Diversity at the University

MMLA Bylaws

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Bylaws

MISSION STATEMENT

We, the Minority Male Leadership Association (MMLA), are dedicated to exploring the characteristics of successful minority male leaders. We will build a community of young driven minority men focused on success by providing mentorship and promoting excellence. We will host a dynamic symposium served to uplift and inspire minority men.

STEERING COMMITTEE

The Minority Male Leadership Association (MMLA) is administered and facilitated by a Steering Committee, consisting of:

• President
• Vice-President
• Secretary
• Treasurer
• Conference Chair
• Marketing Chair
• Public Relations
• Sponsorship Chair
• Research Coordinator
• Recruitment Chair
• Programming Chair
• Community Service Chair
• Faculty/Staff Advisor(s)

The Steering Committee (Executive Board) of the Minority Male Leadership Association represents the organization and its official positions. Positions are completely voluntary and terms for all positions are one year (s) in length, with no term limits; elections to be held every year. All members of the Steering Committee may serve consecutive terms. Members of the Steering Committee are accountable to the membership of the Minority Male Leadership Association for their activities and communications. If the general membership of the Minority Male Leadership Association feel that any member of the Steering Committee has failed to perform satisfactorily, that member may be removed from office by a majority vote of no confidence by the membership. Additional subcommittees and task forces can be created through the Steering Committee, with the direct support of the President and Faculty Advisor.

Vacancies on the Steering Committee shall be communicated through the Membership Chair and can be filled by special election as the Membership Chair sees fit.

Roles:

• President
  1. Responsible for overall operations and strategic development of the organization.
  2. Act as liaison to the Office of Multicultural Affairs and Inclusion and with the University community as a whole.
  3. Facilitation of Executive Board and general membership meetings, ultimate collation of meeting agenda and reporting mechanisms.
  4. Ensures all meetings are run orderly and within a timely manner.
• Vice-President
  1. Assists with facilitation of Steering Committee and general membership meetings, ultimate collation of meeting agenda and reporting mechanisms.
  2. Assist with creating and support subcommittee or task forces to address current issues and work with leadership of said subcommittee of task force on communicating the results of their work to the general membership.
  3. Takes a lead in community service initiatives along with Community Service Chair.
• Secretary
  1. Act as a primary point of contact for prospective members, help maintain demographic information on the membership, facilitate the application process
  2. To attend all necessary monthly meetings and meetings requested by President and Vice-President
  3. Responsible for keeping minutes at all meetings as well as sending out mass communications to the chapter body.
  4. Maintains events event calendar.
  5. Duties not limited to above
• Treasurer
  1. Coordinate and be responsible of all funds belonging to the MMLA and shall receive, deposit and disburse funds for the MMLA in a bank(s) or financial institution(s) in such manner as designated by the Steering Committee. The Treasurer shall make financial reports as directed by the Steering Committee.
  2. Act as financial liaison to the Office of Multicultural Affairs and Inclusion and the University, and Rochester community as a whole
  3. Creates a budget and ensures that the MMLA stays within that budget each year
• Conference Chair
  1. Serves at ultimate coordinator for the annual Minority Male Success Symposium
  2. Gathers input from division chairs, executive board, and ILA members about conference workshops, keynote & luncheon speakers, roundtables, and other conference planning issues
  3. Develops & submits a conference budget for approval by MMLA Steering Committee
  4. Recruits members for conference committee and meets regularly with them to develop conference schedule, coordinate speaker needs, develop program booklet, set fees & registration options, and other conference planning and promotion issues, etc.
  5. Presents MMLA Board with updates on conference planning progress at board meetings
  6. On day of symposium, act as the public face and gracious host of the conference.
  7. Participate in press conference and press interviews as scheduled by publicity coordinator
  8. Open and close the conference. Introduce plenary speakers (and possibly other invited speakers).
  9. Serves a term of one year chair; and one year as an advisory member of next annual conference
• Marketing Chair
  1. To communicate closely with the Chairpersons on information obtained and established
  2. To maintain social networking sites (i.e. facebook, twitter)
  3. To communicate with the web manager to keep web pages up-to-date          
• Public Relations
  1. To communicate the positions of the Minority Male Leadership Association by the use of public contacts, potential newsletter activity, and diversity awareness activities
  2. To communicate closely with the President and Vice-President, persons on information obtained and established
  3. To increase awareness of the Minority Male Leadership Association through various University and community based programs
• Sponsorship Chair
  1. Responsible for developing relationships with groups, companies, and individuals which may be interested in providing sponsorship funding to MMLA
  2. Developing sponsorship letter(s) to be sent to all prospective sponsors
  3. Present sponsorship opportunities throughout the campus and community resources (organizations, companies, etc.) to assist in fund-raising and marketing opportunities for such resources that wish to support MMLA mission and purpose
  4. Set a sponsorship goal and create a strategy, in partnership with the Conference chair and/or committee, to reach sponsorship goal
  5. Recruit a Sponsorship Sub-committee volunteers and meet with them regularly
  6. Plan and implement event day sponsor recognition
• Research Coordinator

