CONSTITUTION OF THE LUTHERAN TRAINING INSTITUTE STUDENTS       ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

 

PREAMBLE

We, the alumni and former students of the Lutheran  Training Institute ( hereinafter “LTI”), assembled for the purpose of forming a union of  LTI students in the United States of America, by this instrument hereby establish the Lutheran Training Institute Students Association of  America.

Article 1

Name of the Association

The name of the Association shall be Lutheran Training Institute Students Association of America (hereinafter referred to as ,”LUTISAA”).

Article 2

Objectives

Consistent with the declaration stated in the Preamble to this instrument, the objectives of LUTISAA shall be , but not limited to:

1.        fostering fraternity and a spirit of congeniality among students of  LTI wherever situated;

2.        raising funds for the support of LTI and programs instituted by it;

3.        engaging  the administration of LTI in promoting the good  name of the Institute and maintaining for it, the highest  practicable  academic standards; and

4.        engaging  in such activities  as necessary and lawful for the achievement of the objectives, aims, and aspirations of LTI.

 

Article 3

Membership

Membership of LUTISAA shall be open to all persons who were at any time students of LTI, without regard to age, gender, race, nationality, or  religious affiliation. All members shall be required to maintain active membership in at least one  chapter of LUTISAA. The criteria for active membership shall be determined by each chapter.

 

Article 4

National Structure

Section 1. Governing Body.

 (a) The governing body of LUTISAA shall be  the National Convention (hereinafter, the “Convention”), which shall comprise all active members of LUTISAA in attendance thereof. The Convention shall convene once a year for the purpose of :

1.        electing national officers;

2.        adopting the national budget;

3.        assessing dues on the membership of LUTISAA;

4.        declaring the national policy of LUTISAA;

5.        taking  disciplinary action against chapters and national officers;

6.        promulgating and implementing projects;

7.        performing other functions consistent with this instrument.

(b) Any chapter may host any session of the convention.

(c) Except as otherwise provided in this instrument or by all decisions of the Convention shall be by resolution adopted by a  majority  of all members in attendance  at that session of the Convention.

(d) the Convention shall establish rules for the conduct of  Convention business.

 

Section 2. Board of Governors.

A seven member Board of Governors ( hereinafter, the “Board”) shall be established by the Convention to act on behalf of the Convention when it is not in session. The Convention shall elect a Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary of the Board. The Board shall serve a term of office determined by the Convention, but in no event longer than two years. National officers shall ineligible to serve on the Board during their term of office. Members of the Board shall be eligible for re-election.

 

The Board shall:

(a)     advise and authorize the national officers to make transfer within the budget for the implementation of national policies and projects;

(b)     approve contracts and other instruments entered into by the national officers which require the approval of the Convention;

(c)     investigate  and take proscriptive  and remedial action against national officers pending the convening  of the Convention to take final action;

(d)     convene  such extraordinary sessions of the Convention as may be required to preserve, protect and implement the articles of this Instrument. A majority of the Board shall be sufficient to convene a  Convention;

(e)     mediate inter and intra-chapter controversies as well as national leadership controversies;

(f)       perform such other tasks mandated the Convention;

(g)     present to the Convention at its most current session, a report of  its activities and decisions for the period since its last report to the convention.

Section 3. Chapters. There shall be established in geographical areas determined by the  Convention, local Chapters of LUTISAA, which shall inter alia, prescribe conditions for  active Chapter membership consistent with this instrument, elect local Chapter leaders, pay dues to LUTISAA as determined by the Convention, and implement fund raising programs and projects for the support  of LUTISAA and benefit of LTI.

Article 5

National Officers

Section 1. Term and Eligibility.  National Officers shall be  elected by the Convention at its annual session, and each shall serve a two-year term, or until the next session of the Convention, and may  be re-elected. To be elected to national office, a member shall be (a)  certified as active by his/her respective chapter, (b) nominated by such chapter, and  (c) seconded by at least one other chapter.

Section 2. National President. The National President shall be the chief executive officer of LUTISAA. The National President shall conduct the regular business of LUTISAA and shall implement such programs, projects and activities in furtherance of the spirit and objectives of this instruments. The National President may  enter into contracts and other instruments on behalf  of LUTISAA, with the advise and authorization of the Board. The National President may establish, for the term of his/her office such commissions and committees as are necessary to achieve  programs, projects and activities of LUTISAA. The National President shall perform such and other tasks mandated by the Convention  of  the Board.

Section 3. National Vice-President. The National Vice-President shall assist the National President in the performance of the duties stated in Section 2 supra. The National Vice-President  shall act as chief executive officer of LUTISAA during the temporary absence  or inability  of the National President. In the event that the office  of the National President shall become vacant by reason  of death, resignation, impeachment, or  he/she be declared incapacitated  by the Convention or Board, the Vice-President shall succeed  to the office of National President for the un-expired term.

Section 4. National General Secretary. The National General Secretary shall keep all membership logs and records of the regular business of LUTISAA and the National Convention, and prepare all minutes, correspondence, reports, and other written instruments on behalf of  LUTISAA, except  that legal counsel  shall  obtained with respect to legal instruments.

Section 5. National Treasurer. The National Treasurer shall maintain all financial records and bank statements of LUTISAA and convention. The National Treasurer shall deposit  all LUTISAA and Convention funds in a specially established bank account promptly. Withdrawals  and other disbursements of LUTISAA and Convention funds shall be co-signed by the Treasurer and the President, with the approval of the Board.

Section 6. National Chaplain. The National Chaplain shall conduct devotional services at all  Conventions and  pray from time to time as deemed necessary.

Section 7. Removal of Officers. (a) Any national officer may be impeached , suspended, or declared incapacitated  by the Convention, (b)any national  officer may be suspended, or declared incapacitated  by the Board, (c) In the event of death, resignation, impeachment or incapacity of a national officer, other than the National President, to serve, the Board shall elect a successor ad interim to complete the term of office.  A successor National Vice-President ad interim shall succeed to the National Presidency as provided in this Article.

 

Article 6

Miscellaneous Provisions

Section 1. National Headquarters. For  statutory purpses, LUTISAA shall maintain offices in a location determined by the Convention to serve as national headquarters. The Convention may establish such offices as may be deemed necessary for the achievement of its objectives.

Section 2. Voluntary service. No officer, board member or other member of LUTISAA shall be compensated for serving in such capacity or on any commission or committee of LUTISAA, the Convention or any local Chapter, provided that  reasonable disbursements made on behald of LUTISAA. The Convention or a local chapter shall be promptly and fully reimbursed  to such officer, board member or other member. Notwithstanding, the Convention or Board may authorize compensation for an officer, board member or other for professional services rendered.

Section 3. Amendment to the Constitution. Amendments to this instrument shall be proposed by any member  or chapter  at any session o f the Convention. Such amendment shall be adopted upon the vote  of at least two-thirds(2/3) majority of all members in attendance at such session of the Convention.

 

Article 7

Entry  Into Force

This Constitution shall inter force upon the vote for the adoption of a resolution by at least a two-third (2/3) majority of  all members of the Convention.