BYLAWS OF THE JEWISH STUDENT ASSOCIATION
AT THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
ARTICLE I: NAME
The organization shall be known as the Jewish Student Association at The George Washington University, hereafter informally referred to as the JSA.
ARTICLE II: OBJECT
The Jewish Student Association shall serve as the foundation for Jewish life on the campus of The George Washington University (”GW”); represent the interests of all Jewish students at GW; work with other student groups, staff, individuals, and campus administration to support and celebrate the Jewish community; serve as a unified voice for the Jewish community; act in pursuance of Jewish laws, traditions, and values; and as needed, partner in joint venture with Hillel at the George Washington University to achieve those goals.
ARTICLE III: MEMBERS
Section 1. Requirements. Any individual who aides in the common goal of helping to foster the Jewish community and who is a student in good standing at The George Washington University shall be considered a member of the Jewish Student Association. The Jewish Student Association does not discriminate based on race, color, creed, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, nor citizenship so long as individual meets the above described requirements.
Section 2. Dues. There shall be no dues or associated fees required for membership or participation in the organization.
Section 3. Rights and Benefits. Benefits of active membership shall include, but are not limited to: voting, leadership in student groups and related committees, and participation in formal programming.
ARTICLE IV: LEADERSHIP
Section 1. Officers and Duties. The officers of the organization shall be a President, an Executive Vice President, a Financial Director, a Membership / Engagement Director, a Religion / Education Director, an Israel Affairs Director, a Communications Director, a Social Action Director, and a Political Affairs Director. These officers shall perform the duties prescribed by these bylaws and the parliamentary authority adopted by the organization.
Section 2. General Board. The Executive Board shall oversee, and create as necessary, committees to govern and organize student groups and shall assign to committee chairpersons the powers and responsibilities necessary to complete their assigned tasks. Any committee including the Executive Board shall be considered part of the General Board of the Jewish Student Association.
Section 3. Nominating Procedure. No less than thirty (30) days prior to the last scheduled day of classes of the spring semester the Executive Board shall convene a nominating committee.
Section 3a. Committee Membership. The nominating committee shall be made up of no fewer than five (5) and no greater than eleven (11) active General Board members consisting of the President, an additional member of the Executive Board chosen at a regularly scheduled Executive Board meeting, the JPPA chairperson, the Tzedek chairperson, the Grinspoon chairperson, the SAFI chairperson, the Kesher chairperson, the Koach chairperson, the Kedma chairperson, the FYSH chairperson, and the JIGLO chairperson, or a representative from each member’s respective committee.
Section 3b. Committee Procedure. At the recommendation of the Executive Board, it shall be the duty of the nominating committee to nominate a candidate for each position to be filled. Positions shall be discussed and filled in the order they are introduced in article IV, section 1 and article VIII, section 1-7. The nominating committee shall interview, on an individual basis, any candidate who wishes to be nominated to the Executive Board.
Section 3c. Committee Recommendations. The nominating committee must honor the recommendation by any sub-committee for that committee’s chairperson. Such a nomination shall be submitted to the nominating committee in writing prior to the committee’s first scheduled meeting, and shall not be disputed so long as the nomination does not conflict with any decisions already made by the nominating committee in which case the nominating committee shall contact the nominee to resolve the conflict.
Section 3d. Slate of officers. The slate of nominations shall be published and made available for all active members to review no less than seven (7) days prior to the advertised date that elections are to be held.
Section 4. Elections. No less than fourteen (14) days prior to the last scheduled day of classes of the spring semester, the Jewish Student Association shall hold a publicized General Assembly of its members for the purpose of electing individuals to those offices listed in article IV, section 1 as well as electing chairpersons of all committees and sub-committees, both standing and special, as listed in Article VII, section 1-7 or as deemed necessary by the Executive Board. Officers and chairpersons shall be elected by a majority vote of those present. The nominating committee shall report their findings to the General Assembly. Additional nominations will be permitted so long as the nominated member meets the requirements set forth in article IV, section 5 and has submitted to the Executive Vice President no less than three (3) days prior to the advertised date that elections are to be held a petition signed by no less than thirty (30) members in good standing.
Section 5. Eligibility. Any active member in good standing shall be eligible for nomination to an office so long as that member submits to the Executive Vice President a written application for candidacy no less than thirty (30) days prior to the last scheduled day of classes of the spring semester, or prior to a published application deadline, whichever comes first.
Section 6. Terms of Office. An officer shall serve for one (1) year (”term”) from the date elected or until his or her successor is elected, whichever comes first. No member shall hold more than one (1) office at a time, and no member shall be eligible to serve more than two (2) consecutive terms in the same position.
