Westfield State Veterans Association (WSVA)

Westfield State University

Article I-Name of Organization

Section 1: This organization shall be known as the Westfield State Veterans Association. Hereafter known as WSVA

Article II-Purpose

Section 1: The purpose of this association shall be:

  1. Provide a social group setting to help veterans, current military personnel and their families adjust and become successful in civilian and college life.
  2. To provide military and veteran informational support to interested students and their family members.
  3. Establish and maintain a fellowship between this association and the campus community.
  4. Organizing projects and participating in events pertaining to goals of this association and the general campus population.

Article III-Membership

Section 1: Membership shall be open to all full-time, part-time undergraduate and graduate students of Westfield State University who have paid their student activities fee for thecurrent academic semester.

Section 2: Members are considered to be active if they attend or participate in fifty-percent (50%) of meetings,either in person or via email communication, or by participating in association sponsored events.

Article IV-Officers

Section 1: There shall be an executive board consisting of a president, vice-president, treasurer, and secretary.

Section 2: Duties of the officers shall be as follows:

  1. The president shall preside over meetings and association activities.
  2. The vice-president shall assume the all the duties of the president in case of absence of the president, and be a direct assistant to the president in carrying out their duties.
  3. The treasurer shall be entrusted with the handling of the funds of the association in accordance with procedures established by the university.
  4. The secretary shall keep all record of all activities and meetings of the association, including attendance of association members, and shall be entrusted with all association correspondence including notice of meeting to association members.

Section 3: Any student who has been an active association member for one (1) semester may run for office.

Section 4: The term of office will be held for one year from August 1st to July 31st.

Article V-Advisor

Section 1: The advisor will be a faculty member, staff member or librarian of Westfield State University.

Section 2: The advisor(s) shall advise the association, when consulted, in planning the activities of the association.

Section 3: The advisor will be chosen by a three fourths (3/4) vote of the officers.

Article VI-Elections

Section 1: Members may not nominate nor second the nomination of themselves. Any member maynominate or second the nomination of any other member. The nominations and seconds of the nomination will be done verbally.

Section 2: Elections for officer positions will be held in November of each academic year. The Vote will be cast anonymously. The ballot will be tallied by the advisor and the non-voting member. The non-voting member will be selected by the board. The nominee who receives the most votes will be the officer-elect..

Section 3: No election may be held if there is not a quorum of fifty (50) percent plus one (1) of the members responding via email or present at a meeting.

Section 4: If an election vote ends in a tie, a non-voting member will cast the deciding vote. Any current board member may not participate in the voting process if they are involved as a candidate in the special election.

Article VII-Meetings

Section 1: Meetings will be held monthly during the academic year. The association will meet no less than seven (7) times during the academic year. The meetings will be held in accordance with the Roberts-Rules of Order

Section 2: Officers may hold separate meetings or meetings without the advisor as warranted for association business.

Section 3: Special meetings may be called by the president, or by boardmembers.

Article VIII-Vacancies

Section 1: If an office is vacated for any reason, nominations will be made at least one (1) meeting in advance to fill the vacant position. Refer to Article VIforelection procedures to fill any vacancy that may occur.

Section 2: If an advisor position is vacated for any reason, nominations will be made at least one (1) meeting in advance to fill the vacant position. Refer to Article VI for election procedures to fill any vacancy that may occur.

Article IX-Amendments to Constitution

Section 1: This constitution may be amended by two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the voting members of the association and if approved by the Rules and Regulations Committee of the Student Government Association.

Article X-Removal from Office

Section 1: An officer may be removed from office for not preforming their duties by two thirds (2/3) majority vote of the active association members.

Section 2: An advisor may be removed from office by two thirds (2/3) majority vote of the active association members.

Article XI

Recognition of Safety and Waiver of Liability

Section 1:

  1. The Student Government Association (herein, SGA) and this Club, WSVA of Westfield State University, recognize that the overall safety and wellbeing of its Club members is a priority function of the Club.
  2. This Club (named above) is only authorized to conduct its activities in a designated University approved location such as one provided on campus grounds or at a recognized location that is designed or approved for this Club’s specific activities.
  3. Each Club member, as a material condition of membership, understands, accepts and agrees that his/her participation in this Club is voluntary and that he/she voluntarily assumes all risks and liabilities associated with his/her participation. Each Club member, by accepting membership, agrees to hold the SGA harmless from and indemnify the SGA against any and all liability, including, but not limited to physical, financial, emotional and property damage claims, whether sustained or inflicted, in connection with or in any way related to the participant’s participation in the Club.
  4. Once approved the SGA acts as an administrative resource for the Club and is not responsible for managing Club activities.
  5. All Club activities which may include, but are not limited to practices, meetings, and competitions that are being held off of the Westfield State University campus must be supervised by a proper authority (Such as an advisor or coach or certified facility manager) and must be taking place in an appropriate setting for the activity. Secondly, all clubs operating their activities off-campus must complete proper paper work which may include but, is not limited to a travel waiver prior to the activity occurring. All paperwork must be completed and turned into the SGA office.
  6. All Club activities being held on Westfield State University campus buildings and grounds must be registered in the Event Management System to ensure proper coverage and knowledge of the activities.
  7. The responsibility of adhering to all expectations set out in “a” and “b” of this section lies with the officers and members of the individual Club.
  8. Any and all injuries, whether incurred or inflicted in connection with Club activity, must be reported to Westfield State University Public Safety (413) - 572-5262 immediately per University reporting procedures. The SGA Parliamentarian or Representative must also be notified of such injury in writing no later than twenty-four (24) hours after the injury occurs. Reports of injuries will be kept by the SGA within the Club’s file.
  9. After a report of such an injury has been made, all Club activities must cease while the cause of the injury is determined and an assessment of the situation occurs. After such determination and assessment by the Rules and Regulations committee, the club may resume its activities only if authorization from the SGA Parliamentarian to resume is issued in writing.

Section 2:

  1. Failure to adhere to these conditions may result in sanctions, up to and including, revoking the Club’s active status as determined by the Rules and Regulations Committee.