It is with great excitement that the IDEAS Division presents the new Womxn’s Group launching this term. We want to extend an invitation to our full-time Lawrence Employees to entertain the thought of joining the group.
- Below is a set of proposed guiding documents to help folks conceptualize the vision and goals of the organization as well as definitions for membership.
- The following link will open an interest survey for folks to complete. If interested in group participation, please complete the form by 5:00 p.m. on May 18. (https://forms.office.com/r/QxicJvRgnw)
- An informational session in which the group’s structure, purpose, and goals has been arranged for 4:00 p.m. on May 23 in the Warch Cinema. All are welcome to attend.
Questions? Contact Sara Holtzman
holtzmas@lawrence.edu
Womxn’s Group | ERG Group Lawrence University
I. Name
The name of the organization shall be The Womxn’s Group.
II. Affiliation Leadership: Sara Holtzman
Founded in Spring 2023 at Lawrence University under the Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, Anti-Racism, and Support Services (IDEAS) Division.
III. Purpose:
a. ERG groups are critical to the development of Lawrence professionals and the elevation and connection of shared identities to occur within a structured environment.
b. The Womxn’s Group is devoted to establishing space and time for the professional and the personal development of she/they Lawrence personnel. The group will host semi-regular meetings and events for the purpose of social and/or professional development. Events may be open to allies as well, however those instances will be noted as such through advertisements.
IV. Membership:
a. All Members must be current full or part time professional employees of Lawrence University, verification of employment may be verified through Human Resources.
b. Active, voting members are those who identify with she/they pronouns, and/or those who believe they can contribute to the secure and unique environment in which space to gather for like individuals in the form of gender expression exist.
c. Allies are non-voting members looking to support the specific she/they identified population at Lawrence through the Womxn’s Group. Allies may or may not be invited to certain events and meetings depending on content areas and purpose of content.
V. Officers:
a. The officers of the Womxn’s Group shall be a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Event Coordinator.
b. To run for office, participants must be recognized voting members of the Womxn’s Group.
c. Vice-president, secretary, and event coordinator officers serve for a term of ONE (1) YEAR or until their successors shall be duly elected and qualified.
d. The President, or affiliated leadership, will change as designated by the IDEAS division, with final approval from the Vice President of IDEAS.
VI. Meeting and Event Expectations:
a. There is no expectation of attendance at meetings, workshops, or events.
b. Regular meetings shall be held bi-monthly during the year.
c. Special meetings may be called by the President or a majority of the Officers. All members must be given a minimum of 24 hours’ notice prior to the meeting time.
Womxn’s Group Guiding Documents, Updated 5/15/23, 2
d. Quorum will be established by the majority of voting members present at the time of the vote, with a minimum of five voting members present.
VII. Philanthropy and giving back to our LU Community
a. The Womxn’s Group will schedule at least one event per year in which members have the opportunity to counsel or develop the LW Womxn community or greater Fox Cities Community.
VIII. Budget:
a. The University does not financially support the functions of this organization and therefore the group has no established budget.
b. There will be no dues collected for the purpose of the group.
c. Financial obligations of the group will be dependent on participants own funding and/or fundraising efforts.
d. Events and activities in which participants have a financial component will be kept to a minimum and/or met with opportunity to participate in something similar for a lesser/zero cost event.
e. Fund Raising initiatives may be held on behalf of the group or another organization that supports Womxn to provide budget for events and connected activities.
IX. Discipline of Members
a. Should a concern be raised, the expectation is to address the concern with the individuals involved within 24 hours of the perceived infraction occurring.
b. If a concern that elevates to a level in which the perception that University Policy has been broken, members are encouraged to file a complaint with the appropriate office: Human Resources, Bias, and Title IX. Continued participation in the Womxn’s Group may be dependent on process below.
c. Participants acting in defiance of the purpose of the group or it’s values may be asked to not participate, or leave events/outings early, based on immediate assessment by present officials, or a private discipline meeting conducted by the President and a final vote of elected officers.
d. Officers in question will follow the same process outlined in section C, however, additional group member(s) may be asked to sit in on the private meeting.
X. Amendments
a. Proposed amendments to this constitution shall be presented to the membership, in writing, one meeting prior to the meeting where the amendment will be voted upon.
b. The Executive Committee and/or Bylaws Committee shall review and make recommendations on all bylaw revisions prior to consideration by the membership.
c. Constitution amendments require approval by two-thirds of the voting members present at a regular meeting. The amendment shall be effective immediately unless otherwise stipulated in the amendment.