Section 7. Board Vacancy. Should an Executive Board or General Board position remain vacant at the beginning of the academic year or should an Executive Board or General Board position become vacant during the course of the academic year, the President, shall at his/her discretion, fill that vacancies by a majority vote of those present at a regularly scheduled General Board meeting. The General Board must honor any nomination by a sub-committee for that committee’s chairperson submitted to the Executive Vice President in writing, so long as the nomination does not conflict with any previous decisions made by the General Board.
Section 8. Study Abroad. If the Nominating Committee so chooses, additional nominations may be made for positions beyond those outlined in article IV, section 1 and article VIII, section 1-7 to accommodate an anticipated Executive Board or General Board vacancy created by a student’s participation in a study abroad program, by appending the word “elect” to the title of a pre-existing position. A Member elected in such a way shall be considered a non-officer member, shall be assigned an appropriate Executive Board or General Board member to shadow, both in responsibilities and requirements, and shall have voice, but not be a voting member of any committee or board.
ARTICLE V: DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 1. President. The responsibilities of the President are to oversee all Executive Board and General Board members and assists with programming as needed; serve as a liaison to campus administration, faculty, Hillel professional staff and Hillel Lay Board members; serve as a student representative of the Jewish Student Association; serve as a scheduler in coordination with The George Washington University; run weekly Executive Board and monthly General Board meetings; and promote the general good and welfare of the Jewish Student Association.
Section 2. Executive Vice President. The responsibilities of the Executive Vice President are to assist the President in insuring the overall smooth functioning of the organization, assume the responsibilities of President at such meetings that the President is unable to attend or must step down for matters of parliamentary procedure, act as the primary scheduler of the JSA, work closely with the Financial Director and serve as a secondary financial officer of the organization, and promote the general good and welfare of the Jewish Student Association.
Section 3. Financial Director. The responsibilities of the Financial Director are to oversee the Finance Committee, serve as the Jewish Student Associations chief financial officer, serve as the liaison to the GW Student Association Finance Committee, supervise and oversee allocations of funding to Jewish student groups, compile and maintain a relevant budget on a semi-annual basis to be filed with the GW Student Association, manage the Jewish Student Association’s university accounts, direct organization-wide fundraising activity including grant writing, serve as the primary contact on financial co-sponsorship with other campus organizations, act as a liaison to Hillel staff on matters pertaining to fundraising and finance, and promote the general good and welfare of the Jewish Student Association.
Section 4. Membership / Engagement Director. The responsibilities of the Membership / Engagement Director are to oversee the Membership / Engagement Committee, aid in student outreach & engagement, work with other Jewish Student Association members to make programming appealing & welcoming to new participants, serve as an ambassador of Jewish life on campus to prospective students, work in partnership with the Hillel Jewish Campus Service Corps fellow, and promote the general good and welfare of the Jewish Student Association.
Section 5. Religion / Education Director. The responsibilities of the Religion / Education Director are to oversee the Religion / Education Committee, coordinate pluralistic programming, coordinate Peulat Shabbat (Friday night) post-dinner programming, help coordinate holiday related programming, work with Hillel staff to encourage student attendance/participation in Shabbat/holiday programming, serve as a representative of the Jewish community to the university and other student groups on religion related matters including the observance of holidays and religious practices, and promote the general good and welfare of the Jewish Student Association.
Section 6. Israel Affairs Director. The responsibilities of the Israel Affairs Director are to oversee the Israel Affairs Committee; serve as a liaison to national and international Israel organizations; advise students who are looking for Israel resource information, study abroad opportunities, or job/internship positions; assist with Taglit-birthright Israel recruitment and follow-up; and promote the general good and welfare of the Jewish Student Association.
Section 7. Communications Director. The responsibilities of the Communications Director are to oversee the Communications Committee, keep the minutes of all official business, serve as the representative of the JSA to campus and local media, aide in the general communication and publicity needs of the organization including electronic content such as websites and email, and promote the general good and welfare of the Jewish Student Association.
Section 8. Social Action Director. The responsibilities of the Social Action Director are to oversee the Social Action Committee, serve as a liaison to campus and community social action groups/offices, add social action opportunities to Jewish campus programming, and promote the general good and welfare of the Jewish Student Association.
Section 9. Political Affairs Director. The responsibilities of the Political Affairs Director are to oversee the Political Affairs Committee, serve as a liaison to campus and community political groups/offices, plan politically motivated programming that brings Jewish values to the political sphere, and promote the general good and welfare of the Jewish Student Association.
