WDSA CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS

NEWLY RATIFIED
CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS
OF THE
West Visayas State University-College of Education Graduate School (WVSU-COE-GS) Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) Accelerated Science and Technology Human Resource Development Program-Science Education Consortium Component (ASTHRDP-SECC) Scholars Association
also known as the
WDSA


PREAMBLE
We, the officers and members of the WDSA, aware of our social responsibility to raise the level of the Filipino youth’s literacy in math, science and technology; bound by the common realization of the value and wisdom of unity and solidarity amongst ourselves; conscious of the need to integrate our individual aspirations towards the fulfillment of our common interests; and committed to the pursuit of promoting Filipino and Christian values, customs and traditions, do hereby promulgate this Constitution and By Laws.


ARTICLE I - NAME AND NATURE OF THE ASSOCIATION

1. The Association shall be officially known as the West Visayas State University-College of Education Graduate School (WVSU-COE-GS) Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) Accelerated Science and Technology Human Resource Development Program-Science Education Consortium Component (ASTHRDP-SECC) Scholars Association abbreviated as WDSA, herein referred to as the Association.

2. For purposes of correspondence, the Association shall maintain the following official address:
WVSU College of Education Building
Luna St., La Paz, Iloilo City

3. The Association shall maintain its independent, non-stock, non-profit and non-political orientation.

ARTICLE II - AIMS

The Association shall pursue the following aims:

1. To provide a venue for regular exchanges and interaction among DOST-SEI ASTHRDP-SECC scholars in West Visayas State University College of Education Graduate School (WVSU-COE-GS) Department;

2. To extend moral, financial, academic, and/or other forms of assistance to any member in need;

3. To foster loyalty, gratitude, and service to the Filipinos, in general, and to the Ilonggos in particular, by encouraging its members to make their expertise available to the ones who need it, with high preference to the lost, the last and the least; and

4. To promote, whenever possible, the culture of science, math, research, and technology in various occasions, exposures and experiences.

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP

1. Full membership shall be automatic to all bona fide DOST-SEI ASTHRDP-SECC scholars at WVSU-COE-GS.
2. A membership fee of P500 per semester (excluding summer) shall be collected to every member to be collected on or before the first week of August (first semester) and the first week of December (second semester) of the school year.
3. Associate membership is given to all former WDSA members, by virtue of association. The extent of their membership is limited to affiliation and recognition. They do not have any voting and executive rights in the business of the association.

ARTICLE IV - ORGANIZATIONAL SET-UP

The Association’s Executive Committee, hereinafter referred to as the EXECOM, shall be composed of the President, Vice-president, Secretary, Treasurer, Auditor, Business Manager and Public Information Officers (for all batches). The EXECOM shall be elected from among the members in accordance with the provisions of Article V.

The EXECOM may create ad hoc committees in aid of their designated functions and responsibilities. They may also name advisers and senior adviser from the roster of DOST’s program advisers.

Section I - Responsibilities of the President

The President shall have the following duties and responsibilities:
1. To call and preside over meetings of the Association;
2. To plan, supervise and coordinate the activities and projects of the Association;
3. To create, whenever necessary, ad hoc committees for specific tasks and projects;
4. To act as the official representative of the Association; and,
5. To serve as ex-officio member of the EXECOM on the year immediately following the expiration of his or her term as president.

Section II - Responsibilities of the Vice-President

The Vice-President (VP) shall have the following duties and responsibilities:
1. To assume the responsibilities of the President in his/her absence and/or incapacity;
2. To act as the Association’s official liaison officer.
3. To assist the President, while at the same time acting as a check, in all matters concerning the Association; and,
4. To perform other official functions that the President may assign to him/her.

Section IV - Responsibilities of the Secretary

The Secretary shall have the following duties and responsibilities:
1. To record and file the minutes of all the meetings and activities of the Association;
2. To maintain a profile of the Association’s members;
3. To safeguard all the information provided by the members in the official membership form against any possible imprudent use;
4. To update and distribute the WDSA telephone and e-mail directory; and,
5. To perform other official functions that the President may assign to him/her.

Section V - Responsibilities of the Treasurer

The Treasurer shall have the following duties and responsibilities:
1. To take charge of all the financial concerns of the Association;
2. To collect fees due to the Association, such as membership fees and payment for loans;
3. To keep track of the Association’s financial standing and maintain records of all financial transactions;
4. To release funds, in concurrence with all the officers of the EXECOM, or at least with the President, for specific purposes;
5. To submit a financial report to the auditor on a semester basis, or whenever deemed necessary; and,
6. To perform other functions that the President may assign to him/her.

