2017 Proposed CoSIDA Constitutional Amendments
The CoSIDA Board of Directors is recommending amendments to nine articles of the CoSIDA Constitution in an effort to bring the document up to date and combine many previous articles that dealt with the same areas of the organization. The current language, revised language and rationale are listed for each article.
These recommendations will be voted on during the CoSIDA Business Meeting at the 2017 CoSIDA Convention on Tuesday, June 13 at 12:45 pm in Sabal (Exhibit Hall Product Theater) in the Orlando Marriott World Center.
CoSIDA Constitution Amendment Recommendations
UPDATED - 4/17/2017
CURRENT
Article 2 - Mission Statement
The purpose of this organization is to empower its members in their roles as collegiate sports public relations and communications professionals. The objectives include:
* Provide a collective voice for collegiate sports public relations and communications professionals in promoting the image of their institutions and their profession both internally and externally;
* Encourage discussions of issues and exchange of ideas that impact and enhance the image of their institutions and the role of collegiate sports public relations and communications professionals;
* Provide helpful information to collegiate sports public relations and communications professionals via various workshops, newsletters, directories, surveys, studies, websites, etc.;
* Provide and encourage an emphasis on diversity in the areas of gender, race and divisional representation;
* Provide ideas and resources to enhance current and develop new recognition programs for collegiate student-athletes and athletic professionals;
* Align ourselves with other organizations whose missions are compatible with CoSIDA.
RECOMMENDED
Article 2 - Mission Statement
CoSIDA educates, advocates, and communicates with and for the intercollegiate athletics communications community. It is our mission to engage and empower members, develop exceptional leaders, and promote and enhance our profession.
Rationale: To align CoSIDA’s constitutional mission with that which was developed through the recent strategic plan.
CURRENT
Article 3 – Membership
Section 1
D. Student member: Any person enrolled at an accredited institution of higher learning and employed in the collegiate sports public relations and communications program at that institution, at an intercollegiate athletic conference, a national athletics governing body, or of similar organizations devoted to the administration of collegiate athletics.
RECOMMENDED
Article 3 – Membership
Section 1
D. Undergraduate student member: Any person enrolled as an undergraduate student at an accredited institution of higher learning and involved in the collegiate sports public relations and communications program at that institution, at an intercollegiate athletic conference, a national athletics governing body, or of similar organizations devoted to the administration of collegiate athletics.
Rationale: Specifics ‘undergraduate’ student since graduate assistants are now required to be active members; replaces ‘employed’ with ‘involved’ since undergraduate students may be volunteers and not actually employed in the sports information office.
CURRENT
Article 3 - Membership
Section 1
B. Group Membership: Individuals in a sports communications office who qualify for membership under the criteria as defined in Section A (Active Member) may join as a group and be eligible for all member benefits as outlined under the Group Membership policy.
RECOMMENDED
Article 3 – Membership
Section 1 A a.
Group Membership: Individuals in a sports communications office who qualify for membership under the criteria as defined in Section A (Active Member) may join as a group and be eligible for all member benefits as outlined under the Group Membership policy.
Rationale: Group membership is a method of grouping and paying for active memberships but is not a separate type of membership; it should instead by listed as a sub-set of active membership and not a stand-alone.
CURRENT
Article 3 – Membership
Section 4
Applications for membership in the Association, the form and content which will be determined by the Board of Directors, shall be referred to the Director of Internal Operations, who shall examine the qualifications of the applicant, make a determination regarding the eligibility of the applicant for membership, and notify said applicant of his or her provisional acceptance or rejection for membership pending the approval of the Board of Directors.
RECOMMENDED
Article 3 – Membership
Section 4
Applications for membership in the Association, the form and content which will be determined by the Board of Directors, shall be referred to the staff, who shall examine the qualifications of the applicant, make a determination regarding the eligibility of the applicant for membership, and notify said applicant of his or her provisional acceptance or rejection for membership pending the approval of the Board of Directors.
