BYLAWS AND CONSTITUTION

Article I - Name

The name of this organization shall be Organization of Latin American Students (OLAS).

Article II – Statement of Purpose

OLAS was created to establish and maintain a spirit of solidarity among the Latin American, Hispanic, Latino, and students of Hispanic descent at Davidson College.  OLAS is an all-inclusive organization committed to promote awareness of the uniqueness of the Hispanic culture on campus.  OLAS provides a wide range of opportunities for all Davidson students, Hispanic or non-Hispanic, to participate in social, cultural, and/or community service events.

Article III - Membership

Membership in OLAS shall be open to any Davidson College student in good standing with the College, and who subscribes to the objectives and ideals of this organization. In accordance with Article I. A.2, of the Student Government Association bylaws, and the nondiscrimination policy of the college, we will not discriminate against ethnicity, age, gender, disability, national origin, or sexual orientation.

Article IV - Officers

Section 1
The Executive Board of the organization will consist of President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Social Chair and Co-Chair, Cultural Chair and Co-Chair, Publicity Chair and Co-Chair, and Community Service Chair and Co-Chair and two appointed faculty advisors.

Section 2

Officers will be elected during January of each year by a majority of votes.  The Executive Board can call elections in a meeting or via e-mail.  The Social, Cultural, Publicity, and Service Chairs and their corresponding Co-chairs will be elected for the first time in January 2003. Elections may be held in the fall if any officers make the decision to study abroad or go on leave.

Section 3
Duties of the officers:

President- will preside over all meetings, conduct all official organizational business, and keep OLAS members informed about anything pertaining to the organization.

Vice President- will preside at all meetings and will conduct official organizational business when the President assigns her/him to do so. The Vice-President will serve in the President's place in the case of the President's absence.  In charge of organizing elections and is the point of contact between the organization and the Admissions Office.

Secretary- will keep official minutes and records.  The Secretary is responsible for the distribution and process of communications between members.

Treasurer- will keep accurate records of all financial matters.  Treasurer will head the preparation of the Activities Tax Council report/request every year and facilitate all financial transactions between the organization, its members, the Union Board, and all other pertaining entities.

Social Chair- will preside over the OLAS Social Committee and will assist in organizing, planning, and scheduling social events.

Cultural Chair- will preside over the OLAS Cultural Committee and will assist in organizing, planning, and scheduling cultural events.

Publicity Chair- will preside over the OLAS Publicity Committee and will design, publicize, and announce the OLAS events to the campus community at large.

Service Chair- will preside over the OLAS Service Committee and will design, organize, and promote service opportunities.

Faculty Advisor(s)-  Will provide assistance to the executive board with administrative issues, advise the president and the executive board with issues related to the organization, will aid in event programming, and will serve as a resource for contacts in the Spanish department and in the surrounding community.

Co-chairs:  The social, cultural, publicity and community service chairs will be assisted in their duties by their respective co-chairs.

Article V - Meetings

A regularly scheduled meeting will be held when called upon by the President or Vice-President. Committee meetings will be held at the discretion of the committee chairperson.  Three general meetings shall be held each semester.

Article VI - Committees

All committee chairs and co-chairs fall under the direct supervision of the President and Vice-President.  The Social, Cultural, Publicity, and Service Chairs and their corresponding co-chairs will each preside over a committee of OLAS members volunteering in the accomplishment of that committee's goals.

The OLAS Social Committee is responsible for:

1. Planning and implementing all OLAS social functions.  These include but are not limited to Cinco de Mayo festivities, dinners, and parties.
2. Co-sponsoring social events with the Spanish Department, the Dean Rusk International Studies Program, the Union Board, the Davidson International Association, the Black Student Coalition, the Davidson African Student Association, Asia3D, Residence Life Office, etc.
3. Approving all publicity related to OLAS social events.      

The OLAS Cultural Committee is responsible for:

1. Promoting Hispanic cultural awareness on campus by organizing or co-sponsoring events that portray the richness and uniqueness of Hispanic culture.  These cultural/educational functions include speakers and events such as Hispanic History Month (October), Día de los Muertos celebrations  (November), Latino Food Tasting, music, dance, and visual or artistic expressions (special exhibits).
2. Co-sponsoring cultural events with the Spanish Department, the Dean Rusk International Studies Program, the Union Board, the Davidson International Association, the Black Student Coalition, the Davidson African Student Association, Asia3D, Residence Life Office, etc.
3. Approving all publicity related to OLAS cultural events.

The OLAS Publicity Committee is responsible for:

1. Taking charge of all publicity strategies to advertise OLAS events, i.e. flyers, sidewalk chalk, Social Calendar, Union electronic board, Davidson publications.
2. Working closely with the Secretary to distribute information of OLAS events through email.
3. Working closely with the Social, Cultural, and Service Chairs and their corresponding co-chairs to design appropriate publicity for each event.
4. Distributing propaganda efficiently and quickly with ample time before each event.
5. Keeping the OLAS members and the student body abreast of off campus events related to the mission of the organization.
6. Arranging for video, photographs, or recording of OLAS events, as well as keeping the organization's website up to date.
7. Keeping the OLAS Bulletin Board in Chambers up to date.
8. Keeping the OLAS website (http://www.davidson.edu/student/organizations/olas/default.asp) up to date.

The OLAS Community Service Committee is responsible for:

1. Designing, organizing, and promoting service opportunities through health clinics, the Latin American Festival in Charlotte, translation of documents, assisting area schools with their After School Spanish programs, etc.
2. Serving as a liaison between OLAS and the Community Service Office.

Article VII - Finances

There will be no membership dues to participate, volunteer, or engage in any of the OLAS activities.

Article VIII - Amendments to the Constitution

Section 1
All amendments require previous notice to the OLAS constituency and must be approved by voting.

Section 2
All amendments require a majority vote for approval in a meeting or via email.

Section 3
The Student Government Association upon recommendation of the Charters and Bylaws Committee must prove all amendments.