Survivors and Advocates against the Abuse of Women Constitution
Article I: Name
The official name of the organization is Survivors and Advocates against the Abuse of Women (SAAW).
Article II: Affiliation
Section I: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Article III: Purpose and Objective
The purpose of SAAW is to educate the campus community about violence against women both internationally and domestically. We seek to spread awareness of domestic issues such as sexual assault, interpersonal violence, and political mistreatment of women domestically so that students can make educated personal and political decisions. We also strive to focus on education about global issues, such as female genital cutting, honor killings, and human trafficking. We aim to hold demonstrations, awareness campaigns on campus, and discussions to highlight the problems important to women around the world. Our objectives are to educate about the abuse of women globally and to also provide a safe place where survivors and allies can engage in discussion about their experiences and how to educate their peers. We also seek to encourage members and peers to volunteer with organizations such as the Carolina Women’s Center and Orange County Rape Crisis to educate themselves about such matters and ways to adequately educate others on them.
Article IV: Membership and Participation
Section I:
Membership is open to any UNC student who wants to be involved in the organization. Members will discuss topics and plan events pertaining to relevant issues. Members will also be guided on the topic and where to find reliable sources. Members will be encouraged to actively research topics that they identify with and bring them into the discussion. Members are encouraged, but do not need, to be able to speak on such matters in public forums, such as on-campus demonstrations.
Section II:
SAAW consists of two levels of membership, the executive board of officers and the non-executive board members. Within the non-executive board members, there are two levels of membership: inactive and active. Active members have undergone training through SAAW about the issues presented globally and how to present to peers on such topics. Active members will help plan and are able to take part in presentations. Inactive members have not undergone training but take part in discussion and planning presentations. Members will be able to run for executive positions upon becoming an active member. Both inactive and active members have the right to call themselves a member of SAAW, the right to a copy of the constitution, and right to help plan presentations and to take part in discussion.
Article V: Advisor
The qualifications and selection guidelines for the SAAW Advisor are as follows:
-A full-time faculty or staff at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
-Must show interest for education on such issues addressed above.
Contact info:
Donna M. Bickford, Ph.D.
Associate Director, Office for Undergraduate Research
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
220 Graham Memorial
CB2800
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-2800
O: 919-843-7790
dbickford@unc.edu
The functions and duties of SAAW’s advisor are:
-availability for executive meetings
-attend the first organization meeting of every semester
-help train new members
-facilitate discussion
-provide us with resources that we can implement in presentations.
Article VI: Coach/Mentor:
Not applicable.
Article VII: Meetings
Section I:
During the school year, the general body will meet bi-weekly. The executive board will meet every week in order to plan events and the general body meetings.
Section II:
Special meetings, which include but are not limited to: organization training, presentation rehearsals and set up, community service projects, fundraising meetings and bonding meetings, will be called to order by the executive board. The executive board must have a majority vote of 3/4ths to call a special meeting.
Article VIII: Executive Board
Section I:
2 Co-Chairs: The Co-Chairs have the ability to call and cancel meetings when necessary and will open and close each regular and executive meeting. The Co-Chairs will also set the agendas for each meeting. The Co-Chairs will take motions to ensure that the organization is running smoothly and all positions are fulfilling their respective roles.
Secretary: The Secretary will take the minutes and notes for each meeting. They will be responsible for sending out emails notifying members of upcoming meetings and presentations. They will also be in charge of documenting and photographing demonstrations and events.The Secretary will also hold the ratification vote and will be responsible for notifying members of trainings.
Treasurer: The Treasurer will be responsible for writing grants and creating budgets for events.The treasurer is responsible for reporting money gathered from events and fundraising to the executive board and general body.
Training Chair:The Training Chair will be responsible for coordinating and running training sessions. They will gather materials and create a presentation for training purposes which must be approved by majority of the executive board. Presentations include but are not limited to: pamphlets, powerpoints, video, audio, etc.
Events Chair: The Events Chair will be in charge of locating venues for demonstrations, community service activities, and other special events. They will be responsible for contacting venues, assisting the co-chairs in planning event agenda, creating a list of supplies needed, managing set-up and clean up for events, and overall ensuring that events run smoothly and according to the agenda.
Publicity Chair:The Publicity Chair will be in charge of notifying the public of events on the organization’s Facebook, Twitter and website. The Publicity Chair will be responsible for making flyers and devising a strategy on various places to put them on campus.
Article IX: Funds
The Treasurer will receive the funds and decide, with majority vote of the executive board, the allocation of the funds.
Article X: Ratification
The Secretary will be responsible for holding the ratification during meetings.
Article XI: Amendments
An amendment can be suggested by non-executive board members or the executive board. Members must submit a written statement about why the amendment is needed and how it would enhance the organization to both co-chairs. The Executive board will review the amendment and hold a meeting and all members, including non-executive board, will vote for the ratification of the amendment. Each amendment needs a ⅔ vote.
Article XII: By-Laws
Every member is eligible to submit a written suggestion of rules or regulations to the co-chairs. Each submission of rules will go under review and vote of the executive board. There must be a ⅔ vote in order to approve rules and regulations.