GFA stands for Global Friends Association and was established at the University of Hartford in 1997 as a part of University of Hartford International Center. Since then we have been trying to open a new horizon among the University of Hartford Student Organizations gathering friends all around the world. Please feel free to drop an e-mail or call (860) 768-4870 for more information.   PRESIDENT: Farah Al-Hinai VICE PRESIDENT: Nicole Hawkes FINANCE VICE PRESIDENT: Daisuke Kobayashi PUBLIC RELATIONS VICE PRESIDENT: Njoki Wamiti Our Constitution: Article I - Name The name of this organization shall be: Global Friends Association Article II - Purpose The purpose of the Global Friends Association is to provide a setting for American and International students to share their culture, heritage and experiences, and to build a bridge toward mutual understanding and respect within our university community. Article III - Membership Section 1 - Membership shall be open to all full-time undergraduate students attending the University of Hartford. Graduate students may come to the general meetings, but are not eligible to vote and cannot hold Executive Board positions. Section 2 - Voting membership shall be limited to those members who do not miss more than two (2) consecutive meetings.  Voting membership shall carry over from one academic year to the next to insure a voting membership at the beginning of each Fall semester. Section 3 - The Global Friends Association will have a minimum membership of fifteen (15) full-time undergraduate students. Section 4 - The Global Friends Association will follow Robert’s Rules of Order for parliamentary procedures. Article IV - Officers, Executive Board, and Duties Section 1 - The titles of the officers of the Global Friends Association shall be: President, Executive Vice President, Vice President for Finance, Vice President for Programs and Special Events, and Administrative Assistant and Recorder. These members will constitute the Executive Board of the Global Friends Association. Section 2 - Term of office shall be one academic year beginning from the Annual Meeting in April and ending with the election of new officers at the following annual meeting.  Executive Board members will be elected by a 2/3 vote of the membership. Section 3 - Each officer must be a full-time undergraduate student and be in good academic standing with the University (2.0 gpa). Section 4 - There will be no restriction to the number of times an association member may be elected to an Executive Board position, whether the same office or new office, in consecutive or non-consecutive years. Section 5 - Duties of the President a) The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the association and shall     preside at all Global Friends Association meetings. b) The President shall vote at the meetings only in the event of a tie. c) The President shall be the official representative of the Global Friends Association when such representation is necessary. d) The President shall appoint such committees as in his/her judgement will benefit the Global Friends Association when necessary. Section 6 - Duties of the Executive Vice President a) The Executive Vice President shall assume all duties of the President in the    President’s absence or disability. b) The Executive Vice President shall aid the President in his/her duties if called     upon do so. Section 7 - Duties of the Vice President of Finance a) The Vice President for Finance shall maintain accurate financial records and     make financial reports to the Executive Board. b) The Vice President for Finance, with the approval and signature of the   Association Advisor, sign all purchase orders and disburse all funds in   accordance with procedures established by the Student Government Association. Section 8 - Duties of the Vice President for Programs and Special Events a) The Vice President of Programs and Special Events is responsible for the planning and implementation of programs and events that meet the goals and purposes of the Global Friends Association as stated in Article II of the constitution.  b) The Vice President of Programs and Special Events may assign individual     members to special projects related to Association programs or events. Section 9 – Duties of the Vice President for Public Relations a) The Vice President for Public Relations must promote all Global Friends Association events and make students aware of these opportunities. b) The Vice President for Public Relations will work closely with the media to promote programs. Media such as the Hartford Advocate, WSAM, WWUH and so on. Section 10 - Duties of the Administrative Assistant and Recorder a) The Administrative Assistant and Recorder shall keep complete and accurate   records of all Global Friends Association meetings and submit those minutes to the Executive Vice President of the Student Government Association. b) The Administrative Assistant and Recorder shall conduct correspondence as the    President determines. c) The Administrative Assistant and Recorder shall keep complete and accurate minutes of all executive Board meetings.  These minutes shall be made available to any association member upon request. Article V - Impeachment of Officers Section 1 - Impeachment of Executive Board Officers: Any default of duties must be formally documented and given to the President of the Global Friends Association.  The individual accused must receive a copy of the allegations at least 48 hours before an impeachment hearing.  The complainant has the right to remain anonymous to the accused. The President of the Global Friends Association will call a special meeting of the Executive Board to discuss the concerns documented.  The person under inquiry will have an opportunity to present any information on his/her behalf. If the person under inquiry is not present, he or she is considered automatically removed from office, excluding extenuating circumstances. Based upon the information presented and discussed, the Executive Board, including the President, will vote on the complaint. A ¾ majority vote is needed to recommend the removal of an Executive Board member from office. If the person under inquiry is the President, the Executive Vice President will preside. The Executive Board must present their decision to the general membership who may impeach an Executive Board member by a 2/3 vote. Article VI  - Amendments to the Constitution Amendments to the Global Friends Association constitution may only be initiated by the Executive Board membership. The proposed amendment must be presented at two consecutive general membership meetings prior to being voted on and may only be amended by a 2/3 vote of the association membership.  Approved amendments to the Global Friends Association constitution must be ratified by the Student Government Association Constitution Committee and Senate. Article VII - Creation and Dissolution of Standing and Non-Standing Committees. The Executive Board may only create a standing committee.  Upon approval of a proposed standing committee by the Executive Board, the President must present the proposal to the general membership at two consecutive general membership meetings.  The proposal must be approved by a 2/3 vote of the association membership. Only the Executive Board following a 2/3 vote of the general membership may dissolve a standing committee.  A proposal to dissolve a standing committee must be presented to the general membership at two consecutive meetings. Non-standing committees may be created by the Executive Board to serve the short or long-term goals of the Global Friends Association.  The Executive Board must endorse the creation of a non-standing committee by a 3/4 vote.   The Executive Board, following a 3/4 vote may dissolve non-standing committees. Article VIII - Association Meetings Section 1- General Membership Meetings: The Global Friends Association will conduct general membership meetings at a minimum of once per month (four times per semester, excluding winter and summer semester breaks).  General membership meetings may be held more frequently as determined by the Executive Board.  The President may call an emergency meeting of the general membership at his or her discretion. Any student who does not attend two consecutive meetings prior to voting may not vote. Section 2 - Executive Board Meetings The Global Friends Association Executive Board will meet at a minimum of once per month (Four times per semester excluding winters and summer semester breaks).  Executive Board meetings may be held more frequently as determined by the Executive board members. Any Executive Board member who does not attend two consecutive Executive Board meetings will be removed from office. Section 3 - Executive Board and general membership meeting times will be determined at the beginning of each Fall semester for the academic year.  Dates, times, and meeting room(s) will be made available to the general membership before, but no later than, the 2nd general membership meeting.

home | feedb@ck