Constitution

Article I Name of Club

The University of Michigan Fencing Club

Article II Purpose of the Club

The University of Michigan Fencing Club is committed to teaching the principles of the sport of fencing to all members of the university community interested in the sport. Members shall be encouraged but not required to compete in tournaments and collegiate meets.

Article III Membership Policies

There are no limitations placed upon joining the University of Michigan Fencing Club. The Fencing Club does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, national origin, religion, or sexual orientation in either its membership policies or coaching methods.

Removal of Club Members

Grounds for immediate expulsion

• Stealing club equipment, funds, or personal belongings of a club member following legal conviction. Should the victim not press charges, cases will be considered on an individual basis.
• Willful violence toward and/or assault of a club member.

Grounds for a verbal and written warning of expulsion

• Endangering the safety of others.
• Unintentional violence against others, not pertaining to fencing.
• Chronic verbal harassment.
• Verbal sexual harassment.
• Willful destruction of club equipment.
• Threats of physical harm toward a club member.

Procedure for the removal of club members due to unsafe or inappropriate behavior, excepting cases warranting immediate expulsion

• The victim/witness shall bring the situation to the attention of a club officer. Upon notification, the situation shall be discussed in detail with the victim/witness and all club officers.
• If the alleged offender has violated the club's unsafe activity/inappropriate behavior policy, the officers shall draft a written warning explaining the offender's infraction(s), and that any following infractions may result in expulsion from the club. The written warning shall be approved and signed by no less than three out of five club officers (all officers must be present at the vote) and served to the offending member by the club president during club time.
• The offending club member, having been verbally warned and served with a written warning, shall sign the warning in order to acknowledge that it has been served. Signing the warning does not imply guilt. The offending member and each officer shall receive a copy of the signed written warning.
• If subsequent unsafe or inappropriate behavior is exhibited by a club member who has already received a verbal and written warning, the victim/witness shall bring the situation to the attention of a club officers. Upon notification, the situation shall be discussed in detail with the victim/witness and all club officers.
• Upon discussion of said infraction, the officers shall vote upon the issue of expulsion for the offending club member. If a unanimous vote is reached, the offending club member shall be expelled. The offending club member or accusers shall not be present during this vote.
• If a unanimous consensus should not be reached,the officers may choose to bring the issue of expulsion to the other members of the club, upon a 4 out of 5 vote. The officers shall present to the club the case for the offending member's expulsion. The offending member shall then present to the club any defense or mitigating testimony. Upon conclusion, the members of the club shall vote upon the issue of expulsion. If a simple majority of the present members is found, the offending club member shall be expelled. The offending club member or accusers shall not be present during this vote.
• If the club member's behavior is found to be in violation of the club's policy regarding unsafe activity or inappropriate behavior, the offending member shall be served with a written document expressing his/her expulsion from the club. The document shall contain a detailed explanation of the grounds for expulsion. The club president, pending a vote, will serve the document from the club officers.
• Upon expulsion for the club, the offending member's dues will not be refunded.

Article IV Officer Election

The University of Michigan Fencing Club shall have five offices which shall make up the executive committee. These offices shall be the President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Publicity Officer. The officers shall be elected at the end of each school year, during the last few weeks of March. At this time, all team members who wish to run for a position shall notify the executive board of their intent. Each candidate, if so desired, may have time for a small presentation before the team. Before the vote, all candidates shall be led from the voting area. The voting shall be done by secret ballot, where each team member may vote for one candidate for each officer position or abstain. The vote for president shall be done first, followed by the vote for the vice-president, secretary, treasurer and Publicity Officer, in that order. A candidate's intent to run for office shall not infringe upon their right to vote.

Each officer may appoint an assistant as necessary. That officer is responsible for the assistants duties with the team.

Duties and Responsibilities of Officers

President

The President of the Fencing Club shall be responsible for the general well-being of the team. The president shall make sure that the team remains on good terms with the University, Club Sports, the United States Fencing Association, and other fencing schools, clubs, and teams. Other responsibilities include making sure that the practices run smoothly, that the other officers are performing their duties, and resolving any problems that might arise.

Vice President

The Vice President of the Fencing club is in charge of the team in absence of the President. The Vice President shall be in charge of many team projects, practices, helping to keep the members motivated, and making sure that the members show up to practice. The Vice President shall also be in charge of the administrative duties of the Armory. To effectively administer the armory, the Vice President shall be required to be trained in the repair of weapons. He shall appoint 4 individual armorers: one general armorer, and one armorer from each weapon group. These armorers shall answer directly to the Vice President and the Vice President shall be ultimately responsible for their actions to the fencing club council.

Secretary

The Secretary shall be in charge of organizing and saving all important documents, press articles, letters, etc. The Secretary shall also keep track and maintain attendance, address lists, and membership roster sheets, in any form, as well as any important documents from tournaments. The Secretary shall also be in charge of the club web page and shall either administer it or delegate it as he or she sees fit.

Treasurer

The Treasurer is in charge of keeping track of the financial interactions of the club. The Treasurer is responsible for collecting the money from dues, sales, and team equipment orders, and for paying team expenses with money from the team account.

Publicity Officer

The Publicity Officer should make sure that all team activities, meetings, and competitions are well advertised. The Publicity Officer shall also be in charge of other club projects as well as any social events as he or she sees fit.

Duties and Responsibilities of Appointed Officers

Armorer

There shall be 4 armorers, who shall be appointed by the Vice President and ratified by the executive committee. These armorers shall be the General Armorer, who shall be known as Binky, and an armorer from each weapon group. These armorers shall be responsible for the condition and repair of all club weapons. The General Armorer shall be in charge of general repair, and each weapon armorer shall be in charge of the weapons belonging to their particular weapon group. Each armorer shall be responsible for letting the Vice President know of any parts needed to keep the Armory in good condition.

Filling of Vacancies

If a vacancy opens in the executive board during the school year, the executive board shall meet to appoint a new officer to the position. A majority vote in the remaining members of the board shall be needed to elect a new team member to the position. In the event of a tie, the members of the club shall elect a new club member to the position, following the policies outlined above.

Removal of Officers

In order to remove an officer from the executive board, all of the following must occur, in the order listed:

1. A motion must be made by another officer to have the officer removed.
2. The executive board, without the officer in question present, must have a majority vote to have the officer removed.
3. The entire fencing club must then vote to have the officer removed. On a majority vote, the officer is then removed from the executive board. Once again, the officer in question should not be present during the vote. The officer in question must be given the opportunity to defend and explain his/her actions before each of the votes above. In the case of impeachment, the members of the club shall elect a new officer to fill the vacancy.

Article V Committees

Committees are formed on a majority vote of the executive board, for the purposes expressed by the board.

Article VI Meetings

Team meetings shall be held at the times designated by the officers in accordance with the times given for use of a building by Club Sports.

Article VII Dues

Dues are to be decided on each semester by the executive board.

Article VIII Amendments

The Constitutional by-laws can be amended by unanimous vote of the executive committee.