LPC Biology Club

​​What is Biology Club?

 

BIOLOGY CLUB CONSTITUTION

 

 

 

ARTICLE I: NAME OF THIS ORGANIZATION

Section 1: The name of this organization shall be "Biology Club."

 

ARTICLE II: PURPOSE OF THIS ORGANIZATION

Section 1: Our main goal is to bring members together who are pursuing a degree related to the field of Biology, interested in Biology, or searching to see if Biology is a field of study that interests them.

 

Section 2: We offer a diverse club of members from all different fields of science that are eager to help one another grow and succeed. We provide mentorship, leadership opportunities, informational guest speakers, fun activities, and scholarships to reward member participation.

 

Section 3: This organization accepts full financial responsibility for all activities that bear its name as official sponsor and will adhere to all College regulations. All publicity for an event will bear the name of the sponsoring organization.

 

ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP

Section 1: Any Las Positas College student is eligible to join.

 

Section 2: Membership is limited to Las Positas College students only.

 

Section 3: Membership is granted immediately to any student attending an Official Meeting OR participating in an event. The duration of membership is one academic year.

 

ARTICLE IV: OFFICIAL MEETINGS AND VOTING

Section 1: Voting and the allocation of Club Funds can only occur during Official Meetings. Officers are encouraged to meet informally to discuss logistics and follow-up on the status of events.

 

Section 2: A minimum of one officer of the Executive Council is required to be present at an Official Meeting. Official Meetings cannot be run by officers who are not in an Executive Council position except at the discretion of the President. The presence of a Faculty Advisor is also required at all Official Meetings.

 

Section 3: Only items appearing on the agenda and subjects relating to them may be put to a formal vote during a meeting. If a motion is called for an item that does not appear on the agenda, the motion must be tabled until the following Official Meeting.

 

Section 4: All motions must be moved and seconded before a vote can be counted. Formal votes are counted openly and publicly.

 

Section 5: The officer running the meeting is encouraged to informally survey the members to clarify the general opinion of the club. Informal polls do not require a motion.

 

Section 6: All motions in Biology Club require a simple majority to pass with the exception of an impeachment (Article VII), a constitutional amendment (Article X), or any special circumstances enforced by the Inter-Club Council (ICC).

 

ARTICLE V: ELECTIONS OF OFFICERS

Section 1: The officers of Biology Club are the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Inter-Club Council Representative, Event Coordinator, Historian, and Media Officer.

 

Section 2: Elections are conducted at the last Official Meeting of the Spring Semester. Newly elected officers do not assume their duties until the first day following the end of the Spring Semester. The terms of all officer positions conclude at the end of the academic year.

 

Section 3: The procedure for conducting an election is as follows:

A. The officer conducting the meeting announces that a position is open for election. Members who are interested in running must identify themselves at this time.

B. Once all candidates have been identified, they will each be allowed to deliver a short speech to the club that describes their qualifications.

C. After all candidates have had an opportunity to speak, they will be asked to exit the room.

D. Members will be allowed to vote on the candidate of their choosing. The vote will be counted and confirmed by no less than two Biology Club officers.

E. The final vote count will be reviewed. Any objections to the accuracy of the count may be raised.

F. All candidates will be asked to return to the room and the newly elected officer will be officially recognized.

 

Section 4: In the event that an officer chooses to resign or is impeached, an election for that position must be held at the next Official Meeting.

 

Section 5: Any officer choosing to run for a vacant position is not required to resign from his/her current position to run. If elected, resignation from the current position is effective at the end of the current meeting. His/Her former position will be immediately open to election.

 

ARTICLE VI: DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS

Section 1: President

A. Completes LPC Club Procedure Training in accordance with ICC regulations.

B. Ensures that Authorized Signatures, Club Contact Information, Proposed Club Budget, Request to ICC for Club Funds, and Request to ICC for Matching Funds forms are completed and submitted before their deadlines.

C. Carries out the provisions of Biology Club's constitution.

D. Develops the agenda for Official Meetings with the assistance of the Vice President and sends it to members via email.

