PREAMBLE - This document sets forth the operating procedures for Beyond These Walls, a student organization at the University of Maryland which aims to "build bridges" between the campus and the communities surrounding it through interactions between campus community members and local residents.

ARTICLE I. NAME

The organization will be called "Beyond These Walls," henceforth referred to as BTW.

ARTICLE II. PURPOSE

1. Goals BTW's goal is to educate both residents of the local community and members of the campus community, and provide for an exchange of information and experiences. BTW does this through community service projects which involve direct interaction between residents and members of the campus community.

2. University policy BTW understands and is committed to fulfilling its responsibilities of abiding by University of Maryland policies.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP

1. Restrictions Membership shall be limited to persons officially connected with the University of Maryland as faculty, staff, or registered students, who are interested in working for the purposes stated in Article II.

2. Active membership Requirements for active membership status:
a. Participation in a total of at least three meetings and/or service events in the current semester, or in the previous semester if there have not yet been two meetings during the current semester.
b. Dues are not required for voting, active membership.

3. Nondiscrimination BTW openly admits students to its membership. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, personal appearance, age, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, or on the basis of the exercise of rights secured by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.

ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS

Officers' duties shall include but not be limited to those set forth below.

1. President
   The President will:
   
   • Preside at all meetings of BTW.
   • Set forth the agenda for all meetings.
   • Maintain the power to appoint all Project Coordinators.
   • Seek out new projects for BTW to be involved in.
   • Present all motions to the body present.
   • Be present at 90% of the meetings of BTW.
   • Hold signatory power for financial transactions.
   
   
2. Treasurer/VP
   The Treasurer/Vice President will:
   • Maintain BTW's finances.
   • Hold signatory power for financial transactions.
   • Present a yearly budget to the SGA.
   • Preside at all meetings and functions that the President cannot attend.
   
   
3. Secretary
   The Secretary will:
   • Maintain meeting minutes for all general and executive meetings.
   • E-mail meeting minutes to the executives following each meeting.
   • Prepare a meeting summary following each general meeting, and send it to the Membership Officer.
   • Attend all mandatory SGA meetings.
   • Reserve meeting rooms for each semester.
   • Keep a history of BTW's activities.
   • Take care of correspondence of a general nature.
   
   
4. Publicity
   The Publicity Officer will:
   • Produce flyers for special events and meetings.
   • Create pamphlets to distribute to members and other interested parties.
   • Coordinate First look Fair and Take Another Look Fair activities.
   • Maintain a website including at least an officer listing, a mission statement, a calendar of meetings and events, and the group constitution.
   
   
5. Membership
   The Membership Officer will:
   • Maintain an up-to-date listing of members including contact information.
   • Notify all members of upcoming general meetings, including the Secretary's summary of the previous general meeting in each message.
   • Transfer the listing to the next Membership Officer upon leaving office.
   
   
6. Fundraising
   The Fundraising Officer will:
   • Oversee group fundraisers.
   • Request monetary and in-kind donations from corporations and other organizations.
   • Correspond with all donors and thank them for their support.
   
   
7. Projects Committee
   Projects will be governed by a Projects Committee which will contain one Coordinator for each project the group is currently undertaking. The President will appoint Project Coordinators and oversee the Project Committee.
   
   Project Coordinators may be either active members or officers of the organization. Each Project Coordinator will be limited to the coordination of one project, unless granted an exception to policy approved by at least 2/3 of the Committee and executive officers. Each Project Coordinator will oversee a project until its completion, or until such time as the Project Coordinator chooses to step down.
   
   
8. All officers
   All officers, with the exception of Project Coordinators, will be subject to the election procedures set forth in Article V. All executive officers must be undergraduates.
   
   

   All officers, including Project Coordinators, will:

   • Appoint group members to aid in their activities if needed.
   • Keep a record of the activities and contacts necessary to their positions.
   • Aid in the transition of power to any incoming officers, including passing on their record of activities and contacts.
   • Be subject to the removal procedures set forth in Article V.

ARTICLE V. OPERATIONS

1. Voting Eligibility Those members meeting the requirements of active membership as set forth in Article III will be granted voting privileges.

2. Election process All officers shall be elected by a majority vote of eligible voting members of BTW. All voting members must be undergraduates. Elections will be held on an annual basis during the month of November.

The President will take nominations from the floor. The nomination process must be closed, and the movement seconded. The nominated parties will be allowed to vote.

All voting shall be done by secret ballot, to be collected and tabulated by the secretary and one voting member of BTW appointed by the outgoing President.

3. Removal Any officer of BTW in violation of the organization's purpose or constitution may be removed from office by the following process:

a. A written request by at least three members of the organization

b. A written notification to the officer of the request asking the officer to be present at the next meeting and prepared to speak.

c. A two-thirds majority vote to remove the officer.

4. General Meetings General meetings will occur at regular intervals, at least once a month, and at a time selected by the officers of BTW.

5. Officer Meetings Officers will meet at least twice a month, during weeks when there are not general meetings.

6. New projects BTW will constantly seek out new projects its members could be involved in. All officers, especially the President, will be responsible for this undertaking.

ARTICLE VI. FINANCES

1. Budget BTW will submit a budget to the Student Government Association Finance Committee on an annual basis and request funding appropriate to the effective operation of the organization for each year.

2. Fund-raising If needed, BTW will periodically conduct fund-raisers and request grants from relevant organizations.

ARTICLE VII. AMENDMENTS

The constitution is binding to all members of BTW. But the constitution is not binding unto itself.

a. Amendments to the constitution may be proposed in writing by any member of BTW.

b. These amendments will be placed on the agenda for the next regular meeting of the executive council or other officer grouping. If a majority of officers approve, the amendments will be voted on at the next general meeting.

c. Proposed amendments will become effective following approval of two-thirds of members present at the next general meeting; due effort will be made to inform all members of the meeting.

ARTICLE VIII. REGISTRATION RENEWAL

BTW will apply to the Office of Campus Programs for registration on an annual basis one month after BTW's new officer elections.

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