I. Purpose
A. The purpose of Silent Praise is to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ through the ministry of mime, interpreting movements with our bodies.
II. Membership
A. Active
1. Only currently employed faculty, staff, and currently registered students can be eligible for active membership. (The majority of the active members, that is 50% +1, must be currently registered undergraduate students).
2. Active members shall pay dues on a semester or yearly basis in order to participate in ministries with Silent Praise, or any activity associated with the organization.
3. Active members must attend at the minimum 75% of regularly held rehearsals in order to be eligible to participate in any type of ministry with Silent Praise.
4. Active members shall be responsible for holding officers accountable for performing the duties as defined by this constitution.
5. Active members shall be responsible for sustaining the purpose of Silent Praise Ministries as well as fostering its existence.
B. Associate - All non-university affiliated persons who are interested in participating in this organization are eligible for associate member status.
1. Associate members can participate in ministries with Silent Praise, rehearsals, word of mouth publicity, and back stage aid with Silent Praise.
2. Associate members are required to pay dues, but are not eligible to vote.
3. Associate members must attend at the minimum 50% of regularly held rehearsals in order to be eligible to minister with Silent Praise.
C. If a member fails to comply with a safety guideline, they will be expelled from the organization and no longer eligible to participate. The advisor can expel any member at his or her discretion. In addition, a 50% +1 majority of the membership can vote to expel any member in violation of safety guidelines at any meeting of the Silent Praise Ministries.
III. Non-Elected Leader Positions
A. Individuals affiliated with Silent Praise shall be eligible to serve as an appointed leader.
B. The student must be able to serve in the position for one full year, fall semester through spring semester.
C. Active members appointed for a position must meet the prerequisite of being an active member of Silent Praise for at least one year, fall and spring semester.
1. Narrator
- The Narrator must be committed to furthering the purpose of the organization.
- The Narrator shall be appointed by the President and carry out certain duties prescribed by the President.
- The Narrator should be present at 75% or more of the rehearsals.
- The Narrator is responsible for being a motivational speaker and to introduce the songs when Silent Praise is ministering and also be a spiritual guider to the members of the organization.
2. Chaplain
- The Chaplain must be committed to furthering the purpose of the organization.
- The Chaplain shall be appointed by the President and carry out certain duties prescribed by the President.
- The Chaplain shall pray for Silent Praise, its ministries, meetings, members and officers.
IV. Officers
A. Officially registered students, who are active members, shall be eligible to serve as elected officers. (Limitations are subject to USG Supreme Court approval.
B. The student must be able to serve in the position for one full year, fall semester through spring semester.
C. Active members elected for a position must meet the prerequisite of being an active member of Silent Praise for at least one year, fall and spring semester.
D. Offices
1. President
- The President must be committed to furthering the purpose of the organization.
- The President shall provide spiritual guidance for the organization.
- The President is responsible for keeping the atmosphere of fellowship of the organization, by immediately intervening in any disputes, and making certain that all conflicts are resolved.
- The President must be a respectful leader, whose example is worthy to follow. Their leadership must be one that others will abide by willingly, not regretfully.
- The President shall be the spokesperson for the organization and shall be responsible for presiding over any official meetings held, in addition to overseeing the allocation of duties to active members, and scheduling all workshops.
- The President shall be responsible for ensuring that the other leaders perform the obligations that they were appointed to fulfill, and approves of all mime choreography.
2. Vice President (VP)
- The VP must be committed to furthering the purpose of the organization.
- The VP serves as President when the President is unable to do so.
- The VP shall provide spiritual guidance for the organization.
- The VP is responsible for keeping the atmosphere of fellowship of the organization, by immediately intervening in any disputes.
- The VP shall be responsible for arranging all engagements and concerts for Silent Praise, and give a report of a status of these engagements at each official meeting.
- The VP must be a respectful leader, whose example is worthy to follow. Their leadership must be one that others will abide by willingly, not regretfully.
- The VP shall also be responsible for typing fliers, newsletters and other forms of media.
- The VP must present the materials for the approval of the majority (50%+1) of the executive board before dispersing them to the public.
3. Secretary
- The Secretary must be committed to furthering the purpose of the organization.
- The Secretary shall be responsible for official correspondences, and making telephone calls upon request by the President, Vice President or Advisor.
- The Secretary must receive the approval of the President or VP before sending any letters, or making phone calls on behalf of the organization.
- The Secretary shall keep a record of member information and attendance, and a record of all official meetings and rehearsals.
- The Secretary shall distribute copies of the minutes of each official meeting to every officer and appointed leaders.
- The Secretary shall pick up and obtain the mail from the HUB Information desk and distribute mail to perspective officers.
4. Treasurer
- The Treasurer must be committed to furthering the purpose of the organization.
- The Treasurer shall be responsible with handling all organizational finances, monitors, records, and deposits and allocate the organization’s funds.
- The treasurer must consult the President or VP before carrying out any financial transactions. If organizational funds are allocated without the knowledge of the President or VP, the treasurer shall immediately be removed from office. The treasurer has the right to appeal this decision.
- The Treasurer shall be responsible for collecting and recording the payment of dues.
- The Treasurer shall report the financial status of the organization, and prepare monthly statements for every official meeting.
5. Historian
- The Historian must be committed to furthering the purpose of the organization.
