Table of Contents The Constitution for Renaissance Martial Arts at the University of Georgia Last Amended: Monday September 11, 2006 Article I - Name Article II - Purpose Article III - Membership Article IV - Dues and Payment Article V - Officers Article VI - Meetings Article VII - Quorum Article VIII - Amendments Article IX - Ratification By-Laws of the Renaissance Martial Arts at the University of Georgia The Constitution for Renaissance Martial Arts at the University of Georgia ARTICLE I: Name Section 1. This organization shall be recognized as 'Renaissance Martial Arts at the University of Georgia' for all intents and purposes. Section 2. This organization's name shall be officially abbreviated as 'UGARMA'. ARTICLE II: Purpose Section 1. The purpose of Renaissance Martial Arts at the University of Georgia shall be to teach historic European martial technique using original source texts and their translations, to provide a serious, academic, and non-competitive environment for martial study, and to promote an understanding of the depth and history of martial arts in Europe to University of Georgia students, faculty and other interested parties. ARTICLE III: Membership Section 1. Limits A. Membership shall normally be limited to regularly enrolled University of Georgia students, faculty, and/or staff members. B. Non-University individuals currently accepted to the Association for Renaissance Martial Arts may attend as Accepted Members, but may not make up more than one-quarter (25%) of the roster at any time. C. Membership past Provisional Member status requires invitation, application, and acceptance to the Association of Renaissance Martial Arts. Section 2. Non-discrimination A. Membership shall not be denied to any person because of age, race, sex, religion, handicap, natural origin, or sexual orientation. Section 3. Invitation A. To gain membership past Provisional Member status, an individual must be invited to apply for membership to the Association of Renaissance Martial Arts. This invitation will be extended based on general regard by the officers of the individual's attitude and personality. Individuals whose countenance threatens to detract from Renaissance Martial Arts at the University of Georgia will not have an invitation extended to them. Section 4. Membership Types A. Provisional Members are individuals who desire to attend trial meetings without registering with ARMA. These members will be provided normal instruction and allowed full participation in activities. After attending three (3) meetings, the Provisional Membership is terminated and the individual will be refused admittance for one year to date. At any time during these meetings, or after the fifth, the individual may be given an invitation to join the Association for Renaissance Martial Arts, after which he/she must submit an official application to the Association for Renaissance Martial Arts. Submitting this application automatically promotes the individual to Applied Member status. B. Applied Members are individuals who have submitted an application to the Association for Renaissance Martial Arts but have not received word of acceptance. These members will be provided normal instruction and allowed full participation in activities. Should the application, for any reason, be rejected, the membership will be terminated for one year to date. Acceptance into the Association of Renaissance Martial Arts automatically promotes the individual to Accepted Member status. C. Accepted Members are individuals who have been accepted as a member to the Association of Renaissance Martial Arts. D. Dedicated Members are University individuals who have been accepted as a member to the Association of Renaissance Martial Arts and have attended at least _ of the meetings as evaluated on November 1. Section 5. Membership Discipline A. The Officers may, at any time, officially reprimand an individual, including another Officer, who acts against the Renaissance Martial Arts at the University of Georgia or against its reputation. This may include, but is not limited to, minor acts of misconduct, disrespect, or disregard for Renaissance Martial Arts at the University of Georgia regulations, University of Georgia regulations, or general malefaction. Recourse for these activities may include, but is not limited to: a verbal warning or suspension from all club activities for up to 30 days. A member who has been officially reprimanded may, on next offense, have their membership terminated without further warning or notification. Membership reprimands must be confirmed unanimously by a vote of the Officers. B. The Officers may, at any time, terminate the membership of an individual, including another Officer, who acts against the Renaissance Martial Arts at the University of Georgia or against its reputation. This may include, but is not limited to, acts of serious misconduct, disrespect, or disregard for Renaissance Martial Arts at the University of Georgia regulations, University of Georgia regulations, or general malefaction. Membership termination must be confirmed unanimously by a vote of the Officers. All dues or monetary expenditures in relation to Renaissance Martial Arts at the University of Georgia are non-refundable. C. If the offending member is an Officer, he/she will be excluded from all votes and the remaining Officers may act as Quorum in his/her absence. ARTICLE IV: Dues and Payment Section 1: Provisional Members are not required to pay any dues. Membership past the Provisional Member status requires payment of Association of Renaissance Martial Arts Dues. For first-time applicants, the fee is $30. For yearly reapplication, the fee is $25. For current Association of Renaissance Martial Arts members transferring to the study group, the fee is $13. Section 2: Willing individuals may donate freely to a club fund. No exceptions or special arrangements will be made for donating members, including election, membership, or voting privileges. ARTICLE V: Officers Section 1: The officers shall be as follows: Officer of Training, Officer of Equipment, Officer of Finance, and Officer of Membership. The officer's term shall start on February 1 and continue through January 31. Majoritarian Election for officers shall be in November at a club meeting to allow for training of new officers. Due to a shortage of unwilling or incapable members, more than one Office may be held by one individual, but no more than two. A. This clause acts to create a special election to provide an interim government for the Renaissance Martial Arts at the University of Georgia in the period directly after it is