Fall 2009

Article I
Name of Organization

Article II
Purpose/Objective

Article III
Association
Section 1-Affiliation
Section 2-Non Discrimination

Article IV
Membership

Article V
Officers/Executive Board
Section 1-Officers
Section 2-Officer's Responsibilities

Article VI Elections/Voting
Section 1-Nominations
Section 2-Voting
Section 3-Transition Period
Section 4-Officers First Day of Term

Article VII
Meetings
Section 1-Definition of Quorum
Section 2-General Meetings
Section 3-Executive Board Meetings

Article VIII
Resignations and Impeachments
Section 1-Resignations
Section 2-Impeachments

Article IX
Amendments to Bylaws

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Article I: Name Of Organization

MIT Chapter of the Society of Mexican American Engineers and Scientists

Article II: Purpose/Objective

The purpose of this student chapter is to:

1. Increase the number of minority engineering students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2. Promote the advancement of minority engineers and scientists in employment and education.
3. Improve the retention of minority students enrolled in engineering and science.
4. Provide a forum for the exchange of information pertinent for minority engineering/science students enrolled at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
5. Develop a working network with area schools to encourage minority students to enter the engineering and science fields.
6. Promote professional advancement for minority engineers and scientists by fostering cooperation among industry, government, and the academic and professional communities to improve educational and employment opportunities.
7. Provide counseling and financial assistance to minority students in engineering and science.

Article III: Association

Section 1: Affiliation
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology MAES student chapter will be an affiliated chapter to the Society of the Mexican American Engineers and Scientists (MAES).  This organization possesses the right to adopt its own rules and procedures within the framework of MAES rules and regulations and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's rules and regulations.  This chapter is under the MAES Region 5.

As a student chapter at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MAES will abide by the rules and regulations of the Association of Student Activities (ASA).

Section 2: Non-Discrimination
No person shall be denied membership in this organization because of race, color, sex, handicap, nationality, religious affiliation or belief, etc... even though the name (Society of Mexican American Engineers and Scientists) was chosen.

Article IV: Membership

Members shall be students enrolled full or part-time at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  Members should have as their goal a career in the sciences or engineering fields considered appropriate by the membership.  To be in good standing and retain all the rights and privileges of membership a member must attend at least fifty percent of the organization's meetings and/or activities during the semester.

Article V: Officers/Executive Board

Section 1: Officers
Officers shall consist of a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.  The term of office is one full year.

Section 2: Duties

President - shall preside over general, emergency and officer meetings. The president shall oversee group activities, handle corporate relations and assist the officers in developing the leadership qualities of the membership.  The president is also the official representative of MAES.


Vice President - shall preside over general, emergency and officer meetings and will assume the responsibilities of President in case of absence.  The Vice President shall decide who will take the position of President incase of absence, if they cannot decide then the officers will vote.  Shall chair the National Symposium and the NSLC committees, they shall decide which one will chair each.  This will be decided by the first officers meeting.


Treasurer - shall monitor the finances of the organization, pay bills, report on the state of each account upon request by any chapter officer or advisor, take in estimated budgets from committees, give receipts for moneys due in the name of the organization and file an end of year report the MAES National Board of Directors.


Secretary - shall keep the minutes, type up the agendas of the meetings and keep track of member attendance. The secretary has the sole responsibility of having the club letterhead of the student chapter.

Article VI: Elections/Voting

Section 1: Nominations
Nominations are to be made in a general meeting held two weeks before the university's club coordination council's deadline for submitting annual reports.

Only members as defined in Article IV may accept a nomination.

Candidates may be nominated for more than one office but only as either position is filled.

Section 2: Voting
Voting shall occur in subsequent steps with nominations in the following order: President, Vice President, Secretary, Regional Committee Representative and Treasurer.

Only members in good standing, as defined previously, are eligible to vote.

Voting shall be by secret ballot whose tallying is conducted in the absence of the said candidates.

In the event that there is not a majority vote, the top two vote receivers will hold a run-off election.

Members of the executive board may vote for all elections but on the occasion of a tie, only the executive board will break the tie.

Officers may be re-elected.

In the event that an officer is re-nominated, the said officer may not vote in breaking a tie for the position he/she is vying for.

Section 3: Training
The newly elected officers shall undergo a transitional period in which the old officers shall introduce the new officers to the responsibilities and duties to the respective offices.

Section 4: Term
The newly elected officers shall begin their term on the last day of the academic year.

Article VII: Meetings

Section 1: Definition of Quorum
A quorum shall consist of fifty percent of all members and a majority of the executive officers.

Section 2: General Meetings
General meetings shall be called by the executive board, whereas a minimum of five meetings shall be held every academic semester.

Section 3: Executive Board Meetings
Executive board members shall hold weekly meetings with a majority of the officers present.

Article VIII: Resignations and Impeachments

Section 1: Resignations
A letter of resignation shall be submitted to the President or Vice President by any person willing to resign from office at least a week before the next chapter meeting.

During a meeting when a resignation is presented, nominations will be taken to fill the office and voting procedures will be conducted as stated in Article VI.

Section 2: Impeachments
When any member feels that an officer is not fulfilling his/her duties, he/she may call upon the rest of the officers to call a special meeting within the next week to discuss/resolve the matter.

During the impeachment proceedings the case will be presented. The officer under investigation will be given the opportunity to present his/her defense before the general vote.

A two-thirds vote, excluding the investigated officer, is needed for the impeachment to be carried out.

In the event the impeachment is carried out, a new candidate will be nominated and elected as described under Article VI.

Article IX: Amendments to Bylaws

Proposed amendments shall be submitted in writing to the membership at a general meeting. A favorable vote of two-thirds of the members on the issue is required for amendment passage. The amendment shall be submitted to the MAES National Board, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Chapter for approval.

 

Meeting Dates Fall 2009

• September 11 - 1st GBM
• September 25 - Teach For America Info Session
• October 9 - Career Development Workshop
• October 23 - Graduate Student Panel
• November 6 - OME Presentation & Game Night
• November 20 - 20 de Noviembre Themed GBM