- The Historian shall be responsible for maintaining a historical account of Silent Praise activities in various forms of media.
- The Historian shall take pictures at the majority of rehearsals, all ministries and fundraising events to form a portfolio of the year.
V. Nomination and Elections of Officers
A. On an announced date during Spring Semester, the President will accept nominations after a scheduled rehearsal.
B. Self-Nominations will be accepted.
C. The President will solicit two volunteers that are active members, to serve on a nomination Review Panel with the Executive Committee. If there are no volunteers, the President will select two active members to serve in this capacity.
D. The Review Panel will review and pray over the nominations. Nominations must meet the criteria of Section IV to be considered further.
E. Qualified nominees for the elected officers will be selected subsequent to the review panel interview process.
F. Active members will vote on the slate of nominees at an announced rehearsal date. There are no absentee votes.
G. Election Codes:
1. The quorum to conduct elections and nominations shall be thirty three percent (33%) of the active membership.
2. The majority needed to elect shall be fifty percent plus one (50%+1) of the quorum.
H. For the Treasurer position, steps A-G are taken in order at the beginning of the spring semester, to allow time for training.
I. Officer Accountability
a. If the members believe that an officer is not adequately performing his/her job, one active member must present a document to a member of the executive board signed by at least thirty-three percent (33%) of the active members stating the reason(s) for the complaints.
b. Once the officer who is the subject of the complaint has been fully notified of the allegations, the executive board (minus the officer in question) must come to a unanimous decision to allow the person to remain in office or have him/her removed from office. If the executive board cannot unanimously agree, a majority (50%+1) of active members shall decide the vote.
c. If the officer in question is voted out of office, he/she has a right to run for an office in following terms.
a. Only active members as defined in section II. A 1-5 will be eligible to vote in elections and general issues.
b. A quorum is 33% of the active membership.
c. A majority is fifty percent plus one (50%+1) of the active membership, that is, the majority is derived from the active members present.
a. In the event that the President vacates his/her office, the Vice President assumes the position of President for the balance of the vacated term.
b. In the event that any other elected position is vacated, the remaining officers will appoint a replacement for the balance of the vacated term. The criteria of Section IV must apply to the appointed replacement.
a. Meetings
i. There will be a minimum of five official meetings held per semester.
Any official meeting requires that the President and/or VP be in attendance as well as the recording secretary and at least two other officers and/or appointed leaders.
iii. All elected officers and appointed leaders will be expected to attend all official meetings and their notification will only be via phone or face-to-face communication.
iv. The members are only welcomed to the official meetings when the meetings are open by the President.
b. Rehearsals
i. The Silent Praise Mime Ministry will meet two times a week on designated days.
ii. The President with the consent of the VP may change meetings if needed.
iii. Members shall be notified of all rehearsals by e-mail or telephone.
iv. The President may call special rehearsals should he/she see fit.
a. All funds that are procured for the use of this organization will be deposited and handled through the Associated Student Activities (ASA), which is located in 240 HUB.
b. Dues will be included as funds that will be given to the ASA, and will not be excessive.
c. Dues are necessary to be an active member; the President and VP will determine the amount, which will be based on the amount needed to fund the organization.
d. Dues will be collected from all active members each semester or yearly basis.
a. This Faculty or Staff member who will be proved to be of the University community, will be a guiding light whose presence will aid in the maintenance of Silent Praise Mime Ministry in their objective while keeping in accordance with the Constitution, which would also require them to be present at least 10% of the rehearsals.
b. The advisor will advise all members of this organization with any matters that are in correlation with the goals and objectives of the Silent Praise Mime Ministry.
c. The advisor shall provide wisdom and counsel to the executive board and also the members.
d. The advisor must also be an individual whose presence will benefit the members of the Silent Praise Mime Ministry spiritually as well as securely.
e. The advisor must be present at all official executive board meetings and attend all ministries.
f. The advisor must also sign a statement acknowledging his or her responsibilities that clearly express the duties of this position, upholding any and all responsibilities stated by the President and above in this section.
g. The Advisor will be responsible for upholding the applicable policies and procedures of the Pennsylvania State University.
a. This organization will also abide by the following safety guidelines.
i. No member will use any undue force in any contact activity.
ii. Members will not use any weapons in conjunction with Silent Praise activities.
iii. Silent Praise Ministry will abide by the Penn State Department of Health and Safety’s current version of Safety Considerations for Registered organizations.
b. Members are required to acknowledge and abide by all of the above safety considerations, and to sign a participation waiver as a condition of membership. Any violation of stated guidelines is grounds for immediate dismissal from the Silent Praise Organization.
a. Any amendment to this constitution may be introduced at the conclusion of any meeting. After the proposed amendment is presented, voting will occur and will be included only after USG Supreme Court approval.
b. Any member may introduce a constitutional amendment at the conclusion of any meeting. At the following meeting, the active members shall vote on the amendment, as outlined in the article of voting. If the amendment passes, it shall be sent to the USG Supreme Court/GSA Judiciary Committee for approval.
c. Quorum is 33%. The majority (50%+1) of the active membership must be present to pass an amendment.
d. All amendments are subject to USG Supreme Court Approval.
a. Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, by Sarah Corbin Roberts shall be used in all cases not covered by this constitution.
a. Copies of this constitution shall be made available to anyone upon request.