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UNDER REVISION!
MSA northWest Constitution (Sahifa) Section 1: Mission Statement MSA northWest is an organization comprised of different MSAs across the North West. We are here to form a cohesive coalition to unite for the sake of Allah, take unified actions, and embody the concepts of unity, strength, and activism. We aspire to increase the level of brotherhood and sisterhood and serve as an outreach to neighboring Muslim communities. We strive to establish Islam as the forefront of all movements by speaking the truth, increasing awareness, destroying stereotypes, resisting oppression, and strengthening the bond between Muslims worldwide. Functions/Goals: * Develop a greater understanding of Islam. * Promote unity and conduct joint activities among Muslims by building a cohesive coalition between all MSAs in the North West. * Increase unity and activism. * Strengthen the level of brotherhood and sisterhood. * Outreach to Muslims in high schools, colleges, and universities. * Spread awareness and common knowledge of current events in the local and global Ummah. * Provide da'wah. (To invite people towards Islam) * Review admissions of Muslim students to insure a continuous flow of activism after strong MSA members graduate. * Serve as a resource pool for all MSAs, help campuses start MSAs, invite speakers, handle fitna (internal strife), and assist in conducting activities. * Act as one voice to take a united stance in response to emergency situations, both global and local. * Coordinate regional and state events to increase the level of the Muslim student voice. * Create a website to share information, communicate, research ideas for posters, flyers. * Allocate funds for new MSAs and emergency situations. * Connect with other Muslim organizations and community members. * Establishing a lasting infrastructure for the efficient function and collaboration of MSAs in the future. * Organize and establish an annual MSA northWest conference. Section 2: Organizational Stucture Article 1: The Executive Board (Majles Al-Shura) * Amir(a) * Vice Amir(a) * Communications Director * Outreach and Development Director * Treasurer Selections: The delegates of MSA northWest are responsible for selecting a new Executive Board every summer. They must also agree on which of the Board members will serve as Amir(a) through mashura. Executive officers must be chosen from the delegates of the various MSAs. An executive Board member counts as one of the two delegates from each respective campus. The selection process will follow such a procedure: Selection is the preferred method in which MSA nW will select its executive board. Selection refers to the process where decisions are made through mashura (Islamic mutual consultation) with the delegates of the various MSAs in the northwest. The delegates will nominate individuals that are best suited to be part of the executive board via open nominations. Nominations must be submitted one week prior to the selection date. Nomination can be submitted via e-mail or sent to our mailing address ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ). The Communications Director shall be responsible for gathering all nominations in a timely manner. To ensure fairness, the advisory board shall pick one person from amongst them to moderate the selection of the Amir(a). Once the Amir(a) has been selected, s/he will moderate the rest of the selection process. The selection of the executive board shall be based on but not limited to the following criteria: * Must be a practicing Muslim * Experience * Motivation and Vision for MSA nW * Time commitment * Not an officer of any other MSA The incoming executive board will decide the other positions/committees that may arise out of mutual consent. Article 2: Delegates Two delegates appointed from each school; a primary and a secondary delegate. When the primary delegate is completing his or her second year of appointment the secondary delegate will be on his or her first year of service. He/she is the primary delegate and has voting power. The secondary delegate has a two-year term. He/she also has voting power but agrees to return the next year to become the primary delegate. Delegates vote on all measures and can propose additions to the constitution. In the second year of MSA northWest, a primary delegate may serve for a second term. Selection of Delegates: Delegates are chosen by the MSA they represent. Delegates are either board members from their schools or chosen to represent their school by the board members. Each school shall choose 2 delegates to represent their school once a year during the spring quarter. Article 3: Advisory Board Advisory Board will consist of Muslims in the community who are practicing Muslims and Muslimahs who have a desire to spread the true religion of Allah. Members must be respected in the Ummah and have a good standing amongst their peers. This advisory board should provide general