VOICE National Constitution

(This constitution was drafted March 21, 2008 at the VOICE National Meeting at the SAVMA Symposium in Auburn/Tuskegee, Alabama. This constitution has yet to be ratified by the national body. however, chapters may use this as a template for chapter constitutions.)

 

CONSTITUTION OF VETERINARY STUDENTS AS ONE IN CULTURE AND ETHNICITY (VOICE)

ARTICLE I

Section 1   - Name
The name of this organization shall be Veterinary Students as One in Culture and Ethnicity (VOICE)

Section 2  - Purpose
The purpose of Veterinary Students as One in Culture and Ethnicity (VOICE) is:

1. To increase awareness and sensitivity to socio-cultural issues in the field of veterinary medicine
2. To celebrate multiculturalism within the profession of veterinary medicine and provide a campus environment that embraces diversity and promotes the success of students, particularly underrepresented students.
3. To promote the importance of cross-cultural awareness in veterinary medicine in order to meet the needs of our diversifying clientele
4. To promote the veterinary profession, provide leadership and mentorship to any youth, particularly underrepresented youth, interested in careers in veterinary medicine.

ARTICLE II

Membership

Section 1

1. Membership in Veterinary Students As One In Culture And Ethnicity (VOICE)

        is open to any student at an accredited United States veterinary college.

1.  VOICE will not discriminate on the basis of age, color, gender, disability status, height, martial status, national origin, political persuasion, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status or weight.

1. Non- veterinary student or non-faculty membership may be obtained under associate or alumni member.  These members are held to at least the same standards as Veterinary student membership or higher as deemed or decided by National Body.  These members may participate in VOICE events.

 

Section 2

1. Schools wishing to establish a VOICE chapter must adhere to guidelines on establishing a chapter defined within the constitution and found on the VOICE website www.vetvoice.org.

 

2. A chapter in good standing:

1. Shall be recognized by the national body upon submission of requirements.   These requirements include but are not limited to: appointment of chapter officers, selection of a faculty/administrator as advisor for the group, submit contact information for executive board and advisor to national body, establishment of a chapter financial account, and a tentative list of chapter activities.
2. Must elect or appoint an executive board (As per Article III)
3. Must complete one social and one service event per academic year. 

Proof of the event via photography must be submitted for inclusion on the website.

1. Must send one representative to the annual national VOICE meeting.
2. Is entitled to chapter start up funding as available.
3. Must follow and obey the rules and mission of the organization set forth by the constitution.

1. A chapter shall become an active member of VOICE after submission and approval of necessary documents to the National Body and upon establishment and completion of at least one VOICE event (social, service, or otherwise).

 

1. Membership dues will be at the discretion of each individual chapter but shall not exceed $10 per semester.   Active membership status applies for all members of an active chapter, who have paid dues as set by the individual chapter, are in good standing with the university or have alumni or associate status.

1. Chapters may obtain funding from university or college activity funds or via local small scale fundraising events (ie. taste fairs, etc.).  Funds obtained must go directly into the chapter’s financial account. Individual chapters are NOT permitted to solicit ANY corporate entity for funding without prior approval of the National Body in order to protect national sponsors interests.

 

 

ARTICLE III

Executive Committee/Officers

Section 1
Each year the chapter shall vote officers into the following positions. Each officer elected will serve for one year from May 1- April 30. Members voted into office shall comprise the Executive Committee of that VOICE chapter. The officers shall be:
President
Secretary
Treasurer

Optional officer positions may be established including but not limited to:
Vice-President (or Co-president)
Social Chair
Service Chair
Alumni Chair
Public Relations
Senior Mentor (must be a past executive board member)

Section 2

1. Only members in good standing shall nominate, vote upon, or be nominated for

membership into the executive committee.

1. Elections must be publicized to the chapter or student body.
2. Elections may be secret ballot, roll call or voice vote.
3. Majority vote decides the appointment of the new officer.