E. Presides over all meetings or appoints an Executive Council officer in his/her absence.

F. Trains all officers in their positions.

G. Forms committees, appoints Chairpersons, and appoints Special Event Coordinators.

H. Requests regular reports from committees and Special Event Coordinators.

I. Updates the Faculty Adviser on all events and activities within Biology Club.

 

Section 2: Vice President

A. Assumes the duties of the President in his/her absence or in the case of the President being subject to impeachment.

B. Performs duties delegated by the President.

C. Assists the President with developing the agenda as needed.

D. Performs the duties of any officer who does not attend an Official Meeting with advance notice from the absent officer. This includes the presentation of Officer Reports.

E. Assists the President in training new officers.

F. Communicates regularly with committees and Special Event Coordinators to assess their progress and to request that reports be sent to the President.

G. Updates the Faculty Adviser on all events and activities within Biology Club.

H. Ensures that deadlines are met for Club Scholarships.

 

Section 3: Secretary

A. Keeps accurate minutes of all meetings and prepares them to be sent out with the agenda.

C. Records in the minutes who moved and seconded a motion as well as the final vote count.

D. Maintains printed records of the minutes in the club binder. The minutes must be accessible during meetings.

E. Keeps accurate attendance records of meetings and events. If the Secretary is unable to attend an event or meeting, he/she must recruit another member to fulfill this responsibility.

F. Presents an Officer Report at all Official Meetings and motions to approve the minutes from the previous meeting.

 

Section 4: Treasurer

A. Completes LPC Club Procedure Training in accordance with ICC regulations.

B. Accurately maintains and updates Biology Club's financial records.

C. Deposits all money into the club account immediately upon receiving it. Funds received while the campus is closed must be turned over to Campus Safety & Security until the campus is open. If the Treasurer is unable to attend an event where money is being handled, he/she must delegate the task to another officer.

D. Fills out Funding Approval, Disbursement, and Fundraising Approval forms during meetings as needed.

E. Presents an Officer Report at all Official Meetings. This report will include a review of expenses and revenue since the previous Official Meeting.

 

Section 5: Inter-Club Council Representative

A. Attends all ICC meetings. If the ICC Representative cannot attend a meeting, he/she must immediately notify the President and Vice President. It is the responsibility of the ICC Representative to recruit a substitute to attend ICC meetings in his/her absence.

B. Prepares Club Report forms at ICC meetings.

C. Promotes Biology Club events at ICC meetings.

D. Provides information on ICC policies and procedures to officers and members.

E. Presents an Officer Report at all Official Meetings. This report will include a review of the last ICC meeting. It will also address ICC issues identified by the ICC Chair.

 

Section 6: Event Coordinator

A. Ensures that Facility Request forms are submitted for all Official Meetings.

B. Assists committees and Special Event Coordinators in submitting Facility Requests, Guest Speaker Forms, Student Life Off-Campus Forms, and Student Life Off-Campus: Attendee Listings before required deadlines.

C. Assists committees and Special Event Coordinators in promoting their events. The Event Coordinator is responsible for submitting jobs to the RICOH Copy Center. He/She must maintain the Copy Code’s confidentiality.

D. Manages discussions regarding events during Official Meetings.

E. At the President's discretion, he/she may provide an Officer Report at Official Meetings to update the club on upcoming events.

 

Section 7: Historian

A. Takes photographs at all Biology Club events. If the Historian is unable to attend an event, he/she must recruit another member to fulfill this responsibility.

B. Researches the history of Biology Club to ensure its traditions are upheld.

C. Provides ideas for events based on previous semesters.

D. Composes a scrapbook to present at the last Official Meeting of the year. This scrapbook may be physical or digital.

E. At the President's discretion, may provide an Officer Report at Official Meetings to update the club on events that occurred since the last Official Meeting.

 

Section 8: Media Officer

A. Manages, moderates, and promotes the use of internet and social media channels. This includes, but is not limited to: LPC Website’s official Biology Club page, Gmail account, Google Site, and the Biology Club Facebook Group.

B. Updates online calendars to accurately reflect upcoming events.

C. Ensures that the club's digital media and passwords are passed on to newly elected officers. The Media Officer must meet with the President and/or Vice President at the beginning of the Fall Semester to implement new passwords and ensure confidentiality.

D. Operates multimedia displays and presentations during Official Meetings.

E. At the President's discretion, the Media Officer may present an Officer Report at Official Meetings to update the club on changes to internet and social media channels.

