It’s been awhile since I worked on this story, but here it is and I hope you enjoy it.
3 – After my first semester had concluded, Rich continued to insist that we actually become a campus-sanctioned organization. I had assumed that it would be a difficult process, but it was honestly mostly just filling out some forms, and then writing a constitution and some by-laws.
Wanting ABDLAFF to be needlessly complex, Rich and I decided that the officers would be two Co-Presidents who would be in office until they decided to pass the torch to new presidents, a vice-president (as if a vice-president was needed with two co-presidents), secretary, treasurer, and a club promoter titled the “Public Relations Streetman (or woman).”
Upon submitting our Constitution and by-laws, I had to change the wording in a few places to make it sound more professional and non-discriminatory. Notably, the office of “Public Relations Streetman (or woman)” absolutely HAD to be changed to “Public Relations Streetperson.”
The following are the actual Constitution and by-laws for our once great club -
The Alpha Battle Dragon Lords Against Forest Fires
February 4, 2005
Preamble
We, the members of this organization, do ordain this constitution of the Alpha Battle Dragon Lords Against Forest Fires, or Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri, as the Constitution for the members of the Alpha Battle Dragon Lords Against Forest Fires.
In accordance with the rules and regulations of Southwest Missouri State University, the Laws of the State of Missouri, and the Laws of the United States of America.
Article I
Section I – Name of the Organization.
Alpha Battle Dragon Lords Against Forest Fires.
Section II – Purpose, goals, and objectives of the organization.
The purpose of this organization is for artists to gather together to stretch their creative muscles, discuss projects they are working on, brainstorm ideas to formulate new works, and to further intelligent writing, art work, music, film making and any other subject pertaining to the arts.
Article II
Section I – Qualifications for membership.
“It is the policy of Southwest Missouri State University and the Alpha Battle Dragon Lords Against Forest Fires not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, or veteran status in employment or in any program or activity sponsored by the University.”
Section II – Members open to whom.
This organization is open to all who wish to express themselves creatively in the forms of art work. This is a place for anyone who wishes to share their writings, their art, their films, and their music.
Section III – Qualifications for membership
Must be a student of Southwest Missouri State University and must submit one item they are working on or have completed.
Section IV – Qualifications for non-SMS students.
Applicant must submit three works of artistic merit.
Article III
Section I – Presidents
Two co-Presidents shall preside over meetings. These two are to ensure that discussion is kept in order and that meetings are held efficiently. These two shall hold equal power and shall show respect to one another. It is the responsibility of the presidents to set meeting times and to decide upon admitting new members.
Section II – Vice President
The vice president shall preside over meetings if one president cannot be there and will call the meeting to order.
Section III – Secretary
It is the responsibility of the secretary to ensure that all the records of the meeting are kept and filed for future reference. Strict attention to details must be kept to ensure there is no debate in the future of past meeting discussions.
Section IV – Treasurer
It is the responsibility of the Treasurer to keep track of all membership dues, fees and fines. The Treasurer must also keep track of the organization’s financial standings.
Section V – Public Relations Street Man (or woman)
The purpose of this job is to let the rest of the campus and the community know we exist and to promote any activities the club is having. If no person takes this job, then it is up to the office of President to do so.
Section VI – Qualifications of Executive Officers
Officers must have a GPA of at least 2.0 and must be devoted to the group.
Section VII – Selection process for officers.
Whoever holds the office of presidents will select the other officers.
Section VIII – Specific date for the election of officers and how membership is formed.
May 23 will be the day the officers are selected and sworn into office.
Section IX – How officers are elected.
The office of Presidents shall appoint their successors and the next presidents shall choose their cabinet.
Section X – Academic or disciplinary probation.
Officer must resign from his/her position.
Article IV
Executive officers will be in power until they graduate or until they decide to retire from office.
Article V
Resignation from office will be a quick signature on an official statement followed by a hearty handshake and a tear-filled farewell by all members of the organization.
Article VI
The impeachment process:
Section I – Officer is accused by three people.
Section II – Defending officer calls upon counsel and prepares a defense.
Section III – An hour long debate consisting of one constructive speech and one rebuttal speech for both sides will take place.
