin@s/Pilipin@-Americans, to promote awareness of the cultural, academic, social, political, and community aspects of this organization, to mobilize and enact positive change in the community, to provide the development of leadership skills, opportunities, and training.

ARTICLE II:

ORGANIZATION, DUTIES OF OFFICERS, AND LENGTH OF TERM

Section 1.

The elected officers for this organization shall consist of a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Financial Coordinator, Administrative Coordinator, Programming Director, and Public Relations Director which constitute the Executive Board.

Section 2.

Duties of the Chairperson:

2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Section 3. 3.1

Be responsible for the performance of other officers and maintain compliance with this Constitution. Assist and oversee all SCPASA programs and projects. Facilitate or delegate facilitation for each of the SCPASA general meetings. Coordinate agenda with the Executive Board for all SCPASA general meetings. Act as the primary contact for SCPASA. Mediate any discussions of conflict within SCPASA in conjunction with the general committee. Attend all SCPASA general meetings. Train the next elected Chairperson. Duties of the Vice Chairperson: Assume the duties of the chairperson in his/her absence.

3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Section 4. 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8

Section 5. 5.1

5.2

5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 5.9 5.10 5.11

Section 6.

Oversee duties of the committees. Work in conjunction with the Executive Board to help achieve the goals and maintain the purpose of this organization. Maintain communication with the general member organizations. Attend SCPASA general meetings. Train the next elected Vice Chairperson. Manage Intercollegiate Council and act as liason for Executive Board. Duties of Financial Director Maintain and prepare all pertinent financial statements for this organization. Coordinate and implement fundraising projects. Assist Executive Board with projects. Attend all SCPASA general meetings Train the next elected Financial Coordinator. Uphold Memoriam of Agreement contract with Fil-Am Arts. Collect data and complete end-of-year fiscal report and submit to Board of Advisors. Actively seek advice and/or information that ultimately secure independent 501(c)(3) status (master plan goal) Duties of Administrative Director Maintain a current directory of SCPASA by obtaining up-to-date constitutions and maps of general member organizations and contact information of general member organizations. Keep an up-to-date record of all SCPASA general agendas and minutes of all meetings. A copy of each board meeting minutes and general meeting agendas, including a list of all attending members, shall be available at all times for member’s references. Handle and maintain records of all correspondence pertaining to SCPASA. Furnish a copy of the agenda of the next SCPASA meeting to the general membership. Assist Executive Board with projects. Attend all SCPASA general meetings. Train the next elected Administrative Coordinator. Collect data, and create and present Annual Report. Oversee and track organizational operations. Create, prepare, and properly distribute a monthly newsletter for monthly General Meetings (Collabs) Actively pursue community and/or business partnership to ultimately secure office space (master plan goal) Duties of Programming Director(s) (2, or elected as needed)

6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8 Section 7. 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 Section 8. 8.1

8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6

More may be elected by the general member organizations as needed for the projected calendar year. Assemble committees as necessary in implementing programs designed by the Executive Board. Coordinate with SCPASA general member organizations and outside resources in implementing programs. Conduct further research into issues that affect SCPASA constituents in accordance to their designated projects. Keep journal of all actions and contacts made during program’s duration. Attend all SCPASA general meetings. Persons appointed to assist the Programming Directors will not have voting privileges. Train the next elected Program Directors. Public and Community Relations Director Maintain direct communications with organizations in and out of SCPASA. Publicize upcoming SCPASA events to the general members as well as organizations outside of SCPASA. Maintain, or designate maintenance of, SCPASA website. Assist Executive Board with projects. Manage Knowledge Communities and act as liaison for Executive Board Attend all SCPASA general meetings. Train the next elected Public Relations Director. Appointed Position Clause Appointed positions include but are not limited to: Board of Advisors, Knowledge Communities, National Representatives, Summit Planning Committees. (Summit Planning Committee is already included in Constitution merely an example) The Executive Board is responsible for appointing positions as necessary. Positions will be successfully filled by a unanimous vote. Positions will be successfully filled by a simple majority vote. Appointed positions will last for the duration of the project. Appointed positions have no voting priviledges.

Section 9.

Length of term for Executive Board shall be one year upon elections.

Section 10.

Length of term for Board of Advisors shall be until resignation.

Section 11.

National Representative

11.1

Purpose: Individual(s) who represent SCPASA on a national level and act as a liaison to sister regional alliances (ie. Midwest Association of Filipino

11.2

ARTICLE III:

Americans, Filipino Intercollegiate Network Dialogue, Northwest Filipino American Student Alliance) and advocates for SCPASA voice in a greater APA/Fil-Am community projects/policy targeting the youth and young professional (i.e. UniPro, National Federation of Filipino American Associations, Organization of Chinese Americans, etc.) Appointed by the Board of Advisors as necessary.

