M.E.Ch.A.
Statement of Purpose & Constitution

WHAT IS M.E.Ch.A.?

M.E.Ch.A. stands for Movimiento Estudiantil Chicana/o de Aztlán. We are a student organization that specifically focuses on Chicano, Mexican, Mexican-American, and Native American issues.

     

OBJECTIVES

  1. To facilitate communication and understanding between MEChA members and all members of the Vassar community.
  2. To increase the number of Chicana/o, Mexican, Mexican American, and Native American students at Vassar College through active recruitment, and also to provide support for successful completion.
  3. To focus on self-awareness, and build a consciousness of our histories, struggles, and respective movements for ourselves, as well as the rest of the Vassar community, by providing a forum to discuss relevant issues and sponsoring educational activities on and off campus.
  4. To address political issues concerning our communities through active political participation and discourse.
  5. To provide members with a social support group, space for social interaction, as well as create opportunities for a networking system for members and other interested parties beyond the campus community.
  6. To pursue close working relations in the barrios, reservations, and corresponding rural and urban communities, in order to assist in reaching justice and equality for our people.
  7. To help educate and mobilize the youth of the barrio, the reservation, and corresponding rural and urban communities toward self-determination, not self-destruction.
  8. Membership to MEChA is open to all members of the Vassar community who are committed to the pursuit of these goals.

OFFICERS

President

Official spokesperson for MEChA. His or her duties include the facilitation of all meetings and overseeing of all events and functions. The president must lead all other officers and members in the planning and programming of all events and functions organized by MEChA. Anyone running for the position of president must have been an active member of MEChA for one academic year, and must be able to serve for the full academic year of which he or she will hold office.

Vice President

Coordinator of all events and functions organized by MEChA. The vice-president must work in conjunction with the president in the planning and programming of all events and functions. In the event that the president is unable to fulfill his or her duties, the vice-president will act as president. The vice-president must have been an active MEChA member for one semester before running for office.

Secretary

Records the minutes of all MEChA meetings, maintains record of all MEChA events, attendance to meetings, voting and elections. He or she is responsible for submitting all Vassar Student Association monthly organizational reports on time. The secretary must work in conjunction with the historian to handle the publicity of all events and functions. Those interested in running for the position of secretary must have been an active member of MEChA for at least one semester.

Treasurer

Oversees all financial matters for MEChA. He or she is responsible for creating an annual organizational budget at the beginning of each academic year. He or she is also required to attend all mandatory Vassar Student Association Treasurer meetings, keeps track of the MEChA budget and financial paperwork, and works toward the interest of raising funds for all MEChA events. In addition, the treasurer is expected to turn in all financial forms to the Vassar Student Association. The treasurer must have been an active member of MEChA for at least one semester before running for office.

Historian

Must organize and maintain a MEChA archive (which includes flyers, pictures, tapings of events, and a directory of alums.) He or she must inform members of all on and off campus events which pertain to MEChA, record all MEChA functions and events, and maintain the MEChA website. He or she must also work together with the MEChA secretary in publicizing all events and functions. The historian must have been an active member of MEChA for at least one semester.

*In the event that officer positions cannot be filled, the MEChA officers may decide in electing an officer who has not been an active member for a full semester, but who has relevant experience.

ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP

As stated in the statement of purpose, membership to MEChA is open to all members of the Vassar community who work towards its goals. Active membership is contingent upon regular attendance to meetings, and through the creation of and regular attendance to MEChA events.

Nominations

All open officer positions must be announced at the meeting before nominations are made, or at least three days in advance of the nomination meeting over e-mail.

Voting

  1. Voting on elections or amendments to the constitution will consist of a two week process. The first week will entail the announcement and acceptance of nominations, or the announcement of suggested amendments to the constitution at the general member meeting. The second week will consist of voting on the amendments suggested or members nominated to run for office.
  2. Eligible voters consist of those who have been present to at least 1/3 of all MEChA events, functions, or meetings.
  3. All eligible voters must be physically present to cast their ballots. After the ballots are counted, no further ballots may be accepted. Ballots should be counted during the meeting of voting by both the secretary and president. Campaign speeches are mandatory for those running for any officer position with an allotted maximum time of three minutes each.

Elections

New elections will be held at the end of each academic year, or in the event of a vacancy.

Impeachment

A 2/3 (yes! ¾ officers) vote of all five officers is required in order to enact impeachment proceedings against any officers. At the following meeting, impeachment may take place at the general member meeting, where an officer chosen by all other officers will lead the impeachment proceedings. A maximum of 15 minutes will be given for and against the impeachment. After, a secret ballot will take place, which will be counted by the impeachment facilitator and a general member, who is not an officer.

*Finally, MEChA will follow all the rules and procedures expected of a Vassar student organization in accordance with the Vassar Student Association constitution.

Ä This constitution was ratified on Friday, January 28th, 2000 during a MEChA officer meeting.



M.E.Ch.A. de Vassar 2007