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The Cornell Ballroom Dance Club and the Graduate Ballroom Dance Club Constitution and By-Laws

I. Name and Objective

  1. The club is a joint organization with two branches named the undergraduate Cornell Ballroom Dance Club (hereafter referred to as CBDC) and the Graduate Ballroom Dance Club (hereafter referred to as GBDC).
  2. The objective of the CBDC and GBDC is to promote ballroom dancing in all its aspects, as a social skill as well as a competitive sport, in the Cornell and surrounding communities. This will be accomplished by teaching and demonstrating ballroom dance, and by encouraging members to join the DanceSport Team. The organization is a Student Club, connected to USABDA (the United States Amateur Ballroom Dance Association).

II. Membership

  1. Membership is open to all members of the Cornell and surrounding communities.
  2. A person can become a member by paying the appropriate membership dues, which will be set by the Executive Committee at the beginning of each year.
  3. Undergraduates are restricted to membership in the CBDC. Graduates and other members of the Cornell and surrounding communities are restricted to membership in the GBDC. Membership in CBDC or GBDC includes limited membership in USABDA.
  4. All members have the right to vote in officer elections and in General Meetings.
  5. Members enjoy certain benefits at events organized by the club. These benefits will be determined by the Executive Committee for each separate event.
  6. Membership lasts for one semester, starting at the beginning of each semester.

III. Executive Committee

  1. The Executive Committee consists of the six officers of the organization and the Faculty Advisor.
  2. The General Manager and Treasurer are offices held separately by each branch of the organization. From these officers an Executive General Manager and Executive Treasurer will be designated by the Committee. Social Dance Manager and Lesson/Membership Manager are offices jointly serving both branches.
  3. In addition, a liaison from the Cornell DanceSport Club's Executive Committee has the option of regularly participating in Executive Committee discussions (but is not permitted to vote in Committee decisions). If the Executive Committee shares a member in common with the DanceSport Club's Executive Committee, this person may be designated the liaison.
  4. Traditionally, the Undergraduate Treasurer is designated as Executive, as the SAFC budget process is more involved (and tends to be the primary funding source) than the GPSAFC process, but this does not rule out the option of an Executive Graduate Treasurer.
  5. Officers are elected for one year; their duties start on the last day of classes of the spring semester. Election procedures are described in a separate article.
  6. The Faculty Advisor is nominated each year by a majority vote of the Executive Committee. The Executive General Manager will then contact the nominated person, and offer him or her the function in writing. If the nominated person refuses to be Faculty Advisor, another person suggested as an alternative Faculty Advisor will be approached.
  7. There may be responsibilities which are assigned by the Committee to an officer in addition to his/her regular duties, for example, acting as Web Master.
  8. Each Committee member has the following responsibilities as an officer:
    • Check email at least once every two days
    • Attend all Committee meetings and notify the Executive General Manager in advance of any absences
    • Submit a weekly report to the Executive Committee listserve
    • Fulfill all duties with attention to detail
    • Assist the Committee in major events
  9. The duties of the officers are as follows:
    1. Graduate and Undergraduate General Managers:
      • Represent undergraduate or graduate concerns to the club
      • Act as General Manager/President for the respective branch of the club in all university transactions
      • Register the respective branch of the organization with Student Activities at the beginning of the year
      • Act as a liaison to the Faulty Advisor, USABDA, class instructors, and other parties
    2. Executive General Manager (either Graduate or Undergraduate):
      • Provide an agenda for, organize, and run Committee meetings
      • Coordinate and assist Committee members in their duties
      • Follow up to confirm issues are dealt with satisfactorily
      • Delegate responsibilites
      • Act as the primary representative in matters concerning the organization and special correspondence
      • Solicit and coordinate instructors for all classes and events in which the club participates
    3. The other General Manager (either Graduate or Undergraduate):
      • Maintain the inventory database of club goods
      • Store, or make arrangements for the storage of, archives and other goods until needed, including the club instructional video library
      • Handle all routine correspondence for both branches
      • Moderate the club listserve (unless an alternative Web Master is designated)
      • Maintain a current club webpage (unless an alternative Web Master is designated)
      • Publicize the club using any of the following methods:
        • Posters or fliers which must be posted around campus according to University Postering Guidelines
        • Large Posters to announce the club at activity fair tables, dance and other event welcoming tables, or other activities
        • Banners for events above the campus store
        • Chalking events around campus
        • Advertisements in the Daily Sun and local newspapers
        • Announcements on the listserve
        • Other public/community relations, such as radio
        • Any other creative means of advertising
      • Work with the Executive Treasurer to obtain funds allocated for publicity from the SAFC or GPSAFC
      • Enlist aid when needed in order to make sure the job is done in a thorough and timely manner
      • Assist in other duties as necessary
    4. Graduate and Undergraduate Treasurers:
      • Submit weekly reports on the financial status of the accounts they handle
      • Maintain complete records of transactions as well as reports on categories of expenditures and income
      • Submit a budget and all necessary credentials to the SAFC or GPSAFC in order to obtain funding
      • Act as a liaison to the SAFC or GPSAFC
      • Submit required paperwork to the SAFC or GPSAFC to receive allocated funds (this includes arranging contracts or other required documents for certain allocations)
    5. Executive Treasurer:
      • Maintain the club account which includes a checking (undergraduate), savings, and an auxiliary (graduate) branch
      • Manage all money for both branches of the club, which involves maintaining records to equitably divide income and expenses between undergraduate and graduate branch accounts
      • Manage and budget finances for events sponsored by the club
      • Collect dues for both branches of the club
      • Provide change for the cash box at classes and dances
      • Arrange reimbursements for items not related to SAFC or GPSAFC funds </