founded. As soon as possible, all members are to convene to hold a Business Meeting and elect Officers to act until the first official election in November. After said first election, this clause is to be considered null and may be removed from this document. Section 2: Officer of Training shall assume the following responsibilities: A. To call and abide over all meetings and practices B. To reserve and ensure availability of facilities for all meetings C. To ensure safe, proper, and historical instruction Section 3: Officer of Equipment shall assume the following responsibilities: A. To maintain a current and accurate inventory of all club equipment B. To request to other officers the ordering and procurement of new equipment C. To ensure that equipment is properly maintained D. To ensure that equipment is properly packed and protected should transportation be necessary. E. To provide and maintain a system in which members may borrow equipment for a short period of time. Section 4: Officer of Finance shall assume the following responsibilities: A. To maintain a current and accurate account of all club assets B. To collect all donation moneys C. To pay any dues owed by the club from the club fund D. To write and submit an officer approved budget request to the University of Georgia. Section 5: Officer of Membership shall assume the following responsibilities: A. To keep a current and accurate membership roster B. To keep and track all club paperwork excluding Finance C. To keep minutes of all Business and Officer Meetings Section 6: All officers shall share the following responsibilities: A. To handle public relations B. To correspond with other University of Georgia clubs and organizations C. To ensure proper etiquette of club members D. In the absence of a member at an announced Business or Officer Meeting, vote another Officer to overtake his duties as best as possible for the duration of his absence with approval of two-thirds of whatever quorum present. Section 7: If an Officer is unable to participate in the Renaissance Martial Arts at the University of Georgia due to severe illness, scheduling conflicts, or other reasons, the individual may submit a written notice of registration two weeks prior to the date of membership termination. During these two weeks, a special election will be held in which a new officer will be elected according to standard majoritarian voting procedures. The officer will remain an Accepted member of the Renaissance Martial Arts at the University of Georgia. ARTICLE VI: Meetings Section 1: Arrangements A. The Officer of Training will discuss with members and create a schedule of at least one practice per week, excepting exam weeks, that is found most acceptable. Additional practices may be requisitioned, and the facilities for those will be established by the Officer of Training. Section 2: Practice A. Practice shall start with a brief period of announcements and discussion followed by organized drilling and instruction and shall be at least once per week while school is in session except during exam week. During practice, members are free to pose questions and provide insight for discussion and experimentation. Section 3: Business Meeting A. Business Meetings shall be attended by all club members and shall be for discussing official club matter and for the election of club officers. Business Meetings shall consist of at least one meeting per month while school is in session and may take place during Practice. Section 4: Officer Meetings A. Officer Meetings shall be attended by all officers and shall be open to all members. Officer meetings shall consist of at least one meeting per two week period while school is in sessions and may take place during Practice. ARTICLE VII: Quorum Section 1: Two-thirds of the total membership shall form a quorum and therefore shall be able to transact business. ARTICLE VIII: Amendments Section 1: The constitution for Renaissance Martial Arts at the University of Georgia shall be amended only if: A. Two-thirds of the officers during an Officers Meeting vote for the amendment B. Two-thirds of the total membership vote for the amendment during a Business Meeting. ARTICLE IX: Ratification Section 1: The constitution for Renaissance Martial Arts at the University of Georgia shall be ratified if two-thirds of the current members agree to its ratification. By Laws of Renaissance Martial Arts at the University of Georgia 1. A strong relationship must be maintained with the Association of Renaissance Martial Arts, as it provides the single most historically relevant, accurate, and complete approach to Renaissance Martial Arts. Therefore, all members, aside from Provisional Members, must be a member of the Association of Renaissance Martial Arts. 2. All individuals in the Renaissance Martial Arts at the University of Georgia shall be treated as equal members. While the most knowledgeable individuals will provide instruction, there is no claim to mastery due to the constantly growing and expanding rediscovery of the martial art. Every member is encouraged to research and study on their own to further both their knowledge and the knowledge of the group as a whole. 3. The election for Officer of Training or Officer of Equipment must be made logically, choosing an individual experienced and knowledgeable of the subject matter. Therefore, the eligibility shall be limited to an individual with at least one year's time spent under Association of Renaissance Martial Arts tutelage. 4. Personal equipment may be stored with club equipment, however, the Renaissance Martial Arts at the University of Georgia accepts no responsibility for personal equipment. 5. Any member breaking any property of the Renaissance Martial Arts at the University of Georgia through negligence in practice shall pay in full to replace the broken property. Any member breaking any property on loan broken at a time other than scheduled practice in a location other than the designated practice area shall pay in full to replace the broken property. Property broken through normal use is expected, and no reimbursement is required. Under question, state of negligence shall be determined by a majority vote by the Officers. 6. All members shall read, complete, and sign a University of Georgia form entitled "Release, Waiver of Liability, and Covenant Not to Sue for Club Sports". 7. All members shall read, complete, and sign a Renaissance Martial Arts at the University of Georgia form entitled "Membership Application". 8. All members shall read, complete, and sign an Association of Renaissance Martial Arts form entitled "Official Fighting Waiver".