Download Best Buddies Constitution

CONCORDIA BEST BUDDIES CONSTITUION ACT, 2014
Article I – Name
1.1. The club shall here forward be referred to as “Best Buddies”.
Article II – Objectives
2.1.The objectives of Best Buddies are as follows:
2.1.1. To offer people with intellectual, developmental, and/or physical
disabilities the opportunity to have social experiences that most people
take for granted– going for coffee, out to a movie, or simply enjoying the
company of a good friend
2.1.2. To ultimately help foster friendships with other adults with or
without disabilities.
2.1.3. To match Concordia students 1:1 with special needs adults in the
larger community. Members of the club are involved with individual
social outings and/or group events.
Article III – Membership
3.1. A member is a Concordia student having expressed their interest in joining
the club by providing their name, signature and Concordia identification number
to said club’s executive body, as well submitted an online application to Best
Buddies Canada at www.bestbuddies.ca.
3.2. Membership positions include:
3.2.1. Peer Buddy:
A Peer Buddy is a Concordia student who is assigned a 1:1 Buddy for the
duration of the school year. Peer Buddies must be currently enrolled as
students at Concordia, either at the undergraduate or graduate level. A
police record check with vulnerable sectors screening is required for Peer
Buddies, as they will be meeting 1:1 with special needs individuals.
3.2.2. Affiliate Buddy:
An Affiliate Buddy is either a Concordia student or person with an
intellectual disability who does not have a 1:1 match, but is involved in
planning and attending group events. Affiliate memberships are
recommended for anyone who may find it difficult to commit the time
required to maintain individual friendships.
3.2.3. Buddy:
Buddies are the individuals in the Montreal community who have an
intellectual disability, developmental disability, and/or physical disability.
Buddies are paired up with Peer Buddies (Concordia students) for the
duration of the school year.
3.2.4. Host Site Coordinator:
A representative from the community whose role is to be a liaison in
connecting special needs individuals with the Best Buddies club. The host
site’s coordinator interviews student candidates, and facilitates the
scheduling and coordinating of activities (e.g. helping to arrange adapted
transport).
3.3. Membership in the group is open to all students, without restriction on the
grounds of national origin, race, religion, colour, sex, sexual orientation,
disability, or faculty of study.
3.4. Members of the Club are also bound by the following duties:
3.4.1.Complete the Best Buddies Application, submit criminal reference
check, and undergo interview process with executive members and host
site coordinators.
3.4.2. Responsibility toward maintaining the friendship, and reporting to
the executive committee and host site coordinator any inappropriate
behavior and working collaboratively to remedy any situation that may
negatively impact the friendship (e.g. inappropriate touch, excessive
phone calls etc.).
3.4.3. Peer Buddy must call Buddy once a week
3.4.4. Maintain regular meetings, defined as approximately once every 2
weeks, for the duration of the school year
3.4.5. Attend the majority of group events
3.4.6. Work together to ensure transportation to and from events is
planned ahead of time
3.4.7. Be informed about any potential cost of events
3.4.8. It is the responsibility of the Buddy to administer all of their own
medications
3.5. Members have the following rights and privileges:
3.5.1. Participation in events
3.5.2. Both Buddies and Peer Buddies have the right to discuss with each
other their own personal boundaries and to have these be respected
3.5.3. Eligibility for Best Buddies Scholarships
3.5.4.Annual Best Buddies Leadership Conference
3.6.Members who fail to abide by any of the aforementioned regulations will be
first given an official warning for their faulty behaviour.
3.6.1.If a member fails to meet all duties they will not be reaccepted the
following year
Article IV – Officers
4.1. The executive committee of Best Buddies shall be composed of the President,
the Co-President, the Events Coordinator, the Fundraising Coordinator, and the
Host Site Coordinator.
4.2. President
4.2.1. The President shall be a liaison with Host Site Coordinator
4.2.2. The President shall partake in recruitment of members (e.g. holding
an information session, making and hanging posters)
4.2.3. The President shall submit paperwork to Best Buddies Head Office
4.2.4. The President shall monitor Buddy-Peer Buddy matches
4.3. Co-President
4.3.1. The Co-President shall submit CSU registration.
4.3.2. The Co-President shall take meeting minutes.
4.3.3. The Co-President shall recruit Peer Buddies for the upcoming
semester.
4.4. Events Coordinator
4.4.1. The Events Coordinator shall coordinate determine the supplies
needed for each event, and if there is a possibility of donations for the
event.
4.4.2. The Events Coordinator shall find accessible locations for events
and discounted rates.
4.4.3. The Events Coordinator shall recruit Peer Buddies for the upcoming
semester.
4.5. Fundraising Coordinator
4.5.1. The Fundraising Coordinator shall send letters to community
organizations to describe the Best Buddies program and request donations
to help subsidize events.
4.5.2. The Fundraising Coordinator shall recruit Peer Buddies for the
upcoming semester.
4.6. Host Site Coordinator
4.6.1. The Host Site Coordinator shall interview Peer Buddies to
determine whether they are appropriate for the program and, if so, who
they may be matched with
4.6.2. The Host Site Coordinator shall work with the Executive Committee
to ensure the program runs smoothly.
Article V – Finances
5.1. The President and Co-President will be in charge of signing off on all club
expenses and fundraising activities if there are grounds for doing so.
