Local Constitution

 

 

ARTICLE ONE: NAME AND PURPOSE

1.01 NAME:

The name of this organization shall be the Southwest Minnesota State University Association of Administrative and Service Faculty, herein referred to as SMSU ASF or the Association.

1.02 AFFILIATION:

The Association is a local chapter of the Minnesota State University Administrative and Service Faculty, hereafter “State ASF,” which is an affiliated member of Minnesota Teamsters Public and Law Enforcement Employees’ Union Local 320, hereafter “Teamsters Local 320” which is an affiliate of International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Any other affiliation by the Association
shall be in accordance with the SMSU ASF bylaws in accordance with procedures established by the Bureau of Mediation Services.

1.03 PURPOSE:

The purpose of this organization shall be:
A. to promote the welfare of administrative and service faculty at SMSU; and
B. to represent the local campus in State ASF matters and to participate in the bargaining negotiations and the meet and confer process on behalf of SMSU ASF; and
C. to encourage membership and active participation in SMSU ASF meetings and elections;and
D. to set policies and procedures; and
E. to conduct day to day financial and organizational affairs of SMSU ASF; and
F. to promote the exchange of information pertinent to both Association and professional interests; and
G. to maintain and improve the quality of education and educational services at SMSU; and
H. to cooperate with similar organizations in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, hereafter, Minn State, system via State ASF to achieve common goals in all areas of employment containing ASF members.2

ARTICLE TWO: MEMBERSHIP

2.01 ELIGIBILITY:

Membership in SMSU ASF shall be open to any person in a position designated in the bargaining unit as established by Minn State and/or the Bureau of Mediation Services.

2.02 DUES PAYING MEMBERS:

Persons shall be considered dues paying members when they have paid dues as set by the state and local chapters, and/or as designated and set forth in state and/or federal laws. A signed authorization to withhold dues via payroll deductions, on file in the Teamsters Local 320 office, shall be considered a paid membership.

2.03 NON DUES-PAYING EMPLOYEES:

SMSU employees in positions designated as being in ASF who have chosen to not pay dues are covered under the State ASF contract with the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities but are not SMSU ASF members. Therefore, non-dues paying employees are prohibited from the following:
i. Voting on local or state matters including approval of contract settlements.
ii. Attending SMSU or State ASF meetings to which they are not specially invited
iii. Membership in SMSU and State ASF communication lists
iv. Consideration for appointment by SMSU ASF to university committees
v. Participation in shared governance opportunities at SMSU.
vi. Serving in any ASF elected or appointed positions
vii. Any ASF recognition ceremony and awards

ARTICLE THREE: STRUCTURE

3.01 ORGANIZATION:

The Association governing body shall be comprised of an Executive Board, consisting of President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer, the Immediate Past President, Lead Grievance Officer, Legislative Liaison and Lead Negotiator.

3.02 TERMS OF OFFICE:

The President, First Vice President, Corresponding Secretary, and Treasurer will be elected to serve two-year terms beginning on July 1st of each odd numbered year. The Second Vice President, Recording Secretary, Legislative Liaison and Chief Negotiator will be elected to serve two-year terms beginning on July 1st of each even numbered year.

3.03 ORDER OF SUCCESSION:

In reference to order of succession while passing the gavel during meetings the following order of elected positions will be used: President, 1st Vice President, 2nd Vice President, Treasurer, Negotiator, Legislative Liaison, Corresponding Secretary, Recording Secretary, Grievance Officer, Immediate Past President.3

3.04 RESIGNATION OF OFFICER OR INABILITY OF ELECTED OFFICER TO SERVE:

In the event of the resignation of the President, the First Vice President will assume the presidency and the Second Vice President will assume the First Vice President position thereby creating a vacancy of the Second Vice President position. In the event of resignation of other elected officers, or inability to serve of any other elected officer, the Executive Board may
appoint a member in good standing to serve out the remaining term pending final approval at the next general membership meeting.

3.05A CONSECUTIVE SERVICE

For long term sustainability the SMSU ASF objective is to have different dues paying members in all executive board positions.
A. Dues paying members may not serve in more than one of the following officer positions simultaneously: President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, and Treasurer.
B. The President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, and Treasurer may not serve simultaneously as the Corresponding Secretary or Recording Secretary.
C. Dues paying members may serve simultaneously as Corresponding Secretary and Recording Secretary.
D. The President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Treasurer, Corresponding Secretary, and Recording Secretary may serve simultaneously as Lead Grievance Officer, Legislative Liaison, and/or Campus Negotiator.

3.05B TEMPORARY VACANCY/ INABILITY TO SERVE:

In the event of a temporary vacancy (6 months or less) the Executive Board may either choose to distribute the duties of the vacant position among the current Executive Officers or may appoint a dues paying member to serve in the temporary vacant position. The duly elected officer immediately resumes their duties upon return.

3.06 REMOVAL OF OFFICERS:

Officers of the Association may be submitted to a recall ballot upon the petition of the members that contains the signatures of one-third of all dues paying members as of the date of petition. The recall petition may be submitted to the Executive Board, which must see that the recall procedure is followed as stated herein:

A. The Elections, Nominations and Ballot Committee shall conduct a secret ballot of all members in good standing with fifteen (15) days of the receipt of the petition.
B. Passage of the recall ballot shall require two-thirds of the members in good standing, which shall be certified to the membership by the Elections, Nominations and Ballot Committee (ENBC) at a special meeting to be held within ten (10) days after the secret ballot.
C. The removal shall be effective upon certification at the special meeting.
D. A recalled President shall not serve on the Executive Board as Immediate Past President.4
E. Any officer subject to a recall vote shall not serve on the ENBC or be involved in the appointment of committee members.