GENERAL MEETINGS

Section 1.

The Executive Board shall draft and publicize a schedule of monthly general meeting bi-annually.

Section 2.

Emergency meetings may be called at the discretion of the Executive Board.

Section 3.

General meeting host school must be active.

Section 4.

Selection of general meeting host school will be under the discretion of the Executive Board.

Section 5.

Hosting organization is responsible for location, site, directions, and signs.

Section 6.

All meetings are open to the public unless designate as closed.

ARTICLE IV:

MEMBERSHIP: ACTIVE, INACTIVE, HONORARY

Section 1.

Membership into SCPASA shall be open to any chartered Pilipino-based student organization in Southern California colleges and Universities.

1.1

Any chartered student organization that does not satisfy membership requirements may participate as an affiliate upon acceptance by majority of the Executive Board, then by active general membership organizations.

1.2

Requirements: Completion of SCPASA registration form. Submission of organization’s constitution. Campus map of organizations. SCPASA shall be notified of any changes in officers, representatives, or other changes in pertinent information. Each organization is responsible for updating SCPASA at its earliest convenience. Any organization that has fulfilled membership requirements shall be referred to as an active member. 1.2.1 1.2.2 1.2.3 1.2.4

1.3

1.4

Inactive members consists of those who have fulfilled membership requirements but have not attended a minimum of three consecutive general meetings during the year. Inactive member schools and organizations will have their voting priviledges suspened until they are reinstated. 1.4.2 Inactive members must attend two consecutive SCPASA general meetings in order to be reinstated. Anyone who is a member of an SCPASA organization is an automatic member of SCPASA. Membership is open to any student regardless of age, gender, sexuality, race, religion, etc. Anyone who is not a college student shall be an honorary member. 1.4.1

1.5 1.6 1.7

1.7.1

1.8

Anyone who is not associated with a member organization is an honorary member.

Duration of membership shall last one academic school year and must be renewed at the next academic year. 1.7.1 The duration of the academic school year shall be from August to June.

1.8

1.9

Membership status will be revoked upon majority vote of active general membership. 1.8.1 Current Executive Board will evaluate the situation and will decide grounds for termination which will be presented to the general membership. 1.8.2 All disciplinary actions will be void at the end of the academic year in which it was implemented. Each organization must designate two representatives to attend the SCPASA meetings. 1.9.1 Alternates are mandatory to attend and shall be decided by each organization

ARTICLE V: Section 1.

Voting Amendments to general meeting agendas

1.1

Any changes to the agenda shall be made at the discretion of the Chairperson and will only be added as a discussion item of that meeting. These items will then become actions items at the next general meeting unless voted by 2/3 of the general membership to allow that item into action during the same meeting.

Section 2.

Each recognized SCPASA active general member organization shall be entitled to one vote.

2.1

Associate and inactive organizations do not have voting privileges, but they may engage in discussion and/or debate.

Section 3.

A vote shall be counted by roll call representing each recognized SCPASA general active member organization.

3.1

Elections or any other special circumstances shall be voted by secret ballot or at the discretion of the Executive Board. A quorum must be present as designated by the Executive Board and a simple majority vote by the general body decides the outcome.

Section 4.

Summit Host School Bidding: Active general member organizations may bid to host future meetings and prospective sites will be voted upon by the active general member organizations.

4.1

ARTICLE VI: Section 1. 1.1

Bidding process will be at the discretion of the Executive Board

ELIGIBILITY, NOMIINATIONS, ELECTIONS Eligilibility Candidates for Chairperson must: 1.1.1

1.2

Have prior experience as an SCPASA elected Executive Board member. 1.1.2 Must have attended at least one SCPASA Summit 1.1.3 Be endorsed by an SCPASA active general member organization. Candidates for Vice Chairperson 1.2.1 1.2.2

Have prior experience as an SCPASA elected Executive Board member or organization representative. Organization must attend at least three SCPASA events.

1.3

Candidates for Financial Director, Administrative Director, Programming Director (s), and Public and Community Relations Director must: 1.3.1 1.3.2 1.3.3

1.4

Section 2.

2.1

Age Limit: 1.4.1

Each member may nominate their own candidates for office.

2.1.2

2.3

Section 3. 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Section 4. 4.1

Executive Board 1.4.1.1 Any committed individual up to the age of 24 at the time of elections may be eligible to run for any position within SCPASA in addition to any other mentioned requirements

Nominations for officers must be held one meeting prior to the election meeting and will remain open through Election meeting.

2.1.1

2.2

Have prior experience as an SCPASA elected Executive Board member or organization representative Organization candidate must attend be an active member by attending at least three SCPASA events. Be endorsed by an active SCPASA general member organization.

