Revised by the Constitution Committee (Leora Bernstein, David Fried, Adam Gartner, Sara Kranzler, and Asher Tannenbaum) in the academic year 2005-2006. Ratified by BOO at a General Assembly Meeting on May 4, 2006. Amended by BOO at a General Assembly Meeting on December 1st 2008.
Article I: General Provisions
Section 1
Purpose: The Brandeis Orthodox Organization (BOO) is a student-run organization, founded in 1991, that exists to fulfill and further the religious, social, cultural, and educational needs of the Orthodox Jewish population at Brandeis University. We dedicate ourselves to the principles of Orthodox, Torah-Halachic Judaism. We eagerly anticipate and encourage participation in our programs from all segments of the University community. BOO is open to all members of the Brandeis Community and does not discriminate against members on the basis of sex, race, religion, sexual orientation, graduating class, age, nationality, or physical ability.
Section 2
BOO is associated as a member group with the Brandeis Hillel Foundation, and is a chartered organization of the Brandeis University Student Union Government. BOO members must always be the primary concern of the BOO Board. BOO was founded for, and is solely controlled by, the students of Brandeis University.
Section 3
Membership in BOO is defined as having been to one General Meeting and signed up to be a member or having signed up at a BOO event, while enrolled at Brandeis and providing BOO with an appropriately completed membership form, including email addresses. Membership sign up is available at all General Meetings, of which there must be at least two per semester. Also, there are to be two BOO events per semester at which membership sign up is available. This will allow one’s name to be added to the membership list. Membership is available to all students, and lasts for their Brandeis career. In the event that a student who has not signed up at a General Meeting or has not signed up at one of the events would like to become a member, a special request may be submitted to the President. Membership in BOO allows individuals to vote for the Executive Board and vote concerning proposed Constitutional Amendments.
Article II: Executive Board
Section 1
BOO shall be overseen by an Executive Board, with ten voting members, who shall hold their positions from the beginning of the Spring semester until the end of the following Fall semester (unless otherwise noted). Each BOO Board member shall have one vote. The voting members of the Board shall be:
President
Vice President
Treasurer
Secretary
Educational Coordinator
Publicity Coordinator
Social Events Coordinator
Chesed Coordinator
Beit Midrash Coordinator
Gabbai
Section 2
All BOO Board Members shall have the following duties:
Attend a majority of Hillel Shabbat Dinners each semester.
Regularly attend the Orthodox Minyan on Shabbat.
Attend a majority of BOO Events each semester.
Attend all BOO Board Meetings and give weekly project updates at those meetings.
Attend all BOO General Meetings.
Have a working knowledge of the constitution.
Section 3
The President shall have general charge and supervision of the affairs, business, and property of the organization, unless otherwise specified by the constitution. Responsibilities include the general upkeep of the organization, ensuring the healthy existence of Orthodox life on campus, and presiding at general and executive board meetings. In addition, the President is responsible for keeping the board informed of the activities relating to BOO and is ultimately responsible that the board members fulfill their duties. The President will also act as a representative to Hillel, the Student Union Government, the Brandeis Administration, and BOO alumni and parents. The President shall appoint a senior class representative to the alumni association each spring. The President shall also ensure that high school students are educated about Orthodox life at Brandeis. All activities run under the BOO name must have clearance from the President, with the exception of decisions voted on by the entire board.
Section 4
The Vice President will assist the President in fulfilling all of his/her duties. In the event that the President is temporarily unavailable to perform his/her duties, those responsibilities shall fall to the Vice President. The Vice President is responsible for oversight of BOO activities and becomes the chairperson of all formed committees i.e. Constitution, Search, etc. The Vice President shall also be responsible for ensuring the continuity of the following positions:
Kiddush Setup Helpers
Seudah Shlishit Helpers
Seudat Shlishit Singers
Section 5
The Treasurer is responsible for overseeing BOO’s financial state. This includes maintaining updated detailed financial records, as well as overseeing bank accounts, investments, and fundraising. The treasurer is also responsible for running communal fund-raising events. At least once a semester the Treasurer must present a budget to the BOO Board detailing the financial state of BOO.
Section 6
The Secretary is in charge of recording the events of meetings, distributing them as need be, writing necessary letters, keeping a database of members and contacts, coordinating elections, maintaining the BOO Website, and establishing and maintaining a calendar of events.
Section 7
The Education Coordinator is responsible for bringing speakers, organizing classes, arranging for inreach/outreach educational events for the community, and all other educational programming.