Rationale: Replaces ‘Director of Internal Operations’ with the more general ‘staff’ as that role may be subject to change dependent upon job responsibilities.
CURRENT
Articles 4-5-6-7
Article 4 - Officers & Elections of Officers
Section 1: The officers of the Association shall be a President, Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Third Vice-President and Secretary.
Section 2: All officers of the Association shall be elected at the annual meeting of the Association. The candidate for an office who shall receive the highest number of votes shall be declared elected to that office. The Association’s Nominating Committee shall solicit nominations from the membership for the open officer positions each year. The Nominating Committee shall meet prior to the annual convention and vote on a new slate of officers for nomination.
Section 3: In the case of a vacancy in the office of President, the First Vice-President shall succeed the office of President and shall serve until the expiration of the current term. In case of a vacancy in any other office, the Board of Directors shall have the power to fill the position and the appointee shall serve until the next regular election.
Section 4: The Secretary of the Association shall be paid an annual stipend as determined by the Board of Directors.
Article 5 - Duties of Officers
Section 1: The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association and of the Board of Directors and shall assume all other duties of that office as prescribed in Roberts’ Rules of Order.
Section 2: The First Vice-President, in the absence of the President, shall assume all the duties of the President. He/she will have additional duties determined and assigned by the President with Board approval.
Section 3: The Second and Third Vice-Presidents shall carry out such duties and responsibilities as determined and assigned by the Board.
Section 4: The Secretary shall carry out such duties and responsibilities as determined and assigned by Board.
Article 6 - Terms of Office
Section 1: With the exception of the Secretary, no officer of the Association shall be eligible for election to an office he/she has been elected to previously.
Section 2: A representative, either College Division or At-Large who shall have served in that capacity for a full three-year term, shall not be eligible for re-election as a College Division or At-Large representative to the Board of Directors.
Article 7 - Directors and Election of Directors
Section 1: There shall be a Board of Directors consisting of all officers of the Association, six college division members, four members at-large and the most immediate past president who continues to be an active member of the Association.
Section 2: The Board of Directors shall have the power to act in the name of the Association when the Association is not meeting.
Section 3: College division members of the Board of Directors shall be elected at the annual meeting of the Association and shall represent institutions which are not classified as Division I in either football or basketball. College division members of the Board may be elected to three-year terms.
Section 4: At-large members shall come from the membership as a whole, and must be fully qualified members of the Association. At-large members may be elected to a three-year term.
Section 5: In case of a vacancy on the Board of Directors, the Board shall have the power to fill the position and the appointee shall serve until the next regular election.
RECOMMENDED
Article 4 - Officers & Elections of Officers
Section 10: There shall be a Board of Directors consisting of all officers of the Association, six college division members, four members at-large and the most immediate past president who continues to be an active member of the Association.
Section 11: The Board of Directors shall have the power to act in the name of the Association when the Association is not meeting.
Section 1: The officers of the Association shall be a President, Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Third Vice-President, Secretary and Past President.
Section 2: All officers of the Association shall be elected at the annual meeting of the Association. The candidate for an office who shall receive the highest number of votes shall be declared elected to that office. The Association’s Nominating Committee shall solicit nominations from the membership for the open officer positions each year. The Nominating Committee shall meet prior to the annual business meeting and vote on a new slate of officers for nomination.
Section 3: In the case of a vacancy in the office of President, the First Vice-President shall succeed the office of President and shall serve until the expiration of the current term. In case of a vacancy in any other office, the Board of Directors shall have the power to fill the position and the appointee shall serve until the next regular election.
Section 4: The Secretary of the Association shall be paid an annual stipend as determined by the Board of Directors.
Section 5: The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association and of the Board of Directors and shall assume all other duties of that office as prescribed in Roberts’ Rules of Order.
Section 6: The First Vice-President, in the absence of the President, shall assume all the duties of the President. He/she will have additional duties determined and assigned by the President with Board approval.
Section 7: The Second and Third Vice-Presidents and Secretary shall carry out such duties and responsibilities as determined and assigned by the Board.