Section VI - Responsibilities of the Auditor

The Auditor shall have the following duties and responsibilities:
1. To audit the financial report provided by the Treasurer;
2. To report on the financial status of the Association to the members;
3. To conduct and maintain an inventory of all the Association’s properties; and,
4. To perform other functions that the President may assign to him/her.
Section VII - Responsibilities of the Business Manager

The Business Manager shall have the following duties and responsibilities:
1. To introduce and initiate fundraising activities for the Association;
2. To assist the Treasurer in keeping track of the Association’s financial standing; and,
3. To perform other functions that the President may assign to him/her.

Section VIII - Responsibilities of the Public Information Officers

The Public Information Officers (PIO), who are elected by and who represent their respective batches, shall have the following duties and responsibilities:
1. To ensure that all members are regularly informed of matters related to the Association;
2. To disseminate, in coordination with the secretary, information related to the Association’s forthcoming activities;
3. To act as the Editor-in-Chief of the official organ and/or Webmaster of the Association’s website, blogsite, or e-mail, if any; and,
4. To perform other functions that the President may assign to him/her.

ARTICLE V - ELECTIONS AND TENURE

1. The Annual Elections are to be conducted preferably on the last week of June or first week of July of the school year, during which time the Annual General Assembly shall also be held. The officers, however, have the discretion to postpone the elections to another date for reasons of lack of quorum or any other inevitable occurrences.
2. Elections shall be done by viva voce.
3. Fifty percent (50%) plus one of the voting members shall constitute a quorum for the elections.
4. All registered members are entitled to vote.
5. All registered members are entitled to run for office.
6. The EXECOM shall be elected through a simple majority, or if in the case of multiple candidates, through a plurality of votes.
7. Eligibility for candidacy for the position of President shall be open only to those who have maintained their membership with the Association for at least six months prior to election day.
8. While the outgoing officers shall hold office until the last day of May, they shall remain responsible for the Association’s activities until the new set of officers officially assume their seats in the first week of June of the same year.
9. For purposes of ensuring a smooth transition, the outgoing and incoming set of officers shall, in the interim, jointly sit for their positions during the first meetings.
10. No officer shall be allowed to hold the same position for more than two consecutive terms.
11. Members graduating and/or leaving in March of the following year from the elections will compose the Electoral Board that shall supervise and facilitate the polls.

ARTICLE VI - RESIGNATION AND RECALL

1. Any officer may be removed from office through a two-thirds (2/3) “vote of no confidence” by the members if he or she is found undeserving of the position entrusted to him/her.
2. Any officer reserves the right to resign at any point within his/her term of office provided that a formal resignation letter with an explanation is submitted to the Association at least three weeks prior to his/her chosen date. An officer is considered resigned only after a formal acceptance of his/her resignation shall have been effected at a special meeting for the purpose, in which he or she must be present.
3. A special election for the vacated position shall be held immediately, preferably on the same day after the position is officially vacated.

ARTICLE VII - RIGHTS OF THE MEMBERS

Every member shall have the right:
1. To be informed of all the activities of the Association;
2. To benefit from the activities of the organization;
3. To offer suggestions and criticisms; and,
4. To avail of all the resources available from the Association.

ARTICLE VIII - RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE MEMBERS

Every member shall have the following responsibilities:
1. To actively participate, whenever possible, in the Association’s activities;
2. To offer services and other forms of support to the Association;
3. To respect the will of the majority in any case when the Association’s pursuit of a particular cause runs contrary to his/her personal conviction;
4. To pay the membership fee and other dues set by the Association; and,
5. To perform tasks assigned to him/her from time to time.

ARTICLE IX - MEETINGS

1. The EXECOM and other ad hoc committee officers shall meet at least once a month, the date, time and venue of which shall be decided by themselves on the basis of their convenience.
2. There shall be an Annual General Assembly during which time the outgoing officers will be given the opportunity to provide initial or full report of their accomplishments, the election of new set of officers will be held, and the overall status of the Association will be assessed.
3. All other meetings may be called for by the President, the EXECOM, and/or, a simple majority of the members.

ARTICLE X – FINANCES
1. The organization may open an account in the bank of EXECOM’s choice.
2. No amount of money will be withdrawn from the WDSA account unless with the consent of the President, the Treasurer, and the senior adviser of the organization.

ARTICLE XI - AMENDMENTS

Amendments to this Constitution may be made upon a written petition by the majority of all registered members and the same shall be considered adopted if ratified in person by at least TWO-THIRDS (2/3) of all registered members at a meeting called for the purpose.

ARTICLE XII - ADOPTION AND EFFECTIVITY

This Constitution shall take effect immediately upon formal ratification by TWO-THIRDS (2/3) of all the members at a general assembly to be held on the 18th day of July, 2009 at ANP 1 Room, West Visayas State University College of Education Graduate School Department.