GMC Media Cooperative Constitution

The creative efforts and business of media are undergoing a generational change. But this sort of change is familiar to Poultney: in the 1820s, two of the most influential American journalists learned their craft here. Horace Greeley went on to publish the New York Herald and provided key support for the abolitionist movement. And George Jones learned his business skills (and Greeley’s friendship)  here in his hometown of Poultney before moving on to found The New York Times. So we’ve looked at the business of college media and propose a change. This is a draft, a first step. Stay tuned for more…

– Ron Steffens, Adviser

GMC Media Cooperative.

A draft constitution. A new model for a new era of  student media. Constitution

Green Mountain College Media Cooperative

Article I – ORGANIZATION

This organization shall be called Green Mountain College Media Cooperative and referred to as “GMC Media Cooperative,” “GMC Media” or the “Media Co-op.”

Article II – PURPOSE

The purpose of this organization is to provide a governing structure for college student publications; to support professional-level publications of GMC students and community members in all forms of media; and to share ideas, create working projects, and hone individual and group skills in print, audio, video, multimedia, and new media forms.

Article III – MEMBERSHIP

Section I – Individual membership shall be open to any GMC student. Students who are considered active on a publication that is a member of the GMC Media Cooperative will be considered individul members of the GMC Media Cooperativie.

Section II – GMC staff, faculty, and community members may serve in advisory, ex officio and support roles, as needed.

Section III – The membership of a student-based publication shall be based on application to the GMC Media Cooperative and will follow the processes and procedures outlined for GMC Club applications, with the exception that a publication shall submit a Publication Plan and a list of student membership to the GMC Media Cooperative in lieu of a club constitution or bylaws. The GMC Media Cooperative Constitution will serve as the formal constitution submitted by a student organization to the Student Assembly.

Article IV – LEADERSHIP

Section I – The Board of the GMC Media Cooperative will serve annual terms (Fall Semester-Spring Semester) and shall consist of:

• one representative from each active publication with membership in the Cooperative, selected by student members active within each publication;

• one representative appointed by Student Assembly;

• one at-large representative from the student body, including students who participate in student publications (may be elected or appointed by Cooperative board members);

• one ex-officio staff representative from Student Life;

• and the GMC Media Cooperative Adviser (ex-officio).

Section II - Officers shall consist of President, Vice President, and Treasurer.

Section III - Officers shall be active members of GMC Media Cooperative publications, of the GMC Media Cooperative Board, or of STUDENT ASSEMBLY. Officers shall be nominated by the Board and elected annually.

Section IV – Duties of the Officers

Duties of the President shall be to schedule and hold cooperative meetings, run meetings, ensure professional implementation of media publication plans, manage dispersal of shared media equipment, and support the generation of cooperative funds for activities.

Duties of the Vice President shall be to assist the President as needed, as well as organize cooperative activities such as fundraisers, field trips, etc. The Vice President shall also be in charge of notifying members of meetings and and will serve the role of Secretary, maintaining and publishing meeting minutes. The Vice President will serve as President if that position is vacated or if the President is unavailable to chair a meeting.

Duties of the Treasurer shall be to track funds and update the Cooperative on financial status and forecasts. The Treasurer shall also be in charge of disbursing funds and purchasing shared supplies or services needed to operate GMC Media publications, based on prior approved budgets. Disbursement of funds that are not supported by approved budgets require prior approval of the GMC Media Cooperative Board, or, in unusual circumstances, permission of Advisor pending approval by the board.

Article V – MEETINGS

Meetings will be held once per semester, at minimum, with additional meetings held as needed. Semester meetings will be announced in Cooperative publications and via other college channels. Additional meetings will be announced to Cooperative members and via other channels, including Cooperative publications.

Article VI – RESPONSIBILITIES

Responsibilities and duties of the Board of the Green Mountain Cooperative include:

• Selection and appointment of the lead Media Managers of Cooperative publications (such as Managing Editor, General Manager, or jointly appointed Editorial Board). Media Managers will be selected based on their application and supporting experience, and their promise to fulfill the obligations of their position, based on the Publication Plan and professional practices. The Board may select to interview candidates. The Board may select to support nominations of candidates or a jointly appointed Editorial Board that is nominated by a majority of the current publication staff membership.
• Support for media rights, as outlined in publication plans and professional codes of ethics.
• Removal, for cause, of Media Managers who fail to fulfill the obligations of their position. Removal shall not be based on editorial content but on demonstrated failure of publication management or to resolve significant personnel concerns.
• Consultation on annual publication budget requests, as submitted by Cooperative publications.
• Submission of a GMC Media Cooperative budget that equitably supports the member publications, with additional recommendations as needed, to STUDENT ASSEMBLY and other funding sources.
• Review and consultation on publication plans submitted by existing Cooperative members.
• Review and approval of publication plans submitted by applicants for media membership in the Cooperative or for special media projects (such as a one-time media production).
• Recruitment of members.
• Representation of the Cooperative’s goals and affirmation of professional media practices to the GMC community.
• Confirmation that any budgeted Student Activity Fee and other funds are expended on appropriate and effective priorities for GMC’s media publications.

Article VII – ADVISER

The Adviser for the GMC Media Cooperative will be appointed by the college from a pool of faculty members who are currently serving as advisers to one of the GMC Media publications.

Article VIII – AMENDMENTS

Any amendment may be initiated by any member of the Cooperative. Amendments must be posted in GMC Media publications prior to being brought to a vote of the Cooperative. Amendments are approved by two-thirds (2/3) majority of the members present at an official meeting.

APPROVAL

This Constitution was created on January 20, 2008 and submitted to Media Cooperative members from October 21-October 30, 2009, for review and confirmation of acceptance as the governing Constitution of participating student media publications.