RTDNA STUDENT CHAPTER CONSTITUTION

University of Missouri CONSTITUTION OF THE ______________________________STUDENT CHAPTER OF THE RADIO TELEVISON DIGITAL NEWS ASSOCIATION

PREAMBLE The purpose of this non-profit, unincorporated organization is to foster closer cooperation and improved communications between students of electronic journalism, journalism educators, and professional practitioners of radio and television news; to afford members special learning opportunities both in and out of the classroom; and to instill a commitment to the highest ideals and principles of the practice of electronic journalism, as exemplified by the Radio Television Digital News Association.

ARTICLE I Name

University of Missouri The name of this organization shall be the ______________________________Student Chapter of the Radio Television Digital News Association.
ARTICLE II Membership Voting membership shall be limited to students in good standing of this institution who have been admitted or provisionally accepted for admission to the School of Journalism (Broadcast Journalism sequence) or have demonstrated their intention to pursue a career in electronic journalism. Affiliate members must be student members of RTDNA, the international professional society. Membership shall not be denied for reasons of age, race, color, creed, sex, or national origin. The organizations faculty adviser shall be a member of the School of Journalism faculty and a member of RTDNA.

ARTICLE III Officers The elected officers shall be President, Vice president and Treasurer. The Faculty adviser shall serve as Corresponding Secretary. Officers shall be elected in accordance with the provisions of ARTICLE VII.

A. The President shall preside at all general meetings including meetings of the Board of Directors. The President shall perform all duties incident to that office and shall execute the programs and projects formulated by the Board of Directors. B. The Vice President shall be responsible for the administration of committee activities as outlined and approved by the Board of Directors. The Vice President shall preside at all general meetings in the absence of the President. Should the President resign or no longer be qualified to serve, the Vice President shall automatically succeed to the Presidency. C. The Treasurer shall receive and disburse all funds of the organization, shall provide for the safekeeping of all monies, and shall report regularly to the officers and members as to the financial condition of the organization. The Treasurer shall not disburse any monies without the specific approval of the Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall preside at all general meetings in the absence of both the President and the Vice President. Should the Vice President resign the office or no longer be qualified to serve, the Treasurer shall automatically succeed to the Vice Presidency. D. The Faculty Adviser shall act as Corresponding Secretary and shall attend all meetings and shall maintain close consultation with the officers and members on all matters of programs, subjects and policies. The Faculty Adviser shall specifically be consulted on: 1. All requests for space needs on University property. 2. All requests for permission to solicit funds on any University property. 3. All requests for University support for off-campus travel. 4. All extramural correspondence. The Faculty Adviser shall cause to be maintained and shall provide for the permanent safekeeping of membership lists, records of all proceedings of all meetings, correspondence, written committee reports, committee, program, and project reports and of whatever other materials should be retained so as to preserve a full, complete, and accurate record of the organization in its archives. Should the Treasurer resign the office or no longer be qualified to serve, the Faculty Adviser shall assume the duties of that office until the President, with the approval of the Board of Directors, has appointed a replacement who will serve until the next election of officers.

ARTICLE IV Board of Directors The voting members of the Board of Directors shall be the President, (who shall serves as Chairperson), the Vice President, the Treasurer, and two elected members from the membership. The Faculty Adviser shall serve as an ex-officio member. A. The Board of Directors shall have the power and duty to direct and manage the affairs of the organization subject only to such limitations as are imposed by this Constitution or by vote of the membership. The powers and duties of the Board of Directors shall include but not be limited to: 1. Setting the annual dues. 2. Passing on the Presidents selection of a qualified member to fill any vacancy on the Board of Directors arising by reason other than the completion of an elective term of office. B. Each director shall be individually responsible to the President and the Board of Directors for his or her personal representation of the organization and for other board-related duties.

Directors shall be individually responsible for increasing membership, promoting career information, proposing programs and projects, and otherwise fostering the goals and purposes of the organization.

