NAMI The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill

The Nation’s Voice on Mental Illness

Constitution and Bylaws of NAMI Central College Campus Affiliate

Preamble:      We the members of NAMI- Central College do hereby establish this constitution on November 11, 2004. NAMI—The Nation's Voice on Mental Illness— is a national organization, and this Constitution governs the activities of the chapter specific to Central College.

Article 1        Mission, Purpose and General Statements

Section 1:        NAMI is dedicated to the eradication of mental illnesses and to the

improvement of the quality of life of all whose lives are affected by these

diseases.

NAMI- Central College will strive to:

•    Provide or enhance support and counseling services on campus

•    Educate students, faculty, administrators, and other members of the campus community about mental illness

•    Serve as an information and resource collection and dissemination center

•    Monitor existing campus health care facilities, staff, and programming for adequacy and accountability

•    Advocate administrators to improve mental health care services on campus and promote education about mental illness amongst students

•    Solicit and receive funds in support of all of the above

Section 2:        This organization is a non-profit organization.

Section 3:        This organization is affiliated with NAMI—The Nation's Voice on Mental

Illness, a national grassroots, non-profit organization that advocates policies at the

local, state, and national levels to improve the lives of those affected by mental

illness

Article II        Membership

Section 1:        Membership is open to any full time or part time student that attends this

institution. This organization will not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, or age in the requirements for membership.

Section 2:       In order to officially become a member, the student must come to at least two meetings and submit a membership registration form. <If the state organization requires a $3 fee, the student must also pay said fee in order to be a member. Exceptions to the membership fee may be allowed at the president's discretion>.

Article III      Meetings

Section 1:       NAMI-Central College shall convene at least one meeting a month, and

possibly more, at regularly scheduled times as determined by the members of the organization.

Section 2:        The April membership meeting is designated as the annual meeting for

the election of officers. Newly elected officers will begin their positions

beginning in the Fall semester.

Section 3:        The September meeting is designated as the

annual meeting for collecting membership dues although members may join

throughout the year.

Section 4:        Special meetings of the members may be announced by the President or on

request of five or more members.

Section 5:        Any member may request that an action or motion be tabled or rescinded by a

majority of the membership at any meeting.

Article IV       Officers and Duties

Section 1:        Offices consist of the president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer. These

four positions comprise the affiliate's Executive Board.

 Section 2:        A) The co-presidents presides at all member meetings. The president appoints

chairpersons for all committees and supervises their work.

B) The vice president succeeds the president when there is an absence in that office and assists the president when needed.

C) The secretary handles correspondence for the organization and records the happenings of meetings. The secretary also serves as the second vice president if the president and vice president positions are concurrently vacant.

D) The treasurer receives and disburses all of the affiliate's funds and maintains a complete and detailed account of all financial transactions. The treasurer provides members and other officers a financial report listing all receipts and disbursements by budget category upon request.

Section 3:        Organization members in good standing are eligible to hold office. Being in good standing constitutes remaining in good standing with the institution by maintaining at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average and abiding by other university or college standards. No member can be elected to any office unless enrolled in classes at this specific institution during the semester.

Section 4:        Because of the continuous turnover of students, the officers' regular term of office is one year. Any student member in good standing can be nominated and elected to an office. An annual election will be held every April to determine the following year's officers. Re-election of an officer is allowed, but the he or she may not run for the same office for more than two consecutive years.

Article V         Elections

Section 1:        Only those members meeting all requirements of regular membership under

Article II of the Constitution will be eligible to vote. The election will be held by the general body on an annual basis no later than April of each academic year.

Section 2:        The nominating process shall be held the meeting prior to the designated election date. At this meeting, the president will take nominations from the floor. Once all persons are nominated, the nomination process must be closed and the movement seconded.

Section 3:        The elections will be conducted by secret ballot and a simple majority will

determine election to an office. Votes shall be tabulated by the secretary and one NAMI- Central College voting member appointed by the outgoing president.

Section 4:        Run-Off: In the case that a majority of votes is not achieved by any candidate, a run-off election will be conducted between the top two candidates receiving the most votes. No new names will be added to the list of candidates indicated on the original ballot for the post in consideration. The election will be conducted by the same voters present and no new votes will be allowed.

Article VI       Removal of an Officer

Section 1:        Control of this organization rests with its members. Any action by the officers is subject to review and approval by a majority of the membership present at a meeting. Any officer in violation of the organization's purpose or constitution may be removed from office by the following process:

A) A written request by at least ten (10) members of the organization to the Executive Board stating the reasons for removal.

B) Written notification by the Executive Board to the officer of the request, asking the officer to be present at the next meeting prepared to speak in their own defense.

C) Written notification to the membership by the Executive Board.

D) After due deliberation, the Executive Board, minus the officer in question, will present its recommendation to a general body meeting called for this purpose. The quorum for this meeting shall be at least two-fifths of the regular members in the organization in good standing of which a two-thirds majority vote is necessary to remove the officer.

Article VII     Dispute Resolution

Section 1               In the event of a dispute amongst members of N AMI Central College,
the involved parties shall present their case to the Executive Board. After hearing
each side, the Board shall issue a binding decision.

Article VIII    Financial Matters

Section 1:        The fiscal year begins August and ends May.

Section 2:        <in some states> Organization members pay annual dues of S3 as established by the officers. The president may waive dues for individual students at their discretion.

Section 3:        Regarding the spending of funds, the treasurer may use available affiliate funds on condition that all expenditures over $ 100 are approved in advance by two-thirds majority of the membership.

Section 4:        The organization will not provide monetary gain. Incidentally or otherwise, to its officers or membership.

Section 5:        In the event that this organization dissolves, the dispersing residual funds shall be used to reimburse the Student Senate for any funding it provided. Any leftover funds will be directed to NAMI's national office in Arlington. Virginia.

Article IX Committees

Section 1:                The president assigns a chairperson to supervise a committee.

Section 2:            The committee chairperson plans programs and projects as well as make sure that

tasks get done on schedule. The committee chairperson can recruit and/or accept

members as he or she sees fit.

Section 3:            Three initial standing committees are: (1) Support Services Committee, (2)

Education Services Committee. (3) Advocacy and Member Services Committee

Section 4:                Officers can create suitable committees as needed.

Section 5:            Officers reserve the right to create a special committee as needed.

Article X         NAMI Name and Logo

Section 1:          This organization acknowledges that NAMI controls the use of the name, acronym and logo of NAMI and AMI. And that their uses by this affiliate shall be

                              In accordance with NAMI policy.

Section 2:           In the event that the institution disbands this organization, the former affiliate

members will stop using the NAMI name, acronym, and logo.

Section 3:           Upon termination of affiliate with or charter by NAMI. the uses of these names.

acronyms and logo by this organization shall cease. Likewise, this organization

will cease.

Article XI         Independence

Section 1:          The organization shall be independent of other organizations and advocacy groups not affiliated with NAMI, and shall not share bylaws, articles of incorporation, or boards of directors with such other groups.

Article XII     Amendments

Section 1:        Any proposed amendment to the affiliate bylaws or constitution is to be presented in writing to the entire club membership at least three weeks before the meeting at which it is to be voted on.

Section 2:           Ratification of proposed amendments and changes require a favorable vote by at least two-thirds of the members in good standing at the meeting.