Performing Arts and Activities Council Constitution

PREAMBLE

The Performing Arts and Activities Council is the chief entertainment programming board of Cornell College. Our mission is to provide a variety of entertainment options and activities for the ever-changing needs and wants of the Cornell College community.

ARTICLE I Name

Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the Performing Arts and Activities Council, hereinafter referred to as PAAC.

ARTICLE II Membership

Section 1. This organization shall be a member of the National Association for Campus Activities, (NACA).

Section 2. Membership in this organization is open to all members of the Cornell College community.

Section 3. A general member is one who volunteers to be involved in and help out with PAAC events. General members are students who want to learn more about programming and providing entertainment to the campus or are students who want to be involved in the organization but are not a committee chair. General members are to help the committee chairs plan, publicize, and run events and to attend committee meetings. More involved committee members are at an advantage if they try and apply for a committee chair position for the following year. All members are encouraged to attend PAAC meetings and participate in PAAC events.

Section 4. To be considered an active member, students must attend 4/5 of all PAAC meetings and 2/3 of all PAAC events.

ARTICLE III Selections

Section 1.

1. The PAAC Chair shall be a student of Cornell College.
2. The PAAC Chair must have been an Executive Member of PAAC for at least a semester. It is strongly encouraged that the PAAC Chair be an Executive Member of PAAC for an entire school year. The PAAC Chair shall be eligible for re-selection to the same office.
3. Applications for PAAC Chair shall be available by the third Friday of fifth block and are to be submitted by the first Monday of sixth block. Interviews will take place by the third week in sixth block by a selection committee.
4. The selection committee shall consist of the outgoing PAAC chair, two PAAC Committee Chairs or the most senior members, and the Student Senate President or his/her designee. The PAAC executive council shall have one (1) vote in the selection committee based on an election among the executive council members. The Director of Student Activities shall also serve on the selection committee as an ex-oficio member.
5. In the event that the current PAAC Chair is seeking reelection, their position in the selection committee is filled at the advisor's discretion.
6. Upon interview completion, interviewees shall be notified of the results within three days. The new PAAC Chair shall take office when Student Senate's new Executive Board takes office.

Section 2. The Business Manager, Historian, Secretary, Webmaster, Marketing Assistant and Committee Chairpersons shall be selected by an application and interview process. The current and outgoing PAAC Chair, along with the Director of Student Activities, shall be responsible for interviewing all candidates for the aforementioned positions and appoint the best candidate for each position. Applications shall be made available by the third week of fifth block and are to be submitted by the second Monday of sixth block. The selection process shall be conducted during sixth block by applications and interviews. These positions shall be open to any Cornell student.

Section 3. In the absence of the PAAC Chair, a special election shall be held by the Executive Council to fill the vacancy. In the case of a temporary absence of the PAAC Chair, the Executive Council shall vote by a simple majority to appoint an interim PAAC Chair, who shall assume the duties of the PAAC Chair in the PAAC chair's absence. In the absence of a Committee Chair, the PAAC Chair, with approval of the Executive Council, shall appoint a student to that position.

ARTICLE IV Executive Council

Section 1. PAAC shall have the following positions: PAAC Chair, Business Manager, Secretary, Historian, Webmaster, Marketing Assistant and Committee Chairperson(s) for each PAAC committee. These positions together shall constitute the PAAC Executive Council.

1. The positions of each Committee Chair may be shared by a maximum of two persons, referred to as Co-Chairs.

Section 2. The advisor to PAAC shall be the Director of Student Activities or his or her designee.

Section 3. Attendance Policy for Executive Council

1. An absence, tardy, or an early departure is considered excused if the PAAC Chair, Secretary, or Advisor is notified at least four hours prior to the scheduled meeting time. An absence, tardy, or an early departure shall be considered unexcused if notification does not occur.
2. Tardy is defined as not physically present when the meeting begins. Early departure is defined as leaving prior to the finish of the meeting. The accumulation of three tardies or three early departures shall be counted as equivalent to one unexcused absence.
3. The accumulation of three unexcused absences shall result in a dismissal from the PAAC Executive Council.
4. A member of the Executive Council on a vacation term or participating in an off-campus program is excused from all attendance provisions for the duration of that term.

ARTICLE V Duties and Responsibilities

Section 1. The PAAC Chair shall preside over all general meetings. The PAAC Chair is the official spokesperson of PAAC and shall ensure that all PAAC decisions and activities are carried out properly. The PAAC Chair is responsible for ensuring the success of all PAAC programming and to serve as a liaison between other student organizations and PAAC. The PAAC Chair shall be an ex-oficio member of each PAAC Committee. The PAAC Chair shall ensure that PAAC is operating consistently with the policies and regulations of Cornell College and Student Senate. The PAAC Chair shall also assist the Business Manager in submitting an annual budget to Student Senate and present event updates to Student Senate on a regular basis.