Section IV- A vote will take place and impeachment will occur on a 2/3 majority.
Article VII
This group constitution can be amended by the following process:
Section I – Must be proposed and agreed upon by three members.
Section II – Must be debated upon, voted upon and pass with a 2/3 majority.
Article IX
This Constitution is valid by the unanimous vote of its members.
Article X
This constitution will take effect after it is accepted by both Student Organization Graduation Assistant and Student Government Association and unanimously accepted by the members of the group.
By-laws
The Alpha Battle Dragon Lords Against Forest Fires
(ABDLAFF)
Last modified: February 17, 2005
Article I: Name and Purpose
Section A: Alpha Battle Dragon Lords Against Forest Fires.
Section B:
1) To gather creative talents in writing, art, and film.
2) Discuss any projects members are working on.
3) Brainstorm new ideas for works.
4) Further intelligent writing, artwork and film making.
Article II: Membership and dues
Section A: This organization is open to all who wish to express themselves creatively in the forms of art work. This is a place for anyone who wishes to share their writings, their art, their films, and their music.
Section B: “It is the policy of Southwest Missouri State University and the Alpha Battle Dragon Lords Against Forest Fires not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, or veteran status in employment or in any program or activity sponsored by the University.”
Section C: Dues shall be $1 for a year.
Article III: Officers
Section A: The offices of the ABDLAFF are two presidents, one vice president, treasurer, secretary, and public relations street man.
Section B: All officers must be students of SMSU.
Section C: Current officers will appoint a successor upon leaving office.
Section D: Officers will have their office until graduation or retirement.
Article IV: Duties of officers
Section A: Presidents
Two co-Presidents shall preside over meetings. These two are to ensure that discussion is kept in order and that meetings are held efficiently. These two shall hold equal power and shall show respect to one another. It is the responsibility of the presidents to set meeting times and to decide upon admitting new members.
Section B: Vice President
The vice president shall preside over meetings if one president cannot be there and will call the meeting to order.
Section C: Secretary
It is the responsibility of the secretary to ensure that all the records of the meeting are kept and filed for future reference. Strict attention to details must be kept to ensure there is no debate in the future of past meeting discussions.
Section D: Treasurer
It is the responsibility of the Treasurer to keep track of all membership dues, fees and fines. The Treasurer must also keep track of the organization’s financial standings.
Section E: Public Relations Street man
The purpose of this job is to let the rest of the campus and the community know we exist and to promote any activities the club is having. If no person takes this job, then it is up to the office of President to do so.
Article V: Meetings
Section A: Meetings
Regular meetings will be held on a bi-monthly basis.
Section B: Special meetings
These meetings can be called up by the Presidents at any time.
Article VI: Faculty advisor
Section A: Selection
There will be a faculty advisor that will be selected at the beginning of each year.
Section B: Duties
1) Help organize any trips.
2) Be the liaison from the organization to the campus.
3) Provide guidance
4) Monitor activities.
Article VII: Committees
Section A: Vote
All voting issues are by a 2/3 majority.
Section B: Notice
All members will receive the proposed amendment 5 days before voting time.
4 – Two weeks before the first meeting, I posted fliers around campus for students to save the date and I started a Facebook group. We would meet by the metal statue of a bear on campus.
Our first meeting consisted of my old high school friends Jared and Tim, my girlfriend Sam, Rich, myself, two girls who somehow found us on Facebook and one guy who none of us knew. To begin, we put everyone’s name in a hat and decided to draw for offices. Rich and I would be co-presidents, one of the random Facebook girls was our vice-president, Jared would be our treasurer, and the random kid became our secretary and we decided that even though he had a name, we would just call him “the Kid.”
Everyone else at the meeting without an office would be given an arbitrary officer title. Sam became the Secretary for Homeland Security, and the other Facebook girl would be the official T-Rex . . . meaning that she would growl like a T-Rex every time we pointed to her.
I honestly don’t remember much from that first meeting, but I do remember that neither of those two Facebook girls would ever come back and if I saw them on campus, they would avert their gaze in order to ignore me and for some reason that has always bothered me.
