The purpose of the Pennsylvania State University Pre-Veterinary Club is multi-functional. It serves to inform its members on career options within the animal science and veterinary medicine fields. The club also provides further insight into current veterinary procedures. Another goal is to provide members a source of information concerning veterinary school admission procedures. The club further provides members with the opportunity to interact with other students possessing similar interests and goals.
Section
1: Regular meetings of the club membership will
be held bi-monthly, on alternating weeks.
The specific dates and meeting place will be determined by the executive
committee. The tentative meeting
schedule shall be announced at the beginning of each semester and posted in the
club display case, located in the lobby of W.L. Henning Building.
Section
2: The executive committee shall
meet at the alternate weeks of club meetings. The president is responsible for planning,
scheduling and notifying involved parties about such meetings.
Section
3: Special meetings, such as
preparatory meetings for large events, or certain guest lecturers may be
scheduled at the executive committee’s discretion. It falls within the executive committee’s
responsibility to notify the general membership of such meetings.
Section
1: President – It shall be the duty of
the president to preside over all meetings.
Additional presidential responsibilities include the appointment and/or
removal of the chairmen and membership of all committees and the preparation
and distribution of agendas for each general membership meeting. The president also serves as chair of the
executive committee. This elected
official is also responsible for producing and distributing the Penn-State
Pre-Veterinary Club handbook prior to the first meeting of each fall
semester. The President is to be
particularly responsible for the position of the club within the university
society and to perform these duties in such a manner as to maintain the club in
the highest esteem. The president’s
attendance at all general and executive meetings is mandatory. Elected officer shall remain in office for
approximately one year, until new officers are elected the following spring.
Section 2: Vice-President – The vice-presidential
responsibilities include all the presidential duties during the absence of the
president. The vice-president is also
charged with the procurement of speakers and other special programming incident
to the regular general membership meetings.
The vice-president’s attendance at all general and executive meetings is
mandatory. Elected officer shall remain
in office for approximately one year, until new officers are elected the following
spring.
Section 3: Secretary – The secretary’s responsibilities include
maintaining all the written records of the club and particularly the minutes of
the regular meetings and the meetings of the executive committee. Minutes may also be made available to the
general membership through an alternative form of communication. The secretary’s duties also include designing
and updating the club display case. The
secretary is also responsible for sending out Thank-you cards to speakers and
individuals deemed necessary by the Executive Committee. The secretary’s attendance at all general and
executive meetings is mandatory. Elected
officer shall remain in office for approximately one year, until new officers
are elected the following spring.
Section 4: Treasurer –
Part A.: The treasurer’s duties shall include receiving all club funds, keeping
full and accurate account of these funds and depositing all money into the
account at the Associated Student Activities office, room 202 Hetzel Union
Building. This elected official also
corresponds with the Associated Student Activities personnel on the club’s
behalf. The treasurer is obligated to
collect dues at the first three meetings of each semester or to make special
arrangements with individual members regarding dues collection. Fund disbursement may not be made except by
approval of the president or by a majority vote (1/2 + 1) of the bona fide
membership. Account shall be current at
all-times and a full financial report shall be available upon demand of any
club member. The treasurer shall also be
required to present the account balance and all transactions made at each
general meeting. This individual must
disburse allocated funds to the APVMA annually to maintain national membership. The treasurer must also arrange transportation
to club functions that require working with University Fleet Operations. The treasurer’s attendance at all general and
executive meetings is mandatory. Elected
officer shall remain in office for approximately one year, until new officers
are elected the following spring.
Part B.: Incoming club funds include dues, profits
from fund-raisers and club activity fees.
Club expenses include APVMA national membership dues, travel fees,
copying fees and club activities.
Section 5: Membership Chair – The membership chair will
maintain a record of the names, addresses and phone numbers of the members, and
notify all members of regularly scheduled and special meetings. Written notification of general meetings
should be provided at least one week in advance. In the case of special meetings, notification
may be made via a proper form of communication.
The membership chair is also responsible for providing all other officers
with an updated member phone list each semester. This chair shall keep attendance records of
all club activities. It is also the duty
of the membership chair to determine the eligibility of candidates to run for
and hold office. The membership chair’s
attendance at all general and executive meetings is mandatory. Elected officer shall remain in office for
approximately one year, until new officers are elected the following spring.