Section 8: With the exception of the Secretary, no officer of the Association shall be eligible for election to an office he/she has been elected to previously.
Section 9: A representative, either College Division or At-Large who shall have served in that capacity for a full three-year term, shall not be eligible for re-election as a College Division or At-Large representative to the Board of Directors.
Section 10: College division members of the Board of Directors shall be elected at the annual meeting of the Association and shall represent institutions which are not classified as Division I in either football or basketball. College division members of the Board may be elected to three-year terms.
Section 11: At-large members shall come from the membership as a whole, and must be fully qualified members of the Association. At-large members may be elected to a three-year term.
Section 12: In case of a vacancy on the Board of Directors, the Board shall have the power to fill the position and the appointee shall serve until the next regular election.
Rationale: This streamlines related sections and also specifies the immediate Past President as an Officer.
CURRENT
Article 8 - Committees
Section 1: The standing committees of the Association shall be:
* the Nominating Committee, consisting of all past presidents who continue to hold active or associate membership in the Association and are still active in the field of college athletics; the College Division members of the Board of Directors whose terms expire at the close of the annual meeting; and at-large members of the Board of Directors whose terms expire at the close of the annual meeting. The Nominating Committee shall be chaired by the Past President;
* the Special Awards Committee, whose members shall be appointed by the president of the Association.
* the Convention Program committee, chaired by one of the officers as assigned by the President and approved by the Board; and
* the Committee on Committees, which will assign members to committee service.
The Board of Directors may establish other committees as warranted, including those to provide recognition for outstanding achievements in specific areas of the profession.
RECOMMENDED
Article 8 – Committees
The Board of Directors may establish standing and ad hoc committees as needed to carry out the business of the association.
Rationale: Simplifies the section and provides for more flexibility in establishing and ending committees, particularly in regard to ad hoc committees for short-term projects.
CURRENT
Article 9 - Meetings
Section 1: There shall be an annual meeting of the Association, to be held at a site and time to be determined by the Board of Directors.
Section 2: The Board of Directors of the Association shall meet during the annual convention. The agenda shall be set by the president.
Section 3: For the purpose of transacting business at the annual meeting, a quorum shall consist of a majority of the active members attending the business meeting.
Section 4: For the purpose of transacting business outside the Annual Business Meeting, a quorum shall consist of at least 10% of the Association’s active members for an online vote. A positive vote by 60% of those active members voting would be required for an online issue to pass.
Article 10 - Voting
Each active member of the Association shall be permitted to cast one vote on any motion requiring a vote by the membership.
Article 17 - Parliamentary Authority
The most current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised shall govern all proceedings of any regularly constituted meeting in the absence of any other rule to the contrary which shall have been adopted by the Association.
RECOMMENDED
Article 9 – Meetings & Voting
Section 1: There shall be an annual business meeting of the Association, to be held at a site and time to be determined by the Board of Directors.
Section 2: The order of business of the Association’s annual business meeting shall be:
A. Call to order
B. Reading of minutes of previous meeting
C. Committee reports
D. Report of the treasurer
E. Correspondence
F. Unfinished business
G. New business
H. Election of officers
I. Adjournment
Section 3: The Board of Directors of the Association shall meet during the annual convention. The agenda shall be set by the president.
Section 4: For the purpose of transacting business at the annual meeting, a quorum shall consist of a majority of the active members attending the business meeting.
Section 5: The most current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised shall govern all proceedings of any regularly constituted meeting in the absence of any other rule to the contrary which shall have been adopted by the Association.
Section 6: For the purpose of transacting business outside the Annual Business Meeting, a quorum shall consist of at least 10% of the Association’s active members for an online vote. A positive vote by 60% of those active members voting would be required for an online issue to pass.
Section 7: Each active member of the Association shall be permitted to cast one vote on any motion requiring a vote by the membership.
Rationale: This streamlines and combines the sections related to meetings and voting.