1. Dvar Torah Coordinator
2. Editor of Torat Emet
3. Mishmar Coordinator
Section 8
The Publicity Coordinator is responsible for publicizing BOO events and distributing electronic mail. The Publicity Coordinator is also expected to work in conjunction with the Social Events Coordinator to publicize all BOO events.
Section 9
The Social Events Coordinator is responsible for organizing social events for BOO, including Shabbatonim, tisches, Friday night social gatherings, and other events with a social purpose.
Section 10
The Chesed Coordinator is responsible for ensuring that inreach/outreach dinners are run, allocating tzedakah funds with the approval of the BOO Community, gathering a Chesed Committee, officiating at the committee’s meetings, ensuring that chesed projects are implemented, working with other campus and off-campus social justice groups when appropriate, and making sure that all other outreach needs are being met.
Section 11
The Beit Midrash Coordinator is in charge of the general upkeep of the Beit Midrash, purchasing books, arranging for the dedication of donated items, and preserving the character of the Beit Midrash.
Section 12
The Gabbai is responsible for all the needs of the daily, Shabbat, and Yom Tov minyanim. The Gabbai is also responsible for assisting the Orthodox Advisor in investigating all matters of nusach and minhag that arise in connection to the minyan. The Gabbai is appointed by the previous Gabbai,—at the time that each new gabbai sheni is appointed, he must be approved by a majority of the BOO board. The Gabbai typically serves for one term but may serve an additional year pending approval from a majority of BOO board.
The Gabbai shall be responsible for overseeing and ensuring the continuity of the following positions:
1. Gabbai Sheni (the Gabbai Sheni will assume the role of the position when the Gabbai Rishon chooses to resign his position.)
2. Gabbai Shlishi
3. Eruv checker.
Section 13
No individual may hold more than one permanent Board position and/or committee position at a time.
Section 14
The BOO Board may, by majority vote, appoint additional individuals, such as two First-Year Representatives, to serve as non-voting members on the Board.
Section 15
The First-Year Representatives will function to help the freshmen integrate into the community, to ensure that all potentially interested freshmen experience and feel comfortable in BOO, to assist in the formation of freshman unity, and facilitate the successful integration of mid-years. First-Year representatives are appointed to serve two semesters. Each board's President and Vice President will be in charge of the mentorship of the freshman representatives. In the case that one representative is replaced second semester, it is suggested that there be a midyear representative to fill the position. Freshmen representatives are expected to organize at least one freshmen event at the beginning of each semester, and may have exclusive control over a unique freshman email list-serve.
Section 16
Unless otherwise noted, and barring any external limitations, all votes of the BOO Board shall be carried by a majority of the entire Board. All major procedural and financial issues shall be voted on by the Board.
Section 17
Impeachment charges may be brought against a BOO officer or position holder who fails to uphold his/her duties as stated by the constitution, or who has done damage to the organization. Detailed charges must be brought in writing to the President, or to the Secretary in the event that the charges are brought against the President. A Board meeting will be held within two weeks at which point an officer or appointee may be relieved of his/her duties by a three-fourths majority of the remaining Board. The entire Executive Board, the person who brings the charges, and the person in question (unless he/she waives the right to attend) must be present for such a meeting to occur. The parties may invite relevant witnesses to speak at the meeting.
Article III: Elections
Section 1
Elections will be open to all members of BOO. Elections shall be held for all other voting BOO Board Positions, with the exception of Gabbai. Elections shall be held near the end of the fall semester when as many members of the BOO can attend as possible, as determined by the Board.
Section 2
To run for any position in BOO, one must be a member. Students abroad who wish to run for in upcoming election must contact the Chief of Elections with an emailed platform within the appropriate time as designated by the Chief of Elections.
Section 3
The Secretary shall act as the Chief of Elections. In the event the Secretary is a candidate for a position, s/he will appoint another BOO Board member who is not a candidate to serve as Chief of Elections. The Chief of Elections will arrange for the submission and posting of platforms and for the counting of votes. Candidates may personally contact individuals to solicit votes, but public campaigning is not permitted. There will be a presidential debate, whose format will be determined by the Chief of Elections, a candidate question and answer where BOO members are invited to meet the candidates for all positions.
Section 4
The individual who receives the most votes among the candidates for a given position is the winner. In the case of a tie, a runoff will be held at the earliest possible date.
