University of Washington RSO Constitution

 

Article I – Name

Section 1: The name of this organization shall be: Global Rehabilitation Organization at Washington (GROW).

 

Article II – Purpose
Section 1: It shall be the purpose of this organization to:

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• Provide opportunity, structure, and support for students to participate in the global community.​

• Create unique learning experiences that foster an enhanced cultural humility transcending border, language, class, race, ethnicity & gender.

• Establish sustainable, reciprocal, egalitarian partnerships addressing and positively affecting the health concerns of global communities.

• Promote global health initiatives through education, provision of supervised rehabilitation services, and support of existing structures to best meet the needs of host communities.

• By striving toward these goals, GROW hopes to provide an avenue for students to be active in community health while working towards a healthier, more accessible, better-supported global community.

 
Article III – Affiliations
Section 1: GROW is affiliated with the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Washington.
 
Article IV – Membership
Section 1: The majority of the membership of this organization shall consist of regularly enrolled graduate students in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine of the University of Washington. Only those members who are currently registered University of Washington students have voting privileges.

Section 2: University staff and faculty, and non-university persons may have associate membership status. However, they may not have voting privileges.
 
Article V – Officers
Section 1: The officers of this organization shall consist of only registered University of Washington students and are as follows:
 

2 Co-Presidents: Rebecca Barchus, Scott Castenson, Jennifer Tritz
Responsibilities of Co-Presidents consist of communicating with site partners, faculty, members, and interested students about GROW & service learning opportunities, facilitating organization of yearly service learning trips, managing GROW website and canvas page, organizing quarterly member meetings, supporting Trip Advisors and Fund & Fundraising Chairs, updating trip handbooks & organizing documents, recruiting clinical instructors for trips, and training the incoming Co-Presidents.
 

2 Co-Fund & Fundraising Chairs: Marissa Garvin, Wendy Schnare, Haley Sizelove
Responsibilities of Co-Fund & Fundraising Chairs consist of managing GROW bank account, debit card, and venmo account, informing members on financial status of organization, working with Faculty Liaison to reimburse clinical instructors and students participating in trips, supporting and organizing fundraising activities, organizing the sale of rehab kits to incoming students, and training the incoming Fund & Fundraising Chairs.
 

3 Trip Advisors: Jennifer Tritz (Guatemala), Rebecca Barchus (Peru), Scott Castenson (Zimbabwe)
Responsibilities of Trip Advisors consist of meeting with members participating in the trip to help with logistics and explain what to expect, presenting details of the trip to interested students, and managing trip preparation alongside trip leader. 
 

1 Faculty Liaison: Heather Feldner
Responsibilities of Faculty Liaison consists of being a member of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Division of Physical Therapy, Division of Occupational Therapy, or Division of Prosthetics & Orthotics faculty.  This faculty member will offer guidance and assistance in trip planning, vetting and securing of clinical instructors, fundraising, supervision of independent study and awarding of independent study credit for the international trips.  As needed other advice and assistance will be offered.
Section 2: Qualifications for all officers consists of maintaining active member status, actively participating in all leadership meetings, being in good academic standing, and actively promoting global health literacy by upholding GROW values.

Section 3: The term of office is one year: starting June 1st and ending May 31st, including a training period during June and July which serves to facilitate a smooth transition of office. 

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 Section 4: Removal of an officer may be carried out by member vote in the case of neglect of responsibilities. 
 
Article VI – Elections
Section 1: Selection of officers shall be held in May, so that current officers may train each new officer. Current Co-Presidents will inform members of upcoming application & selection process.

Section 2: Officers will volunteer for their position, and when there is competition, a majority vote will win.
 

Section 3: Voting will be held by anonymous ballot, with a majority defined as >50%. In the case of a draw, current officers will decide the winner. 
 
Article VII – Meetings
Section 1: Meetings of this organization will be held a minimum of 1x/quarter. Additional meetings will be scheduled as needed and will be scheduled via email and Canvas announcements by the Co-Presidents.
 

Section 2: A quorum shall consist of 75% of voting members present at any regular or special meeting.
 
Article VIII – Executive Board
Section 1: Management of this organization shall be vested in the executive board.
 

Section 2: The executive board shall consist of:

2 Co-Presidents and 2 Co-Fund & Fundraising Chairs. 
 

Section 3: Co-President: Responsibilities consist of communicating with site partners, faculty, members, and interested students about GROW & service learning opportunities, facilitating organization of yearly service learning trips, managing GROW website and canvas page, organizing quarterly member meetings, supporting Trip Advisors and Fund & Fundraising Chairs, updating trip handbooks & organization documents, recruiting clinical instructors for trips, and training the incoming Co-Presidents.
 

Co-Fund & Fundraising Chair: Responsibilities consist of managing GROW bank account, debit card, and venmo account, informing members on financial status of organization, working with Faculty Liaison to reimburse clinical instructors and students participating in trips, supporting and organizing fundraising activities, organizing the sale of rehab kits to incoming students, and training the incoming Fund & Fundraising Chairs.  
 

Section 4: Verbal or emailed reports to the members will be required 1x/quarter.
 
Article IX – Constitutional Amendments
Section 1: This constitution may be amended by a vote of the majority at any regular or special meeting.
 

Section 2: Plans to vote on an amendment shall be emailed to members ahead of time by the Co-Presidents.
 
Constitution approved: 16 January 2015; Constitution amended: 18 July 2019