ARTICLE I. NAME

Grand Valley State University Lakers Unidos.

ARTICLE II. OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this Association shall be to:

Section 1. Build and Create a Sense of Community

1. Develop a community and support network that nurtures Latina/o/x faculty and staff as a visible and vibrant part of the GVSU environment and leadership
2. Provide professional and personal support to GVSU Latino/a/x faculty and staff
3. Give voice to the concerns of the Latino/a/x faculty and staff on campus
4. Help to maintain a positive work environment for Latino/a faculty and staff
5. Create an authoritative website
   1. To inform and promote Latino/a faculty and staff involvement in academic  and professional activities, outreach service and efforts at the campus, regional, national and international levels
   2. To act as a repository for Latino/a resources

Section 2. Advocate for, and Support the Recruitment, Retention and Advancement of GVSU Latino Faculty and Staff

1. Support the growth and professional development of Latino/a/x faculty
2. Work with GVSU administration on issues relating to the Latino/a/x faculty and staff recruitment, retention and advancement
3. Assist GVSU in the area of recruiting, engaging and retaining Latino/a/x employees
4. Promote and celebrate GVSU Latina/o faculty and staff contributions and achievements
5. Provide mentoring to Latino/a/x faculty and staff

Section 3. Advocate for, and Support the Recruitment, Retention and Graduation of Latino/a/x Students

1. Support the university’s initiatives to increase the recruitment and retention of Latino/a students.
2. Support the university’s existing programs, services and organizations that work directly with prospective and current Latino/a students.
3. Work with university programs, services and organizations to increase Latino/a student participation. 

Section 4. Network and Collaborate

1. Network and collaborate with other Latino/a/x Faculty and staff affinity groups in Western Michigan
2. Support campus community engagement by developing and strengthening collaborative relationships between the University and the West Michigan Latino/a/x community
3. Provide opportunities for social and professional networking
4. Network and collaborate with other GVSU’s affinity groups.  

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. The membership of this Association is open to all faculty and staff of Grand Valley State University.

Section 2.  Eligible Voting Members will consist of the GVSU’s faculty and staff that are current members of the Lakers Unidos e-mail discussion list.  

ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS

Section 1. The officers of the Association shall consist of two Co-Chairpersons, a Secretary and a Treasurer. These officers shall perform the duties prescribed by these Bylaws and the parliamentary authority adopted by the Association.

Section 2. The Co-Chairpersons shall appoint an Elections Task Force in February. The Elections Task Force will issue a call for nominations of candidates for the positions to be filled. Candidates will submit a brief statement of qualifications. The Elections Task Force shall report the names of qualified candidates to the membership.

Section 3. The election of officers shall be by ballot of the majority of the eligible voting membership each March. Officers will serve according to the terms of each office.

Section 4. The Co-Chairpersons will serve a two-year staggered term.  To accommodate for a staggered terms, for the year 2014-2015, Co-Chair one will serve one year, Co-Chair two will serve for two years. The term of office shall begin in May.

1. Call and conduct meetings of the Executive Board and general membership of LU.
2. Carry out all the orders of the Executive Board and resolutions of the Association.
3. Represent the Association in all matters. Supervise and direct all efforts of LU.
4. Develop agendas for all meetings.
5. Establish committees and task forces.
6. One Co-chair sign, with the Treasurer, all checks issued in the name of the LU.
7. Sign all contracts approved by the Association or the Executive Board.
8. Call special meetings of the Executive Board as needed.

Section 5. The Secretary shall serve a two-year term. The term of office shall begin in May. The duties of the Secretary shall be:

1. Keep a record of all proceedings of general membership meetings and the Executive Board meetings
2. Prepare and distribute notices, agendas, etc., in a timely fashion.
3. Keep minutes of all Executive Board and General Membership meetings.
4. Maintain a membership roster that will include name, department, email address and phone number.
5. Perform any other duties assigned by the Co-Chairpersons.

Section 7. The Treasurer shall serve a two-year term. The term of office shall begin in May. The duties of the Treasurer shall be:

1. Collect moneys as required.
2. Manage an association account through the Division of Inclusion and Equity, including submitting an annual fiscal report to the Executive Board.
3. Sign all check requests for expenditures along with the Co-Chairpersons.
4. Keep an up-to-date account of all expenditures.
5. Prepare an annual fiscal report to submit to the Chairpersons and membership.

Section 8.  A member cannot hold more than one office at a time, and no member will be eligible to serve more than two consecutive terms in the same office. If a member is unable to continue serving on the Board, s/he will be replaced by the first runner-up in the election and will continue to serve until the term has expired.

ARTICLE V. THE EXECUTIVE BOARD

Section 1. The Co-Chairpersons, Secretary, and Treasurer of the Association shall constitute the Executive Board.

Section 2. The Executive Board shall have general supervision of the affairs of the Association, determine hours and meeting location, make recommendations to the Association, and perform other duties as are specified by this Charter. The Board shall be subject to the orders of the Association. The Board shall act as the official representative of the Association for purposes of: communication with GVSU administration other campus organizations or their officers, and news media.

Section 3. Unless otherwise ordered by the Board, regular meetings of the Executive Board shall be held monthly (except in July). Special meetings of the Board may be called by the Co-Chairpersons.

ARTICLE VI. MEETINGS

Section 1. Meetings will be conducted in accordance with this Charter and Robert’s Rules of Order

Section 2. The general membership meetings of the Association shall be held in September, December, February and April of each year, unless additional meetings are requested by the Executive Board or one-third of the membership of the Association.

Section 3. All meetings will have an agenda and business will be conducted in the following sequence: Call to Order, Guest Speaker (if one is present), approval of past meeting minutes, Co-Chairpersons report, Secretary Report, Treasurer Report, Committee/Tasks Force Reports, Old Business, New Business, Announcements, Adjournment.

Section 4. The Executive Board will meet monthly from August through June of each year.

Section 5. Special meetings may be called by Co-Chairpersons or the Executive Board

ARTICLE VII. COMMITTEES

Section 1. The Executive Board shall appoint committees or sub-committees as deemed necessary

ARTICLE XIII. AMENDMENT OF CHARTER

The Charter may be amended or repealed by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the Association membership by ballot. The proposed amendment must be submitted to the membership at least one meeting of the membership prior to the amendments being submitted to a vote. The Charter will be reviewed at least every two (2) years.

First draft: June 19, 2014

Second draft:  Sept, 19, 2014

Third draft:  Oct 17, 2014

Fourth draft: February 25, 2015

Approved: April 3, 2015 (online vote)