ARTICLE VI: MEETINGS
Section 1. Regular Meetings. The General Board shall convene on the first Tuesday of every month during the academic year unless otherwise ordered by the Executive Board. Attendance at all General Board meetings is required unless otherwise mandated by the President.
Section 2. Committee Meetings. Committees shall meet a minimum of once per month during the academic year, or more as deemed necessary by the committee chairperson.
Section 3. Annual Meeting. The Jewish Student Association shall convene for an annual meeting known as the General Assembly Meeting no less than fourteen (14) days prior to the last scheduled day of classes of the spring semester for the purpose of electing officers, receiving reports from officers and committees, and any other business that may arise throughout the year.
Section 4. Special Meetings. Special meetings may be called by the President or by the Executive Board and shall be called upon by the written consent of ten (10) members of the General Board in good standing. The purpose of the meeting shall be stated in the call. Except in cases of emergency, at least seven (7) days notice will be given.
ARTICLE VII: EXECUTIVE BOARD
Section 1. Board Composition. The officers of the organization, including those deemed directors shall constitute the Executive Board.
Section 2. Board’s Duties and Powers. The Executive Board shall have general supervision of the affairs of the organization between its business meetings, make recommendations to the Jewish Student Association, and perform such other duties as are specified by these bylaws. The Executive Board shall be subject to the orders of the Jewish Student Association, and none of its actions shall conflict with the actions taken by the JSA.
Section 3. Executive Board Meetings. Unless otherwise ordered by the President, regular meetings of the Executive Board shall be held every Tuesday, excluding the first Tuesday of the month, during the academic year. Attendance at all Executive Board meetings is required unless otherwise mandated by the President. Special meetings of the board shall be called by the President and shall be called upon the written request of three (3) members of the Executive Board.
ARTICLE VIII: COMMITTEES
Section 1. Finance Committee. A Finance committee under the direction of the Financial Director and consisting of other active members in good standing shall be appointed at the annual General Assembly meeting. It shall be the duty of this committee to oversee the fundraising needs of the Jewish Student Association including grant writing as well as prepare a budget for the subsequent academic year, and to submit a budget report at the first meeting of the General Board at the beginning of the subsequent academic year. The Finance Committee may from time to time submit amendments to the budget for the current academic year, which may be adopted by a majority vote. The Executive Board shall, as it deems necessary for the smooth functioning of the Jewish Student Association, appoint special sub-committees of the Finance Committee, including but not limited to an Alumni Outreach sub-committee and a Fundraising sub-committee.
Section 2. Membership / Engagement Committee. A Membership / Engagement committee under the direction of the Membership / Engagement Director and consisting of other active members in good standing shall be appointed at the annual General Assembly meeting, whose duty shall be to plan the annual programming of the Jewish Student Association with the goal of fostering active participation in programming by members, expanding the student leadership of the Jewish Student Association, seek to engage Jewish community on campus, and serve as an ambassador of Jewish life on campus to prospective students. The Membership / Engagement Committee shall submit at the first meeting of the General Board following the annual General Assembly meeting a report detailing the committee’s proposed programming for the subsequent academic year. The Executive Board shall, as it deems necessary for the smooth functioning of the Jewish Student Association, appoint special sub-committees of the Membership / Engagement Committee, including but not limited to a Jews in Greek Life Organizations sub-committee, a Jewish Life Liaisons sub-committee, a First Year Students at Hillel sub-committee, and a Jewish Living and Learning Community sub-committee.
Section 3. Religion / Education Committee. A Religion / Education committee under the direction of the Religion / Education Director and consisting of other active members in good standing shall be appointed at the annual General Assembly meeting, whose duty shall be to plan the annual programming of the Jewish Student Association with the goal of fostering observance and exploration of Jewish rituals, customs, and traditions throughout the academic year as well as promote a general knowledge of the religion and its history. The Religion / Education Committee shall submit at the first meeting of the General Board following the annual General Assembly meeting a report detailing the committee’s proposed programming for the subsequent academic year. The Executive Board shall, as it deems necessary for the smooth functioning of the Jewish Student Association, appoint special sub-committees of the Religion / Education Committee, including but not limited to a Kedma sub-committee, a Koach sub-committee, and a Kesher sub-committee.