Section 5
No individual may be a candidate for more than one position in a single election round. Candidates who are unsuccessful in Round I Elections may run for a position in Round II.
Section 6
Terms shall begin at the start of the spring semester and shall be held until the subsequent election, including the Treasurer. The responsibilities of the outgoing BOO Board shall not be complete until all transfer of authority to the new Board is finished.
Section 7
Should any elected position be left unfilled after an election has passed a new election shall be held at the earliest possible date to fill the position. The Vice President shall assume the roles of the unfilled positions in the interim.
Section 8
The BOO Constitution and all Platforms must be posted on booweb.org at least one week prior to the elections.
Article IV: Beit Midrash
BOO shall maintain the Beit Midrash. All members of the Brandeis community are welcome to use and enjoy the Beit Midrash. BOO retains sole jurisdiction over maintenance, upkeep, content, and all other decisions regarding its use.
Article V: Advisor
Section 1
Successful partnering between the BOO Board and the Orthodox Advisor requires regular, on-going communication between BOO leadership and the Orthodox Advisor. In addition, in order to ensure communication between the BOO Board and Hillel with respect to the roles the Orthodox Advisor plays, meetings between BOO Board and the Hillel supervisor of the Orthodox Advisor will occur at the end of each semester. These meetings will provide BOO representatives the opportunity to provide feedback to Hillel concerning their relationship to the Orthodox Advisor, including successes and areas for improvement in their work.
Section 2
Once a year in accordance with Hillel staff, Hillel will have an open forum, whereupon any BOO member may come and discuss the role of the Orthodox Advisor.
Section 3
BOO will also play a central role in the selection of the Orthodox Advisor, including creating an advisory group to provide student input from this key constituency as part of the hiring process. The advisory group will be made up of the outgoing President, the incoming Vice-President, the Gabbai, and two other elected leaders. The committee will work with Hillel staff to ensure that the needs and concerns of the Orthodox student body are addressed in the selection process. No individual running for election to the incoming BOO Board may run for a position on the advisory group.
Article VI: Rules and Regulations
Section 1
All communal halachic matters must be addressed to the Orthodox Advisor. Should the BOO Board, by a 3/4 vote, choose to no longer abide by the Halachic decision of the Orthodox Advisor, it must immediately choose by 3/4 vote a temporary advisor within the Boston area.
Section 2
There must be a general meeting at least two times a semester. Only the Secretary and President are allowed to call such meetings. All general meetings must be adequately publicized with the agenda distributed to the BOO Community at least two days prior to the meeting.
Section 3
Formal meetings of the Executive Board must be held at least 6 times a semester. Board meetings will be limited to the members of the Executive Board, unless otherwise specified by the Secretary or President. At all Board meetings, open or closed, there will be a designated period for an open forum; at which time any member of BOO may raise issues before the Executive Board. S/he may also request to place an item on the meeting’s agenda.
Section 4
Only the President and Treasurer have the authority to control the finances of BOO and only they may delegate that authority. BOO is not responsible for purchases made without explicit or implicit clearance from the President or the Treasurer; the President and Treasurer reserve the right to withhold reimbursement of any non pre-approved purchases deemed unnecessary to BOO.
Section 5
The member and other lists may not be given to any non-Board member or appointee without the consent of the President or the Vice President, who will review the purpose of the request.
Section 6
All e-mails sent over the BOO Listserve (boo@lists.brandeis.edu) must be approved by either the President or the Publicity Coordinator prior to being sent. Only the President, Publicity Coordinator, and Orthodox Advisor shall have administrator access to the BOO Listserv. Those with access to the BOO Listserve should make every effort to coordinate and consolidate their emails.
Article VII: Constitution
Section 1
This Constitution shall be ratified by a 2/3 vote of all BOO Members present and voting at the General Meeting at which it is presented.
Section 2
Amendments to this Constitution must be presented to the Secretary at least four days prior to the general meeting at which it will be proposed. The amendment text must be distributed the BOO community by e-mail at least three days prior to general meeting at which it will be voted on. Amendments shall become a part of this constitution upon ratification by a two-thirds vote of the BOO membership present and voting at the general meeting at which it is presented.
Section 3
The Constitutional Review Committee will meet once every four years beginning with the Spring Semester 2010. The committee will be chaired by the Vice President, and consist of four additional members, elected by the BOO Membership. One of the four seats shall be reserved for a former BOO Board member. The committee will present the constitution to the community at a general council meeting. A preliminary presentation to the BOO Board is recommended but not necessary.