Student Bar Association (SBA) Spring 2010 Election Information fsustudentbar.com What must I do to qualify to run for an Executive Board Position? 1. Be a current member of the SBA—you must join if you are not a member. 2. File your candidate materials with the Election Chair (Kyle Phipps, 3L) by 12:30pm Thursday March 31st (strictly enforced): * Candidate Materials shall consist of: o Your Name and Office sought (you may only file to run for one position) o One-page, candidate statement detailing why you are running for the desired position (to be displayed on the SBA website) o One high-resolution photo e-mailed to fsusba@gmail.com o The signatures of 30 students registered at the College of Law 3. You must attend the mandatory candidates’ informational meeting to be held Wednesday. March 31stat 12:30pm at the College of Law (Room 331). * Those not in attendance will be disqualified from running unless they are excused prior to the meeting by Kyle Phipps, Election Chair: kjp03c@fsu.edu * The meeting will explain the rules on campaigning and give a general description of election procedures 4. You must attend the Candidates Forum held on Tuesday, April 6th 12:30- 1:15pm. Elections will take place at the College of Law on Wednesday , April 7th, 2010 from 8am-5pm. Thank you for your interest in serving the students at FSU College of Law. Holding an Executive Board position is a great privilege and responsibility, not to mention tons of fun. You will have the ability to get to know more people at the College of Law than you could ever imagine and have the ability to greatly impact the law school student body. Contact an SBA Executive Board member with questions. Best of luck in this year’s elections! The 2008-2009 SBA Executive Board: The contacts for members of the executive board are available on our website SBA Elections Overview Congratulations on your decision to run for a position on the SBA Executive Board! Your decision to run shows your desire to lead and ensure the success of FSU College of Law and its students. Our SBA Executive Board’s relatively small size creates ideal conditions for working together and accomplishing goals to improve the lives of students at the College of Law. At the same time, the small size of the board means that it is vital for every member of the Executive Board to participate in the activities of the SBA This packet explains briefly what the SBA at FSU College of Law does and what each position entails. Executive Board members are looked to as the leaders of the College of Law. They have a great responsibility and opportunity to improve the lives of students at the College of Law. FSU College of Law’s SBA is one of the best in the nation. This is due in large part to the high quality of leaders the organization has attracted over the years. What is the SBA? SBA’s mission is to improve the overall quality of life for all students attending Florida State University College of Law. This broad statement has unlimited potential as to what the SBA is able to do. The scope and impact of each year’s Executive Board largely depends on those who comprise it. Quite simply, though we are the student government of the law school. That means it is our privilege and responsibility to serve as the voice of all students at Florida State College of Law, to represent them and to create a clear channel of communication between the student body and the administration and faculty. Our Goal Our goal is to make every law student’s time at Florida State the best it possibly can be. As representatives of all students, listening to student ideas, concerns, and issues is the top priority. We strive to better our law school by adding to our many strengths and improving on our weaknesses. We accomplish this by implementing innovative solutions to the issues students face and by promoting our law school through state and national leadership. What We Do * We represent the student body by raising concerns and ideas to the administration and faculty, facilitating student input and implementing their ideas and solutions to the issues students face at the College of Law. * We serve as the “umbrella organization” over the more than 35 active student organizations at the College of Law. Our goal is to empower them and to provide each student organization with the information and resources they need to be the best they can be. * We work to improve our law school through our 13 active SBA Committees and Entities by implementing student ideas and solutions to the issues law students face. * We plan the best socials at the College of Law known as “Bar Reviews”, organize the most anticipated and classiest event of the year known as “Barrister’s Ball”, and provide a wide variety of social, networking, and professional development opportunities for our members. * We represent Florida State College of Law through our state and national leadership and involvement in the Florida Bar and the American Bar Association. When does the SBA Executive Board meet? The Executive Board is required by the SBA Constitution to meet at least once a week. Meetings are set by the President and are generally in the evening near the beginning of the week (Mon. or Tues. night). These meetings usually last about 1.5 hours, depending on the agenda. Emergency meetings can also be called at the discretion of the President. What are the positions on the Executive Board? o President o Vice-President o Secretary o Treasurer o Florida Bar Representative o American Bar Association/Law Student Division Representative o American Bar Association/Law Student Division Junior Representative (Serves a two-year term)* o Transfer Student Representative (Elected in the Fall**) o Two Third-Year Law Student Representatives o Two Second-Year Law Student Representatives o Four First-Year Law Student Representatives (Elected in the Fall) There are a total of 16 positions on the SBA Executive Board, 10 positions will be elected this Spring. *The ABA Jr. Rep., after serving for one year, automatically becomes the ABA Sr. Rep. It is a two year position. **Pending passage of Constitutional Amendment on this year’s ballot What are the mandatory/minimum requirements of SBA Executive