ARTICLE V Committees Committees should be a principle means of accomplishing the goals and purposes of the organization.

A. Three permanent standing committees shall be formed, consisting of: 1. Memberships 2. Ethics and Standards 3. Education and Training The chairperson of each committee shall be named by and shall serve at the pleasure of the President. B. The President may appoint such special committees as shall determined by the Board of Directors or the membership. C. Duties of a committee shall be explicitly indicated by the President in the charge to the committee upon appointment. D. All committees shall submit written reports of their activities to the Board of Directors at the final general meeting of each academic year. Interim committee reports shall be submitted at the direction of the President. Standing committee reports shall be presented, either in writing or orally, at all regular general meetings. E. Any committee which fails to perform assigned duties may be declared discharged by the President and another committee chairperson may be appointed by the President. F. All committees shall be discharged at the end of the academic year. G. Committee members shall be appointed by the chairperson. The Faculty Adviser shall be an ex-officio member of all committees.

ARTICLE VI Meetings General and special meetings shall afford the membership an opportunity to evaluate the organizations performance and to provide direction for the future. A. The organization shall hold at least one general meeting each month during the regular academic year. B. With advance notification of the membership, special meetings may be called by the President with the consent of the Board of Directors. C. Introduction of business for consideration or action by the membership shall be open to all members.

D. Forty percent of the voting members shall constitute a quorum at any meeting. E. The Board of Directors shall meet a minimum of four times each academic year: 1. One meeting to closely follow the election of officers meeting. 2. A second to closely follow the beginning of the academic year 3. Two or more special meetings which shall be called by the President or by a majority of the Board of Directors upon sufficient advance notice. The membership must be notified, in writing or at the first subsequent general meeting, of any action taken by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE VII Elections All members is good standing shall be eligible for election to the Board of Directors. A. Officers and other Board members shall be elected at the last general meeting before the close of the regular academic year. Each term of office will commence with the election and extend through the following academic year. B. Nominations for all offices shall be submitted for consideration by the membership at the general meeting which immediately precedes the final general meeting of the academic year. C. In each contest, the winner must have an absolute majority of the votes cast. If this majority is lacking, a runoff shall be held between the two candidates with the most votes.

ARTICLE VIII Suspension or Expulsion The Board of Directors shall have the power to suspend or expel members for good cause shown. A. Members may be suspended or expelled by a majority vote of the Board of Directions. Written notice of the consideration of such action must be given the affected member thirty days prior to the meeting of the Board at which such action will be considered. The member being considered for suspension or expulsion shall have the right to a hearing before the Board of Directors before a decision is rendered by the Board B. No student who is on official University probation, either academic or disciplinary, may continue membership; probation shall be considered automatic cause for suspension or expulsion. C. Any decision of suspension or expulsion shall be supported by written findings of good cause for such action, which findings shall be disclosed to the member involved.

ARTICLE IX Constitutional Amendments Constitutional amendments shall be consistent with the goals and objectives stated in the Preamble. A. The Constitution may be amended by a majority vote of the Board of Directors, subject to approval by a majority of the members voting. Such amendments may be voted upon and adopted at any regular general membership meeting. B. The Constitution also may be amended by written petition by at least five members and subsequent approval by a majority of members voting.

ARTICLE X

University of Missouri Relationship to International RTDNA and _____________________________________. University of Missouri The ____________________________Student Affiliate is not a chapter of the international RadioTelevision News Directors Association. University of Missouri A. The __________________________Affiliate of the RTNDA may not act in the name of the international Radio Television Digital News Association or in the name of ______ MU _______________________ or its School of Journalism. MU B. Neither the RTDNA nor_______________________ assumes any legal or financial responsibility for this organization.
ARTICLE XI Fiscal Year The fiscal year shall coincide with the official Academic year as determined and set by appropriate University authority and thus its length and beginning and ending dates will vary slightly from year to year.

______________________________ Signature of Academic Advisor

Randy Reeves