Each motion to nominate a candidate must be seconded by another SCPASA active general member organization other than the organization that made the motion. The nominating member organization must briefly state (1 minute) the platform for the candidate.

Each nominated candidate must accept or decline seven days prior to the day of elections. Write-Ins: 2.3.1 Active member schools and organizations may nominate eligible candidates on the day of elections. Nomination procedures are: Motion for nomation by SCPASA active general member organization. Nomination statement by nominating organization. Second motion by another SCPASA active general member organization. Confirmation of nomination by Nominee. Election procedures are The currect Executive Board shall run the elections with the exception of those Executive Board members who are candidates.

4.1.1

4.2 4.3 Section 5.

In event that all Executive Board members are all candidates, a committee consisting of members of active general member organizations shall be formed by those currently present at the nomination meeting. 4.1.1.1 The counting of ballots shall be performed by the appointed committee. 4.1.1.2 The members of the appointed committee shall not include candidates and should consist of no more than three individuals. Candidates may be nominated for multiple positions but may only accept one office. The order of offices shall be voted upon as listed in Speeches

5.1

The Chairpersons and Vice Chairpersons candidates’ speeches must not exceed three minutes with a five minute question-and-answer period. The primary nominating organization for the candidate will speak (vouch) on behalf of the candidate may optionally choose to speak (vouch) on behalf of the candidate. The secondary nominating organization for the candidate may optionally choose to speak (vouch) on behalf of the candidate.

5.2

The Financial Director, Administrative Director, Programming Director (s), and Public and Community Relations Director candidates’ speeches must be no longer than three minutes with a three minute question-andanswer period followed by the same “vouch” procedure described in (5.1) above. Other candidates must not be in the immediate location during the speech and question-and-answer of the Nominee. Candidates may appoint a proxy in the event the nominee cannot be present to deliver their speech and must state the reason behind the need for a proxy to the elections committee. Vacancies of a position shall be filled by a 2/3 vote of the active general membership as stated in the elections procedures.

5.3 5.4

5.5

ARTICLE VII:

ADVISORS

Section 1.

The Advisory Board Board of Board of Advisor (s) will be present when necessary, and will consist of persons who have served as an SCPASA Executive Board member.

Section 2.

The Board of Advisorys role:

2.1

Serve as an outlet for the current Executive Board.

2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5

Ensure that the actions of Executive Board are in compliance with the constitution. Will not have voting privileges, like Executive board, but can advise and assist when called upon by the Executive Board. Shall hold annual meeting at Summit to evaluate organizational progress, address concerns, and overall growth of the organization. Manage National Representatives activity and involvement.

ARTICLE VIII: RESIGNATION, IMPEACHMENT Section 1.

Resignation of Executive Board members must be in writing and submitted two weeks prior to implementation with valid reasoning.

Section 2.

Impeachment of officers may be done by:

2.1 2.2

2.3

Two different active general member organizations submitting one written report each revealing their intent to impeach an officer. The Executive Board (those not being impeached), with aid from the Board of Advisors, will determine the validity of the written reports and assess the impeachable offenses. If impeachment offenses are valid, notices will be sent to the general membership before the impeachment process continues. Upon the validity the impeachment, Executive Board will grant an initiation process towards impeachment activated at the following general meeting entailing a trail process which includes: 2.3.1 2.3.2 2.3.3 2.3.4

ARTICLE IX: Section 1. 1.1 1.2 1.3

A review of the impeachable offenses. Officer’s defense. Discussion and debate. Voting on impeachment where impeachment will be successful with a 2/3 vote from the active general member organizations.

AMENDMENTS The Constitution may be amended with the following. Announce the proposed amendment change at an SCPASA general meeting. Discussion and debate of the amendment during the general meeting. A 2/3 vote from the active general member organizations is required to pass the amendment successfully.

PROPOSED ARTICLES:

ARTICLE X:

KNOWLEDGE COMMUNITIES

Section 1.

Purpose: To serve as outlet on specific issues facing the greater Pilipino American Community

Section 2.

Knowledge Communities (KC) include, but are not limited to:

2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Section 3. 3.1

3.2

ARTICLE XI: Section 1.

1.1

LGBTQ Pilipin@/Filipin@ Language/History/Studies Human/Immigrant/Labor Rights Pinayism Leadership: KC Coordinator acts as an ambassador of SCPASA partnering with community based organizations specifically geared towards particular issue May coordinate and/or participate in spaces that advance the learning or progress of issue KC Coordinator shall be appointed by Executive Board through application process

MANDATORY PROGRAMMING FOR SUMMIT The following are mandatory events to occur concurrently to Summit annually. Board of Advisors meeting purpose: 1.1.1 Review and evaluate growth of organization 1.1.2 Present and moderate issues regarding organization development 1.1.3 Recommend constitutional changes to active body as necessary.