Viking Union Box 222
516 High St.
Bellingham, WA 98225

Students for Disability Awareness

Students for Disability Awareness
Associated Students
Western Washington University
CONSTITUTION

Article I. Name

The name of this organization will be Students for Disability Awareness.

Article II. Purpose/Objectives

Students for Disability Awareness is an organization meant to:

Spread awareness and to educate the WWU community about the disability culture and promote a positive image of disability
To promote equal opportunities and better accessibility for all students, faculty, and staff with disabilities
To empower them with the strength and tools to have a positive university experience while working with campus resources.

Article III. Membership

Membership is open to people with and without disabilities that are willing to dedicate time to the spreading of awareness and advocacy. The SDA upholds the right to provide a safe, open and accepting environment. Any member that hinders another’s ability to experience this environment will be asked to terminate their membership if the member chooses not to comply.

Article IV. Executive Board

The Executive Board is responsible for managing finances, sustaining membership, and overseeing and planning of activities. All of the organization’s expenses and activity proposals must be approved by a majority vote. The Executive Board can appoint other leadership roles by a majority vote when necessary. The Executive Board must approve any official statements or interviews, unless the President must speak on behalf of the organization in an urgent matter.

The President manages the Executive Board in meetings, communication, and coordination of projects. This person oversees the various projects and delegates tasks as necessary. All contracts must be signed by the President after being approved by a majority of the Executive Board.

The Vice President for Communications is responsible for managing public affairs and internal communications. This person will be responsible for managing external communication including general e-mail, interviews, press releases, and publicity as well as internal communications regarding executive action. This person will also assist the Board in the creating of executive documents such as letters, website information, mass emails, and other general correspondence. This Vice President is the sole voice of the organization, representing the organization’s mission, goals, and intentions as a whole to the public eye.

The Vice President for Finances is responsible for the management of finances for the organization and provides weekly reports to the Executive Board. He/she requests funding from the available funding sources, balances the organization’s account, and deposits any donations the organization receives into the account. This person will prepare an annual budget report summarizing the year’s finances and making projections for the following year. This Vice President must also work to incorporate and implement diverse methods of fundraising. He/she must receive budget authority training from the AS Business Office before handling the club budget and transfer of funds.

The Vice President for Advocacy will deal with the political aspects of the SDA, assuring that the group is well informed as well as voicing SDA’s political stances throughout Western Washington University and at the state and national levels. These aspects include writing letters and meeting with internal and external stakeholders. All internal and external political stances must be approved by a majority vote of the Executive Board.

The Vice President for Resource Management will make sure that staff and students are aware of the resources that are available to students on campus and make sure that relevant resources are available at all SDA events. They will also make sure that the resources available on campus are aware and informed of SDA activity. This Vice President will also manage the Executive Board’s internal resources and documents.

The Vice President for Membership and Outreach is responsible for internal communications relating to the general membership (including but not limited to such things as SDA Weekly Updates, discussion and open dialogue with membership, and other methods of communication). He/she must inform the general membership of executive actions and create opportunities for involvement whenever possible. This Vice President is also charged with seeking participation from the community and reaching out to diverse groups of people to receive input and provide an inclusive atmosphere on campus through community-building events, activities, and projects as he/she sees fit.

The Disability Awareness Week Coordinator shall coordinate and plan the annual Disability Awareness Week in the spring.

Article VI. Elections

Elections shall take place in May or June of each academic year for Executive Board positions. The format of the election shall be decided by the Executive Board. The officer is elected by a simple majority vote of the General Membership. If there is a vacancy after an election or a resignation during the academic year, the Executive Board shall fill the position.

Article VII. Meetings

The Executive Board is required to attend weekly meetings determined by the President. The General Membership meets monthly to stay up to date on the organization’s recent developments. These meetings are organized by the Executive Board. If at any time an Executive Board officer finds it necessary to advise members the Executive Board or the General Membership, emergency meetings may be called forth to distribute needed information.

Article VIII. Finances

The SDA finances each activity organized by the organization or otherwise requests funds from other funding sources. The Vice President for Finances is held responsible for all donated and collected funds. Upon each finance report received from the AS Finance Office, the Executive Board, with the assistance of the Vice President of Finances, will evaluate the budget and discuss financial opportunities. Any expenses must be approved by the Executive Board. If an expense needs to be approved prior to an Executive Board meeting, the Vice President for Finances can have the President approve and send an e-mail to the Executive Board, allowing a board member to object.

Article IX. Amendments

The constitution of the SDA may only be amended by a 2/3 vote of the general membership. Any amendments must be submitted in writing to the Executive Board and approved by a simple majority to be placed on the General Membership agenda for a vote.

Contract Amendment

All elected officials must sign a position contract each quarter within their elected year. Renewed contacts must be signed two weeks prior to the end of the previous quarter.