CASA Constitution

Year Founded: 2007

Founder: Linda Larochel

Purpose:
-To create a multicultural and nontraditional group on the SUNY Albany campus in which art is expressed through cooking and ideas are shared through learning

-To promote diversity within a group by means of joining different cultures and styles of cooking together

-To make one’s college experience more enjoyable and fulfilling by gaining a greater appreciation for other cultures

-To express not only the art of cooking, but also the importance of eating and staying healthy

-CASA will be a place, as the Spanish term indicates, where students will feel like they are home

-To have fundraisers to help raise money for CASA

-To give service to the Albany community by means of volunteering at various community centers

-To make CASA not only recognized as a group on campus, but also a course open to students just as any other course

-To allow the possibility that Cooking will be a form of art that students can study as a minor or major just like music and all other forms of art on the SUNY Albany campus

Officer Positions and Responsibilities:

President and Master Cook
It is the duty of the President/Master Cook to:

-Attend all meetings and events sponsored by CASA
-Make sure all members of the e-board are fulfilling their duties

-Maintain a positive attitude with all CASA members
-Set up days in which CASA will meet based on the schedules of all members

-Coordinate a day/time in which the grocery shopping will be done
-Seek community service opportunities

-Communicate with the Presidents of other groups and organizations on campus

-Decide what different cultures will be cooking during the meetings

-Pair up members of CASA, making those who know how to cook partner with those who do not know

-Decide how long the meetings should be held
-Organize fundraisers

-Know how to cook at least two dishes

Vice-President and Sous Chef
It is the duty of the Vice-President/Sous Chef to:

-Attend all CASA meetings and events

-Work closely with the President to ensure the success of and growth of CASA

-In the event that the President is absent, fulfill duties of the President

-Assist students with the grocery shopping

-Make sure utensils and other supplies are available for that day’s cooking

-Reserve rooms for the meetings

Secretary

It is the duty of the Secretary to:

-Attend all CASA meetings

-Record meeting minutes

-Take attendance at all meetings

-Make copies of handouts and recipe sheets to be given out at the meeting
s
-Make sure all members receive a copy of the recipe sheet at the meetings

-Email meeting minutes to all CASA members after each meeting

Treasurer

It is the duty of the Treasurer to:

-Keep control of how much money is received from the Student Association and the members of CASA

-Make a budget for CASA, finding ways to save as much money as possible

-Collect dues from the members

-Keep control of the bank account, noting how much money enters and leaves it

-Keep record of the amount of ingredients that are used

-Try to get members to contribute food as well

-Assist students during grocery shopping, making sure that the budget is maintained

Nutritionist

It is the duty of the Nutritionist to:

-Always inform members of the ingredients being used in the foods being served

-Research articles on Nutrition and emphasize them during the meetings, while the cooking is being done

-Give tips on how to eat healthy

-Emphasize diseases that may be caused if proper foods are not taken in or if too much of one type of food is taken

-Assist students during the grocery shopping, giving tips on healthy choices

Project Coordinator

It is the duty of the Project Coordinator to:

-Plan events for CASA, involving cooking both on and off campus

-Make events that will allow culture exchange

-Coordinate guest speakers or Chefs

-Set up ideas for Fundraisers

Public Relations Specialist

It is the duty of the Public Relations Specialist to:

-Update the CASA website as needed i.e. with photos, videos, stories, recipes, etc.

-Advertise CASA on campus by making and posting flyers

-Advertise events on campus sponsored by CASA

Videographer

-In the future of CASA, when enough funds are given, it will be the duty of the videographer to:

-Videotape the cooking while it is being done in advance

-Form CDs of the cooking for each member of CASA

-During the meetings the video can be watched through a projector, while the cooking is being done

-Members can take the CDs home and try it for themselves

-In the case that none of the members are able to show up to a meeting or event, the Representative will take the place of the e-board members

Rules and Regulations:

-There shall be no discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, nationality, disability, age, financial status, social status or sexual orientation

-All students of the University at Albany are invited to join CASA

-All students must attend the orientation, which is held at the beginning of each semester to stress safety rules in the kitchen

Form of Government:

-CASA officers shall be elected by a fair and democratic process

-Elections for e-board members will take place annually towards the end of the Spring Semester

-Members of the e-board must take into consideration the different groups of people who are members of CASA and be open to their different styles of cooking

Provisions for meetings:

-Cooking sessions will be held at least twice every month

-Cooking sessions will be held twice during that week in order to avoid schedule conflicts

-The Master Cook will decide how long the sessions should be

-Emphasis will be placed on cooking, but exercises and beauty tips can also be addressed

-At least two different culture dishes will be cooked

-Members of CASA will be paired up into several groups and members may choose what type of food they are interested in cooking

-All e-board members and the chef for the meeting will be responsible to prepare the simple ingredients needed for the cooking sessions one day prior to the session

-All members of CASA will be responsible to help clean the kitchen after the cooking sessions

Definition of a Quorum:

-At least 2/3 of the group must be present at the meetings in
order to hold the meeting

Provision for dues:

-Every member of CASA is required to pay a fee of $15.00/semester

-These fees will be used to help set up events and to buy the foods necessary

Provision for Impeachment of Officers:

-If a member of the e-board is not fulfilling his/her duty, he/she can be impeached, but must have the vote of at least 2/3 of the members of CASA

Provisions for Amendments:

-The purpose of CASA may not be changed; however, if there are new ideas or positions that are brought up by members of CASA, they can be added to the Constitution with the vote of at least 2/3 of the e-board members and the President/Master Cook