The Constitution of Slow Food UW-Madison,
A Student Convivium of Slow Food USA
Preamble
Recognizing that the enjoyment of wholesome food is essential to the pursuit of happiness, Slow Food UW-Madison is an organization dedicated to stewardship of the land and ecologically sound food production; to the revival of the kitchen and the table as centers of pleasure, culture, and community; to the invigoration and proliferation of regional, seasonal culinary traditions; to the creation of a collaborative, ecologically-oriented, and virtuous globalization; and to living a slower and more harmonious rhythm of life.
Article 1: Name and Logo
1.1 The organization shall be called Slow Food UW-Madison.
1.2 Slow Food UW-Madison will use the name and logo of Slow Food in accordance with the Slow Food name and logo agreement annually signed by the president and faculty advisor.
Article 2: Purpose
2.1 Slow Food UW-Madison is a student convivium, or local chapter, of the international Slow Food movement. A student convivium is a tool for implementing the Slow Food mission on a local level and therefore the grassroots expression of the movement.
2.2 Slow Food UW-Madison engages the university and food producer communities in the Madison area in order to support and celebrate the food traditions of Wisconsin.
2.3 Slow Food UW-Madison particularly focuses its efforts on creating a more environmentally, economically, and culturally sustainable food system on campus through advocacy and education.
Article 3: Membership
3.1 Membership to Slow Food UW-Madison is open to any current student of UW-Madison.
3.2 Membership is official once the individual has paid their membership fee and signed on to the student convivia’s listserv.
3.3 Membership is terminated once the individual has requested to be removed from the listserv, once the member graduates, or once the group has established independently that the individual is no longer engaged with the group.
3.4 Members gain voting privilege and are eligible to run for steering committee positions.
3.5 It must also send an update with a list of membership and a report on activities triannually: at the beginning, half-way point, and end of the school year. In return, Slow Food USA provides Slow Food UW-Madison with administrative support, resources, publications, and access to the Slow Food network.
Article 4: Meetings
4.1 Slow Food UW-Madison will hold regularly scheduled general meetings every week.
4.2 The sub-committees and steering committee of Slow Food UW-Madison should call meetings on an as needed basis.
Article 5: Internal Structure
5.1 The steering committee of Slow Food UW-Madison will guide the general direction of the group, ensuring the projects and activities of Slow Food UW-Madison are consistent with the ideas and values of the Slow Food movement.
5.2 The steering committee is composed of a president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, and communications representative.
5.2.1 The co-leaders liaise with the Slow Food national office as the official student convivium leaders, lead general meetings, act as the three signing authorities for the Slow Food UW-Madison bank account, act as primary contacts for the group, and generally oversee the activities of the group.
5.2.2 The scribe produces agendas and minutes for steering committee and general meeting, circulates information to membership, and assists with internal administrative work.
5.2.4 The treasurer tracks the income and expenditures of Slow Food (name of school), coordinates financial matters with the national office, acts as one of three signing authorities for the Slow Food (name of school) bank account, collects receipts for “out-of-pocket” money spent and issues reimbursement, prepares an annual budget for the first and last general meetings, coordinates any school-supplied funding, and oversees fundraising activities.
5.2.5 The communications representative keeps up to date with the activities of Slow Food (name of school), communicates these activities to other student convivia, and reports on student convivium developments on a regional, national, and international level to the members of Slow Food (name of school).
5.3 All steering committee members are responsible for preparing a detailed transition report at the end of the academic year.
5.4 Slow Food UW-Madison may wish to form sub-committees to deal with specific projects, activities, or events. These committees may wish to informally elect a committee leader as the primary contact for and coordinator of the project, activity, or event.
5.5 One faculty member of UW-Madison acts as faculty advisor to Slow Food UW-Madison. The advisor acts as a representative of the school administration and helps liaise with the educational institution.
Article 6: Elections
6.1 The president of Slow Food UW-Madison should be a returning member. At least two of the five steering committee members should be new members and at least two should be returning members. If these requirements cannot be met the position should be opened to any member.
6.2 The steering committee of the previous year appoints an elections officer to oversee the elections. The elections officer may not run for a position in the election. The elections officer oversees election proceedings, ensuring fairness of process and outcome, answers questions about the election, and collects and counts the ballots.
6.3 The elections officer should announce the election at the first meeting of the year.
6.4 Elections are held at the second meeting of the year (the “election meeting”).
6.5 Candidates for steering committee positions may give a brief speech at the election meeting or provide a statement to be read in the event of their absence.
6.6 Voting quorum is half of all members. Members not present may send a ballot with another member with their vote and signature.
6.7 Voting is done by secret ballot.
6.8 A candidate wins the seat if they receive half the votes plus one.
Article 7: Amendments
7.1 Any member may submit a proposal for the amendment of this constitution.
7.2 This submission must occur at a general meeting.
7.3 If one third of those present, by open show of support, wish to consider such an amendment, the amendment may be taken to a vote at the following general meeting.
7.4 The amendment must receive the support of three quarters of those members.
Article 8: Ratification
8.1 Before ratifying this constitution Slow Food UW-Madison must send a draft to its membership for comments.
8.2 A general meeting should be called to discuss the content and wording of the constitution.
8.3 Either at the discussion meeting, if there is little debate, or at a subsequent general meeting a vote should be held to ratify the constitution.
8.4 Three quarters of those members present must support the constitution for it to be ratified and come into effect.
