Friends of French Studies Constitution

Article I – Name

The name of this organization shall be Friends of French Studies at L.S.U.

Article II – Purposes

  1. To involve members and their guests in activities of the French programs at Louisiana State University, including lectures, films, receptions and other educational opportunities.
  2. To help increase awareness in Baton Rouge and Louisiana of LSU's outstanding programs in French studies and French language development.
  3. To support the mission of the Department of French Studies to preserve and promote the French language and French literacy by raising funds for scholarships, professorships and other programs of the Department and the University designed to achieve these goals.
  4. To inform members of activities, programs, courses, and other events relating to French culture, music and speech and to promote classes of conversational French.
  5. To act as a clearing house for exchange of all information regarding French language and culture through the publication of a newsletter and to provide other informational services.

Article III – By-Laws

The operating procedure of this organization shall be established by the By-Laws of this Constitution.

Article IV – Membership

Any person interested in the purpose of this organization may become a member by meeting the requirements as set forth in the By-Laws.

Article V - Officers

The officers of this organization shall be a President, a First Vice-President, a Second Vice-President, a Secretary and a Treasurer. These officers shall constitute the Executive Committee.

Article VI – Board of Directors

The Board of Directors, no to exceed total voting membership of thirty-five (35), shall be composed of five (5) officers and thirty (30) directors at large to be elected by the general membership, as provided in the By-Laws.

A quorum is composed of those voting members present at any meeting.

The Chair and Associate Chair of the Department of French Studies at L.S.U., Baton Rouge, the Director of the Center for French and Francophone Studies, the Director for the French Education Project at L.S.U., the Consul General of France in New Orleans and the representative of Belgium in Baton Rouge, shall be non-voting ex-officio members of the Board of Directors.
The President, with the approval of the Executive Committee, may appoint other non-voting ex-officio members of the Board of Directors as needed for the duration of that President's term of office.
Other persons may be invited to meetings of the Board of Directors at the discretion of the President.

Article VII – Funds of Liability

All funds received by the organization shall be deposited in the LSU Foundation and shall be credited to the specific account of the friends of French Studies at LSU, Baton Rouge Campus.
Funds from the Administrative Account shall be disbursed through the LSU Foundation on the authority of the Chair of the Department of French Studies at LSU, Baton Rouge, according to LSU Foundation policy.

No personal liability shall attach to any member of this organization in connection with any of its undertakings; its liabilities shall be limited to its common funds and assets.

Neither officers nor members of the Executive Committee or the Board of Directors shall have any authority to borrow money or incur any indebtedness or liability in the name of or on behalf of this organization.

Article VIII - Meetings

An annual meeting shall be held at such time and place as the Executive Committee shall designate. Sufficient written notice shall be given.

Article IX - Dissolution

In case of dissolution of the organization, funds remaining the LSU Foundation in accounts held for Friends of French Studies at LSU, Baton Rouge, shall be distributed according to the direction of the Chair of the Department of French Studies, LSU, Baton Rouge.

Article X - Amendments

Any amendment to this Constitution shall require a two-thirds vote of the voting members present and voting at any meeting of the general membership before it can be effected.