Constitution

Article I: Name of Organization

Section 1. The name of this organization shall be Night Outreach to the Homeless.

Article II: Statement of Purpose

Section 1. Members of this organization promote campus awareness of issues connected with homelessness, collect funds and supplies to serve the homeless, and engage in outreach efforts on behalf of the local homeless population.

Our projects include hosting speaker events, distributing information about homelessness, organizing clothing drives, volunteering at local centers that serve the homeless, going on service retreats, and walking the streets of Palo Alto at night offering companionship, food, and supplies to the homeless we encounter.

Article III: General Assembly

Section 1. Eligibility for Membership

Any registered Stanford student, whether graduate or undergraduate, may be granted membership in the General Assembly so long as he/she upholds the mission statement of this organization and meets the requirements for membership set forth below.

Section 2. Requirements for Membership

All members shall: 1) demonstrate commitment to the issue of homelessness 2) actively participate in one of the projects run by Night Outreach to the Homeless 3) regularly attend organizational meetings.

Section 3. Powers of the General Assembly

Clause A. All General Assembly members shall be entitled to one vote on organizational matters at any General Assembly meeting.

Clause B. All and only General Assembly members shall be eligible to run for a position on the Executive Board.

Clause C. General Assembly members shall possess the power to propose amendments to this constitution.

Clause D. A (2/3) vote in the General Assembly amends the Constitution.

Clause E. The General Assembly may demote an Executive Board member to a General Assembly member with a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote.

Clause F.The General Assembly may revoke General Assembly membership with a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote.

Section 4. Meetings

Clause A. The frequency and dates of meetings shall be determined by the Executive Board in conjunction with members of the General Assembly.

Clause B. A legal quorum at any meeting shall be 50% of membership present in person.

Article IV: Executive Board.

Section 1. The Executive Board is the governing body of Night Outreach to the Homeless.

Section 2. The Executive Board shall be comprised of the following offices (in order of rank): Co-President (2), Financial Officer, and Webmaster.

Section 3. Powers of the Executive Board

Clause A. The Executive Board shall manage all aspects of the organization not specifically excepted by this Constitution.

Clause B.The powers of the Executive Board shall include, but not be limited to:

1. the exclusive power to interpret and implement the Constitution
2. the exclusive power to make emergency decisions, i.e. decisions whose immediacy does not allow a meeting of the General Assembly to occur, with a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote

Section 4. All members of the Executive Board shall be entitled to one vote on organizational matters at both General Assembly meetings and Executive Board meetings.

Section 5. The term of office of all members of the Executive Board shall be one year from the first day of spring quarter of one academic year to the first day of spring quarter the following academic year.

Section 6. Meetings

Clause A. Each member of the Executive Board shall possess one (1) vote at Executive Board meetings.

Clause B. If a tie occurs during a vote the President shall cast the tie-breaking vote.

Clause C. A legal quorum shall be (2/3) of the membership present in person.

Section 7. Transitional Meetings

Clause A.There shall be a transitional meeting in March of each year to elect the next Executive Board.

Clause B. Prior to the transitional meeting the Executive Board will appoint an Elections Committee, whose purpose is to solicit nominations for Executive Board positions and to conduct the election process at the transitional meeting. Those appointed to the Elections Committee shall not be members of the Executive Board.

Clause C. Voting shall be by written ballot.

Clause D. The candidate with the most votes shall be declared the winner.

Clause E. In the event in which two or more candidates for one Executive Board position receive the most votes, a run-off will be held in which only those candidates who have received the most votes shall be on the ballot for that Board position. In the event in which two or more candidates receive the most votes in the run-off, the Co-Presidents shall cast the tie-breaking vote after consultation with the other members of the Executive Board.

Clause F. In the event in which an Executive Board member is unable to complete the regular term of office, an election shall be held as soon as possible. The President (or the highest ranking Executive Board member) shall appoint an interim candidate with the approval of the other Executive Board members, who shall serve only until an election is held. The member elected at such a time will complete the regular term of office of the individual unable to complete the regular term of office, but shall serve no longer.

Article V: Duties of the Executive Board

Section 1. Co-Presidents (2)

The Co-Presidents shall be the principal officers of Night Outreach to the Homeless, shall preside at all General Assembly and Executive Board meetings, and shall be the spokespeople for the organization. One Co-President shall be in charge of all volunteering at the Opportunity Center, while the other Co-President shall be in charge of all Friday night walks. The Co-Presidents shall also perform any other duties assigned by the Executive Board.

Section 2. Financial Officer

The Financial Officer shall supervise the management of all funds of the organization, shall maintain a financial history of the organization, shall be in charge of all fundraising events, shall be responsible for researching sources of funding for the group, and shall perform any other duties assigned by the Executive Board.

Section 3. Calendar Administrator/Webmaster

The Calendar Administrator/Webmaster shall be responsible for posting events to events.stanford.edu. He/she will also be in charge of setting up and maintaining the website for Night Outreach to the Homeless and shall perform any other duties assigned by the Executive Board.

Article V: Dissolution of Organization

Section 1. Disposition of Uncommitted Funds

All uncommitted funds shall go to the Haas Center for Public Service

Section 2. Disposition of Property

All uncommitted property shall go to the Haas Center for Public Service

Article VI: Procedure to Amend Constitution

Section 1. Any member of the General Assembly or any member of the Executive Board is entitled to propose an amendment to the Constitution. A 2/3 majority vote by the General Assembly amends the Constitution.