YALE COLLEGE
TAIWANESE AMERICAN SOCIETY

CONSTITUTION

Article I – Name

The name of this organization shall be the Yale College Taiwanese American Society (YCTAS or TAS).

Article II – Purpose

Maintain a network of interpersonal relationships among students interested in sharing the language, history, culture, and current affairs of Taiwan. 

 

Provide a forum for education and action.

Article III – Membership

A.       Membership will be open to all members of the Yale community.

B.       Membership is granted to any individual who attends two meetings.

C.      Each member is granted the right to vote for officers and any issue that is brought forth that requires a general vote.

Article IV – Officers

A.       Terms

1.       There shall be two co-Moderators, Secretary/Treasurer, Education Chair, Social Chair, Political Chair, Historian, Cultural Chair, and Freshmen Liaisons.

2.       Term of office, excluding Freshmen Liaisons, is one calendar year beginning in January.

3.       Term for Freshmen Liaisons is the Fall Semester.

4.       One of the Co-Moderators needs to have been an officer prior to nomination.

5.       After their term in office, officers shall become an advisory council to the next officer team.

B.       Elections

1.       Officer nominations shall take place the week prior to fall break. Nominations will remain open until the day of election.

2.       All candidates will be allotted a two to four minute speech the day of election. A five-minute question and answer session per office will follow.

3.       A candidate must receive a majority of votes cast to be elected.

4.       Candidates not elected have the opportunity to “drop down” and run for other positions.

C.      Duties

1.       Co-Moderator

a.       Oversee that the mission of TAS is maintained through all events and actions made by the board. 

b.       Provide guidance and support to all board positions in coordinating and executing events.      

c.        Call and moderate TAS board meetings in conjunction with board.

d.       Act as liasion with the Yale administration

e.       Become standing members of the Asian American Students Alliance (AASA) Executive Board and fulfilling its respective duties

f.         Work with other minority organizations on campus to promote a unified identity.

g.    Promote board unity.

2.       Secretary/Treasurer

a.       Record the minutes during meetings.

b.       Manage the finances of TAS which includes, but not limited to, the AASA seed money, bank accounts, and application to the Undergraduate Organizations Funding Committee (UOFC).

c.        Produce a budget for the year.

d.       Handle all financial aspects of all TAS events (money collection, reimbursements, etc.)

3.       Education Chair

a.       Coordinate and run the Chinese Adopted Siblings Program (CASPY) in conjunction with the Chinese American Students Association (CASA) Community Chair to work with Social Chair to organize events celebrating Taiwanese culture

1.       Establish a CASPY committee and hold and lead planning meetings

2.       Pair Yale undergrad students (Big Sibs) with adopted children (Little Sibs)

3.       Lead fundraising and donation efforts for the execution of each CASPY

4.       Maintain the CASPY website

b.       Work with Social/Cultural Chairs to organize events celebrating Taiwanese culture

c.        Work with Political chair on issues that are relevant to the Taiwanese community.

4.       Social Chair

a.       Organize events to promote spirit and unity within the club.

b.       Create TAS families (Upperclassmen paired with freshman to create families) and plan TAS family events

c.        Work with Education Chair to organize events celebrating Taiwanese culture

d.       Act as primary contact to other Taiwanese Clubs concerning intercollegiate events.

5.       Political Chair

a.       Work on issues that are relevant to the Taiwanese community.

b.       Educate the Yale community on the political situation involving Taiwan through forums, debate, etc.

c.        Attend the AASA political action and education (PAEC) committee meetings.

6.       Historian/Webmaster

a.       Record TAS events through the year for future reference.

b.       Take pictures of all TAS events.

c.        Maintain the TAS homepage.

d.       Create and Distribute TAS newsletter.

7.       Cultural Chair

a.       Plan and coordinate TAS Cultural Dinner every Spring semester

b.       Hold Taiwanese language tables at a time and location specified by officer.

c.        Work with Cultural Awareness Program (CAP) in going to schools and teaching about Taiwanese culture, history, and general information

d.       Work with and support other board members in events relating to and/or promote Taiwanese culture

8.       Publicity Chair

a.       Inform students of TAS events via e-mail

b.       Encourage new students to participate in TAS activities

c.        Recruit new members, especially freshmen

9.       Freshmen Liasions

a.       Must be a member of the Freshmen class.

b.       Inform Freshmen of TAS activities.

c.        Assist other officers in activities.

d.       Organize designated activities      

10.     General duties for all officers

a.       Attend and help in all TAS events, including set-up and clean-up.

b.       Help publicize all events.

c.        Assist other officers when needed.

d.       Set agenda for TAS meetings with the moderator.

e.       Create committees to aid in carrying out duties, when needed.

f.         Serve on the advisory council the following year.

g.       Work on issues which are relevant to the Taiwanese community.

h.       Work with other groups in the Asian American community.

i.         Represent TAS in the community at large.

Article V – Procedures

A.                   Motions shall pass with the approval of a majority of the TAS officer team.

B.                  Amendments may be made by a two-thirds vote of the TAS officer team.

C.                  Resignations

At any time an officer is unable to fulfill their duties as an officer, he or she shall submit a one-page statement regarding the reasons for resigning.

D.                  Impeachment

Any officer who fails to fulfill their duties can be impeached by a majority of the officer team.

E.                  Vacancies

Vacancies will be filled by appointment by approval of a majority of the officer team.



Ratified Spring 1997 and amended Nov, Dec 1997,  Mar 1998, Dec 2000, Nov 2005, Apr 2007