Updated: March 7th, 2024
The Furry Club at Oregon State University is a student organization at Oregon State University. The purpose of this constitution is to establish the rules and regulations by which the club shall be governed.
The name of the organization shall be the Furry Club at Oregon State University, which may be shortened to FC @ OSU or Beavfurs, and is hereafter referred to as the Club. The committee of all officers shall be referred to as the Management.
The purpose of the Club is to provide a safe and inclusive environment for members to celebrate furry culture, engage in artistic expression, promote community bonding, and to raise awareness of furry fandom within the Oregon State University community.
The Furry Club @ OSU is committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all members, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status. The club does not tolerate discrimination, harassment, or retaliation of any kind and will take appropriate action, including but not limited to actions stated under Section 5 Clause A: Warning, Clause B: Suspension, Clause C: Termination, to address any violations of this policy. Note that all instances of violations will be reported to the appropriate authority if applicable.
Regular membership shall be open to any currently enrolled student of Oregon State University who is interested in furry culture, regardless of race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation. Regular members shall have full voting rights and may hold officer positions in the Club.
Associate membership shall be open to any community member including current faculty and staff of Oregon State University who is interested in furry culture, regardless of race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation. Associate members may participate in all Club activities, but shall not have voting rights and may not hold officer positions in the Club.
Membership in the Club shall be open to any student, faculty, or staff member of Oregon State University who is interested in furry culture, regardless of race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation. Members shall be required to pay annual dues and abide by the rules and regulations of the Club.
To become a member of the Furry Club @ OSU, an individual must complete a membership application and pay the required dues. There are no requirements for participation in club activities beyond being a member.
All members of the Furry Club @ OSU who are current Oregon State University students shall have the right to participate in club events, run for office, and vote in club elections.
Members are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that reflects positively on the Furry Club @ OSU and its members. Failure to comply with the rules and regulations of the club may result in disciplinary action. The following disciplinary actions may be taken, depending on the severity of the violation:
A member may receive a verbal or written warning for minor violations of the club rules. The warning will be issued by an officer of the club and will include a clear explanation of the violation and the consequences of further violations.
A member may be suspended from club activities for a period of time determined by the officers of the club for more serious violations of the club rules. During the period of suspension, the member will not be allowed to participate in club activities.
The period of time that a member be suspended should be until the end of the term as determined by the officers. Exceptions could be made to extend or shorten the duration by a majority vote of the officers.
A member's membership in the club may be terminated for repeated or severe violations of the club rules, or for conduct that brings discredit to the club. Termination of membership will be determined by a majority vote of the officers of the club. The member will be given notice of the decision in writing.
Any member who is the subject of disciplinary action has the right to a hearing before the officers of the club. Refers to Section 6: Hearings for more details.
Any member who is the subject of disciplinary action has the right to a hearing before the officers of the club. The member must request a hearing in writing within ten (10) days of receiving notice of the disciplinary action. The hearing will be conducted within thirty (30) days of the request. The member may be accompanied by an advisor of their choosing. The decision of the officers will be final.
For Oregon State University club recognition purposes, only the following positions are mandatory:
| Title | Qualifications |
|---|---|
| President | Currently enrolled student at Oregon State University |
| Vice-President | Currently enrolled student at Oregon State University |
| Secretary | Currently enrolled student at Oregon State University |
| Treasurer | Currently enrolled student at Oregon State University |
| Event Coordinator | Currently enrolled student at Oregon State University |
| Artist Liaison | Currently enrolled student at Oregon State University |
| Social Media Manager | Currently enrolled student at Oregon State University |
The duties of the officers shall be as follows:
| Officer Position | Duties |
|---|---|
| President | Presides over all meetings, represents the Club in official capacities, oversees Club operations, serves as primary liaison to Club advisor and OSU community. |
| Vice-President | Serves as assistant to the President, assumes the President's duties in his/her absence, responsible for Club recruitment and retention, coordinates Club social events. |
| Secretary | Keeps minutes of all meetings, maintains Club records, responsible for Club communications (including social media and email), responsible for Club member roster. |
| Treasurer | Manages Club funds and financial records, prepares and presents annual budget, maintains financial reports for all Club activities, handles Club purchases and reimbursements. |
| Event Coordinator | Plans and organizes club events and activities, coordinates with venues and vendors, ensures events run smoothly. |
| Artist Liaison | Facilitates artistic expression within the club, organizes art-related events, promotes collaboration among club artists. |
| Social Media Manager | Manages the club's social media presence, creates and schedules content, engages with members and the community online. |
The election of officers shall be held once per academic year. Elections shall take place during the spring term and must be completed before the end of the academic year.