1. Oversees the annual call for research presentations at the University of Rochester Diversity Conference, to increase awareness of the minority male initiative
2. Monitors up-to-date research that supports the mission and purpose of MMLA and its constituents
3. Submits workshop proposals, poster sessions pertaining the mission and purpose of MMLA
4. Write and submit grants on MMLA behalf based on evidence based research

• Recruitment Chair
  1. To maintain member relations, help grow the membership, and maintain accurate membership, activity and policy records
  2. To maintain the membership list and work closely with the Secretary to control the release of information in a timely manner
  3. To assist in the recruitment of volunteer and community services
  4. Duties not limited to above
• Programming Chair
  1. Responsible for assembling the main conference program
  2. Selecting a Program Committee, selecting invited speakers, approving workshops
  3. Provide updates to the Conference Chair and Steering Committee
• Community Service Chair
  1. To increase awareness of the Young Leaders at UR through various University and community based programs
     2. To be liaison to the community on all Young Leaders at UR initiatives
     3. To support and create opportunities for Young Leaders at UR in the community
• Faculty/Staff Advisor(s)
  1. Takes an active role in assisting the MMLA to achieve its mission and purpose
  2. Serves as a liaison between Campus involvement and the MMLA
  3. Be a pillar of support and serve as an advocate for the MMLA
  4. Provide Executive review for problem resolution (as appropriate)
  5. Interface with faculty and staff Affinity group leadership
  6. Serve on Executive Diversity Council (when established)

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP

Membership in the Minority Male Leadership Association is open to all staff, faculty and students of the University of Rochester. Further to include members of the campus and community whom support the initiatives of underrepresented minority males. Community advocates may register themselves as members of the Minority Male Leadership Association by contacting the Secretary via e-mail or hardcopy mail, with the choice of being anonymous members, or known members. No prospective membership shall be refused membership based on their sex, gender, religion, race, or creed. All general members will have the opportunity to hold office and serve on committees, receive resource materials, and attend Minority Male Leadership Association special events.

SUB-COMMITTEES

The President and Vice-President will bring the suggestion of other committees to the executive board and the board will make the final decision; delegate to them such powers and duties as the board shall think appropriate, except that enumerated powers specifically delegated to the Secretary, Recruitment Chair. Sub-Committees shall be dissolved by a decision of the general membership, the Steering Committee or the Sub-Committee itself.

AMENDMENTS TO THE BYLAWS

Revisions and amendments to these bylaws may be made by a two-thirds vote of the Steering Committee. Copies of the proposed amendment shall be sent to each board member along with the notice of the meeting at least fifteen (15) days prior to the meeting date. If an action under a proposed amendment would be greater in scope than the proposed amendment of which the Board received notice, it may not be acted upon at such a meeting, and a new meeting must be called for this purpose. An affirmative vote of two-thirds of the board members present and voting shall be necessary to adopt any amendment or modification to these bylaws. Once changes have been adopted they can be found on the African American Network website.

DISSOULTION

The Minority Male Leadership Association at the University of Rochester may be dissolved by an affirmative vote of seventy-five percent (75%) of the membership, with the option to be reestablished under the same guidelines or modified if necessary at any given time.

MEETINGS

General membership meetings will be held monthly, at a minimum of four meetings per year. The location and time may differ, depending on availability of conference space and general consensus on meeting times. The Steering Committee may call executive meetings as needed and limit attendance to itself and to those individuals it chooses to invite. Communication on the meeting venue and agenda items shall originate with the Secretary and be sent electronically to the appropriate e-mail distribution list. Special consideration shall be provided for anyone who does not have access to e-mail. Any general member can submit agenda items through the Secretary to be included in the mailing prior to the next meeting. Meetings shall be facilitated by the Chair and or Vice-Chair, Guest Speakers, or other Committee members. Minutes will be taken by the Secretary or a designee. Executive Board will hold bi-monthly meetings, or according to discretion of President and entire Steering Committee.

Bylaws: Revised 2/19/2013