Constitution

The Northwest Vietnamese Student Association (NWVSA), a voluntary, non-partisan, community-based organization, was founded in 2008 on the common goal to empower and develop students and professionals within the Vietnamese community in the Northwest region through transformative leadership, experiential learning, close-knit mentorship and collaborative networking.

NWVSA’s success is rooted in the success of the schools and organizations which make up its constituency. These constituents will remain independent and autonomous, but will work together to pool collective strength and influence, cooperating where fit.

Constituents will consist of schools represented within the Intercollegiate Council (ICC). An ICC member is to be a president/vice president or equivalent.

NWVSA strives to provide resources and opportunities fostering experiential learning, cultural self-reflection, and relationship-building for community development in and amongst our constituent schools.

  1. Bringing together students and young professionals to build a strong network and sense of community throughout the Northwest region
  2. Recognizing and encouraging the growth of leadership and service to the Vietnamese community
  3. Creating and maintaining an organizational framework for established VSA chapters
  4. Promoting regional VSA events
  5. Promoting Vietnamese culture within the Northwest region
  6. Encouraging interaction, participation, and activism in Vietnamese community 

The Northwest Vietnamese Student Association is a voluntary, non-partisan, community-based 501(c)(3) organization that enables leaders to promote cultural and civic excellence through fostering a community of acceptance and empowerment.

Section 1. Member Organizations

  1. Number
    1. There shall be no limit to the number of member organizations
  2. Powers and Duties
    1. Each organization receives one vote towards matter pertaining to the ICC as outlined in Article III Section 5
    2. Each organization receives one vote towards the election of NWVSA Officers
  3. Qualifications
    1. Be an officially recognized student organization at an accredited 2-year or 4-year college
    2. Organization’s mission must promote Vietnamese culture or traditions
    3. Organization must have at least one, but no more than two, appointed representatives to sit on the ICC
    4. Organization must have a publicly accessible constitution with the following:
    5. Date of Adoption
    6. Clear mission statement and objectives which are consistent with NWVSA’s mission
    7. Statement that officers are directly chosen by members of the club through democratic means and not chosen or influenced by non-members or by any other organization
    8. Democratic procedures for policy making, including amending the constitution
    9. Non-discrimination statement listed below, similar or identical as it is printed here: “This organization shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or genetic information in any of its policies, procedures, and practices. This policy will include, but is not limited to recruiting, membership, organization activities, or opportunity to hold office.”
    10. Statement of non-hazing, similar or exactly as it printed here: “This organization will not conspire to engage in hazing, participate in hazing, or commit any act that causes or is likely to cause bodily danger, physical harm, or personal degradation  or disgrace resulting in physical or mental harm to any fellow student or person attending the institution.”
  4. Terms
    1. Member organizations shall retain their membership within NWVSA provided their organization remains in good and active standing on their campus and continues to meet the qualifications listed above
  5. Removal
    1. A member organization can be removed, and as a result lose their seat on the ICC, by a majority vote of the ICC
    2. A member organization will automatically have their membership revoked should they not meet conditions for either Subsection III Qualifications or Subsection IV Terms.
  6. Meetings
    1. As required by RCW 24.03, member organizations shall meet at least once per year and as outlined in Article III Section 5
  7. Dues
    1. There are no dues required for member organizations
  8. Non-Liability
    1. Member organizations are chartered by specific colleges and not NWVSA, and as such, NWVSA is not liable not liable for the actions taken or decisions made by a member organization’s directors, officers, representatives, coordinators, members, agents, or any employee of a university or college from which the member organization is chartered

Section 2. Contribution

Every member and member organization has the duty to actively contribute to the goals and activities of the organization.