nasiha (advice) on matters of vision, goals, actions , limited Islamic jurisprudence on issues that face MSA nW, and any other issues related to MSA nW. Article 4: Webmaster Webmaster is in charge of the MSA northWest web-site in terms of setting it up and regulating it under the supervision of the executive board. This can be a non-delegate who is appointed for this task since this is not an Executive position. Article 5: Frequency Meetings will be held twice each semester (once each quarter) at minimum and once over the summer - to be decided by the Amir Section 3: Conduct/Responsibilities Conduct: Each member shall avoid controversial statements [defined as any statement which will cause unnecessary controversy and is not something which is agreed upon by the creed common to the consensus of historical Islamic scholarship], exercise tolerance [especially to those less knowledgeable about the religion, and those who posses differing opinions rooted in legitimate differences within the frame of the religion] and respect the rights of others to their own opinion. Questions, comments, and concerns are to be given respectfully with one person speaking at time. Responsibilities: Executive Board: The Amir(a ) - sees that the tasks of the organization are being met and helps all officers with their duties. He/she organizes the format and location of the meetings and facilitates discussion. Any modifications of the constitution can be made through a majority vote. The Amir(a) has the responsibility to override any decision that is not in the best interest of MSA northWest but only with the approval of a majority of the advisory board. The Amir(a) can also create or dissolve any sub-committee as s/he deems appropriate. Vice Amir(a) - assists the Amir(a) and serves as Amir(a) if the present Amir(a) is unable to fulfill any duties. MSA northWest Outreach and Development - promotes outreach and development of individual MSAs as well as MSA northWest as a whole. Also responsible for public relations with media and non-MSA institutions. Treasurer - responsible for finances, fund-raisers, and distribution of money. Communications Director - in charge of relaying messages back and forth between MSAs and other institutions. S/he is also responsible for keeping records and transactions of meetings and other events. Delegates: Delegates must attend meetings regularly. It is each delegate's responsibility to represent their MSA and address the issues of their school. Delegates are all responsible for participating in the development of MSA northWest activities. Advisory Board: • Assisting the organization in making decisions that require Islamic knowledge. • Proposing suggestions to plans of action. Sub Committees: Sub Committees are formed by the Amir(a) and are meant to focus on specific areas within MSA nW. Such Committees include but are not lmitied to: • Dawa Committee • Community Action Section 4: Judiciary Procudures Any violation of the constitution is subject to reprimand. Executive officers and delegates are all required to uphold the vision and must abide by the rules decided upon by MSA northWest or will be asked to either refrain or leave the organization through the consensus of the executive board. Article 1: Dissolution of Fitna (Internal Strife) There is zero tolerance for fitna. Persons who engage or perpetuate divisions in the MSA northWest will be dealt with accordingly. The Amir(a) will speak to those who take part in fitna in private and ask them to refrain themselves. If destructive behavior continues the issue will be addressed in a meeting with all noninvolved delegates. Article 2: Misappropriation of Funds Any abuse of funds will result in termination of position or any other related task within MSA northWest. Article 3: Nonattendance Executive officers and delegates that miss two or more consecutive meeting without contacting the Amir(a) will be asked to resign from MSA northWest and that a new delegate be chosen to represent that school. Article 4: Removal If an executive officer is not meeting his or her duties specified in section 2, he or she will be asked to step down and the delegates will chose a replacement officer from among the current delegates. Voting power in non-transferable. This requires a majority vote of the executive board. Article 5: Resignation If an executive officer decides to resign, s/he must submit a resignation letter two weeks in advance of resignation. The current delegates will choose a replacement officer. Voting power is non-transferable. Article 6: Amendments Any modifications of the constitution can be made through a consensus of the executive board. The Amir(a) has the responsibility and the obligation to override any decision that is not in the best interest of MSA northWest with the approval of the advisory board. Article 7: Dissolution In case of voluntary dissolution, MSA nW’s net assets will be given to the international Islamic house located at 4625 22nd NE Seattle, WA 98105 |