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SHADE Constitution

Last modified on: 24 September, 2005

• Article I: Name
• Article II: Purpose
• Article III: Membership
• Article IV: Officers
• Article V: Meetings
• Article VI: Dues
• Article VII: Amending the Constitution
• Article VIII: Faculty Advisors

The name of this organization shall be Students Helping Achieve Diversity and Equality (SHADE).

Article II

The purpose of this organization is to promote and achieve diversity and equality in the School of Social Work.

Article III

Membership in this organization shall be open to anyone regardless of race, color, gender, creed, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, pregnancy, political affiliation, marital status, parental status, veteran status, or arrest or conviction record who:

• Is a recognized and enrolled student of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
• Agrees to accept and adhere to the purpose, Constitution, and by-laws of said organization.
• Voting:
  Voting members are those that are current Social Work and Social Welfare majors and are active SHADE members.
  Those that are not majors, but are interested in the purpose of this organization can vote on matters relating to SHADE, but cannot vote on curriculum or departmental issues.

Officers:

Section I

The elected officers of said organization shall be:

President

Description of Duties: to be the official representative of the organization at all necessary meetings and functions; to co-chair all the general meetings and executive meetings; to coordinate all committees and components to maximize efficiency of the organization; represent the organization at faculty meetings and report back-an executive member may go in their place.

Vice President

Description of Duties: to assist the President in all ways needed and necessary; to be an official representative of the organization in the President’s absence; to co-chair all general meetings and executive meetings; to oversee all committee activity.

Treasurer

Description of Duties: to handle all financial matters and transactions of the organization; to oversee the fundraising committee and be a liaison to the Vice President.

Secretary

Description of Duties: to take minutes at all general and executive meetings; to be responsible for all the organization’s outgoing and incoming correspondence; to keep record of membership and of member’s basic information; to keep record of typed minutes; to oversee a committee and be a liaison to the Vice President.

Public Relations Officer

Description of Duties: to prepare and coordinate any necessary statements or public service announcements; to speak on behalf of SHADE when opportunities arise in a manner that adheres to the organization’s constitution and mission statements --to collaborate with executive members before doing so; to create and distribute any advertisements needed for the organization; to coordinate any multimedia services needed; to plan any special events and/or oversee the committee whose in charge of such events.

Representative for the Recruitment and Retention if Students of Color Committee

Description of Duties: to attend all committee meetings and report to SHADE the results of that meeting; in case of an absence, an executive board member may go in their place.

Social Justice Advocate

Description of Duties: The primary objective of a Social Justice Advocate is to raise awareness of happenings within the local community and provide opportunities for action within the School of Social Work. The Social Justice Advocate will be the chair of the social justice committee. This committee will write memos about happenings in the community and distribute them within the school. The committee will also organize projects in which the members of SHADE and students, staff, faculty within the School of Social Work can make changes within the community.

Section II

The officers shall be elected from the eligible candidates for each office by members of the organization. All officers must be Social Work or Social Welfare Major, have a 2.25 GPA and be in good academic standing with the School of Social Work.

Section III

The terms of the officer shall be two academic years at UW-Madison and elections shall take place in October for that academic school year. Positions will include members from the complete range of Social Work students including: undergraduate SW majors, 1st and 2nd year MSSW students and doctoral candidates. There will be one President and one Vice-President. The Vice-President will take over the position of the President in the next school year, and the vacated Vice-President position will then be open for election in the fall. An Advance standing MSSW level student cannot hold the Vice-President position. Each of the other offices will be co-chaired by students from different class levels in order to promote retention of the organization. Offices will be held for two years.

Section IV

Special condition of the officers: Officers will attend all meetings as expected and be readily accessible to the rest of the Executive Board. In the case of a necessary absence, it will be assumed that the co-chair or another Executive Board Member will fill in.

Section V

Any officer who violates the rights, privileges, or responsibilities of his or her office as set forth in this Constitution may be removed from office by a vote of the members in a meeting, provided that the body has been given one week written notice prior.

Section VI

Officers can resign at any point and new elections will be held.

Article V

The General Body will meet once a month. The Executive Body will meet once a month, the week prior to the General Body meeting. Sub committees will meet, as they deem necessary.

Article VI

Payments of dues and fees are only expected for special events, as we do not want fees to be a deterrent of membership.

Article VII

This Constitution may be amended by a three-fourths majority vote of those present at any regular meeting or a special meeting of this chapter called for that purpose, provided that a copy of proposed amendment(s) be given to each member one meeting preceding the one in which the amendment(s) are to be voted on.

By-Laws
Committees: Under the By-Laws, all functioning committees shall be standing committees responsible to the SHADE body. Not all committees are in effect at all times.

The present committees are:

• Orientation-work with School of Social Work to improve orientation to the School, made up of the Executive Committee
• Recruitment and Retention-
• Classroom Climate-
• Training on Elements of Cultural Competence-students will be available to go to classes to talk/share their diversity

Faculty Advisors: shall be selected from the Social Work Faculty who volunteers for this position. There shall be one or two.

Functions:

• Provide continuity between outgoing and incoming officers.
• Hold regular meetings with the executive board to discuss its plans for the group.
• Keep the best interests of both the organization and the university in mind.
• Should attend as often as possible all group activities, giving special priority to group meetings.
• Be sure the organization complies with university policy.