Section 3
Duties of Officers

President shall:

1. Convene and preside at all meetings.
2. Schedule and conduct regular meetings of the general body and executive committee.
3. Submit his/her recommendations for action to the Executive Committee and the General Body.
4. Represent the College’s Chapter of VOICE on a local and national level by attending necessary meetings or conventions within the financial capabilities of the Chapter.
5. Take primary responsibility for the implementation or resolutions and programs by VOICE on the national or chapter levels.
6. Submit all necessary paperwork to the National office in a timely and efficient manner.
7. Meet regularly with the chapter’s Advisor in order to keep he/she abreast of the chapter’s proceedings.

 

Vice-President Shall:

1. Officiate for the President in his/her absence or at his/her request and shall assume the duties and powers of the President.
2. Take primary responsibility for the implementation of all community service projects in the absence of a service chairperson and serve as co-chair in the presence of a service chairperson.

Treasurer shall:

1. Take primary responsibility for all financial transactions of the college’s chapter of VOICE.
2. Submit monthly reports to the chapters Executive Committee.
3. Have approval of the President(s) and/or the Executive Committee for all expenses.
4. Maintain accurate records of all transactions by keeping all receipts and notice of expenditures.
5. Handle the collections/disbursements of any monies for VOICE.
6. Assist the Secretary in assuring that all members are in good standing.
7. Preside over any chapter fundraising events.

 

Secretary shall

1. Record the proceedings at every scheduled VOICE meeting.
2. Establish and maintain chapter’s membership listserve.
3. Send to all members a summary of the minutes taken at all general body and executive board meetings.
4. Send all members adequate publicity of all VOICE events.
5. Have custody of all official books, records and papers of VOICE including the Constitution and Bylaws, their amendments and the minutes of all proceedings.
6. Notify members of all correspondence received for VOICE.
7. Work with the President(s) to prepare an agenda for all meetings.
8. Handle Membership promotion and records for the VOICE.
9. Assist and communicate with the executive board in assuring that the chapter is in good standing.
10. Shall act as President in the absence of the President and Vice-President.

Section 4
Any officer shall be impeached if he/she fails to complete the duties of their officership  and may be removed at any meeting by majority vote of the general membership.

 

ARTICLE IV

Operating Procedures

Section 1

1. The Executive Committee shall meet at least once a month at a time and place designated by the committee.
2. The general body shall meet at least once a semester at a time and place designated by either the President or the Executive Committee.  This may be a social or service event.
3. Each chapter shall send at least one officer to represent the chapter at the annual national VOICE meeting.   Each active chapter shall have two voting seats at each meeting.  In the event of one chapter representative being present, the chapter representative may request two votes.  A maximum of two officers per chapter may be eligible for travel stipends, if funding is available.

Section 2
The rules of order for all meetings may be decided upon by each Executive Committee.  Robert’s Rules of Order apply for all voting procedures.

Section 3
The administration of the national body of VOICE shall be held at the founding chapter, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, until otherwise determined at a national VOICE meeting. 

1. The executive committee of the Cornell University chapter shall be deemed the administrative body for national VOICE.
2. The President of this chapter shall be primarily responsible for any national VOICE correspondence to active chapters. 
3. The Treasurer of this chapter shall be primarily responsible for the finances of national VOICE and distribution of national VOICE funding. 
4. A senior advisor may be appointed to assist with the administration of national VOICE business.  Senior advisor must have been an active member and past executive board member of VOICE and knowledgeable about the organization.
5. The administrative chapter shall be the responsible party for soliciting and maintaining any corporate sponsorship and or fundraising efforts on behalf of  National VOICE.
6. A representative from the administrative chapter shall be responsible for maintenance of the national website www.vetvoice.org  In the absence of a webmaster the President shall be responsible for maintenance of the website.
7. Decisions regarding VOICE as a national organization shall be voted upon by the National Body and each chapter president.

ARTICLE V
Amendments

Section 1.
Amendments may be proposed by any member in good standing to the national VOICE administrative body.

Section 2
Proposed amendments must be submitted to the national VOICE administrative body in writing. In addition, a written statement explaining the reasoning behind such amendment must also be submitted.

Section 3
All proposed amendments and necessary materials must be reviewed and approved by the national VOICE administrative body. After approval by the National body, the amendment must be presented for approval at the annual national meeting.  Each chapter president (or other appointed chapter officer) will vote on the amendments.  Majority vote is necessary to make a proposed amendment effective.

This Constitution Serves As The Constitution For Each VOICE Chapter

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