The constitution of the Vietnamese Student Association at the University of Washington. This is modification of the University of Washington's guidelines for student organizations and may not be duplicated or taken without prior permission from the University of Washington.

• ARTICLE I
  • NAME: The Association shall be known as Vietnamese Students Association at the University of Washington, hereafter referred to as the VSA-UW.
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• ARTICLE II
  • PURPOSES: To uphold and promote the Vietnamese culture and tradition. To build a strong and thriving VSA at the University of Washington. To lead and to help Vietnamese students at UW adapt to college life. To participate in those activities, within the surrounding communities, that are related to the Vietnamese roots and heritage.
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• ARTICLE III
  • MEMBERSHIP: Membership of this organization shall be open to all students currently enrolled at University of Washington, regardless of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, or physical disability. Members must register with the Membership Coordinator.
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• ARTICLE IV
  • OFFICES
    • SECTION I
      • Executive Committee: All decisions concerning VSA-UW shall be executed by the Executive Committee, which shall be composed of a President and four Vice Presidents. President Appoint a Secretary and a Treasurer Serve as the official spokesperson for VSA. Set agenda and facilitate officers meeting. Delegate tasks and responsibilities to officers. Ensure that activities and operations achieve the mission, goals and objectives of VSA. Monitor and take appropriate actions to preserve the welfare and commitment of officers. Promote communication and coordination among officers and members. Audit the VSA-UW financial account within the third week of each quarter.
        
        Vice-President of Operations (VPO): The Vice-President of Operations shall assist the President and assume her or his duties when the President is unable to serve. Appoint officers to carry out functions of Operations. Monitor and inform the progress of activities, events, programs, and plans of special events.
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        Vice-President of Internal Affairs: Appoint Coordinators and Representatives necessary for Internal Functions. Maintain contact and work with the Student Activities Office (SAO), the Ethnic Cultural Center (ECC), and other University offices. Reserve all facility needs for VSA. Represent VSA-UW at on-campus events, programs, meetings, and functions as necessary. Identify and respond to opportunities where VSA-UW can serve or reach out to the diverse Vietnamese groups. Monitor and inform the progress of activities, events, programs, and plans of club and school events.
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        Vice-President of External Affairs: Appoint Coordinators and Representatives for External Functions. Establish and maintain contact w/ VSA affiliated individuals, groups, organizations and businesses outside of UW. Seek out and inform the Board of Officers of opportunities that might be of VSA's interest. Represent VSA-UW at events, programs, meetings, functions outside of UW. Serve as the spokesperson at external events in the absence of the president. Identify and respond to opportunities where VSA-UW can serve or reach out to the diverse Vietnamese groups. Monitor and inform the progress of activities, events, programs, and plans of community events.
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        Vice-President of Communication: Appoint Coordinators and Representatives Communications Functions Communicate, publicize, and promote VSA activities and events. Ensure that all information to be communicated is precise and correct. Responsible for the production and distribution of all publicity materials (flyers, newsletters, ads, etc.). Actively seek out new medium and methods to successfully publicize and promote VSA and its activities. Monitor and inform the progress of activities, events, programs, and plans.
    • SECTION II: Board of Officers
      • The role of the Board of Officers is to support the Executive Board. The main responsibilities are as follows:
      • • OPERATIONS FUNCTIONS: Secretary Maintain records and documents of VSA activities and programs. Record and prepare written minutes of officers meetings. Collect and compose a scrapbook of all VSA activities and officer meeting minutes for the year. Update the VSA's Constitution and Bylaws. Treasurer Responsible for the VSA-UW financial account. Monitor and report VSA-UW financial status as necessary. Collect and maintain records of all financial transactions. Process payments of VSA liabilities and expenses in a timely manner. Safeguard all VSA-UW properties and assets. Promote fundraising activities.
          