ARTICLE FOUR: ASF STATE BOARD

4.01 REPRESENTATION TO STATE ASF:

Consistent with the State ASF Constitution, the Southwest Minnesota State University Association President, or their designee, will represent the Association to the State ASF Board.

ARTICLE FIVE: COMMITTEES

The standing Committees of the SMSU ASF shall be the Meet and Confer Committee, ENBC, Professional Development and Membership Committee, Professional Improvement Committee, and Constitutional Review Committee.

Ad-Hoc Committees, Task Forces, Teams, and other committees/groups may be formed. These committees shall be formed by a simple majority vote at the next membership meeting or appointed by the Executive Board.

5.01 APPOINTMENT:

All assignments to SMSU ASF committees outlined in Article 5 are agreed to by the Executive Board unless otherwise specified in the SMSU ASF Constitution and/or Bylaws.

ARTICLE SIX: DUES

6.01 INITIAL MEMBERSHIP FEE:

SMSU ASF shall pay initial membership fees for any employee assigned to the ASF bargaining unit who chooses to become a dues paying if such fees are being charged.

6.02 AMOUNT OF DUES:

Dues are assessed to dues paying members as established by the State ASF and Teamsters Local 320 in compliance with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Constitution and Bylaws.

6.03 SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS:

Local and or State ASF special assessments may be levied upon dues paying members. State ASF special assessments must be approved by a majority vote of the Association State ASF membership. Local ASF special assessments must be approved by a majority vote of the local ASF membership. Any vote on special assessments must take place at a regular or special general membership meeting with prior notice having been given.

ARTICLE SEVEN: TRANSACTIONS OF BUSINESS

7.01 QUORUM OF EXECUTIVE BOARD

A quorum for the transaction of business by the executive board shall consist of at least fifty percent (50%) of the individuals currently holding executive board positions. Quorums may be established via telephone conference calls or other communication technology.5

7.02 REGULAR EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETINGS AND CONDUCTION OF BUSINESS

The executive board conducts business of the Association between general membership meetings throughout the year. Regular executive board meetings shall be held at least once per month during the academic year prior to regular monthly general membership meetings. The Executive Board will also conduct all other necessary business between general membership meetings.

7.03. SPECIAL EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETINGS

The President may call special executive board meetings at any time for an appropriate matter of Association business.

7.04 QUORUM OF GENERAL MEMBERSHIP

A quorum for the transaction of business at a general membership meeting consist of at least twenty percent (20%) of the dues paying members. Quorums may be established via telephone conference calls or other communication technology.

7.05 REGULAR GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS:

Regular general member meetings shall be held at least once each month during the academic year.

7.06. SPECIAL GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS:

Special general membership meetings may be held between regular monthly general membership meetings during the school year and outside the academic year. The President may call a special meeting at any time for an appropriate matter of business. A special meeting must be called by the President if at least ten percent (10%) of the dues paying members submit a written request to the President for such a meeting, specifying in the written request the agenda of such a specially requested meeting. The meeting shall be scheduled within two weeks of the receipt of the request with members given one week advance notice.

7.07 NOTIFICATION OF MEETING:

All dues paying members shall receive notice of any meeting, regular or special, indication of the probable agenda at least 24-hours prior to the date of the meeting.

7.08. EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES:

In the event of extraordinary circumstances (as determined by the Association Executive Board), business of the Association may be conducted by mail, email, phone, or other acceptable electronic media. In such a case, a quorum shall consist of twenty percent (20%) of the members in good standing.

7.09. ABSTENTIONS FROM FORMAL VOTES:

All abstentions shall be counted as non-votes. These votes shall not be counted for the majority or the minority.

ARTICLE EIGHT: PRECEDENCE 6

In circumstances where any clauses of this Constitution are in conflict with the State ASFConstitution, the State ASF Constitution prevails.The SMSU ASF Constitution takes precedence over the SMSU ASF Bylaws and any ASF Committee Bylaws.

ARTICLE NINE: BYLAWS

SMSU ASF Bylaws shall be approved by a 2/3 majority of the ASF general membership in attendance at a regularly scheduled general membership meeting or through normal election procedures.

ARTICLE TEN: ADOPTIONS AND AMENDMENTS

10.01 ADOPTION OF THE CONSTITUTION:

This SMSU ASF Constitution shall be in effect upon its approval through secret ballot by two thirds majority of the dues paying members casting ballots.

10.02 AMENDING THIS CONSTITUTION:

This SMSU ASF Constitution may be amended by two-thirds of votes of dues paying members cast in an election conducted by the Elections, Nominations and Ballot Committee. Such amendment shall have been presented to members of the Association in writing at least one week prior to the voting period. Simple grammatical, typographical, and spelling corrections may be made by the general membership/Executive Board with a simple majority vote at the next general meeting provided that the change does not substantially affect the intent of the sentences, sections, or Articles being changed.

Approved: April, 1988 Maren Larson, President

Amended: March, 1992 Marilyn Leach, President

Amended: December, 2000 Lori Wynia, President

Amended: May, 2004 Lori Wynia, President

Amended: May, 2021 Tim Alcorn, President