Constitution

Last ratified 4.1.2024

Article I: Name

The official name of the organization is the Rose-Hulman Linux Users Group (RHLUG or just LUG).

Article II: Objectives

1. To introduce alternative operating systems to anyone interested.
2. To provide a good community where Rose-Hulman students, faculty, and staff can get help from each other with open source software.
3. To provide computation resources for Rose-Hulman students, faculty, and staff.
4. To encourage the use of Free Software and Open Standards.

Article III: Membership

Membership

In order to be a member, a person must

• Be a currently enrolled student at RHIT
• Have attended at least one meeting in the current academic year

Active Member Status

In order to be considered an active member, a person must be a member and meet the following additional requirements.* Attend at least three of the last twelve meetings, unless he/she is unable to attend because of academic conflicts with the approval of a majority vote of the officers

• Be active in online communications

Article IV: Officers

Officers and Duties

President

Coordinate activities and keep the club running smoothly.

Vice-President (Optional)

Assists the president with their duties as needed. Presides over club meetings if president is not present.

Secretary

Ensures that the club has a room reservation in a suitable location for every meeting. Sends meeting reminder emails containing the meeting time, location, and agenda. Keeps track of who is an active member.

Treasurer

Manage everything that has to do with money for the club. This includes submitting an annual budget to SGA, submitting any orders necessary, and submitting one time funding requests if necessary.

Software System Administrator

Ensures that all LUG software is kept up to date with the latest security patches. Informs the rest of the club when major upgrades or migrations are necessary. When suitable, delegates tasks to other members to allow all members to gain experience with the software used by the club. Maintains documentation detailing the configuration of services on LUG machines.

Hardware System Administrator

Maintains all LUG hardware. Informs the club when major upgrades are required.

Elections

• Active members can vote in elections and can be nominated for positions
• Special elections will be held as needed during regular scheduled meetings to fill vacant officer positions.
• Regular elections will be held during the regular meeting 8th week of winter quarter. Elections may be delayed if not enough people come to the meeting.
• Officers are elected for a one year term effective immediately; previous officers may hold their position during a transitional period of no more than three meetings after elections.
• Candidates can nominate themselves, or can accept a nomination from another member.
• Only active members can be nominated, but any member can nominate someone else.
• Nominations and voting should start at the President position, and then move down the Officers and Duties list.
• The new officer will be determined by majority vote of active members.

Vice-President as an Optional Role

The president will decide at their discretion whether a vice-president would benefit the club at the time. If the president decides that the role is helpful, a special election will be held to elect a vice president. Once elected, a vice-president will serve until the next general election, unless impeached.

Impeachment

In the highly unlikely event where it is required, an officer may be impeached if he/she no longer does what he/she is supposed to for his/her position. They can be removed from the position if there is a two thirds majority vote of voting members.

Presidential Succession

1. In the event that the President is unable to do what he/she is supposed to do, the following order of succession will be used until a special election is held:
   1. Vice-President (If role is occupied)
   2. Secretary
   3. Treasurer
   4. Server Admin
   5. Hardware Admin

Article V: Advisor

• The advisor shall be a member of the faculty/staff of Rose-Hulman. He/She shall assist the officers, and offer knowledge and wisdom to all participating members.
• The term for an advisor is one year.
• During elections it should be voted if we want to keep the current advisor by majority. If the majority votes for a new advisor then he/she should be elected at the next meeting.

Article VI Meetings

• The club may meet as often as once per week at the president's discretion
• Unless extenuating circumstances exist, there must be at least 1 meeting per month excluding June, July, and August.
• All computers brought to meetings must be clean, free from any leakages, and free from insect infestations.

Article VIII: Constitution

Adoption

1. Changes to the constitution must be ratified by two-thirds majority of voting members.
2. It will take effect when approved by The Student Affairs Committee or its designated representative.