Wisconsin Union Policy SE5-0

Hoofers General Constitution and Bylaws

ARTICLE I - Name

The name of this organization shall be the Wisconsin Hoofers of the Wisconsin Union, herein referred to as Hoofers. The address is c/o Memorial Union, 800 Langdon Street, Madison, Wisconsin 53706.

ARTICLE II - Purpose

Hoofers shall be a nonprofit educational organization to:

1. Promote the education of members in outdoor activities; and
2. Foster interest and participation in outdoor activities by providing and developing leadership, instruction, programs, services, and equipment; and
3. Educate in planning, organizing and executing programs related to environmental concerns and community affairs.

ARTICLE III - Membership

Section 1. Any member of the Wisconsin Union, in good standing, may become a member with all rights and privileges.

Section 2. Hoofer Council may grant honorary life memberships in all of Hoofers.

ARTICLE IV- Hoofer Council

Section 1. Hoofers shall be governed by an executive committee called the Hoofer Council, herein referred to as Council.

Section 2. Council shall consist of Hoofer Council Execs, Hoofer Council Chairpersons, Club Representatives, and non-voting members.

Section 3. Hoofer Council Execs shall include a President, a Vice President-Program, Vice President-Administration, Vice President-Finance, and a Secretary. Hoofer Council Execs shall be elected by the membership of all affiliated clubs according to procedures established in the bylaws. Hoofer Council execs shall be voting members of Hoofer Council.

Section 4. Hoofer Council Chairpersons shall be the chairpersons of subcommittees to handle various aspects of Hoofers. Hoofer Council Chairpersons shall be selected by Hoofer Council Executives according to procedures established in the bylaws. Standing subcommittees shall be established in the bylaws. Hoofer Council Chairpersons shall be voting members of Hoofer Council.

Section 5. Each affiliated club shall have one representative to Hoofer Council. Club representatives shall be appointed according to procedures established by each individual club. Club representatives shall be voting members of Hoofer Council.

Section 6. Non-voting members of Hoofer Council shall include assistant chairpersons of some of the subcommittees mentioned in section 4. Specific non-voting members shall be established in the bylaws.

Section 7. The term of office for all members of Hoofer Council shall be one year.

Section 8. Council shall be responsible for:

• Governance and coordination of the activities of Hoofers and its affiliated clubs.
• Programmatic and educational support of Hoofers, its affiliated clubs, and members.
• Assessment of fees sufficient to support the activities of Hoofers.
• Preparation of an operating budget for approval by Union Council and financial oversight of the entire organization.
• Other actions as deemed necessary.

Section 9. The President or one-third of the members of the entire Council may call a meeting of Council. Council shall meet at least once every month. A reasonable attempt shall be made to notify all members of each meeting.

Section 10. At all times, a majority of the members of Hoofer Council shall be current UW-Madison students.

ARTICLE V - Affiliated Clubs

Section 1. Hoofer Council shall have the authority to invite and/or create affiliated clubs to carry out the goals of Hoofers. A club once created shall be permanent and subject to disbandment only by its members. However, Council shall have the power to disband a club that has had no members for three consecutive years.

Section 2. Each affiliated club shall be empowered to assess its members a fee on a regular basis. At the discretion of Council, clubs may be funded by Hoofers.

Section 3. Each club shall have its own constitution. Nothing contained in the clubs’ constitutions or in the bylaws adopted thereafter may limit in any way the authority of the Union Council, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, or the State of Wisconsin, to govern the Union buildings and/or the activities carried on by Hoofers.

Section 4. All affiliated clubs must are encouraged, but not required to be registered student organizations (RSOs) on file with the University’s student organization office. Other such requirements may be placed upon affiliated clubs within the bylaws.

Section 5. Hoofers and all affiliated clubs have full use and benefits of the Wisconsin Union to at least the same extent offered to Wisconsin Union Directorate and UW-Madison Registered Student Organizations.

ARTICLE VI - Meetings

Meetings of Hoofers shall be called by the president, or one-third of the voting members of the entire Council, or upon petition by five members of Hoofers. Time and place of the meeting shall be posted via all commonly used channels of announcing Hoofer meetings, as designated in the bylaws, at least six days prior to the meeting.

ARTICLE VII - Amendments

Section 1. Amendments to this constitution may be proposed to the Hoofer membership by:
a. two-thirds of the voting members of the entire Council, or
b. a majority of the affiliated clubs, one vote to a club. Each club's vote shall be determined by the governing body of that club.

Section 2. The proposed amendment must be posted on all Hoofer and affiliated club bulletin boards for at least the six days prior to the meeting of Hoofers at which it is to be voted on.

Section 3. The proposed amendment shall become effective when it has been approved by two-thirds of the current members present at the meeting of Hoofers called for this purpose, and Union Council.

ARTICLE VIII - Bylaws

Section 1. Bylaws not inconsistent with this constitution may be proposed to Council by any member of the Hoofers.

Section 2. A proposed bylaw must be posted on all Hoofer affiliated club bulletin boards for at least the six days prior to the open Council meeting at which it is to be voted on.

Section 3. The bylaw shall become effective when it has been approved by two-thirds of the voting members of the entire Council.

ARTICLE IX - Restrictions

Nothing contained in this constitution or in the bylaws adopted hereafter may limit in any way the authority of the Union Council, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, or the State of Wisconsin, to govern the Union buildings and the activities carried on by Hoofers.

 

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Policy Authority (suggested amendments should go through these bodies):
Hoofer Council
Social Education Committee of Union Council
Union Council

Date(s) of Action:
Constitution Committee final draft: passed by Hoofer Council on April 18, 1977.Approved by Union Council October 5, 1977; Revised version proposed by Hoofer Council April 14, 2003; Further revised version proposed by Hoofer Council March 2, 2004; Revised version approved by General Membership March 8, 2004; Revised version approved by Union Council April 20, 2004; Approved by Hoofer Council April 27, 2009; Union Council May 5, 2009