University of Michigan-Flint

Article I - Name

The name of the organization is Sigma Tau Delta, University of Michigan-Flint Literary Society, hereafter referred to as "the organization."

Article II - Purpose

The purpose of the organization is to provide services to UM-Flint members of the national literary society, Sigma Tau Delta, as well as to provide services in literacy to the general UM-Flint population and surrounding community. This will be achieved by hosting writing workshops known as "Getting into Print Writers' Union, culminating in a Writers' Conference, and the chapter will also develop a "Reading and Writing" club and participate in tutoring at a local secondary school.

Article III - Membership

Any English major or minor with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher and an English (major or minor) GPA of 3.5 or higher will be inducted into the UM-Flint chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, after invited to do so by the current sponsors and/or officers. The one-time initiation fee is $50. Members receive two issues of the newsletter upon paying the aforementioned fee, as well as one issue of the literary publication The Rectangle.

Article IV - Officers

Officers are elected from the current membership in the fall semester. Officers are the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Webmaster/Media Artist. Additional officer positions may be created if needed.

President
The responsibilities of the president are to actively maintain communication with the other officers and members to be certain that the members' Sigma Tau Delta privileges are being met, to establish and uphold a working relationship with people and departments in the university and other external resources, to draft and/or approve important documents such as thank-you letters, website information, etc., and to be present for important Sigma Tau Delta events such as officer meetings, inductions, information tables, workshops, and other outreach exercises.

Vice-President
The vice-president's responsibilities are to assist the president with the aforementioned responsibilities, and to act as president in the event of the president's absence.

Secretary
It is the responsibility of the secretary to assist the president and vice-president with communication to Sigma Tau Delta members and resources, including but not limited to: letters or e-mails of upcoming events and general interest, thank-you letters, and general support calls, letters, and/or e-mails.

Treasurer
The treasurer's responsibilities are to maintain knowledge of and control over the financial resources of Sigma Tau Delta and to report to the president, sponsors, and other officers that knowledge when appropriate for general meetings and purposes such as events and fundraising. The treasurer will also keep a detailed record of all Sigma Tau Delta financial transactions, and will disburse funds when necessary for the general benefit of Sigma Tau Delta.

Media Artist/Webmaster
The media artists' responsibilities are to design and implement promotional compositions, including but not limited to posters, fliers, and art for letters and e-mails. The media artist will also design and update the chapter's Sigma Tau Delta webpage to represent current events and news, and establish a reciprocal link with the main Sigma Tau Delta website, http://www.english.org.

Article V - Advisor

The advisor(s) shall serve as an intermediary of communication and information between the officers and the international organization. The advisor(s) will also advise officers and members on points of concern. The advisor(s) will be informed of all chapter activity within two (2) business days of all activity.

Article VI - Meetings

Meetings are called by the president. Officers are required to be present at all meetings. Most communication will be conducted through e-mail and through the Sigma Tau Delta Blackboard connection.

Article VII - By-Laws and Amendments

Amendments to this Constitution may be made by the current officers and/or sponsors, with agreement of 51 percent of this group. The officers and sponsors will establish the organization's by-laws, which will govern the policies and operations of the organization. By-laws of the organization must not conflict with or diminish the authority of this Constitution. Amendments to the constitution will be submitted to the officers for review.

Article VIII - Ratification

This Constitution must receive a 51 percent vote of the officers and sponsor(s) to be adopted.