Board members? * Attend and be prepared for all weekly meetings * Hold weekly office hours * Attend the SBA Fall Retreat (usually held at the end of September) * Attend and assist with both Fall and Spring Graduation * Attend and assist as needed with Barristers Ball * Serve on committees as appointed by the President * Attend all SBA related events (unless excused) * Some Board Members also have the opportunity to attend the ABA annual meeting to be held this August in New York City and the Fall and Spring circuit meetings held at various locations throughout the Southeast. Failure to fulfill the requirements of an Executive Board Member will result in impeachment and removal (by 2/3 vote) of the Executive Board Member per the guidelines in the SBA Constitution. Executive Board Members are to exhibit the utmost professionalism at all times in both their private and personal lives. This is required and expected as they are representatives of the College of Law. What does each position up for election specifically entail? President: The duties of the President shall be to preside at all meetings of SBA and the Executive Board; to make the decisions of SBA in the absence of the Board; to appoint committees with the advice and consent of the Board pursuant to the Constitution; to make all appointments required by other university officials subject to the approval of the Executive Board; and to assume such other duties prescribed in the bylaws of the Constitution. The President serves as Chair of the Executive Board and as the primary representative for the SBA. The President often serves as a representative for the College of Law as well. The President sets the agenda and tone for the SBA and it is their job to ensure that all members are treated fairly and with the utmost respect. Vice-President: The duties of the Vice-President shall be to assume the duties of the President in his/her absence, and to assume such other duties as prescribed in the Constitution. The Vice-President serves as chief representative of the SBA in the absence of the President. The Vice-President shall be responsible for first-year orientation and the supervision of the Committees. The Vice-President shall serve as chair of the Judiciary Committee. Treasurer: The duties of the Treasurer shall be to act as custodian of SBA funds, to disperse funds pursuant to the bylaws and to keep records thereof; to conduct the collection and supervise the disbursement of the funds; to submit a weekly report to the Executive Board of Association income, expense and the weekly balance of Association funds; and to assume such duties as prescribed in the bylaws. The Treasurer shall be responsible for submitting a proposed budget for the semester to the Executive Board to be voted on the first meeting of each semester. It will be their responsibility to work closely with the President and other Board members during the summer months to come up with a detailed budget for the Fall Semester and once again for the Spring semester. The treasurer must maintain a close working relationship with LSAC and COGS in order to ensure that SBA receives adequate funds and uses those funds to fulfill the goals and purposes of the organization. The Treasurer must prepare and submit all purchase orders at the request of the President and other Board members as well. They are to ensure that the Executive Board is at all times fiscally responsible with the funds of the organization. The Treasurer also shall act as Chief Fundraiser for the organization. Secretary The duties of the Secretary shall be to permanently record in typewritten form the minutes of all meetings; to keep posted at all times a current edition of the SBA Constitution in a prominent place in the SBA office; to keep current the bylaws and committee reports; to post notice as required of each meeting and other events. Organizational skills are of utmost importance as they are primarily responsible for communication amongst the board members and with the student body for all events and happenings of the SBA. The Secretary shall submit for approval, via e-mail or typed hardcopy, minutes of the prior Executive Board meeting at the start of the every meeting. Upon approval of the minutes by the Executive Board they shall be regarded as the official chronicle of SBA activities and may be relied on by SBA members. After approval, the Secretary shall post the minutes on a public board outside the SBA office in a space maintained for that purpose. Posting shall begin the running of any period triggered by Board activity reflected in the minutes. ABA Jr. Rep: American Bar Association/Law Student Division Junior Representative shall assist the ABA/LSD Representative in promoting membership and the programs of the ABA/LSD. The ABA Jr. Rep is expected to attend the ABA annual meeting, the ABA Fall Roundtable (date TBA), and the ABA Spring Circuit meeting (date TBA) (funding for the trips is provided). To run for ABA Jr. Rep. you must have two years remaining at the College of Law. It is a two year position and upon completion of your first year as Jr. Rep. you automatically become the Sr. Rep. for your final year. FL Bar Rep: Florida Bar Representative shall serve as the liaison to the Florida Bar and shall be responsible for communicating information and coordinating programs related to the Florida Bar for the benefit of the student body. The Florida Bar Representative should attend the Florida Bar Annual Meeting. 3L Reps: Two Third-Year Law Student Representatives shall represent the interests of third-year law students to the Executive Board. They are primarily responsible for 3L concerns such as bar passage, job placement, and graduation. 2L Reps: Two Second-Year Law Student Representatives shall represent the interests of second-year law students to the Executive Board. They are primarily responsible for 2L concerns such as job placement, internships/externships, student organization involvement, etc. For more information about SBA visit our website at: fsustudentbar.com Recommended Reading on the Website: “About SBA”, “Committees & Enitities” and “ABA Law Student Division” Feel free to contact us with your questions at: fsusba@gmail.com