ARTICLE I

NAME AND AFFILIATION

The name of this caucus shall be the Southern Conference African American Caucus (AFRAM) of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

ARTICLE II

OBJECTIVES AND PURPOSE

The Southern Conference African American Caucus is committed to enhancing opportunities for addressing concerns, education, and training of SEIU local union members and staff of African decent enabling us to develop leadership skills at local, regional, and international levels of SEIU. The Southern Conference African American Caucus is established to provide networking, mentorships, and other tools necessary to promote members of African decent, thus ensuring our input into the policy and decision making process at all levels of SEIU. We further engage to assist in organizing the unorganized labor force.

ARTICLE III

MEMBERSHIP AND VOTING

Membership in the National African American Caucus shall be open to all SEIU members and staff without regard to race, creed, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, or political belief, who have satisfied the dues requirements of this organization.

VOTING RIGHTS

Voting shall be limited to members who have satisfied the dues requirements of this organization and shall be based on the principle of one person, one vote. Members may vote by absentee ballot. Proxy voting will not be permitted. No elected SEIU International Officer or Executive Board member can hold the office of President, Vice President, Treasurer or Recording Secretary of the Southern Conference African American Caucus of the Service International Union (SEIU).

ARTICLE IV

MEMBERSHIP DUES

Effective January 1, 2006, the annual membership dues shall be $20.00. The dues year of this organization shall be January 1^st- December 31^st. Annual dues shall be paid prior to March 31^st of each year.

ARTICLE V

OFFICERS, TERMS AND ELECTION DUTIES

The Southern Conference African American Caucus Officers shall consist of:

President
Vice President
Treasurer
Recording secretary
Executive Board Members (10)

Terms Of Office & Elections

Nominations and elections of officers will be held every two (2) years during the Southern Conference Regional Caucus Meeting. The President, Vice President, Treasurer and Recording Secretary shall be elected at large by a simple majority of members voting during the Southern Conference Regional Meeting.

The following states will elect two (2) Executive Board Members for representation within the Southern Conference African American Caucus:

Florida	(2)
Georgia	(2)
Louisiana	(2)
Tennessee	(2)
Arkansas, Texas	(2)

No more than two (2) members from the same local shall serve simultaneously as Southern Conference Officers.

DUTIES

President

The President of the Southern Conference African American Caucus shall endeavor to accomplish the purpose and objectives of this organization. Duties of the president shall include but are not limited to the following:

Officiating at all Executive Board meetings, Regional membership meetings, conferences and conventions as deemed necessary by the National Caucus President.

Calling special meetings of the Executive Board, membership or specific committees as necessary.

Meeting with the Regional Executive Board at least once a year.

Authorizing the disbursement of funds or expenditures approved by the Executive Board.

Serving as ex-officio member of all committees except the nominating and election committees.

The President shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the official performance of his/her duties.

Vice President

The Vice President shall assist the President in the fulfillment of the organization’s mission. Duties of the vice presidents shall include but are not limited to the following:

Presiding at all meetings in the absence of the President.

Serving as Chair of a Regional Standing Committee.

In the event of absence, resignation, disability or other circumstance that results in the President’s inability to fulfill the responsibilities of the position, the Vice President will automatically serve as the President for the remaining term of office.

The Vice President may perform other duties as assigned by the President.

Treasurer

The Treasurer shall maintain all finance related records of the Caucus. Duties of the treasurer shall include but are not limited to the following:

The treasurer shall chair finance committee.

The treasurer will receive all Caucus funds and deposit all funds in the caucus bank account.

The treasurer shall keep an accurate record of all caucus expenditures and shall provide a written financial report during each Executive Board meeting. Receipts shall be required for reimbursement of authorized expenditures.

The treasurer may perform other duties as assigned by the President.

Recording Secretary

The Recording Secretary shall maintain accurate records of all proceedings. Duties of the recording secretary shall include but are not limited to the following:

Maintaining a current list of all members including addresses, phone numbers and local union affiliation.

Recording the minutes of all Caucus and Executive Board meetings and send the President a copy of such minutes within ten (10) days following the meeting.

Maintaining a narrative account of all Caucus activities.

Sending notices of all meetings and other notices where previous notice is required.

The Recording Secretary may perform other duties as assigned by the President.

Executive Board

The Executive Board is the governing body of the Caucus and shall consist of the elected officers. The Executive Board will consist of members from each of the Southern Conference states and/or members of approved geographical caucuses whenever plausible. Duties of the executive board shall include but are not limited to the following:

Making recommendations to the Caucus.

Considering committee recommendations submitted by the President.

Meeting at least one (1) time annually, or upon the call of the President or by request of a majority of Executive Board members.

Approving the time, place and location of meetings.

Transacting any business of an emergency nature, which may arise between regular established meetings.

Authorizing the President and Treasurer to disburse funds for expenses incurred between meetings.

In the event any officer elected at large resigns, or becomes unable to fulfill the responsibilities of the position, the Executive Board shall appoint a representative to serve until the next regular scheduled election by majority vote, except as outlined in Article V (Vice President Duties). All other officer vacancies shall be filled by a majority vote of the Southern Conference Executive Board.

Adopting amendments to this Constitution where such amendments are vital to the survival of the Southern Conference African American Caucus. Any such amendment shall be effective from the date of adoption until approved or vetoed by a majority vote during the next Regional meeting.

ARTICLE VI

COMMITTEES

Standing committees of the Southern Conference African American Caucus are as follows:

Finance Committee

Leadership Development Committee

Organizing Committee

Political /Legislative Committee

Publication Committee

External Affairs Committee

Senior/Retiree Committee

The President with approval of the Executive board may appoint ad-hoc committees of the Caucus. The caucus Executive Board will develop the duties and responsibilities of each committee.

LOCAL & GEOGRAPHIC CAUCUSES

Southern Conference African American Caucus members may develop local caucuses in conjunction with their Civil and Human Rights committee (where they exist). Southern Conference African American Caucus members may also form Geographic Caucuses with other Southern Conference members. The Southern Conference African American Executive Board and the National African American Caucus Executive Board must approve Geographic Caucuses.

ARTICLE VII

MEETINGS

The Southern Conference African American Caucus will meet annually at a time and location approved by the Executive Board. The meetings shall be

rotated between the Southern Conference states. Members shall receive no less than a sixty (60) day notice of all annual meetings.

Special meetings of the caucus may be called by a simple majority vote of the caucus Executive Board.

ARTICLE VIII

AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION

Proposals for amendments or changes to the constitution may be made at any regular general meeting of the Southern Conference Caucus. The Executive Board prior to presentation to the membership must approve proposed amendments. Amendments require an affirmative vote of two thirds (2/3) the regular members attending the meeting.

ARTICLE IX

RESOLUTIONS

Members must submit all resolutions for consideration in writing to the Recording Secretary at least ten (10) days prior to the Southern Conference African American Caucus annual meeting.
The Southern Conference Executive Board may submit resolutions for member consideration at any time the Executive Board convenes without meeting the ten (10) day advance notification requirement.

ARTICLE X

RULES AND ORDER

The rules contained in the most current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the caucus in all cases in which they are applicable and consistent with the provisions of the SEIU constitution, federal, state or other applicable laws.

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