Womxn’s Group By-Laws
I. Officers
a. President
i. A non-voting leader recognized by the Vice President of the IDEAS Division, shall preside at all meetings of the organization and shall prepare the agenda for meetings. The President shall appoint all committees and committee chairs. The President shall have other powers and duties as may be prescribed by the organization. The President shall address, monitor, and records all disciplinary concerns and preside over disciplinary meetings.
ii. The President shall serve as a tie-breaking vote, when needed.
b. Vice President
i. The Vice President shall preside at organization meetings in the absence of the President. The Vice President shall perform all duties assigned by the President. The Vice President shall temporarily assume the office of President if the office becomes vacant before the VP of IDEAS can appoint a new President. The vice-resident shall be responsible for recruitment, membership type management, and philanthropy efforts. The Vice President shall oversee fund collection and distribution if needed, with oversight from the other officers.
ii. The Vice President shall vote.
c. Secretary
i. The Secretary shall take minutes at all meetings of the organization, keep these on file, and submit copies to group’s SharePoint site. The Secretary shall be responsible for all organization correspondence and shall keep copies on file. The Secretary shall maintain membership records for the organization.
ii. The Secretary shall vote.
d. Event Coordinator
i. The Event Coordinator shall work diligently to coordinate meeting logistics, event opportunities, and manage collaborative programming efforts using list in Appendix A as a guide for personal and professional development topics. The Event coordinator shall work to provide assessment opportunities to inform event initiative of the group and effectiveness of present opportunities.
ii. The Event Coordinator shall vote.
II. Qualifications of Officers
a. Officers must be voting members in good standing with Lawrence University and the Womxn’s Group.
b. No member may hold more than one office.
c. No member, outside of the President, may serve more than two years in the same office.
III. Elections
a. Elections are held near the end of spring semester and shall take place at a regularly scheduled meeting of the organization at which a quorum is present. At least one week’s notice shall be provided for any meeting at which an election is to be held.
b. Nominations for officers shall be made at the regular meeting immediately preceding the election. Nominations may also be made from the floor immediately prior to the election for each office. Members may nominate themselves for an office.
c. Officers shall be elected by majority vote. If no candidate receives a majority vote, a runoff election shall be held between the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes.
d. Votes shall be cast by secret ballot; however, when there is only one candidate for an office, a motion may be made to elect the candidate.
IV. Executive Committee
a. The Executive Committee shall consist of the elected and appointed officers, with the President serving as a non-voting member.
b. The Executive Committee shall have general supervision of the affairs of the organization between meetings and is authorized to act when action must be taken prior to the next meeting.
c. The Executive Committee shall report to the membership all actions taken between meetings. Except when it is too late to do so (such as when a contract has been executed), any actions taken by the Executive Committee may be rescinded or modified by the membership by a majority vote.
V. Group Communication
a. The Womxn’s Group will be connected via a Microsoft SharePoint site.
b. Enrollment in the Team indicates commitment to the group.
c. Communication will be offered by means of LU email and Teams Messenger to honor connectedness.
VI. Meetings and Voting
a. Semi-regular meetings shall be scheduled bimonthly during the academic year and as desired over summer.
b. Meetings shall consist of brief presentations, team building activities, share outs, recognition, and group update reports from the executive committee.
c. When possible, agendas will be posted in SharePoint at lease 48 hours before meeting.
d. Special meetings may be called by the President or a majority of the Executive Committee. All members must be given a minimum of 24 hours’ notice prior to the meeting time.
e. Business cannot be conducted unless a quorum of the membership is present. A quorum for this organization is defined as a minimum of five voting members present.
f. Members must be present to vote. Absentee or proxy voting is not permitted.
VII. Finances
a. Occasionally the Womxn’s Group may need to assess a fee or collect money from the membership for special events/purposes. The amount of money collected shall be determined by a majority of the membership at a regularly scheduled meeting pending a presentation of the opportunity by a voting member.
Womxn’s Group Guiding Documents, Updated 5/15/23, 5
b. The Vice President, with oversight of the remaining executive committee shall be responsible for reporting on funds, collection, and distribution.
