Constitution of the Greek Hellenic Association University of Kentucky

ARTICLES

1. Name
2. Purporse
3. Language
4. Means and Methods
5. Membership
6. Member Obligations
7. Discontinuation of Membership
8. Finances
9. Officers
10. Elections
11. Meetings
12. Termination
13. Amendments
14. Registration and Renewal
15. Acknowledgments

We, the Hellenic students of University of Kentucky, do hereby establish our organization, and draft this constitution in accordance with the policies of University of Kentucky and the International Student Council so that our purpose will be defined and realized to its fullest extent.

ARTICLE I - NAME

The name of the organization will be Greek Hellenic Association (hereafter GHA)

ARTICLE II - PURPOSE

The GHA is committed to fulfilling the responsibilities of abiding by the policies of the University of Kentucky and the International Student Council. The purpose of the Greek Hellenic Association is:

1. To provide a framework for common activities for its members
2. To support interaction among its members on a regular basis
3. To help incoming Hellenic students adapt to the academic and social environment in the USA
4. To preserve the Hellenic identity of its members
5. To inform members on important current and past issues pertinent to the Hellenic, American and international reality
6. To present the Hellenic view on these issues to the international community
7. To introduce members of the international community to modern and Classical Hellenic culture

ARTICLE III - LANGUAGE

The language spoken in the meetings of the members will be the Greek language. In special occasions English may be used. All the documents will be in Greek, unless required by University regulations, or addressed to the international community.

ARTICLE IV - MEANS AND METHODS

To fulfill its purpose, the GHA will utilize the following means and methods:

1. Meetings and discussions
2. Public lectures by invited speakers
3. Public exhibitions
4. Letters to other organizations, expressing the view of the GHA on an issue
5. Recreational activities (excursions, athletic events, etc.)
6. Subscriptions to publications from Greece, Cyprus and other countries
7. Support to the efforts of any individual, considered to serve the purposes of the GHA in good faith

ARTICLE V - MEMBERSHIP

Membership will be limited to students, faculty, and staff of University of Kentucky (including Lexington Community College). An enrollment fee may be requested for a new member, as determined by the laws of the International Student Council. In addition, the obligations listed in Article VI must be met to maintain membership. The name, home and work address, telephone number, name of the department, electronic mail address, and dates of enrollment and withdrawal of each member will be kept in the Member List. The GHA is open to all eligible individuals and does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, creed or sexual orientation.

ARTICLE VI - MEMBER OBLIGATIONS

The following requirements are necessary for members:

1. Abidance by the rules defined by the Constitution and the decisions of the Association
2. Attendance of 30% or more of all meetings every semester
3. Participation in all activities organized by the GHA, unless there are financial, academic or other commonly acceptable reasons
4. Payment in full of financial obligations

ARTICLE VII - DISCONTINUATION OF MEMBERSHIP

Any member may withdraw membership by expressing the will to do so in writing. The withdrawing member must meet the financial obligations for the period of membership. Fees are nonrefundable. Failure to meet the conditions set in Article V and Article VI constitutes automatic discontinuation of membership. In particular, graduating students are considered to automatically withdraw their membership.

ARTICLE VIII - FINANCES

The GHA will finance the activities it engages by the following means:

1. Regular membership fees
2. Special fees determined in meetings to support organization of a planned activity
3. Donations, with conditions consistent with the purposes of the GHA
4. Profits from activities (Greek Night, etc.)
5. Funding provided by the Student Government Finance Committee.

ARTICLE IX - OFFICERS

The GHA will be governed and represented by the following officers:

1. An elected President, who will preside at the meetings, sign the letters sent by the Association, and represent the GHA in the meetings of the International Student Council as well as events organized by other organizations
2. One elected Vice President, who will handle the paperwork and the correspondence of the GHA
3. An elected Treasurer, who will be responsible for dues, accounts and all financial matters of the GHA. The Treasurer must be ready to present a budget to any member at request, and to the entire member body in the last meeting of office before elections
4. An elected Secretary, who will be responsible for maintaining the meeting archives and documents of the GHA
5. An Academic Adviser, a member of the UK Faculty, who must supervise and approve the activities of the Association
6. An elected Web-Master, who will be responsible for creating, maintaining, and updating the electronic web-page of the association. The web-page should reflect the general purpose of GHA as described in ARTICLE II, and by no means should it express individual or personal opinions and ideas

1. A written request by at least 3 members
2. Notification to the officer of the request, asking the officer to be present at the next meeting and prepared to speak
3. A majority vote of 60% is necessary to remove the officer, provided that the minimum meeting attendance is no less than 50% of the total number of the GHA members

ARTICLE X - ELECTIONS

All members are eligible to vote. The officers will be elected separately on an annual basis (usually in the beginning of the Fall semester) by a majority vote in an election meeting, provided that the minimum meeting attendance is no less than 50% of the total number of the GHA members. All voting will be done by open ballot. The new officers assume office after the election meeting.

ARTICLE XI - MEETINGS

Meetings are to be held on a regular basis at least once every month at a commonly acceptable day and time. The agenda of the meetings will be predefined and announced by electronic and/or campus mail. All members must maintain direct or indirect contact with the President or the Vice President about the agenda of the following meeting. Additional issues may not be put into the agenda during the meeting, unless at least 75% of the present members agree so.

ARTICLE XII - TERMINATION

The GHA can be terminated under one or more of the following conditions:

1. If its registration is suspended by University of Kentucky
2. If the number of members falls below five
3. If the office positions cannot be filled
4. If it is so voted by at least 75% of the total number of members.

ARTICLE XIII - AMENDMENTS

The constitution is binding to all members of the GHA. But it is not binding to itself. Amendments to the constitution may be proposed annually in the month after the elections. Proposed amendments will be effective following approval of 75% of the present members, provided that the minimum meeting attendance is no less than 50% of the total number of the GHA members.

ARTICLE XIV - REGISTRATION RENEWAL

The GHA will apply to the Student Organizations Center for registration at the beginning of the Fall semester. A report of the expenses and activities must be submitted by the Treasurer to the above office, at the end of each academic year.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The Greek Hellenic Association would like to acknowledge the help of Digenis, the Graduate Student Organization of the University of Maryland at College Park, and the Hellenic Student Association at Iowa State University. The constitutions of these two associations were used as a template for the new constitution of the Greek Hellenic Association of University of Kentucky.