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The Constitution of the
Hmong Stout Student Organization
Revised as of Oct 07’

Article I. Name

The name of the organization, whose responsibilities are outlined in this constitution, shall be Hmong Stout Student Organization or H.S.S.O

Article II: Mission Statement

Our mission is to enrich the lives of our members to build leadership through social, cultural, and academic experiences; to bridge together with other organizations, as well as the University and the surrounding community; to create opportunities for interested individuals on campus and the surrounding community to learn about the Hmong culture; to advocate for the rights and concerns of the Hmong students at UW-Stout, the UW-System, and the United States of America.

Article III: Members

Members of H.S.S.O. shall consist only of University of Wisconsin-Stout students. All members must fulfill all requirements to become a full member:

  1. Have membership fee paid
  2. Must attend at least 2 general meetings per month
  3. Must participate in at least 2 events per semester
  4. Must be involved in 1 committee per semester

Section I: Membership Fee

Membership fee is $10.00 per member per semester OR $15.00 per member covering both semesters. Membership fee must be paid before the fourth general meeting. If the membership fee has not yet been paid, additional charges will be added to the fee: plus $1.00 per meeting for first semester coverage, or plus $0.50 per meeting for both semesters coverage.

As a result of membership fee being paid, all members are eligible to run for office, vote, elect, and nominate members for office, attend all if not most of the HSSO events free of charge, and be recognized as a member of H.S.S.O.

Article IV: Executive Board

  1. President
  2. Vice President
  3. Secretary
  4. Treasurer
  5. Public Relations
  6. Web Master
  7. Historian
  8. Advisor(s)

Article V: Executive Board Duties

  1. Facilitate all H.S.S.O. meetings
  2. Facilitate event meetings assigned to them
  3. Represent H.S.S.O. before the campus and the community
  4. Recruit new members and encourage full member participation in the organization
  5. 5. More to be implanted as seen fit by the President and Executive Committee

Section I: President

  1. Supervise primary functions of the Organization
  2. Supervise the executive board
  3. Delegate responsibilities to appropriate members of committees
  4. Call emergency meetings when deemed necessary
  5. Responsible for any approved purchases and control of inventory
  6. Overall approval of requisition by signature
  7. Have final vote in cases of a tie concerning H.S.S.O. business matters

Section II: Vice President

  1. Assume the duties of the President in their absence
  2. Assist, counsel, and aid the President in achieving the goals of the Organization
  3. Serve as the President's chief representative or corresponding officer of the Organization
  4. Serve as the liaison between H.S.S.O. and other organizations

Section III: Secretary

  1. Record and distribute the minutes of all meetings to all members via e-mail
  2. Announce the minutes at each Executive Committee and general meetings
  3. Keep a file of paper work of each event for the Organization's records
  4. Maintain a current roster of membership and a list of standing and special committees
  5. Issue notices of meetings and conduct the general correspondence of the Organization
  6. Bring to each meeting the minutes and a copy of the H.S.S.O. Constitution and Bylaws
  7. Make facility reservations for all meetings
  8. Assist the historian to create an H.S.S.O. scrapbook

Section IV: Treasurer

  1. Receive all funds and pay orders of the Executive Committee and have them signed and authorized with the President
  2. Keep an itemized account of all receipts and expenditures and make reports as directed
  3. Make an annual audit to the membership at the end of each school year and file a copy with Stout Student Association
  4. Collect dues and/or fees
  5. Coordinate fund-raising efforts
  6. Sign checks with approval from the Executive Committee
  7. Verify all financial transactions
  8. Maintain an accurate up-to-date financial statement on organizational events
  9. Assist in the seeking of grants and proposals

Section V: Public Relations

  1. Publicize and promote the ideas, goals, and activities of the Organization
  2. Representative on behalf of the Executive Committee
  3. Attend outside organizational meetings as necessary
  4. Act as the contact person for all organizational events
  5. Establish a contact list with other Organizations and Universities
  6. Assist in the creation of the H.S.S.O. news letter

Section VI: Web Master

  1. Update and maintain the H.S.S.O. webpage

Section VII: Historian

  1. Record and keep a visual aid of all H.S.S.O. events
  2. In charge of creating an end-of-the-year slideshow
  3. In charge of the H.S.S.O. newsletter and scrapbook

Section VIII: Advisor(s)

  1. Assist in developing realistic goals for the academic year: will contribute to the educational and personal developments of the students involved
  2. Be familiar with the H.S.S.O. Constitution and all other governing documents, so that the Advisor(s) may advise effectively
  3. Attend Executive and general meetings, and organizational events when possible
  4. Receive and review H.S.S.O. monthly financial reports from the Treasurer
  5. Encourage H.S.S.O. officers to share information with the general membership
  6. Assist H.S.S.O. in the orientation of new members and with the transition process each year
  7. Be familiar with the UW-Stout Code of Conduct and other guidelines that establish expectations for student behavior and activities
  8. Guide H.S.S.O. and its officers to establish policies, answer policy questions, and explain the consequences for choosing to operate outside their parameters

Article VI: Meetings

H.S.S.O. shall hold meetings no less than twice a month during the fall and spring semesters; special meetings shall be called by the President or by a majority of the H.S.S.O. members

Article VII. Elections

Section I. Election of New Officers

  1. Election procedures shall be carried out by the current officers
  2. Candidates must be recognized members prior to the election date
  3. The nominee's name must be on the ballot in order to run for a position
  4. Candidates can be self-nominated or be nominated by members of H.S.S.O.
  5. H.S.S.O. members must be present during nomination
  6. H.S.S.O. members have a right to decline a nomination
  7. Only one nomination per person per position
  8. Candidates must give a two to three minute presentation before election and answer any questions deemed necessary in relation to position
  9. Officers may re-run for office
  10. If there is one nominee for a position, they are automatically elected by default
  11. Newly elected Executive Officers reserves the right to appoint after the election

Section II. Voting

  1. All H.S.S.O. members, excluding the President and the Advisor(s), shall have one vote per ballot
  2. Final voting shall be done by anonymous ballot
  3. All votes shall be confidential
  4. The President and Advisor(s) shall count the ballot
  5. The candidate with the most votes shall be appointed

Article VIII. Amendments

The members have the right to request a change to any amendment through consent from the Executive board by a 2/3rd majority vote.

The members have the right to propose for a new amendment through consent from the Executive board by a 2/3rd majority vote.

Article IX. Impeachment

If at any time, members of H.S.S.O. feel an Executive board member or Advisor(s) is/are not fulfilling his or her duty, an impeachment trial can be called. By a 2/3rd majority vote, the Executive member shall be impeached.

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