VIII. Discipline of Members
a. Should a concern be raised, the expectation is to address the concern with the individuals involved within 24 hours of the perceived infraction occurring.
b. If a concern that elevates to a level in which the perception that University Policy has been broken, members are encouraged to file a complaint with the appropriate office: Human Resources, Bias, and Title IX. Continued participation in the Womxn’s Group may be dependent on process below.
c. Participants acting in defiance of the purpose of the group or it’s values may be asked to not participate, or leave events/outings early, based on immediate assessment by present officials, or a private discipline meeting conducted by the President and a final vote of elected officers.
d. Officers in question will follow the same process outlined in section C, however, additional group member(s) may be asked to sit in on the private meeting.
IX. Dissolution
a. Upon the dissolution of the Womxn’s Group for any reason, all work, funds, and property controlled by the organization will be absorbed and repurposed by the IDEAS Division.
X. Impeachment: May be initiated by any member at any time.
a. Petition Executive Board with signatures of 1/3 of all current voting members (list is current in SharePoint site) petition should state reason for removal.
b. Executive Board shall then notify officers and call for removal vote within fourteen days of the filing of the petition.
c. Memberships shall be notified at least one week prior to removal vote meeting.
d. At the meeting for removal, the petition’s stated grievances shall be made public and the officer charged shall be allowed to respond to the charges of the petition.
e. Removal from office shall require a vote of 2/3 of all voting members.
XI. Vacancy of Office
a. In case of resignation or removal of any officer, an interim acting officer shall be appointed by the Executive Board.
b. The President shall call for an election within twenty-eight days after vacancy of any office.
c. Elections shall be conducted as stated in the bylaws.
d. Should the office of President become vacant, the Vice-President should complete the President’s unexpired term until the VP of IDEAS may appoint a new President and call for an election for and interim Vice-President consistent with elections process set forth in the bylaws.
XII. Amendments
a. Proposed amendments to these bylaws shall be presented to the membership, in writing, one meeting prior to the meeting where the amendment will be voted upon.
b. The Executive Committee and/or Bylaws Committee shall review and make recommendations on all bylaw revisions prior to consideration by the membership.
Womxn’s Group Guiding Documents, Updated 5/15/23, 6
c. Bylaw amendments require approval by two-thirds of the voting members present at a regular meeting. The amendment shall be effective immediately unless otherwise stipulated in the amendment.
Appendix A
Topics on Interest and Potential Development
• Self-Care and Self-Compassion
• Work-Life Balance
• Setting and Achieving Personal Goals
• Communication and Assertiveness
• Boundaries and Personal Boundaries
• Dealing With Stress and Anxiety
• Time Management and Productivity
• Relationships and Dating
• Parenting and Family Dynamics
• Health and Wellness
• Career Development and Advancement
• Finances and Money Management
• Navigating Change and Transitions
• Overcoming Challenges and Setbacks
• Building a Supportive Community
• Finding and Cultivating Passion and Purpose
• Exploring Spirituality and Personal Growth
• Social Justice and Activism
• Creativity and Self-Expression
• Leadership and Personal Empowerment
• Self-Confidence and Self-Esteem
• Body Image and Beauty Standards
• Mental Health and Well-Being
• Money Management and Financial Independence
• Navigating Career Advancement and Leadership
• Career and Entrepreneurship
• Finances and Budgeting
• Confidence and Self-Esteem
• Leadership and Team Building
• Creativity and Innovation
• Life Balance and Stress Management
• Grief and Loss
• Friends and Social Connections
Womxn’s Group Guiding Documents, Updated 5/15/23, 7
• Diversity and Inclusion
• Spirituality and Faith
• Volunteerism and Community Service
• Making a Difference and Social Change
• Travel and Adventure
• Food and Nutrition
• Fashion and Beauty
• Self-Care and Relaxation
• Overcoming Trauma
• Understanding Gender Roles
• Exploring Career Paths
• Exploring Education Opportunities
• Financial Literacy
• Understanding Healthy Boundaries
• Emotional Intelligence
• Developing Creative Expression
• Conflict Resolution
• Understanding the Power of Positive Thinking
• Negotiation Skills
• Assertiveness Training
• Understanding Nutrition
• Healthy Living
• Overcoming Addiction
• Exploring and Embracing One’s Identity and Cultural Heritage
• Social Media Balance
• Building Support Networks
• Learning to Lead
• Exploring Feminism
• Managing Negative Thinking
• Women Supporting Women
• The Last Man Standing is a Woman
• Mindfulness and Meditation