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Next Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán The name of this organization shall be
Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan (MEChA) de Portland State University Council Circle The Councils Circle shall consist of a board (6 positions, or Chairs), one Liaison position, one Sargent in Arms position, and one Administrative Assistant position. Each to be filled by individuals dedicated to the success of MEChA's goals and objectives. Each board position will reflect/represent a different sector of society as follows, Education, Society/Culture, Medicine, History, Politics, and Economics. The Council Circle is set up as a tool to guide every transitioning group of Chicanas/Chicanos through the process of developing a political and cultural consciousness. More importantly to develop strong relationships that create bonds, a unity, that will carry PSU MEChA through out the year, to learn about organizing, become leaders, and see MEChA succeed year after year. It is a method to sharpen and develop skills through strong and consistent interaction and shared group organization. The Council Circle is a structure that evolves around the shared values of the group and each members talents and abilities. PSU MEChA Authority and Accountability It is the responsibility of each Chair to ensure
the efficiency and effectiveness of the Council Circle and MEChA in general,
however the general membership, referred to as Casa de Miembros, has complete
authority in decision making, and holding our representatives accountable and
involved. Anything put forth by a Council Chair or MEChA member will be either
endorsed or rejected by the Casa de Miembros at the general meetings. It is the
responsibility of the Council Circle Chairs to provide experience,
understanding, resources/avenues, solutions and guidance in decision making, as
well as to maintain a consistency between our activities and our philosophy. Not
however to dictate or use their position to push any personal agendas or pull
rank. All ideas must be submitted either verbally, or written, to be discussed
and reviewed by all members. Council Responsibilities The Council Circle board members will maintain
the substance of the MEChA ideology and philosophy, regardless of structural and
or organizational changes within PSU MEChA- i.e., the need for unity, the need
for awareness/involvement politically, culturally, socially, and economically,
the necessity and importance of a cultural identity, the importance of
remembering our past (as Indigenous People), the importance of keeping our past
a part of our daily lives, our struggle, our victories as well as defeats, and
the necessity to develop coalitions with workers, students, communities, and
organizations that reflect the philosophy of MEChA. The board members are
responsible for sharing experience, knowledge-both cultural and institutional
with the membership, ensuring that MEChA is working in the community-doing
outreach, aware and involved politically-protecting our gente on the political
front, and reaffirming our identity through culture. As well as to work to keep
us in touch with our indigenous traditions and values meanwhile not projecting
hate or racism. It is the responsibility of the Council Circle board members to
see out the MEChA objectives and goals as described in our founding documents. Council Circle Individual Responsibilities The responsibilities of organizing and
maintaining MEChA functional should be delegated according to talents, skills,
and level of comfort for each Council Chair, or board member-i.e. public
speaking, drafting proposals, facilitating large meetings, organizing meetings,
or MEChA events, keeping in mind the importance of sharing these
responsibilities in order for others to further develop those same skills. It is
also the responsibility of the Council Circle Chairs to set up and advertise
general weekly meetings (general mtgs. do not have to be weekly), this includes
but is not limited to making agendas for meetings, reserve meeting rooms, and
post flyers around campus. As well as to send emails out to members informing
them of the meeting time, place and agenda items. The Council board is to be held accountable
directly by the Casa de Miembros. Each representative must educate the MEChA
membership on the MEChA philosophy and inform them of our founding documents. As
well as to motivate the MEChA members to provide ideas, suggestions, concerns,
and feedback during the committee and general meetings. It is pertinent that new
leadership is developed through out the year so that each year there is a pool
of prepared and informed members to represent MEChA when ever necessary and to
elect for Council Circle board and officer positions to continue on the
following year. Each Chair has the responsibility of sharing a
different aspect, or prospective, of society, and life to the MEChA membership.
This is done through the committees and the educational presentations provided
throughout the year. This is done to provide a well-rounded and informed basis
to work from. When facing an issue, or planning for an event, all aspects should
be discussed and considered before a decision is made, it is the responsibility
of the Chairs to ensure that this happens and can be done through discussion and
feedback on issues from all members in the group. Each Chair will be responsible for coordinating a standing committee. The responsibilities are as follows: organizing committee meetings, facilitating, and sharing the facilitating of meetings (with general members), to ensure that events/projects are being worked on each term (and that they are inline with the MEChA philosophy/ideology), and to help in developing leadership. It is also the responsibility of each Council Chair to report to the Sargent In Arms of the committees progress on events/projects. Positions & Responsibilities The following is the list of standing committees
and the Council Chair(s) responsible for their coordination: Education
Committee-Education Representative & History Representative, Political
Committee-Political Representative, Social/Fund-raising-Society/Culture
Representative & Economics Representative, Recruitment Committee-Medicine
Representative Sargent in Arms: It is the responsibility of
this individual to assess, then report, to the Casa de Miembros at the general
weekly meetings on the progress of the Council Circle Representatives and their
respective committees. This will be done in order to ensure that those chosen to
represent us will do so effectively and are held accountable directly by the
members. In addition, this individual has the responsibility of maintaining
order at meetings and events and is head officer of security when necessary. Liaison: The liaison is responsible for working
with other MEChA chapters and other organizations on behalf of PSU MEChA. The
objective of the liaison is to establish and maintain a working relationship
with other MEChA chapters, and develop coalitions with outside organizations
that share the MEChA ideology/philosophy, to strengthen our efforts, but careful
to not compromise our integrity. The liaison must then report to the Casa de
Miembros on the activities being planned so that we can be aware of events that
