Waltrip High School

Spanish Club Constitution

Article 1:         The name of the club is “Pan Americano.”  A copy of the Constitution will be available to all Spanish teachers and all club members throughout the year, and is available upon request.

 

Article 2:         The purpose of the club is to encourage an interest in Spanish culture and language and to provide an opportunity for Spanish students to become acquainted with one another.

 

Article 3:         The officers of the club are the President, the Vice-Presidents (1st and 2nd), the Recording Secretary, the Corresponding Secretary, the Historian, and the Treasurer.

 

Article 4:         The duties of the club officers are as follows:

 

The President:

To provide an agenda for all meetings, to preside over meetings, and to be an example and leader of all club members.

The 1st Vice-President:

                        To be in charge of all activities related to the Pan American Student Forum (P. A. S. F.) competition-convention in the spring semester.  This includes, but is not limited to, publicity, fund-raising, and meetings.

The 2nd Vice-President:

                        To serve as the right-hand of both the president and 1st vide-president in any capacity needed.

The Recording Secretary:

                        To keep track of all minutes of all meetings and to keep track of all officers and sponsors in attendance at each meeting/event.

The Corresponding Secretary:

                        To make announcements and all general publicizing of Spanish Club activities and events.  Also to correspond with the public regarding club functions and community service activities.    To keep track of all individual club members’ merits and compile a list of activities which could have been attended and the number of merits given for each activity.

The Historian:

                        To compile the club’s annual scrapbook, as well as keeping memorabilia and taking pictures throughout the year.

The Treasurer:

                        To keep track of all money earned and spent by the club and to coordinate moneymaking activities.

 

Article 5:         To be a member of Pan Americano, one must be currently enrolled in a Spanish class or have successfully completed one year of Spanish at Waltrip High School.  One must also have written parent/legal guardian permission to participate in the organization.  To validate one’s membership, there will be an annual fee, or “due” of $10.00 that must be paid before the first official Spanish Club Function (Pan-American Dinner - November).  Any person who qualifies to join after that date must pay an increased late fee of $20.00.

 

Article 6:         To qualify to run for an office, each candidate will fill out an application for election. The sponsors will screen these applications, and the content will be pre-determined by the officers.  The election will take place before the annual P. A. S. F. Spring Convention, and the results will be announced soon thereafter.

 

Article 7:         To be an officer of Pan Americano, one must have been in the club at least one year, must have attended the PASF convention in the spring, and must continue to take a Spanish class during the year of service.  One must maintain at least a “C” average overall, must maintain conduct of at least an “S,” and a “B” average in Spanish.  In order to be President, one must have also been an officer the previous year.  In case of grade failure, the student will be put on officer probation for three weeks.  However, if a student is no longer in Spanish, the officer must resign his/her position and the office will remain vacant for the remainder of the school year.

 

Article 8:         The officers and sponsors will establish a merit system each year.

 

Article 9:         There will be a certain number of Spanish Club activities per school year that will be determined by the officers and sponsors of that year.  Of these activities, there will be at least two directly related to either the Spanish culture or the current PASF theme.

 

Article 10:       Officers can be impeached by a majority vote of the other officers for nonperformance of duties or not keeping up the grade and conduct requirements, which are checked each six-weeks.  Upon encountering the first six-weeks of violation, the officer will be placed on probation.  Upon missing an activity for whatever reason, one must clear it with the head sponsor.  Missing three consecutive activities without sponsor-approved excuses will result in removal of office.

 

Article 11:       The club sponsors and the current club treasurer must approve any expenditure of club funds.

 

Article 12:       Dismissal from club:

 

Dismissal shall be defined as no participation in any activity of the Spanish Club for the remainder of the student’s high school career.

Members will be dismissed from club for:

 

1.                  A level 3 or 4 violation of the Houston ISD Student Code of Conduct during the current school year

2.                  The third time in SRC in any given semester

3.                  Any act that results in an out of school suspension

4.                  Any infraction that the sponsor(s) and principal(s) deem detrimental to the organization

 

Article 13:       Code of Conduct

 

Certain standards are necessary for the integrity and reputation of any organization.  The sponsors expect that each and every member of the organization be a leader within the school and uphold exemplary social and academic standards at all times.  Members of the organization are expected to have and maintain a character above reproach.

 

1.                  Every member will at all times conduct him/herself responsibly.

2.                  The use of profanity will not be tolerated at any time.

3.                  There will be no public displays of affection while in attendance of any club activity.

4.                  Any member quitting the organization or being dismissed will lose membership for the remainder of his/her high school career.

 

Article 14:       Qualification for attendance of the PASF convention.

 

Participants must meet the following requirements:

 

1.                  Must have participated in both fundraisers;

2.                  Must have earned at least ¾ of all possible merits;

3.                  Must be academically eligible according to all U.I.L. rules and regulations;

4.                  Must have a letter of recommendation from the current Spanish teacher;

5.                  If not currently enrolled in a Spanish Class, must have a letter of recommendation from all Spanish Club Sponsors;

6.                  Must not have ever had a written referral by any teacher, must not have been in Saturday Suspension , suspended, placed in SRC, or have been placed in an CEP.;

7.                  Must be able to cover all expenses related to convention that are not already paid for by the club;

8.                  Must have written parental/legal guardian permission;

9.                  Must have signed the “PASF Behavior Contract” and agree to adhere to all rules contained within;

10.              If student attended convention in the previous year, he/she must not have violated ANY of the rules contained in the signed agreement (if the student violated any of the rules, he/she is no longer eligible to attend the current convention);

11.              Must be physically able to participate in all convention activities;

12.              Must participate in all convention activities outlined by the sponsors;

13.              Must attend all meetings related to PASF; and

14.              Must be a current Spanish Club member.