Club Constitution

Preface
The Fencing Club at Roanoke College is based upon the ideals and purposes set down by both similar Roanoke College Clubs as well as the Fencing Club at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, the nearest co-educational club to have been established to date with a written constitution.

The Roanoke College Fencing Club Constitution
Written the First Day of April in the Year Two-Thousand and Four

PREAMBLE
The Roanoke College Fencing Club's purpose and goal is to promote the sport of fencing among the Roanoke College community. The club is to provide the opportunity to do so in a number of ways, including recreational fencing at multiple levels as well as support the Roanoke College Health and Human Performance Fencing class. The Fencing Club at Roanoke College is also to promote the camaraderie sportsmanship, and competition that has long been associated with the sport of fencing throughout the world.

ARTICLE I - Name
The name of this organization shall be the Roanoke College Fencing Club. Herein after in this document referred to as the “Fencing Club”.

ARTICLE II - Membership
Section I Membership Requirements
Membership is open to the following persons:
-Roanoke College students, faculty, and staff at the status of “Regular Members”
-Roanoke College students within the HHP Fencing class at the status of “Class Members”
-Roanoke College alumni, defined as those who have graduated, at the status of “Alumni Members”
-Roanoke College fellows, defined as those who do not meet any of the above qualifications and being approved by the current club President and Sponsor, at the status of “Fellow Members’

*Note students within the Roanoke College Health and Human Performance Fencing class are automatically registered as “Class Members” though they may not participate in meetings, practices, voting, et cetéra until they have paid their dues like other aforementioned members.

Section II Discontinuation of Membership
Discontinuation of membership can occur in the following manner:
-A member may lose their membership from the Fencing Club, after a majority vote of the club’s officers determine an infraction against the Fencing Club constitution, by-laws, college rules or state or federal laws has been committed by such a member.
-A member may resign their membership either in written or verbal form to any Club Officer.  (Revised Nov. 17th 2007.)

ARTICLE III - Officers
Section I Officer Rank & Status
The Fencing Club shall be managed by the following officers (listed in order of rank):
President, Vice President, Treasurer, Sergeant of Arms, and Secretary and the (Faculty) Sponsor(s). Candidacy for all position, except the last listed, are open only to all enrolled Roanoke College students who first become members of the Fencing Club. If any officer, except the President resigns, the President may appoint an appropriate member to the empty office with a majority vote of other officers or the President may hold a general election to fill the empty office. If, the President resigns or is impeached the Vice President will assume the responsibilities of the President until a presidential election can be held.  After a new President has been elected, he or she will fill any other open offices as stated above. Yearly elections will be held towards the end of the academic year at "Annual Meeting" or else the start of the next academic year depending on the number of returning student members. (Revised Nov. 17th 2007.)

Section II Officers' Roles (Added Sept. 26th 2006 a.d.)
-The President - shall be the general head of the Fencing Club chiefly responsible for the all major Clubproposals and promotions at and away from the College.

-The Vice-President - shall be the assistant general head of the Fencing Club chiefly responsible for aiding the President in his or her proposals and promotions at and away from the College.

-The Treasurer - shall be the financial head of the Fencing Club chiefly responsible for the keeping of detailed records of funds for the Club derived from: Membership Dues, College Support, Donations and or the odd Club Fundraiser. The Treasurer is also responsible acting as the co-signer on all financial documents of the Club.

-The Sergeant of Arms - shall be the equipment head of the Fencing Clubchiefly responsible for the up keep, accounting, and transporting of all the Club’s equipment at the College and more important away at: Tournaments, Demonstrations, et cetéra.

-The Secretary - shall be the stenographic head of the Fencing Club chiefly responsible for the keeping of minutes at specified meetings and also acting as the co-signer and keeper of the Club’s Members’ Information/Wavier Forms. The recording of the Fencing Club’sHistory shall also be the responsibility of the Secretary who shall use both written and photographic forms to charter the Club throughout time.

Section III Removal of an Officer
Any officer found to be neglecting his or her duties, violating the Fencing Club constitution, by-laws, college rules or state or federal laws or acting in an over all way not in the best interest of the Fencing Club they may be removed from office in the following way:

If charges are brought against an officer of the club a majority vote of the officers is necessary to impeach the officer in question. Then the entire voting body of the club will review the officer and his or her case and a majority vote of this body will remove the officer from office and membership. At such aforementioned review the officer in question does have the right to defend his or herself to the officers and voting body of club.

ARTICLE IV - Club Meetings
Section I Conditions of the Annual Meetings
The Annual Meeting will be held on or near the Fencing Club's Constitutional Founding Date (of April 1st) at which time yearly elections will be held if, it is found there are a majority of student members returning the following academic year.  If, for some reason, such as holiday, emergency, et cetéra, this meeting cannot be held on this date another meeting date in lieu of this one, before the end of the academic year, will be chosen and announced by the President and business such as the yearly elections should take place on the announced alternative date.  (Revised Nov. 17th 2007.)

Section II Conditions of the Normal Meetings
The Normal Meetings will be held on (a) day(s) chosen by the current club officers and the (Faculty) Sponsor(s) most conducive to a majority of the club members' academic schedules. At such meetings club business, warm-ups, instruction, and practice are to take place in the aforementioned order unless changes to this schedule are previously announced. (Revised Nov. 17th 2007.)

Section III Conditions of Additional Meetings
Additional Meetings may be called at the discretion of the President or the (Faculty) Sponsor(s) or the request of any other officer or group of three or more members.  A Strategy/Planning or Extra Practice Meeting is an example of an Additional Meeting which should be held before each major competition the club plans to participate in. (Revised Nov. 17th 2007.)

ARTICLE V - Finance
Dues will be charged to Regular, Specified Class, and Fellow Members and donations may be made by Alumni Members in the place of their dues upon and after their graduating. If need arises, the President may request additional funds from members, if, approved by a majority vote of club officers and members present at a regularly scheduled meeting. Dues shall be paid at the beginning of the academic year specifically by the first, second or third meeting held. Exceptions may be made at the discretion of the President and the Treasurer. The setting of the budget is a major reasonability of the previously mentioned officers to be determined before the start of the academic year and the first meeting. Budget plans are to be professional as possible and well organized and ready for inspection by other college club officials at least at the beginning and end of the academic year.

ARTCILE VI - Equipment Use
1.) Borrowing of equipment is at the discretion of the President. In lieu of the President decision fall to the Sergeant of Arms.

2.) All equipment borrowed for practice or competition must be checked in and out by any club officer, however the President or Sergeant of Arms must always oversee this checking in and out.

3.) Henceforth a "weapon" refers to any completed electric or practice foil, epée, or sabre. A "blade" refers to any foil, epée, or sabre not complete with grip, handle, tip, or electrical components. While checked out under only their name, a club member is allowed one broken weapon beyond repair each academic year without penalty. The club member shall be liable for any additional weapon broken beyond repair after their one allowed brake per academic year and must pay to compensate for the broken weapon. If, the member refuses to compensate the club for the additional weapon brake, the President may deny them the privilege of further use of the club equipment until the amount is paid. The amount of compensation for each broken weapon shall be determined by the Sergeant of Arms.