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Organization
Officers
Bylaws
Mission Statement
Officers
2007-2008
Bylaws
ARTICLE 1: NAME
This local chapter shall be known as the Iowa State
University Chapter of the Society of Professional
Journalists.
ARTICLE 2: AFFILIATIONS
The Iowa State University Chapter is an autonomous
affiliation of the Society of Professional Journalists
headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana.
ARTICLE 3: OBJECTIVES
The Iowa State University Chapter shall foster the
growth of operational journalism at Iowa State
University by providing the community with a social and
professional point of contact for journalistic
interests. The Iowa State University Chapter shall
encourage collaborative development among its members
and shall engage in education on the latest developments
in the various branches of journalism and communication.
ARTICLE 4: MEMBERSHIP
1. Membership is open to any student with an interest in
journalism and its related fields at Iowa State
University and who agrees to abide by the requirements
of this constitution as well as those of Iowa State
University and the Society of Professional Journalists.
2. The following are elected as officers of the chapter
by the procedures outlined in Article 8 and therefore
become members of the Executive Committee:
a. The president presides as the chair at all local
chapter meetings and is responsible for the ideological
and financial well being of the chapter. The president
has the authority to appoint committees, to delegate
responsibility as appropriate, to act upon local chapter
interests as necessary, and to oversee the goals and
aspirations of the active membership. The president
plans all meetings along with the Executive Committee
and communicates with the faculty advisor in regards to
important issues.
b. The vice-president presides as the chair in the
absence of the president. The vice-president maintains
close communication with the president and assists the
other officers in the performance of their duties. The
vice president also attends all relevant university-wide
and LAS meetings.
c. The treasurer maintains accurate financial records
concerning local chapter activities and has a complete
understanding of all financial transactions and forms.
The treasurer shall make a report of the financial
status of the chapter at each meeting. In the absence of
both the president and vice-president, the treasurer
serves as the chair at the local chapter meeting.
d. The secretary keeps minutes of chapter meetings and
distributes them to the active membership through the
president. The secretary shall submit reports of chapter
activities to the national organization through the
president. The secretary is responsible for notifying
the Society of Professional Journalists headquarters of
chapter election results. In the absence of the
president, vice-president and treasurer, the secretary
serves as the chair of the local chapter meeting.
3. The following are elected as additional officers of
the chapter by the procedures outlined in Article 8:
a. The social chair keeps the active membership informed
about chapter social activities and is responsible for
signing up the chapter in university functions.
b. The historian maintains a scrapbook of pictures and
various other items to serve as a history of the
chapterâ¤s events.
c. The web master maintains the chapter's web site and
updates information on the web site in a timely manner.
d. The public relations officers writes press releases
and promotes the organizationâ¤s upcoming events in the
local press.
e. The graduate liason officer works to promote the
organization among graduate students in the Greenlee
School and the university.
4. All officers are to be present at meetings unless
excused by a majority of the members of the Executive
Committee.
5. The active membership has the right to impeach any
officer if the officerâ¤s actions or activities warrant
dismissal.
ARTICLE 5: COMMITTEES
1. The Executive Committee consists of seven members:
the president, vice-president, treasurer, secretary,
faculty adviser, public relations officer and immediate
past president. If there is no immediate past president,
the most recent past president of the Iowa State
University Chapter will serve on the Executive
Committee. If there are no past presidents of the Iowa
State University Chapter, this seat will be filled by
special election. The winner of this election shall hold
the title of Officer Without Portfolio.
2. Additional committees shall be organized at the
discretion of the president and may become amended to
this section of the constitution.
3. Committee members shall consist of any active member
in the Iowa State University Chapter.
ARTICLE 6: DUES
1. The amount for dues will be set each year by majority
vote. Dues are payable at the first meeting of the
chapter year. Payment of dues entitles the member to
active member status and voting privileges.
2. If local chapter dues are not paid by the end of the
second meeting of the chapter year, the individual
's membership will be revoked and the individual will
no longer be able to participate in chapter activities
until the dues are paid.
3. Use of all dues shall be for activities of the Iowa
State University Chapter and for the betterment of the
chapter.
ARTICLE 7: MEETINGS
1. The chapter shall have a minimum of six meetings per
chapter year. The chapter year shall run from the
beginning of the fall semester through the end of the
spring semester.
2. The Executive Committee will determine time and
location of the meetings with input from the active
membership.
3. All meeting minutes shall be sent by e-mail and
posted on the chapter's web site to all active members
by the secretary through the president no later than 72
hours after the meeting. This message shall also include
the time, place and purpose of the next meeting.