5.2. The President and Co-President will keep track of the club budget and
expenses made throughout the year.
5.3. The Fundraising Coordinator will be responsible for doing research to find
ways to lower club expenses as much as possible.
5.4. The Club shall not open nor keep an external bank account nor will it keep
event/fundraising/ticket sale proceeds in a cashbox or safe.
5.5. The Club shall deposit any proceeds into its internal account at the Concordia
Student Union.
5.6. Club finances shall be managed in the interest of the club and not for personal
gain.
Article VI – Elections
6.1. Eligibility for positions will be determined by the current Executive team,
whereby interested candidates will be interviewed to determine individuals’
commitment and knowledge of the various responsibilities.
6.2. Should more than one individual be interested in a particular position, a
blinded simple majority vote will be held.
6.3. The opportunity for Buddies to become involved with making Executive
decisions is encouraged. Feedback from Buddies is strongly considered
throughout the year, whenever decisions need to be made regarding events.
6.4. An end of year meeting will be held to discuss the progress made by the
group as well as the contribution of each Executive Member.
6.4.1. Should it be agreed that the duties of any position were unfulfilled,
this will be considered when selecting the Executive team for the
following year.
6.5. Should any Peer Buddy wish to drop out mid-year, effort will be made to
maintain the friendship in some capacity (i.e. attend group events as an Affiliate
Peer Buddy). A new Peer Buddy will be assigned to the Buddy at the executive
committee’s discretion.
Article VII – Replacement and Impeachment Procedures
7.1. Should the competence of the President or of any other officer be found
wanting in their duties, members may call for the President’s impeachment or the
dismissal of the officer in question
7.2. The Co-President or Vice President should be considered the replacement by
default, unless it is decided by majority vote that another Executive should
assume the position.
7.3. If at least 20% of official members petition to have the President dismissed, a
referendum shall be organized on the subject within one week.
7.3.1. The impeachment of the President will require a simple majority
result
7.3.2. Prior to the vote, a minimum 48 hours notice must be given to the
club with the reasoning for the vote
7.3.3. The voting shall last for 24 hours
7.3.4. Results shall be counted and presented by a third party whom is not
involved in the club
7.4. If a President is dismissed of their functions, new elections shall be organized
within one month.
Article VIII – General Meetings
8.1. General meetings with the Executive Committee will be held at the beginning
of each semester to cover the following:
8.1.1. Responsibilities of the Executive Council and determine who is
interested in filling the positions listed in article IV.
8.1.2. Timeline and budget for events
8.1.3. Tentative dates for group activities.
8.2. A information session will be held at the beginning of the semester with the
Executive Committee and Peer Buddies to outline:
8.2.1. The timeline of events for the year.
8.2.2. Expectations of the Peer Buddies.
8.2.3. Answers to any questions Peer Buddies may have.
8.3. A second General Meeting with the Executive Committee and Peer buddies
will be held at the end of the semester to review the following:
8.3.1. Which events worked well for the group.
8.3.2. How we can expand the club (i.e. potential new members).
8.3.3. Potential changes for the following year.
8.3.4. Which Peer Buddies and Buddies are interested in continuing the
following year.
8.4. Throughout the year, the President and Co-President will elicit feedback from
Peer Buddies and Buddies concerning:
8.4.1. Whether or not buddy pairs have been able to meet up at a desired
interval.
8.4.2. Whether either Buddies or Peer Buddies have any concerns about
the friendship (i.e. concerns, new ideas of for things they could do
together).
Article IX – Activities
9.1. Monthly group events will be held for all members to attend including:
9.1.1. Meet and Greet – Peer Buddies and Buddies will have the
opportunity to get to know each other and exchange contact information.
9.1.2. Holiday Party
9.1.3 Movie and Pizza Night
9.1.4 Bowling Night
9.1.5. Monthly Dinner Club
Article X – Affiliation
10.1. Concordia Best Buddies shall maintain a cooperative relationship with the
non-profit organization called Best Buddies Canada.
10.1.1. The Executive positions and policies outlined in this constitution
are in keeping with the regulations of Best Buddies Canada.
Article XI – Amendments
11.1. Any amendments to the Club’s constitution will be communicated to the VP
Clubs of the CSU.
11.2. Any and all amendments to the Club’s constitution shall be openly available
for all club members to view and discuss if need be.
11.3. Any member may propose a constitutional amendment at any General
Meetings:
11.3.1. Proposed amendments shall be adopted by members present at the
General Meeting if at least 66.66% of votes are in favour and if they are in
relation to articles 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 and/or 11.
11.3.2. Proposed Amendments concerning other articles than those
enumerated in article 11.3.1 shall be either adopted or rejected by a simple
majority vote if they are in regards to other articles in this constitution.
Article XII – Disputes & Appeals
12.1. Internal disputes within Best Buddies shall be resolved by the committee’s
judgement as described in article 3.6.
12.2. Disputes among members of the Club or concerning the Club’s constitution
will be referred to the CSU Judicial Board for ruling if a member wishes to appeal
the committee’s decision described in articles 12.1 and 3.6.
Article XIII – CSU Constitution
13.1 -Where items are not defined in this constitution or there are inconsistencies
with the CSU’s By-Laws, regulations, and policies, the CSU’s By-Laws,
regulations, and policies shall take effect.