Section 4. Israel Affairs Committee. An Israel Affairs committee under the direction of the Israel Affairs Director and consisting of other active members in good standing shall be appointed at the annual General Assembly Meeting, whose duty shall be to plan the annual programming of the Jewish Student Association with the goal of fostering support for Israel on campus as well as encourage knowledge of Israeli culture and customs, as well as Israeli history and politics. The Israel Affairs Committee shall submit at the first meeting of the General Board following the annual General Assembly meeting a report detailing the committee’s proposed programming for the subsequent academic year. The Executive Board shall, as it deems necessary for the smooth functioning of the Jewish Student Association, appoint special sub-committees of the Israel Affairs Committee, including but not limited to a Student Alliance for Israel sub-committee, a Helping Advocate for Israeli sub-committee, and a Grinspoon sub-committee.
Section 5. Communications Committee. A Communications committee under the direction of the Communications Director and consisting of other members in good standing shall be appointed at the annual General Assembly meeting, whose duty shall be to keep the minutes of all business conducted by the Jewish Student Association; publicize the date, time, and location of all meetings of the Jewish Student Association; maintain any electronic communications pertaining to the JSA including websites and email; and assist the General Board members with general publicity and communication needs to insure the smooth functioning of the Jewish Student Association. The Executive Board shall, as it deems necessary for the smooth functioning of the Jewish Student Association, appoint special sub-committees of the Communications Committee, including but not limited to an online services sub-committee, a Publicity sub-committee, and a Historian sub-committee.
Section 6. Social Action Committee. A Social Action committee under the direction of the Community Service Director and consisting of other members in good standing shall be appointed at the annual General Assembly Meeting, whose duty shall be to plan the annual programming of the Jewish Student Association with the goal of Tikun Olam (repairing the world), and Social Action as well as politically motivated programming that brings Jewish values to the political sphere. The Community Service Committee shall submit at the first meeting of the General Board following the annual General Assembly meeting a report detailing the committee’s proposed programming for the subsequent academic year. The Executive Board shall, as it deems necessary for the smooth functioning of the Jewish Student Association, appoint special sub-committees of the Community Service Committee, including but not limited to Tzedek sub-committee, and an Alternative Spring Break sub-committee.
Section 7. Political Affairs Committee. A Political Affairs committee under the direction of the Political Affairs Director and consisting of other members in good standing shall be appointed at the annual General Assembly Meeting, whose duty shall be to plan the annual programming of the Jewish Student Association with the goal of brings Jewish values to the political sphere. The Political Affairs Committee shall submit at the first meeting of the General Board following the annual General Assembly meeting a report detailing the committee’s proposed programming for the subsequent academic year. The Executive Board shall, as it deems necessary for the smooth functioning of the Jewish Student Association, appoint special sub-committees of the Political Affairs Committee, including but not limited to a Jewish Progressive Political Association sub-committee, a GLBTQ sub-committee, and a Jewish Republican sub-committee.
Section 8. Other committees; President’s Ex-Officio Committee Membership. Such other committees, standing or special, shall be appointed by the Executive Board shall from time to time deem is necessary to carry on the work of the Jewish Student Association. The President shall be ex officio a member of all committees except the nominating committee.
ARTICLE IX: RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
Section 1. University. The Jewish Student Association shall operate as an independent student organization of The George Washington University; shall be classified as an umbrella organization pursuant of GW Student Association bylaw 401, section 2(m); and shall represent to the GW Student Association, the various student groups and student organizations which constitute the JSA.
Section 2. Other Student Groups. Any registered student organization or ad-hoc student group which wishes to contribute to any or all goals outlined in Article II may be incorporated under the umbrella of the Jewish Student Association and must do so if it wishes to utilize Hillel resources and/or operate in partnership with Hillel at the George Washington University.
Section 3. Hillel. In order to create a more unified effort to foster a thriving Jewish community on campus, the JSA shall work in partnership with Hillel at the George Washington University, with the advice and under the purview of Hillel staff, and for the purpose of achieving that end, whenever appropriate, shall invite Hillel staff in an advisory capacity to sit in on committee and board meetings including but not limited to General Assembly meetings, General Board meetings, Executive Board meetings, and Nominating Committee meetings.
ARTICLE X: PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
The Rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the Jewish Student Association in cases where they are applicable and in cases where they are not inconsistent with these bylaws or any special rules of order which the Jewish Student Association may adopt.
ARTICLE XI: AMENDMENT OF THE BYLAWS
The bylaws may be amended at the General Assembly meeting of the Jewish Student Association by a two-thirds vote provided that the amendment proposed was approved by both the Executive Board and General Board prior to its introduction and the amendment was submitted in writing to the Executive Vice President no less than fourteen (14) days prior to the advertised date of assembly.