Section 3. Alumni

Graduated from an accredited university or college within the Northwest region and/or contributed in past NWVSA regional events

 

Section 1. Voting

  1. On the NWVSA Executive Board
    1. The elections for the Executive Board shall take place once every two years before the NWVSA Gala
    2.    
      1. Must be at least 18 years of age on the first date of election voting    
    3. Each school is to be given one vote.
      1. Each vote is determined by the popular vote within the school, where the candidate with the popular vote is given that school’s vote.
      2. Votes are only valid if done through a NW .edu email  or has alumni status
    4. In the event of a tie, two candidates receive the same amount of electoral votes, the one with the most votes overall from the individual school is declared the winner.
    5. The suffrage shall be universal, direct, and secret.
    6. In the case in which a member of the Executive Board is relinquished of their title, the existing Executive Board members are to propose an interim office holder, this is to be ratified by the Board of Directors.
      1. Existing Executive Board may propose an Executive Board member hold two offices but no more than two.
      2. If a member of the Board of Directors is proposed for an interim Executive Board position, that member of the Board of Directors may accept the position, only after relinquishing his or her own title as a Board of Directors
  2.  On the Coordinators
    1. Members of the Appointed Offices Cabinet to be selected and designated by the Executive Board vote
  3. On the Council of Regional Representatives
    1. Members of the CORR are elected in July before the UNAVSA Conference each year for a one-year term.
    2. Each school is to be given one vote.
      1. Each vote is determined by the popular vote within the school, where the candidate with the popular vote is given that school’s vote.
    3. In the event of a tie, the decision will be made through popular vote among the voting bodies.
    4. In the case that two candidates receive the same amount of electoral votes, the one with the most votes overall from the individual members is declared the winner.
    5. The suffrage shall be universal, direct, and secret.

Section 2. Conditions for Candidacy

Candidates may run for the office of President, Internal Vice President, External Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary.

Candidates must:

  1. Have served as a former or current member of CORR, a former or current elected member of a VSA/VSU/IVSA/VASA or youth organization, within the NW region.
  2. Must be at least 18 years of age on the first date of election voting    
  3. General requisites for candidates
    1. Must be NW affiliate – member of NWVSA
    2. Must have attended NW region events
    3. Must have held NWVSA staff position or
    4. Native school officer position

Section 3. Resignation and Replacement

Members of the Executive Board can only resign with voting approval of the Board of Directors, unless in severe situations or circumstances as defined by the Board of Directors.

Replacement candidates are to be nominated by the Executive Board and ratified by the Board of Directors.

Section 1. Non-material Decisions 

Non-material decisions, as defined in Article VI, Section I, will be decided through a majority decision by members in good standing, as defined in Article X, Section I, of the Executive Board or the relevant committee facing the decision.

Section 2. Material Decisions

  1. All material decisions will be made according to guidelines provided in Article VIII, Section II. Voting parties agreed upon within Article VI.
    1. Decision making
      1. A decision will be material as defined in Article VI, Section I
      2. A material decision requires a vote based on quorum
      3. In the event that not enough members are present to meet quorum twice in a row, to prevent obstruction of productiveness, in the third meeting, votes required shall be considered within present members instead of overall members.
  2. Quorum
    1. Quorum will be defined by the number of members present that are in good standing, as defined in Article X, Section I
    2. Each Executive Board member present will contribute one vote
    3. Board members missing shall appoint a proxy to carry the vote out for them, said proxy must be present during voting.

Section 1. Good Standing

A NWVSA staff member will be considered in good-standing if he/she/they:

  1. Demonstrates consistent commitment to the organization’s vision
  2. Fully and faithfully executes the responsibilities associated with his/her position
  3. Conducts himself/herself according to the values and principles consistent with the organization’s mission
  4. Maintains greater than 75% attendance rate to meetings
  5. Is not serving a probation period defined and ratified by the Board of Directors

Section 2. Probation

If a member of the Board of Director or general staff is not demonstrating characteristics of a member in good standing, as defined in Article X, Section I, the Executive Board may nominate that member for a performance review by the Board of Directors.

The performance review process will be governed by the following process:

  1. The Board of Directors will conduct a public performance review in which the member in question must be present
  2. The Board of Directors may conclude, by vote, that the member in question is not in good standing and may define a period of probation, to be no longer than two months
  3. Within the probation period, the President and/or the Internal Vice President must liaise with the member in question to work towards good standing
  4. At the end of the probation period (30 calendar days standard, this may be elongated or shortened at time in which probation is initially enforced according to the Board of Directors), the Board of Directors may elect to reinstate the member to good standing or may elect to dismiss the member by vote. In this case where the individual under probation is not taken back within good standing after a probation period is over, his/her title may be stripped or the probation period may be extended.