Preamble

Habitat for Humanity International, Inc. (“HFHI”), Georgia-based nonprofit corporation, is an ecumenical Christian housing organization that works in partnership with people in need to improve the conditions in which they are forced to live.

UMD Habitat for Humanity Campus Chapter (the “Chapter”) has been established to assist HFHI by working with any local affiliated or sponsored project with HFHI’s headquarters, in order to:

Build simple, decent, affordable housing for low income families
Raise money for HFHI affiliates
Educate the University of Maryland community about the importance of eliminating poverty housing
Advocate on the local, state, and national levels for building partnerships that enhance HFHI programs
Create a community at the University of Maryland in which bonds between Chapter members can grow

Article I - Membership

Section 1 - Eligibility

Any student, faculty member, administrator, or staff person of the University of Maryland at College Park shall be eligible to become a member of the Chapter. Only undergraduate members are eligible to run as and vote for officers. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, personal appearance, age, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, or on the basis of the exercise of rights secured by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Section II – Regular Meetings

The Board as defined below will meet weekly. General meetings will be weekly, occurring directly before Board meetings.

Section III – Special Meetings

Any Board Member may call special meetings of the Board so long as he/she has the approval of either the President or Vice President. These special meetings may be held at any appropriate date, time, and place.

Article II - Organizational Structure

Section I – Board

The Board will consist of the President, Vice President, Fundraising Chair, Treasurer, Campus Events Chair, Campus Publicity Chair, Construction Manager, Webmaster, Collegiate Challenge Coordinator, and two Members at large. All officers, chairs, and appointed positions are required to go to General meetings as well as Board meetings, in which they will provide the other members of the Board with updates.

Section II – Elected Positions

President, Vice President, Fundraising Chair, Treasurer, Campus Events Chair, Campus Publicity Chair, and the two Members at Large are elected positions. Elected Positions must go through the election process and be duly voted to their position. These positions must be filled by undergraduate students. Elected positions are given voting rights in decisions of the Board and must lead at least 2 build trips and 1 concessions each semester.

Section III – Appointed Positions

Construction Manager is a position appointed by the elected members of the Board with approval of the affiliate with which the Chapter is working. The appointment will occur after the election process. This position is open to both graduate and undergraduate students. Construction Manager is required to go on all (or at least the vast majority) of the weekly build trips throughout the year. If the Construction Manager position is filled by an undergraduate student, he/she may, if desired, be granted (with a secret, unanimous vote of the members of the Board) an additional Member at Large position, thus giving him/her voting rights as a member of the Board and requiring him/her to lead at least 2 build trips and 1 concessions each semester.

Webmaster is a position appointed by a 2/3 majority vote of the elected members of the Board. The appointment will occur after the election process. This position is open to both graduate and undergraduate students. If the Webmaster position is filled by an undergraduate student, he/she may, if desired, be granted (with a secret, unanimous vote of the members of the Board) an additional Member at Large position, thus giving him/her voting rights as a member of the Board and requiring him/her to lead at least 2 build trips and 1 concessions each semester.

Collegiate Challenge Coordinator is a position appointed by a 2/3 majority vote of the elected members of the Board. Collegiate Challenge Coordinator should plan on attending and leading the Collegiate Challenge trip. This position will be appointed for the fall/winter and spring semesters separately. It will first be offered to the Members at Large and then to the other members of the Board. If desired, Collegiate Challenge Coordinator can form a committee to help with the organization of the trip (see Section VII – Committees for more information).

Section IV – Election and Tenure

The election of new members of the Board will be held in November. All voting members must be undergraduate students and must have participated in at least one official Chapter event (not including general meetings) prior to elections. Officers elected during the November elections, will serve their term from January 1st until the following December 31st unless extenuating circumstances apply. All members of the Board may be reelected, but an individual may only hold the same office for two terms. Any two offices may be held by the same person except for those of President and Treasurer. If a candidate intends to hold office for only one semester, the candidate may run only if no other candidates are running for that position and all voting members of the Board are in agreement that the candidate may run for the single semester.

Section V – Special Appointments

In the absence or incapacity of any other officer or in the event of a vacancy in any office, the Board may designate any person to fill any such office pro tempore or for any particular purpose.

Section VI – Committees

The Board has the power to create ad hoc committees with 2/3 majority votes. Ad hoc committees will stand until the next election term unless otherwise specified. They may comprise of varying amounts of Chapter members and at least one member of the Board will oversee each committee.

Section VII – Removal and Resignation

Any officer may be removed with or without cause by a 2/3 vote of the qualified members of the Board. Any voting member of the Board who is absent from two consecutive regular meetings of the Board will be removed by the Board unless there exists a legitimate reason as determined by a 2/3 vote of the qualified Board members.

A member of the Board may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board or to the President. Unless otherwise specified in the notice, resignation will take effect upon receipt and the acceptance of the resignation by the Board in not necessary to make it effective. If a resignation is made effective at a later date, the Board may fill the vacancy before the effective date if the Board provides that the successor does not take office until the effective date of resignation.

Section VIII – Vacancies

Upon vacancy created by death, removal, resignation, or incapacity of any member of the Board, a 2/3 vote of the remaining voting Board members will be necessary to fill the vacancy. An officer elected to fill such a vacancy will be elected to hold office for the unexpired term of his or her predecessor.

In the absence of the President or in the event of a vacancy in the office of President, the Vice President will perform the duties incident of the office of President. When Vice President is sworn in as the President, a new Vice President will be appointed by a 2/3 majority vote of the voting members of the Board.

Article III - Fiscal Policies

Section I – Receipt of Funds and Revenues

All funds received as gifts, contributions, or grants from individuals, private or public corporations, or foundations will be deposited in the appropriate banking accounts maintained by the Chapter and dispersed in accordance with the policies and procedures determined by the Board in accordance with these Bylaws, the Covenant, the Articles of Association, the rules and regulations of the College, and all applicable government laws, rules, and regulations, including Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Section II – The Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of the Chapter will begin on July 1 of each year and end on June 30 of the following year.

Section III – Checks, Drafts, Etc.

All exchange of funds issued in the name of the Chapter must be in accordance with the policies and procedures as determined by Habitat for Humanity International and the resolution of the Board.

Section IV – Dues

Dues are not required.

Article IV - Amendment

The Board will have the power to alter, amend, or repeal these Bylaws or adopt new Bylaws by a 2/3 vote of the duly elected and qualified members of the Board.

Bylaws last amended: November 2006