Nominations and elections for the following year's officers shall occur between the first week of Spring term and the 5th week of Spring term.
Nominations for officer positions shall be submitted using an online form provided by the club. Members must be nominated by another member and have their nomination seconded by a different member. Self-nominations are allowed. Once a nomination has been seconded, the nominee shall have the opportunity to accept or decline the nomination.
Voting shall be conducted through an encrypted online form that will be emailed to all members who are eligible to vote. The online form shall be available for a period of 24 hours. The results of the election shall be determined by a simple majority of votes cast.
Only currently enrolled students at Oregon State University are eligible for positions as officers of the Furry Club @ OSU. All officer candidates must be members in good standing and have paid their membership dues at the time of their nomination.
The term of office for officers shall be one year or until their successors are elected. Their terms of office shall begin immediately after the election has been finalized or at the start of the Spring term, whichever comes first.
All officers of the Furry Club @ OSU are accountable for their actions and decisions while serving in their respective positions. Officers are expected to uphold the rules and regulations of the Club and to act in the best interests of the organization.
An officer may be removed from office if they are found to be in violation of the Club's rules and regulations, or if their actions are deemed to be contrary to the best interests of the organization. The removal process shall be as follows:
If a member has a complaint against an officer, they should submit the complaint to the club Management, which includes all officers. Complaints will be investigated in a timely and confidential manner. If an officer is found to have violated club policies or acted against the best interests of the club, they may be subject to removal from their position by a majority vote of the remaining officers. The officer in question must be given the opportunity to present their defense and the decision to remove them must be based on clear evidence of misconduct.
At any given time, the officer has the choice to resign their position.
If the Management determines that the complaint warrants further action, a hearing shall be held. The accused officer shall be given notice of the charges against them and shall be given an opportunity to respond to the charges. The hearing shall be conducted in a fair and impartial manner, and all parties involved shall be given the opportunity to present evidence and witness testimony.
The result of the hearing is determined by a majority vote of the Management. If, after the hearing, the Management determines that the accused officer is guilty of the charges, they may remove the officer from their position. The decision of the Management shall be final.
The removed officer may appeal the decision of the Management to the Club membership. A meeting of the Club membership shall be called, and the removed officer shall be given the opportunity to present their case. A two-thirds (2/3) vote of the membership shall be required to overturn the decision of the Management.
In the event that an officer is removed from office, resigns, or otherwise becomes unable to fulfill their duties, a special election shall be held to fill the vacancy. The election shall be conducted by a vote of all eligible members and held within four weeks of the vacancy. In the meantime, the duties of the vacant position shall be assumed by the remaining officers or by a temporary officer appointed by the Management.
The successor shall serve for the remainder of the original officer's term, and their term of office shall start immediately upon their selection.
If the office of the president becomes vacant, the vice president shall assume the presidency for the remainder of the term. If any other office becomes vacant, a special election shall be held to fill the vacancy.
The Furry Club @ OSU may have one or more faculty or staff advisors. These advisors may participate in club activities and meetings, and may offer guidance and support to the officers and members.
Advisors shall be selected by a majority vote of the officers and shall serve at the pleasure of the Management.
The advisors shall serve for the current academic year, exceptions may be made by the club Management to extend or shorten the term of service.
As of the adoption of this Constitution, the Furry Club @ OSU does not have any advisors.
Club gatherings are held regularly at times and locations determined by the Officers. These gatherings provide opportunities for members to socialize, discuss club activities, and participate in club events.
Workshops and events are organized periodically to promote artistic expression, skill development, and community engagement among club members. These events may include art workshops, guest speakers, and collaborative projects.
Official meetings of the Club shall be held at least once a term at a time and place determined by the Officers. The Officers shall give reasonable notice of the time and place of meetings to all members.
The official meetings serve as an introduction to the club for new members and as a forum for the officers to discuss club business during the term.
Special meetings of the Furry Club @ OSU may be called by the President or by a majority vote of the officers.
A quorum for any meeting shall consist of at least 50% of the officers and 50% of the general membership.
The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the Club in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws and any special rules of order the Club may adopt.
Membership dues for the Furry Club @ OSU shall be set by the officers and approved by a majority vote of the membership.
Regular members shall pay annual dues of $0.00.
Associate members shall pay dues of $20.00 per term.
The Furry Club @ OSU shall generate funds through various means, including but not limited to:
All disbursements of club funds shall be approved by the Treasurer and one other officer.
Amendments to this constitution may be proposed by any member of the Furry Club @ OSU.
Amendments to this constitution shall be approved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present at a regular or special meeting.
The Club may adopt by-laws to govern its internal affairs, provided that they are consistent with this constitution and do not conflict with the policies and procedures of Oregon State University.