Bylaws and Constitution for Anime Nashville
Mission Statement
Anime Nashville is to be used as a forum for the viewing and discussing anime and related topics and educating the public at large on the same.
I. Regular Meetings
The club will meet at dates and times decided on by the officers of the club as outlined below. (Currently meetings are on the second and fourth Thursday of the month at 7p.m.) The first meeting will be held primarily for business purposes and the second will be primarily for the viewing of anime. Anime viewing will also be allowed at the first month's meeting subject to location having appropriate facilities. Locations of such meetings will be agreed to by simple majority by the members of the club. At such meetings the opinions and views of all members, no matter how junior, will be heard and respected.
[amendment 20030814]
At business meetings, bootleg items will not be allowed.
At house meetings, the host can decide what may or may not be shown. Without prior consent of the host, bootlegs should be considered unwelcome.
For the purposes of Anime Nashville, any media distributed by someone other than the original licensor without their permission, and sold for profit is considered a bootleg.
II. Special meetings
As the club grows and interests diversify, it may become necessary to hold meetings in addition to the regularly scheduled ones. This may be for special interest groups (i.e. anime roleplaying, videogaming, extended anime showings) or for special committees to get together to work on club projects. It will be the responsibility of the ranking club officer or team leader to report those in attendance at special meetings to the appropriate officer.
III. Members
A member of the club is anyone who attends three (3) consecutive meetings. Members who miss four (4) consecutive meetings will lose their membership unless extenuating circumstances are presented to the President or Vice President. Privileges of membership include an Anime Nashville membership card, ability to hold office in the club, ability to vote on club matters and in officer elections, and other bonuses as available. Attending special meetings will count towards membership, but missing such meetings will not count against membership.
IV. Votes
A vote can be called by any officer. A vote can be called by any member with a seconding motion by a second club member. Voting will be done by either a show of hands or secret ballot, method to be chosen by the club officers. By default voting should be done by a show of hands. If any officer requests that the voting be done by ballot then voting shall be done by secret ballot. If the vote is open then names should be associated with votes, recorded, and posted publicly. If by secret ballot then only the results should be posted publicly. For official votes, 3/4 of the members must be in attendance and a 3/4 majority constitutes a win. Non-members will have no voting rights but will be allowed to voice their opinion.
V. Special Committees
In the course of club operations special committees, called teams, will be formed by the officers as outlined below. These teams will execute, after the rank and file approves by vote, any and all special projects that they have been tasked to do in a reasonable amount of time. Team membership is voluntary.
VI. Impeachment
If any member feels that members who have been elected to officer positions are violating the bylaws and constitution of the club, then they may bring to the floor a vote of impeachment against said member. Removing of offending official may only be accomplished by a 2/3 vote of the rank and file on the following first of the month meeting. This is to let the accused official prepare a defense. Voting will be done by secret ballot administered by an individual from the club that is just and true. Nevertheless said member and accused official have no vote. This is the only instance where the president can vote (if the president is not the accused party).
VII. Officers
The command structure of the club will be divided among several officers who will perform the duties outlined below in their respective sections. Positions will be elected by the rank and file members of the club every 12 months. Members running for a position may also vote.President: Leader of the club. Liaison between the club and any outside organization. The President has the power of veto on any decision that does not need the vote of the rank and file. If a decision is made by the rank and file, the President may not veto such a decision. The President has no vote under normal circumstances. The President will make final decision on meeting times and places. The President may also nominate or put forward any project or topic for discussion as any member of the club can do.
Vice-President: Duties include running the club in the President's absence, whereupon the position's duties are the same as the President's. In the normal course of events the Vice-President's roles include being the tie-breaking vote in any tie in rank and file voting. In addition, will oversee the accounting of any club funds that may exist.
Master at Arms: Duties include maintaining order at the meetings by recognizing members who have the floor. The Master at Arms votes as a normal member. Additionally, records attendance at meetings, maintains the roster of members, and informs members of meeting times.
Librarian: The Librarian will keep a list of any anime- related items club members have and wish to have listed (This is for information only, having items listed does NOT necessarily imply willingness to loan or duplicate such items). Will also contact fansub operations to inquire about obtaining new anime for the club (preferably master copies suitable for duplication,) and control loaning or other distribution of such items. Votes as a normal member.
Secretary: Records and keeps the minutes for each meeting. Reads back minutes as requested by officers and members. Keeps track of schedules for special projects. Assumes the duties of the Master at Arms if the Master at Arms is not present (such as taking attendance). Votes as a normal member.
VIII. Other positions
Other positions will be added as need by vote of the rank and file.