          INTERNAL FUNCTIONS: Coordinators for this function will be appointed as deemed necessary by the VP-Operations and the Executive Board. Athletic Activities Coordinator Coordinate athletic activities for VSA members at least once per quarter. Reserve athletic equipment as necessary. Activities Coordinator Organize and coordinate activities to promote friendship and collectivism among members. Assist the membership coordinator to increase and retain membership. ASUW Student Senate Representative Officially represent VSA-UW at the ASUW Student Senate. Serve as a liaison between VSA-UW and the ASC Academic and Career. Activities Coordinator Coordinate activities to help current and future VSA members with academic and career aspirations. Collect and provide academic and career resources for VSA members.
          
          EXTERNAL FUNCTIONS: Community Service Coordinator Organize and coordinate community service activities to promote community service among members. Serve as a liaison between VSA-UW and community service organizations VSA of WA. Representative Officially represent VSA-UW at the VSA-WA meeting. Serve as a liaison between VSA-UW and the VSA-WA.
          
          COMMUNICATIONS FUNCTIONS: Membership Coordinator Maintain the VSA-UW members' electronic mail account. Focus on the increase and retention of VSA membership. Know of member's capabilities and interest areas to facilitate in the recruitment of volunteers for VSA endeavors. Coordinate the special recognition of dedicated members. Alumni and Parents Coordinator Actively seek the involvement of VSA-UW alumni and members' parents. Actively communicate with VSA-UW alumni and members' parents. Collect and maintain a VSA alumni directory. Webmaster Update the VSA-UW web page once per week or as necessary. Improve the attractiveness of the VSA-UW web page. Maintain the officers e-mail account (a.k.a.: vsaofficer@u.washington.edu).
      SECTION III: Office Terms Terms of offices shall be one year, effective the first day of the summer recess.
      
      SECTION IV: Rules of Appointment. The Executive Board shall make public and conduct interviews to appoint the board of officers. Guidelines for appointments are as follows: Interviews shall be conducted over a reasonable time period. Those who want an interview shall be granted one if it is within the time allotted for interviews The executive board shall vote in and have final decision on those who are appointed Appointments will be made based on the qualifications of the interviewees .
      
      SECTION V: Executive Restrictions. No VSA-UW officer shall be involved in activities that compromise the purpose of VSA-UW.
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• ARTICLE V: GENERAL RESTRICTIONS
  • In order to maintain the integrity of the University, the Vietnamese Students Association must maintain local autonomy. VSA-UW will not endorse or advocate any political cause or objective not related to the Association's purposes. VSA-UW will always remain independent, distinct, and separate from any other organization. All policy decisions should be made without obligation to any parent organization. Activities co-sponsored with non-VSA-UW organizations will require two-thirds vote of the board of officers to approve participation in specific activity.
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• ARTICLE VI: MEETINGS
  • SECTION I: General Meetings
    • The Executive Committee shall call a general meeting. A report of the Executive committee shall be delivered; proposals of future activities shall be presented and voted upon by all active members present.
  • SECTION II: Executive Committee
    • Meetings The President shall call meetings of the Executive Committee.
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• ARTICLE VII: VOTING PROCEDURES
  • SECTION I: General Voting. A voting member shall be any member who is already registered with the VSA-UW Membership Coordinator at any publicized VSA-UW meeting where an issue is being voted on. A simple majority will constitute more than half of these active members.
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    SECTION II: Executive Committee Elections. The Executive Committee shall be elected in the Election which precedes the end of year Cultural Show, under secret ballot by a simple majority of members present at the meeting.
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    SECTION III: Executive Recalls. An executive recall may be initiated by any ten active members, by submitting the proposal in writing to the VSA-UW Membership Coordinator. Members shall be informed of such recall at the next VSA-UW general meeting, and a debate and vote on the recall shall take place at a subsequent and publicized general meeting. A recall requires a two-thirds vote of the meeting's active members to pass.
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• ARTICLE VIII: AMENDMENTS
  • Any ten active members may propose an amendment. Members shall be informed of the proposal at the next VSA-UW general meeting, and a debate and vote on the proposed amendment shall take place at a subsequent and publicized general meeting. A constitutional amendment requires two-thirds vote of the meeting's active members to pass.
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