Westminster College

The World Health Empowerment Project Constitution

Article I: Name

Section I. The name of this organization shall be the World Health Empowerment Project (W.H.E.P.).

Article II: Purpose

Section I. The purpose of W.H.E.P. is to fundraise for and support countries all over the world to em-power them to lead healthier lives through education, donation of supplies, and voluntary services. Specifically, the organization will educate global communities facing serious health issues about preven-tion and treatment techniques through a universal curriculum while also providing support by donation of supplies and money obtained through fundraisers and awareness events on campus.

Section II. Our ultimate goal is to send a group of W.H.E.P. members each summer to the selected project site. Members are welcome to pay their own way if they are capable of doing so, and fundraising opportunities should help aid in at least partial trip costs. A year-long orientation process will be re-quired before members are allowed to propose a project site and their course of action.

Section III. Our primary focus for the 2013 calendar year will be a project planned for La Ceiba, Hon-duras. Honduras suffers from a shortage of healthcare professionals and supplies. For every 10,000 peo-ple, there are 6.5 physicians. The population of La Ceiba is upwards of 200,000 and there is only one hospital with 20 permanent doctors and 60 hospital beds. On top of the scarcity of medical care and physicians, the people of Honduras face a plethora of health problems including insect-borne diseases such as Chagas disease, malaria, and dengue fever, as well as lack of purified water, chronic malnutri-tion, and the highest adolescent birth rate in Central America. We plan to provide a series of free work-shops to the people of La Ceiba while also volunteering at local hospitals and clinics to reduce the im-pact of the low number of healthcare professionals.

Article III: Officer Positions

Section I. The president will conduct meetings and oversee the club. Duties include organizing all as-pects of travel and communicating regularly with the W.H.E.P. advisors. He/she will be required to par-ticipate in the project at the selected site during their term.

Section II. The vice-president will head the fundraising committee and take the place of the president in his/her absence. He/she will also be required to participate in the project at the selected site during their term.

Section III. The treasurer will be responsible for all financial aspects of the club including budgeting for trips, presenting before SGA Finance Committee, and finding other means of financial aid (grants, scholarships, etc.).

Section IV. The secretary will take minutes during W.H.E.P. meetings and is responsible for all email correspondence with current and prospective members as well as our organizational partners. The secre-tary is required to attend all W.H.E.P. meetings.

Section V. The public relations representative will oversee the W.H.E.P. Facebook page, advertising on campus and on the project site, and maintaining a positive/professional image of W.H.E.P.

Section VI. The advisors are Dr. Craig Dennison and Dr. Mike Amspoker. They will approve all W.H.E.P. materials and plans as well as provide input on improvements.

Article IV. Membership

Section I. There is no stipulation for membership, and anyone may join, but members should be inter-ested in global health and humanitarian work. W.H.E.P. will not discriminate or limit membership based on gender, race, religion, creed, national origin, handicap, marital status, or sexual orientation.

Section II. Everyone in W.H.E.P. is entitled to voting privileges.

Section III. Members interested in being an executive committee member will have to submit a group proposal explaining their qualifications and their prospective project to the current executive board. Af-ter approval, the group will present their proposed project to the rest of W.H.E.P. to be voted on by members as the focus for the next calendar year. The selected group will then become the new executive committee. The outgoing and incoming executive committees will meet to determine the specific posi-tions of each new executive member. Elections will be held annually at the end of each fall semester.

Section IV. If an office vacancy occurs, nominations will be taken from W.H.E.P. members for the open position; the nominees will then be voted on by the executive committee.

Article V. Committees and Fundraising

Section I. There will be a fundraising committee headed by the vice-president. Fundraising proceeds will be used for traveling expenses, curriculum set-up, PR supplies, and health supplies to be donated to cur-rent and past project sites.

Section II. Committees may be established for curriculum planning, supply inventory, and other pur-poses as needed.

Article VI. Meetings

Section I. W.H.E.P. will meet monthly, and there will be additional meetings as needed. Executive members have the ability to call for a special meeting. Meetings will start promptly at the established time.

Article VII. Method of Constitutional Amendment

Section I. Two thirds of W.H.E.P. members must be present to vote on the organization’s constitutional amendments. Members will be notified by email if a revision or addition to the constitution is proposed

to ensure adequate attendance for a vote. Amendments and revisions can be proposed at any time of the year.