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Preamble Name Purpose Duration Membership Officers Finances Amendments Affiliation Sponsorship
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Preamble
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| We, the members of the
Baha'i
Association at the University of Florida having formed a voluntary club, do hereby make and
establish this constitution in order to serve the school
and campus community and to promulgate and further the
ideals of the Baha'i Faith, as proclaimed by its
Prophet-Founder, Baha'u'llah. The Baha'i Faith upholds
the unity of God, recognizes the unity of His Prophets,
and inculcates the principle of the oneness and
wholeness of the entire human race. It proclaims the
necessity and the inevitability of the unification of
mankind, asserts that it is gradually approaching, and
claims that nothing short of the transmuting spirit of
God, working through His Mouthpiece in this day, can
ultimately succeed in bringing it about. It moreover
enjoins upon its followers the primary duty of an
unfettered search after truth, condemns all manner of
prejudice and superstition, declares the purpose of
religion to be the promotion of amity and concord,
proclaims its essential harmony with science, and
recognizes it as the foremost agency for the
pacification and orderly progress of human society. It
unequivocally maintains the principle of equal rights,
opportunities and privileges for men and women, insists
on
compulsory education, eliminates extremes of poverty and
wealth, abolishes the institution of priesthood,
prohibits slavery, asceticism, mendicancy and
monasticism, prescribes monogamy, discourages divorce,
emphasizes the necessity of strict obedience to one's
government, exalts any work performed in the spirit of
service to the level of worship, urges either the
creation or the selection of an auxiliary international
language, and delineates the outlines of those
institutions that must establish and perpetuate the
general peace of mankind. |
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Article I - Name
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| This association shall be known as the
Baha'i Association. |
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Article II - Purpose
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| The purpose of this association shall be to further
the tenets of the Baha'i Faith, to invite those
interested to investigate the Faith for themselves; to
promote the unity of mankind; and to foster
understanding, love and fellowship on this campus by
sponsoring such things as lectures, information tables,
service projects, discussions, informal gatherings,
social activities and public meetings. This association
shall not endorse any partisan or political group on a
campus level or otherwise, and shall remain
not-for-profit and non-commercial in nature.
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Article III - Duration
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| This association, once formed, shall
exist as long as two or more Baha'is officially
recognized as such by the National Spiritual Assembly of
the Baha'is of the United States shall be members
thereof and as long as it shall comply with all rules
and regulations of the University of Florida and the
National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United
States. |
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Article IV - Membership
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| Full membership in this association is open to all
full time University of Florida students. Associate
membership is open to all part-time students, faculty,
staff, alumni, and members of their families. These
members are not eligible to vote or hold office. General
membership shall be irrespective of race, color, gender,
age, class, nationality, disability or religion. Any
such person may join and remain a member of this
association by assenting to its principles and purposes
as stated within this constitution. If the Baha'i
membership drops below two, the club is suspended.
Members are free to leave and dissociate without fear of
retribution and harassment. |
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Article V - Officers
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All Baha'i Association elections will be held
according to the Baha'i electoral procedure. No
nominations or campaigning are permitted. Election
voting should be held by secret ballot, following
prayers for guidance.
Administrative authority shall be vested in a Board of
Directors, consisting of seven full members, elected
during the third week of the fall semester, with at
least four Baha'is serving as Board members. Members of
the Board of Directors will be elected by plurality vote
of a quorum of the voting members, and a run-off
election will be held in the case of a tie, unless the
tie can be broken by application of the minority
principle.
Officers of this association will be elected from within
the Board of Directors, and must receive an absolute
majority of the total number of Directors to be elected.
Officers will include a Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer.
Officers must be members of the Baha'i Faith, recognized
as such by the National Spiritual Assembly of the
Baha'is of the United States. No officer may occupy more
than one position.
The responsibilities of the Chair include presiding at
meetings, ensuring that there is free and open
discussion during the meetings, that discussion is kept
to the point, that all members are given the opportunity
to contribute to the discussion, to clarify decisions so
that they are fully understood and can be accurately
recorded in the minutes, call for a vote when
appropriate, and plan the agenda with the Secretary.
The responsibilities of the Secretary include scheduling
club meetings and planning the agenda in consultation
with the Chair and members, keeping and reporting
minutes of meetings, club correspondence and records.
The responsibilities of the Treasurer are to receive,
account for and disburse club funds in accordance with
club decisions.
The Board of Directors may assign other responsibilities
to officers, appoint officer assistants, task forces and
committees as required.
Decisions concerning activities, finances or affairs of
the club will be made using the process of Baha'i
consultation at regular or special meetings at which a
quorum of the voting members of the club is present. |
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Article VI - Finances
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| There shall be no dues payable by or
assessments levied against this association. Baha'i
clubs may sponsor events that result in financial gain,
or accept any funds from the School or University, or
non-Baha'i members, or any other voluntary source. These
monies, however, may in no way be contributed to Baha'i
Funds, either local, national, or international, and are
for the promotion of Club activities only. |
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Article VII - Amendments
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| This constitution may be amended by a
majority vote of a quorum of the voting members of this
association, provided that the National Spiritual
Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States and proper
campus authority shall have approved the amendment. |
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Article VIII - Affiliation
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This association is, and shall remain, independent
of affiliation with any other entity, provided that this
association shall in all respects remain responsible to
the administration of this campus and obedient to its
regulations. Hazing is, be all means, prohibited.
It is understood that recognition of a person’s
membership in the Baha'i community, as apart from
membership in this association, is subject to rules
promulgated by the National Spiritual Assembly of the
Baha'is of the United States.
It is further understood that the use of the term
"Baha'i" in connection with this association is upon
permission granted by the National Spiritual Assembly of
the Baha'is of the United States and subject to
withdrawal by that body. |
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Article IX - Sponsorship
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Any faculty sponsor deemed necessary for this
association by the University of Florida shall be one
who, in addition to being on the staff of said
institution, has sufficient knowledge of the Baha'i
teachings to give necessary and proper guidance to this
association.
The faculty advisor shall be a source of inspiration and
guidance for the association, act as a resource for
information and assistance when required, and represent
the association to the Gainesville community, Baha'i
community, and the University of Florida when required.
The faculty sponsor shall be elected by a majority vote
of the Board of Directors with a final vote by a quorum
of the voting members. The election shall occur at the
beginning of the fall semester, and the faculty advisor
shall serve for a term of one year. |
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