Memorandum of Understanding

No Mr. King and Mrs. Queen

Waterford Institute of Technology

African Students Society
11/19/2008
www.witass.tk
www.witass.co.nr
 It is expected members should attempt to
follow WITASS MOU, though it is best
treated with mutual understanding and
occasional exception.

Any substantive edit to any part of this

document should reflect consensus of 2/3 of
the vote of members voting at the meeting

Aims and Objectives

To promote diversity at WIT

To collaborate with other societies or clubs and the International Office at WIT

To create an environment which enhances the educational development of Africans in WIT

To boost interest in African affairs among Africans as well as non-Africans at the university

To facilitate intelligent and intellectual discussion, debate, and dialogue concerning socio-
cultural, economic, and academic issues Africans face in Ireland in a warm, friendly, and open
atmosphere where individuals feel free to speak their personal views

To provide a forum in which the African students of WIT can meet and discuss various issues
facing Africans today, and to organize charity events to foreground ways of pushing African
leader to step up to the plate of a 21st century continent

To encourage African students in WIT to join hands in building a better intercultural Ireland and
encourage interest in Pan-Africanism

To foster an atmosphere which will better the educational development of Africans at WIT

To represent the concerns of African students in matters that affect them at WIT and in the
community

To share the cultural wealth of African in WIT

To reach out to other institutions to promote the establishments African ground and its benefit

To promote the common interest of African students in relation to the international community

To foster a spirit of community, friendship and brotherhood amongst African students in WIT
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Membership

The African Students Society is open to everyone who share the interest to see a stronger
intercultural Ireland, and especially a healthy African community and to participate fully and
freely in all aspects of the WITASS.

The entitlements to run for administrative position of the Waterford Institute of Technology
African Students Society is reserved for all members.

By default all students of African decents have the right to be a member of the organization. The
organization will guarantee that equal opportunity and access to membership, facilities, and
benefits shall be open to all persons.

All members have the right to vote in all elections and on any issue that require a consensus by
vote from the Waterford Institute of Technology African Students Society.

An issue may be passed if a majority of those voting concur unless otherwise specified by the
WITASS Constitution.

Executive Board

The WITASS executive board shall consist of a President,Vice-President, Executive Secretary,

General Secretary, Public Relations Officer, Treasurer, Advisors, Networking Executives,
Advisors, Publicity Personel, Ambassadors, Site administrator and Patrons.

General Duties

a. Executive Board members must read, understand, and always act according to this
Constitution.

b. must serve and represent the organization and its membership to the best of their ability at all
times.

c. Shall attend all meeting.

d. Should be creative, and come up with ideas and ways of promoting the WITASS.

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Definition and Specific Duties of Executive Board

a. The President shall set the agenda and maintain communication with WIT faculty and staff,
and outside WIT.

The Vice-President and Legal Committee Chairperson shall assume the responsibilities of the
president in his/her absence, encourage participation in committees and organizations in the
larger community, keep up to date with the policies and decisions of Student Council.

b. The Secretary shall keep records of all minutes of the association, and of past and future
events of the association.

c. The Executive Coordinator shall make necessary logistics arrangements and reservations for
events of WITASS, including travel arrangements for visitors and speakers. He or she shall keep
the contact of high profile members, Patrons and Advisers. He or she shall ensure that all
executive officers and their deputies are provided to WITASS in a timely manner.

d. The Treasurer shall maintain records of all financial transactions.The treasurer shall update the
members and officer bimonthly.

e. Public Relations Officer: Shall attend to enquiry, email, written and verbal, a facilitate inter
relations of the African Students, Shall be in charge of public media and news releases shall
publicize WITASS meetings, and compile the details of African students at the start of each
semester.

i. Focus Group Executives shall network the society with people within a country boundary. That
is there shall be a group for each country represented in WIT, shall support the executives to
provide leadership to the development, and implementation of both the substantive and
operational aspects of WITASS, provide inspirational leadership to multicultural group, and
promote integration.

Advisor shall be awarded by a community set by the executives. He or she shall bring
knowledge to the table, status, and experience in matters of deep interest to Africans in Ireland,
and when possible financial support. The recipient shall be called WITASS Adviser, he or she
give advice on ways of promoting the interest of the society, the existence and shall encourage
WITASS continuity. The Award shall be a life-time Award and shall recognize the recipient’s
support to promote multiculturalism in Ireland and better the Africans settling in Ireland
experience. There shall be no time commitment, but rather a commitment to relay advice when
necessary, at his or her earliest convenience.

Patron shall be awarded by a community set by the executives. He or she shall bring knowledge
to the table, status and when possible financial support. They shall protect the existence and
encourage its continuity. The Award is a life-time Award. Up to a maximum of three shall be
awarded yearly.

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Afro Review

a. Afro Review of the African community at Waterford. Any African student, staff or faculty
member may contribute to or assist in the production of the magazine.

b. Any number of editor shall be appointed by the executive of WITASS.

c. Two co-editors-in-chief shall be in charge of the publication, one issue per year. They shall
coordinate the submission process of articles, poetry, artwork, and essay to the magazine and
arrange for the printing.

DISCIPLINE

Any member who behaves in a manner contrary to the spirit of the constitution shall be warned
on the first occasion, informally, and if he/she does not heed such warning, then formally in
writing, if he/she still does not heed such warning shall be suspended or removed by the majority
of those members present at the meeting subject to a quorum. The suspension or removal of an
elected member of the executive committee shall follow the same procedure.

FINANCE

a Membership shall be free. Contributions and donations shall be welcome in the form of money
and gifts. Special fund raising events shall be organized by the society and, the society shall
solicit for grants outside WIT.

b The elected treasurer shall be in charge of financial matters, and shall need signed allowance of
the president and the appointed financial adviser, usually a staff of WIT Club and Society for
disbursement of funds.

MEETINGS

a. Executive committee meetings shall be held two times a month.

b.. Emergency meetings shall be held when needed.

c. General meetings shall be held once a semester.

d.. A quorum for executive committee meetings shall consist of 1/3 the members present.

e. Quorums for the emergency meetings shall consist of 3 members including the president or

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the vice president.

f. Quorums for the general meetings shall consist of 15 members.

Revision

a A committee of 5 headed by the vice-president will be formed to review the constitution and
suggest amendments.