CURRENT
Article 13 - Awards & Citations
Section 1: The Association may, at its annual meeting, present the following awards, voted upon by the Special Awards Committee:
*Arch Ward Award: member who has made an outstanding contribution bringing dignity and prestige to the profession;
*Warren Berg Award: college division member who has made an outstanding contribution bringing dignity and prestige to the profession;
*Jake Wade Award: an outstanding contributor in the media to intercollegiate athletics;
*Keith Jackson Eternal Flame Award: individual or organization making a lasting contribution to intercollegiate athletics, demonstrating a long and consistent commitment to excellence and support to CoSIDA and its mission;
*Bob Kenworthy Good Person Award: member demonstrating outstanding civic involvement outside sports information;
*Bill Esposito Backbone Award: member displaying sound judgement and unusual courage in taking a stand in intercollegiate athletics contrary to public opinion and sentiment, or who displays sound judgement and unusual courage in guiding their institution through difficult public relations situations.
*Mary Jo Haverbeck Trailblazer Award: an individual who has been a pioneer in the profession, helping improve the level of ethnic and gender diversity within CoSIDA.
*Lester Jordan Award: an individual cited for exemplary service to the Academic All-America Program and the promotions of the ideals of being a student-athlete.
* Rising Star Award: a university division and a college division member with 10 years of full-time service or less in the profession, for service, dedication, energy and enthusiasm that make the individual a “rising star” in sports information.
Section 2: The Special Awards Committee and the previous Hall of Fame recipients will select the annual CoSIDA Hall of Fame class. The Association may select up to six members annually for the Hall of Fame Award with at least one recipient from the college division, one from the university division and one recipient from a list of individuals as submitted by the Veterans Committee. The remaining three members of the class will be determined by the voters with the stipulation that no more than three members of the Class can be inducted annually from any of the three categories of candidates (college division, university division, veterans division).
Section 3: The Association may, at its annual meeting, present the following awards to all members who have provided documentation of appropriate achievements to the Special Awards Committee:
* 25-Year Award: Given to active members who have served 25 years as a full-time employee in the profession in collegiate athletics;
* Lifetime Achievement Award: given to members who have served a minimum of 25 years as a full-time employee in the profession and who have subsequently retired.
Section 4: Nominees for any awards will remain on the ballot for three years if not previously selected. After that period, the nominee must be resubmitted as a new candidate.
Section 5: The Association may, at its annual meeting present special commendation to members whose work has been meritorious. These recipients shall be determined by the Board of Directors.
Section 6: The association may, at its annual meeting, present the Dick Enberg Award to a person whose actions and commitment have furthered the meaning and reach of the Academic All-America Teams Program and/or the student-athlete while promoting the values of education and academics. The award winner will be selected by the Academic All-America Committee.
Section 7: The association may, at its annual meeting, present the Bud Nangle Ethics and Integrity Award to an individual or team from within the college athletics community that demonstrates ethics and integrity during stressful situations. The award winner will be selected by the Special Awards Committee.
RECOMMENDED
Article 13 - Awards & Citations
Section 1: The association may present awards on an annual basis, including those for the CoSIDA Hall of Fame and for other Special Awards.
Rationale: This streamlines this section, with specific awards, criteria, processes, etc. to be defined in the policies and procedures manual.
CURRENT
Article 14 - Affiliations
The Association shall maintain a close alliance with organizations which have as their purpose the achievement or aims and objectives related to those of CoSIDA, including the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, the National Collegiate Athletic Association, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, the National Junior College Athletic Association, the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics, Canadian Interuniversity Sport, national organizations of community and junior colleges, U.S. and Canadian Olympic committees, Football Writers Association of America, U.S. Basketball Writers Association, National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, Track and Field Writers of America, regional and conference-based sports information groups, and similar organizations of public relations professionals, writers and broadcasters in the U.S. and Canada.
RECOMMENDED
Eliminate this article.
Rationale: The list of affiliates is more appropriate for CoSIDA’s policies and procedures manual.