Section 2. The Business Manager shall keep a current record of all PAAC funds and shall report those records at a PAAC meeting every block and as requested by other PAAC Executive Council members or Committee persons. All PAAC funds shall be deposited with the Business Office of the College in the PAAC account. The Business Manager, along with the PAAC Chair, shall prepare a budget and help PAAC stay within that budget. In the case of needing additional funds, the Business Manager shall assist the PAAC Chair in the solicitation of funds from other divisions of Cornell College.

Section 3. The Secretary shall keep current minutes of all PAAC meetings, along with a current record of attendance. The Secretary shall inform all PAAC members of meetings. The Secretary shall also provide a calendar of events. The Secretary shall keep, update, and distribute PAAC's constitution and by-laws as needed.

Section 4. The Historian shall keep attendance records of all events, take pictures of all events, and update/maintain a PAAC scrapbook each academic year.

Section 5. The Marketing Assistant shall be available at the request of any Committee Chairperson or the PAAC Chair to assist with publicizing and/or marketing any PAAC event or program. It is the responsibility of the person requesting the Marketing Assistant's help to provide the Marketing Assistant with adequate information.

Section 6. The Webmaster is responsible for maintaining and updating the PAAC website to ensure that the information on the website is accurate and up-to-date. If this position is not filled, it is the responsibility of the PAAC chair to ensure that the website is regularly updated.

Section 7. PAAC Committee Chairperson(s)

1. The Music/Bands Chair(s) is responsible for bringing and organizing musical events on campus. These duties may include talking to agents, booking bands/solo artists, advertising their events, coordinating set up and tear down of their events, being present at their events, and staying within their allotted budget.
2. The Comedy/Lectures Chair(s) is responsible for bringing and organizing comedic and lecture events on campus. These duties may include talking to agents, booking comedians and/or lectures, advertising their events, coordinating set up and tear down of their events, being present at their events, and staying within their allotted budget.
3. The Novelty/Flipside Chair(s) is responsible for bringing and organizing novelty/flipside events on campus each block. These duties may include talking to agents, booking novelty entertainment, bringing and organizing creative events that do not fall within the purview of another committee, advertising their events, coordinating set up and tear down of their events, being present at their events, and staying within the allotted budget.
4. The Off-Campus Arts Chair(s) is responsible for finding and organizing discounts for off-campus events for the campus. These duties may include talking with outside entertainment in our area, requesting group discounts for the campus, advertising their events, and staying within their allotted budget.
5. The Special Events Chair(s) is responsible for bringing and organizing events for New Student Orientation, Homecoming, and Family Weekend. These duties may include talking to agents, booking events (sometimes in cooperation with another PAAC Committee), advertising their events, coordinating set up and tear down of their event, being present at their events, and staying within their allotted budget. The Special Events Chair(s) shall also be responsible for chairing the campus-wide student Homecoming committee.
6. The Tech Chair(s) is responsible for coordinating set up and operation of tech equipment at campus events, for both PAAC and other campus organizations. The Tech Chair(s) is also responsible for handling the tech requests coming in from other student organizations. These duties include setting up and maintaining lighting, staging, sound, and using their budget responsibly to purchase or repair any damaged or lost tech equipment. If the Tech Chair can not be present at a PAAC event or an event for which a tech request has been approved, s/he is responsible for locating a competent substitute at least 24 hours prior to the event.
7. The Dark Purple Chair(s) is responsible for coordinating with the Dark Purple committee members to bring in and organize late night programming. The Dark Purple Chair(s) must work closely with the rest of the Committee Chairs and PAAC Chair in order to maintain a consistent programming schedule. In addition, the Dark Purple Chair(s) is to coordinate with appropriate campus officials to maintain a positive late night atmosphere at his or her events.
8. Various ad hoc committees may be formed as needed and may include members of other committees if necessary.

Section 8. The Advisor may not vote, but may express opinions to PAAC during meetings. The Advisor shall act as liaison between administration, faculty, and PAAC. The Advisor shall assume responsibility of any event when the reputation or heavy financial obligation of the College is involved. The Advisor shall encourage the development of leadership skills within the membership and shall empower the students by assisting them in carrying out all PAAC business.

Section 9. Any officer or advisor may be impeached by the submission of a petition of impeachment signed by at least two-thirds of the Executive Council. Also, any person may resign his/her position by petitioning the Executive Council.

ARTICLE VI Meetings

Section 1. PAAC general meetings shall be held at least once a block.

Section 2. The frequency of committee meetings shall be determined by a consensus between the committee chairpersons and the PAAC Chair.

Section 3. Special meetings may be called any time the PAAC Chair deems necessary with reasonable notice.

ARTICLE VII Amendments

Section 1. The Executive Council shall meet at least once every year to review the by-laws and constitution to determine if PAAC is functioning within its constitution and by-laws. They shall also determine if any by-laws are no longer appropriate for governing PAAC.

Section 2. This constitution may be amended at any General PAAC meeting by a two-thirds majority of the Executive Council and Active Members of PAAC. The proposed amendment(s) shall be submitted in writing and read to the membership of PAAC at the regular meeting prior to the vote.

Section 3. Amendments to this Constitution become effective immediate upon the approval of PAAC and Student Senate.

Ratified by PAAC: 1/15/2009

Ratified by Senate: 1/20/2009