 

Section 9: General Duties of All Officers

A. Support Biology Club’s mission and goals.

B. Be prepared to speak during Official Meetings on subjects pertaining to their duties.

C. Must attend all Official Meetings. If an officer misses two Official Meetings during a semester without prior notification, he/she must meet with the President or Vice President and a Faculty Advisor to discuss his/her ability to continue fulfilling his/her duties.

D. It is at the President’s or Vice President’s discretion whether or not an officer may be excused for a meeting due to extenuating circumstances. The President and Vice President may not deem their own absence excusable.

E. All officers are strongly encouraged to meet informally on a weekly basis to remain updated on club activities.

 

Section 10: Executive Council

A. The officer positions that compose the Executive Council are President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and ICC Representative. These officers fulfill roles and perform duties that are required by the ICC and the Office of Student Life.

B. Executive Council offices must be the first positions filled during elections.

 

ARTICLE VII: IMPEACHMENT AND REPLACEMENT OF OFFICERS

Section 1: Impeachment of an officer is based on failure to regularly attend Official Meetings and/or inability to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of his/her office.

 

Section 2: The following is the procedure to impeach an officer:

A. The officer subject to impeachment must be notified that he/she is being subject to impeachment. A Faculty Advisor must also be notified.

B. An officer of the Executive Council must announce the pending impeachment at an Official Meeting and offer support for his/her case.

C. At least three of the remaining seven officers must also publicly concur with the pending impeachment.

D. The President will appoint an interim officer until the impeachment proceedings are concluded. In the event that the President is subject to impeachment, refer to Article VI, Section 2A.

E. Immediately following the meeting during which the impending impeachment is announced, the impeachment must be advertised through communication channels regularly used by the club (email, website, Facebook, etc.).

 

F. The impeachment will occur at the following Official Meeting. The officer being impeached will be allowed to speak on his/her own behalf. He/She must then exit the room. A ⅔ majority vote from attending members is required to pass a motion for impeachment. If the motion passes, the impeached officer is immediately removed from his/her office.

 

ARTICLE VIII: COMMITTEES

Section 1: The President may appoint committee Chairpersons or Special Event Coordinators. This allows for members of the club to take on leadership roles and it allows the President to delegate the management of events and club activities.

 

Section 2: Committees

Committees exist until deactivated by the President. The Chairperson of a committee is responsible for performing tasks necessary to accomplish the purpose of the committee. He/She is encouraged to ask the President and Vice President for guidance. All officers are required to assist committees with tasks that are relevant to their office.

 

Section 3: Special Event Coordinators

Every Biology Club event is run by a Special Event Coordinator appointed by the President. Special Event Coordinators may recruit Biology Club members to assist them in running events. All officers are required to assist Special Event Coordinators with tasks that are relevant to their office. A Special Event Coordinator is retained until an event is completed and he/she has fulfilled all of his/her responsibilities.

 

ARTICLE IX: FACULTY ADVISOR

Section 1: Faculty Advisors are faculty members of Las Positas College who serve an advisory role in Biology Club. It is strongly encouraged that Biology Club retains two Faculty Advisors.

 

Section 2: A Faculty Advisor must be present at all Official Meetings and official off-campus events.

 

Section 3: All fliers and forms must be approved by a Faculty Advisor prior to submission to the Office of Student Life.

 

Section 4: Officers are encouraged to seek the advice of a Faculty Advisor whenever necessary.

 

ARTICLE X: AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION

Section 1: Any member of Biology Club may propose an amendment to the constitution. He/She must have the support of a total of four officers and the proposal must be discussed with a Faculty Advisor before the proposed amendment can be announced during an Official Meeting.

 

Section 2: Proposed amendments to the constitution must be announced during an Official Meeting. The vote to ratify the amendment cannot occur until the following Official Meeting. The proposed amendment must be advertised through communication channels regularly used by the club (email, website, Facebook, etc.) immediately following the meeting during which the amendment is proposed.

 

Section 3: Amendments to the constitution require a ⅔ majority vote during an Official Meeting to pass. Once passed, it is the responsibility of the President or Vice President to ensure that the newly amended constitution is published and distributed prior to the next Official Meeting.