we may want to participate in, events that may interfere because of scheduling,
and to look for support as well. History Representative: It will be the
responsibility of the History Representative to inform all Mechistas of past and
present going ons of MEChA, specifically issues dealing with MEChA creation and
implementation, infiltration of MEChA, the Chicano Experience and similar
experiences through presentations throughout the year. It is equally important
that the History Rep. include experiences of people throughout the Americas, and
around the world (keep in mind that to say I am American does not mean white/anglo
or a US citizen, America stretches from Northern Canada to Southern Chile and
every individual in between is an American). The History representative will
work with the Education representative in conjunction to further educate the
group, the community and aid in recruitment. Economy Representative: As well as serving as coordinator for the Social/Fundraising Committee, the Economy representative serves as treasurer and financial advisor of PSU MEChA. The responsibilities include but are not limited to preparing the following years budget for PSU MEChA, reporting to the Council and members before and after events, and serve as a financial advisor during the planning and organizing of events, activities and co-sponsorships. It is also the responsibility of this individual to seek other sources for funding our events and activities. Committees Responsibilities & Goals and Objectives Each committee will be responsible for planning,
organizing events/activities and performing tasks at (or getting volunteers to
handle tasks at) events/activities. These events/activities can include but are
not limited to educational workshops/presentations, demonstrations, marches,
social events culturally oriented, fund-raisers, and press releases that reflect
the mission of each committee. It is important that all events are discussed at
the general meetings so that events are not planned on the same day by different
committees or other organizations. Political Committee: To establish a higher level
of political consciousness and involvement, the PSU MEChA Political Committee
has the responsibility of organizing events, and activities that reflect issues
that effect the Chicana/o community both negatively and positively. This is to
create awareness and give us the ability to organize an informed response, as a
unit, to protect us in cases of discriminatory laws or policies. This will also
enable us to support laws and policies that could help in our struggle for
liberty and equality. As well as creating awareness and responses to political
issues, the committee will work on voter registration within the Chicana/o
community in an effort to increase political involvement as well. Education Committee: In an effort to decrease
the number of Chicanas/os reflected in the "dropout/push-out rate" in high
schools, the Education Committee has the responsibility of promoting education
and post-secondary education to the Chicana/o community. This includes but is
not limited to; financial aid & scholarship workshops/presentations, setting up
shadow days for high school/middle school students, organizing events in
collaboration with high schools/middle schools, and to work in conjunction with
the Recruitment Committee to open up MEChA chapters in high schools/middle
schools. Social/Fund-raising Committee: Recognizing the
importance of social events and the bonds they create the Social/Fund-raising
Committee has the responsibility of providing social events that will bring
Chicanos/as together to celebrate our culture, history, people, struggle,
victories and each others company. The purpose of these events is to foster an
environment where Chicanos/as are safe, share a sense of community, and support.
These events will be open to the public but must always be culturally oriented
and not betray our efforts by perpetuating any stereotypes. Though some of these
events may be free to the public it is also the responsibility of the
Social/Fundraising Committee to raise funds that will go back into the PSU MEChA
account. Any money collected will be for the sponsoring of other MEChA events,
activities, co-sponsorships, and/or donations. Recruitment Committee In order to maintain MEChA
functional, focused and maintain a momentum, the Recruitment Committee has the
responsibility to recruit on campus and work in conjunction with the Education
Committee on opening chapters in high schools/middle schools. The purpose of
these efforts is to fill positions within MEChA, to accomplish certain
organizational tasks, as well as to maintain a strong membership and momentum. General meetings should be held frequently and
consistently. These meetings are for submitting ideas for events (as well are
the committee meetings), activities, or dealing with issues in our community.
These meetings are also a safe space for discussing issues that members may be
dealing with, remember that we are to serve as a support group as well. Usually
these meetings are held once a week to keep everyone updated and involved, but
can be decided by the group as to when and how frequent the general meetings
will be. These meetings should be held on campus and advertised on campus. At these meetings decisions are to be made by
the Casa de Miembros and the Council Circle board on issues being discussed or
events/activities being planned/organized. Submitted ideas for events/activities
must be passed by the Casa de Miembros at the general meetings. The votes of the
Council Chairs do not carry anymore weight than any other vote and will be
counted just the same. In any decision made it should always be a goal to reach
consensus, in those instances were consensus can not be reached, the issue will
be put to a vote and majority (50% + 1) will be the deciding factor. In cases of
removing a Council Chair, or amending our constitution (or any issue of high
controversy) a 2/3 majority vote is required. PSU MEChA Elections Article 8: Judicial committee Elections will be held in May and must be announced in April to give adequate time for members to nominate candidates for the officer positions. A final elections day must be selected and flyers providing information of the elections (positions, responsibilities, and final election day) must be posted around campus and announced at the general meetings. Members are allowed to nominate themselves. Votes are to be turned in to the Student Activities & Leadership Program office or to the MEChA advisor. Each position maybe held no more than two years by one individual. Candidates should be knowledgeable of MEChA, but more importantly dedicated to MEChA's goals and objectives. Each candidate must supply their name, social security number, position sought and reason for seeking a position. This information must be submitted to the MEChA advisor to verify student eligibility before seeking any officer position. Officers may serve from July 1st of the current year to June 30th of the following year.
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www.mecha.pdx.edu | Email: mecha@lists.pdx.edu | Phone: 503-725-5648 | 1825 SW Broadway PO Box 751 Portland, Oregon 97207-0751 |