Section 6: Ag Student Council Representative – The Agricultural
Student Council representative is elected to insure that the Pre-Vet Club is
represented at Student Council meetings.
This officer’s duties also include presenting regular updates of Ag
Student Council meetings at general Pre-Vet Club meetings in order to inform
members about upcoming activities and issues affecting the College of Agriculture. In the event that this person can not attend
a meeting, an alternate member may be selected to attend. The Ag Student Council representative’s
attendance to all general and executive meetings is mandatory. Elected officer shall remain in office for
approximately one year, until new officers are elected the following spring.
Section
1: Executive Committee – The executive committee
will consist of all elected officers and the faculty advisor(s). The president shall act as head of the
executive committee. This committee’s
responsibilities include organizing club activities and presiding over all club
business. It shall also set the general
meeting schedule at the beginning of each semester.
Section 2: American Pre-Veterinary Medical Association (APVMA)
Symposium Committee – An APVMA Symposium committee will be selected to
coordinate Club participation in the annual APVMA symposium, held every spring. Its responsibilities include: arranging transportation to the symposium
site, completing the registration form, and fulfilling any additional details
surrounding the trip. It will also
assist participants in organizing a presentation for the general membership
detailing the trip.
Section 3: Fundraising
Committee – No more than two (2) members will be elected to the fundraising
committee to organize all relative events for generating club revenue. These include any clothing orders, calendar
sales, or university-related fundraising opportunities.
Section 4: Special Committees – The executive board may appoint
special committees at its discretion.
These committees will be responsible for assigned tasks and presenting
needed information at general meetings.
The executive committee shall annually define
an active member based on the amount of meetings, fundraisers, and activities
that have occurred during the fall and spring semester. This definition must be presented to the
general membership prior to officer nominations and elections in the spring and
fall semester.
A majority (1/2 + 1) of the members, who are considered active members (see Article 6), constitute a quorum. A quorum is required for any voting procedures within the organization.
Section
1: Only those members considered
active (see Article 6) are eligible to vote on business matters presented to
the club and in each election.
Section 2: Voting may occur either verbally or through secret,
written ballot. In the case of a tie, a
presidential vote shall decide the issue.
Section
1: Member Eligibility to Hold Office – Any
member who has achieved active member status for two consecutive semesters is
eligible to run for and hold an office within the organization. Members must be enrolled as a full time
student (at least 12 credits per semester) at Penn State University. The membership chair must determine eligibility
and distribute a list of eligible members at least one meeting prior to
nominations.
Section
2: Nominations – Nominations will be
taken from the floor at the meeting prior to the election meeting and also the
night of elections. Individuals may
decline the nomination. All nominations
must be seconded by another member.
Section
3: Election Meetings –Elections will
be held at the second to last general business meeting of the spring
semester. Nominations will be held at
the general business meeting previous. Special committees, as defined in Article 5, Section
5, may be elected at the beginning of the fall semester.
Section 4: Speeches – Speeches shall be presented prior to
voting. Nominated individuals will talk
about their qualifications for the desired office.
Section 5: Secret Ballot – Election voting shall be conducted
by secret ballot. A member of the
executive committee not running for office shall be responsible for tallying
the votes and announcing the decisions.
Section
6: Retiring Officers – The retiring officers
will preside at the election and continue in their duties until the new officers
are installed into office at the following meeting. The retiring officers shall assist the new
officers for the remainder of the academic year.
Section
7: Non-performance – Club officers may be
removed from office for non-performance by a two thirds vote of the active
members.
Section
8: Filling Vacancies – Any vacancy occurring in
an elective office due to resignation, removal or any other cause shall be
filled by election for the remainder of the term. In the case of removal or resignation of the
president, the vice-president will assume the office of the president and an
election shall be held to replace the vice-president.
These
by-laws may be amended or revised by a majority vote (1/2 + 1) of the active
members. The proposed amendment must be
presented to the membership at least one meeting prior to any voting procedures
on the amendment.
Last Revised 4/2006 (APK)