Constitution
This constitution was ratified on Nov. 7, 2003 in Dallas, Texas, by:
Tom Clanin, California State University, Fullerton Daily Titan
Amy Emmert, University of California, Los Angeles Daily Bruin
Rachele Kanigel, California State University, Monterey Bay Otter Realm
David Waddell, California State University, Chico The Orion
Sylvia Fox, California State University, Sacramento State Hornet
Witnessed by:
Fred Stewart, executive director, Texas Intercollegiate Press Association
Article I – Name
The name of this organization shall be the California College Media Association.
Article II – Membership
Section 1. All four-year colleges in California and nearby states with journalism programs or campus news media shall be eligible for membership in the Association.
Section 2. Membership shall be by school rather than by a school’s student publications, broadcast outlets, Web sites or individuals.
Section 3. Membership shall be maintained by demonstrating that the school has a journalism program or campus news media and by being current with dues. Annual dues will be set by the Board of Directors.
Article III – Officers
Section 1. The organization’s officers shall consist of the President, Immediate Past President, First Vice President, Second Vice President and Secretary/Treasurer.
Section 2. All officers, except the Immediate Past President, shall be nominated by member schools and elected at the annual convention by a plurality vote.
Section 3. The officers shall be current or retired student news media advisers, publishers, business managers or general managers.
Section 4. The tenure of the President, Vice Presidents, Secretary/Treasurer and Immediate Past President shall be for terms of two years each. With the exception the Immediate Past President, all Officers and Directors may seek re-election.
Section 5. The President, Vice Presidents, Secretary/Treasurer shall all be elected in the same year.
Section 6. In the event that the President cannot serve a full term, the First Vice President shall be named President. The Second Vice President will be elevated to First Vice President, and Board of Director will appoint a new Second Vice President. If a board member who is not an officer is appointed the board, the board will name a replacement for that board member’s previous position.
Section 7. The Board of Directors may remove and replace any officer at any time, be it evident to the Board that the officer has not discharged his or her duties competently. An affirmative vote of three-fifths of the boarded is required to remove and/or replace an officer.
Article IV – Board of Directors
Section 1. A Board of Directors shall constitute the official governing unit of the organization.
Section 2. The Board of Directors shall comprise the President, Immediate Past President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer and six members who are not officers.
Section 3. All board members who are not officers shall be nominated by member schools and elected at the annual convention by a plurality vote. They will serve for one year and may seek re-election. Schools nominating board members must be in good standing with the Association.
Section 4. Four of the board members who are not board officers shall be current or retired student news media advisers/publishers. The board shall strive for a membership that has diverse geographical and enrollment representation.
Section 5. Two of the board members who are not board officers shall be students enrolled in journalism programs or on the staffs of member college news media organizations. One student board member shall be from a school in Southern California, and one student board member shall be from a school in Northern California. Schools in Bakersfield and San Luis Obispo and south of those cities are in Southern California; schools north of those cities are in Northern California. Student board members must be enrolled in their colleges throughout their term of office.
Section 6. The Board of Directors shall determine the means and timing of auditing the Association’s accounts on an annual basis.
Section 7. The Board of Directors may appoint ex officio board members or associate members of the organization.
Article V – Association Meetings
Section 1. The annual meeting of the Association shall be conducted each spring. The site and date shall be determined by the Board of Directors.
Section 2. Each member school in good standing shall appoint a voting delegate and alternate for the Association’s annual spring meeting. The delegate or the delegate’s alternate must be present to vote.
Section 3. A quorum is required for the Association to conduct business. A quorum shall comprise 50 percent of current Association membership plus one member.
Article VI – Board Meetings
Section 1. A quorum is required for the Board to conduct business. A quorum shall comprise 50 percent of current Board membership plus one member.
Section 2. Meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the President or Secretary/Treasurer at any time, subject to the mutual convenience of all concerned.
Section 3. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called with approval of the President and a majority of the Board of Directors. Directors may petition a special meeting. All such petitions should be addressed to the President. The President must convene a special meeting within two weeks if a majority of the Board of Directors petitions the President for such a meeting.
Section 4. In the event that a special meeting is called, the President may choose to conduct the meeting via e-mail or conference call. If the meeting is held via e-mail, any action by the board is valid only if a majority of Board members have approved the measure within 72 hours after the e-mail was sent to members. If the meeting is held via conference call, a majority of the Board must participate.
Article VII – Constitutional Amendments
This constitution shall be subject to amendment by a two-thirds vote of the members at any regular meeting of the Association, or at any special meeting called by the President and the Board of Directors, that has a quorum.
