Ohio University Sport Business Association

(Note: The Ohio University Sport Business Association changed its name at the conclusion of the 2008-09 academic year to reflect the Sport Management department’s pending move to the Ohio University College of Business in Fall 2010. The Ohio University Sport Marketing Club’s constitution was used prior to this version of the constitution.  The current version of the constitution reflects some changes to the events that we put on as an organization as well as some rule changes.)

Ratified January 24, 2012

Table of Contents

1)  Section 1 – Mission Statement

2)  Section 2 – Leadership Structure

    I)      A. Responsibilities per officer

3)  Section 3 –Procedures

    I)      A. Election
      II)     B. Yearly

        i)      1. Beginning of Year
        ii)     2. End of Year

4)  Section 4 – Club Events

        I) A. Assignment of Leadership

5)  Section 5 – Club Membership

6)  Section 6 – Appeal Procedures

Section 1 – Mission Statement

The mission of the Ohio University Sport’s Business Association is to help, and assist the Ohio University Athletic Department and Sports Administration graduate program in their sporting events and projects. Through volunteering for pre and post game day objectives we hope to enhance our undergraduate classroom knowledge with real on the job experience.

All former Ohio University Sport’s Business Association members are encouraged to give back to the club in any way they see fit. Beginning with the support of current faculty and staff along with further encouragement of former members, the Ohio University Sport’s Business Association will grow into the premier Sport’s Business Association in the Country.

Section 2 – Leadership Structure

The Leadership Structure of the Ohio University Sport’s Business Association is listed as follows:

A. Executive Board Responsibilities-

1. Club President: The Ohio University Sport’s Business Association President is the leading negotiator, speaker, and figurehead of the organization. Past Presidents have been responsible for creating new events, funding for club trips, fundraising opportunities for the club, meetings with athletics department administrators, meetings with the Center for Sports Administration administrators, potential tournament sponsors, and negotiating corporate sponsorships. The Club President must be dressed in the minimum of business casual at all club events/activities. He/she is required to maintain a cumulative 2.5 GPA as well as be available to offer advice for younger students in matters of scheduling, professional guidance, and counseling. A large time commitment is incorporated in the position. As a club leader you must be present at all events unless proper measures have been taken (such as delegation to other executive board members.) As President you must cooperate with the Graduate and Club Advisors in planning the any events that the club participates in or hosts. You must participate in weekly meetings with the Treasurer and Club Advisor. Great Communication skills, organization skills, and accessibility are key traits in being the President. You must approve all financial transactions with the Treasurer and club Advisor and have the Treasurer update you with bi-weekly financial reports. The President for the upcoming 2009-10 year will undertake a new alumni giving development program to increase donations to the Ohio University Sport’s Business Association. The requirements to be club President are:

      • Junior or Senior
      • Two Years membership in the club OR One year membership if fulfilled a director or chairperson role
        • Cumulative GPA of 2.5
        • Must have a personal interview and recommendation from the previous President

2. Vice President of Club Affairs: The Vice President would share the second in authority of student-members on the executive board with the Vice President of Alumni Affairs. In the prospect of the Presidents absence, the Vice President of Club Affairs will be responsible for the members of the club. The Vice President of Club Affairs must help the President lead meetings, Vice President of Alumni Affairs with events, conduct tournament or committee meetings, must fill in for committee chairpersons in their absences, and any other miscellaneous duties prescribed by the club President or Advisor. He/She will be responsible for the oversight of club committees and report back to the President for any matters that need attention. If the club President does not make the grade requirement or must take an absence, the Vice President of Club Affairs will inherit the duties of the President for the duration of the Presidents time of leave. The Vice President of Club Affairs must attend the beginning of the year club enrollment day in August. Requirement of being club Vice President of Club Affairs are:

      • One full year of membership in club
      • Must fulfill all volunteer requirements of the previous year
      • Cumulative GPA of 2.0

3. Vice President of Alumni Affairs: This position would create a database of former club alumni, create a quarterly alumni newsletter, and would encourage alumni donating to the club through supporting club events, a fundraising job, and naming rights to special events. Vice President of Alumni Affairs must be a Junior or Senior and must have had solid relationships with former club members. They must also assist in new club recruitment and chair a committee in charge of alumni services. That committee would assist in database collection, alumni newsletters, and special networking events. The Vice President of Alumni Affairs would hopefully create an alumni dinner hosted on Friday night of Homecoming. Requirements to become Vice President of Alumni Affairs include:

      • One full year of membership in club
      • Must fulfill all volunteer requirements of the previous year
      • Junior standing
      • Cumulative GPA of 2.0

4. Treasurer: The Ohio University Sport’s Business Association Treasurer is the chief financial officer of the club. The Treasurer is responsible for maintaining a minimum balance of $1,000 in the club financial account. He/She is accountable for all financial transactions as well as providing bi-weekly financial reports and a monthly financial calendar to the club President and Advisor. They must keep the financial record booklet up to date as well as procure financial reimbursement to the proper parties. The Treasurer must help the Advisor with any trip that the club goes to and must be in complete contact at all times with the President with trip finances. For all club events requiring a large amount of club funds the Treasurer must work alongside the tournament director or chief financial chairperson to make accurate and up to date financial recordings. Requirement to be the club Treasurer are:

      • Two full quarters of membership in the club
      • Must fulfill all volunteer requirements of the previous year
      • Cumulative GPA of 2.0

5. Secretary: The Ohio University Sport’s Business Association Secretary is the chief written record holder of the club. The Secretary must keep two USB drives up to date with all club files, logos, and past financial records. The Secretary will keep one USB while the President has the other. One new duty of the Secretary is the compilation of past sponsorship records, club membership records, a new alumni record, and a new recruitment flyer. The most important new duty of the Secretary is the recruitment of new members. Several other duties of the Secretary include volunteer coordination, food for meetings, social events planning, and working alongside with the sponsorship chairperson on all club events. Requirements of being the club Treasurer include:

      • Two full quarters of membership in the club
      • Must fulfill all volunteer requirements of the previous year
      • Cumulative GPA of 2.0

Section 3 – Procedures

A. Election Procedures

Elections will be held as soon as possible after the BAM 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament in a two-week process. The election will be held in this process:

      1. Classify all executive board candidates by position
      2. All candidates must complete an essay of 2 subjects one to two paragraphs for each question:
      3. What qualities do you possess that would benefit the Ohio University Sport’s Business Association through your desired position?
      4. What have you done in the club through your time involved in the club?
        1. Presidential candidates must meet directly with the current President to gather a letter of recommendation to be able to run for President position
        2. All candidates must make a speech to the entire club by position
        3. The first week of elections will be designated to elect a new President
        4.  Those not elected President will be able to run the following week for the position that they designated second on their application
        5. The second week of elections will be designated to elect the other four executive board positions
        6. After each position group speaks the entire club votes for the position
        7. After all votes have been counted, the club disperses and the senior class will gather in private to determine 33% of the vote
        8. New board must have a transition meeting with the former board for the next year

B. Yearly Procedures

1. Beginning of Year

      1. Update new Sport’s Business Association t-shirt
      2. Layout full Itinerary for the upcoming year

3. Beginning itinerary will be vague, you must present this to the entire club giving each member a general schedule

4. Final schedule will be saved for archives for the following years and kept as a record for further dates

5. Pick chairperson(s) for Sports Business Forum

6. Have beginning of the year meeting with club Advisor

7. Have beginning of the year meeting with the executive board

8. Have meetings with Athletics Department administrators to determine club volunteer involvement

9. Have meeting with Director of Sports Administration

      1. Speak with sport management professors to determine when to speak to all the intro to sport and history of sport classes
      2. Publish all new and updated dates on the website
      3. Get New Financial Journal records from club Treasurer

2. End of Year

      1. End of year meeting with executive board
      2. End of year meeting with the club Advisor
      3. Prepare any dates for the following year
      4. Make any new updates to the constitution
      5. Prepare updated financial journal for the following year
      6. End of the year email to the club
      7. State of the New Year email to club members addressing goals for the upcoming year

Section 4 – Club Events

A. Assignment of Leadership

For the assignment of leadership for club events such as BAM and Sports Business Forum as well as Director(s) of Recruitment and Director(s) of Mentor/Mentee program a standard application and interview procedure should be in place. The standard application procedure will be added to the constitution in an addendum

General Leadership Positions Include:

      1. Tournament Director
        1. Sponsorship Chairperson
        2. Registration Chairperson
        3. Game-Day Operations Chairperson
          1. Sub-chairpersons for each position

Leadership of each club event is overseen by the club President. In the real world every event is overseen by a higher governing power, such as in the Ohio University Sport’s Business Association. The President is the final word on every matter, but must also be a fair and proper delegator. This is just as much of a learning process for them.

Section 5 – Club Membership

We believe that to have a stronger member base we need to provide incentives to club members in order to build themselves up through the club ranks.  To start off members will be in general membership but can build their way up by completing the following requirements:

A. Green Club Qualifications

      1. 70+ points
      2. Must work all of the following: BAM, GROWL, and Speaker Series
      3. Must work five other events per quarter
      4. No missing meetings without a legitimate excuse

B. Green Club Benefits

      1. First choice in consideration for: 
 Trips
 and Director Positions
        1. SBA polo
      2. LinkedIn on website

A. White Club Qualifications

      1. 45-69 Points
      2. Must work two of the following: BAM, GROWL, Speaker Series
      3. Must work three other events per quarter
      4. Can miss one meeting but make it up by attending an executive meeting

B. White Club Benefits

      1. Business Cards
      2. Second choice in consideration for: 
 Trips
 and Director Positions
      3. LinkedIn on website

Section 6 – Appeal Procedures

Procedures to change any club policy must go through the Ohio University Sport’s Business Association President. Changes to the club constitution must be:

      1. Submitted in writing to the club President
      2. Submitted in writing and approved by the club Advisor
      3. Provided in text to the entire club at a general session
      4. Voted upon in the following general session
      5. Passed with a 3/4ths majority
      6. Vote may be attested with a 4/5ths by the executive board
      7. A tied vote will be broken by the club executive board with a further tie being broken by the President