ARTICLE 8: VOTING PROCEDURES AND ELECTIONS
1. A quorum is defined as more than one-half of the
active membership and must include one elected officer.
2. A simple majority of the quorum is required for the
election of officers and matters other than
constitutional reform and impeachment of chapter
officers. A two-thirds majority of the active membership
is required for amendment of the constitution and for
impeachment of the chapter officers. Voting may take
place by one of two methods:
a. If a quorum is present at a meeting, then voting may
take place at that time.
b. If a quorum is not present at a meeting, then all
matters (except officer election) that require voting
will be subject to electronic voting. Electronic voting
will take place one week after the minutes for the
previous meeting have been made available. After the
one-week waiting period, the president (or presidentâ¤s
designee) will post the question to all active members
via electronic mail. Voting will take place within a
one- week window beginning with the day the question
is posted. Votes will be made via electronic mail directly
to the president (or president's designee). Members
without electronic mail capability will have their vote
forwarded by a member who does. Results of the vote
will be announced at the next meeting, and by electronic
mail to all active members.
c. If electronic mail vote is authorized, then the
president or a designee of the president shall retain
copies of all electronic mail ballots for a period of
one year.
d. If a quorum is not met via electronic voting, then
the matter shall be tabled until the next meeting. No
chapter business can occur without a quorum.
3. Nominations of active members qualified to hold
officer positions will be accepted from the active
membership during the first meeting after spring break
or sent to the president (or a president's designee)
within one week after the minutes of that meeting have
been posted. A list of nominees will be sent by the
president to all active members within 48 hours after
the deadline for nominations has past.
4. Election of officers will take place at the next
meeting after the nomination deadline where a quorum of
the membership is present.
5. If an officer position becomes vacant, then the
remaining Executive Committee members shall recommend an
active member to fill the vacancy. A majority of the
Executive Committee is required to fill a vacancy in
this fashion. If no candidate receives a majority, then
the president shall make the selection to fill the
vacancy. In either case, the member selected to fill the
vacancy must be ratified by a simple majority of the
quorum present at the next chapter meeting. Should the
selection to the vacancy not be ratified, an election to
fill the vacancy must be held immediately according to
Article 8, Section 3 and 4.
ARTICLE 9: PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
1. Expenditures of the Iowa State University Chapter of
the Society of Professional Journalists less than fifty
dollars ($50.00) may be authorized by a majority of the
Executive Committee.
2. Expenditures of the Iowa State University Chapter of
fifty dollars ($50.00) or more shall require the
approval of a simple majority of a quorum present.
ARTICLE 10: NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
The Iowa State University Chapter of the Society of
Professional Journalists is organized and operated
exclusively as a non-profit entity, and no portion of
its earnings shall be used to the benefit of any
individual that is an active member.
ARTICLE 11: DISSOLUTION
Upon dissolution or disbandment of the Iowa State
University Chapter, all funds and properties in excess
of liabilities and expenses of dissolution will be
distributed as determined by a majority of the active
members.
ARTICLE 12: ADOPTION
This constitution shall become effective upon
ratification by two-thirds of the people present at the
chapter meeting on January 15, 2006, and upon approval
of the Society of Professional Journalists.
Mission Statement
The Society of Professional Journalists is dedicated to
the perpetuation of a free press as the cornerstone of
our nation and our liberty. To ensure that the concept
of self-government outlined by the U.S. Constitution
remains a reality into future centuries, the American
people must be well informed in order to make decisions
regarding their lives, and their local and national
communities. It is the role of journalists to provide
this information in an accurate, thorough, timely and
clear manner.
It is the mission of the Society of Professional
Journalists: to promote this flow of information; to
maintain constant vigilance in protection of the First
Amendment guarantees of freedom of expression; to
stimulate high professional standards and ethical
behavior in journalism; to foster excellence among
journalists; to inspire successive generations of
talented individuals to become dedicated journalists;
encourage diversity in journalism; to be the broad-based
membership organization for journalists; and to
encourage a climate in which journalism is practiced
freely.
The Iowa State branch of SPJ strongly encourages its
member to reflect upon the more than two centuries of
free-press tradition in this country. Toward that end,
the ISU SPJ takes part in the annual Greenlee School
First Amendment Day celebration. The organization also
brings in speakers from the world of professional
journalism and takes part in state, regional and
national conventions.
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Society of
Professional Journalists’ Region VII Conference
Iowa State University Center Scheman Building
Ames, Iowa
April 4-5, 2008
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