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We, the members of the Association for Bahá'í Studies at McGill University, having founded a voluntary Association, do hereby make and establish this constitution in order to promote the study of the Bahá'í Faith and its application to the needs of humanity.
The Bahá'í Faith stands identified with, and revolves around the principle of, the organic unity of mankind as representing the consummation of the whole process of human evolution. It recognizes the unity of God and of his Prophets, upholds the principle of an unfettered search after truth, condemns all forms of superstition and prejudice, teaches that the fundamental purpose of religion is to promote concord and harmony, that it must go hand-in-hand with science, and that it constitutes the sole and ultimate basis of a peaceful, an ordered and progressive society. It inculcates the principle of equal opportunity, rights and privileges for both sexes, advocates compulsory education and the elimination of extremes of poverty and wealth, exalts work performed in the spirit of service to the rank of worship, recommends the adoption of an auxiliary international language, and adumbrates the necessary agencies for the establishment and safeguarding of a permanent and universal peace.
DEFINITIONS
| Association |
The Association for Bahá'í Studies at McGill University |
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| Bahá'í |
A member in good standing in the Bahá'í community and recognized as such by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Canada |
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| National Spiritual Assembly |
The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Canada |
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| Spiritual Assembly |
The Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Montreal |
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| Board |
The Board of Directors of the Association for Bahá'í Studies at McGill University |
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| University |
McGill University and, where applicable, the Students' Society of McGill University |
This Association for Bahá'í Studies at McGill University shall be known as the Association for Bahá'í Studies at McGill University.
The purpose of the Association shall be to study the teachings, history, and philosophy of the Bahá'í Faith, and to explore their application to the present world by sponsoring such activities as lectures, conferences, informal gatherings, and distribution of literature on the Bahá'í Faith. This Association shall not endorse any partisan political group or activity, on or off campus.
Membership in the Association is open to all students, faculty, staff, alumni, and members of their families, irrespective of race, colour, class, nationality, or religion. Any such person may join and remain a member of the Association by assenting to its principles and purposes as stated within this constitution. If the membership drops below three, the Association is suspended.
The government of this Association shall be vested in a Board of Directors, whose number shall be no fewer than three and no more than five, and who each agree to administer the affairs of this Association in accordance with the principles of Bahá'í Administrative Order.
1. All elections shall be by secret ballot, without either nominations or electioneering. All members of the Association are eligible to vote and to be elected, except in the case of a by-election when those directors already on the Board may vote as members of the Association, but may not be voted for.
2. A general election for the Board shall be held as soon as possible following the formation of the Association and thereafter once each year when the formation of clubs is called for by the University. A vacancy on the membership of the Board shall be filled by a by-election to be called by the Board within fourteen days of the declaration of the vacancy.
3. The members of the Association shall be notified of an election at least fourteen days before the date it is to be held, in an election call which shall include a list of the names of those eligible for election and the number of directors to be elected. A ballot shall be invalid if it contains more or fewer names than the number of directors to be elected, or if it contains more than one vote for the same person.
4. Election shall be by plurality vote.
1. The officers of the Association shall be elected from among the Board of Directors, by a majority vote of all the members of the Board, and shall comprise a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary, and Treasurer. At the discretion of the Board of Directors, two of these offices may be held by one person.
1.1. The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and of the Association.
1.2. The Vice-Chairman shall assume the duties of the Chairman in his or her absence.
1.3. The Secretary shall keep a record of all meetings and activities of the Board and of the Association and shall be responsible for the handling of all correspondence. Upon expiration of his or her term of office, he or she shall turn over all records of the Association, including those of the Board, to the incoming Secretary.
1.4. The Treasurer shall render to the Association periodic reports of income and expenses and shall, upon the expiration of his or her term of office, deliver to the incoming Treasurer an accounting of funds taken in and disbursed, and shall transmit to him or her all funds of the Association then on hand.
2. Committees of the Association shall be appointed by the Board of Directors, from time to time as the need arises, from among the general membership of the Association.
There shall be no dues payable by, nor assessments levied against, the members of the Association. The Association may, however, accept funds from the University, such as are given to other University Clubs and Services, may accept voluntary donations from any of its members or from any other source, and may raise funds by events that it sponsors. The funds of the Association are for the promotion of its own activities, and no contributions may be made from them to any Bahá'í fund, whether local, national, or international, unless specifically and exclusively for charitable and humanitarian purposes.
This constitution may be amended by a majority vote of the members of the Association, provided that the members have been given at least fourteen days notice of the meeting at which the vote is to be taken, and of the proposed amendment, and provided that the amendment receives the approval of both the proper campus authority and the National Spiritual Assembly.
This Association is responsible in all respects to the campus authorities and to the National Spiritual Assembly, or its designated representative.
Any faculty sponsor deemed necessary for this Association by the University shall be one who, in addition to being on the staff of said institution, has sufficient knowledge of the Bahá'í teachings to give necessary and proper guidance to this Association.
The Association shall be dissolved for any one of the following reasons:
1. If there ceases to be on its membership at least three members who are students at the University, or members of its faculty or staff.
2. If the University authorities so rule as the result of a breach of the applicable rule and regulations of the University governing the functioning of clubs and services.
3. If the relevant Spiritual Assembly so decides.
In the wake of dissolution, ownership of all club assets will be transferred to the respective Spiritual Assembly or the University, as appropriate.
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