Constitution of the Ecologic Restoration and Education Club
Article l- Name, Purpose, and Non-Discrimination Policy of the Organization.
Section 1 – Name:
Ecologic Restoration and Education Club
Section 2 – Purpose:
This organization will promote ecological restoration by working with schools and community institutions to educate children and adults about how they can improve the health and ecology of their local environments. This will be done by hosting teaching seminars with our community partners and by actively participating in the implementation of our restoration principles. We will work with the specific needs of the community, but the primary restorative techniques will be beekeeping; native, perennial pollinator gardening; tree propagating; and raising monarch butterflies. The membership will consist of a small cohort of ecologically aware and socially active colleagues that seek to contribute to this cause.
Section 3 – Non-Discrimination policy:
This organization does not discriminate on the basis of age, ancestry, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDS status, military status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, or any other bases under the law, in its activities, programs, admission, and employment.
As a student organization at The Ohio State University, Ecologic Restoration and Education Club expects its members to conduct themselves in a manner that maintains an environment free from sexual misconduct. All members are responsible for adhering to University Policy 1.15, which can be found here:
If you or someone you know has been sexually harassed or assaulted, you may find the appropriate resources at or by contacting the Ohio State Title IX Coordinator at .
Article II – Membership: Qualifications and categories of membership
II.a. As required by the Guidelines for Student Organizations, 90% of the membership of a student organization must include current Ohio State University students. Active members and Executive Committee are able to make decisions regarding the membership of community and other non-student members of an organization. Community or other non-student members may be temporarily suspended with a majority vote of the Executive Committee.
II.b. Active members are entitled to the support of the organization and its members in pursuing projects that meet the organization’s goals.
Article III – Methods for Removing Members and Executive Officers
III.a. If a member engages in behavior that is detrimental to advancing the purpose of this organization, violates the organization’s constitution or by-laws, or violates the Code of Student Conduct, university policy, or federal, state or local law, the member may be removed through a majority vote of the officers in consultation with the organization’s advisor.
III.b. Any elected officer of the chapter may be removed from their position for cause. Cause for removal includes, but is not limited to: violation of the constitution or by-laws, failure to perform duties, or any behavior that is detrimental to advancing the purpose of this organization, including violations of the Student Code of Conduct, university policy, or federal, state, or local laws. The Executive Committee may act for removal upon a two-thirds affirmative vote of the executive board in consultation with the organization’s advisor.
III.c. In the event that the reason for member removal is protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) or cannot otherwise be shared with members (e.g., while an investigation is pending), the executive board, in consultation with the organization’s advisor, may vote to temporarily suspend a member or executive officer.
Article IV - Organization Leadership:
IV.a. In the organization, leadership responsibilities will be distributed among the members by a combination of will and skill. Leadership positions may be created at any time to suit each member’s skills and interested. Positions must be created and responsibilities assigned by collective group discussion and vote. Additionally, permanent positions will be created for institutional purposes, specifically, president, treasurer, secondary leader, and advisor.In the case of impeachment or resignation, leadership offices will be filled by vote of the membership body.
IV.b. President: The president will be responsible for managing the online interface and any essential operational responsibilities that have not been delegated to other leadership officers. The president retains the responsibility to ensure that the organization operates effectively and adheres to the core tenants of the organization. The position will be held for 1 year.
IV.c. Treasurer: The Treasurer is responsible for managing the financial resources of the organization. The position will be held for 1 year.
IV.d. Secondary Leader: The Secondary Leader will retain access to the organization’s online resources. The position will be held for 1 year.
IV.e. Advisor: The Advisor is responsible for providing support in executing the operations of the organization. The position will be held for one year.
Article V- Election / Selection of Organization Leadership
V.a. Core leaders will be selected every autumn semester by majority vote. Voting will be held during the third week of the semester. Each member will be allowed one vote per office.
V.b. Additional leadership offices will be assessed on a rolling basis. Changes will be made by vote.
V.c. In the case of impeachment or resignation, leadership positions will be filled be vote within 2 weeks.
Article VI - Executive Committee: Size and composition of the Committee.
VI.a. The executive committee will be composed of the President, Treasurer, and Secondary Leader. Other members may be added to the executive committee by vote of the committee.
Article VII – Advisor(s) or Advisory Board: Qualification Criteria.
VII.a. The advisor must be a full-time member of the University faculty or Administrative & Professional staff. The advisor does not need expertise in the ecology or education, but expertise is preferred. The advisor is responsible for supporting the organization, as the advisor is cable of doing. The executive committee and the advisor will negotiate the advisors responsibilities for the year one week after elections are held.
Article VIII – Meetings and events of the Organization: Required meetings and their frequency.
VIII.a. The organization will meet at times determined by the members of the organization. The executive committee will have the authority to call meetings. Meetings will not be required unless determined by the executive committee.
VIII.b. The executive committee and any leader with the explicit authority may plan events. Events will not be mandatory unless stipulated by the executive committee.
Article IX – Attendees of Events of the Organization: Required events and their frequency.
IX.a. The organization reserves the right to address member or event attendee behavior where the member or event attendee’s behavior is disruptive or otherwise not in alignment with the organization’s constitution.
Article X – Method of Amending Constitution: Proposals, notice, and voting requirements.
X.a. Any proposed amendments should be presented to the organization in writing and should not be acted upon when initially introduced. Upon initial introduction, the proposed amendments should be read in the general meeting, then read again at a specified number of subsequent general meetings and the general meeting in which the votes will be taken, and should either require a two-third or three-quarter majority of voting members (a quorum being present) or a majority or two-thirds of the entire voting membership of the organization, present or not.
Article XI – Method of Dissolution of Organization
XI.a. The executive committee may dissolve the organization with a ¾ majority vote.
XI.b. If the organization fails install an executive committee after one-semester elapses, the organization will dissolve.