Claremont Mormon Studies Student Association

Organization

In accordance with our mission and vision, which hold that local students as emerging scholars are our central priority, participation in CMSSA involves the following levels:

1. Leadership Council: In order to serve on the leadership council, a person must be a student at CST or CGU. A council of graduate level student leaders helps ensure that the scholarly quality of the organization is preserved. The leadership council is comprised of the following positions:

President: Jacob Baker
Vice President: Loyd Ericson
Secretary/Historian: (to be determined)
Treasurer: (to be determined)
Public Relations: (to be determined)
Event Coordinator(s): (to be determined)

2. Members: The only requirement necessary to become a member of the association is that a person be an undergraduate or a graduate student actively studying in the greater Claremont area. The main privilege of membership is that one is allowed to have a vote and a voice in organizational-related matters, such as voting for members of the leadership council, assisting with events, facilitating presentations, recommending discussion topics, etc. Most communique about such matters takes place via a private email list and blog, and from time to time we hold meetings that are only open to members. To sign up, all you need to do is fill out the registration form.

3. Friends: Anyone interested in joining us for events, such as our weekly lunches, student presentations, scholar presentations, and critical topical conversations will be welcome as a friend of CMSSA.

4. Faculty Advisors: Although CMSSA is an autonomous student organization, the Howard W. Hunter Chair of Mormon Studies at the School of Religion, and at least one member of The Council for Mormon Studies, will provide assistance and support as needed and when appropriate.

Office of the President

The following is a list of responsibilities and duties of the President of CMSSA:

1. Ensure that all activities, events, and interactions are in accordance with the vision and mission, and objectives of CMSSA.
2. Serve as a coordinator to ensure that the overall needs of the group are met, and that activities are planned and executed successfully.
3. Work with each member of the leadership council to make sure that they have the resources they need to perform their responsibilities.
4. Serve as the primary contact person for the association, and facilitate communication with members of the leadership council as necessary.
5. Respond to emails and other correspondence addressed to CMSSA.
6. Attend meetings or events in which CMSSA requires official representation.
7. Help resolve disagreements among group members.

The following are the requirements with respect to the office of the President:

1. The nomination and voting for the President will take place during the first two weeks of May each year.
2. The term of service will last for one year, beginning on June 1st each year.
3. The maximum term-limit for the President is two years.
4. The President will normally be selected from among the previous year’s leadership council. If, however, no member of the council is willing or able to serve as president, or it is felt that some other member of CMSSA would be a satisfactory candidate, any member may be nominated and serve as President.

Office of the Vice President

The following is a list of responsibilities and duties of the Vice President of CMSSA:

1. Act in the place of president as occasion requires, or in the event that the President is unable to fulfill his/her duties. This involves attending meetings, conducting CMSSA events, providing a public face for the group as needed.
2. Serve as the primary person responsible for public relations, and maintaining ties to those external individuals and groups that are important to the success of CMSSA and its events (i.e. advertising bodies, etc.).
3. Responsible for publicity endeavors, including advertising for CMSA events & activities via visual media, email notifications, and any other means deemed appropriate and necessary for the task at hand. As such, the vice-president will work closely with the Events Coordinator(s), given that s/he being primarily responsible for advertising the activities that they plan.

Office of the Treasurer

The following is a list of responsibilities and duties of the Treasurer of CMSSA:

1. In consultation with the CMSSA leadership council, the treasurer will create an annual Operating Expenses Budget prior to the beginning of each school year.
2. In consultation with the CMSSA leadership council, the treasurer will create an annual Special Events Budget prior to the beginning of each school year. This budget is for special events (i.e., visiting lecturers, graduate student conferences, etc.).
3. During the course of each school year the treasurer, and only the treasurer, will provide the administrative assistant at the School of Religion with receipts, and other such documentation and explanations, for reimbursement from the Operating Budget and the Special Events Budget. This documentation should include reasons for the expenditures.
4. All members of CMSSA will work through the treasurer to obtain reimbursement. If the treasurer is unavailable for any reason, the President will facilitate the reimbursement process. The treasurer will further make deposits through the administrative assistant when funding is obtained, and also provide documentation or explanation of the source of the funding and its destination (Operating Budget or Special Events Budget).
5. In addition to the record kept by the administrative assistant at the School of Religion, the treasurer will track all income and expenditures in operating expenses, special events, and petty cash.
6. Throughout the year the treasurer will maintain close contact with the administrative assistant at the School of Religion to confirm records and provide explanations.
7. So long as the Council for the Study of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints provides CMSSA with financial support, the treasurer will coordinate with the administrative assistant at the School of Religion to provide with documented updates on the Operating Budget at the beginning of September, the beginning of January, and the end of May. The treasurer will also file these reports in the CMSSA records.
8. With the leadership council, the treasurer will seek periodic replenishment of funds for the Operating Budget from the Council and from other indeterminate sources.
9. At the end of each school year, the treasurer will produce a final statement of income and outgo for the previous year, and file it in the CMSSA records. This statement will document the amount of funds remaining, if any, which will transfer to the Operating Budget for the proceeding year.